Blinded by love

Chapter 34-Answers

She looked at me as if it were all a dream.Her eyes grew wide in joy and I could the tears of pain instantly be replaced by happy ones.She threw the blanket aside and came to me,so much in a hurry as if she were scared I'd vanish if she takes too much time.She was just as tall as I was,which was when I realized I had grown taller.She looked straight into my eyes and touched my cheeks with both her hands,shivering as she brought them up.Her hands were burning like fire and it instantly soothed my cold skin.I touched her hands and she immediately hugged me,disturbing Maaya from her sleep.She began to moan and twitch in sleepiness and I calmed her to sleep again.I cleared a part of my bed and lay Maaya there and then got back to my mother.I touched her neck and I could say she was running high temperature.She hadn't changed much but her eyes were swollen and she looked duller than ever.She has always been a pretty women,looking younger than her age.

I opened the bag that I had on my back and took out a strip of crocin.I placed the tablet on her hand and held out a bottle of water.

"You are having fever,mom.Have it.",I said.She stared at me in confusion,possibly wondering if I had come so far to check if she were alright.Deep down,she knew I wouldn't which was why she was looking at me like that.I would have come,but she always seemed to be alright without anyone around.She never liked me hanging around with her in the house or outside.She always wanted me to leave her alone,she even said that to me once,when I asked her why she was not being close with me.

I took the tablet from her hands and popped it into her mouth and the water followed behind it.She closed her eyes as she swallowed the water and drank more.When she looked at me again,her look was more pleasing and welcoming than I had ever seen her look at me.I held her by her shoulders and led to my bathroom and told her to refresh a bit.I went downstairs and made her a cup of coffee and was back upstairs in two minutes.She was sitting on the bed,fresher and tidier.I thought she would want her own time to give the explanation that I wanted.Of course I would have queries about why my so-called mother was crying at my photos and suddenly glad to have me back at home.But she deserves to have some time for herself.I gave the cup of coffee and went to wall where my photos were hung.I looked at them,as if it were someone else and not me.I looked at that Aarthi in awe.Awe at her beauty,her confidence and her charm.No one can ever believe that such a girl can turn into this poignant creature in a matter of two and a half years.I smiled at the photo of Sushma and me when we had once gone to MGM with her mother when we were kids.We both got lost and Sushma was crying so pathetically,worrying that someone would possibly kidnap us.I led her to one of the nearby shops and told them that we had got lost and they helped us find her mother.She was surprised that I could handle a problem so diplomatically and with such calmness.

Distracting me from my thoughts,my mom said,"I'm sorry,Aarthi."

I turned around to look at her and and she looked up at me with  regret.I kept mum,my heart thudding faster,half scared to hear the truth and rest relieved to finally get the answers that I was waiting for.

"How much I wanted t hold you,to hug you and give you the answers you deserved to know....But...I just couldn't.",her voice broke.

She bit her lower lip,"I loved you,Aarthi....And I will always love you...I just wasn't in the situation to express it."

"Why mom?",I asked.

"Cause....cause you were so much like him.Your looks,your smile......everything...You were always like him,ever since you were born.I could just see him in you."

"Who,ma?Who was I like?",I asked,feeling my voice shiver.

"Your father."

"What's the problem in me looking like dad?",I asked,losing my patience.