A 'SPECS'TACULAR SURPRISE | ONC 2021

6¦ Compromise

"Psst," Pompom whispered into her ear.

"Go away," Aalo said, not looking up from her pillow.

"What happened?" The Gyppie tugged at her arm.

"I said go away." She swatted his hand.

Pompom didn't say anything as he plopped beside her quietly. They remained there in silence for a while before Aalo opened one eye to see Pompom still sitting on her bed. Finally, she sat up and pushed aside the pillow with her feet.

"Take me dream surfing again," she insisted.

"I can't. It's late at night and you need some real dreamless sleep to prepare your body for tomorrow," Pompom replied.

"Just one." Aalo looked pleadingly at him.

"Okay." Pompom shrugged, go to sleep then.

Aalo obeyed, gathering her pillow and trying to close her eyes. She willed her muscles to relax but her eyelids refused to stay put. She squeezed them shut, but her eyes started stinging, so she opened them wide then.

"Pompom," she whispered into the darkness.

"Yes," Pompom's frilly voice answered nearby.

"I can't sleep," she mumbled.

"And you won't let me either," Pompom groaned, climbing up beside her again. "Do you want to talk?"

"There is nothing to talk about. My mother wants me to meet this Mr Chatterjee," Aalo sighed, sitting up and drawing her knees to her chest. Pompom huddled closer to her, his fur tickling her skin.

"And?" Pompom asked.

"And she wants him to be my baba. It is all so confusing when I haven't met my real baba yet." Aalo shuddered.

"Maybe this man will be nice to you and you won't miss your baba anymore," Pompom encouraged. "You should never judge a person before you meet them."

"I don't want a father," Aalo mumbled. "My mother will not pay attention to me anymore. A new father means someday Maa will bring a strange baby who will grow up and be nasty towards me. Maa will love him or her more and not pay attention to me and then slowly they will kick me out of this house."

Pompom laughed out loud and then clamped his hands over his mouth. Aalo glared at him.

"Why are you so insensitive?" Aalo put her palms on her hips and puffed her cheeks.

Pompom clutched his belly and rolled on the bed, still laughing. He almost tumbled out of the bed before he stopped himself and said, "How long have you been watching those stupid TV shows?"

Aalo's face flamed in embarrassment. "Ever since I was five I guess."

"Nobody taught you not to believe everything that you see on TV?"

"Well, it is not only in the shows. Ayesha's Papa brought her a new Maa too and Ayesha is miserable. I don't want to be unhappy." Aalo pouted, hiding her face in her hands.

"You are thinking too fast. It might not be that bad. It's not like your mother is marrying tomorrow," Pompom tried to explain. "If this Chatterjee guy is not nice to you, you can always tell your mother. Keep some faith in her choice at least."

"But doesn't my opinion count?" Aalo flared up.

"Does it matter more than your mother's happiness, Aalo?" Pompom hopped on her knees and parted her hands, lightly wiping away the stray tears.

"I didn't think of it in that way. Will this make Maa happy?" Aalo asked finally.

"You have your friends, true? You talk to them and like spending time with them. You have me," Pompom paused. Aalo wiped her eyes fiercely.

"Similarly, your mother too needs this person. Maybe as a friend or as something more than a friend. Your mother must be so lonely, right?"

"She is," Aalo whispered.

"Exactly. Everyone requires a companion who makes them happy. But in the adult world, your Mother can't stay with another guy all the time, without getting married to that person. So she wants you to accept him as your father," Pompom completed, looking expectantly at Aalo.

"This is all so complicated," Aalo wailed, still shaking her head.

"Now you are being stubborn." Pompom made a face.

"No, I'm kind of shocked. This is all too sudden and too new," Aalo protested.

"Get used to it. You need to learn to adapt and adjust as you grow up. The world is more than you cuddling with your mother in this little safe bubble of yours. There are various people who will come into your life. They will be like those fragments of the jigsaw that you add together to solve. Each piece will be different. But each piece will add to the meaning of life. And at one time, all these bits and pieces will make the bigger picture clear. Trust me," Pompom suddenly sounded big and so much more mature.

"You speak like adults." Aalo giggled.

"Twelve is the age of being an adult in our land. I am close." Pompom grinned.

"I was being selfish, wasn't I?" Aalo mumbled.

"Yes, you were. Now go apologise to your mother and sort this thing out. I will come again tomorrow night."

Pompom clicked his fingers and vanished in a shower of green sparkles.

Aalo jumped down from her bed and ran to her mother's door. She knocked once. Her mother opened the door, frowning when she saw her. Deftly her mother wiped her eyes with the sleeves on her dress.

"Aalo? You didn't sleep yet?"

"I'm sorry, Maa. I was being selfish. I just want you to be happy," Aalo said, clasping her hands behind her back.

Her mother's eyes widened, "You do?"

"Yes." Aalo held out her palms, just like old times.

"Oh, my baby." Her mother lifted her into her arms. "Since when did my little girl grow so big?"

Aalo just smiled as she nuzzled closer into the crook of her mother's neck. Her mother always smelled of strawberry shampoo and oven-baked cake. Hugging her tight, Aalo realized how tired her eyes were. She yawned and felt the first bout of sleep settling on her eyelids after a crazy night.

❤️❤️❤️

Author's Note : 8K words completed!
Thank you so much everyone for being a part of this journey!