26-05-2021, 08:56 PM
That night, both mom and son hardly slept. But were disturbed but it was something that they were not ready to face. Sandeep could not bring himself to accept the fact that his mom was probably in love with Vijay. What hurt him more was the fact that she seemed to put his feelings secondary to Vijay. How could she do that. He was her son and Vijay was someone she knew for a few weeks. Surely, she could forget him for his sake. What would everyone think of him. His circle of friends, well even their families. Yes, that would be worse, right. Suddenly, an idea dawned on him. He would enlist the support of his aunt in this. She would understand it and with her on his side, he was sure that his mom would see sense and drop this. There are thousands of better men out there and she could easily find someone who was better. Yes, that is what he would do as soon as he woke up. He would call his aunt tell her everything that happened and ask her to put some sense into his mom. Ah, may be that will work. This gave him some relief and he tried to sleep with this thought in his mind. His protective instincts as a son simply did not allow him to think of anything else. Vijay was not a bad man, but he was not the right man. His mom, if she remarried, had to be with someone who would take care of her and make her happy. Vijay could not do that. What Sandeep did not accept was the fact that he felt a tinge of jealousy that his mom suddenly had another man in her life and he was not ready for it. The whole thing was so confusing for him. Why did she go to his house? What happened there? For a moment, he wondered about it and every possibility flashed through his mind. Suddenly, a vague image of his mom in Vijay’s arms smiling at looking at Sandeep came to his mind. No, no that is not going to be possible. He slept fitfully as he struggled with multiple emotions that kept rising from deep within him.
Maa on the other hand was angry than anything else. She did not want to marry again and everyone including her son kept pushing her to it. Everyone spoke as if it was her choice and she had the freedom to choose. Now when something happened, her son was acting so strange. He was not even willing to sit and ask her opinion. He was not even wiling to tell her in a calm manner his objections. It was as if she was in love with a murderer and he had to stop it by any means. There was not even a question about what she wanted. That upset her. And she had given her heart to Vijay. At the same time, the knowledge about who Vijay was and his previous relationship to her son disturbed her a bit. She could understand at some level the anger her son felt. But what was she to do? Just act as if nothing had happened and forget everything? Just forget the man who had made love to her and she had willingly given herself to? As she thought about all this, the image of Vijay holding her flashed across her mind and it strangely gave her some comfort. Part of her wished to run away somewhere with Vijay and not be seen by anyone. But wishes were what they were- just wishes. The reality was she could not completely ignore her son’s wishes too. But did that mean she had to ignore her own wishes and desires? And what was Vijay’s mistake? That he was born poor? Or that he belonged to a different caste? Or was it simply that he had worked for her son for some time as a driver? The more she thought about it, her son’s stand made less sense. Tears welled up as the happiness she thought was available to her now seemed difficult to attain.
Next morning, Sandeep woke up late. He decided to take a day off from work but did not feel like staying at home. He wanted to go somewhere and think about what had happened and also speak with his aunt. He got ready dressed up and came out. He walked out and saw breakfast was on the table. But he did not eat anything and walked out of the door slamming it loudly, so his mom knew he had left. As she heard the door being shut, maa got up from her bed and came to the hall. The food had not been touched. She expected it but hoped her son had calmed during the night. His behaviour was actually pushing her further away from him. If only he had been more reasonable, she would have been more open to his views. But this was distressing her, and she had no one to turn to except Vijay. He had been constantly messaging her and she had sent him just a one-line message in the morning.
“I am ok. I will call you without fail today. Pakka.”
She now sat on the sofa and thought about it. She had to choose, was it her son and his demands or her desire for love and companionship? The motherly instinct said she had to reach out and protect her son and his feelings. She took her phone and texted a message to her son.
“Baby, please come back. Let us talk about everything. Come back”
She waited for a reply, an hour, two hours yet no reply. She just threw the phone and lay down. Why is he behaving like this? If he wants me to listen to him can’t he at least understand that I am as broken and confused as he is. And if he won’t give me some affection than what am I supposed to do? Finally, she called her best friend Mala. Mala knew some details about Vijay. Just the basics and that she liked him and was happy. She had been her confidante for many years. She picked up her phone and dialled Mala’s number.
“Hello, Mala. Are you busy?”
“Hi just finishing up some work at home. Why? Maa broke down and started to sob.
“Hey why are you crying? What happened? Tell me please?”
Maa continued to cry.
