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"F*cking lost it...!" Sidharth growled in whisper, punting the wooden leg of the stool propped inside the small ISD PCO booth. It was another level of anxiousness that he was feeling right now more because for the very first time in the last six plus years, he has not spoken to his mother for so many days.
Been eight straight days that they didn't get a personal time free out of shooting and back-to-back traveling. The few minutes of break they would be allotted where on the shoot locations itself for refreshments and food, wherever they go. And so, no way to get out and roam around the abroad cities on their own. As a result, he was not able to connect to his mother even. First part of the ad shoot was almost at the verge of ending, only few more shots left that they have plan to finish off at one the of the airports enroute. Fortunately, they have got some time off as they were to start back for India the next morning.
Sidharth has been attempting to call home but to make his state more deplorable it went unanswered for all his prior attempts. Before starting for the tour, he had asked his sister to keep a check on their mother and if required she may also join their Chachu's family for few days until he reaches back, they had planned. There was a possibility that she was would not be home, as soon as the thought crossed his mind he dialed-in the other telephone number where he guessed his mother would be staying but again in vain.
It was 09:30 PM per the booth's digital watch display, late to consider it a good time but an idea struck his mind to dial another one where half of his heart was stuck at, Shehnaaz. The possibility of her picking up the call at this odd hour was little to no, yet he gave in to his wishes. It was the same dead tone that he got to hear, breaking his heart one more time.
He tried dialing-in his home one last time before going back to their lodging for the night's stay, he would not be able to hold this unsettling feeling unless he speaks to his mother at least once. And as if the almighty heard his inward cries finally, it was received.
"Mom!! Are you all right?" voice thick out of concern and emotion, he was quick to ask as soon as the phone was answered.
"He...hello...Sidharth...?" A sluggish greet from other end of the line was all he could hear, he sensed it was his mother in her most tired form.
"What happened Maa...tabiyat theek nahi hai? Koi medicine li aapne? Should I call Chachu or Jiju to pay a visit? Or did you inform them that you aren't well? Koi hai abhi aapke sath?" The string of inquiries that hit his mind with as he heard her weary self on the phone.
"What? Why? No beta...I am perfectly fine...meri tabiyat ko kya hua hai?" His questionings bemused her to react instantly with an energy crossing the phone line for his composure, yet he seemed distressed as he replied next.
"Don't lie...aapki awaaz bata rahi hai..." He sounded beyond tensed, his mother was home alone, probably not well and there was nothing he could do but only talk over the damn noise and voice transmitting machine.
"Awaaz...? Haan vo...because I was sleeping bache..." She replied, a lot more relaxed now. She understood that the lethargy gave him a different idea and so she refined her tone for him to relax.
"Itni jldi kyun? You fine? Pakka?" He urged, though she sounded a lot more relaxed, yet it was difficult for him to digest the talks and the timbre.
"Jaldi? Its 12:30 AM bache...tu hai kaha abhi?" She reverted.
The mid-nights were actually considered one, people would usually sleep long before the mentioned hours for the minimal to no usage of internet then, even the television would not telecast many shows after the time limit of 11 O'clock. The metro cities were definitely an exception for the working or the outgoing class population. At his home, the routine was quite conventional though. It was only him these days who would sometimes be off this orderly regime pertaining to his work timings. It was not long that they have been introduced to a non-treaty, consensual kind of lifestyle which his mother has still not come into terms to like it.
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'Beyond the Horizon': There's more to it...
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