Unreal Reality

Bittersweet Past

"Beta, come here, it's time for your food. Now, now, enough of talking to yourself, high time you come and have some food," shouted Mrs. Malhotra, also known as Rhea to her close and loved ones, asking her son to return home who was busy playing in the backyard garden.

Being a single mother is tough, sighed Rhea to herself as she thought about her husband and son.
Whenever she looked at her son, he strongly reminded her of her husband, her darling Aaron. Oh, how much she missed him, only she knew. Sameer had inherited his father's characteristics, light brown hair, grey eyes, skin colour similar to that of wheat and the thing which made her happy and sad at the same time, was his smile. How charismatic and charming her husband's smile was. I miss you, darling Aaron, I miss you...

"Mommy? Mommy? Are you okay? Mommy, can you hear me?" asked Sameer frantically noticing how pale and lost his mother looked. As if suddenly waking up from coma, Rhea blinked her eyes twice or thrice, looking lost for a moment or two. Her eyes widened and then relaxed as if suddenly realization hit her that her husband was no more.

"Oh, yes, love. I'm okay. Completely fine. Now, go to the dinner table and get ready for dinner," replied Rhea rather too calmly and smiled at her son.

"Okay, mommy. Mommy even Jerry would like to dine with us. Could you please cook dinner for him as well? He is real hungry, mum, real hungry. You will cook dinner for him too, won't you, mum?" asked Sameer innocently.

"Oh, of course, love, of course. It is so nice of Jerry to join us for dinner" replied Rhea sweetly, smiling to herself and controlling the urge to burst out laughing. Oh, how silly and lovely kids are. It is completely normal for them to have, what do we call them,yes, imaginary friends at the age of 5-7. How silly and cute my boy is, thought Rhea as she served rice and dal on the two plates.

"Mommy,where is Jerry's plate?" asked Sameer, frowning.
"Love, Jerry just told me he does not feel hungry anymore," replied Rhea kindly.

Sameer looked at her for a moment or two and then turned towards his left, cupped his hand over his mouth, leaned and started murmuring words as if he was whispering to somebody sitting beside him.

"But, mommy, Jerry says he never told you that. Instead, he is quite angry with you for lying. Please serve him mommy, else I might get upset. Please , mommy."

Rhea looked at her son questioningly, but then thought this behavior was completely ordinary and expected from a child of five.

"Um, love, eat your food. I will serve Jerry later," replied Rhea a rather too sternly.
"No. I will eat with Jerry. If you don't serve him, I'm not eating."
"Sameer, eat."
"No, no, mommy, I'm not eating."
"Sameer, eat!" shouted Rhea as she started to lose her patience. Kids. She expected him to shut up and continue with his food but, no. He started to cry and scold his dear mommy, he told her that he hates her and so does Jerry.

"I will listen to whatever Jerry says and Jerry only! I'm not eating!" shouted Sameer in between the sobs as he stood up, mimicked holding somebody's hand in the air and walked away to his room, crying continuously.

Rhea was bewildered. This kind of behavior was unexpected from her son. What has happened to him? This is so unlike him. He is usually so calm. Yes, having imaginary friends is fine, but so much of dedication towards this friend? Not fine... or ordinary.

Rhea stared head with a blank expression and broke into a fit of tears. She was crying hysterically. She missed her husband so much in times like these, she often imagined how her husband would have handled the situation. She often broke down, due to the stress and pressure from the court and office. She loathed her brother-in-law. She would avenge her husband.

Two years back, everything was normal. Aaron, Rhea and Sameer, one small happy family. They were happy to have each other. After ten long years they finally had Sameer. Sameer was their world. Sameer was everything.
Aaron was a successful businessman. Success and Aaron seemed to be the best of friends, never letting go of each other. Considering how famous and rich he was, it would be surprising if he didn't have any enemies. He had a lot of enemies. But none dangerous enough to kill him, kill Aaron.

Nobody knew they had a snake living in their very own backyard.
She remembered that day way too well. The day her darling Aaron was killed. He trusted his brother too much.

Aaron considered his brother to be his well wisher. If somebody would have told him that his brother is plotting a plan to kill him, he would have laughed, laughed loudly and then would have asked the speaker to go get themselves admitted in a mental asylum, because Arnav, his dear brother would never even think of doing that. Blindly trust someone, get yourself landed in all kind perils, thought Rhea to herself bitterly.

Her state when she was informed that Aaron was no more was pathetic. She cried and cried for months. Sameer was being taken care of by his aunt, too young to realise the loss he had suffered.

What was even more devastating was the fact that the reason behind his death told to her was suicide. Aaron committed suicide. She simply couldn't believe that. She went mad, started to throw tantrums because she thought she knew the truth, the truth behind her husband's death. She tried telling everyone, but  alas, no one believed her. I will avenge you, Aaron, I will avenge you...

Rhea walked down the hall towards her son's bedroom absentmindedly. She had to make it up to her son. He can't go to the bed hungry. What Rhea saw next was something which she couldn't imagine even in her wildest dreams.