“Listen you need to calm down and tell me what happened? Did something go wrong with Vijay.”
“Sort of”
“Sort of means.. did he hurt you in anyway? What happened?”
“No, not him”
“Then who?”
“Sandeep”
“What, why?
Over the next 20 mins maa related everything that had happened to Mala who heard her patiently.
“Listen sweetheart, he is reacting like an immature kid”
“I know, the thing is he wont even talk properly to me. He wont eat properly. I am worried about him”
“We mothers are like that darling but your son is not worried about you I am realising. If he did he would have..”
“He would have what?”
“Well, tell me this, did he ask you what you really wanted?”
“No, not once”
“That’s what, these men I tell you. They are all selfish.”
“Not all men. Vijay has been very worried that I am not replying to his texts or taking his calls. And he knows me for some weeks. Sandeep, I am his mother. And look at him.”
Mala let maa vent out her frustrations and then spoke.
“Look, at least now you need to think of your happiness. You are not a twenty-five year old girl. Damn it twenty-five year olds will decide in favour of their happiness and look at you.”
“What do you want me to do, I can’t ignore my son.”
“Now listen to me and stop crying.”
“Ok, ill try”
“Stop or else I wont talk.”
Maa wiped her tears and took a deep breath.
“Yes Mala tell me.”
“Well, how long do you think Sandeep is going to be with you.”
“What do you meant?”
“I mean he is going to find a woman and settle down with her sooner or later right?
“I hope so”
“Not hope so, that is what will happen in a year or too. If not sooner.”
“So what is your point?”
“My point is, after that where do you stand?”
“Huh, I will be his mother whatever happens, isn’t it”
“Exactly, and he will be your son whatever be your decision. If you like this man very much, then don’t let his childish rants stop you”
“Are you sure?”
“Certainly. He is not going to be like this in a few days. And if he sees you happy with Vijay, he will eventually be happy about your decision too.”
“Oh, you think so?”
“Of course. Now be a nice girl and give your Vijay a call and talk to him. And anytime you are confused call me”
“Ok, thanks a lot.”
As soon as Mala hung the phone, maa went and had a shower. She then called Vijay who was very concerned why she had gone silent. After she assured him, she was fine, he wanted to know if he could meet her. She wanted to say no but her loneliness was overpowering her rationale mind. She told him she would meet him and asked him to come and pick her up in an hour. Maa showered dressed up and went down to the entrance of the apartments, she kept walking till she reached the main road and waited there. In five minutes Vijay came there and she got into his car.
“Where do you want to go?
“Anywhere Vijay, I have two hours and we can go anywhere”
“My home or should we just go for a drive?”
“No drive”
Vijay did not ask anything. He turned his car and drove towards his home. In fifteen minutes, they were inside his home. He latched the main door from inside and sat on the sofa by maa’s side. Something was bothering her. But he knew it was best for her to bring it up. After a few moments of silence, he gently placed his hand on her left hand and held it. Their fingers enmeshed into each other slowly he turned her to face him and placed a kiss on her forehead.
Maa on the other hand was angry than anything else. She did not want to marry again and everyone including her son kept pushing her to it. Everyone spoke as if it was her choice and she had the freedom to choose. Now when something happened, her son was acting so strange. He was not even willing to sit and ask her opinion. He was not even wiling to tell her in a calm manner his objections. It was as if she was in love with a murderer and he had to stop it by any means. There was not even a question about what she wanted. That upset her. And she had given her heart to Vijay. At the same time, the knowledge about who Vijay was and his previous relationship to her son disturbed her a bit. She could understand at some level the anger her son felt. But what was she to do? Just act as if nothing had happened and forget everything? Just forget the man who had made love to her and she had willingly given herself to? As she thought about all this, the image of Vijay holding her flashed across her mind and it strangely gave her some comfort. Part of her wished to run away somewhere with Vijay and not be seen by anyone. But wishes were what they were- just wishes. The reality was she could not completely ignore her son’s wishes too. But did that mean she had to ignore her own wishes and desires? And what was Vijay’s mistake? That he was born poor? Or that he belonged to a different caste? Or was it simply that he had worked for her son for some time as a driver? The more she thought about it, her son’s stand made less sense. Tears welled up as the happiness she thought was available to her now seemed difficult to attain.
