Aryan's Lethal Obsession

Flashback

As soon as Aryan entered his one-room rented place, he found his mother, Roohi, coughing incessantly, holding onto the wall for support.

"Ma, what are you doing?" Aryan rushed towards her.

"Why—" cough, "are you early today?" she asked between coughing.

"I told you to rest when I'm gone for work. Good that I took permission from the bakery and came early," he made her sit on the bed and went to get water.

Handing her the glass, he kneeled before her. Roohi couldn't help but smile at her son in adoration, "It's just a normal cough, Dr. Aryan. I can still work."

She was fond of addressing her son as a doctor and took great pride in his hard work and dedication. Taking the glass from her and placing it on the floor, he held her hands and kissed them on the back.

"Firstly, it's not just a cough. You were running a fever last night and needed lots of rest. Secondly, I'm not a doctor yet. One more semester and then an internship."

"If God wills. I can't wait to see you help the needy and serve people," she smiled, brushing his hair with her fingers to one side.

"All that will happen only after I build a modular kitchen for you. Then you don't have to struggle on this single stove and cook my favorite every day," he smiled, grateful for the happiness his mother brought into his life. That was all he needed to keep moving ahead in his life.

"You didn't eat anything before going to college. I know you would have skipped your meal to reach the bakery on time. Let me cook something for you quickly," Roohi insisted.

"Uncle gave me a sandwich before work. So don't worry. Now rest for some time, and I will wake you once dinner is ready," Aryan stood up, kissing his mother on the head.

"Going to college during the day and working in the bakery in the evening. Then you study till late in the night. You will fall sick if you keep going like this," he heard her mother's worried voice while he started chopping the vegetables.

"You also work the entire day and take care of house chores again. The least I could do is cook occasionally and give you some rest. If you really want to help me, then quit working as a cleaner in the restaurant," he countered, knowing Roohi's response well.

He mouthed her familiar reply along with her, "Your sister and brother are not scholarship students like you. We can't manage expenses in one salary, and once your internship starts, I will not let you work in that bakery. If we can save money now, we can survive next year without borrowing people."

"Which reminds me, where are the twins? I hope not planning another master attack on the landlord?" he asked instead, diverting the topic.

"I know what you are doing. I'm your mother and not the other way around," she glared at the back of her son.

"Anyway, there is a birthday party in the Chawl. They went there," she coughed again, covering her mouth.

"Ma, you know why I want you to quit working. Your cough is getting worse day by day. We can manage with my salary," he reminded his mother again, tossing the onion in heated oil.

"I won't work once your internship starts, okay?" she replied.

"Can't wait for the semester to end," he chuckled.

Roohi's heart pricked, looking at how thin her son was becoming day by day. If only she could provide her children with a better living, her elder son wouldn't have to mature faster than his age. Shouldering the household responsibilities along with her from a young age. Making sure his siblings don't have to go through what he had to go through when he was the only child of his parents.