As she turned gloomy thus, she thought melancholically, ‘I should’ve known that it wouldn’t lead me anywhere. Yet, how did I fail to rein in my enamored heart! Why this fruitless feeling for my friend’s man? Oh, won’t this fatal attraction for him engulf my life in passionate misery? Well, the dead weight of my hopes used to be a drag on my life but hasn’t this throbbing pain of love activated my heart. When it is so pleasurable pining for him, what a feeling it would be to posses him. All said and done, does it not amount to consciously coveting Sandhya’s man?’
Shocked by the thought, she questioned herself in disbelief, ‘Why didn’t my conscience caution me while my infatuation coveted her man? Is it because it’s love that’s at the root of my passion? After all, I’m not out to snatch him from her, am I? Of course, I wish to bestow my affection on the man whom she seems to adore. Given our lesbianism, what’s wrong if I want to augment her man’s happiness with my body and soul as well? How thrilling it could be for the three of us in a grand liaison!’
Having rationalized her proclivity thus, visualizing the ecstasies of their passionate orgies, she got excited.
Soon, the train halted on platform number two to unload its load of weary passengers. At length, when she saw him alight from a first class coach, she stopped in her tracks. ‘Didn’t I guess it right? Oh, he looks so divine,’ she thought endearingly, espying him alluringly. ‘It’s worth pining for him even though it’s paining. Isn’t pain better than the lack of any feeling?’ In time when she spotted Sandhya, Roopa’s look acquired a new found love. As she rushed towards them, she recalled that incident on the train, and felt, ‘If that weird episode could romanticize my gloom, wouldn’t his vivacity have overwhelmed her in a romantic whirlwind?’
When Roopa was at arm’s length, Sandhya leapt towards her, losing her balance in the bargain. As Raja Rao instinctively tried to prevent Sandhya from tumbling, his hands clasped Roopa’s arms calling the same bidding. Holding Sandhya in between them, as they looked at each other, his gaze portrayed longing and her look acquired the feeling of belonging. Later, as he was arranging for a coolie, the friends were boggled with tears of joy.
‘How’s Sathyam?’ enquired Sandhya at length.
‘He’s okay but away,’ replied Roopa. ‘He went to Warangal before your telegram arrived.’