Day by day the Ruussa trees, which had infected the Dumbara Valley, kissed the earth amidst the mourning and lamentations of the village folk. Bernard looked at the destruction being done with a heavy heart as he had no alternatives to stand against it. He recalled how his ancestors had shed sweat to plant those Russa trees and how mercilessly they were uprooted within a few minutes. Bernard asked the saw mill owner who had taken the contract to remove the trees, to get the support of Kapilasena as Bernard had no interest to keep his fingers on it. Listening to Kapilasena's request Koinmenika allowed the wood cutters to keep their equipment like electric saws, chains, ropes etc. inside the old house. Bernard, thinking of the environment with unknown people moving here and there, advised Koinmenika not to keep Nandana Menike at their house and asked them to come to the bungalow. At some point, when taking decisions, Bernard used to consult Koinmenika. Nandana Menike could freely move in the bungalow as Bernard didn't pay any special attention to her. Occasionally, he asked Nandana Menike to play the piano. Remaining there for some time, then he moved to the third floor asking Nandana Menike to continue playing the piano.
Bernard often tried not to show his broken heart over the loss of his wife. It took a couple of days for him to come back to normalcy; to show his face in front of his social circle. He stopped taking liquor outside home, but every day from evening until he went to bed, he continued drinking despite Periyavar's attempt to take him away from his habit.
Nandana Menike could tame Rover within a few days and Rover became friendly with her as she had a similar appearance to that of Sandra. Periyavar felt relaxed to some extent from Rover's duties as Nandana Menike too could handle Rover without much difficulty. Bernard completely gave up the idea of caring for the dog.
Day by day, mental stress increased Koinmenika's pressure due to the absence of any news of Yasawathi. The pain over the disappearance of her daughter lessened to some extent with the work load she had at the bungalow. Since she had to look into almost all matters, she was preoccupied with them. Besides, Kapilasena's commitment to find out Yasawathi reduced Koinmenika's tension further. Though Nandana Menike's mother haunted in her mind, she completely gave up the idea of asking anything about her mother form her grandma. She knew that such attempts would confuse both of them.
Periyavar was busy with cleaning the table after Bernard had his breakfast. Bernard wanted him to tell Koinmenika to meet him as Sandra's mother and Victor were supposed to come to the bungalow.
"Koinamma… can you remember Loku Hamu Nona…?" He was referring to Sandra's mother.
"Twice or thrice I've seen her… but not spoken to her…" Koinmenika recalled her past memories.
"This Saturday, they are coming… They informed me giving a call…" He said observing her reactions.
She looked at him in amazement expecting to get more details.
"Victor also is said to be coming…"
Instantly, a picture of young, playful Victor entered her memory who came to meet Yasawathi.
"Then, Sandra Hamu will also come…?" she thought Sandra Hamu too would be coming along with her mother and brother.
Bernard shook his head in negation.
"If Loku Hamu comes here, we are going home on that day…" she thought, staying there with Nandana Menike would be improper.
"Where to go…?" A big question mark was etched on his expression.
She looked out of the window with deep thought in mind.
"Koinamma, you stay here minding your work here… They are coming to meet me… Let's see for what they are coming…?"
How would Victor behave and react when he saw Nandana Menike was puzzlement for Koinmenika. She remembered how Nandana Menike responded when she saw Bernard for the first time on the occasion of her puberty ceremony.
"Will Victor Hamu try to take our child away…?"
She was posing an enigmatic question. Though he had no right to claim his paternity through the birth certificate, indeed he was the father of Nandana Menike.
"What do you think about it…?" Instead of giving an answer, he raised another question in turn.
"How can I take a decision without asking her…?"
"Any news of Yasawathi…?"
She nodded her head with a depressed look. He noticed Koin Menike's eyes getting wet.
"She is not a small child now… if Victor is willing to accept her as his daughter… let them discuss the matter and take a decision…"
Koinmenika felt that the most precious treasure she had was about to step away from her possession. She suffered immensely being unable to bear up the circumstances that were going to befall her.
"It is not a matter to weep or mourn… Perhaps you also may be accompanied along with Nandana Menike. You are her GRANDMA… aren't you…?"
Koinmenika was caught up in a maze of incomprehensible problems.
"If you can slowly tell the girl of Victor's arrival that would be better…" Bernard got up to go putting a full stop to their conversation.
Feeling very thirsty, Nandana Menike entered the kitchen after putting Rover to the kennel. Her fatigued, sweat stained face with disarranged lock of hair fell across her face had added an inexpressible beauty which couldn't be described by an ordinary person but a poet. She walked up to the table and tried to drink some water from the water pot, but she was disturbed by Periyavar as he suggested to her:
"There's cool water in the fridge…"
Filling the cup with water, she turned her head towards Periyavar.
"It is only cool… but pot water… tasty…"
Thinking of the arrival of Sandra's mother and her brother in another few days, Koinmenika entered the kitchen.
"Koinamma, you look very serious… of what are you thinking… so deeply…?" Periyavar became rather inquisitive of her change.
"Loku Hamu is said to be coming…"
Periyavar then realized why Bernard wanted to meet her.
"Loku Hamu Nona… oh… Sandra Hamu's mother… When is she coming…?"
He was enthused to know more of it as it was not revealed to him by Bernard.
"On Saturday…"
Nandana Menike's thirst disappeared and with the thirst of getting more information, she glanced at her grandma.
"Victor also is said to be coming…"
Periyavar's eyes turned towards Nandana Menike. She was in deep thought.
"That's good… Sandra Hamu too will come…! Then, all the problems will be solved…" Periyavar also responded with a smile as he too thought his mother-in-law's arrival would solve all the problems of Bernard.
"Hamu Nona is not coming…"
That response drew a big question mark on the faces of both Periyavar and Nandana Menike. They looked at each other being unable to figure out the reason of their arrival without Sandra.