His Solace

Vulnerable

Nandini stared at his face that held agony and fury. Her heart clenched with guilt.

"It's okay if you don't want to talk about......" She tried to speak but was cut off in the middle as he kept his palm on her mouth.

"I told you to listen quietly, didn't I?" He whispered firmly.

He held her hand and dragged her to the room where she saw all those photos. He entered the room with her and locked the door behind him. He turned to face her who was already staring at him.

"You might have many questions in your mind. Why is this room always locked? Why I never answered any of your questions regarding this room? Who is the lady in these photos? Why I lashed out on you earlier?" He said in a calm tone though his eyes seemed distant.

"She is....she is my mother." Arjun said as his eyes flickered with pain.

Nandini looked at him shocked. She had already heard from the maids that his mother passed away many years ago. But she never knew why he never mentioned her.

Arjun gaze got fixed on one of the photos of his mother. He approached the photo and his fingers traced it's frame.

"I loved her too much. She loved me too. I was a typical mama's boy." He chuckled while his eyes held a vulnerability that he never showed anyone before.

"Arjun, come here." A beautiful lady said running behind her cute, little son with a bowl of food in her hand.

"No, Mumma. I don't want to eat. I want to play." Little Arjun declared while running.

"You have to eat. Now, come here or I won't talk to you." The lady said as she stopped running abruptly. Arjun looked behind and found his mother standing with a sulky face.

He approached her with his little steps. He looked up at her face. "Mumma, don't get angry. I will be a good boy but please don't stop talking to me." He said pouting.

His mother's heart melted and she sat down in front of him smiling. She started feeding him from the bowl. As he finished the food, a man entered the house with a gentle smile.

"Arjun, did you again trouble your mom by throwing tantrums?" The man asked narrowing his eyes playfully.

"No, dad. I ate my food like a good boy." Arjun said with an adorable smile.

"Really?" The man asked. "Yes, Shivansh. My Arjun is a good boy. Don't you know?" Arjun's mother said hugging him.

"You know, Kavya, you are spoiling him with your love." Shivansh said looking lovingly at his son.

"So, what? It's my right to spoil him. Anyways, he is my good boy." Kavya said pecking her son's cheek.

His eyes looked distant as he remembered the memories of his mother.

"She was a strong willed, independent woman. She was the ideal figure for me. But.....but everything got ruined, she was snatched from me when I was just a seven year old kid." He said, his voice thick with emotion.

"Arjun, don't open this door no matter what." Kavya told her son, her voice laced with panic.

"But why, mumma? And where are you going?" Arjun asked. He didn't know the problem but could understand something was wrong. His mother sat on her knees infront of him matching his height.

"Mumma has some important work. She has to go." She said passing him a warm smile hiding her inner turmoil.

"Always remember that mumma loves you. Promise me, you will become a good boy and will stay strong." She said. A tear rolled down her cheek.