‘Welcome dear,’ Ramaiah greeted her warmly. ‘How are you doing?’
‘Naannaa you know the face the index of mind,’ she said joyously.
‘Yes, you look happy,’ said Ramaiah in apparent relief, as though her joy by degrees had reduced his guilt.
‘Glad you’re relaxed,’ she said noticing his mood, and headed towards the kitchen, shouting, ‘Oh, Janakiammagaru.’
‘Now you’ll have it from her,’ Ramaiah said to her in all smiles, ‘ever since Sandhya was is in the family way, we all have had it from her on your account.’
‘I won’t let you go back,’ said Janaki, as Roopa joined her, ‘without a proper medical checkup. Be sure about it.’
‘You better sort it out,’ Roopa enlaced her, ‘with your son-in-law when he comes.’
‘Does he count at all,’ said Raju teasingly, ‘my poor brother-in- law.’
‘When you’re married,’ said Roopa smilingly, ‘you would know about that.’
‘But you look exhausted?’ observed Janaki.
‘Is it so?’ she said smiling.
‘Ask Sandhya, if you don’t believe me,’ said Janaki. ‘I know that her words are the gospel truth for you.’
At the thought of her impending meeting with Sandhya, what with her guilt feelings coming to the fore, Roopa was tied her to bed all morning, rationalize her affair with Raja Rao. Scared as she was at the prospect of facing her friend with her lover around, as her love for Sandhya got the better of her guilt in the end, she sprang up from her bed.
On her way to Sandhya’s place, she recalled her state of mind when Sathyam returned after Raja Rao had left, ‘How is it that I didn’t feel guilty then, but felt it odd to think in terms of loving him, though I gave my word to Raja? But with Sandhya it’s all so different, isn’t it? Oh, it’s her love that sustained my interest in life until her man turned me on. Won’t seducing her man amount to betrayal? Well, if I develop qualms on that count, won’t I end up in the doghouse of guilt? After all, I’m not for robbing her joy by grabbing him all for me, isn’t it? What’s wrong then, if I share his affection with her? Isn’t it fine, given our lesbian connection, won’t extraordinary situations call for extraordinary solutions? Why not we three engage our love in a round robin of ardor?’
Helped by that euphoric feeling, Roopa felt relieved by the time she reached the District Collector’s bungalow.
‘What’s your secret Roopa,’ said Damayanthi in welcome, ‘that you look prettier than ever?’