He bent down and brought his face close to her wrinkled cheeks.
'Amma, it's me. '
'Gopi? Kamala, I can't believe it! Has his school closed for vacation?'
'Amma is often like this these days. She doesn't recognize anybody,' Gopi's sister
explained. 'But sometimes her memory is quite sharp. Then she asks me if you
have sent any letter. I tell her everything is fine with you, Vimala and the kids.
What is the point of telling her that you haven't written for a year? Poor thing! I
wouldn't dream of making her unhappy. '
'I got a promotion last year. After that I am always on my toes. And there
are tours quite often. I don't get any time to write letters. '
'Why don 't you ask Vimala to write, or doesn't she get any time too?'
'What are you mumbling over there?' Amma said loudly.
'I heard somebody coming in a car. Who is it?'
'I told you, it's Gopi.'
'But Gopi is in Delhi, isn't he?'
'Yes, Amma, it's me. I've come from Delhi. '
'Who did Gopi marry?' Amma said, suddenly lowering her voice. 'I mean,
what's his wife's name?'
'Don't say you've forgotten her name too. Don't you remember, Vimala,
District Collector Nambiar's eldest daughter?' Gopi 's sister said.
'Oh, I forgot the name. Was there a letter from Gopi today?'
'There was. He writes every day. '
'I'm terribly upset if I don't get a letter from him every day. '
'He knows it. That's why he writes every day. '
'Look at the way she talks, ' Gopi's sister turned to him. 'Just as I told you.
You know nothing about what's going on here, do you?'
'Who is that?' Amma said again. 'Who is that in a car?'
'It's me, ' Gopi said. 'I had to come to Thiruvananthapuram. I thought I
should drop in to see you, Amma. '