Later, Anvitha herself took some idlis and began feeding Advaith. He continued playing with the toy car in his hand while calmly finishing both idlis.
He was always like that—he would eat well as long as he got what he wanted, never throwing tantrums since childhood. But if he said "no," then it was a firm no—that's where his stubbornness came in.
While feeding him, Anvitha quickly finished eating two dosas herself.
After that, she carried her child and headed to the car. The driver started it and took them to the address she had given.
All along the way, Anvitha kept thinking about her life.
What dreams I had… and now I've ended up like this, caught in such a situation.
What if he finds out what I'm doing now?
Does he even know he has a son?
He needs to be taught a lesson… whatever happens, my child deserves justice, she thought, her heart burning with a sense of enmity.
She stepped out of the car with a firm resolve—she would plan each and every step from now on.
After paying the driver and thanking him, she lifted her child, pulled along her luggage, walked to the house, and rang the doorbell.
After a short while, an elderly woman opened the door. She looked at Anvitha and the child on her shoulder and said,
"Oh, are you Anvitha? Lalitha just called me. Come on in."
She welcomed Anvitha inside.
"Sit down, dear. Let me bring you something to drink," the old woman said kindly.
But Anvitha replied, "No, ma'am, it's okay. Just show me the house you're renting out. I'll go settle in there."
"Oh no, that's alright. Sit down, dear. What's the rush? Have a cup of coffee, chat for a bit, and then go see the house," the woman said, gently making her sit down before heading to the kitchen. She came back with two cups of coffee and placed them in front of them.
She also brought a tumbler of milk for the child along with some biscuits.
Advaith took a bite of a biscuit and then drank the milk. Seeing this, the elderly woman smiled and stroked his head.
"What's your name, little one?" she asked.
"Advaith," he replied proudly.
"Oh! My grandson is in the U.S. too, dear. We talk on video calls now and then… but it's been so many years since I saw them in person," she sighed deeply.
While the old woman continued to speak, Anvitha listened politely.
"My son got a job in the U.S. and settled there. My daughter-in-law was born and raised there, so she also got citizenship easily. My grandchildren are all over there now. My son and his father bought me this big house and a few smaller rental homes too. My husband is no more now…
Of the two houses behind this one, I'm renting one out to you. I'm not lacking in money, dear… but is money everything in life?
I wish so badly to see him… but he just never comes. Says he can't get leave," she lamented.
Seeing her speak that way, Anvitha felt a pang of sympathy.
She wondered if, had her own parents been alive, they might have expressed a similar longing.
"It'll all be alright, ma'am. Don't worry about anything," Anvitha said gently.
The old woman smiled warmly at her and said,
"My name is Parvathi—but everyone calls me 'Paaru-ma' affectionately."
All this time, little Advaith had also been listening to the conversation.
Out of nowhere, he suddenly said,
"Okay, Paaru-ma… look here… I want some more of these biscuits… can you please bring me some more?"
Hearing that sweet voice and polite request, the old lady laughed heartily.
"Look at him! How sweetly he calls me 'Paaru-ma,'" she said to Anvitha admiringly. "Come, darling… don't you worry. You want more, right?"
Treating him like a little child (though he already was one), she ran inside, fetched more biscuits, and not only filled his plate but packed a large cover full of biscuits and handed it to Anvitha.
"Oh no, this is too much, ma'am. He won't eat all this… there's no need for so many," Anvitha said, trying to decline.
"Oh, let it be, dear. Giving snacks to a child isn't wrong, is it? Just don't give them fast food. These are high-protein biscuits… it's completely fine to give him this," the old woman insisted and forced the packet into Anvitha's hand.
Taking the packet, Anvitha gave a stern look to Advaith. But, unaffected by her glance, he looked up and said cheerfully,
"Alright, Paaru-ma… look here, how long are we going to stay with wet clothes? Won't you show us our house now?"
"Hey, stop talking," Anvitha scolded him and quickly added to the old woman, "He's just a little boy, ma'am. We've spoiled him too much. Please forgive him."
The old woman was surprised.
"Tsk tsk… this is exactly how children should be! So bright and talkative," she said, smiling, then looked at him and added with affection,
"Wow… kids these days talk so much, and with such sense!"
She gently stroked his face and gave a little 'drishti' snap (a traditional gesture to ward off the evil eye) to ward off bad energy.
"Alright, alright, if I keep sitting and talking with you like this, your son might think I'm not going to feed him!" she said with a chuckle and led them out.
She took the key, unlocked the house behind her own, and led them inside.
The moment they entered, Advaith started driving his toy car around the house.
The house, though small, was neat and charming.
Anvitha liked it instantly.
There was a small hall, one bedroom, a kitchen, and an attached bathroom with a toilet.
Surrounded by trees and plants, the house had a lovely natural setting.
The layout of the house was quite unique, and Anvitha noticed it had an old-fashioned charm.
Seeing her expression, the old lady said,
"What's the surprise, dear? My husband designed all this. After my son started earning from the U.S., he and my husband decided they didn't want me to depend on anyone in my later years.
So, they built the front house for me. Then we decided we wanted something natural and peaceful… so we designed these two houses at the back to look like a garden space, with trees and plants all around.
The neighbors here are very kind. It's just a small family next door. I rented the place out to someone I know well.
Her name is Ambika. Her husband works in Bangalore, so she lives here alone for now. They don't have children yet.
You two will find it easy to talk and spend time together. She's a good girl. She's gone to work now and will return by evening.
We can all sit together and chat then, and get to know each other better, alright?
Now you go freshen up and rest. I'll make something for lunch. In the evening, there's a grocery shop nearby—let's take a walk there, okay?
I'll show you around everything," she said and then stepped out of the house.
Once she left, Anvitha closed the door, latched it, let out a deep sigh, and sat down on the sofa.
The house had everything she needed—stove, gas cylinder, chairs, sofa, dressing table, bed, bedsheets… everything.
She realized she didn't need to buy anything immediately, which felt like a huge burden lifted off her shoulders.