Saranya Returned

]Ch-32

Laya's body was sore from sleeping on the floor. And she didn't have a good sleep. So… she woke up early. Taking a hot shower in the attempt of relaxing her sore muscles, she dressed up for another day. She went down and saw the dining table has dirty dishes. She cleaned the table and washed the dishes. She turned on the washing machine with dirty clothes. After her in-laws wake up she has to collect their clothes and run the machine again.

She wondered why the floor was not cleaned. Laya decided to give an earful to the maid. But the maid is nowhere to be seen. She asked the watchman about the maid when he replied he doesn't know she asked him to get her number or the reason for the absence. In the mansion, there was only a maid, gardener, and watchman. Laya felt that her mother-in-law was a miser. Even though she knew her father-in-law would stand at his wife's side. He would never say no to hiring the maids.

In the meantime… she ordered food from the restaurant for them. She also ordered a portion for her kept it in her room to eat after her in-law's done eating. She arranged the plates and glasses for them.

She wanted to heat the food but she has to go deeper inside the kitchen to do that. Sighing… she just let it be.

Soon… her mother-in-law and father-in-law came out of their room. Today her mother-in-law said nothing and ate the food in silence. Laya felt the silence was a good thing. After having breakfast her mother-in-law left immediately as if she was on a race.

Even though she felt confused she neither asked anything nor asked her to be careful on the way. Silently she did her things. She saw her father-in-law was also getting ready to leave. Earlier the watchman said the maid quit the job. It means extra work for her. Cleaning a big house would only mean breaking her back. She couldn't afford that.

"Father-in-law," she called Harish Chandra, gathering her courage.

"What is it, Child?" he asked.

"The maid who used to come to the mansion to clean. Quit the job. Could you look for someone else?" she asked.

She wanted to do this minor job by herself but she knew if she does that she would be asking for a beating from her mother-in-law.

Harish Chandra went into deep thought when he heard her words. "Okay… I will do that," he said to her.

"Please do that early, Father-in-law. The hasn't been cleaned for two days already," she said.

"I will try to get someone soon. Go have some food now. You didn't eat for a whole day," he said to her.

She nodded and was about to leave. "You can call me dad," he said.

Laya stopped in her tracks when she heard his words. A bitter smile formed on her lips as she heard his ironic words. "Mamayagaru, It's getting late for you," she said and left his room.

Harish Chandra knew what her words mean. He said nothing but called someone. In an hour a maid was assigned for cleaning. Laya told her what she has to do. The maid started cleaning the house and the kitchen. And she doesn't know why but her father-in-law seemed generous. He even found a cook for the house. And she informed me she would come from next day. She didn't reject the cook.

Her mother-in-law was angry that day night, but she said nothing. She only suppressed her anger while she ate the food.

A month later….

Days passed away with her mother-in-law's occasional beatings and scoldings. As usual, her father-in-law would ignore the things between the woman.

It's been a month since Saranya left the city for something. She called today and said she would be returning. Maha Lakshmi tasked Laya to cook Saranya's favorites. She was too busy making Saranya's favorite food.

"VADINA!!!!" Saranya jumped out of nowhere surprising her.

"Hey, Lil monkey! How are you?" she asked with a genuine smile. But she looked like a ghost to Saranya. Not only to her but to everyone she looked like a ghost. She became thin and her eyes and cheeks were sunken. There were thick dark circles under her eyes… she looked a completely different person.

"You have become thin!" she said with a worry.

"did I? I thought I became fat," 'with all the love and care give by your mother,' she said but only the first part. She didn't dare to say the second part out.

"Well… let's not talk about me. Go back to your room and freshen up. Dishes are done," she said and pushed Saranya away.

After Saranya left Laya staggered and almost fell. The maid in the kitchen supported her immediately.

"Madam, Why don't you eat something? It's been two days since you ate something," she said.

"I will eat after everyone has done eating," Laya said with a smile.

"But there was barely anything left for you to eat. If this goes on… your body will become sick," the maid said worriedly.

"Enough! Get back to the work!" Laya said to her sternly but in her weak voice.

They both didn't know that Saranya eavesdropped on their conversation from a corner. And neither Saranya knew Harish Chandra heard their conversation of Laya and the maid. He sighed at her situation. His wife was going overboard as days passed. He wanted to stop her but he could do nothing. This was the tenth time he was hearing that his daughter-in-law ate nothing for days in the past month. There was a number of times she lost her consciousness. But he could do nothing.