The next day was weekend. So I decided to take a break. I contacted with my friends and set up a meeting with them at my favourite cafe.We haven't meet for a long time so I was happy about that. When I was about to go out to meet my friends, mamma stopped me.
"Can you not go?I have a bad feeling."
I was wearing my shoes when my mother told me that.I could not understant why she was telling me that.
"Why mamma ?Are you sick? Should I call doctor?"
My mother hesitated for a while. It was like she herself wasn't sure what to tell.After some time she told me,"No,it's okay.Since you have promised them you should go.Don't bother about me.Anyway will you have dinner with them?"
"No. I will come back for dinner.I am just going out for sometime.I will be back soon.Do you need anything?Want to eat something? I will buy it on my way back home."
My mother hugged me suddenly.She suddenly gave me a goodby kiss on my forhead.
"Be careful .Come back safe."
I also hugged my mother and told her not to worry. Then I went out.
That was my biggest mistake. If I had the power to turn back time I would have stayed with her. What was she feeling when she stopped me to go ?
Was it something called mother's intuition?She might have felt somehow that she will never see me again. Like everytime I did not find my answer.
Mrs.Asha went to Aayat's room to tidy her room. That room was a mess. "She is always like this.Makes her room a mess before going out everytime.She is a girl ,why is she so confiuse how to drees up? Who knows if Rayan will understand her.I need to teach her to be comfortable in other dress except lab coat. Let her come today. I need to have a serious conversation with her about marrige." She was talking to herself while tidiying her room . Then she saw a picture of Aayat and her .It was taken when they went to sea beach last time.In that picture, Aayat was smiling brightly.Her bright smile made her reminiscise the past.
It was a rainy night when Aayat was born.Mrs. Asha was happy to see her daughter.Her eldest son was also happy to see his sister.It could be a happy occassion if her father also joined. But Mrs.Asha never found out why he doesn't like his child. He was always indifferent to them.Maybe he doesn't like his wife that's why he never liked his childs.Mrs.Asha tried her best to pretend to be happy.But Aayat was a fast child. She was different from others.When she was 4 she found out her mother wasn't happy with her father. He mistreated her thinking no one would know but Aayat understood and tried to stood up for her mother.As a result she became an enemy to him.Aayat always hated her father.Mrs. Asha feels sorry for her.She knows very well that what a father means to a daughter.Father is the first idol of a daughter.But she neither got love nor could respect her her father. Her childhood became a trauma. when she entered versity she could no longer tolerate it.So she cut ties with her father. Now their family is divided into two. She and her mother, her brother and her father.Her brother couldn't neglect his responsibility to his father.
"How long has it been since she came out with me from that house?" Mrs.Asha couldn't help but wonder how did she survived in that hellish place.Her husband ,in-laws mistreated her. Her parents never helped her for the society.Only Aayat was a sheild for her.She again looked at the picture .Aayat has a scar on her forehead.whenever Mrs.Asha sees it it still hurts.
Back then she was 16 years old. One night her father was insulting her mother.Aayat could no longer tolerate it and tried to protect her mother by standing up for her. Her father wanted to teach her a lesson. So he started beating her mother.Aayat got hurt when she tried to protect her mother.It was the first time Mrs.Asha saw that much blood on some one. There were many wounds on her but they healed with time. Only this one remains.Aayat protected her that day with her body but she coulndn't do anything as her mother. It's a painful memory of the mother and daughter.Mrs. Asha doesn't want to remember it.It was in the past.Now they are in different country.They are happy now.Mrs.Asha now wants to see her get setteled with rayan. After that she can rest finally.
Mrs.Asha lost track of time while thinking about past.It was already dinner time."Why isn't Aayat coming back?She told me she will be back soon.Maybe she lost her track of time as well.I will call her after arranging dinner."
That time someone was knocking the door."Maybe Aayat has come." She went to open the door like a insect jumps into the fire.