Aparna came to home after parting her ways with Malli. On her way home, she tried to think of answers for the questions Malli asked earlier. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't accept Chandranna as life partner. Not because of particular reason but she couldn't imagine her life with him after marriage as Malli told. "I should talk to brother again. I don't think I can decide this on my own." she thought. As she entered her house "mother, where are you?" called for her mother as soon as she entered. Mother came out of the kitchen with a steel vessel with wheat flour in it in her left hand and an small earthen pot with water to mix in the flour. Aparna went to her mother "mother.... you know...." she hesitated to tell her mind. Subhadra saw the hesitation in her daughter's face, she went into the kitchen to place flour and water there, came back cleaning her hands with a towel. "Aparna, should I bring you something to eat?" Subhadra asked her daughter as usual. Aparna looked at her mother and lowered her gaze, "no.. yes mother." she stuttered as she answered. Her mother let out laugh and gave her some laddu. Aparna took those and "mother, what's the occasion? You don't usually make these unless it's big festivals like Sankranti or Vijaya dasami?" she asked excitedly forgetting all her thoughts she brought with her from outside at the site of her mother's laddu. Mother let out a giggle and continued "last time when Oormila came here for you, you're not at home so we talked for a while and she told me how much she liked these, so I made a bunch of them for her and some for you." told to her daughter remembering the day Oormila excitingly talking about these. "You made all these for her!" Aparna exclaimed. Her mother nodded. "These are freshly made and I was about to give it to her, you came at the right time. Help me give these to Oormila."her mother asked taking a bite from laddu. Aparna pushed an entire laddu into her mouth filled with laddu puffed cheeks "madhar, gif me se boks" (mother ,give me the box.) talked with her mouthful and beaming eyes. Her mother laughed at her grown daughter behaving like a kid. She went into the kitchen and returned with a steel cylindrical container with a lid filled with laddus, handed it to Aparna. "I'll give it to her come back" turned to the front gate after filling her mouth with another one.
"Oormila, Oormilaaaa..... where are you?" called for her from the from gate. "Aparna, I'm here at the well. Come here." a reply came for her. She went to that direction where Oormila was washing the clothes. "Aparna, wait for a while, I'm finished washing these, just hanging the laundry is left." Oormila told her while taking the wet clothes into a tub. Aparna went into the kitchen and placed the box over there and came back to her taking few clothes from her "I put the laddu box in the kitchen. Make sure to eat while they are juicy." said to Oormila as they both hanged the laundry. Oormila "I just mentioned them the day before yesterday and she already made them? " she asked in surprise. Aparna grinned at her "hehehe, that's my mother you are talking about. And you rarely mention anything that you like, so my mother probably fired up and made them as soon as possible." replied her with a little pride in her mother. Oormila laughed a little and "Really. Let's finish this and eat them." Oormila picked her pace up and they completed in a very short time. Oormila "get the box here, I'll bring some fruits from garden and let's eat them on the cot under the tree." said to Aparna and went to a big tree where she tried to pick some custard apples, while Aparna went to get the box.
They both sat on the cot and started eating over a small chat, as they talked marriage topic came between them and Aparna remembered.. "Oormila, can I ask you one thing?" Aparna looked at Oormila as she said their to her. Oormila looked at her slightly tilting her head, "you can" she replied. "Do you think I will be able to live happily if I were to get married to Chandranna?" Aparna asked her in a sentence. Oormila's hand stopped before her lips "what do you mean?"she asked with a perplexed expression. "Actually my parents were talking about this and I was asked if I like him or not, I couldn't think of an answer so,..." Aparna replied with a hint of sadness in her throat as she spoke them. Oormila quickly swallowed the laddu and drank a full small pot of water and took a long breath .....,"are you talking about Chandranna who played with us in our younger days?" Oormila asked as if she still want to confirm what she heard. Aparna nodded. Oormila eyes widened in shock and "Aparna, what's happening? I didn't hear anything about this from him or you. Suddenly.....!" she asked while trying to calm herself. Aparna looked at her once and lowerd her gaze "me too. I didn't know anything about this. Yesterday my brother suddenly asked this, I went to Krishna's house in the morning to ask her about this and she told me to choose whatever that makes me happy... "she stopped there hesitantly.
"Aparna I think my answer will be same as Krishna's. But did you think it through, whatever it may be, whether yes or no?" she asked with a concerned voice. "I didn't know what to think. So I asked you all hoping to get a clarity" she's replied in a lower tone makingit sad to hear. Oormila shook her head sideways and "Aparna, listen... not many women get opportunity to choose their life partner. Think for yourself. Just yourself. And I think aunt, uncle and Karunakar wants you to think for yourself too. Be confident in any decision you take. Okay?" She encoraged her. Aparna really got a little clarity from her words to think for herself. She looked at her and "Oormila, you're the best." complimented her with a beaming smile. Oormila giggled, "Did you answer your brother?" she asked. "No. But I think he'll definitely ask me again." Aparna replied. Oormila "think before you answer. It involves not just you two people but the families of you." she intimidated her, continued "but.... we'll be your support either you accept or reject the proposal." she reassured and encouraged her. Aparna felt like she can now think about it a little now as of what to answer Malli. Kamala came to them "Aparna, your mother is calling for you." informed Aparna. Aparna got up and took her leave from them and left to her house.