PS: Am sorry for the delay, cuties!
Kushi: Dad, why did you choose that singer?
Shashi: But you like his songs, right?
Kushi: But I don’t like him.
Shashi: Why? Have you talked with him already?
Kushi: Yes, but that was a coincidence.
Shashi: Whatever, I have signed with him.
Kushi: Don’t you have any other way?
Shashi: Come and join in our industry. I will see to that.
Kushi: No thanks.
Shashi: Hey, don’t forget you sister is coming today.
Kushi: Yeah, I know dad.
***
Ratna: So, Kushi have your sister arrived?
Kushi: She will be arriving a little late. Why didn’t uncle come?
Ratna: He went for some work. And that is definitely for my birthday.
Kushi (chuckled): Oh!
Ratna: Why are you so grumpy?
Kushi: You know that man who is haunting me for days, right? He is going to be the lead for an ad.
Ratna: This makes you sad, ah?
Kushi: Not sad, irritating. How come he is here again. Any way I won’t go to there. But truth is that I like his songs.
Ratna: I thought he is some random but you have messed with a singer. Who is that man?
Kushi: I don’t want you to hurt that person.
Ratna: Why will I?
Kushi: What if you will get influenced by my talks?
Ratna laughed.
Ratna: You are so thoughtful, Kushi.
Kushi: I am always.
It was not hard for Ratna to guess that it was Arnav who Kushi was mentioning. But Ratna didn’t forget that Kushi mentioning about smoking. Ratna felt ashamed to tell Kushi that it was his son as she had already said about his son that he doesn’t smoke.
***
Aman: Sir, you here?
Arvind: Yes, where is Arnav?
Aman: You take your seat, sir. He will come now.
Arvind: No problem. I have come here to plan for Ratna’s birthday plan.
Aman: oh!
Arvind: You have any idea?
Aman: No, sir. If I have, I will surely say you sir. Arnav sir has come.
Arnav: Papa, you here? Then mumma?
Arvind: She is with Kushi. Mohan took her.
Arnav: Okay, now what can we do for maa this time?
Arvind: Where are you going Aman?
Aman: Sir, you guys talk. I will wait outside.
Arvind: I appreciate for your professionalism but we ae not like typical ones, you know what I mean, right?
Arnav: Dad, I have tried it many times but…
Arvind: Why is it so noisy?
Arnav: Da, it’s time for my fans. Wait I’ll be back.
Aman went along with Arnav. He gave many autographs. He was in a brighter mood but the similar face dimmed his face.
Arnav: Aman, let’s go.
Arvind: You came so soon.
Arnav: Look who’s there?
Arvind: Sheetal?
Arvind laughed.
Arnav: Pa, stop laughing. Now tell me what can we do?
***
Kushi: Even you son name is Arnav, right?
Ratna: Yes
Kushi: No one can be like your son, a perfect tee-totaller.
Ratna (with hidden anger): I will tell him how you praised him.
Kushi: But you are not even giving a single detail about your son. Are you afraid that I will elope with him?
Ratna was laughing again.
Ratna: Kushi, this is overthinking. He won’t like if we talk about him. He is a lovely person but with this, he strictly forbids us. You know, no one knows we have a son. And I don’t have any problem having you as my bahu.
Kushi: It was just fun. By the way, what kind of man he is? And see, this singer, he wants fame and that smoke. Should learn something from you son.
Ratna felt tug hearing about the singer who is her son.
Ratna(mind): I failed being a mother.
Kushi: Ratna ma, even after his wonderful character, you are blaming yourself that you couldn’t grow up your son.
Kushi, Ratna and Arvind always meet up from when Kushi was in her college days. All the three of them like their company. Kushi spends most of her time with them. She always feels lively with them.
Ratna: He is not perfect yet.
Kushi: And no one can be perfect. The flaw adds beauty to their life. That’s what I believe. Let him have some flaw.
Ratna: Okay, by now Arvind would have come home. We will meet again.
Kushi: What do you think they would have planned?
Ratna: The same surprise birthday plan. Boring. But Kushi this time, you have to come to my party.
Kushi: I will as I am free from my studies.
Ratna: Bye and say hi to your sister.
Kushi: Bye! Sure!
***
At eveing nearly at six.
Payal: Where were you so long?
Kushi: I was just late by five minutes.
Payal: Where is Shashi uncle?
Kushi: He is in his office. Not fair, you didn’t ask me but dad?
Payal: Even you didn’t bother to get me on time.
Kushi: I am sorry, di.
Kushi hugged her and said again.
Kushi: I missed you but please don’t start again with your lecture.
They sat in the car and Kushi drove towards their house.
Payal: Even I missed you and so, I have planned that we can work partners and we won’t miss each other.
Kushi: Just now I said don’t give me lectures. Just go to your room and take rest. Don’t start as soon as you came.
Payal hit her head.
Payal: You are talking a lot.
Kushi: Ouch! You too. And Ratna ma asked for you.
Payal: Really? How is she? Is she walking now?
Kushi: Soon, the doctors said so. She is showing great improvements.
Payal: I feel really bad for her.
Kushi: Why did you resign your job there?
Payal: Just not so well with it.
Kushi: I know you did this for dad.
Payal: Then you should have helped him.
Kushi: Okay, no more words. I am fine with your resigning thing.
***
Ratna: Arvind, what qualities you like in your son?
Arnav: Why are you asking, ma?
Arvind: He is responsible, a good son to us, no bad habits.
Ratna: Arnav, what do you think of these qualities?
Arnav: I can’t understand anything.
Ratna: Are these qualities true?
Arnav: Yes ma, of course.
Ratna: Really?
Arnav nodded his head but with a doubt hiding his smoking habit. He didn’t want his mother to get disheartened. But how can he tell this, it may affect her health.
Arnav: You can believe me maa. But why are you asking suddenly?
Ratna: Nothing much.
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To be continued…
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DATED: 20-01-2021
Yours,
Lily.
