For You

Chapter 46

Time will fly by and things will change, 

but my life will remain rooted in the 

memories I have shared with someone

 who has seen me through it all.

***I tried to explain this Chapter from the POV of little Amrita ***

Amrita didn't have many memories of her Maa, Sharada Mehta. The few that remained were etched firmly in her mind though. The way her Maa always carried her in her arms, as she fed her favourite kheer. Or when she tried to catch her, while her Baba ran around carrying her on his shoulders.

And then she remembered that day when Maa had a big tummy. She was told that she was going to get a little sister or brother to play with. Amrita was so happy. She never liked playing with dolls or silly games. She wanted to run around, go out. But sometimes it was boring to do it all on her own. A little brother would be fun, she thought. Everyone called Ammu a tomboy, although she didn't know what that meant.

Ammu just had her 3rd birthday and there were lot of guests in the house. She loved the chocolate cake her Maa made especially for her. Their new neighbours also came; Vasumathy and Arjun Singh Rathore and their 4 year old son Ajay.

"What's your name? How old are you?" Amrita asked him, but he just looked at her, and went away without speaking.

How rude!! Amrita thought.

She found Vasu Aunty to be very nice though. Ammu liked her more, because she gave her a nice picture story book to read as present. Thank god it was not another doll like all other presents. Baba always read stories to Ammu when she went to bed. He read from the new story book from Vasu Aunty that night.

"Ammu! Vasu Aunty is also a teacher at school like me. So when you go to school next year, you should call her Teacher and not Aunty anymore."

Ammu was confused but too excited to go to bed. But her Baba forced her to sleep, promising that he will read the rest of the book next day at bedtime.

Next day when Ammu woke up everyone was worried, and Janaki amma was crying. Baba was with Dr Sharma and they were taking her Maa somewhere. Maa's face was crunched as if she was in pain.

Amrita heard her Baba asking Sharma uncle

"It is too early. What is wrong?"

Dr Sharma said something but little Ammu couldn't understand. Brijesh saw Ammu and tried to smile. He asked her to stay with Janaki amma like a good girl, and promised her that he will back soon with Maa and little baby brother or sister, and she gets to play with them. Amrita was very happy!!!

Amrita tried to play with Janaki Amma for some time, but she looked too preoccupied. It was almost bed time, and Amrita was waiting for her Baba, as he promised her that he will read the story. But neither her Baba nor Maa came back. Suddenly Vasu Aunty and Ajay came. She too looked a bit sad, but she smiled at Amrita and invited to come to their home. But Ammu refused.

So Vasu Aunty sat with Ammu in her room, and read the story from the new book instead. Ajay was sitting in her lap, raptly listening to the story. The story was so good, and both kids were laughing so much. Vasu Aunty had a wonderful way of telling a story with different voices. Amrita fell asleep, but when she woke up again, Ajay was sleeping next to her on her bed. For the first time, she didn't mind. She "let" him sleep. She was still feeling sleepy, but then she heard someone crying loudly outside. Amrita got up and walked outside, to see lot of people gathered around her Baba, and he was crying too.