RELUCTANT MOM
Wrapping her in his arms and pinning her down on the bed 'I have won Mom,' cried Vicky.
'Do you think you have?' asked Shyla struggling to get herself freed from his grasp.
'Don't try to wriggle out of my arms Mom' said he imprisoning her with the weight of his body.
Failing to come out of his grasp 'its nice to see that you have gained weight,' said Shyla.
'Yes I have gained some weight and my height has increased too. Did I not say that I have started going to the gym,' said he.
'Yes you did and I can see those changes' she said as she caressed his arm.
'When was the last time we had such a bout Mom,' asked Vicky.
'I think it was three years ago before you left for boarding home,' she replied.
'So it has taken me three years of hard training to pin you down,' he said.
'Even today you would not have done it but for my nagging cold,' she replied.
'Come on Mom be fair. You have lost and I have won.'
'Okay I concede but it does not mean you have won hands down. We may have to try it again,' said she smiling at him.
'Its nice to see you smiling. I don't remember when I last saw you like this,' said he.
'Its because of the courts ruling,' she replied.
'I knew you would come clean Mom.'
'Thanks. If it were not for you I would not have fought the case,' she replied in a husky tone.
'Yes, was is not for that reason you sent me to boarding,' he asked.
'Yes I wanted to be alone. You know I feared that I may lose the case.'
'How could you have lost it. I mean you were driving the car which met with an accident.'
'Yes I was driving the car but don't forget a life was lost.'
'It was not your mistake when a drunken van driver collided with your car,' he said.
'But I survived while my companion lost his life. Police try to see if there was any motive behind this.'
'Don't forget that the person who lost his life was your husband. How could anybody suspect you,' he asked.
'They suspect me for the very same reason that he was my husband, a rich husband,' said she.
'But Mom . . . . . ' he did not complete the sentence.
'I know what you want to say. I know that you know all was not well with us. We were on the verge of getting separated and that evening if I had not pressurized him to come along, who knows he would have been alive today. I feel as if I am guilty.'
Saying it she started sobbing and coming out 'if it were not your school function and if the parents were not asked to attend, I would not have forced him to come. He was reluctant to come and the other factor is it was me who was driving the car and not he. This is what made the police suspect me,' she said in a heavy voice.
'Now that you have been cleared by the law forget it Mom,' said Vicky.
'The law might have cleared me but what about my conscious, I still feel guilty.'
'Now that I am here I will see you forget everything,' said Vicky kissing her forehead.
'It would be very difficult to forget as it is etched in my memory. Anyway I am glad that you are back and now if you would move over I would like to get up.' She said trying to push him away.
'Mom I don't want to be moved away from this comfort zone,' he said as he hugged her.
'Do you have any idea for how long I have been penalized for no fault of mine. You are not a small kid anymore, get up,' she said pushing him away.
'It felt so nice that I would have loved to spend some more time lying upon you. Could you not have spared more time ,' he frowned as he moved away from her.
'You have overgrown that age my boy,' she said as she got up.
As Vicky stepped out for a stroll his thoughts raced back to the chat he had with his mother and after weighing the pros and cons he was unable to reach to any solution as how to help her out. Finally accepting the fact that only time could heal her wounds he walked back.
Few days passed and nothing he did brought a change in her. He saw that she was aloof most of the time and when he tried to cheer her up it would have an adverse effect.
This continued until one day he made up his mind to find out the cause of the differences which had cropped up between them.
Sitting besides while she was watching TV 'why was Dad reluctant to accompany on that fateful day,' he asked softly.
'I think he was angry as he had planned to go some where else,' she replied.
'Did he disclose as to where he wanted to go,' he asked.
'All his life he never uttered a word as to where he was going or when he would be back.'
'Did you not ask him?'
'At first I thought it would be better if I don't ask him as he may think I am too inquisitive then gradually it reached to such an extent that he did not even acknowledge when I called him on his mobile.'
'What made you think he was drifting away.'
'Every action of his was pointing in that direction,' she said.
'Then what made you to stay put with him,' he asked.
'I had you and no place to go,' she replied.
Those words took the wind out of him.
Seeing him fall silent 'cheer up I have kept a new room ready for you ' said Shyla.
'Why Mom what's wrong with the earlier one,' asked Vicky rather curiously.
'Now that you are above eighteen years obviously you need more privacy,' saying it she smiled.
Those words kept him awake whole night and the next morning things started looking different. The first thing in the morning what he saw was his Mom struggling to open the blinds and when finally she succeeded he was stunned to see her. His Mom wearing a cream colour sari standing under the sun rays with her back partially uncovered with her short blouse was a sight to behold. The next change he felt in her was her eagerness in serving him coffee or breakfast. This made him feel confident to ask her a few more unanswered questions.
He had to wait till evening and when he saw her reclining on the settee 'when was it the first time you got to know about his intentions.' He asked.