Conflagration

Chapter 2: A Mother's Love

Narmada Singh Rathore sighed as she looked at the clock for the umpteenth time. It was past 10.00 pm and there was no sign of Aru. The dinner that had been heated up in anticipation of his arrival was now cold. She had left the TV on the background in low voice but even that could not fill in the silence that seemed to have a permanent place in this home.

She glanced over at Lord Krishna who occupied the little temple she had insisted be installed as soon as they had moved in here.

"Why Kanhaji, this boy like this? He the troubling me by never listen to me or telling me something?"

The deity gazed back at her with as if to say why are you asking me for?

Just as she picked up her phone to call him again, the front door opened and Aryan strode in. Naramada immediately turned her face away from him and crossed her hands in front of her. Aryan felt a small smile tugging at his lips at his mother's antics before he tamped it down and cleared his throat "Unhunh..".

His mother didn't turn around but undeterred he extended the bunch of roses to right under her eyes and said "Happy Valentine's day Maa".

Narmada harrumphed but couldn't prevent a smile from creeping up.

Turning to face him, she accepted the roses and said "buddhu today not Valentine's day, that was in February, we are March now."

Aryan rolled his eyes " Maa how many times have I told you not to try to speak in English. You are butchering the language"

"That I do know but you speak English and I learn so I can speak you too".

Shaking his head Aryan gave up.

"Aru sit have dinner".

"Maa you know I don't eat carbs after 7, can you make me a protein shake?"

"Hey bhagwan what boy this.. won't eat food by mother hand" Narmada complained to no one in particular.

"Not today Maa.. I will have it tomorrow"

"What tomorrow, you say same thing everyday." Aryan sighed, looked like he couldn't get away today.

"Fine, let me go wash up and I will eat what you cooked."

He walked off to his room and Narmada happily went about reheating dinner and setting the table.

Aru returned in a pair of sweat pants and a t-shirt and sat down at the table before forking a spoonful of the dal mixed with chawal into his mouth.

"Aru tomorrow my friend coming to home with her daughter, you come home early okay."

Aryan shook his head "I have told you many times Maa, I am not interested in getting married.. Besides I am not going to be able to come home early tomorrow, I have work."

Narmada pouted "Neela my friend here and you won't even come to meet?"

"No and I am not interested.. Stop pushing these girls on to me, I am not going to marry some random Mini, Meeni, Mo girl just because she is beautiful or according to you, accomplished."

"Her name not Mini, Meeni or Mo, its Preeta and see here she own Instagram account and 2000 followers. Very beautiful and Neela saying she can cook and look after home very well."

"If you want someone to cook and clean then lets get another maid, why should I marry?"

"Offo this boy, I want daughter in law to talk and laugh with and someone who make you live again. All you do, think is work, work and work."

Shoveling the last spoon of rice into his mouth, Aryan rose and took his plate over to the kitchen sink to wash and clean up.

"As I said Maa, I don't intend to marry especially now. Just got this posting and I don't want anything to divert my attention from work. Good night Maa"

Aryan walked away to his bedroom and Narmada sighed.

She turned to look at Kanhaji and in a forlorn voice whispered a prayer "Kanhaji please send someone for my Aru just like what you send for Arpi. Someone to make him laugh and share his life."

Making her way to her own bedroom, Narmada pondered, what excuse could she give Neela for tomorrow?

Precap: Imlie at the Police headquarters