‘Am I already in love with him? Of course, isn’t there something in him that is fascinating,’ she tried to fathom his persona. ‘Is it his face? Oh, have I ever seen a romantic face like that before? Well, won’t it compel women to admire him even as it evokes pity in their souls! Isn’t it that unique feature of his face that makes his a rare persona?’
‘Oh, there’s much more to his personality than his physicality,’ she contemplated. ‘There’s a flowing ease about his manner as well. Though he appears casual, he doesn’t look indifferent. With all his accomplishments, he doesn’t put on any airs. I wonder how he manages to look so confident without being arrogant! How does he sound so firm but without appearing adamant? Above all, his persona personifies romanticism, doesn’t it? A real he-man if there was ever one.’
‘It’s as if in his thoughts,’ she thought coyly, ‘I’ve myself become a romantic! Oh, if only I become his wife, won’t I turn passionate as well?’
As her imagination surged into romanticism, her thoughts turned to Roopa. ‘Oh, I’m doomed. He’s a silly guy’ - she recalled Roopa’s words. Having met the man who excited the dormant romantic in her, Sandhya understood the true import of Roopa’s predicament. The exciting prospect of her marrying Raja Rao enabled her imagine the disillusionment of Roopa’s life as Sathyam’s wife. ‘Though I could always feel the state of her mind then, oh, it’s only now that I’m able to visualize the pathos of her heart.’ she thought melancholically.
Caught in the conflict of hope for her self and despair for her mate, her heart seemed to have turned to love for solace much before sleep could provide it for her.