"I don't have a hairpin... and I got it.... "
Thulasi struggled to complete the sentence. She didn't want to utter Dinakaran's name. Seetha looked at Thulasi curiously, but didn't want to bother her much, so she said,
"I will get you a hairpin... You know what? We also have a similar rose plant in our garden."
"This is also from your garden, madam..."
"Oh!"
"Hmm... It looked very pretty and hence I plucked it without asking you... Sorry about that madam..."
"Come on Thulasi, you need not ask me permission for all these things... By the way did you really pluck it?"
Thulasi hesitantly shook her head as if to say yes...
"Oh! I thought it might have fallen down in this strong breeze and you would have got it from someone!"
Thulasi didn't know want to say... She just blushed and her face lit up with the red color again! Though Seetha noticed it she didn't comment about, instead she said,
"Come on Thulasi madam; let's go to dining hall..."
Thulasi followed Seetha this time without saying anything. Seetha ordered the maid to bring some light Tiffin for Thulasi. Thulasi was stunned to see the amount of food that was served!
"Please madam, I can't eat so much... please... And, what about you?"
"Thulasi last time you told me you would eat more food from next time... So this time, you can't escape and if you are going to eat so little, one day you are going to become an invisible woman... and by the way, I had my breakfast only sometime back so I can't eat anything now."
Thulasi smiled and continued to chat with her elder friend. She always liked Seetha's humor sense and it was so very refreshing for her to chat without any other worries.
While talking, Seetha also made sure that Thulasi eats the food properly. Once she was done, they came back to the living room. Thulasi took her bag and rose and then turned to Seetha and said,
"Ok madam, I am leaving... There's lot of work to be done in the boutique..."
Seetha didn't reply immediately. She was quiet for a few seconds and then said,
"Thulasi I want to tell you two things... First, from next month probably I will come there to the bouquet..."
"But madam, why?" asked a surprised Thulasi.
Seetha felt that it's not fair for her to let Thulasi leave all her work and travel in this hot sun just to share the accounts. But she knew that Thulasi will not accept to that. So instead she said,
"I don't go out very often, so it will be good for me to come out of the house!"
"Ok madam... if that’s your wish, fine with me too... But if you face any trouble do let us know, one of us will come and hand over the account and cheque..."
"No, no more cheques Thulasi madam!"
"But madam..."
"Thulasi as I said before, you discuss and let's all decide on this... No more arguments on this for now... But you didn't ask me about the second subject that I wanted to share no, no ask you..."
"Oh yes, tell me madam... what is that?"
"Thulasi, it's not a message, it's a question... If you don't like it you can tell me that directly but you shouldn't take it..."
"Madam, what is this? You know about me right? Tell me..." interrupted Thulasi.
"Hmm... Thulasi what do you think about my son?"
Thulasi was shell shocked... This was something that she least expected from Seetha. But she tried to compose herself and said,
"I think he is a very good son and a great entrepreneur, madam..."
Seetha waited for a few seconds, before asking the next question,
"So Thulasi, what would be your reaction, if I tell you that I would like you to marry my son and come to this home as my daughter in law?"
The stunned Thulasi tried to say something but not even a single letter came out of her mouth. Seetha understood Thulasi's condition, so came near her and patted her softly and said,
"Yes Thulasi, I think you will be an ideal match for my son... Tell me what you think?"
To be continued...