09.You & Me - Sandhya

Seetha received Thulasi with a warm smile as always. But her quick eyes soon spotted the difference in Thulasi's face. The blushing red and the unusual anxiety...

"What happened Thulasi? You look little bit out of sorts today?"

"No... Nothing madam...” stammered Thulasi.

"You met my son on your way?" asked a curious Seetha.

"hmmmm....."

"Ah! Now I know why you are out of sorts!" said Seetha.

"No madam, nothing like that..."

"Hmm... So you will not stop calling me madam?"

Thulasi just smiled back. Seetha too smiled and said,

"Come on Thulasi have something to eat..."

"No madam... I already had my breakfast."

"I know, but you usually have it very early in the day right? Now it's almost eleven, so it’s time for some snacks... come on..."

Seetha stood up and waited for Thulasi to join her. Thulasi took the cheque and handed it over to Seetha.

"Thulasi let this be the last cheque... from next month you can use this money for other expenses in the boutique."

"But madam..."

"No, no let me finish... See we had this agreement early just for the sake of my son. And now I am sure that he has also understood that you both are good people... So why should you waste this money when you can use it for something else?"

"No madam..."

"Look Thulasi... You need not take any decision hastily... Discuss this with Uma also... One of my friends wanted to visit your boutique, so I will be coming there some time around Friday... We can talk more about this then... Now come on, you should have some snacks..."

"Ok madam..." said Thulasi hesitantly. She kept her bag aside and also kept the rose next to it.

Only then Seetha noticed the flower.

"Pretty rose! Why are you holding it in your hand?"