Amity of Empathy
Next morning, when the creeping hot rays woke up Suresh, he opened the door to thank the sun for the wake-up call. But, finding Vidya loitering in the lawn, he felt embarrassed. When he apologized profusely, she smiled her pardon in all sweetness. Ascertaining his preference for tea over coffee, she went to fetch him some steaming Laoji carrying the picture of him in his kurta and pajamas. And he couldn’t but help glue his eyes on her leggy frame accentuated by its shapely bottom.
When she went out of his view, supplanting his admiration, the scenario of Shanti Sadan invited his attention. Getting a full measure of the sprawling facility in that golden backdrop, he thought that the ashram-like architecture gave it the look of a model village.
“You seem mesmerized,” she said as she reappeared with a thermos flask.
“It’s amazing,” as he said, so he conveyed the feeling with his eyes as well.
“I’m gratified,” she said with a feeling that suggested that she understood his feeling, conveyed through his body language
“I’m indebted.”
“Why burden me further?” she said going into his room.
“Do you think I would ever do that?” he said following her into the room. “I was just off-loading a little of mine.”
“Let’s go to the Lord for mutual relief,” she said serving him some tea.
“Give me half an hour.”
“What I grant,” she said smilingly, “is but twenty-nine.”
“Thank you,” he said, “it makes it easier by a minute.”
“I didn’t get you.”
“Why,” he said sounding casual, “won’t that make us meet one minute early?”
“You are interesting really,” she smiled as she left with the Thermos.
Returning in a maroon Kanchisilk sari, she found him rearing to go. As she apologized for failing to meet the deadline, for a penalty, he suggested a round around the compound.
“Why not suspend the sentence till you get a like punishment from me?” she said with a smile. “Then we can make the round together.”
“Well, in that case,” he said smiling. “I won’t mind annoying you.”
“So, here we go,” she said leading the way.
When they reached Shanti’s bronze, he gazed at it and thanked her for her empathy for him. As they went round the premises, he complimented her for her professionalism and congratulated her for the upkeep of the place.
As they headed towards the Satyanarayana Swami’s temple, they soon found themselves on the main road. Noticing that they were attracting the attention of all, he tried to distance himself to spare her the embarrassment. At that, she increased her pace to make a statement. But, when they reached the rocky staircase to the Lord’s abode, he fell behind on purpose, and she too didn’t seem to mind.