Words were different but all the parents expressed the same opinion.

The meeting so successfully came to an end and Mrudanga Rao was so happy. He was greeting the parents whom he knew much. Slowly he came to Malathi and Sundar.

"You both are the parents of Jasmine, ninth class" looking into the faces of them he said.

"You are right" Malathi smiled. "How you recognized us like that? So many parents do meet you every day."

"There is a strong resemblance between mother and daughter." Mrudanga Rao said. "As soon as I saw you, I recognized you as the mother of Jasmine."

"Alright...alright..." Malathi laughed and nodded her head.

"Your Jasmine is a good friend to most of the students. Everyone likes to talk with her. You know what happened...." Then he told them about Jasmine talking with his son and the change that took place in him. "I just don't know what your daughter talked with my son. But he completely changed. He is studying so carefully now. I must thank your daughter for this."

Malathi and Sundar looked into each other's faces. They did not know what to talk. Malathi felt awkward. Then Mrudanga Rao proceeded forward to meet other parents there.

"Mom, parents of Jasmine." Anupama took her parents near to Malathi and Sundar and said.

"Hello" Anupama's parents greeted Malathi and Sundar.

"My name is Anupama and I am Jasmine's classmate. We both are very close friends." With a smile Anupama said.

"Is it is so?" Malathi smiled.

"It is not just that" Anupama's father Nirmal said. "Your daughter is a good friend to my son also who is studying tenth class. He used to roam and waste his time always. But your daughter changed him. Anupama said your daughter talked something with him and got a change like that in him."

Malathi felt awkward once again on hearing that. She remembered the recent conversation between her and her daughter. Jasmine told her about the interest boys in the school were showing on her.

"We are feeling very happy. We never have thought that our son would show interest like that in his studies. You both please may come to our home on one day with your daughter." Anupama's mother Sakunthala said.

"Sure, we shall do so." Malathi said still feeling awkwardly.

Then Anupama and her parents say bye and went away from there.

Malathi and Sundar started walking to their home. They preferred to walk as it was just small distance from the school to their home.

"I just don't know how to take this all." Malathi said with a pinch of irritation in her voice.

"What to take this all?" there was surprise in the face of Sundar.

"Why all the boys are taking inspiration from Jasmine like this?"

"I just cannot understand." There was confusion in his voice.

Then Malathi told him what was transpired between her and Jasmine few days back. "She said that boys are showing too much interest in talking with her."

Sundar laughed and said. "What is wrong in it? I used to show interest like that on glamorous girls at that age."

"You are right. Now you are also sure that they are showing interest on our daughter not just for her advice. It may not be not for her advice at all." Malathi said.

"I got your point." Sundar nodded his head. "What you ultimately want to say?"

"I am not feeling flattered and happy that our girl is approached by boys like that. I am feeling awkward knowing that they are coming to our girl as she is beautiful." Malathi said.

"It does not lead to any dangers. Don't feel unnecessary worry."

"We cannot say anything until something unwanted happens."

Sundar suddenly stopped and looked into his wife's eyes. "What unwanted happens in your opinion?"

"You heard what Niranjan has said. This is an age of prematurity." Malathi said.

"Our daughter has got maturity two years back itself."

"I am talking about the maturity of mind." Malathi said. "I am serious Sundar."

"I am also serious." Setting a serious expression on his face Sundar said. "Tell me what is indeed gnawing your mind."

"We are all listening a lot about premature loves, premature sexual intercourses. What is the guarantee that our girl would not be subjected to something like that?"

"Are you thinking that our girl is such a silly fish? She would do such foolish things and put herself in such foolish traps?"

They both were now standing on the side of the road near to their house and talking in themselves.

"My father's brother's daughter got state rank in her tenth class. We are all thought of her so clever. Fallen in love with someone at her intermediate and eloped with him. She returned to home after two years completely spent up."

"Our daughter never does such type of a foolish thing."

"We cannot say anything until it happens."

"You have been turned out as a complete pessimist." Looking accusingly at her Sundar said.

"May be I am. What would be the wrong if we are little careful? Tell her about those premature loves and unwanted pregnancies?"

