The Visitor

two

M E D H A
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The garden looked the same. Everything about this house was still the same. Mussoorie was still the same. The only thing which wasn't the same was the way dadi responded when she saw me. And it broke my heart further.

"I....I thought you will be happy to see me here. I thought I'll surprise you." I say in a small voice, which also cracked in the end. She wasn't looking at me, instead her eyes were locked on the blanket on her legs. Her fingers were fidgeting with each other, and she didn't say a word for a while.

I missed the way she would always smile widely looking at me, surprising her with my visits, and the way she would always take me in her warm embrace, the hugs and the kisses. I missed the way she would start narrating about absolutely anything and everything as soon as I go inside the house.

She would made me delicious food. And she just wouldn't stop chatting with me. I loved hearing her talk and fill me with informations about the neighborhood or her new favourite serial.

But now, all she did was fidget her fingers on the blanket and looked at me blanky. She wasn't chatting with me. She wasn't speaking. She felt so numb and lifeless. And I didn't like it at all.

"I....you shouldn't have come here. Go back." She said to me in a very small voice, almost a whisper and sighed. Looking down, I saw how she was frowning to herself. And her words pierced through my heart.

She wants me gone? Why??

"I am not going anywhere dadi. At least not after I know about your condition. Also, why didn't you tell me about this already? We had talked so many times on call over last three months. Every two days, I think. Yet you never told me about this all?" I asked with hurt and disbelief. How can she be like this? How can she do this to me?

"I know beta, but try to understand. You are young and you have a career to care for. You are not supposed to look after me. You have a life, go and live it." She said, more firmly, now staring at me. Her eyes were soft and somewhat void.

"No. I am not going anywhere dadi. What is the use of the career if I can't even care for you? That too when you need me the most." I argued back, though I didn't raise my voice. I never raised my voice on her.

By profession, I was a journalist, the kind whom the media company sends for coverage around the globe. I always had to travel from one country to another. At first, I took dadi with me for the three-four countries I had to visit. But then she started to deny me. I was adamant for her to come with me.

But she was more stubborn then me. Hence, I stared travelling alone, reluctantly.

I never wanted to leave her alone, on her own, in this big villa. But she just never listened.

"Why? You must have so many places to visit, things to do, people to meet. Go from here. There's nothing left here now. Meet me after I'm fit again." She said, looking down. Her words were pinning me in my heart.

I sighed and went to sear besides her on the bed. And put my hand on hers, which was clutching the blanket tightly.

"Par kyu dadi? Aapko main itni chubhne lagi ho ki aap mujhe apne se dur kar rahi hai? Wo bhi aise samey me?" I asked, my voice filled with hurt and softness.
(Why dadi? Am I that much of a bother for you that you are pushing me away? That too in such a situation?)

Her eyes widened at my words and she clutched my hand tighter, with both of her hands.

"Pagal ho gai ho? Aisa bola mene? Meri bacchi bhala kyu kabhi chubhegi mujhe." She said, somewhat argues. And then sighed, looking at our hands. "I just don't want you to be bounded by anything. Not even me or my health conditions. You usually come to visit for a few days, or weeks. I don't want you to stay here for more than that." She explained, a bit silently.
(Are you crazy? Did I say that? Why would my child ever bother me?)

"So you don't want me here for a long run?" I asked, staring at her deeply. She shook her head again and clicked her tongue.

"Of course not! You can stay here as long as you want. But I don't want you to stay here because of me. I don't want you to be bounded to stay here, to take care of me." She said and looked at the door. I followed her gaze and my eyes fell on a.....cat?

"Cadbury!" Dadi whispered with a tiny smile. Thich was the first time I saw her smile since I came here. And that too because of a cat?

"Cadbury?" I asked in disbelief as the orange-yellow cat slowly scooted towards dadi, carefully as her eyes were on me. As if she was scared of me but wanted to be near dadi. I understood and got up from the bed. The cat took two steps back but when I walked away from the bed, she quickly climbed on it and snuggled into dadi's lap.

The whole scene made me awe in adoration. Dadi had always loved animals. She loved the nature. And now, looking at her all snuggled up with the cat was as alluring of a sight as one can think so.

"Where did you find her?" I asked as I took calculative steps towards them, not wanting to scare Cadbury.

"She isn't mine. But she loves me just the same." Dadi replied while patting Cadbury's head lovingly. The cat was purring in comfort.

I raised a brow.

"Not yours? Then what is she doing inside the home?" I asked started at the cat. She was cute, I'll give her that.

"His." Dadi replied with a smile and pointed at the door again. When I turned back and looked at the door, Vansh was standing on the doorframe. Leaning onto it. He was smiling at me.

Oh.