5. Closure.

Seasons changed slowly, summer bowed down to a few refreshing raindrops heralding the more severe monsoon; Madhu recovered admirably but maintained a subtle but firm barrier that she didn't let anyone cross, not even her father - her grief was precious and personal. She would often sit by the study room window and watch the rain knock the windows and the constant patter of the rain falling would dim the sounds of daily life and create a haven for her memories, a world that noone could see, a world with just Swetha, Ananya and her - she had even picked a name...

Two people in her life played their parts well in helping her recover atleast to this extent, Mr.Srinivasan and Ketan. It did not take Mr.Srinivasan long to find Ketan's contact information, a discreet ISD call, an emotional yet dignified talk with his son-in-law and what followed was a phone call for Madhu. She was surprised, happy and sad all at once, they talked for several hours, cried together and laughed a little; although neither talked about the future and its endless possibilities, they grew stronger, together in their loss and knew they were there for each other, if not as man and wife, at least as good friends...Madhu did not appear to be angry at her father's intervention. Ketan called her regularly after that day.

Madhu somehow could not bring herself to talk to her mother freely, something that her mother yearned for. One afternoon, they had a few unexpected guests. Srikanth and his wife, Leela came to visit them. Leela was a shy, demure, almost naive young woman and Madhu took an instant liking to her. While Padma maami and Mr.Srinivasan talked to Srikanth, Madhu, Swetha and Leela sat in the verandah and talked like a couple of teenage girls about their college lives, whimsical dreams, their past and present. Leela also informed Madhu about a job opening at the company where she worked and Madhu promised to look into it.

Life goes on and so it did go on for Madhu, interspersed with moments of happiness and sometimes of sadness, but surrounded by family, new friends, comforting phone calls and playful moments with her child, Madhu felt a sense of peace. One evening, as she returned from her job, she heard her mother playing with Swetha. She hesitated for a few moments and stood listening to them, unseen.

"Who called today and talked to my Rajkumari Swetha? Who is coming for Deepavali?", Padma maami asked Swetha, in a sing-song voice.

"Appa!", the child gleefully rhymed.

"What will appa bring for chinnamma?"

"Chocolates and Barbie doll!"

"What will appa bring for Madhu kutti?"

"Podava", the child answered, giggling at her mother being referred to as Kutti.

"What will appa bring for this old pattima?"

"Onnum illa!", so saying Swetha shrugged her shoulders and laughed with her grandma.

Maybe it was the news that Ketan was coming to India, maybe it was the adorable scene in front of her eyes, maybe it was just some quirk of fate...whatever it was brought tears to Madhu's eyes and she saw her mother, the imperious, loud, demanding Padma maami as ...amma.

That evening, as Madhu walked with her dad to the Pillaiyar kovil at the street corner, a gentle drizzle fell on them and they both laughed instinctively. Madhu did not know what the future held in store for her, several threads of her life remained to be picked up, old relationships waited to be renewed, new friends travelled with her to become old friends, questions remained unanswered...but today felt perfect and she was grateful for that.