"I agree with you hundred percent on this. Then tell her all about that. You are the best person to make her knowledgeable about those things."

Malathi helplessly nodded her head and said. "I just don't know how to say all that to her. It is all so awkward even to think."

"But so much important also." Sundar said.

They could not talk anything more on that as they entered into their home and greeted by their daughter.

***

"Tell me what is the next step? What we have to do?" Mounika asked Jasmine anxiously. "Our parents went to the lawyer once again on yesterday. My father said that the lawyer said to them that he would be ready with all the necessary papers just in one week."

"Don't worry that much. Divorce would not be granted just by submitting the papers into the court. Atleast six months or so have to pass." Jasmine thinking furiously what next step she has to suggest to Mounika, said.

"Then it grants divorce. What next? We have to do something in between and I just don't know what to do."

"I am here to suggest something to you. Why are you worrying so much?" Jasmine irritated.

"You are not suggesting anything at all. That is why I am worrying." Mounika said.

"If your father doesn't agree to the divorce it may not be granted easily. Your mother has to show a very strong reason to get divorce. Anyhow it can be delayed very long then."

"What would be the use Jasmine?" Mounika nodded her head helplessly. "What would be the use if they just remain man and wife quarreling and hating all the time with each other so? It is quite better that they take divorce and live separate rather than living together like that."

"So the present problem not just confines to stop them from taking divorce. We have to see that they love each other and like each other." Jasmine said.

"I cannot even imagine it like that." Mounika said. "And we talked about it before also."

"We do find a way out. I am still optimistic about your matter Mounika. Just be patient for some more days."

"No special suggestions for the present?"

"Not in particular." Jatasmine said. "I too just cannot think any. Anyhow be friendly and supportive to your father. He is on our side."

"Alright." Mounika nodded her head.

***

"Mounika, why you are maintaining distance like that with me?" looking into the face of her daughter, Prameela asked.

"Why you are thinking that I am maintaining distance from you?"

"You are not talking with me as you used to talk. Are you angry with me for anything?"

"I am angry with you for only one thing."

Prameela turned her head away and did not say anything.

"Mom, is this divorce compulsory? Cannot we three live happily together?"

"Don't ask like that Mounika. I just cannot bear. This divorce is important. I have to separate myself from him. There is no other way."

Mounika did not say anything but remained silent.

"Why are you silent like that? I am doing a government job. We both can live so happily after this divorce." Looking into her daughter's face Prameela said.

"What happens to dad then?"

"Whatever may happen to him why do you bother?"

"Because he is my dad. He loves me as much as you love me."

"He is a rogue. He never can love anyone. He loves only himself."

"It is an outrageous lie. How can you say like that? Dad is a gentleman, I know."

"You are just wrong. You don't know about your dad." Prameela was becoming irritated.

"What that much wrong he did? Did he ill-treat you? Did he beat you? Did he torture you or scold you ever? That is all you are doing to him not he to you." Mounika angrily said.

"How dare you say like that?" Prameela slapped on the cheek of her daughter. "Never try to talk like that with me."

"Alright then." Clipping her inner lip between her teeth frames, restraining herself with force from weeping, Mounika went away from that place. She went straight into the bedroom and fall on the bed.

After few minutes Prameela came into that room and sat beside Mounika. She put her hand on Mounika's shoulder and called her with a low voice "Mounika".

Mounika did not respond to her at all.

"You are not sleeping I know. Turn my side. Look into my eyes. We have to talk."

Mounika was hearing all that. But she did not want to turn towards her mother and talk with her. She remained just like that even it was uncomfortable to her.

"He changed you, I know. He does not like us both live together. He always hates me. He is a big rogue."

Mounika suddenly turned and looked into the face of her mother. She surprised as there were tears in the face of her mother also.

"Don't talk about dad like that at all. He never changed me. He did not say anything against you to me. I know he does not hate you. It is you who always hate him."

(..........to be continued)

(I hope you enjoyedit so far. Please don't forget to rate and review it. I update the next chapteras early as possible.)