Anuradha took Suman to some ladies and introduced them to her. " Suman as you have heard we make widows of martyrs self-reliant by giving them training in various activities. Not only widows even the wives of jawans are encouraged to take up voluntary activities so that if need comes they can take it up as a vocation. I heard from some people here that you do fabric painting. Can I request you to come to army camp once or twice a week and teach the people here. We can discuss on your remuneration" told Anuradha
" Anuradhaji I feel honored to get such an offer from you. Yes I do fabric painting. Whether I can come here and teach I will have to discuss it with my family and based on the decision taken by Maa I will let you know " told Suman
" It is fine Suman. I understand. Whatever the decision do call and tell me in this number. If I am not there you can leave the message to the secretary" Anuradha gave her a card. Suman took it and kept it in her purse. Some ladies invited her to see the paintings and other handicrafts that has been done.
" Hello Sreedhar". Sreedhar was bought to present from his dreamland by this loud hello. He looked up and saw Naina. " Hello Naina" he told. " Sreedhar you alone, come let us go dance" she took his arm. Sreedhar was already feeling uncomfortable in her presence and he felt rather awkward when she took his arm. He gently removed her hand from his arm. " Naina I am not interested in dance at this point. See my nephew is playing there. I am responsible for him" he said pointing towards Adwaith.
" Oh your nephew, let me bring him" she went and took Adwaith who was playing ball. The startled boy started crying loudly. Suman who was coming back hearing the cry came running. Meanwhile Sreedhar too rushed and they almost took Adwaith together from Naina's arms. Adwaith jumped to Suman's arms and Suman looked at Naina quizzingly.
" Sumanji this is Naina Rawat, my junior in school and Naina this is ....
" I know your widow Bhabi. Now anyways she has come. She will take care of the child. Come let us go for a dance" told Naina.
Sreedhar looked at Suman. Her face showed the hurt of such a plain dismissal. She turned away to hide it.
" Sreedhar you go. I am with Adwaith. Come are you done with playing Adwaith"
" Sumanji wait one sec. Naina I clearly told I am in no mood to dance. Sumanji and Adwaith are my responsibility. Also it would be good if you can call Sumanji, Suman or Suman Varma. She has a name. She is not just widow bhabi" . Suman could see Naina's face flushed as Sreedhar walked towards their seat. Still she accompanied him to the seat, while Suman stayed with Adwaith.
" Ok ok Sreedhar it is fine. I mean if you want me to address her Suman it is ok. I hope you don't mind me sitting here. We can spend some time chatting" told Naina
Sreedhar looked away suppressing his anger. He knew her as empty head in school itself. To tolerate her now was near impossible , but he couldn't see a way to escape. Soon announcement came that dinner is ready. Naina once again dragged Sreedhar by arms. Suman watched it as she moved to the queue with Adwaith. Her eyes were welling up with tears. But she quickly controlled them, lest someone observed her.
She took a plate for her, and another for Adwaith. She gave the plate in hand of Adwaith and slowly guided the boy to take enough food items for himself, while taking herself.
Meanwhile Naina was going on blabbering with Sreedhar asking him to try this food and that food. When Sreedhar didn't take a dish, she put that dish in Sreedhar's plate. Sreedhar was losing patience, but he was mute. Soon they came back to the table. Naina didn't even give a courtesy glance to Suman. But Suman chose to ignore it. Adwaith insisted he wanted to sit on the top of the table. Suman could see sitting the boy will not reach the plate. So she took him and placed him on top of the table.
" Adwaith eat beta. You want Suman Chachi to feed you"
" No I will eat" the boy told and began nibbling the roti. Suman observed him and started having her dinner too.
Sreedhar glanced at Suman's plate. He could see she had taken very little food. She has not even taken the Cashew Pulao which he knew was her favourite. Maybe she didn't even notice. He knew why she was distracted.
