‘Won’t I be on hand,’ said Roopa, ‘to lend a helping hand?’
‘Who’s for wasting your talents at baby-sitting,’ said Sandhya, ‘Can’t we contribute at his office?’
‘Won’t I love that,’ said Roopa in vexation. ‘But you know how touchy Sathyam is about my working.’
‘Leave that to me,’ said Sandhya, sounding confident.
‘That’s a relief indeed,’ said Roopa.
‘Hold your breath,’ said Sandhya, ‘he wants to make us both his business partners.’
As Roopa started sobbing, for want of a better response, Sandhya couldn’t hold her tears of joy either. The euphoria of their love insensibly impelled in Raja Rao the urge to merge with his women.
‘What a fortune to partner your beautiful souls,’ he said as they clung on to him as one, as he held them both in his arms.
‘Oh, how concerned you both are,’ said Roopa bogged down by tears of joy, ‘Now, I can live in joy and die fulfilled.’
‘Oh, Roopa, don’t get emotional.’ said Raja Rao patting her head, fearing she might bare her soul, overcome by remorse.
‘What would be my share of the investment?’ said Roopa, recovering herself at length.
‘Don’t bother about that,’ he said, ‘But it won’t take much investment to get started.’
‘Well,’ said Roopa, ‘I would like to contribute. Why, I can sell some of my jewels.’
‘Do you need to go to that length?’ said Sandhya.
‘I don’t want Sathyam’s favor,’ said Roopa, ‘and I don’t like to be a drag on you either.’
‘We better respect her feelings,’ said Raja Rao to Sandhya.
‘Well, as I hold your jewels in trust,’ said Sandhya, ‘we use mine as our common wear. Is that okay?’
‘Sandhya,’ said Raja Rao, ‘you’re a wonder.’
‘She’s the fortune,’ said Roopa to Raja Rao, enlacing Sandhya, ‘of yours and mine as well.’
‘Being your beloved,’ said Sandhya, taking Raja Rao’s hand, ‘is no less a fortune.’
‘What a circle of fortune it makes,’ said Raja Rao holding Roopa’s hand.
‘And I want to keep her for us, forever,’ said Sandhya holding their hands together.
‘Oh, how you’ve made me your slave with your love,’ said Roopa, coy in the circle of affection.
‘Why, haven’t you enslaved us yourself,’ said Sandhya affectionately to Roopa.
‘What about the little darling’s name?’ said Roopa.
‘Let him apply his mind,’ said Sandhya.
‘I welcome your suggestion,’ he said to Roopa.
‘I’ll second her stand,’ said Roopa, leaning on Sandhya, as though in solidarity.
‘As you’ve passed the buck to me, you both are equally accountable,’ he said mirthfully, ‘and as the ball is in my court, I can’t avoid taking a shot at it. Thus the name derives by itself - Sa - Ro -(Ra) Ja, - Ra being silent, Saroja.