That evening Gayatri visited Anitha. Anitha was still sleeping while Gayatri came there, so she was talking with Vijay until Anitha wakes up.
"How are you dear? Is it ok now?" Gayatri asked her gently.
"Ya...fine.." Anitha smiled her back.
"I warned you don't be too late, what if, Vijay didn't come there at correct time?!" Her voice etched with concern.
Anitha didn't say anything.
Gayatri continued, "I was much worried when I saw you in the morning, actually I wanted to be here with you, but this project..
"How it went?" Anitha interrupted.
"Obviously, it was successful.. after all, it was your tireless work.. project manager said our team deserves a treat, once everything over, I got permission and came here.
While they were talking, Vijay entered the room, after knocking the door. He replaced the breakfast plate with the lunch plate which was having a bowl full of rice and a cup of 'rasam'.
" Vow...nice aroma" Gayatri said.
" You can also join her, I will bring another plate" he invited.
"No thanks... I had my lunch at 2'o clock only, it's only 3 now, I am full " she replied.
"Please ask your friend to eat well, she looks malnourished" he complained and left the place.
" Nice guy.." Gayatri said.
Anitha fell silent again.
"And it's true Ani, you are not taking care of yourself, you look very lean for your age, come on.. eat now.. Gayatri helped her moving the plate.
*******
After Gayatri left, Anitha came out of her room and found Vijay, talking in his phone standing in the balcony.
After he finished, he saw Anitha, and went to the kitchen, started making tea.
"Where did you learn this delicious cooking and all?" She asked.
"Obviously.. in jail... there we have to work compulsory in the kitchen in turns", he replied.
Bewildered, she kept quiet.
He handed her the cup of tea, with tablets.
" Who prescribed this and when?" She asked.
" A lady doctor in nearby apartment.., yesterday night you were running temperature, I requested her to come and visit you, she did the dressing and prescribed this" he replied.
"What did you say to her?"
He sipped his cup, "I said the truth.. I have to...."
She fell silent for few minutes, then she said quietly, "thanks".
He looked at her..
"No need.." he said, after a minute he added, "I didn't say 'it' when you saved me from the road side" his voice very deep and calm with well concealed emotions underneath.
She remembered that day, all the events along with "Arun" , she walked slowly towards the balcony and sat there curled up.
He watched her, with sinking heart.
**********
Next day Anitha stayed at home. Actually she wanted to go to office, but both Vijay and Gayatri didn't allow her to do so even at her highest protest. They strictly ordered her to take rest.
Anitha felt boring being at home without doing anything. Vijay gone somewhere in the morning itself. She slept for 2 hrs, then she woke up, she tried but couldn't sleep after that.
She started thinking about Vijay. At that night he appeared like a hero. His moves were so clear-cut, there was no clumsiness at all. Each and every shot was clean and neat, without any fussing.... anyone who saw him, could definitely admire him.
She thought the picture is totally different 5 years back. He changed a lot in all these years.
"From adolescent to adult.
"From boy to man".
More stronger, more muscular. The voice is also deep and husky somewhat intimidating. From thin hairline mustache to broad, thick and dark one - exhibiting a man's power. The tightened lips. Eyes so sharp and calculative. The walk includes long and deep strides.
Everything changed in a more attractive and fascinating manner. The offense charged on him doesn't match with his personality. She can't believe he did that. Is there any possibility of him being inculpable?! She thought.
"How come a girl could lie about her pregnancy and claim him as father of someone else's baby?!" She argued then..
She let out a big sigh......
With that she stopped thinking and noticed the time. It's past 2. She didn't feel hungry. She decided to skip the meal. But, " eat well....you look malnourished" Vijay's voice echoed in her mind. She took the food in her plate and sat down to eat. On seeing the food, she thought, "what about Vijay?!, Could he be eaten now?! Where did he go?!".
Anitha utilised the whole evening to clean her house. In between she got a call from Gayatri. It's past 7 now. She started preparing dinner. First she thought of making noodles for the dinner as usual, then she thought about Vijay and changed her mind, started preparing 'chappathi' and 'kuruma' for the night.
"Where has he gone?! ...Will he be coming tonight?!...
She didn't eat, but waited for him.
"Won't he come again?!... Why should he?!...."
With confusing thoughts,
She doesn't know why, she simply waited.
After all, by all these years of being alone, now she got somebody in the world, for whom she could wait.......
