XXVI

Sunita sat staring outside from the window when Rakesh came home. Rakesh said "Hi dear" and went upstairs. He didn't notice that he hadn't received any reply to his greeting. He went to his room and changed. Then thinking Sunita was resting, he went and made tea for her and himself. He came to Sunita, still sitting at the window and staring, holding two cups of hot brewed tea in his hands. He placed the cups on the small side table and sat down. "Sunita..." Sunita didn't answer, she was still sitting still. "Sunita..." Rakesh gently touched her by her shoulder.

"Huh??!!....Rakesh....when did you get home?" Sunita got startled by Rakesh's sudden touch. "Hey, it has been almost 20 minutes, dear....are you okay? how are you so lost?" "Oh God, I have no idea since how long I have been sitting here....." she dug her face in her hands. Rakesh lifted her face by her chin, "what happened, what's on your mind? Is something wrong?" Sunita told Rakesh about her conversation with Shiela, and how she is feeling empty since that.

Rakesh took a deep sip of the pipping hot tea and nodded listening to her. He had his own set of thinking clouds hovered over him. "Sunita, frankly speaking, now i'm really scared to even think about having children!" Rakesh shuddered. Sunita stared at him blank, deep inside she empathized with him. She knew he was right. "Rakesh," Sunita placed her hand on his right knee, "I know dear." she nodded, looking in his eyes. Rakesh felt confident by Sunita's touch, he smiled and nodded.

"Sunita!!" Shiela exclaimed, opening the front door to its full swing, " Oh I'm sorry,.....I should have knocked!" she stopped abruptly, seeing Sunita removing her hand from Rakesh's thigh. Sunita got up and welcomed Shiela. " No silly! its absolutely fine! Shiela nodded to greet Rakesh. Rakesh also smiled back and got up with the excuse to find the day's newspaper.

"I'm sorry Sunita, I didn't think Bhaisaheb would be here..." "Shhh...its okay." Sunita said, " so what's up?" Shiela regained her excitement, " I came up with a plan to organise a drawing competition in your school on the upcoming Republic day! So I came running to you, to tell you this" Sunita laughed, " You looked so excited for this?!.....okay okay, i'll talk to my principal Sir"

XXV

"Ding dong "went the front door bell, "coming....in a minute" answered Sunita from her bedroom. "Oh  Hi, yeah let's go..... could you just come inside and spare me two minutes?" Asked Sunita as she opened to the door to find Sheila on the other side. "Okie, be quick!" Said sheila as she entered Sunita's home and sat on the couch, "the movie starts in half an hour and we aren't on our way yet!"

"Yeah yeah..... come lets go!" Said Sunita as she pulled Sheila off the couch by her hand. 

Within days of their first meeting, the two women had become fast friends. They often had lunch together when their respective husbands were in office. They would go out for shopping or simply walks in evening. Sunita didn't feel alone anymore. Sheila would sometimes visit her school also, she also loved spending time with kids, just as Sunita. They often had dinner together with their husbands joining them. Rakesh and Tarun had mutual liking for each other too.

Sheila came to know of a kid at Sunita's school who had a very poor financial background and whose parents were planning to drop him off from school or switch him to a government aided school. Sheila extended her financial support to the kid. She vowed to pay for his education until he stands on his feet. Sunita was moved by her friend's decision. She adored her for her good heart.

Sheil
a once asked Sunita why she hadn't become mother yet when she was so fond of kids. A teary eyed Sunita then narrated her journey of her failed attempt to motherhood. Sheila remarked, how strong Sunita was, having undergone so much she still managed to smile and enjoy life. Sunita felt comforted by her words but suddenly felt very empty inside, as her past failures had been recalled today.