I had to gather all my efforts to call her by name...

  "How are you sumo?"

Finally I uttered her name...directly I spoke to her which was my dream untill the last minute...

   To my surprise,she remained calm at the same  position...not even turning at me...

    Am I supposed to call her again...?

    "Sumo..."

After fighting back with the frog at my throat, the  voice came out feeble...

  She turned at me in a flash...her eyes were red and the Kohl she wore was misshapen...

  She's been crying....!

  In a wink, she wiped the teardrop that strove to get down...she regained the calm and composure that  i never thought of her strength...

  A bold smile crept over her lips...

 
   She's smiling..

I felt  positive vibes and stepped forward...

   Pouting,she looked beyond me as though she searches someone...

"Sumo...? who's that...?" She said...

I felt it to be the most embarrassing and awkward moment.. she's actually teasing me...

  "Sumo... I am.."

I was about to explain my situation and I knew that wouldn't be easier...she gestured me to stop...I stunned and froze at the place...

"Look... Mr.shravan Malhotra...I appreciate that you still remember nanaji and his family...infact , I am happy too...but... there's no one as you call 'sumo'... here's only suman_suman tiwari exists...."

She was stubborn than I thought...actually,her point was right from her stand...

I was staring at her . my position was not less than a student who had failed at his important papers...

She began to wrap up her things to stuff into her bag...

     "Gotta go..."  With that she indirectly told me to leave the room...

Crestfallen I nodded....before I could turn to go, she  pulled my hands and made me to sit in the couch...

Her grin charmingly broadened...!!

"So...What's your next plan shravan... I am so happy that my childhood friend had turned out to a lawyer..."

    What's happening..?

I was confused ...is she the same sumo who talked with me just a minute ago...?

  " Shravan...Didn't I say you that sumo would be Happy to meet you...?"

 
Nanaji was smiling at me from the doorstep....behind him was pushkar, observing my baffled face...

Now I got the reason for her sudden change in behaviour...that enduring smile was only to make nanaji happy.

   "Why not nanu..
He's my Best friend..hain na shravan...?"

Her laugh turned at me sarcastic , virtually hitting my heart...

   I stood dumbfounded and she behaved normal...

"So sorry shravan... can't Skip the work...I Will join you guys later..!"rendering her hands ,she spoke casually...

I nodded , justified with her points...

Only in front of nanu....

She had left to office,waving a fake smile...

----------------------------------------------------------

  I was silent while going to Malhotra mansion....

"She wasn't the same sumo ...right bhaiya...?"

Pushkar broke the silence...

"Perhaps...but she needed this mask I think..."

I let out a deep sigh...

"Don't worry bhaiya... she's too good as she used to be..we will handle whatever it may be...and this time,I will make you happy.. it's my promise..."

  I patted his shoulder...

"It seemed that my little brat had become a genius lawyer..."

He laughed merrily...I joined him...

No matter what, I am not going to let my personal feelings to mess up with my family... I determined myself...

   Kamini chachi welcomed me from the heart...as varun bhaiya was in Mumbai to take care of his business, there's no one at home to annoy me  than pushkar..Actually, this brat is equall to ten other men when it comes to mischief....

The day went lavishly as I hadn't any plans sofar...I slept and slept due to jetlag...

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    As night had begun to fall,I woke up and stepped down for dinner...

I was shocked to see pappa alone sitting at the dinning table...

"Papa... where's everyone..?why you are dinning alone..?"

I asked him with concern. I saw his loneliness as same as mine...

"Shravan...come...we will have dinner together..."

He began to serve me and waited eagerly to witness how I react...

  The minute I ate the first scoop,I spat it out...

"Papa...the roti is salty...and the veggies are overcooked...how you're eating this...? don't we have the cook at home..? Chachi... where's she..?"

To my continuous queries,he smiled simply...

"Shravan.. today I cooked for you..."

My eyes sprung up with tears momentarily...

"Sorry papa...I wasn't aware.."

As my eyes continued to pour down,he reached me and hugged to console...

"Beta...I got used to it...often kamini will be going out and pushkar always eats outside...I hate eating the same thing cooked mechanically by the servants...I began to cook myself and found contentment...today I thought to eat with you... at least, I may not be alone henceforth..."

His words melted me inside...I tighten my grip on him...

It had been more than an hour since we began to cook...he was enjoying my company than cooking...we sat at garden relaxed with a bowl of pasta...

   Over looking the sky,I saw him excited...he was emptying the bowl fastly...

  "Shravan..this is the Best ever dinner I had sofar..."

I smiled at his words,understanding his heart...

"Papa...do you miss Mom.."

My direct query made him to startle...

  I fixed my gaze at him where he had no way to escape...

  He cleared his throat deliberately...

"Who said so...?"  Without even looking at me,he left the place...

I know Pappa.. you're missing Mom very badly... you yearn to live with her.... you miss her very badly...

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The very next day,I knocked the main door of tiwari killa at early in the morning...

  "Hey shravan...what a surprise...?"

Preethi opened the door and gave me a high five...

Requesting her to send coffee,I headed to nanaji's room...

"Good morning nanu..."

To my great surprise,sumo was checking something at book rack ..she smiled me wishing good morning...

I thanked nanaji's presence at the room silently...otherwise I may not be getting a smily Good morning from my Sweet heart...

  "Suman beta...can you do me a favour...?are you free today..?"

She ignored me and turned to nanu...

"Any thing for you nanu..."

Her successive look told me that she wanted to go with nanaji's work so that she could escape from my sight...

"Acha beta...do one thing...go with shravan..."

  She instantly looked at me with boiling eyes...I gulped in thought of the consequences...

"But...nanu..."

"Enough... you had accepted my work and you are on... just go with shravan..."

She nodded relectantly as she had no choice...

My mind leapt in joy silently.....

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Hello friends... switched to this tiny book...have a Happy reading..do write your views...

Tell me where shraman are going...how that would help their relationship to turn right...let me know your ideas...

Have a great weekend...

Cheers,

Arulpirai..