Chapter 45

TiaMaaaaa

@TianaWrites

~45~

Samar walked down the market road thinking how much his life had changed. Living alone had its perks but it did bring responsibilities along with it too. Like now, he was on the way to get some atta for himself. It was not that he had never shopped or cooked before, being his mother's son, he had always been the one to lend a willing hand when she felt tired but the responsibility of checking if everything was there at his home, ready was something he was still learning. His mother had wanted to come and help him but he had been firm. She had argued, fought and finally relented unhappily. Seeing her upset, he had called up the one person who could make her better and also understand his point.... Anuj Papa. As soon as the name registered, he smiled. He hadn't known exactly when but nowadays whenever he thought of him, he added the Papa along with his name. He wondered if he would actually get the privilege of addressing him the same one day. He whispered a prayer for his dear mother that someday she would the happiness she deserved in the man who now occupied the position of a father in his heart. As he was pondering over these things, the sound of a commotion made him look up. Seeing a group of people gathered, he walked towards them curiously. As he made his way through the crowd, he could trace the outline of a woman lying on the road and a small girl kneeling beside her. A closer look made his heart stop as he recognized them to be Pooja and her mom. He quickly pushed past the crowd.

"Pooja..."

The girl looked up and relief flooded her face.

"Master..."

"Don't worry, I am here"

Holding her in one hand, he knelt beside her and checked for her pulse. Feeling it a bit low, he immediately took out his phone and rang for the ambulance. He took her hand in his and rubbed them giving warmth. Looking at the crowd looking curiously at the trio without moving an inch, he stood up.

"The lady needs air, the ambulance will be here in sometime. Can someone please give some water?"

A small boy handed his bottle and he knelt beside her again sprinkling the water on her face. As her eyes squinted, he gave a heave of relief and sprinkled more water again. She slowly opened her eyes and looked at him. He helped her up. Still weak, she held onto him for support. The sound of the ambulance arriving made the crowd move away in different ways. He looked up as the ambulance stopped and the emt team got down.

"Who called?"

"Me... uh she fainted I guess..."

Samar held on to Pooja while the doctor bent down to check her.

"Looks like no major issue. Her vitals are OK. It's her blood pressure that is low. Didn't you have food in the morning?"

She slowly nodded in negative.

"When was the last time you had food? You look so emancipated."

She bent down unable to face Samar's gaze and whispered

"Two days ago."

The doctor got up and looked at Samar.

"I think it would be better if she gets some food... I can give some supplements for strength... but it doesn't substitute food."

Samar nodded thanking him and once they left, turned around to her.

"I believe we have a lot to talk about... I didn't have my breakfast either... care for some?"

"No thank you... we can manage..."

"I am sure you can... but I would love some company... and who better than my little Pooja?"

She said nothing but feeling grateful in her heart followed him to the dhabba closeby.

***

"Samar.... where is this... ouch..."

She slipped and a strong hand steadied her. She instantly knew who it was.

"Toshu..."

He looked at her accusingly.

"You forgot"

She sighed and opened her bag taking out a tiffin. She reached out and took his hand in hers. Opening his palm, she placed the tiffin.

"White sauce pasta, your favorite... How can I forget? I still remember the sound of your first cry and the feel of your warm body on my sweaty one after a 12 hour long labour... I thought of sending through Kinjal or Samar... Happy birthday, son..."

He looked away.

"What?"

"You thought of sending through Kinjal or Samar..."

"That's because I didn't know if you would want to see me... you haven't talked to me ever since... since..."

"You kicked me out of your house..."

"Toshu..."

"I know... I know....I deserved every bit of it..."

"You did..."

"I am sorry."

The remorse in his voice struck her and she realized his repentance was real. She pulled him into a hug and stood on her toes to kiss his forehead.

"I know... its OK... promise me you would never make me cry like that again..."

"I won't..."

"Kinjal said you got a new job..."

"Yes... It's good hard work... I am totally new... still learning the ropes... since I know no one there... it's even more difficult... my supervisor simply screams at me... looks like he has some personal vengeance against me..."

"You want me to come and talk to that man?"

"Mummy... I am not in the 1st grade... you cannot just come...."

"Then why are you complaining like a first grader..."

"Because I still want my Mummy to tell me what I dearly want to hear..."

She smiled at him.

"Don't worry.... I know you will shine... you always were the best in whatever you did set your heart to..."

"This is what I wanted to hear... now I know I will shine... but that does mean I don't have much time at home... Kinjal said you came the other day..."

"I did..."

"I wanted to see you..."

She said nothing. Deep inside she had missed him dearly too... Her firstborn who had always considered his father as a hero and his mother a loser... yet her heart had yearned for him as does the heart of mothers. She knew however he may sway, in the end he would still be her son... the son who gave her the title 'mother'.

"Mummy... I know you are busy... but you know you can call me up to check on me like you used to before..."

"I did check on you with Kinjal... did you really think you are the only one who missed me?"

"Promise me however mad I make you... you won't ever do this again... I can't... I can't bear it... I can't bear this silence... shout at me, fight with me, argue with me... please don't ignore me ever again... Mummy... please... don't let me go... life without you is so miserable..."

As his knees shook, she dropped down to catch him before he fell.

"I won't... I won't... I promise..."

After a few minutes of silence, he started.

"Mummy..."

"Hmm?"

"Will you come home this Sunday?"

She looked at him.

"Actually we have arranged a small party for my birthday... this weekend as I couldn't get leave today... it won't be complete without you..."

Seeing her hesitate, he said

"And Mummy... I know you want to bring Anuj along... but can you please come alone? Papa said he is going for some meeting but Baa will be there and she will create a scene... I really don't want anything like that in my party..."

"Toshu... I don't want to go to a place where my family isn't welcome..."

"If the party was anywhere else I would have invited him too... but right now, the situation is bad at home... its always Baa or Papa or Kavya screaming... I really feel that he would be uncomfortable..."

"Then... I cannot come..."

He gave a defeated sigh.

"I will miss you... I hope you change your mind... it's only Monday and the party is on Sunday night... it's my birthday after all... and this is the first time you are saying no on my birthday... so I am upset... but... it's your decision... I won't press you... I am happy we atleast talked..."

Saying so, he gave her a hug and left.

***