Ramani had grown up in an orphanage though she was not an orphan when she went to stay there. When her father Venu had been alive, her mother Neela and Ramani had been leading a tolerably comfortable life. But Venu's excessive drinking had led to his sudden death. Venu had left nothing for his widow and two-year-old daughter. Neela had been evicted from her house. No relatives came to her rescue. Hence she sought refuge in the destitute home on the outskirts of Bangalore. It was called the Haven and also had an orphanage.

Neela was a hardworking woman. So the Matron of the Haven - the buxom and kind Mrs. Leela, was kindly disposed towards her. Neela worked from morning till night, cleaning the rooms, sweeping the courtyard or helping in the kitchen. Some craft was also taught to the women and girls there. Neela was not given any wages but just board and lodge for herself and her baby. Ramani was an intelligent girls and when she was about five, she started attending the school run by the Haven. Many society ladies used to visit the home and help with donations and voluntary services like teaching in the school. One of them, Shoma Prasad, took an instant liking to little Ramani with her bright eyes and charming smile.

Besides learning the three Rs, Ramani showed an interest in sewing. Her father had been a skilled carpenter and Ramani showed her skill in sewing. Neela's hardworking trait had also been inherited by Ramani. However, hard work led to Neela's health being affected. She used to get bouts of giddiness and breathlessness. Though she did not tell anyone about her health troubles, the Matron noticed it and the doctor came and prescribed rest and medicines for Neela. Though good care was taken of Neela, one night she passed away quietly.

Poor Ramani! At ten, she became an orphan. Shoma Prasad started taking extra care of Ramani. As Ramani was good in sewing, she was given training in cutting and stitching. She continued to do well in studies and became an expert seamstress by the time she became sixteen. The ladies who came to the home were impressed with Ramani's neat stitching and perfect fit. Ramani had become quite adept at stitching blouses and frocks. So she earned quite a bit and bought a sewing machine with her savings after a couple of years.

Shiv Kumar, a young man who delivered the groceries to the home had become quite friendly with Ramani. She also liked him as he had a friendly smile for all and was well behaved. The kids in the home looked forward to his visits as he would entertain them in various ways - doing mimicry, singing and playing with them. The Matron noticed the growing friendship between Shiv and Ramani and warned the latter to be careful. Shiv Kumar however declared that he wanted to marry Ramani. The Matron asked him to wait for some more time as Ramani was only about eighteen. Meanwhile, Shoma Prasad made enquiries about Shiv Kumar and heard that he had no bad habits. His only relatives were a stepmother and her children, with whom he kept no contact after his father's death. So if Ramani married Shiv, they would be on their own without any family support.

Another year passed before the Matron agreed to Ramani's marrying Shiv. The newlyweds rented a one-room house in a busy locality. Ramani set up her tailoring shop in the house and Shiv continued to work in the grocer's shop. In his spare time, he did whatever other jobs he could find. Shiv Kumar had studied only up to the fifth standard as his stepmother had stopped his studies after that.

Life went on smoothly for Ramani and Shiv, as they were both earning enough for a comfortable life, besides saving some money. They were very happy in each other's love. Shiv took great care of his wife and Ramani did not have any complaints against him. After a year, a bonny boy was born to them. Ramani managed the baby and the shop with the help of a small girl.

The baby boy was called Velu and was now about two years old. One day Shiv came home with a worried face. "The master's wife is not keeping well. He has to spend a lot of money for her treatment. He cannot even pay the rent of the shop. I don't know what will happen," he said.

The blow fell soon. The grocer was asked to vacate the shop as he could not pay the rent. He had exhausted all his savings on his wife's treatment. The stock was disposed of to meet the creditors' demands. Shiv Kumar was now jobless. Though he searched for a job, he could not find any as he was not educated enough. Shopkeepers did not want to employ a new face, as they had their regular workers. Unable to bear the ignominy of living on his wife's earnings, he decided to leave them. One night, he quietly left, leaving a small untidy note for his beloved wife. "Am going in search of job. Shall return only when I get a good job."

To be continued