'Beyond the Horizon': There's more to it...

Chapter - 25

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"Where from? Bolke nahi nikla aaj" His mother inquired as soon as she opened the main door for him.

"Bun-Maska gya tha...Chachu ke paas" He answered, unable to vocalize his happiness. Of course, he wanted to share the event details with her but just couldn't decide on where to start from.

"Aur?" She nudged raising her eyebrows anticipating for him to continue.

"Aur kya...vahaan se hi aa raha hun..." He tried to goof around, failing miserably as he couldn't contain the smile threatening to spread across his handsomely glowing cheeks.

"Vaha aayi thi kya Shehnaaz?" She posed direct, in search of a reason behind his cheerful conduct that she could gauge without him saying anything. 'Shehnaaz' was a name that could surely lead to a reaction from him.

"What!? Vo kaha se aa gayi..." He replied, feigning unexpectedness. Not too surprised, obviously because he had just met her and was still holding onto the priceless moment.

"To tera muh aise hi laal-laal ho gya ya Chachu ne chamat laga ke ghar bheja hai?" She teased watching his crimson face. She was his mother, whether it's the relation they shared or she, being her witty self.

"Really Mom? bad PJ!" He waved her off, crossing her to walk till the center table placed amidst the sofa set at the foyer. He picked the jug and glass up, helping himself with a glass of water.

"To tu hi bol de ab...kya special tha aaj jo itna blush kar raha hai..." She did not want to give-up, at least not until she senses a discomfort through him for sharing something personal, which definitely was not the case now. She could recognize his willingness and the hesitation too, covering it. It certainly was something very exciting that was written all over his expressions.

Smiling his best, he turned to face his mother, embracing her in a huge bear hug he whispered:

"She is here...here to stay... lifelong..." Eyes closed reminiscing her baby pink skin and the soft smile that he had witnessed a while ago in person. Yes! In person! The face-to-face meet was still hard to digest for him, he was that elated as if floating in the pool of joy and pride. Joy of meeting his love and pride at knowing that his choice was the best for himself.

"Sachme? Oh my god...! And that so means I wasn't wrong with my intuition!" She wisheper-exclaimed mumbling the last part, a contented smile creeping her features registering the reason of his excited self. Caressing his back, she dropped a gentle kiss on his shoulder, how could she not be at peace when her baby was all smiles!?

"What was that?" He asked pulling away, gently breaking the hug after a momentary relaxing pause in her hearty embrace.

"Bataungi...pehley ye bata Chachu ke paas gaya tha kyun bola!?" She started calm, turning savage in no time pinching his ears as a punishment for being deliberately untruthful.

"What the..." It came as a surprise; he was about to curse but stopped as soon as the realization hit that it was no one else but his mother.

"I didn't lie...I swear...vaha se hi aa raha hu...usse mil ke Chachu ke paas gaya tha...its Sunday no!?" He managed to speak, slightly miffed under the torment of her tight hold on his ears which was then left to rest after she heard him complete.

"Achaa...khana laga rahi hun...fresh ho ke aa..." She let it go immediately, thoughtful about the time of the day, moving towards the kitchen. It was past their normal lunch time, and she was waiting for him for a while now.

"Batao to pehley...!!" He shouted for his voice to reach her as she made her way from there.

"Khane ke baad..." She voiced back; a note higher for him to hear. Interested to know it all, that she was but she simply cannot hold back the nurturing instinct of a mother to feed her child a plate of food on time, talking can take a back seat.