Moms Have a Life Too!

Sandhya walked into the house after work; it was a long and hectic day. She was nervous because she had planned to talk to her daughter, Arya, over dinner. 

Sadhya had found love in Shashi, who worked in the hospital with her. How would Arya react! As she hung her keys on the peg by the door, Arya burst into the living room. "Mom, how was your day she called out!" 

Sadhya walked up to her daughter and hugged her; she said, "busy, Lata and Sagarika are down with the flu and could not report for work, and I had to cover for them." Arya hugged her mom back as she said, "Oh, looks like you were on your feet all day. Mom, go and freshen up, and I will fix something for dinner, and we can go to bed early."

"Tiered, I am, but I will still cook dinner for you; let me freshen up first," Sandhya said, smiling at her daughter. She tugged at Arya's chin tenderly as she walked into her bedroom and placed her handbag on the clothes hanger behind her bedroom door.

Arya followed her mom to her bedroom as Sandhya walked into the washroom and closed the door. Sandhya's phone buzzed. It must be Shashi, Sandhya thought. "I hope Arya doesn't check my messages," Sandhya thought as she hurriedly changed from work clothes. "I must get to my phone before Arya reads the message."

Sandhya stepped out of the bathroom to see Arya standing with a phone in her hand, and it was evident that she was upset. She held the phone to Sandhya as she asked, "who is Shashi?" This was what Sandhya feared most. How will Arya react when she comes to know that Shashi and Sandhya have fallen in love.

"Sh–Shashi?" Sandhya asked. Arya nodded; she was looking at Sandhya intensely. "H-he is my colleague, and he works with me in the hospital." Sandhya stuttered. "That's Dr Shashdar, right?" Arya asked. Sandhya nodded. "Then when did he become Shashi to you?" Sandhya was tongue-tied. She just looked down. "Mom! you are having an affair with him; I read his message to you on your phone!" 

Sandhya walked toward her daughter. She wanted to gather her only child in her arms, but Arya turned away and ran out of the room, saying, " this is shameful; I just don't want to see your face again." Sandhya rushed after her when her phone rang.

Sandhya shouted out her daughter's name and woke up from her sleep. Her driver asked her, "Ma'am, are you ok?" Sandhya nodded. Her phone was ringing, and it was Arya. Sandhya took a deep breath before answering the phone, and when she did, Arya said, "Mom, I feel like having a pizza for dinner, there is this new place that has opened, but they don't deliver it home; will you pick it up on your way home." Arya asked.  

Sandhya had fallen asleep during her drive home, and she had a terrifying dream. She sighed in relief; thank God it's only a dream. Sandhya called her driver Raju and said, "Raju do you know this new pizza place near our house?" Raju glanced up at her in the rear view mirror, saying, "yes, ma'am, they had a grand opening last week on SL Road." Sandhya nodded and said, "please stop by it. We need to pick up a pizza." "I will, Ma'am," Raju said,

 She was tired and couldn't wait to get back home. But she loved her daughter and never said no to her for anything. They had gone through much in the past two years when Dr Vinod, her husband, and Arya's dad, a dedicated doctor, became the first Covid-19 casualty. 

Despite being a doctor, she had to stand by and watch her husband die. That was when Shashi helped and supported her. Arya was now 19 years old. Would she be comfortable if Sandhya told her that she had found love just two years after her dad's death and wanted to re-marry? Raju interrupted her thoughts as he said, " Ma'am, we are at the Pizza place, but we have no parking." Sandhya instructed Raju to park close to the pizza outlet, and she got out of the car and walked to the pizzeria, thinking, " No, I will not tell her about Shashi today."

Sandhya picked up the pizza and was surprised that Arya had ordered a large pizza when they generally ordered a medium one. But Sandhya did not dwell on the thought too long, for she had a lot more to think about. She got back to the car, and soon Raju drove her home.

As she walked into her house, Arya came to greet her with a hug. Sandhya hugged her back and said, "tired, but had a nap in the car on my drive home and feeling better."

"Mom, I wanted to--" Arya suddenly stopped short of what she was saying as their maid Hema came in with a cup of tea for Sandhya. "Eh, Hema, please keep mom's tea on the balcony outside, and it's pleasant outside."

Sandhya looked at her daughter as she raised an eyebrow in question. Arya winked at her and mouthed, "We need to talk." Both mother and daughter walked to the balcony and sat down. Arya slid the doors behind Hema and sat by Sandhya. 

"Mom, you know I am moving to Ireland for my higher studies, and I won't be back for at least two years." Sandhya nodded sadly. "Mom, I don't want you to be alone." She moved closer to her mom and almost hugged her as she said, "Dad was a wonderful man, and I doubt anyone can replace him, but still, I want to find someone who will love and take care of you." When Sandhya opened her mouth Arya motioned her to be quiet, "And I am thinking of calling Dr Shashidar, Uncle Shashi." 

Arya finished with a smile. That's when they heard the doorbell ring. Arya looked at her confused mother with a big smile and said, I went through your messages, and I knew uncle Shashi has been waiting for some time now, and you would never go ahead and say yes, fearing my reaction. And if you are wondering why I ordered a large pizza, it's because that's him at the door.

My thoughts

A Mom's second marriage is unimaginable for children; however, there will come a time in their lives when they leave home, and their single parents will be all alone and too old to pick up the broken pieces of their lives.

Liked this story? Read another one- 'Say Yes to Yourself- It Feels Good!'