Southern Avenue

Chapter #18

Chapter #18 

Breakfast was not something out of the normal or extravagant. Ranvijay hadn't expected it to be either way. He usually had a heavier breakfast but Sharanya had kept it on the lighter side as there were freshly home baked bread kept on the table, their thick slices now semi toasted, which the doorman had delivered five minutes back when he had joined Sharanya and her mother on the tea table, and some brewed black coffee for him and orange juice for Sharanya.

Ranvijay thought Sharanya to be considerate and sweet for she had made him black coffee. It was something that he was more accustomed to, early in the morning; juice wasn't something he usually had for breakfast. He noticed that she'd also kept the sugar, butter and salt on the table just in case anyone of the three needed them.

For the older lady in the house, he noticed that the breakfast was different; there was a bowlful of oats served with some toppings kept in front of her. Sharanya's mother didn't show any dislike towards her breakfast. Ranvijay knew for a fact that some people out there did like oats; he himself was one of those people. They aren't that bad as people thought they were. They were healthy and they could be tasty too.

As he buttered the toast lightly, the thought of asking the question came into his mind.

"Hridya maa, would you like to meet Nikki and Jimmy today?" Ranvijay asked, as he kept his plate on the bedside table of Sharanya's mother's room, where they were having the breakfast. The tea table with two comfortable chairs was placed in the corner of her room, near the window and across the bed.

"I would love to!" The lady chided with a feeble grin on her face, her eyes glittering with child-like excitement. She had been waiting to meet them. Since her body didn't permit her to go out, she was saddled into the bed otherwise she would have gone there herself to meet the little two puppies that both Ranvijay and Sharanya couldn't seem to stop talking about.

She, being a mother could also see how happy her daughter was every time that she talked about either those two babies or Ranvijay. There was always a glee and happiness in her eyes when she narrated her of their day. Hridya knew well that Ranvijay had stayed the night, that too in Sharanya's room but didn't speak a word about it. She didn't want to break or even prick that bubble of hers till her last breath. All she ever wanted was her kids to be happy. There wasn't much she could do to ensure that.

"Then can I take Sharanya with me?" He asked, looking at his mother-like figure and then at Sharanya who was still sitting at one of the chairs at the tea table and smiled at both of them. Ranvijay gave her a little smile as he bit into another piece of his toast, his coffee already emptied out.

"She isn't a kid," Her mother laughed, "I know you guys went out last night and of course you can take her. There is absolutely no need to ask me."

Sharanya blushed a little and rolled her eyes as she walked up from where she was and came to sit beside her mother on the bed, "Come on Maa, you told me to go out." She pouted like a small child.

"Aw sweetheart, of course, I want you to go out and have fun," She caressed Sharanya's face, "Now hurry up, get ready and get me the pets!"

"Love you, Mumma." Sharanya bent down and kissed her mother's forehead as she walked out of the room to get changed.

Ranvijay bent down to her level and pressed a kiss on his Hridya maa's temple as well, "Do you know that you are the best?"

Hridya laughed and stuffed a spoonful of her oats in his mouth, "I know. I also know that you like oats, sweetened in the milk, served with bananas and strawberries."

Ranvijay grinned the biggest he had in a while, "How did you remember that?"

"Because I used to make them for you in summers and I remember how hard it was to get strawberries in that odd season," She cringed her nose, "Or else I'd just pacify you with pancakes topped with whipped cream and chocolate sauce."