Next morning, Sandeep woke up late. He decided to take a day off from work but did not feel like staying at home. He wanted to go somewhere and think about what had happened and also speak with his aunt. He got ready dressed up and came out. He walked out and saw breakfast was on the table. But he did not eat anything and walked out of the door slamming it loudly, so his mom knew he had left. As she heard the door being shut, maa got up from her bed and came to the hall. The food had not been touched. She expected it but hoped her son had calmed during the night. His behaviour was actually pushing her further away from him. If only he had been more reasonable, she would have been more open to his views. But this was distressing her, and she had no one to turn to except Vijay. He had been constantly messaging her and she had sent him just a one-line message in the morning.
“I am ok. I will call you without fail today. Pakka.”
She now sat on the sofa and thought about it. She had to choose, was it her son and his demands or her desire for love and companionship? The motherly instinct said she had to reach out and protect her son and his feelings. She took her phone and texted a message to her son.
“Baby, please come back. Let us talk about everything. Come back”
She waited for a reply, an hour, two hours yet no reply. She just threw the phone and lay down. Why is he behaving like this? If he wants me to listen to him can’t he at least understand that I am as broken and confused as he is. And if he won’t give me some affection than what am I supposed to do? Finally, she called her best friend Mala. Mala knew some details about Vijay. Just the basics and that she liked him and was happy. She had been her confidante for many years. She picked up her phone and dialled Mala’s number.
“Hello, Mala. Are you busy?”
“Hi just finishing up some work at home. Why? Maa broke down and started to sob.
“Hey why are you crying? What happened? Tell me please?”
Maa continued to cry.
“Listen you need to calm down and tell me what happened? Did something go wrong with Vijay.”
“Sort of”
“Sort of means.. did he hurt you in anyway? What happened?”
“No, not him”
“Then who?”
“Sandeep”
“What, why?
Over the next 20 mins maa related everything that had happened to Mala who heard her patiently.
“Listen sweetheart, he is reacting like an immature kid”
“I know, the thing is he wont even talk properly to me. He wont eat properly. I am worried about him”
“We mothers are like that darling but your son is not worried about you I am realising. If he did he would have..”
“He would have what?”
“Well, tell me this, did he ask you what you really wanted?”
“No, not once”
“That’s what, these men I tell you. They are all selfish.”
“Not all men. Vijay has been very worried that I am not replying to his texts or taking his calls. And he knows me for some weeks. Sandeep, I am his mother. And look at him.”
Mala let maa vent out her frustrations and then spoke.
“Look, at least now you need to think of your happiness. You are not a twenty-five year old girl. Damn it twenty-five year olds will decide in favour of their happiness and look at you.”
“What do you want me to do, I can’t ignore my son.”
“Now listen to me and stop crying.”
“Ok, ill try”
“Stop or else I wont talk.”
Maa wiped her tears and took a deep breath.
“Yes Mala tell me.”
“Well, how long do you think Sandeep is going to be with you.”
“What do you meant?”
“I mean he is going to find a woman and settle down with her sooner or later right?
“I hope so”
“Not hope so, that is what will happen in a year or too. If not sooner.”
“So what is your point?”
“My point is, after that where do you stand?”
“Huh, I will be his mother whatever happens, isn’t it”
“Exactly, and he will be your son whatever be your decision. If you like this man very much, then don’t let his childish rants stop you”
“Are you sure?”
“Certainly. He is not going to be like this in a few days. And if he sees you happy with Vijay, he will eventually be happy about your decision too.”
“Oh, you think so?”
“Of course. Now be a nice girl and give your Vijay a call and talk to him. And anytime you are confused call me”
“Ok, thanks a lot.”
As soon as Mala hung the phone, maa went and had a shower. She then called Vijay who was very concerned why she had gone silent. After she assured him, she was fine, he wanted to know if he could meet her. She wanted to say no but her loneliness was overpowering her rationale mind. She told him she would meet him and asked him to come and pick her up in an hour. Maa showered dressed up and went down to the entrance of the apartments, she kept walking till she reached the main road and waited there. In five minutes Vijay came there and she got into his car.
“Where do you want to go?
“Anywhere Vijay, I have two hours and we can go anywhere”
“My home or should we just go for a drive?”
“No drive”
Vijay did not ask anything. He turned his car and drove towards his home. In fifteen minutes, they were inside his home. He latched the main door from inside and sat on the sofa by maa’s side. Something was bothering her. But he knew it was best for her to bring it up. After a few moments of silence, he gently placed his hand on her left hand and held it. Their fingers enmeshed into each other slowly he turned her to face him and placed a kiss on her forehead.
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