" Sumanji are you not trying Cashew Pulao. It is very good" told Sreedhar
" Sreedhar I will try. Let me finish what I have" told Suman
" Why are you giving her suggestions. She is grown up. If she wants she will take" told Naina. Suman could see Sreedhar closing his fists tightly. She moved her leg and touched his feet. As their eyes met she indicated him to cool down. Sreedhar took a deep breath.
Just then a young man came. " Mrs Suman Varma" he asked
" Yes" told Suman. " Namasthe I am Santhosh from Rajasthan Tourism"
Suman got up and returned the Namasthe politely. " Mrs Suman Varma you very well know that Republic day parade happens in Delhi on January 26. And all states send their float. This year we are sending the float from Rajasthan with Tourism as theme. I saw the dance you have choreographed for today's programme. I was just checking whether you could choreograph it for the Republic day float. We are looking at a Rajasthani folk dance. Same song or any other song that has Rajasthani flavour. We can send the team of 10 people who will perform in the float to your home for training"
" Thank you Santhoshji. But I need to discuss with family before committing"
" Sure Sure Suman Varma. Here is my card". As Suman took the card she heard a shout
" You Chudayil. Got a chance and came to roam. Cant take care of the kid properly". Startled Suman turned to look what happened. Adwaith had played with curry and the curry was splashed on Naina's seemingly designer salwar suit.
Sreedhar was on his feet now. " Naina apologize to Sumanji now." His voice didn't hide the anger he was feeling.
"Sreedhar its ok. Naina sorry. Adwaith beta what are you doing. Come we will sit in another table" she picked up the boy and was about to take the plate.
" You are not going anywhere Sumanji. Naina has to apologize to you" Sreedhar's eyes were blazing. Now a small crowd had assembled.
Naina looked around " Why should I apologize. She is a widow. She is a chudayil. You might not know how widows behave. But I know very well how these Chudayil's behave. Look at the way she was interacting with the young man. Her husband died before suhaag raat right. Now her eyes will be on any young man who approaches her. That's what they do. Since they cant get the marital bliss in right way, they trap the men who come to them. That's why she didn't care for Adwaith and was enjoying the chat with the young man. If these widows are allowed outside they will bring only disgrace to the family" Naina told loudly
" Ok so you are telling she is trying to trap the young man. Now what if I say you are trying to trap me. I am observing you for past 1 hr. Holding my arm. Sitting close to me. Putting things in my plate. What are you doing Naina Rawat"
Now Shashank Rawat also came.Before he could stop Naina blurted out " That's because I have right on you. My father had talked to your father regarding our marriage a year back. Your father was interested. Now it is going to be taken formally. So why cant I sit near you"
" But I havent given my agreement to marry you Miss Naina Rawat and don't ever think I will agree to marry a empty head like you " shouted Sreedhar.
" Sreedhar Varma you are insulting my daughter and I am telling you, your family is going to pay heavily for this " came in Shashank Rawat
" Your daughter has insulted the bahu of Varma family. And I repeat what I told. Your daughter has only a surname. She is nothing without that surname. The so called designer cloth for which she is making so much noise she is buying with her father's money and tomorrow she will be a high maintenance package for her husband and unfortunately I have no interest to be in that position. Whereas Sumanji is capable of buying that designer suit with her own talent if she wants and Varma family is proud to have her as bahu"
" Sreedhar please stop. Enough. " told Suman
" Oh the Mahan atma has decided to speak. Suman Varma your devar have told enough. Now see what Shashank Rawat is going to do. Don't forget Sreedhar Varma 30-40% of your business is with us and since you have insulted my daughter that will be taken up in community meeting"
" Go do what you have to do. But make sure you teach some sanskaar to your daughter" shouted Sreedhar behind Shashank Rawat.
Suman was about to go when Sreedhar told "Sumanji have dinner. Adwaith havent finished his food". Suman saw the firmnessin his eyes. She didn't want to argue further as she sat down, fed Adwaith,though slowly completed her dinner and dessert. She was worried. Anothercommunity meeting and this time business too. She was not sure what more wasthere to come.