Distance Between Us

Chapter 5

The next day Sheela sat in her shop. Their family owned groceries store. The shop was a part of house attached to the left side of her house facing the same road as the main gate. She saw Surender uncle parking his bike in front of the gate. She went out and greeted him

"Namaste uncle".

"Namaste Sheela. Congrats beta(son),"

"Thank you. Uncle," Sheela said shyly.

"Is your father home," asked Surender not wanting to embarrass the girl more.

"Yes uncle. Please come in," Sheela went inside and made him sit on the sofa. She asked if he would drink  tea and called for her father.

Raghu  came out and greeted surender and sat on the sofa.

Sheela served tea to both and went to the shop again.

"Raghu about the money," Surender started.

"Ya I will give you after engagement Surender. Don't worry. Is there any discount for your friend?" replied raghu.

Surender relaxed and said," of course there is discount for you Raghu,"

Devi returned from the temple and went to the shop first.

"Sheela come inside. I have to infrom you something,"

"Mom Surender uncle came to visit. He is inside now,"

"Oh that's good,"

"Mom the shop"

"It's OK come inside"

Mother and daughter went inside leaving the shop open.

"Namaste Anna," greeted Devi

"Namaste Devi. You seem happy," said Surender seeing her face.

"Panthulu (pandit in temple) set a date for engagement," replied Devi.

"When?" asked Raghu thinking of how he would arrange money and how much it would coast.

"Next week on Wednesday," Devi said smiling.

Sheela just stood there not knowing what to say. Surender left saying he has to inform to Rajesh.

"Sheela its getting late. Get ready for you office," saying that Raghu went to the shop. Devi went to kitchen to prepare Sheela's lunch.

Sheela informed of her engagement to her colleagues and they congratulated her. she took a leave for Wednesday. she was busy the entire week with office work, shopping and decorations. Thapsi helped her out for many things. Her family decided to do small ceremony inside her house.

The engagement day came sooner than expected. she wore a pink Saree with some embroidery work, a small necklace, golden color peacock design chain on her waist, mixture of pink and golden colour bangles and her usual anklets.

Rajesh and his family arrived at Sheela's house. Rajesh wore a brown salwar kamiz. Sheela and Rajesh exchanged the rings. Sheela could see Rajesh's sister Sujatha  didnot like her much but her daughter Janaki was a sweetheart. She became life if the celebration with her running around making everyone laugh with her cute talks and her sweet giggling. Sheela quickly became friends with Janaki as the little girl declared herself her friend loudly for everyone to hear. Rajesh had to smile at that and began tickling Janaki making the girl laugh out loud. Sheela  smiled seeing uncle and niece relationship. The engagement was small celebration with intimate family members.

Rajesh asked Sheela to give her phone number when no one was looking at them, as they were not given privacy to talk at all and they exchanged their numbers. she has to tell about this to her mother later sheela thought. Their kundalis have matched and the marriage date has been fixed in two months.