ASLEEP YET AWAKE

mother - daughter day

I found mom in front of the entry gate restlessly tapping her foot on the floor. I prepared myself for a round of verbal lashing but probably due to the presence of so many people my mom decided to behave a bit more civil and instead of yelling at me she hissed at me,"where have you been?"

I sighed. "I couldn't resist these sunglasses and decided to get them". I flashed my new sunglasses at her. My mom is much more of an shopaholic and this reasonb was more than accepted for being late in front her. I knew now that she will be less angry.

I grabbed ger hand and walked her inside the gates. "Come on mom it's mother - daughter day!" I said it rather cheerfully than I felt.

She rolled her eyes. "When are you going to grow up Lara? And where is that cat of yours?"

It was my turn to roll my eyes. "Mom her name is Ame and I left her with Anna for a day so that I could enjoy with you". I said in an attempt to cool her.

"Who is Anna now?" She asked with furrowed eyebrows.

I realized that she has no idea about what is going on in my life. I never told her about Anna and she probably doesn't even know that I am having strange dreams let alone the fact that I was dating Ray in the past. She had no idea that my depression was not just limited to Mia but it also included Ray. I sighed internally. This is what it feels like when you have a single parent who is always busy in running errands. I had next to no family life at all.

"Oh! She works for Jenny". I told her straight.

She hmm-ed at me but thankfully did not ask anymore questions and I was grateful for it. When I was a kid these mother-daughter outings used to be so much fun but now I have grown up and have a life of my own. A life of which she is a part but like earlier she is not the only constituent of it. I am not being bitter it is just that she has been away so much that I have grown accostumed to living alone.

As a child it always bugged me that she was away. When dad left us our world turned upside down. Mom secluded herself with her work while I found comfort in my only friend Mia. She was a pillar of support and loosing her jumbled my life. Mom knew Mia well enough and it was evident that Mia and me were thick as thieves together.

We handed our tickets to the guy in blue and red uniform and headed to our seats.

As I sat down the voice in my head whispered again,"told you it is going to be a long day".

I totally agreed but there was nothing I could do. We settled with our popcorns and cokes. We were watching an old favourite movie of our favourite star. There was this movie hall near our house that showed all time classics. My mom being a fan of classics loved to watch them at the big screen. This movie was her favourite one. I had already watched this movie enough times that I could even quote the characters and I tell you watching a movie when you already know the plot like the back of your hand is really a torture.

My mom was as usual excited about it. My main motive was to fill myself with food and doze off while she watched the movie and cried along with the lead actress.

Soon after the movie started I began feeling trapped. My mega tub of popcorns was nearly empty now and I had drunk all my coke. It was totally empty that now if I sipped it made an gurgling sound like water going down a hole. I looked around in darkness everyone was absorbed on what was going on in the movie. Even my mom was totally engrossed. Her hand was filled with popcorn and paused just in front of her mouth while her mouth was open. Her gaze was transfixed on the screen. I huffed irritatingly.

Hello mom! It was supposed to be a MOTHER-DAUGHTER day. Remember? I silently screamed.

As if she has heard me she suddenly turned to look at me and caught me looking a her. I gave her a sweet smile. She smiled at me in return as she sniffed and cleaned her tears with the back of her hand. I haven't realized that it was the most emotional scene of the movie going on where the actress meets with an accident.

I sighed and sunk low on my chair. An idea flashed across my mind and fished out my sunglasses from my bag and wore them. This way I could doze off while she watched the movie. I smiled at my geniously evil idea like a menacing witch.

It might have been after half an hour that I woke up by the yell of the villain in the movie. Just as the villain yelled I woke up stratled. Then soon I realized that I was with mom watching her favourite classics.

Thankfullh mom didn't notice that I was sleeping. The movie was going to end soon now.

"Only a few minutes of torture left" I thought as I did a little happy dance in my mind.

After the movie ended I suggested mom that we visit that little cafe down the street which has caught mine and Anna's fancy.

Mom drove the car and I set next to her. We were going to the cafe.

"Trust me mom this drive is going to be worth it. They sell delicious cakes". I told her.

"I am hungry and they better sell delicious cakes because my hunger pangs are killing me". Mom told me in an ever so dramatic voice.

We soon reached the cafe and we sat on the chair me and Anna had acquired yesterday. Mom was scanning through the menu.

"They really have some variety. I can't decide what to order". She said.

"I have had the pineapple pastry and brownies. They are good". I suggested.

We ended up ordering hot chocolate and their today special pastry.

After eating we left the cafe. Mom had to catch her flight tonight so we were in a hurry. She already had her bags packed. As soon as we got home she called for a cab.

Soon the cab arrived. I helped her load her luggage.

"Take care". She told me as we hugged each other.

"You too mom". I said.

"I will be home in a few days. Don't eat junk while I am away". She told me strictly.

I rolled my eyes and responded with a "yes mom".

"Don't stay up awake till late". She said as she sat down inside the cab.

I again replied with a "yes mom".

I waved her goodbye as her cab disappeared down the road.

I walked back inside and in my room. I changed into comfortable clothes and threw my phone on my bed which was a mess of clothes I had taken out in the morning in an attempt to choose something to wear. I entered the bathroom and washed my face with cold water.

I jumped on my bed. Laying flat on my back looking at the ceiling I realized that it was going to be the first time that I will sleep without Ame on top of me. I felt lonely thinking that and suddenly the fact that I am alone in the house started bugging me.

It was then that my phone started ringing.

"Dong dong....dingggg....wickety wickety...dong dong....dingggg..."