All Strings Attached

Chapter Twenty Four

It's been a while, but here we go. Please remember to leave votes and comments! Excited to hear from you all! 

Sita

"Lay out the table, please," I request Sasi and Kavitha, who quickly run into the kitchen to start on it. I tie my hair into a bun before picking my book back up, taking a moment's breather before the father and son duo come in with their entourage of people, all hungry from a long day out in the sun.

Just as I flip the page, I hear the cars rolling into the driveway, and noisy men descending from the cars.

I make a mental note of the last page I'd read and set the book down, picking up my steaming cup of tea as I stand up to see if it's Dhushyanth or Mamayya that has come back.

I peak into the foyer from the safety of the living room, assessing the number of guests as I pull my hair down from the bun and clip it neatly and set my saree right.

I notice Mamayya, joined by his cousins and friends. I glance at myself in the reflection of the glass cupboard, and ensure my hair is alright before leaving the room, my tea in hand.

"Hi, Mamayya," I greet, "do you want something to drink before you eat, or would you like to eat first?" I inquire, passing smiles in greeting to all the men around him.

"This is my daughter-in-law, Sita," he introduces me to the short man on his right, who wears the party's kanduva around his neck.

"Of course, Madhav's daughter, isn't she?" He wonders.

I smile in response.

"I'd seen her when she was young," he recounts, his hand stooping to a tiny height, as an elder one does. "Would not leave her father's side no matter what," he laughs, "I wonder how your son got her to come all the way to Kurnool. Last time vaalla Nanna campaign antha Sita ne organise chesindi kada. I wonder how Madhav let her go at all." [(Telugu) she organised the entire campaign for her father last time.]

Mamayya laughs. "Now she's married, she's here for her husband," he says. "Kada, thalli?" [Right, dear?]

I nod, feeling my face heat up. "Do you guys want anything to drink before you eat?" I ask once again, trying to find my exit from this conversation.

"No, we're fine," Mamayya says, "but might be a good idea to have the food arranged outside so that everyone is able to mingle freely."

"Okay, mamayya," I agree, and stalk off into the kitchen, grimacing at the well-laid out table. "Sasi, Kavitha," I call for the maids who have been at my beck and call since morning. I feel bad calling on them as much at this point. They've been working all day, poor things.

"Yes madam?" They greet me in the kitchen. I seem to have caught them in the midst of a conversation.

"Can you please find some help and have some tables and chairs set outside for food?" I request. "We'll have to find some table fans as well. Podduna clean chesam kada, bring them out." [Bring out the ones we cleaned this morning.]

Sasi and Kavitha nod without a moment's hesitation. They exchange looks, nod at each other and one of them runs outside, yelling for a driver's help, while the other moves towards the dining table.

I watch two other drives quickly join the girls, expressing sheepish smiles towards me as they enter the kitchen, bowing slightly before they continue on their way.

The tables are brought out from the storage room, and the four of them lay them out neatly, pulling out all the works; pet bottles of water that we've been ordering for the course of the elections, since people keep visiting, disposable plates and cutlery, tissues and toothpicks, they all come out without me having to ask at all.