Heart's Desire

Birthday gift.

Ansh and Anika share a beautiful relationship. Anika would do anything for her son, and the same goes for him. He hates Thai cuisine to the core, but even then, he treated her to it and ate the food for his mother's happiness. They are enough for each other. It has been 10 years since he last asked about his father. Back then, she avoided the question but cried after he fell asleep because the wound from her heartbreak was still fresh. Now, after 10 years, Anika feels it's necessary to tell him about his father because she doesn't want her son to hate anyone without reason. She wants to explain everything that happened between them—he deserves to know.

The sun rises, and Ansh, a morning person like his father, deliberately slept in that day. When he opens his eyes, he always wants to see his mom first. Ansh woke up but didn't open his eyes, waiting for his mom to wake him up. He waited for a long time, but she didn't come. Soon, he felt a kiss on his forehead and knew who it was. He turned around with a smile as she leaned towards him and hugged him from behind.

"Wishing you a very, very, very happy birthday, my baby," Anika said and kissed his cheeks.

"Thank you, Mumma," Ansh said without opening his eyes.

"Come on, baby, get up," Anika said, and Ansh opened his eyes with a wide smile, half sitting up in bed as he hugged her tightly.

"If you're by my side, every day is my birthday. I love you, Mom. You don't know how lucky I am to have you as my mom," Ansh said while hugging her.

"My baby, you don't know what you've given me. Whenever I see your eyes, I feel like I'm not alone in this world. The sparkle in your eyes is enough for me to live the rest of my life," Anika said, tears betraying her as they fell. She quickly wiped them away because she didn't want to spoil Ansh's mood.

"No, I'm lucky to have you," Ansh said and hugged her even tighter.

"I love you," Anika said, gently pulling away from the hug to kiss his forehead.

"I love you too, Mom," he said, kissing her cheek.

The rest of the day went smoothly. Anika and Ansh went to the temple and then to an orphanage. Ansh gave gifts to the children, played with them, and taught them how to play cricket. Intentionally, he lost the match just to see the happiness on their faces. It was his favorite tradition on his birthday. Anika watched everything with a smile.

"What?" Ansh asked her.

"What, what?" Anika responded.

"Why are you looking at me like this? Proud of your son?" Ansh teased.

"You know when I'll feel proud?" Anika asked.

"When I get selected for the national team?" Ansh guessed.

"Nope," Anika replied.

"When I lift the World Cup?" he asked again.

"Nope," she said.

"Then when?" he asked curiously.

"When your wife tells me that I raised my son as a good human being, and when she tells you that you're the best man in the world. That's when I'll feel proud, and it will be out of bounds," Anika said with a smile.

"That's never gonna happen," Ansh replied.

"Why?" Anika asked.

"Because I'm never gonna get married," Ansh said with a playful smile. She chuckled.

"Hey, I'm serious," Ansh insisted.

"Okay then, rephrase the word. Girlfriend will work, right?" Anika teased.

"Maahhh," Ansh groaned in irritation.

"Okay, okay," she mimed zipping her lips.

"Why should a wife be the one to judge whether I'm a good man or not?" Ansh asked.

"Because she'll know you deeply, that's why," Anika explained as she wrapped her arms around him.

"Why can't a mom decide if her son is a good man?" Ansh asked.

"Okay, listen. If I bake a cookie and then tell everyone that my cookie is the best, how would that look?" Anika asked. Ansh chuckled.

"So, how does your cookie taste?" Ansh teased.

"Can I tell you after your exam results are published?" Anika asked with a grin.

"Maahhh," Ansh groaned, pulling away.

"Okay, sorry, sorry," Anika apologized.

"Your marks are like extra chocolate chips in my cookies. If they're there, they make the cookies better, but they don't change the fact that my cookie is already tasty," Anika said.

"Maah, too many chocolate chips make cookies bitter," Ansh teased with a mischievous smile.

"What... does... that... mean?" Anika asked suspiciously. He stayed silent.

"At least pass for me," Anika pleaded.

"Maah... let's hope for the best," Ansh said as he ran off, with Anika chasing him.

Both Anika and Ansh enjoyed the day to the fullest. They returned home, where a surprise awaited Ansh. He opened the door to find his childhood friend Nisha waiting for him inside their locked house.

"Nish!" he exclaimed, seeing his friend.

"Hey, birthday boy," Nisha greeted with a big smile.

"How did you... the house was locked... how?" he stammered in excitement.

"She's my best friend too," Nisha said, pointing to Anika.

"How was the surprise?" Anika asked.

"Come on, it's not a surprise... it's a shock!" Ansh said, pretending to be angry.

"Hey, you... here to torture me again?" Ansh teased Nisha.

"Of course! How can you be happy without me? That's why I flew down to torture you. And guess what? The torture will last for two months," Nisha said, making her way to Anika to give her a hug.

"How are you, Ma?" she asked Anika.

"Fine, dear," Anika replied, kissing her forehead.

Soon after, Anika lit the birthday cake. The party consisted of only three people: Anika, Ansh, and Nisha. Ansh blew out the candles, cut the first piece, and fed it to his mom before smearing Nisha's face with cake. Anika and Nisha retaliated, smearing Ansh's face with cake, and the three of them had a great time.

Finally, it was time for Anika to open up to Ansh about her past. When Ansh was 4, he had casually asked about his father, and Anika had promised to tell him when he was older. That time had come. Anika asked Nisha and Ansh to sit down. Nisha had been Ansh's friend since kindergarten, and her family had moved to Singapore two years ago. She was like a third member of their small family, so Anika felt comfortable discussing her past in front of her.

They all sat down, and Anika pulled up a chair to sit across from them.

"Ansh, you trust your mom, right?" Anika asked, making the atmosphere more serious.

"Of course, Mom. Why are you asking that?" Ansh responded in a slightly nervous tone.

Anika took a deep breath. "You mean the world to me, Ansh. I want you to erase the word 'hate' from your dictionary. I want you to love everyone. If someone does something bad to you, what have I always said? Ignore them and set a goal beyond them. That's life."

"Yes, Mom, I know that," Ansh said softly.

"I know you hate your father, Ansh. Even though I never told you about him, that hate has grown in your heart. But he's not as bad as you think," Anika said gently.

"Mom, please, not today," Ansh said, trying to move away. But Anika grabbed his wrist and pleaded with him, making it hard for him to walk away. He sat back down, ready to listen.

"He was the one who loved me when my own parents didn't. He was the one who taught me how to love, how to care. His name is Shivaay."