Ramayya and Jhansi returned home after attending the village Panchayat meeting.
As their car entered the street, they noticed a family moving their belongings into the rented house next to theirs. A few bags, boxes, household items and some furniture were being carried inside.
Jhansi looked towards the house.
"Who are these people? Are they moving into that rented house?" she asked.
Ramayya glanced at them and replied,
"Yes, it looks like a new family has come to stay there."
"That's good. At least we will have some neighbours now," Jhansi said with a smile.
Ramayya parked the car, and both of them went inside.
Another Silent Afternoon
After refreshing himself, Ramayya came and sat on the sofa in the living room.
He didn't speak to anyone.
The events of the previous day and the Panchayat meeting were still running through his mind. He had apologised to Subhash, accepted his mistake and promised to help his family. But he knew that winning back people's trust would not happen overnight.
Jhansi brought him a glass of water and went into the kitchen to prepare lunch.
The house was quiet as usual.
Vinodh, Jeevan and Srinidhi were busy with their own activities. None of them came forward to speak to their father.
Ramayya sat alone, holding the glass of water and looking towards the television without really watching it.
Just then, a loud and cheerful voice came from the neighbouring house.
"Daddy! This house is beautiful! I want this house!"
A few seconds later, the same voice repeated,
"Papa, I want this house! I like this house!"
The boy's parents started laughing.
Ramayya heard the conversation from the living room. Even though he didn't turn towards the door, a slight smile appeared on his face.
Jhansi, who was working in the kitchen, also heard the little boy's voice.
She came out, curious to see who was speaking so excitedly.
The Little Boy Who Wanted Another House
A small boy was standing near the entrance of the neighbouring house, looking towards Ramayya's house.
He was around five years old, with a cheerful face and innocent eyes. He looked at Jhansi and immediately started speaking.
"Aunty! I want your house!"
Jhansi was surprised by his words.
"My house? Why do you want my house, dear?"
The boy replied without hesitation,
"Because I like it! I want to play in your house. Please give me your house!"
Jhansi burst into laughter.
"Really? You want my house? Then where will I go?"
The boy thought for a moment and answered,
"You can come to my house!"
His innocent reply made Jhansi laugh even more.
Inside the living room, Ramayya was listening to the entire conversation. He couldn't help smiling at the boy's confidence.
Jhansi bent down slightly and asked,
"What is your name, dear?"
"My name is Akash," he replied proudly.
"Very nice name! Which class are you studying?"
"I'm studying LKG," Akash answered.
"Oh! So you are a big boy now?"
Akash nodded confidently.
"Yes, aunty! I'm a big boy."
Jhansi smiled and asked,
"How old are you?"
"I'm five years old."
"That's wonderful, Akash!"
Akash continued looking around the house, still interested in getting permission to play there.
"Aunty, can I come inside your house and play?"
"Of course, dear. You can come and play whenever you want."
Akash smiled happily.
A New Neighbour Introduces Herself
Meanwhile, a woman came out of the neighbouring house after hearing Akash talking to someone.
She noticed Jhansi speaking with her son and approached them with a smile.
"Hello! I'm sorry if he is disturbing you. He keeps talking to everyone he meets," she said.
Jhansi smiled.
"Oh, no! He is not disturbing me at all. In fact, he made me laugh. He is such a sweet boy."
The woman laughed.
"That's true. He talks a lot, especially when he likes something."
Jhansi introduced herself.
"My name is Jhansi. We live in this house."
The woman replied,
"Nice to meet you, Jhansi. I'm Meera. We have just moved here from another city. My husband works as a bank manager, and we thought this would be a good place for our family."
Jhansi welcomed her warmly.
"That's lovely. Welcome to our neighbourhood. If you need anything, please feel free to ask."
Meera thanked her.
Akash, who was standing beside his mother, suddenly interrupted their conversation.
"Mummy! I want to play in aunty's house!"
Both women started laughing again.
Meera looked at her son.
"Akash, first let us finish arranging our things. You can play later."
But Akash was not ready to give up.
"Mummy, I like that house!"
Jhansi smiled at him.
"Don't worry, Akash. You can come and play."
The little boy looked extremely happy.
A Smile in a House Full of Silence
After a few more minutes of conversation, Jhansi returned to her house.
Ramayya was still sitting on the sofa.
He looked at her and asked,
"Who is that family?"
Jhansi replied,
"They are our new neighbours. The lady's name is Meera, and her husband is a bank manager. They have a small family. Their son Akash is five years old and studying in LKG."
Ramayya smiled slightly.
"That boy talks a lot, doesn't he?"
Jhansi laughed.
"Yes! He is very funny. He came straight to me and asked me to give him our house because he wanted to play here."
For the first time that afternoon, Ramayya looked genuinely amused.
"Children say whatever comes into their minds," he said.
Jhansi smiled and returned to the kitchen.
She had almost forgotten the tension of the previous few days while talking to the little boy. His innocent questions and cheerful expressions had brought a refreshing change to her afternoon.
But inside the house, the situation remained the same.
Vinodh, Jeevan and Srinidhi were still keeping their distance from Ramayya. They had not yet forgotten the way he had treated their mother and the problems he had created for the family.
Ramayya sat alone again.
He looked towards the neighbouring house, where he could still hear Akash laughing and talking with his parents.
A strange thought crossed his mind.
How easily that little boy made everyone around him laugh!
There was no fear in his voice, no hesitation in his words and no expectation of anything in return. He was simply happy with the smallest things.
Ramayya looked around his own house.
He had money, property and everything he had worked hard to earn. Yet, his own children hardly spoke to him. His wife was polite, but the happiness they once shared was missing.
He remembered the laughter he had heard from the neighbouring house.
For a moment, he wished his own home could sound like that again.
He leaned back on the sofa and closed his eyes.
Outside, a little boy named Akash was happily playing with his parents.
Inside, a wealthy man was sitting alone, silently thinking about the happiness he had lost.
Ramayya had no idea that the little boy next door would soon become an important part of his life.
To be continued..................