‘Surely you radiate!’ said Kamalakar. ‘Sandhya is dying to see you. What a friendship yours is! Touch wood, may God keep it that way for ever.’
As she began to climb up the staircase, Roopa saw it all in a new light.
‘Sandhya might misread the cause of my joy,’ she thought, ‘won’t she suspect that I’m carrying on with Prasad? What a pity that I can’t clarify.’
When Roopa reached the threshold, she found Raja Rao cuddling his kid, even as Sandhya caressed his head. As Roopa coughed to announce her arrival, Sandhya jumped for joy.
‘Oh, Roopa,’ Sandhya reached out to Roopa with her outstretched arms.
‘How’s our little darling?’ said Roopa, fondly looking at the baby over her mate’s shoulders, in their smug embrace.
‘Here she is,’ said Raja Rao coming near.
Still enlacing Sandhya, Roopa pinched the baby, and said, ‘So cute, like her mother.’
‘Seems she too welcomes you,’ said Raja Rao, to the cry of the child.
‘Wasn’t it my coercion,’ Roopa said in all smiles, ‘that led to the outcome?’
‘Oh, how ravishing you look!’ said Sandhya. ‘You’ve never been better.’
‘I don’t know, but that’s what everyone says,’ said Roopa, and taking a hard look at Sandhya, she said in undertone, ‘Why, you look fuller in your fulfillment. Won’t those extra pounds come in handy to him and to me as well?’
‘Won’t I love that,’ Sandhya cooed back.
‘Well, what’s the secret Roopa?’ said Raja Rao with the intent of making Sandhya get used to his closeness with her friend.
‘I’ll tell you,’ said Roopa winking at him, and then turning to Sandhya, she apologized, ‘I’m sorry for being so late.’
‘Who’s she after?’ Raja Rao sought Roopa’s opinion about the newborn.
‘She has her father’s features,’ said Roopa, looking fondly at the baby. ‘And her mother’s charms.’
‘Hope she picks up,’ said Raja Rao in jest, ‘your diplomacy, as she grows up.’
‘Oh, our dream is coming true,’ Sandhya took Roopa’s hand. ‘How did it feel when he broke the news to you?’
‘Can’t you guess!’ said Roopa reenacting the act, ‘I nearly swooned.’
‘Thank God,’ said Raja Rao, ‘she didn’t collapse then.’
‘Well, to spare you the trouble,’ Roopa told Raja Rao, and turning to Sandhya, she said dreamily. ‘It’s all dream like you know.’
‘I wish to join you by the month end but mom won’t have it,’ said Sandhya in all disappointment. ‘She feels it’s too early for me to manage the baby.’