Madam Sirr 2

Chapter 54

Strength in Storms

Avinash paced around the room, occasionally kicking things around as he cracked his knuckles. He circled the room until he felt dizzy and pulled almost all his clothes to the floor yet he found no peace. He sighed, sitting down near the foot of his bed as his eyes caught on his uniform.

It had been almost a year since Avinash had been posted as an ASI at the Jankipuram station. He ruffled his hair, a faint smile creasing his face. He had achieved not only his but also his parents' dream by becoming an officer. He stared at his uniform, the weight of lone Silver Star creeping in. He screamed silently, punching the floor with his balled fists.

Haseena knocked on his door, calling Avinash repeatedly, her voice laced with concern. She had been trying to talk to him since morning but to no avail. He stood holed up in his room as Haseena heard his silent gratings and frustrated kicks. Finally, she could take it no more as she opened the door and stepped in. Haseena's eyes took in the messy room and her son who was seated at the foot of his bed.

She gently walked towards him and tapped his shoulder, waking him up to her presence. Avinash smiled faintly as he quickly stood up not wanting to burden his mother. Haseena's eyes narrowed, her heart beating rapidly as she registered the warning signs. Quick breathing. Balled fists. Narrowed eyes. Avinash was angry.

"Avinash, what's the matter? Why do you look so worried?"

He balled his fists and closed his eyes to compose himself before answering. "Nothing ammi...."

"Beta....you can talk to me..."

That was it. He snapped, his eyes opening violently. He had been listening to his mother intervening him since morning and he had had enough.

"Ammi why can't you understand that I just need to be alone?" he yelled at her, his voice echoing through the room. "You've been disturbing me since morning. I'm not a small kid anymore..." he took a deep breath and focused his gaze directly at her. "Just leave me alone ammi..."

Haseena clutched the sheets tightly, her nails digging inside as he clenched her jaw. She fumed, her nostrils flaring in deep anger. She stood up abruptly, raising his hand to slap him when she heard a loud thumping noise.

Avinash stumbled backwards, holding his cheek as he stared at Roshni who had just slapped him. It wasn't hard but he felt the deep sting of it. He glared at her in anger yet immediately retracted his gaze seeing his elder sister's eyes. Roshni was about to scold him when she felt Haseena's hand on her shoulder. She looked at Haseena, her eyes bulging as if expecting a scolding. Haseena smiled gently at her, nodding at her to leave and that she will handle Avinash.

As she left, Haseena towered over Avinash, her gaze reddened.

"Avinash!" she called. He looked up, his anger vanished behind a cloud of fear.

"Clean this up and meet me in my room. You have 10 minutes."

Haseena left closing the door loudly behind her, rushing quickly to her own room. As she holed herself in her bed, she pondered over his words. "Am I becoming an overbearing mother?"

As Haseena left, Avinash fell to the floor again, tears streaking his face. The slap had been a wakeup call. He cursed himself for unloading his frustrations on his mother. How could he do that to her? His eyes fell to his bedside table, a frame gleaming in his eyes. He sighed as he traced the frame with his hand. It had been over a year that his father had left home for a mission and with his absence, it was his mother who had looked after him. Avinash felt a deep gorge within his heart as he recalled how Haseena had never let him feel lonely. She had taken up both the responsibility of mother and father. He stood up, pinching himself for his actions as he walked slowly towards his mother's room.