“Don’t worry,” said Chandrika dryly, used as she was to her mother’s deprecation of her condition.
Everything was in position by the time the guests were expected that evening. Nevertheless, Chandrika and Sandhya were barred from Sathyam’s sight lest they should distract his attention from Roopa. However, they might satisfy their curiosity by peeping through the window as and when the party arrived. And Pathrudu did troop in with his party at the appointed time.
After making them seated in the hall, Roopa was ushered in immediately to beat the impending durmuhurtham. As she squatted on the mat, Roopa stole a glimpse of Sathyam only to place her eyelids on guard for the rest of the rendezvous. On the other hand, Sathyam couldn’t take his eyes off Roopa for he found her out of the world. Besides, the very thought that she could be his wife whetted his appetite. He found her exceedingly charming even with her head dropped and eyelids drooped. Savoring her beauty, he noticed the plain gold stud on her shapely nose. He felt a diamond would make her resplendent and thought of presenting her one during their first night.
“Silence isn’t always golden,” Ramaiah interrupted Sathyam’s daydreaming. “You may as well talk to her.”
“Why embarrass her,” fumbled Sathyam.
Then Ramaiah engaged Sathyam in conversation about his work and times, apparently for Roopa’s ears. However, as Sathyam betrayed his uncouthness and paraded his mediocrity as though to supplement his ungainly look, Roopa was truly put off. Meanwhile Durgamma, Sathyam’s mother, moved closer to Roopa ostensibly to converse, however with the intent of feeling her legs for possible abnormality.
“What do you do in the spare time?” Ramaiah continued his interview, unmindful of Roopa’s apparent disinterest in that.
“I make my meal,” Sathyam said and instinctively looked at Roopa.
Noticing that she tried to suppress her smile, he felt embarrassed, and Ramaiah thought if fit to end his ordeal. As Pathrudu and party left after a while, promising to get back soon, Janaki started her monologue again, if anything, with greater conviction. However, the rest mobbed Roopa for her reaction.
“He’s not for me,” said Roopa shocking her mother.
“Have you gone mad or what! What’s wrong with him?” said Janaki. “He’s well-built and is not ill shaped either.”
“Why place the cart before the horse?” said Ramaiah to preempt frayed tempers. “Even if they like her, well, it all depends on the dowry they demand.”
Stung by her mother’s reaction, Roopa retreated into her room as Sandhya followed her to confabulate.
“If you were me,” Roopa asked Sandhya, “would you marry him?”