"Malti! Malti! Where is my tea and why is there Poha in breakfast? You know I do not like it. I need pancakes now. And yes, please take that Yash takes his project work to school. I have an important board meeting and I just cannot look into the hassle."
"Madam Ji, just give me five minutes; the tea is just about to get ready and I will make fresh pancakes quickly and serve it with honey. Just the way you like it. Yesterday night you had mentioned your craving regarding Poha, so I thought …"
"You please do not think and just do as I directed," Anita said in an irritated voice.
"Sorry, Memsaab. Just give me some time."
Anita left for work after having sumptuous pancakes and Malti went into the kitchen to prepare a lunch box for Yash, Anita's only son who studied in class seven.
"Malti Aunty. Good morning. Where is mom? She left for office so early!"
"Haan Beta she has a meeting na. Do not worry, you have that science project thing today. Do not worry, I will bring it to school. You have to submit it after your lunch break right?"
"Nooooo. The science project is next week. Today is my sports day! I had told Mom to be there for me. But she is just gone! How can she forget? I am not going to school today! That's it."
"What!! Madam ji told me about the science project thing! Oh my God, where are your skates now?"
"I am not going to participate only. Mumma keeps forgetting all these things every time. Enough is enough."
"Baba, aise nahi bolte ! See Mumma works so much na. She is in such a high position and has so many responsibilities. She might have forgotten due to work pressure. Now please get ready quickly. Chalo Chalo.. We have to win the race."
"No Malti Aunty. You always support Mumma!"
"If you become disobedient like this. I am quitting work here. I will not come from tomorrow. So, there will be no one to bother you and no one to make crispy gobi paratha for you also."
"Nah Nah Nah. Please do not say that. I will be ready soon."
***********
It was evening when the doorbell rang and Malti opened it.
"Arey Madam ji you came so early today!" Malti exclaimed seeing Anita come home so early from work.
"Mumma …You came back!! I was waiting for you. See I won first prize in 200 mts today. I had my sports day Maa and you had forgotten. I was so angry. I did not want to participate but Malti Aunty cheered me on so much and she even whistled when I won the race. I was so happy today."
"Yes, Memsaab, Yash Baba ran so fast that I could not stop clapping !"
Anita kissed Yash and patted his back and told him to go to his room for some time.
"You can come in now," Anita announced.
Then slowly a young boy entered the house with his head bowed down.
"Amit! What are you doing here?" Malti exclaimed.
"Maa… "He was about to say something but Anita cut him short.
"How could you not tell me Malti? The school had decided to strike off his name and you had not even bothered to inform me!! Had I not gone in person to meet the chairman after getting a call from Amit, today this child would have lost his academic year. Why did you not bother to tell me?"
" Memsaab, his school dues keep rising every year. How can I afford to pay on time? Anyway, he is not going to become an officer or anything na!"
"What … what did you say? How can you say this about your only child while you go and cheer up for my child in my absence! Amit is so good in his studies. Have you ever thought about his future?"
"What will I think? I have no money. He has to stop studying at some point only."
Amit stood there still with tears in his eyes.
"You have no right to decide that. I have decided to take responsibility for his studies, for a lifetime. This is the last time you talk such nonsense. And you have no idea what you do for my child! Now take the cake out of my bag and keep it safely. After all, Christmas is around the corner. We all will celebrate." Anita said adjusting her spectacles.
Malti and Amit were so overwhelmed that they could not say anything. They both hugged Anita tightly. Yash came running from his room saying "Mere ko bhi hug … mere ko bhi hug! ( I too need a hug)
Anita and Malti were both single mothers, dependent on each other for survival and this Christmas they had become Santa for each other as well!
This post is a part of Jingle Bell Blog Hop hosted by Sukaina Majeed and Manali Desai
No comments:
Post a Comment