BEAUTY OF INNOCENCE

After the preparation of breakfast, Periyavar went out to the garden to water and manure the flower plants. Observing that, Nandana Menike too walked up to him to give a helping hand.

"If Sandra Hamu calls me, she always asks about the flower plants, about their blooming, watering, maturing, weeding, thousands of questions… but, she has so far never asked anything about me; whether I had my meals… or anything of that nature…"

Periyavar had that art of using his gestures quite meaningfully to express his ideas like an actor.

"Even though she doesn't ask about it, she knows how you eat…" Nandana Menike represented Sandra's part there.

"Needless to say, Menike… Birds of same feather flock together…" Periyavar passed a hint to Nandana Menike chewing a betel quid.

"Here, here… you see… these Dalia's, they are bushy, can't grow well when there are many together…" pointing at the Dalia plants, Nandana Menike commented.

"Menike, the small hand Polk is under the table in the kitchen… could you bring it…?" Examining the bushes carefully he tried to uproot the unnecessary ones and replant them separately.

Periyavar never gave orders to her. Whenever he wanted to get something done, he politely requested. Nandana Menike ran towards the kitchen. Unexpectedly Rover came out of the garage and she noticed that Rover's round shiny eyes were on her. She was petrified and had no way to run for safety. She felt as if her legs were locked. She closed her eyes and screamed when it came towards her like a tiger chasing a deer. Rover jumped at her keeping its fore paws on her shoulders. She fell down and sensed its breath close to her face. She feared that it would tear her neck or body apart in no time. At the same time with an unfamiliar smell of perfume, Nandana Menike felt her shoulders being tightly held by two strong hands and helped her to get up. She opened her eyes and saw Bernard looking at her with a smile. She looked here and there and saw Rover freely running on the meadow.

"Scared… that much…?"

Releasing a deep breath Nandana Menike felt at ease ultimately. Hearing her scream, Koinmanika came running to the garden.

"Why… why… why child…?"

"Koinamma, you also got frightened…" Said Bernard with a smile.

Koinmanika sensed that Nandana Menike was still trembling with fear.

"Rover now knows this girl very much… It doesn't harm the people at home…" telling that to Koinmanika, Bernard stepped towards Rover.

"Oh... my god…! I thought I was no more… it jumped at me like a man – eating tiger…" She took some effort to pretend that she had returned to her normal mood despite the shock.

"It's very playful, that's why it behaves like that… still seven months…"

The seven-month-old Rover was there or four fold bigger than the four-year-old dog at Nandana Menike's place.

Bernard very rarely remained at the bungalow during the day time. The telephone started ringing a short while after lunch to which Bernard answered. It was from Sandra. She got agitated when she learnt that Bernard was still at home who was supposed to be ready to leave for Australia on that day.

"Bernard…! Are you still at home…? Aren't you coming….?"

There was much disappointment embedded in her voice.

"I was to come… Those people not only stopped me telling lies, but also cheated me again…" He tried to convince her his attempts to get a reasonable valuation and how things finally fell apart.

"Your property, compensations… always your priorities…! No regard for me or my family… I always get embarrassed in front of our people…" The words she uttered denoted her anger.

"Don't say like that Sandra… I was ready to come with you… I had to cancel it at the last moment. You know it very well…"

Their telephone conversation went up to the extent of filling their minds with displeasure and disappointment. Her first accusation against him was his disregard for her commitment and sacrifices she made keeping her easy-going life aside and confining her to the four walls of a big house after the marriage, for which he could have done some kind of justice. She analyzed one by one how he took no effort to understand her monotonous life. Their conversation turned into a heated argument as both parties came under fire giving excuses to defend each other, which ultimately resulted in the abrupt disconnection of the connection by Sandra's party. Periyavar, being astonished half way on the flight of steps, waited until the end of Bernard's accusations to Sandra. Nandana Menike and Koinmenika took their meals looking at each other. They had no appetite either. After a few minutes, they heard the garage of the first floor being opened and the engine of the Volkswagen racing. The three at the bungalow couldn't think anything of the impending circumstances. Bernard had used the exit of the second floor to go down to the first floor instead of using his usual path. They guessed that he behaved in that way being unable to face them.

Koinmenika and Nandana Menike in the meantime, decided to go back to their house, despite Periyavar's aversion.

After a few minutes of their departure, the telephone rang again. It was from Sandra as she wanted to speak to Nandana Menike. Since Nandana Menike was not there, she instructed Periyavar to keep Nandana Menike at the bungalow on the following day.