The next day

Shimla Public School

*Classical music playing*

After 10 minutes, the school bell rang. The students packed their bags to move out of the class. Some were still in the class discussing the steps with their favourite teacher, Madhu.

Madhu attained the fame of a respectable, hardworking and caring teacher for the school. She received the trust and respect of the faculty and students alike for her dedication.

So, when the board were having special program, she was invited to be the committee head of the cultural program.

Like every year, this year also the school was planning a grand annual program in celebration of its 70th anniversary. It was a big event for the school.

The school committee appointed Madhu as the cultural head for arranging all the cultural activities of the function.

So, Madhu was busy the whole week even coming during the weekends to brush on the minute details of the program.

The program was scheduled the coming Sunday with a renowned guest from Delhi.

"Ms. Madhu, we want no place for any mistake. Which we know you will not give a chance for, but we are saying it for the purpose of complete satisfaction of the committee board. I hope you understand," The principal spoke to Madhu making her understand the graveness of the issue.

"I understand Ms. Anupama. I will make sure that everything goes well without any issue." Madhu shaked her hand with the principal to assure her.

Madhu went to leave for the day. She took her phone and her satchel bag.

She was walking the school corridor, when

"Mam? Arjun Sir was looking for you."

Madhu turned to see one of her students signalling towards the canteen. She nodded her head and went towards the canteen.

In the Canteen

"Ha, ha, ha....and then..."

"Then what? We had to agree with the answer given by him." One of the teachers answered Arjun.

Arjun caught his stomach and laughed loudly.

(Arjun)

Madhu approached the teachers area of the canteen.

"Good Afternoon, Pawan Sir." Madhu wished the teacher who wished her in return.

"Arrey! Madhu Mam! I was thinking about you only. Wonderful work at the assignment given to the students. It will also encourage them to know about our cultural heritage." Pawan Sir complimented her.

"It is nothing Sir. I just wanted the students to know about our country before they venture into the western culture." Madhu took a seat in one of the chairs.

Just like that the teachers conversed about their activities and the cultural fest of the school.

"Okay, then I will move. Wife called to come early." Pawan got up picking his bag and moving towards the exit.

"Arrey! Wait for another tea. It is been so long since we all had a chat like this." Arjun encouraged him trying to signal the canteen boy for another round of tea.

"Oh no! not another dose of tea! My wife will kill me! Anyway, I have to take her to the hospital. It is time for her monthly check up. She is due next month. So," saying so, he left the canteen leaving Arjun and Madhu.

Arjun and Madhu chatted for a while. Arjun told her that he would drop her to her cottage as he wanted to see Trishna too.

Hearing the love for her baby, she couldn't say no.

Both reached the cottage, to be welcomed by aunty. Prabha aunty loved Arjun and thought that he was ideal for her Madhu.

Arjun was really a wonderful personality. Smart, handsome and mature. He was the example of husband material.

He loved Madhu especially since he came to know that she is a mother of such a wonderful baby girl.

He loved children and so every evening, after the school he used to visit Prabha aunt's cottage to play with baby Trishna.

"Where is my baby Isha?" Arjun babbled towards Trishna who shaked her hands with joy to see her favourite uncle.

Both of them played in the living room with the toys bought over by Arjun.

Madhu came back from her room changed into a simple attire. Seeing her, Arjun's eyes glistened.

He was waiting patiently for her to accept his proposal.

Madhu however, was not interested in the topic of love. As it only angered her and made her remember the one person, she feared the most.

On Saturday evening

Madhu was making the final touches on the stage with the help of the student volunteers.

"Mam, shall we keep the vase over here, near the mike stand?" one of the volunteers asked Madhu.

"No, keep it below the podium. We don't want the dignitaries to experience any kind of hindrances when moving in and out of the stage," Arjun voiced Madhu's opinion to which she was glad that he helped her despite his own work.

"Thanks Arjun. I don't know how I would have done all this without you." Madhu expressed herself sitting on the chair exhausted.

Arjun grabbed his water bottle and handed it to her to relax.

They were talking about tomorrow's preparation and making detailed analysis of how the program would be staged properly without any mistakes.

After an hour, Arjun dropped Madhu in his car to her cottage. Madhu invited him in the cottage but he said that he had to meet his friend who had come from Mumbai for a visit.

Madhu understood the value of friendship as she missed her bestie a lot.

Bidding his goodbye, Arjun left for his home which was not far from the cottage.

At Arjun's house

"It has been so long since we met last time. Right Arjun?" the man slumped on the living room chair to relax his tired muscles.

Arjun smiled at his friends antics. He grabbed some ice water from the fridge with some snacks towards the living room.

Both the friends reminisced their work and daily dose of life including their families and friends.

"Tell you what! Why don't you come to the school annual function tomorrow? This way you can meet Madhu too," said Arjun while serving the noodles and gravy to his friend.

