-CHAPTER 1- Happy, sad. Certain, unpredictable. Fun, boring. Smooth, rough. Inspiring, discouraging. Simple, complex. It should sound familiar…because that’s life. * “Mummy!” she screamed. “Mummy! I have to leave now!” “Oh, God! Baby, wait - I’m coming,” she yelled back. “I have a meeting with the General Manager, I’d better get going.” That was Beena. Always in a hurry. After completing what she referred to as ‘an intense, but rewarding twelve years’ where she enjoyed great academic success, she got a job which became her top priority in life. “Are you coming?” Beena asked, as she hurried down the stairs, and at the same time, pinned a safety pin to secure her sari in place. “Okay. I am also ready, darling. Don’t forget you have to drop your sister on the way. Today is her last exam and then she’s done with school. You can take the car.” “Just on the day I have to rush! Why can’t you drop her, Mummy? “I am fifty-nine years old, and my knee pain gets worse when I drive. In any case, Asha’s school is on the same route that you take to work, while I have to go in a different direction to my workplace.” “Come on, Asha!” Beena yelled one last time, as she walked out of the door and into the garden, which boasted a well-maintained lawn, various flowers and trees. She unlatched the white front gate set into a wall of their quaint, brick house and got into the car parked outside. This was the typical scene every morning at the Kumar residence. There would be absolute pandemonium in the house as they got ready for the day, and then they would set out happily together. The three ladies who dwelt here - a middle-aged Mrs Rani Kumar and her two young daughters, Beena and Asha, were a closely-knit unit, held together by love. Mrs Kumar,who was always immaculately dressed in a sari, was a polite, disciplined and kind-hearted lady; her daughters had inherited her beauty and good nature. She taught Beena and Asha to help people without expecting anything in return and appreciate things that were done for them by others. Carrying her school bag and exam writing board, Asha got into the car beside her elder sister. They waved at their mother as they drove away, and Asha’s eyes remained fixed on their picturesque house, until it disappeared from sight when the car turned a corner. Mrs Kumar, who liked being punctual, looked at her watch and sighed in exasperation. She picked up the telephone and dialled a number. “Hello? Helen, where are you? I’m waiting for you.” “Hello, Ma! Sorry, I’m delayed, but I’ll be there shortly, Ma.” “It’s okay, Helen. I’ll keep the keys below the mat.” “Thank you, Ma.” Mrs Kumar flagged down an autorickshaw at the corner of Ulsoor Road and got into the vehicle; she gave the driver directions to the school where she worked and settled in for the drive. She looked at the never-ending stream of traffic, as the autorickshaw made its way through a narrow, winding street of a local market, before entering a much wider road bordered by shady trees. She was delighted by the sight of blooming flowers and neatly pruned hedges as the vehicle drove down another road. Mrs Kumar loved Bangalore as she had lived here all her life and was proud that its large gardens and floral splendour had led to it being called the ‘Garden City’. Her favourite place was Cubbon Park where she had spent many blissful hours with her daughters, either sitting under the trees or going for walks through the cool, green area. The vehicle finally stopped in front of the prestigious educational institute where she had taught for the last thirty-five years. She alighted from the vehicle and paid the driver. As she entered the school, Mrs Kumar remembered this was her last year of teaching and she felt a pang of sadness. She realised that after so many years of dedicated service, she would be bored staying home post her retirement. “Good morning, Sir.” That was Beena’s greeting every morning to the Guest Relations Officer at the Royal Hotel. This morning, after addressing him as usual, she proceeded into the boardroom for her meeting. “Good morning, Ma’am.” That was what Asha chorused with the rest of her class every single day. Today, although the greeting was the same, her voice was filled with melancholy, as it was the final day of her school life. It was several hours before the Kumar family returned, with Asha always being the first one to reach home. “Helen! Where are you? I’m back,” Asha called out, as she peeped into the house from the front window. “I’m coming!” Tall, slim Helen who was dressed in a white cotton salwar kameez and had white jasmine flowers in her long, black hair, promptly opened the door, carrying a soaking wet mop stick in one hand. “How are you, Asha? So school is finally over, huh?” “Yes, I’m so glad school is over. How are you today, Helen?” “Everything is fine at my end, too.” “We missed seeing you before we went out this morning – you must have come in soon after Beena and I left.” “No, I didn’t even meet Ma this morning. I’m sorry I didn’t get here in time to wish you good luck for your exam. Anyway I’m sure you’ve answered well in all your papers and will get good results.” “Thanks - you’re so sweet, Helen! We’ll know how I’ve fared when the results are declared next month.” At around half-past five, Asha heard her mother thanking an autorickshaw driver as she stepped out of his vehicle, and then opened the front gate. She ran to the door to welcome her mother home. “Thank you, baby. How was the exam?” “It went well, thanks.” Mrs Kumar walked in and placed her bag on the oak dining table. “Ah, Helen! Nice to see you! Is all the work done?” “Yes, Ma. I’m just finishing the kitchen work now.” A little over an hour later, when it was dark outside, Beena walked in. “I’m ravenous! Is dinner ready?” her voice echoed through the house. Helen walked up to her with a smile. “Everyone’s waiting for you at the table. Come and eat. I’ve cooked your favourite dal and vegetables.” “Hello, darling,” her mother said, looking at Beena’s tired face as she took her place at the dining table. “How was the day?” “The day was busy and tiring as usual. The meeting with the GM went well.” Then she turned to her younger sister with a grin and asked, “Asha, now that you’re done with school, are you getting married?” “Don’t be ridiculous! Did you ask your boss if there is a job vacancy for me?” “Yes, he said he’ll let me know about that soon.” “I’m looking forward to that.” The three ladies ate the rest of their meal without uttering another word, and when they finished, Helen cleared the table and washed the dishes. It was around eight o’clock when Helen came up the tiled staircase to Mrs Kumar’s room, the sound of her anklets announcing her arrival. “I’ve done all my work for the day, Ma. Can I leave?” Helen said to her employer, who was lying on her bed in her ankle-length nightgown. “What are you doing here so late tonight, dear? I thought you must have left by now.” “Since I came in later than usual today, I stayed back to complete my work.” “Thank you. Good night, Helen.” Asha locked the main door after Helen left the house. She and Beena said good night to their mother and retired to their own rooms for the night.