Chapter 3

As Vidya watched the bus trundle away, she felt a tinge of sadness. It would be months before she saw her family again. She loved her life and her work here in Rajasthan. The last two years had simply flown past, so engrossed had she become in her work. But there were times, when she felt lonely and longed for family,  some companionship. She had been lucky that she found a place to live with the Agarwal family.

Mr. Parmeshwar Agarwal was a retired bureaucrat. After 35 years of living all over the country, he had returned to his home town of Barmer to enjoy his retirement years. He and his wife Chitra lived a quiet life in their renovated and modernised haveli.

Located a little outside the town, it was a huge mansion set in the midst of an entire acre of land. The Agarwals took a keen interest in gardening and it showed. Under their loving care, and as much as the arid land would allow, the garden flourished and was one of the few green spots in that area. It was the garden that had first attracted Vidya to the haveli. It could not of course, compete with the lavish garden that housed the bungalow of the District Collector, just a few metres down the road. But that garden had the full support of the district administration backing it!

Vidya smoothly manoeuvred her Scooty in through the haveli gate, then parked at the side to shut it behind her. As she drove up the driveway, the haveli appeared in the distance. It was a stately, double storied structure in white with lovely arched doorways and jharoka windows so typical of Rajasthani architecture. Against the evening sunlight, it looked graceful and welcoming.

Outside, on the lawn, sat Mr. Agarwal sipping his evening tea and engrossed in reading. As the sound of the Scooty broke through the quiet of the dusk, he looked up and broke into a smile.

“Aha! There comes my favourite social worker. Come and have a cup of tea with me and tell me about your day.” The Agarwals were very fond of Vidya. Their only son lived overseas and they had no daughters.

Vidya lived with them as a tenant / paying guest. Initially she had been hesitant to move in, wondering if it was appropriate that she, as a development worker, should live in such luxurious quarters. But after seeing at least half a dozen other houses, she changed her mind. The comfort factor aside, from a safety point of view, living with the Agarwals was the sensible thing to do. They on the other hand, were delighted to have Vidya live with them. At first they refused to accept rent. But when Vidya put her foot down, they agreed reluctantly. Vidya knew that the amount they charged her was ridiculously low. The Agarwals however would not hear of charging more rent. As far as they were concerned, Vidya was doing them a favour.

Vidya took the seat opposite Mr. Agarwal and propped her feet up on the third chair. She heaved a sigh and looked up at him.

“Just returning from seeing off my brother, Uncle. Feeling a little low. I won’t be seeing them for a while.”

“Come, come! Cheer up. They’ll be back before you know it. And anyway, you are planning to go home for Diwali this year. And that’s just 4 months away. Time will just fly….don’t you worry. Now have your tea and try those biscuits. Your Chitra aunty has outdone herself with them.”