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.

XXIV

Sunita revived gradually with her
mother's care and company. Rakesh was happy that Sunita looked much better now. He was also happy that his mother-in-law did not mention about any ghosts or spirits or shadow creatures or Babas.

Days passed, Sunita had now made peace with her IVF results. She was reliving her childhood with her mother taking due care of her. She resumed her school soon, the kids were really happy to have her back, and she was elated too. She started working enthusiastically and soon it was time for Mrs Devi to go back. Both Mother and daughter were not happy but Mrs Devi was sure that now her daughter had recovered, and will take care of herself. Also, her bond with her son-in-law had now strengthen and she knew he was there to keep her daughter happy.

Sunita and Rakesh bid farewell to Mrs Devi as her train left the station. Sunita was a bit sad, Rakesh hugged her and took her back home. They sat in the garden, laughing about the time Mrs Devi had invited that Baba. Suddenly they heard a friendly voice, "Hello!" Sunita turned back to find a young couple standing at the gate of their garden, "can we come in?" the
woman asked. Sunita got up and welcomed them. "Hi, I'm Shiela and this is my husband, Tarun. We have shifted in the house next to yours." "Oh you must be the new occupants, to whom Mrs Durani sold her house?" asked Sunita. "Yes, she shifted with her brother's family after her husband's death and they had no children" Shiela said. "Please have a seat" Rakesh offered Tarun a seat, and Sunita and Shiela sat next to each other.

"This neighbourhood is so unusually quiet!" exclaimed Tarun, "I appreciate the peace but its too dull" Rakesh nodded. "Have lunch with us, you must have not been able to unpack things yet" said Sunita. "Oh no thanks, but we shifted here a week ago, and now we are almost settled" Shiela said. Sunita remarked, "strange, we didn't come to know!" to which Tarun replied, "exactly what I me

ant, this society is quite lifeless, nobody came to welcome us or offer us help or even tea!" "I'm sorry for that, actually, my mother...." reasoned Sunita, but Shiela stopped her midway, "its okay, please excuse my husband, he has a habit of speaking up his mind, he didn't mean in a bad way". Soon the four of them started chatting and Rakesh and Sunita seemed happy to have found company.