Wings of Heart

5. Her Appreciation

Premlatha POV

After spending time with him, compulsorily holding him back and dilly-dallying until seven o’clock, I finally walked out of the room alongside him. As he approached the gate, I accompanied him to send him off on his cycle. With a sweet smile on my face and a friendly wave of my hand, I bid him farewell, watching as he pedaled away down the road. For a moment, I lingered there, feeling the crisp evening air brush against my face.

When I returned home, I headed straight to my room, settling myself at the study table. Though I opened my books and attempted to focus, my mind was elsewhere. I reflected on the time spent with him—it hadn’t been particularly exciting or pleasurable in the way I had imagined, but there was a certain satisfaction in his presence. He had sat in front of me, calm and composed, exuding knowledge and confidence. His ability to address every topic with ease was impressive, just as I had hoped.

I began putting the books back in their proper places, those I had deliberately dislodged to give the appearance of being studious during his visit. With my study table back in order, I left my room and went to the kitchen to lend a hand to my mother. She was, as always, busy preparing something or cleaning up after the last task—there was never a moment when her hands were idle.

As I began helping her, she glanced at me and asked with her characteristic curiosity, “So, how is he? Does he know what he’s doing? From the way he carries himself, he seems well-educated and knowledgeable.”

I smiled, nodding in agreement. “He’s very good, Mummy. He’s exactly as I expected—knowledgeable and confident. With his support, I’m sure I’ll improve in the subjects I struggle with and score much higher than you expect.”

Hearing this, her face lit up with happiness. “That’s wonderful to hear,” she said, her approval evident.

We continued working together in comfortable silence, preparing dinner. Just then, Daddy’s voice called out from the sitting room. “Sobha!” he said, his tone carrying a sense of urgency.

“Yes?” Mother replied, raising her voice so he could hear her over the clattering of utensils.

“Your favorite serial Hum Log is about to start,” he informed her.

“I’m coming!” she called back, quickly wiping her hands on a kitchen towel. I followed her to the sitting room, curious about the show she never missed. We both sat on the sofa, and I settled beside her as the familiar theme music of Hum Log began playing on the television.

As we watched, Daddy looked around and asked, “Where’s Karan? I haven’t seen him since he came back from school.”

Karan is my younger brother studying in ninth standard in the same Central School, where I study in twelfth.

“He’s gone to the football field to play with his friends,” Mother responded casually, her eyes still fixed on the screen.

Daddy, however, was less pleased. His brows furrowed, and his tone turned stern. “He’s not studying at all these days. This constant playing will get him nowhere. He needs to focus on his studies if he wants to score good marks and get into a decent college.”

I decided to step in, hoping to ease his frustration. “Daddy, Karan is good at studies. He’ll do well in his exams, don’t worry.”

He turned to look at me, his expression softening. For a moment, he observed me, then smiled, seemingly reassured by my words.

We continued watching the serial as a family, the warmth of the moment blending with the comforting glow of the television. Despite the undercurrent of concerns and expectations, there was a sense of togetherness that I cherished deeply.

After the serial ended, Mother got up from the couch and turned to me. “Come on, let’s get the dining hall ready for dinner,” she said, heading towards the kitchen. I followed her, knowing how particular Daddy was about everything being in order before meals. His temper could flare over the smallest oversight, and neither of us wanted to be the cause of that.

We moved hastily, arranging the dining table with the plates, glasses, and cutlery, making sure everything was placed just so. Mother laid out the dishes carefully while I adjusted the placements. Once satisfied that everything was in perfect order, Mother nodded towards me, and I went to call Daddy.

“Dinner’s ready, Daddy,” I said, peeking into the sitting room where he was flipping through channels.

He acknowledged with a grunt, switching off the TV and making his way to the table. By the time he arrived, Karan had already claimed his spot and was eagerly serving himself, piling his plate with roti and curries. He moved the dishes around, ensuring Daddy could reach them easily.

Once everyone had filled their plates, Daddy was the first to start eating, his silent nod signalling the rest of us to begin. The sounds of spoons clinking against plates filled the room as we ate. The aroma of the freshly prepared food mingled with the quiet hum of the ceiling fan above us.

Midway through the meal, Daddy looked up from his plate and fixed his gaze on me. “So,” he began, “how is the tuition with Haridas?”

His tone carried a mix of curiosity and confidence, as though he already knew he had made the right choice by selecting Haridas. I felt the weight of his expectation, and I wanted to reassure him that his efforts hadn’t gone unnoticed.

“I think he’s quite good at the subject,” I replied earnestly.

Daddy smiled, though he didn’t let his satisfaction show entirely. “But he’s only just started. You can’t draw conclusions after one day’s class.”

“You’re right, Daddy,” I said, nodding. “But I have a strong feeling that he’ll do justice to the time he spends and the efforts he takes.”

Karan, who had been engrossed in his food, suddenly looked up, intrigued. “Whose case are you all talking about?” he asked, his curiosity piqued.

I realized he hadn’t been around when Haridas visited earlier in the day. “Oh, it’s about my new tuition teacher,” I explained. “Daddy arranged for Haridas to help me with my studies.”

Karan’s eyes lit up with interest. “Really? I didn’t know about this! Why didn’t anyone tell me?”

“You weren’t home,” I reminded him with a small laugh. “You were out on the field playing football.”

He looked genuinely disappointed. “I wish I had been here to meet him. What’s he like?”

I smiled at his eagerness. “He’s very knowledgeable and seems dedicated. I’m sure you’ll like him when you meet him.”

Karan nodded, his enthusiasm evident. “I’ll make sure to be home the next time he comes.”

Daddy, who had been quietly observing the exchange, gave a small approving nod. “Focus on your studies, both of you,” he said before turning his attention back to his plate.

The conversation lulled, replaced by the comfortable rhythm of dining together. Despite the day’s events and Daddy’s usual stern demeanor, the meal carried a sense of family unity, a moment of calm amidst the busyness of life.