The sun was on a strike, refusing to share its temperature. Yet, it stopped none. The people wrapped themselves in warm stylish clothes and strolled around the city which was embracing the new season with a fresh look. The joy and excitement were everywhere to welcome the winter. There was no lack of happiness. One could feel it in the air, hear the laughter and hoots, see on the faces of people.
A soft smile graced the beautiful face of Anya. She watched the crowd when her car had halted at the red signal of a busy street.
'Knock, Knock.'
Anya turned to her right hearing the knock on the windshield. Looking at the little girl, flushed in the cold, holding the bunch of flowers in hand, her heart ached a little.
It wasn't the first time she saw little ones helping their parents to earn some money. It was prohibited yet it never stopped.
Her eyes glanced at the timer for the green signal as she rolled the window down. There was still time. Anya requested, "Could you please come to this side, Sweetheart, quickly? Come on." Saying it, she grabbed her soft knitted scarf from the shotgun seat.
The little girl's sweet voice sounded, "I will be there, sister." The little girl ran around the car in little steps.
Anya got out of her car and kneeled in front of the girl. She carefully wrapped the scarf around her neck in two layers and smiled at the surprised girl. Her slender fingers moved the strands of hair away from the little face.
Anya rubbed her palms and cupped the little girl's face to make her face a little warm. "Sweetie, ask your mother to keep you warm in winter. Don't catch a cold."
The girl touched the soft scarf, then she looked at the footpath in confusion. Anya followed her line of sight but found none looking at them.
The little girl became nervous when she saw Anya's gaze. She quickly stuffed the whole bunch of flowers into her hands, taking Anya's attention. She flashed a bright smile. "Thank you for the scarf, sister. I will make sure to keep this safe."
Anya didn't sense the panic of the little girl. She smiled at the sweet girl. She didn't need flowers. So many were of no use to her. Anyway, she thought about buying them so that the little one could go back home and rest. She stood up to fetch her wallet from the car, "Will you tell this sister how much…"
Anya was flustered when she saw the girl running away. She started following her to give her the money, seeing her forget it, "Hey… Wait… Wait... You didn't take the money…"
Anya wasn't ready to give up but the cars behind her started honking wildly ruining the joyous air. She had just taken a glance at her car due to ear-piercing noise. When she turned back, the little girl was nowhere to be seen.
She had to run back to her car. She quickly drove a little ahead and parked aside. She desperately looked for the girl around the same spot. She knew how hard it would be for a small family to survive in the city. A hundred bucks could feed them for days. Even though it wasn't her mistake, she felt responsible.
"I am so sorry." She apologized standing in the middle of the footpath.
Kindness is a virtue and being kind is also dangerous. She will realize it soon.
Breathing a sigh, Anya got into her car. Her eyes caught the beautiful white roses on the shotgun seat. Her fingers glided over them, feeling the softness of the petal. She decided to be extra heedful around the area so that she could give the money to the little girl.
Igniting the engine, she drove her car towards the home. After meeting that little girl, she missed her son even more.
'Ring… ring…'
Think of the devil.
Anya had to pull her car aside as it was a video call. She answered the call and saw the face that could vanish her exhaustion and bring all the happiness to her little world.
"Momma!!" The adorable voice floated to her ears while she smiled broadly when she watched her son give the mobile to a pair of hands and jumped in front of the camera.
He spread his little hands and spoke excitedly, "Momma look, first snow."
Anya was so busy watching her son that she didn't notice the small white dots floating in the air and kissing her son's face. She was glad he was wearing his warm cap to cover his ears, and extra layers to keep himself warm. She missed him even more. She wanted to hug her little cozy bun.
The little boy didn't let her speak. He ran closer to the mobile and patiently conveyed some words to her, just like his grandfather, "Momma, Grandma said we should watch first snow with the one we love. She is so happy to watch the snow with me."
They tilted the camera to show Anya's mother. The latter was speechless looking at the little boy being so talkative.
