The party went on to be fabulous and all the guest seemed amazed. The couple were extremely happy and felt pride for being able to host such a great party, all thanks to Mr. D'Souza. It was almost 8pm and the guest's had started leaving. Ram's parents and in-laws left early right after the cake cutting inorder to catch their flight's to their respective cities and like any typical middle class family they had to go back soon to resume their respective work. So almost everyone was leaving.
D'Souza had stayed back and was still on back to back calls with people. He had hardly been seen in party after the cake cutting and was occupied on his phone. Ram and Madhu were also busy attending to the guests and looking after the baby Riddhi. After a while however Ram went towards D'Souza spoke to him.
Ram: Sir, you seem to be not enjoying the party. You're the reason we're having this party, but you seem off.
D'Souza: Oh no! Not at all Ram. I'm just caught up with some work. You remember? I told that we will make things official today regarding our new venture.
Ram: Yes Sir indeed, how can I forget that... But isn't it getting late.
D'Souza: Oh yes! I know it's a bit late, I'm just waiting for my lawyer and my associate to come here quickly. I'm caught up with them so that as promised we'll get it done today. They'll be here within an hour I suppose.
Ram: Oh no problem sir.
Ram did say "No problem", but it was getting late and the baby started crying as it was getting late and Madhu had to feed the baby and put it to sleep. Madhu was also worried that's it's getting late.
Madhu called Ram near her and spoke in a low voice so that no one could hear it.
Madhu: Ram, baby is getting restless, can we leave now almost all the guest's have left. I have to put the baby to sleep.
Ram: I understand Madhu, but Mr. D'Souza wants us to wait for some official things regarding the business. His advocate and associates are on their way. They'll be here in an hour.
Madhu: Oh no Ram, an hour is too long. I can't handle the baby till that long. She's already hungry and look at her crying. Do you want our baby to cry for an hour. And besides now it's not a good time to do any official work. The auspicious time is over, it's not good to start something this late. Can't we have tomorrow morning in a temple. I feel that will be good.
Ram: Madhu!.. Don't be old fashioned. Mr. D'Souza isn't a man who believes in all our superstitions, besides he's a Christian and I don't think he's comfortable with a temple. I don't want to say no to anything told by him. It sounds negative. Try to understand Madhu, this is for our future, can't you adjust a bit.
Hearing this Madhu got a bit annoyed and showed her annoyance. She didn't like Ram's behavior and being called old fashioned. Even in school and college all her friends used to make fun of her calling her old fashioned which tends to irritate Madhu a bit and given the situation now with the baby, Madhu was completely annoyed by Ram's behavior. She just turned away and went the opposite side towards the lounge in the hall to pacify the baby.
20 mins had passed and the couple were anxious. Madhu was annoyed and Ram was stuck between Madhu and D'Souza. Just then a man wearing white kurti and white pants entered. D'Souza went quickly to welcome him. Ram didn't know what to do but since D'Souza was hurrying, he instinctively got up and went behind D'Souza. Madhu to got up with the baby on her shoulder and stood in place.
D'Souza went to the man and invited him and exchanged greetings and was talking with him. Then both walked towards Ram.
D'Souza: Ram, meet Mr. Sethuraman. He's like a god father to me and he's the MLA of our area.
Ram was a bit shook coz he's heard some not so good rumours about the MLA ever since he's come to the city but had never seen him or even though that he'll meet him. He knew D'Souza was a powerful man but didn't know that he had such even more powerful connections.
Ram: He..He..Hello... Sir, I'm Ram.
And immediately bent down to touch his feet out of respect even though Sethuraman was not too old. Infact Sethuraman was a man in his late forties. Maybe it was Sethuraman's power which intimidated Ram or Maybe it was just Ram's middle class upbringing.
Sethuraman: Aree... No No... No formalities please... Treat me like a brother, I'm not too old looking am I now Ram.
Ram: No not at all sir.
Ram then called Madhu and introduced her to MLA Sethuraman. Madhu felt a bit apprehensive looking at the MLA coz she had also heard rumors about him and didn't think he was a nice man. But after a few minutes of talking both Ram and Madhu felt okay and maybe thought those were rumours and in politics anything is said about people, because the way Sethuraman was behaving was very different from what they initially thought of him. Sethuraman was even cracking jokes and making things lively. He then lifted up the baby who was sleeping and put on a gold chain on her. The couple were delighted and felt even more grateful. But in between all this the baby started crying again and Madhu had left to the lounge again to pacify the baby.
The three men were having conversations for a while in the bar. D'Souza and Sethuraman had scotch and offered a glass to Ram. Ram politely declined saying he doesn't drink and they continued with thier conversations. After almost 30 mins Sethuraman told he needed to be elsewhere and left and Ram thought he could leave too but D'Souza told him to wait for a bit longer since his lawyer hadn't come yet. They both went down to leave MLA to his car and came back to the party hall to check on Madhu.
Madhu was very annoyed now with the baby and wanted to leave ASAP. She called Ram and told him that she wanted to leave and this time spoke louder so that even D'Souza could hear it. D'Souza understood what Madhu was trying to do and spoke
D'Souza: I guess, our cute lil Ridhhi is getting tired and so is her mother.
Madhu gave a nervous smirk.
Ram: No No sir they're fine.
Oh hearing this Madhu got frustrated with Ram.
D'Souza : No No Ram, I completely understand. You needn't make them wait. I just thought Madhu could stay back to meet my family but I guess we're in a difficult situation now. So why don't I tell one of the hotel cabs to drop Madhu home and You and me can stay back to finish the formalities and we can introduce my family to Madhu some other time.
Hearing this Ram too agreed coz he knew that Madhu was getting agitated and the baby couldn't stay any longer.
Ram: Sure sir, I think that's a better idea.
Madhu gave a loud sigh and spoke
Madhu: Thank you Mr. D'Souza you're a very understanding man. I'm so sorry for not being able to there. But I'm looking forward to meet your family soon.
D'Souza : No problem Mrs. Ram, you needn't be sorry. Like I said I completely understand. The cab driver will leave you home safely.
Both men went down to leave Madhu to the cab and D'Souza made sure that one of his trusted drivers took Madhu and the baby back home safely as they left.
Madhu was a bit unhappy and annoyed that the they are discussing formalities this late when it's almost 10pm and the fact that Ram things Madhu was too old fashioned to think like that but she had no say in it and just hoped things would go right. She thought all this to herself while in the car and prayed to god.