Aparna on her way to Muthyalaiah, "hello uncle, leaving for work?"asked while she's walking towards him. He nodded, "it's been a long time since I've seen you properly. How are you doing?"patting her head affectionately. Aparna giggled "looks like uncle missed me a lot. I'm very very very good." Muthyalaiah smiled and left for work. Aparna went into the house. "Krishnaaaaa.... Krishna...." As she was shouting at the top of her lungs, a hand held her ear from behind. "Aunt.. leave my ear"... Kasthuri answered " Did I or didn't I tell you not to shout in the road?" Aparna nodded while struggling trying to relieve herself from Kasthuri hand grip. "Aunt leave me this time. I swear I won't shout again...please please.... KRISHNAA" shouted Krishna's name at the end as she saw her coming towards them. Kasthuri tightened her face and closed one ear with her remaining hand as she shouted. Krishna reached them "aunt , Aparna what are you two doing here like this?" Kasthuri replied "see Krishnamma, she came running here while shouting your name through the road. Last time she promised me that she won't do it again. Here,now she is doing the same thing. So I'm just punishing her so as to make sure that she never breaks a promise."complained about Aparna. "Krishnaa.just this once. Pleaseeee" Aparna looked at Krishna with such sincere eyes. Krishna couldn't help but smile at her and "aunt leave her. She won't do it again" taking her hand off Aparna's ear. Aparna sticked her tongue out a little and mocked Kasthuri like a three year old. Kasthuri chuckled.
Aparna and Krishna sat under the tree in the yard. They met after a long time. They have many things to talk about. As they were talking Aunt Kasthuri brought them some food and buttermilk, and left them alone. Aparna talked about Kamala Aunt, oormila ,venkatesham , surappa grandpa. Prabhavathi Aunt.. grandma all she could remember. Talked about a infant who was born two months ago ,how he was so soft like fresh cream. Krishna talked about her plants they planted in their yard, how she helped her mother cooking various dishes. She learned many new recipes from grandmother beside her house. They talked for a long while and when it was afternoon Kasthuri came back to home after giving Muthyalaiah his lunch. Kasthuri "Krishnamma, Aparna. Come and eat the food. You're talking for so long. Continue that after eating."from the kitchen. Aparna "we better eat food before she comes and twist my ear off" hiding her ears with her hands. Krishna laughed at that "don't worry. I won't let her do that." They both went and had the food. After eating they took a nap. Aparna woke up first "aunt Kasthuri, I've an errand to run. Krishna is sleeping so soundly so I didn't wake her up. Tell her that I'll be coming tomorrow."took her leave from aunt kasthuri and left.
On her way back she went to Sathyavati house as her mother told to. "Ramu, is your mother at home?" Aparna asked a five year old boy playing in front of his house while pinching his cheeks from both sides. "Sister Aparna... it pains. Leave me..." Aparna took her hands off him and asked again "what is your mother doing?". Ramu replied "mother is playing with big wheel near the well. But she doesn't let me play with it." he pouted."Ramu ,that's not playing. She's making pots" Aparna tried to explain him. He shook his head from side to side violently "noooooo, father gets to play with that too..." pouted even more making his cheeks looking like fresh buns. Aparna couldn't help but squeeze his cheeks looking so cute."don't worry. Your father will teach you how to play with that when you grow up a little." Ramu squirmed around. Aparna let him free. Ramu "hmmm.... okaY. I'll grow up fast and play with that" looked at her with a smile showing all his milk teeth. Aparna smiled at him and ruffled his hair, "I'm going see your mother. I'll come and play with you for a while. Wait here till I come back." Ramu "bring me a spin top and rope when you come sister." Aparna giggled and went into the house.
Sathyavati was making pottery in their yard while his husband burning those pots. Aparna "aunt how are you?". Sathyavati turned towards her while holding one hand to the pot and stopping the wheel with the other hand "APARNA.... it's been a long time you've come to house. Sit down."stood up from the position she's making the pots and grabbed a cot and laid it on the ground. Aparna sat on that "I've been a busy lately so I didn't come." Sathyavati sat next to her with a small pot of water handing it her "you know Ramu missed you a lot. He's asked for you many times like mother ,when is Aparna sister and Krishna sister coming?" Aparna took the pot " oh is that so? Then I should bring Krishna along and play with him sometime" laughed. Her husband Seenaiah came after making fire to burn the pots. Aparna saw him " uncle, is your injury healed? Be conscious of your surroundings while you work with fire."with a worried countenance. "Aparna. It's healing properly after applying the ointment you gave me. I've been working carefully." Seenaiah answered coming towards them. Sathyavati "your mother asked me to make some small pots. Are you here for those Aparna?" Aparna nodded. As Sathyavati was about to get up "you sit and talk here. I will bring them from the kiln" Seenaiah left them. They chatted for while and Seenaiah brought the pots of two set with three in each tied in unison placing one over the other one with a straw rope leaving a part of rope as the handle. Aparna took those and left the house." Ramu ,sister will be leaving today. I will come back with spin top and Krishna sister tomorrow okay?" as she lowered herself to his eye level. Ramu looked a little sad and "you'll come with Krishna sister tomorrow?." Aparna nodded. Ramu "promise?" Aparna chuckled "promise. I will bring both Krishna sister and a spin top for you now I'll be going okay?" Ramu nodded. Aparna kissed his forehead and left after taking her kiss back on her cheek from him....