Then the adorable face came back to the view and his words continued, "But Momma, I love you the most. could you come here, please?" It was his sincere wish.
He so sweetly requested her, Anya melted to her little son immediately. Hearing him say so much, longingly looking at her, she could feel he was missing her. "I love you the most, my baby…"
Her voice cut in. Anya heard her father laughing while her mother chided her son, "You little brat, didn't you say you love me the most in the morning?"
Her son mischievously grinned hearing it. He quickly whispered to Anya, taking the mobile from his grandfather, "Oh Momma, I am caught. I wanted an extra meat bun for breakfast..." He confessed to her, giggled cutely, and started running.
"Zane…" Anya tried to call him when the screen wasn't focusing anywhere.
He showed his face while running and hurriedly spoke, "Momma, I miss you. Please pick me… Ahhh, Grandma…" He was running in the courtyard and cried when his grandmother caught up with his little legs.
"Anya, uff… Your son fools me every time." Her mother complained, making Anya chuckle.
Her son was as mischievous as her when she was young. Being naughty or their favorite food, they had a lot in common. Her mother always complained that her son was sweet-tongued if he needed something and he could argue so reasonably that he would win every time.
"Baby… Zane, look at me."
Her son obediently stopped running and pleadingly looked at his grandmother to stop. His grandmother looked guilty instantly, thanks to his amazing acting skills.
Anya palmed her face. She had told her parents never to fall for his little antics but his cute little face always wins. Instead, her mother scolds her for being strict.
"Baby, please don't trouble your grandparents." She requested in a mellow voice without scolding him.
Zane immediately shook his head and became her sweet son, "Momma haven't you said I can play around, be naughty with you, Grandma and Grandpa. I was just having fun, Momma." He made it sound like she couldn't understand he was having fun. Anya could imagine his pats on her shoulder if they were near.
As if one wasn't enough to leave her wordless, her mother grimly looked at her taking the mobile away. She was a beautiful lady in her mid-forties and looked a lot younger. "Anya Owen, you do remember he is five, don't you? You are talking as if my grandson is a teen. I didn't raise you like this. Did I?" She popped her eyebrow questioning her angrily.
Queen mother's attack!
Experience of Anya: Evading the attack of her mother is the best choice.
Anya pouted her lips and lowered her head for being scolded by her mother, "You don't love me anymore." She sulked like a pitiful child.
Her mother tried to be angry but she waved her hand dismissively for her negligible anger, "Aish… You should have been five." The Queen mother's smile was smartly hidden by turning away from the camera.
When Zane got the mobile, mother and son high-fived in the air and chuckled. Her mother announced loudly, "I am not sending my grandson to you till his winter holidays are complete." Then she cheerfully added in a rhythmic tone, "We are taking him out on a vacation."
Now Anya was really sad. Her job as a secretariat to the President of Country Narnia doesn't allow her to stay away for a longer time. Hence her parents always rescued her and she always wished to join them.
Her father kneeled behind her son and dotingly smiled at her. He was not much older than his wife. His well-kempt dark brown hair had dots of snowflakes that were slowly melting away. "I love you, darling. Take care of yourself." He was always a man of few words.
A happy voice followed, "Momma, I love you more." Her son interjected, unwilling to accept defeat against his grandfather. He threw his left hand in the air showing his 'more' love to his mother.
The two most important men in her life never failed to show how much they love her. Anya knows her mother loves her a lot too. Or else her parents wouldn't have forgiven her unforgivable mistake, went against society for her, and supported her to be a single strong mother of her little tot. She would forever be grateful to them.
"I love you too, Dad. And my baby, I love you the most." She confessed, spreading her hands to show more love to her son just as he acted... No, he shows her that way because she always acted that way.
"Mwa..." She sent them a flying kiss before their call ended.
She might not be able to live like women of her age but she never regretted her choice. She loved how she could work hard and give a better life to her darling son.
Little did she know, her life was going to turn upside down.