After that she left to her home. As she left aunt Sathyavati house, "Aparna..."venkatesham called out. Aparna "uncle venkatesham. What are you doing her at this time instead of being at field?"she asked. "your aunt fell ill. So I asked Muthyalaiah to let me go home earlier than usual." Venkatesham replied. "Oh what happened to aunt? How is she now?"perturbed. He replied "she is alright now. Yesterday she bathed with water that are way too cool. She caught a cold and it lead to fever. Now that she is alright after taking some medicine and my mother is currently attending her now." Aparna "let's go. I want to see her too". As of that ,they both went to venkatesham house. Her wife looked like she's recovered and happily received Aparna and made her some snack. Aparna felt so relieved after she saw her. Aparna "Aunt. Did you forget what season this is?" reprimanding aunt severely. Aunt looked at his husband and his mother and finally at Aparna "Aparna you truly are our village daughter. Not even my husband dared to reprimand me. You did it so casually. And I really thought it would be okay to bath as long I can stay warm after that but... this happened."laughed a little. Making sure she's well, Aparna took her from them. As soon as she came out of their house, children playing over there surrounded her "Aparna, Aparna.... let's play. We learned a new game" Raja, eight year old boy, looking at her with big eyes."noooo, aapanna play with me" three years old Shanti pulled her saree a little asking her to play. Every child asking her to play with them. Aparna "ooooh. Everyone... form a train.." all the nine children stood one after the other by each other's back, with Aparna as its engine. She made four rounds and satisfied the children but some refused to let go. Their parents had to come and get her leave.
Daily life of Aparna was usually like this. But a single young man changed her routine.. no she changed her routine for the young man...
On her way back she was stopped at another three houses and surrounded by another children group. She was loved by every one in the village may be one or two exceptions...Aparna was late to home as she stopped every where she met someone. Her mother "did you have fun at krishna's house?" and took the pots handed over to her by Aparna "yes we talked about a lot of things, as I was coming back I had to stop by many others houses too. They missed me so much. Children too, they missed me and Krishna, so I promised them that I be bringing along Krishna tomorrow and play with them.." Aparna told about her every meeting with other. Mother "Looks like you had a lot of fun. Freshen up and come back. I'll serve the food." walking towards kitchen with the pots in her hand carrying them to place over there. Aparna "no mother. I've all the food every one gave me. My stomach can't afford anymore" as she rubbed her stomach round and round. Mother laughed at her gesture and went ahead to place the pots safely. " Aparna, I'm surprised to see you bringing these pots intact despite all the encounters." Mother exclaimed. Aparna looked with the corners of her eyes to the walls "mother..... actually, .....its not me who brought those. Whomever I met on the way, took those from my hands and carried them for a while and I just brought them here from the front of our gate." giggling as played with the corner of the floating pleates of the saree. Her mother couldn't contain her laugh and laughed so hard. Her brother who just came in joined them.
They had their food and rested.
Krishna felt something was off with Aparna. She was her usual self but not at the same time. She laughed with her ,talked with her as usual but not at the same time. She thought she may be over thinking. As she was thinking about these, Muthyalaiah came back from the field. "Krishnamma, water" Muthyalaiah asked from the yard. Krishna brought him water and a towel. After cleaning himself he "I happened to run into Aparna in the morning. Did you two have a great time after all these days?"asked looking at his daughter. "Hmm. We talked about many things and she left at afternoon as she was told to run an errand for her mother. She'll be coming tomorrow, father " Krishna replied with bright and shining eyes. "Father, be seated while I get the food to serve." Krishna moved towards the kitchen. They ate the food and Muthyalaiah went to village center tree.
Next day...
As promised to children Aparna made Krishna to go with her and play along with the children. As sun reached perfectly above their head,Krishna "Aparna I don't have any energy left in me. These children are way too energetic. And it's mid day. Let's send them home and we head out too." wiping the sweat beads on her forehead with her saree pleates. Aparna "hmm okay. I'll take these five children and you take care of those three. Well just head from there. Like that they headed to their respective houses from where they were playing. After dropping all the kids Krishna and Aparna took their turn to their respective houses.Krishna went to her house and ate some food after that she took a nap.
Aparna didn't go straight to the her home but stopped by the river. She went to the river bank and sat on the rock on which she and the young man sat the first time they came together. She just sat on it and stared into the river horizon. After a little while ,"Aparna, why are you sitting here under scorching sun. Do you wanna get heat stroke or something? Get up. Get into our house" her maternal uncle whose house is near the river, came to her after noticing her from a distance. "Uncle, it's not that hot. I'm on my way to home actually and just stopped by to watch river. Then I'll be on my way." Aparna walked past him. "Stop right there and get into our home now" he told in commanding way.