The panelists had announced that they will tell their verdict on 27-Dec and it was 23-Dec. Suman came down with a set of sarees

" Renu Bhabi, that Sumangala aunty has given these sarees. I have done everything. Aunty had told me she will come and collect it today. You know right my dance students will be coming now. I have kept the note on the rates. Could you please give this sarees to aunty when she comes and collect the amount. I need to get ready to teach" told Suman

" No issues Suman. You go I will give the sarees to auntiji when she comes"

Suman proceeded towards her dance room as Maheswari came from outside collecting flowers for evening pooja

" Renu Vindhya didn't come yet " she asked

" No Ma. She told after her meeting with her friends she will go to Gowri Shankar mandir and then only she will come. It is Nami's birthday next month right. So she wanted to give for Aayush homa"

" Yaa I forgot she does Aayush homa every year for Nami and it needs to be booked early "

As they were talking the lady Sumangala came. " Suman beta where are you. Are my sarees ready "

" Sumangala aunty Suman has gone to teach dance. But your sarees are ready. Here they are" Renu gaved the packed sarees to the lady. She took it and gave money. As she was leaving shee turned

" Maheswariji did you hear the news that is going round. It is explosive if it turns out to be true"

" What news Sumangala. I didn't hear anything particular. Also you know this year I have not gone out much anywhere reason you understand right"

" Yes yes Maheswariji not need to explain. But listen. " Do you remember Anusree Patel "

Renu froze as Maheswari said " Yes that girl right who about some 12-15 years back outcasted from the society for her illegimate pregnancy . Who will forget her. The girl was pleading she has married. But then there was no one ratify her claim. The boy, his family none was there. But the girl was wearing all symbols of a married woman. She had mangalsutra and sindoor.And it was on that ground that what she tells is true she was not stoned, but just outcasted. What happened to her"

" She is no more. But the news is that, the girl who is leading this entry for widows in temple Poornima Patel is her daughter" Renu felt the ground give away under her feet.

" And these ladies Sumedha, Kinjala, Charulatha and all are trying to ascertain whether it is true. If so when the verdict is announced in temple they are publicly going to call the girl illegimate and humiliate her. They are going to question her about her father. The girl is told he is dead right. The girl will not have clear answer. Then they are going to show her photos of that meeting where Anu is punished and tell she is not the daughter of a widow but the daughter of a characterless woman who couldn't tell the name of the father of her child. And because she is born to such a characterless woman she is disrespecting traditions"

Maheswari kept the hands on her head " Sumangala I hope it doesn't happen. She is such a nice girl and people will be destroying that sweet girl if they do it"

" Maheswariji you know this traditionalists right. Do they respect anyone's feelings. I am only feeling sorry for the girl " said Sumangala as she walked out.

Maheswari sighed as she moved towards Pooja room. Renu felt her head spinning. What was she supposed to do now. Tilak was in Bombay and if she tells him this now he will be an emotional wreck as he might not be able to come fast. Also the tickets. No she cannot tell Tilak. Then what. Renu knew she cannot allow the child to be humiliated. She knew she only will have to manage it. She realized why she was feeling uneasy when Tilak travelled last week.

Renu walked across the room thinking what to do. Whom to tell. Finally she decided. She has to let her devars and devaranis know. Anyways the truth has to be known to them one day. If she doesn't tell now and take their support in solving it, and if the girl gets humiliated Tilak can go into a shock from where she might never get her husband back.

But the problem was no one was there. Vindhya had not come back and she looked at the dance room. Suman was busy teaching dance. Suman had got a request from a mother of her student who stayed in the army colony. For the new year Charity bash in Army Cantonment for some girls of the army cantonment can Suman choreograph a dance. Suman had agreed. So instead of weekend classes these 7 girls came every day from the past one week after school. Program was on 8th Jan. Renu knew Suman will be free around 7-7:30 pm only as the girls parents came to pick them. Sudhir and Sreedhar they came mostly by dinner time only.

She walked impatiently. She went near the door and looked out whether Vindhya was coming. Then she went to the dance room where the recorder was playing " Morni baga maa bole adhi ratma " and Suman was showing steps.

" Renu what happened. You looked tense" asked Maheswari as she walked past Renu

" Nothing maa. Let me call kids for the evening aarti" She went upstairs to kids room her eyes still checking whether Vindhya coming. Maheswari looked at Renu. She knew Renu was bothered. Her usually calm composed elder bahu was disturbed. She decided to ask Renu later.