Time rewards in heaps....

BETWEEN THEM
Part 9

Shriya hurried down the floor....

Dressed in a clear pale yellow saree with minimum jewelery on, she looked every bit the Indian corporate woman... Someone who could get her peer's agreeing with a single raise of her eyebrow...

She was oozing confidence....

Only she did not feel even a wee bit confident then....

She had to make it early to the airport....

She almost ran down the stairs... And was thankful that she never wore the kind of queer heels that other women her age did.... that is, other women almost any age did.... And that she wore sarees instead of senseless skirts and suits....

Anyone could have slipped down the well-polished floors of that building....

She was in the parking lot by now.... The car and the driver were ready.... the rear door open for her.... She slipped in and without any exchange of words, she was on her way to the city airport...

She relaxed in the back seat.... She had to be proud of her firm... the best building in the city for it's office... the best remuneration and employee packages... the elite clientele... and the best drivers around....

She was almost at the airport....
And then in the lobby....

Where she learnt that the flight was delayed....
She had to wait... Almost half an hour....

Well, she just wanted to get over with the day... It had been hectic... to put it in mild terms... And now here she was..... To receive one of the partners of the firm in which she worked... a septuagenarian... Still, one of the best in the field....

She stared...

Was she looking at who she thought she was looking at?

And suddenly, the person who held her interest did a little flip and almost fell over her suitcases...

Shriya hurried over....

She helped the lady steady herself.... And took a deep breath....

"Thank you, child.....", a pause..."Now have I seen you somewhere?"

Shriya smiled..... Atleast she hoped she did...

"I think so, you must be Krish's mom ".....

The lady smiled back.... Mrs. Parvathi Shanker had always had a better smile than her.... anyday

"Yes.... And you are...."

"Shriya... an old classmate of his..."

"How are you, dear?"

Shriya remembered Mrs.Shanker's way of including "dear"s and "darling"s wherever she could...

"Fine..", she hesitated..."Mrs. Shanker."

"Oh... You can call me aunty.... or maybe Parvathi", she winked...."makes me feel younger."

Shriya smiled at that.... And blushed....

A very nice distraction.... she thought...... First the son, now the mother.....

"I just can't forgive her.... She left me all alone here... And went to what she calls should-not-be-missed sessions of aerobics....."Mrs.Shanker raved on....

Shriya was confused... The answer came just then... "My daughter-in-law..... Aakash's wife"...

Matter-of-fact statement.... Krish's elder brother's wife.....

"All alone and going somewhere?" Shriya was more than a little bit curious....

"Yes... to visit Krish.... You know he was home for a short while... And now is back there again.... Missing him already.... I really don't know what he does there all alone..... You know, Malaysia is a good country... but not as conservative as us.... And Aakash says Krish is a big grown up guy now... And well.... you know what boys do...." Mrs. Shanker was out of breath and preparing to say more....

Shriya was still... Taking in the shock....

He was no more in India.... no more anywhere near her.....
Again....

"And the last time I visited him there.... He had some girlfriend called Swapna... An Indian origin girl.... though he said she was nothing more than a good friend.... "

Shriya wanted to stop Mrs. Shanker from saying anything more....
It was already more than what she could bear... and if it got any the worse....

Maybe she was fortunate.... The flight she was waiting for just then arrived.... and the announcement saved her from further despair....

"Mrs.Shanker... Wish you a nice journey... Take care..." She shook hands and started off....

"Thank you dear, I will tell Krish I met you....."

Shriya increased her pace at that and almost ran off to the arrival section... She didn't turn back once...

Somewhere on the way over there..... she almost slipped over a child and this time no one rushed to help her......

It didn't matter..... Anymore...