Bittersweet

-25-

She had a smile looking at the new city, they were travelling in a taxi to the office where Raghu was invited to present his project. Yesterday afternoon they came to Mumbai, this was the first time Sathya was out of Tamilnadu. More than excitement she's nervous for Raghu and praying God that everything should go fine.

"Look Sanjay," she smiled pointing out a tall building to him since he kept crying from the morning. Raghu stared them with a smile on his face, leaving out a sigh he gripped Sathya's hand.

She turned to meet his anxious face, "Don't be nervous, you came to this far and you'll surely meet your success," she encouraged him with a smile on her face. Sometimes all we need is a small motivation that could push us to go forward. At that moment he got all that strength from her words.

"Hmm," Raghu nodded.

The taxi stopped before a large building and Raghu got down paying the bill. He's dressed in a blue shirt and black slacks which is prefect on his frame.

Raghu headed inside and Sathya carrying Sanjay followed him. He asked her to wait in the office entry and headed inside talking to the male administrator sitting in the front.

It took more than two hours for Raghu to come out, Sathya got bored and came out of the building. There's a cafeteria near to it, she waited there having a juice.

Sathya has a dream too but she's ageing too. Slowly she's losing her faith that she's ever going to chase it but she's happy that at least Raghu is doing. Whatever the initiatives that she started have gone. She can't blame Raghu or Sanjay, it's her decision to look after her family than anything else.

When she was in her thoughts, she got a call from Raghu.
"Where are you?" Raghu asked in the usual way.
"I am in a cafeteria near the building," she replied.
"Wait there, I am coming," he ended the call.

Sathya was eager to know what happened. She hopes it's a positive response.
Raghu came inside with a smile dancing across his face and sat before her. "What happened?"

"Hmm I presented well, but they asked me to wait."

"Oh, how do you feel now?" She asked.

"I am happy," he grinned.

Seeing that Sathya had a big smile, "Shall we go?" He asked.

"Are we leaving?" She asked.

"No, let's wait in the entrance," he told.

"Drink something before going inside," Sathya told and went to get a juice for Raghu where he looked after Sanjay.

Sathya again stands by in the entrance, beside her two men were talking in Hindi. She passed her time listened to their conversation not understanding a single thing.

Again after an hour, Raghu came out but this time his face was not the happiest.

"Let's go," he told.

"What happened?"

"I will tell you, now let's go out," Raghu started walking.

Sathya felt sad thinking that he might be rejected, but while waiting for a taxi, Raghu said.

"They like my idea and willing to buy it for twenty lakhs," he told.

"Is it?" Sathya exclaimed.

"But they wanted me to sign a contract that I shouldn't claim for ownership,"

"That means?"

"They will use my idea for their product as their invention and I shouldn't tell that is mine in the future," he replied.

"What did you said?" She asked.

"I told them, I will give my answer next week,"

"If I want to be the owner, then they asked me to work there for at least five years. You know I can't do that," Raghu nodded his head.

"What do you feel?" He asked for her opinion.

"I don't know, but right now you've to find out whether this works out or not. So give it, this isn't the only thing you have right. You're going to work for new innovations," Sathya said her point.

"But still, this is my first attempt and it feels odd if it's not in my name," Raghu's face scrunched in disappointment.

"Okay, let's decide this later, we still have a week," she patted his shoulder and the taxi came.

Raghu searched for a good hotel nearby and decided to take Sathya there. They had a nice lunch and went to one or two places in the evening. Raghu has become relaxed and thought what Sathya has told was right too.

The next day they returned back to Chennai, Sathya took a day off and rested in the house. She prepared laddu and payasam for Raghu in the evening. As per his wish, she made chicken gravy for the night.

Sathya doesn't have anything in her mind than keeping him happy. She is someone who considers her own happiness lies in the happiness of her loved ones. So she can't help but kept doing it. Last time their fight made her fear whether they will drift apart in the future so she's making sure to not let that happen again.

Raghu is someone who never had anyone taking special care on him. So he had an unknown affection on Sathya which is more than love and near to obsession. He can't describe his feelings but she and Sanjay were his whole world. This is how a man can fall in love truly. A love that comes out of understanding and compassion.

Raghu finally took a decision that Sathya has said. She even warned him to think properly but he decided to go for it because he can't lose this chance and for the first-timer something like this is big.

They again asked Raghu to come to Mumbai for signing the contract and asked him to stay there for ten more days to explain it for the staffs. Sathya was happy for Raghu and she felt like she achieved too.

This time Raghu decided to go alone and Sathya agreed.
It was the day before Raghu going to Mumbai. He picked up Sathya from work and took her to the mall. She's confused and thought he's going to buy some new shirt for him.
"What do you want, Sathya? Ask me I will buy it for you," he told.
"I don't want anything," she nodded.
"How about a saree, you didn't buy any clothes in this seven months," he said.
"No," she nodded.
"Why you're not asking anything to me. I want to buy you something," he asked but Sathya doesn't know that will be his last request.
She smiled, "I will buy a kurta, okay," they conversed standing in the escalator.
Raghu waited patiently for Sathya to choose. She also bought a small cap for Sanjay and a saree for her mother. After purchasing they headed home.
Sathya was going to miss him and she can't help but feel sad about their separation for ten days.
The night was calm and chill, Sathya opened the bedroom window and sat on the floor beside their wardrobe. Raghu took a seat on the bed watching Sathya packing his bag.
Sanjay was already sleeping with Sathya's Mom in the other room.
"Are you going to stay in the same hotel?" she asked.
"Yes, that's near to the company," he replied.
"Eat healthily, and drink a lot of water," she advised.
"Hmm," he smiled and sat on the floor beside her.
"What?" she questioned blushing to see their proximity.
"I am going to stay away for ten days," he exclaimed like a complaint.
"Yes, what you want me to do?" she asked.
"Don't talk like you don't know anything," Raghu came close to her lips.
Sathya smiled and kissed his lips, they shared a passionate kiss. Then they eventually ended up in the bed naked. Their love is too hard to resist at that moment.
Sathya has never thought about another pregnancy but she wants to have a sister for Sanjay. But Raghu's wish is to adopt a girl. If everything goes fine soon Raghu will progress for it.
The next day, Raghu was ready to leave, it's a morning flight.
Sathya stayed in the home to send him off.
"Don't come late and be safe. If anything immediately call me, okay," Raghu commanded while going out of the house. He kissed Sanjay and that little boy said tata to him sweetly. Sathya's Mom asked him to come back home safely.
Standing in the balcony, Sathya watched Raghu leaving in the cab.