'Awwww, he can even understand my emotions so well. Is it the connection of the umbilical cord? It's so magical. Understood without explanation.' The tears she tried so hard to stop, start falling like a waterfall.
The men just stay silent & give her some space. Though this situation would be embarrassing if it's someone else, they feel calm. They feel it's okay, it's just US, family. It's the first time Riya to not feel shame, awkwardness, or irritation for her weak moments.
'Is it what I try to find for my whole life? My save heaven where I can be Me, express what I feel without a second thought. Be around My Family.' She let her emotions free & once she's done she leaves to wash her face. She forgot to buy tissues so she grabbed a hankie as she set again.
"So tell me, how are you?"
"I'm fine, mom & miss you a lot. When are we going to meet?" 'She was so near to me but still, I miss hugging her just because of that road,' he feels grumpy thinking about the road but can't even mention it as he gives his word to his dad. 'Why didn't dad tell me anything then? I'm going to ignore him, hmph.'
"We'll meet soon, honey. Once I'm done with my current project I'll come for you. Till then we'll meet like this, ok?"
"Ok, mom. Mom, how do I look?"
"Aww, my baby is the most handsome man in the world."
"It's because I look like you mommy," Karan giggled shyly.
Mohit just looks at this mother-son duo as they totally ignore him. 'I feel like a third wheel. It should be the opposite but alas! Son, o son, just you wait, I'll make you feel the same one day.' If Karan can hear his dad he'll definitely sneer & give him an ugly face.
"Mom, did you ever imagine that I would look like you?"
"I didn't but I'm lucky to have it."
In response, Karan has a triumphant smile on his face. He got a lot of praise for his good looks since birth but this realization is ethereal that it's his mother's grace. His mother is always there with him. He would never cry again thinking his mother left him just because those stupid kids say so. He's happy, truly happy today.
"Mom, I want to tell you a lot of things but first let me show you something," he placed the wooden box near the camera & open it.
"Mom, it's my collection that I want to gift you. It's the first tooth that I lost, my favorite teether…" Karan goes on with each item on that box & both his parents are shocked as they never expect something like this. Riya can feel her eyes getting wet again but she can't let the dam burst again as it gonna be a stormy rain this time. She had never imagined that she could get to see these precious items, moreover collected by her three years old son. She felt like she must have saved the Universe in her last life to get such an other-worldly son.
The most shocked one might be Mohit as he never knew about it even being under the same roof. 'How did he know he would get a chance like this? He hardly asked about his mother for the last three years. I never try to console him with lies as I myself didn't know that I would arrange something like this. So how can he?' But Mohit stopped himself to ask it there & then.
"How can you collect all this being so small?" Riya choked while asking.
"My grandpa helps me with some but this is my idea," Karan said with full confidence & pride. "Ok, he told me how his mother did that, so I got this idea." He said sheepishly.
"Thank you…" Riya wants to say more but she can only cover her face with her hankie. "I'll collect it from you, till then keep it safe," she said after some time through her hankie.
"I'll mom, don't worry."
"Good boy, tell me what's your favorite food? I would make it for you as a treat." She said after taking some time with her hankie.
"Dahi puchka," he shout. "Can you make it, mom? It's not available here."
"HeHe, ok I'll make it," Riya giggled. Her smile is like the first sunshine after a stormy night. It's too bright to ignore for Mohit as he put his hand near his chest. * Ba-dum * Badum *
"Mom, what's your favorite food?"
"Same as you."
"Wowww, so nice, we're a team then. Other than us all of those people like Biryani the most." He said with a pout, "But now we have each other to support."
"Definitely, I'll support my honey."
"Oh mom, I love you."
"I love you too."
"I think we should end here for today," after being silent for this long he finally say something. He's afraid that another emotional moment would come & he doesn't want to end this call like that. 'This happy moment is good for an ending, also it's dinner time now,' he thought looking at the clock.
"It's time for dinner & you also have work tomorrow, right?"
"Yes," Riya said after being in a daze for a while. 'Our third encounter but his calm deep voice & hazel eyes were still enough to make me feel knocked out with open eyes. Oh Riya, have some hold on yourself. You're a tough lady, at least for the sake of your 25 years old bachelorette life. Hold on.' She shouts in her head.