Part 1

Randhir was startled by the presence of the teenage Sanyukta desperately hanging off the mango tree just outside his bedroom balcony. "Who is it, son? It must be those infernal kids after the fruit in the garden!'' His mother Renuka called out to him. ''No mother, just some monkeys.'' He was unsure why he had lied. He could see she was trapped and uncertain about how to descend. ''Here, take my hand'' He whispered to her stretching across, as she looked at him petrified. Slowly, an inch at a time, she crawled toward him, trying not to look down, until she was near enough for him to grab her and pull her into his sinewy arms. Unconvinced that she had landed on safe ground she held him in a tight embrace till he could feel her heart beat wildly against his broad chest.