TILL INFINITIES END

3. AARUSHI

I rang the bell. A running pair of feet was all I could hear from inside which made me smile. Vyom had this ritual that he needs to open the door every evening when I come home from clinic. He opened the door and smiled. 'Mummaaa!!' he greeted me.

THAT WAS IT. He was adorable. 'hey my little sweetie!!' I said and hugged him while I rested my bag on the sofa. He took my tiffin and ran towards the kitchen. Tia came out of her room and smiled.

'maa?' she said

'yes Tia?' I said

'we got our results.' She said. Tia is a studious child, I am never really worried about her results.

'what is it?' I said

She took out a report card and kept it in front of me. Tia has my blood when it comes to academics (Vyom still carries Varun's) so I was never really stressed about her results in school. She always used to be the top one and I was happy with that.

(just for your kind information, Tia likes studying, we have never pressurized her for anything. Just saying, in case you also feel that I have put a pressure on her because I was once a topper, nope, i haven't. i am a chilled out mother, someone i never had.)

I scanned through all the marks. her grades were more than perfect.

A smile covered my face as I saw her marks. 'Rank 1?' I asked as I looked at her.

She smiled back and nodded. 'ohh tiaa!!!' I said and I rushed towards her to hug her. the feeling parents get when children achieve something with their hard work and their passion is just unexplainable, beyond imaginations. I kissed her forehead and hugged her tightly.

'You know Tia, when I used to get such good ranks, my mother also used to get so happy. And I always used to feel that what is it in this? I always get good marks; my mother would get used to it. but now that I myself am a mother, it all gets a conclusion. All her hugs and her i-am-proud-of-you gets justified. I am sooo proud of you.' I said as I kissed her cheek again.

'now that I have made you proud, I need something in return.' She said

'okay go on, ask me for ANYTHING.' I said

'uumm...' she said 'Mumma Sam asked me for a treat because of my good results. And he said that he wants to eat dal makhni and garlic naan made by you. If possible, should I call him today?''

'of course! Call him up.' I said as I hung my coat and stethoscope on the hook. Sam and Tia are best friends for a long time now. Sam loves the food prepared by me and he always keep taunting his mother for this.

The smile on her face was different.

'is Samarth bhaiya coming over today?' he asked as he came rushing towards me. Vyom has his ears in all directions!

'yess!' Tia said and made a call as he went to her room.

'Mumma, I will play a lot with Samarth bhaiya, okay?' Vyom said as he pulled the corner of my kurti.

'okay.' I said 'but I will let you play with Samarth bhaiya only if you complete your homework now. Or else I'll tell him not to come.'

He made a face, grabbed the TV remote and sat on the sofa. 

"vyom. i said I WILL NOT LET YOU PLAY IF YOU DON'T COMPLETE YOUR HOMEWORK BEFORE SAMARTH BHAIYA COMES." i shouted.

he took a pause for two minutes and then went to his room. i was happy he was finishing off his work. and i got to the kitchen, prepping for the meal.