Mai Lab..Tu Dua..

28. ..Kyu itna hua hai tu khafa..

"Ajeeb kissa haina Zindagi ka bhi..Dooriyaan hume batati hai, ki nazdeekiyaan kitni hai.."

"Jaan ye shirt achi lg rahi hai.." he asks as soon as she comes out from the washroom..she does not even look up as she just hums walking past him, opening her suitcase as she took out her dupatta from it pinning it to her suit as she gets ready to walk out..

"Shehnaaz dekha bhi nh" before he could complete she had stepped out of the room, he looked at her retreating figure keeping his hands on his waist unable to comprehend her indifference towards him, her responses have been limited to yes or no, she had been so aloof of him, twitching at his slightest touch, she refused to even look straight in his eyes and it was aching him to not be able to read her, she seemed more distant than she was since past 7 years, she was there but she was not..he just buttoned up rest of his shirt as he followed her direction, he stepped in Samar's room, only place where he would see her happy self..And as expected, she was running around dressing him up and telling him to speak hindi while he would keep blabbering in English, these mother-son banters everyday were a pure bliss in his life since past 4 days, he looked from the doorway as he saw maa walking around to seat on dining table, he smiled at that, though she had not talked to him or Shehnaaz about their sudden return..but she has been warm to Samar, not over the board but she will make sure she comes out of her room and have breakfast with him before he leaves for school, she will also respond to his silly questions and smile to his antics, that relieved him to no ends, she still stumbled on calling his name and she will just address him with 'beta' and not 'Samar'...but he could not expect more than that so soon, when he expected her to sink again after Trisha left next morning of Diwali, he has hell scared what it might do to her health..

"Chal Sidharth..Thank you for letting me stay " she said standing in front of him as he stood with Shehnaaz closely behind him..he moved forward nodding negatively as he took her in a side hug..

"Thank you for taking care of maa" he said hugging her while she just smiled..she moved forward towards Shehnaaz as they exchanged formal pleasentries and a brief hug, she ruffled Samar's hair , finally making her way to his mother who seemed to be in tears..

"Maa please aap ro mat na..mai kaise jaungi fir..Aapko apna dhyan rakhna hai mere liye..Take your medicines time par..And m a call away..m video call bhi karungi aapko" she said in a sobby voice herself as she hugged his mother and then waved them all walking out of the house..Maa had tears streaking down her cheeks as she sat on sofa, shattered..Samar saw this as he freed himself from his mother's hold walking over to her as he bought his fingers to her face, he wiped her tears talking in a baby voice "Dadi..don't cry..I will play with you" he said in most innocent way possible, as his mother smiled running a hand on the little peice of light walked into their lives, this was the first moment of affection she had showered on her grandson and it felt heart wrenching to both his parents who stood in corner flicking their own teary eyes..

Shehnaaz got him down the bed as she set his hair with the comb, instructing him to walk down and have breakfast as they were getting late..he saw Sidharth leaning on the door as he smiled at his presence, it was still new to him and he would cling on to him as and when he could, assuring his presence, his fatherly presence in his life and Sidharth would reciprocate it with much more love and affection , he picked him up as soon as he got ready walking him down the stairs as he straightened his tie..

"Hi champ"

"Hi papa" he giggled..

"So ready to go to school"

"Not so much.."he said scrunching his nose escaping his glaring mother's eyes at his statement.."But I am a good boy and I will go" he said covering up making Sidharth chuckle and kiss his cheeks as the trio walked down towards the dining table..