Roopa thought of seeking Damayanthi’s advice but unable to bring herself to confide in her, she found herself closeted with Sandhya.
“If I were a man,” said Sandhya in jest, “perhaps, you wouldn’t have had this problem.”
“Had you been married,” said Roopa jokingly, even in her state of confusion, “I would have forced myself as your fellow-wife.”
“God save that poor guy,” laughed Sandhya.
“Why poor when he’s doubly blessed?” said Roopa in jest, and was enamored by the idea of their love triangle. However, having come to the reality of life readily, she sighed and added, “Well, it’s neither here nor there. Tell me what I am to do now.”
“As you know, my mother says that love is a product of the married mind,” said Sandhya as though parroting her mother’s wisdom, “while romance is the enterprise of the spirited heart. Since we find our mothers in love with our fathers, we may as well follow suit, and end up being fond of our husbands. I know you’re romantic by nature, but you should realize that for the best part, life is humdrum by circumstance. Perhaps, it all boils down to this; where your romance with life should end and the appreciation of its reality begin. It’s for you to draw your own line.”
“Maybe, I am romanticizing life, but he’s too insipid to inspire,” said Roopa feeling helpless. “Looks like my expectations from life are out of tune with the realities of my fate.”
“Check up if you’re holding the mirror of fantasies to the realities of life,” said Sandhya, leaning on Roopa affectionately.
“I’m sure you too wouldn’t have seen him any differently,” said Roopa resignedly. “Well, as my well-wishers feel that the match is good, maybe I should match my mood as well.”
“Compromise is the cornerstone of life, isn’t it?” said Sandhya in all empathy.
“Looks like it’s the millstone of my life,” muttered Roopa resignedly. “I wish I had your disposition of life, to be happy.”
“Don’t you worry,” said Sandhya, taking Roopa’s hand, “I will share every burden of your life to ease your life, all your life. This is a promise I mean to keep, all my life. After all, haven’t we vowed to disprove my mother’s theory about the brevity of female friendship?”
“Oh, Sandhya,” cried Roopa hugging her friend.
“Believe me Roopa,” said Sandhya, solacing her soul mate, “upon the tears of our friendship.”
“Won’t I need your friendship more than ever?” said Roopa contemplatively. “With an uninspiring husband in the offing, you’re the only hope of my life. It seems the first throw of the dice showed up for our vow. I hope our destiny ensures that your husband would empathize with our friendship.”