Chat at the Bar
On the day of Saroja’s barasala, Sathyam arrived to Sandhya’s delight. Thanking him for coming, she hoped that he and Roopa would soon give her an opportunity for reciprocity. What with his dormant desire coming to the fore as he took Saroja, Sathyam looked at Roopa in hope.
‘Write down her name,’ said the purohit to Raja Rao, handing him the rice slate he made in a silver plate.
As that raised the curtains for the naming ceremony, Raja Rao went through the exercise, watched by Sandhya by his side and even as the purohit announced that Saroja was the name chosen, Sathyam said in excitement, ‘a lovely name.’
‘Thank you,’ said Sandhya affectionately. ‘But don’t run away, I want to talk to you.’
When she closeted with Sathyam after the function, Sandhya briefed him about the idea to rope in Roopa in Integral Architects, the name Raja Rao had chosen for their enterprise.
‘I take it as a brotherly duty to concede to you?’ said Sathyam genuinely.
‘I’m glad,’ she took his hand, and said, ‘Roopa was doubtful about your agreeing to it.’
‘Well,’ he said ruefully, ‘I’ve learned from my mistake. Had I obliged her then, perhaps, we wouldn’t have missed what we had missed all along.’
‘Why rue over the past,’ she said, pressing his hand, ‘let’s hope for happy times.’
‘I’m happy,’ he said seemingly happy, ‘slowly she’s warming up to me.’
‘I heard you’ve been drinking like a fish,’ she sounded dissuading.
‘But I’m trying to cut down now,’ he said.
‘Nice to hear that, let’s go and congratulate her,’ she said leading him to Roopa and Raja Rao who were engaged with Saroja.
As Roopa was visibly happy at the development, Sathyam felt as though he could shed
part of his burden of guilt, and when Raja Rao said he would like to spend some time with him, he proposed a discourse over drinks.
~~~~~~
At the gates of the Eagle Bar that evening, Sathyam was impatient for Raja Rao’s arrival. When he spotted him, he went halfway in welcome, and as Raja Rao apologized for making him wait, Sathyam turned boisterous.
‘You’re not late but I was early,’ said Sathyam, taking Raja Rao’s hand that was extended for him, ‘Isn’t drink known to beckon its addicts ahead of others?’
‘Why should I grudge that fact at all?’ said Raja Rao smiling.
‘I’m glad you’re soon joining us,’ said Sathyam, having in the meanwhile ordered one large Bag Piper each for them. ‘Roopa is delighted to say the least.’