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Authors: Sundari Venkatraman
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two
birds with one stone! Akshay was a genius.
Sunita nodded her head demurely, her lips tightly shut to stop a grin from splitting her face. She
looked at Akshay from the corner of her eye as he winked at her.
Grandpa stood listening to the exchange and was glad that his Sunita was in safe hands.
“Okay then, I’ll be seeing you,” said Akshay, all set to leave.
“Akshay, please come in and sit for a while, son. I heard you left without having anything in the
evening either. You must have something to eat,” insisted Gokul.
Akshay looked at Sunita as she mouthed, “Please.”
“That’s true Uncle. I wasn’t hungry then. I’ll have something now. Come, Sunita, I’m sure you’re
also famished.”
Sunita glared at his back as Gokul escorted Akshay into the house. This huge hunk could possibly
eat a full meal after those delicious kebabs, but she couldn’t swallow another bite. She followed them
quietly as she didn’t want to argue with Akshay in front of her father.
Her mother was relieved at the averted situation. Grandpa patted Akshay on his back, showed him
the ‘thumbs up’ sign and winked at him.
What was with the two of them— behaving like old friends? Sunita felt envious.
“ Dadaji , I hope it’s not past your bed time. Will you join us please?”
He was like a breath of fresh air in the stiff and formal household.
They all sat around the dining table with Leela rushing up and down to serve the meal. Sunita went
to help her.
“Oh, Mamma! I had such a wonderful time. I hope you weren’t too worried.”
“I wasn’t worried about you, dear. Only what Pappa would say. But all the anxiety is worth seeing
the happy smile on your face. And Akshay—looks like your father’s met his match.”
Sunita smiled at her mother and carried a few dishes to the dining table.
“You too sit down, Aunty. Mm— everything looks delicious. You must have gone to a lot of
trouble.”
Leela looked at her daughter’s betrothed and almost blushed. It was the first time she received a
compliment for her efforts. “That was no trouble at all, son. I hope you like it.”
Akshay polished off the Roti, Sabzi, Dal and Rice served on his plate. Gokul eagerly took part in
the general talk at the table. It centred around the garment business and its export. While the women
were used to the shop talk and kept silent, Akshay had other ideas. He wanted to know what they
thought about everything. While Leela continued to remain quiet, Sunita was vociferous in her
opinions. The scene took on the makings of a debate. Akshay looked at the grandfather clock in
surprise as it chimed midnight.
“I’d better rush,” he said, smiling at everyone. He shook Gokul’s hand, “It’s been an interesting
evening. I think we should do this more often. You all must come over to our place soon. Thank you
for the lovely meal Aunty. And Dadaji ,” he put his arm around Grandpa’s shoulders, “I’m sorry to
have kept you up so late.”
“Not at all, Akshay. I wouldn’t have missed your visit for anything.” Dadaji was too happy with his
newfound grandson.
“Well, see you all soon then. Sunita, will you walk me to the car?” he asked.
The patriarch spoke, “You do that, my dear and lock up after. We’re going to bed. Come on, Gokul,
Leela. Good night, Akshay, Sunita.” The ever tactful Grandpa wanted the youngsters to have some
privacy.
Akshay was reluctant to leave Sunita. She didn’t want to part with him either. In just one evening,
she felt she had found a friend for life. He added cheer to her dull life. She wondered if she would
meet him the next day, but was too shy to ask.
“It’s quite late, Akshay. I’m sure you have a full day tomorrow.”
“Yes damn it,” he angrily hit his right fist on his left palm.
Sunita was shaken at his vehemence. “Hey,” she said in a shocked voice, “What’s wrong?” She
touched his arm hesitantly.
He immediately guessed that she was
birds with one stone! Akshay was a genius.
Sunita nodded her head demurely, her lips tightly shut to stop a grin from splitting her face. She
looked at Akshay from the corner of her eye as he winked at her.
Grandpa stood listening to the exchange and was glad that his Sunita was in safe hands.
“Okay then, I’ll be seeing you,” said Akshay, all set to leave.
“Akshay, please come in and sit for a while, son. I heard you left without having anything in the
evening either. You must have something to eat,” insisted Gokul.
Akshay looked at Sunita as she mouthed, “Please.”
“That’s true Uncle. I wasn’t hungry then. I’ll have something now. Come, Sunita, I’m sure you’re
also famished.”
Sunita glared at his back as Gokul escorted Akshay into the house. This huge hunk could possibly
eat a full meal after those delicious kebabs, but she couldn’t swallow another bite. She followed them
quietly as she didn’t want to argue with Akshay in front of her father.
Her mother was relieved at the averted situation. Grandpa patted Akshay on his back, showed him
the ‘thumbs up’ sign and winked at him.
What was with the two of them— behaving like old friends? Sunita felt envious.
“ Dadaji , I hope it’s not past your bed time. Will you join us please?”
He was like a breath of fresh air in the stiff and formal household.
They all sat around the dining table with Leela rushing up and down to serve the meal. Sunita went
to help her.
“Oh, Mamma! I had such a wonderful time. I hope you weren’t too worried.”
“I wasn’t worried about you, dear. Only what Pappa would say. But all the anxiety is worth seeing
the happy smile on your face. And Akshay—looks like your father’s met his match.”
Sunita smiled at her mother and carried a few dishes to the dining table.
“You too sit down, Aunty. Mm— everything looks delicious. You must have gone to a lot of
trouble.”
Leela looked at her daughter’s betrothed and almost blushed. It was the first time she received a
compliment for her efforts. “That was no trouble at all, son. I hope you like it.”
Akshay polished off the Roti, Sabzi, Dal and Rice served on his plate. Gokul eagerly took part in
the general talk at the table. It centred around the garment business and its export. While the women
were used to the shop talk and kept silent, Akshay had other ideas. He wanted to know what they
thought about everything. While Leela continued to remain quiet, Sunita was vociferous in her
opinions. The scene took on the makings of a debate. Akshay looked at the grandfather clock in
surprise as it chimed midnight.
“I’d better rush,” he said, smiling at everyone. He shook Gokul’s hand, “It’s been an interesting
evening. I think we should do this more often. You all must come over to our place soon. Thank you
for the lovely meal Aunty. And Dadaji ,” he put his arm around Grandpa’s shoulders, “I’m sorry to
have kept you up so late.”
“Not at all, Akshay. I wouldn’t have missed your visit for anything.” Dadaji was too happy with his
newfound grandson.
“Well, see you all soon then. Sunita, will you walk me to the car?” he asked.
The patriarch spoke, “You do that, my dear and lock up after. We’re going to bed. Come on, Gokul,
Leela. Good night, Akshay, Sunita.” The ever tactful Grandpa wanted the youngsters to have some
privacy.
Akshay was reluctant to leave Sunita. She didn’t want to part with him either. In just one evening,
she felt she had found a friend for life. He added cheer to her dull life. She wondered if she would
meet him the next day, but was too shy to ask.
“It’s quite late, Akshay. I’m sure you have a full day tomorrow.”
“Yes damn it,” he angrily hit his right fist on his left palm.
Sunita was shaken at his vehemence. “Hey,” she said in a shocked voice, “What’s wrong?” She
touched his arm hesitantly.
He immediately guessed that she was
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