When Janaki turned to take milk from
fridge, she saw Pranav coming to stand near the door of the kitchen. The maid
walked out giving them privacy. She gave him his black coffee and continued to
make Ayaan’s health drink.
“We should tell Ayaan the truth”.
“Isn’t it too early? He’s young”.
“Yes. But now he has started asking
questions. Moreover there will be people out there to give information to him
which might confuse his little mind. So its better he get to hear from us
directly”.
She closing her eyes and nodded.
***********
Ayaan is having his milk and biscuits
while Pranav sips his black coffee. Janaki sat beside them and shared a glance
with Pranav before she cleared her throat.
“Umm....Ayaan”
Ayaan(raised his face with a thin layer
of the drink’s froth forming a moustache for him. Janaki smiled and wiped his
lips before speaking.
“The question you asked me earlier,
don’t you want an answer for it?
Ayaan looked at his mother with full attention.
She took his tiny hands into hers before replying.
“Ayaan what you heard is true. Your Dad
and I are not husband and wife anymore. But we are your parents and will always
be”.
“Why Maa? How is it different?”
Pranav pulled him into his arms slowly.
“Ayaan, we were planning to tell you
about this later; when you are old enough to understand. But since you are
getting to know it from others.....we thought it is better that you hear the
facts from us than anyone else. Are you getting me son?”
Though confused, Ayaan nodded his head.
“I did wrong by your Maa; I did not love
her the way she deserved. So that ended us in getting a divorce which means
that we are no longer husband and wife. I’m solely responsible for it”.
Janaki looked up at that. Ayaan’s face
showed a mixture of curiosity, confusion and anxiety. He did not follow
everything they said but the way in which they told him made him relax for now
and not get disturbed over it.
“Thus, yes, we are no more husband and
wife, but we are and will always be your parents. The differences in our life,
is never going to affect you, we won’t let it to affect you. Do you get it son?”
Ayaan nodded seeing his father’s earnest
face.
“Ayaan, there will be many people out
there to point fingers, or hurt you or us. But we should not let them get to us
and make them win in their attempts. If you ever hear anything like this which
upsets you, you should discuss it with us and get clarity on it. Never,
remember never let anyone or any word get to you. No matter what the world say,
me and your Maa love you. Nothing is important than you to us. Our love
will always be there with you. Do you understand?”
Ayaan nodded and hugged his Dad. He is
getting emotional. Though he did not understand the entire conversation, he did
understand that his life is somehow different from other kids and families. But
he also knew that his father and mother loved him. For now he needed only that.
Pranav patted his back soothing him
while Janaki stared at the father-son duo. Soon Ayaan raised an arm towards her
inviting her into the hug. She is hesitant but Pranav mouths ‘For Ayaan’,
encouraging her. She too joined the hug and gave Ayaan his desired family
moment.
***********
Janaki let the cool night breeze play
with her loose tendrils while she sat on the swing in her balcony. Ayaan has
left with his father in the evening after their talk. She’s already missing her
son and has scheduled work for Sunday as well to keep her busy. Her focus
slowly shifts to their conversation before.
Yes,
it is true that Ayaan has not yet comprehended the intensity of the facts that
is shared to him today. But yet, his mind is put to rest, for now. Pranav did
handle it smoothly.
Pranav!!!!!
I
don’t know what my feelings for him now are. Did I.....it doesn’t matter though
because we’ve crossed that bridge in life. All that matters to me now is my
son.
Being
a mother changes you in lot of ways. For instance, when your child looks up to
you, trusting you to be the answer to all their questions, trusting you to be
the solution for everything, trusting you enough to depend on you as they begin
their life in this world of complexities – it makes you a new person.
During
my pregnancy there were a lot of fears in my mind, if I’ll be a good mother, am
I capable to handle such a big responsibility. But Ayaan, my child, helped me rise
over every fear and vulnerability I had. His presence alone is enough to make
me the happiest person in the world. Ayaan brightened up my world in a way I
had expected from my parents, from Pranav. He gave me the happiness,
peace, contentment, love I desired for from all the relations in my life. In
other words, Ayaan gives me the life I’ve always desired for. Ayaan has filled up
my life, for now.
****************
Avni is fast asleep and Pallavi is
watching her with a fond smile etched on her face. Laxmi is watching her with
an exhausted expression.
Pallavi is still young; she has a flourishing
career once again and is a good mother to Avni. But is this a life? One day
Avni will go on to build her own life. Will career alone be enough to sustain
for Pallavi then?! Will it last that long as well? She has a long life ahead
and she needs a companion to share it with. But how am I going to convince my
stubborn daughter?!