"Hmm.... let me see. I have to leave day after tomorrow in the morning. So, ...yeah! Why not?! I will be able to meet my sister-in-law!" his friend was being told about Madhu and Arjun's interest to marry her.

"Great!! I will tell Madhu about you," saying so Arjun dialled Madhu's number. But his friend stopped him saying that he wanted to surprise her.

Arjun agreed to his friend's childish wish.

Next day afternoon

Madhu took Trishna in the living room and made her sit in the playpen.

Since she could play by herself, it was easy for Madhu to do her daily chores without much trouble.

Prabha aunty came to the living room and saw Madhu getting ready to go to the school.

"Madhu, please eat something, you will get tired!" Prabha aunty told her signalling Mala to get her some curd rice to eat before she left for school.

"It's ok, aunty. I am already late! I will have something from the canteen. Don't worry. You just take care of Isha, aunty. I will try to come as early as possible," said Madhu and kissed Trishna on her chubby cheeks moving out of the cottage.

"This girl! She never takes care of herself. She is so selfless! Only caring about others." Prabha aunty grabbed Trishna earning a gibberish babble from her.

Trishna was able to say 'Mama' and frame some slightly understandable sentences. So, when she wanted her mother to be close to her, she would throw a tantrum making everyone restless.

Trishna was just like her father; she would always get what she wanted.

At the school

Madhu was touching up the hair of the next batch of performers to go on the stage.

Arjun was on the stage helping the committee members on clearing the stage for the next performers.

His friend had seated himself in one of the seats in the audiences.

The next performance was choreographed by Madhu. So, it was very special for her. As she stood near the entrance curtain hiding herself partially monitoring the performance.

Arjun came back to her and patted her shoulder to assure her that her students' performance would be good.

After the performance ended, the students went towards their mentor taking her in a group hug. Everyone applauded the performance earning a pride among the teachers and of course Madhu.

"Mam, we did it!" all the students exclaimed their excitement to their favourite teacher earning a teary smile from her.

When they relaxed, the group moved to the changing room to relax.

Madhu was suddenly feeling fainty and she slumped in the nearby chair. Arjun gasped at her sudden action. He grabbed before she could fall.

"Madhu, are you alright?! Here have some water," saying so he gave her some water to regain her consciousness.

"I am fine. Ju-just a little weak. That's all," Madhu said with weak eyes to him.

"Did you have your lunch, before coming here? no right?! Madhu, how many times I have told you to take care of yourself, huh? Why are you so careless about yourself, huh?!" Arjun shouted at her getting worried.

Madhu smiled at his care and just let him take her to the cab. He had booked a cab to take her to the cottage. She insisted to not leave the function in between, but Arjun was adamant. He insisted her to take rest as he had seen her exhausting herself for the function for the past few weeks.

After the function, Arjun went to his friend. He asked about his love interest, to which Arjun said that she had health issue so he opted to send her home. He promised that he will introduce her some other time.

At the cottage, Madhu was getting a good long-awaited shouting from Prabha aunty for being careless.

"I don't know, Madhu when are you going to understand! You need to take care of yourself! I told you that I don't need your money to let you stay here! You are my daughter! Why would I take money from my daughter to let her stay in her own house!" Prabha aunty shouted at her sniffing in between.

Madhu felt bad to tense her. She went near her and hugged her getting a sweet pat on her shoulder.

Both the ladies cared for each other so much that people would think that they are actual mother and daughter.

In Mumbai

The next day

At Menon house

Sameer was playing with his son, Sanal in the living room.

Latha came alongwith Mrs. Menon to the dining table to serve the breakfast.

Mr. Menon had the newspaper in his hand and sipping on his tea.

"Dad, we need to attend the meeting and decide on the proceedings for the California Convention centre project," Sameer said to his father after putting Sanal down to play with his toys.

"Hm, Did you inform Vinay about it. He will come with you as I and Vasudev need to attend the ongoing projects here. And also, we have the jewellery opening ceremony of our friend in Shimla, next month. We can't miss that," Mr. Menon told him while getting up and donning his coat.

He walked towards the exit and explained to Sameer about the meeting. When he reached the exit, he saw his wife in the living room.

Mrs. Menon waited for him at the living room saddened.

"Dear, what is this! I told you to go and meet up with your friends. Don't be in the house all day. You are ruining your health," Mr. Menon side hugged her earning a weak nod from her.

Mr. Menon shaked his head knowing that this was the regular routine for his wife, who would silently do her work without indulging in the outside world.

She had even stopped going to the Nair's as it reminded her of her daughter.

Everyone missed their loving daughter, Sonia who seemed to have lost contact with even her parents. Maybe she wanted some time to move from the betrayal given by her own family members.

💕💕💕💕💕💕

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