Chapter 19: 19.seethamma
They just walked without saying a word till their house. Young man entered the house first and placed the flowers in a room who is follwed by Aparna. After coming from room he went to kitchen to get a glass of water and grandma saw both Aparna doing the same. Grandma put her hand over Prabhavathi shoulder and looked at them with satisfaction. Aunt prabhavathi couldn't ask for more. After drinking the water , he left for the work again... Aparna shocked and came to grandma and prabhavathi '' aunt , I will stop by day after tomorrow. I don't have any energy left in me today for him'' as she sighed. Prabhavathi giggled and nodded okay. Grandma gave her a box with sweets. Aparna took the leave from them and reached their home at noon. Her mother asked '' didn't you tell me that you would coming late?'' Aparna replied ''don't talk about that mother. I'm really exhausted now.'' with a long sigh. Mother just left her alone.
At krishna's house.. after having their lunch Krishna asked her father '' how are the preparations for tomorrow going on, father?'' Father replied '' you prepare the items that your mom liked. I'll take them tomorrow to ceremony. You don't need to come with me to river bank just wait at temple and oversee the food preparations. '' Krishna nodded. ...
Next day. It's Seethamma's memorial day. Muthyalaiah went ahead to riverside early morning and performed shraadh to Seethamma. After completing that he came to temple where Krishna was helping in the kitchen. Same as the day before all the food was prepared and served to the people in remembrance of Seethamma. Subhadra still cries reminiscing their memories from their childhood and youth. She also helped them in preparing the food along with Kamala and Kasthuri. Food serving went smoothly without any disturbances. At evening they cleared everything from the kitchen, cleaned the temple and offered their greetings and gratitude to the head priest. Muthyalaiah and Krishna came to home with their gloomy faces. Aunt kasthuri made water ready for their bath. They took their bath and entered home.
Muthyalaiah reminiscing..
Seethamma and Muthyalaiah married each other out of love. They convinced their parents and married each other. Many relatives advised muthyalaiah to marry another lady when Seethamma didn't conceive for three years. Muthyalaiah refused them and told them that Seethamma was all he need. After that Seethamma got conceived with Krishna after six years of their marriage. Seethamma , Muthyalaiah and their family felt so happy. Subhadra often visited her with her kids Aparna and Karunakar. As the months passed Seethamma's body weakened and she gave birth to Krishna with all her life. She understood the that her life's over. She called for her husband Muthyalaiah. Her husband took Seethamma who's lying on bed into his arms and Seethamma leaned against her husband's heart listening to the beat, and '' dear, I don't think I will live for long. I've been very happy these 12 years receiving your love . I think our daughter is my parting gift for you. Love her, dote her for me too. I will be watching you two. Don't be sad when I leave. Remember our happy moments and raise her as I'm with you all the time.''in a slow , gentle and painful voice. She reached her hand towards his face and gave him a kiss on forehead. Muthyalaiah kept weeping as he saw the person whom he loved for almost half of his life will be no more, lying in front of him in such a situation.
She fell asleep as Muthyalaiah held her in his arms and he gently placed a kiss on her forehead so as not to wake her up. He leaned on his chin over her head and slowly closed his eyes and fell asleep. He woke up and saw his wife looking at him longingly. ''Why are you looking at me like that? You're making me feel embarrassed.'' Muthyalaiah said as he turned his face in the opposite direction. Seethamma answered exclaiming '' did you forget that you gave yourself to me? I'm looking at my property now.''turning his head towards her with her hand holding his chin. Muthyalaiah ''Seetha, Don't leave me'' said as his tears fell on his wife's nose. Seethamma couldn't hold her tears anymore. She's been acting tough in front of her husband but when he uttered those words, she hugged him with all her strength weeping into his neck. Muthyalaiah hugged her back and cried silently. The second day after krishna's birth she took her last breath as she was still in her husband's arms. Muthyalaiah didn't let her go even after many people told him that she died. He held on to her and cried so hard that he lost consciousness. He woke up around two hours later, searching for his wife in his hands and looking around. He lost his wife at the age of just 27 years. As he was searching for his wife around, Subhadra handed him a little girl into his hands and left. Muthyalaiah looked at her and she was crying so hard. Muthyalaiah tried to pacify her and after a little while she slowly slept in his arms, as he looked at her, he remembered her wife with same features. Tears rolled down as he looked at her and brought her close to him affectionately. Someone called muthyalaiah to perform last rites to her wife. Muthyalaiah went dragging his feet watching her lifeless wife. He performed last rites and she was taken to burial ground. Everything happened so fast and one thing he could remember is that her daughter never left his arms all the time. It is with Krishna's presence that he could overcome his wife's loss... He spent hundreds of sleepless nights crying for her wife...
17 years passed by, Muthyalaiah still loves her wife as much as he did then.
Many people asked him to remarry even for the sake of Krishna, but Muthyalaiah refused saying he will rise her as mother and father. He doesn't want anyone else to come in between them. Slowly people understoond him and never asked him to remarry. Krishna grew up with everyone's affection.
Remembering his wife, her mother from other's memories ,they went to sleep..