2) The House

Sameera and her elder brother Saifullah were standing at the gate with the luggage.

Sameera was smiling but her heart was beating with nervousness. They walked in and rang the doorbell.

A young lady opened the door.

"Sunita who is it?" Someone from inside asked. The voice seemed as if it belonged to an aged lady.

Saifullah explained the matter to Sunita. She welcomed them and asked them to come in and informed the people inside. They sat in the living room and an old couple entered the room.

"Myself Saifullah Qazi, she's my sister Sameera. According to the provided address, we are at the 'Vyas Nivas' ?" spoke Sameera's brother.

"Yes, you are right. I am Damodar Vyas. Are you the one who came here on the acquaintance of Mr. Joshi?" The old man asked.

"Yes, Joshi's uncle gave us your acquaintance.

My father talked to Mr. Ajay Vyas yesterday to inform us that we will be coming here by today."

"Ajay is my son. But a few days back our family went to Bhopal to attend a family function. We too had to attend the function but my I got some health issues. So I and my wife stayed here. Everyone will be back within a few days." Mr. Vyas spoke.

"Oh, it's fine." Retorted Saifullah.

"Sunita, show them the room" the old lady spoke knitting a woolen sweater.

Sameera and Saifullah took the luggage and followed Sunita to the room.

"You guys get fresh and have some rest. Meanwhile, let me prepare the meals" the maid said politely and went back to her work.

Sameera looked around. It was a small room where she was to stay as a paying guest for the next two years as she had shifted to Indore to pursue a Master's degree in Arts. She was smiling with the thought that she finally had made it till there. Her brother went to have a shower and

she arranged all her belongings. After that, she too had a quick shower.

They both were sitting in the room.

"Sammie, will you stay here? I mean..."

"Bhaijaan, don't you know your sister, don't you have faith in her. Now don't repeat all the things just like Ammi does." Sameera spoke interrupting him in a very convincing tone "by the way when are you leaving tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow morning, I have to go as my exams are soon to start."

"Yeah, all the best and take care of Ammi abbu...." Sameera was speaking emotionally.

Before she could speak further there was a knock at the door.

It was Sunita calling them for the dinner.

They followed her to the dining room.

The meal was served to everyone.

"Please don't be shy, have your meals," told Mrs. Vyas,

"...and you were the one who came on the acquaintance of Mr. Joshi? How do you know him?" The old man asked.

"He is our father's Colleague. They are just like best friends" Saifullah replied.

"I was born in the family of Joshi in a small village at the Maharashtra-Madhyapradesh border. Atul's father and I were cousins. I got married to the eldest son of the Vyas family and got shifted to Indore as they had a family business here. Whereas Atul shifted to a town near Mumbai and settled there. Only a few relatives are left back at the village." The granny spoke remembering the old days.

"By the way, you are leaving tomorrow, right?

Do take the jar of laddoo I prepared for Atul." Spoke Mrs. Vyas

"Joshi uncle often speaks of the tasty sweetmeats prepared by you and how those dishes made his childhood sweet" Sameera spoke shyly.

The environment got friendly as they got to know each other.

The very next day Saifullah left for Mumbai.

And Sameera?

It was her first day of college. But...

To be Continued