The
ten minute journey back home looked like hours long. On reaching home he had
expected that his worried wife would be there at the gate, waiting. But there
was no one, except Samir who was wandering in the verandah, alone. He opened
the door and took the bag of medicines from his gandpa’s hands. Babuji had to
hold Rani by the shoulder and escort her to her room as Mallika came rushing
down from the roof to offer help. She took off Rani’s slippers and lay her in
bed, with the father clutching her tightly, close to his heart. Samir came and
affectionately held her hand and gently massaged her back, his tender mind
appeared to have read some unpleasant message in his grandpa’s eyes.
