07.You & Me - Sandhya

 Uma answered Seetha's question without any hesitation.

"Seetha amma... there's nothing much to tell about me... My marriage was a love marriage... we fought with both the families and finally got married... But after marriage life was not cake walk for my husband... within a year he got bored working and earning money for his wife... So one fine day he left me all alone and went back to his family... I don't have much education and I was literally standing in the streets when I met Thulasi... She was also coming out few personal tragedies at that time... She only gave this idea of starting a boutique... I didn't have even a single penny with me... Thulasi invested all the money using her gold jewellery... But still from that day to today, I get the same profit share..."

Uma's tone had a slight complaining flavor added to it at this point. Thulasi quickly interrupted and said,

"No Seetha madam... She atleast knows stitching and embroidery work... I had no knowledge on that... I learnt all these things after starting this boutique... Money can’t give you everything... but hard work does.. And that hard work came from Uma only..."

"No... Seetha amma... she is not telling you the truth.. It's true that I had to do lot of work... But it was not that very easy for her too... She was the one who took care of everything right from handling customers to cleaning... meanwhile she also studied fashion designing and learned stitching from me..."

Seetha was appreciative of both the young women. And after few minutes, she hesitantly asked Uma,
"So what happened to your husband?"

"Oh.. He applied for divorce and I accepted it and now he is happily married to another rich girl..." said Uma with no change in expression.

"Seetha madam, what do you think about this yellow sari? Will this border suit this one?" asked Thulasi.

Seetha understood that Thulasi wanted to change the topic and hence happily started giving her suggestions to Thulasi. After working on the sari, Thulasi went to the shop section to talk to the sales girl. Uma who was waiting for that opportunity, turned to Seetha and said,

"Really Seetha amma, I would have died if it's not for Thulasi... Though I was only from a middle class family, I was pampered in every aspect. But I still left behind every one for this person, who can't even work for me... Actually when I met Thulasi she also had so many problems but she was like a rock, a light house, guiding her family and even me... Even when this guy applied for divorce, if it's not for Thulasi's help I don't think I would have managed it. Now I don't have any issues talking or even meeting him... My father died last year and my brother was hesitant to take care of my mother... So I have brought my mother with me... I took a bad decision, but thank God, I have now got an opportunity to repay for it... But all the credit should go to Thulasi... If you hear her story, it's worse than mine..." said Uma with a sigh.

Seetha though wanted to know about Thulasi's past, didn't pressurize Uma on that subject.

"Hello mom!!!"

Seetha didn't immediately respond to Dinakaran's wish. She was lost in her own thoughts. Dinakaran came near took the news paper in front of him and waved it in front of his mother's face.

"Hello mom!!!" he wished her again.

Seetha suddenly got out of her thoughts and was surprised to see his son standing in front of her with a big smile. A smile automatically appeared in her face also.

"Dinu, good to see you with a smile like this..."

"What else do you expect mom, when you sit in front of me and sleep with your eyes wide open! Now I know how good you would have been in your school" said Dinakaran teasingly.

"That's true! I never had any interest in studies Dinu... So tell me the reason behind your beaming face?"

"Hmmm.... beaming face?????"

"Yes, you look very happy today..."

"Right mom! You are correct... after a long time I met a girl who is more focused in her work and family, rather than running behind men with money..."

"hmmm... really???'

"Yes... Her name is Kavya... She is a young software developer working in the software project for our new Hotel.. I have heard lot of good things about her... very energetic... though young and inexperienced she is very talented...."

"hmmm....."

Dinakaran noticed the odd expression in his mother's face but continued to praise Kavya.

"Even in this young age she is able to handle pressure situations coolly... I am very much impressed by her..."

"hmmm..."

"I got a chance to meet her in the function organized to celebrate the launch of the software for our hotels... she is so smart..."

"How old is she?"