Chapter - 39
CONTNUED FROM THE LAST PART.....
Next I wake hearing yelling voices of Aunt, tiredly I get up from the bed and move out of the room by unlocking the door, only to get shocked by seeing the scene that is in front of me...
in the living room granny is sitting on one of the couch, Aunt is standing in front of her and yelling on her.
Aunt: (Almost yelling) I am tired mother. You tell me what is this whenever she wants, she goes out, roam around and have fun. And she expect me handle the house behind her plus cook food for everyone.
Granny: (Pleading tone) Dear, there is no need for you to do these works, you go and rest. As for food, we won't eat for a day, simple but at least you will be comfortable and relaxed.
Aunt: Huhh why won't you eat the food? I agree that I got tired easily but that doesn't mean that I will let you or kids stay hungry for so long. I am not selfish like her (mother).
Granny: Okay, whatever you feels right daughter do that. I don't understand how this woman can be so mean. Why is traveling and having fun so important that for this you leave behind your household work or even not give food to your children?
Just like this they keep talking or should I say only granny is talking, while aunt is almost yelling in frustration. And I am just listening to them, by standing with the support of a wall with my hands folded and kept on my chest. In short, I am in a bit relaxing mode because all this is not new for me to listen or see because this is what they like to do i.e. to talk behind mother's back.
However, soon my trance break hearing faint voice of my phone ringing, hearing that I stand straight then ignoring both of the ladies I walk towards my room. Stepping inside the room I close the door behind me then pick up my phone from the bedside table and answered the call..
Me: Hello!
Vihaa: Hey kiddo!
Me: (Walking towards the study table then sitting on the beside chair) Hey, wassup?
Vihaa: Just come back home, will see you in an hour for the evening walk.
Me: Yeah okay.
Vihaa: And I am really excited to know how was your first day.
Me: Ohh okay see you soon.
After this we both hang up call same time, I walk towards the wardrobe open it then pick up my track pants and a t-shirt. I walk inside the washroom to change the clothes plus getting fresh, even though I have almost an hour to get ready then leave the house but I want to leave the house real quick because I don't want to be in this chaotic environment anymore.
As soon as I got ready, I start moving outside of the room but my steps halt hearing the ringing of my phone. I take my phone out the pocket and answered the call..
Me: Hello
Mother: Hello Siya!
Me: Yes mother, what happened? And where are you?
Mother: I am at one of your maternal aunt house living nearby due to some emergency, earlier I don't get time to inform your aunt or granny because I was in hurry. I will be back in around seven and bringing food with me for all of us except granny as I am excepting your aunt will feed her the food.
Me: Okay
Though from inside I am like, see, I knew it that mother is not at all selfish and due to some reasons this happened but who can explain this to aunt and granny because, hate has seeped into their mind and because of this they will never try to understand mother.
While thinking all this, I don't know when mother hang up the call and I walk outside towards the dining room to let both of them know. The moment I reach the dining room, I got surprised seeing the scene in front of me, aunt is serving food to granny lovingly and she is eating it. What's the most surprising thing is that the calmness in Aunt's behaviour, which was absent while she was yelling few minutes back.
However, keeping these thoughts aside I walk close to them and just standing in front of granny I start speaking...
Me: Mother called and told me that due to some emergency she had to go to maternal aunt's house, she will be back around seven with food and I am going out for the evening walk now.
Hearing, this for some seconds they remain quite and taking this as an golden opportunity for me I start walking towards the main gate of the house without waiting for their replies. However, while I am opening the door I can hear them shouting my name out but I choose to ignore them and walk outside of the house, closing the door behind me.
Knowing that I had arrived half an hour early, I thought why not take pictures of birds, squirrels and flowers. After thinking for few seconds I finally come to a decision to do so, I take out my phone from the pocket and start clicking their picture, just like this half an hour passed. Once getting enough picture I start seeing them again in my gallery to sort them out, while I am doing this sitting on one of the bench kept in the park, I feel a hand on my right shoulder.
I stand up and look at a person with a genuine smile, in return I got her big wide smile.
Vihaa: This is something new, I mean for the first time you doesn't flinch on my touch.
Me: (Rubbing the back of my neck) I guess, I am able to recognise your touch may be that's why I doesn't flinch.
Vihaa: (With shining eyes) Wow that's really good kiddo, you are trying to overcome with your fixation. I am proud of you.
Me: (Not know what to say or even how to say it) Hmmm I am trying thank your for being patient with me.
Vihaa: (Rubbing her palms together) Any time by the way leave all this and start walking because I can't wait longer to hear about your day but at first we will finish walking. Okay?
Me: Okay
though, from inside I am thinking... what an irony man, we were thinking that today we will express our feelings to our family members, but who knew that we will express our feelings to strangers. However, this stranger has now become a goof friend of mine and this person cares about me more than my family.
With these thoughts in my mind, we completed twelve rounds of the park. After this we sit on the bench then take few deep breaths, as soon as we got calmed down Vihaa start talking...
Vihaa: (Turn a bit around while sitting only so, she is looking at me) Now go ahead and tell me all about what happened in the university.
Me: Okay.
Saying that I start telling her what exactly happened in the university, including my personal thoughts, fears, anxiety and nervousness. I also told her about Asher too, how she behaved and the way she remain clingy too me. In the end I also told her that how I want to tell my mother about all of these things but she wasn't at home and the talks of aunt and granny an hour back. Once I finish relating the whole day story, I look at her and found her listening to each and every word carefully.
After a minute or so, she start speaking...
Vihaa: Hmmm okay. Look I have few things to discuss or simply to tell you and its up to you whether you want to do it or not, okay?
Me: Okay.
Vihaa: Firstly, whatever happened in your house, you know that this is not something new and this will happen in future too so, I just want you to keep ignoring them by focusing on your studies from now on. And as the days will pass in this university your work load will increase i.e. in form of assignments, test, projects, homework so, automatically you won't even get time to be a part of their nonsense talks plus behaviours.
Secondly, I know it won't be easy for you to make new friends or simply trust people and I am also not going to force you into this but if possible just for once try to be friends with others as not everyone is same. Take your time okay?
Me: (Thinking for sometime) Okay I will try but I am not going to give any guarantee for this.
Vihaa: (Smiling widely) No problem and I am proud of you you are doing very good. Although a new chapter of your journey has started today only but from tomorrow onwards every day will be something new, so be ready to accept it with a smile.
Me: (Smiling a bit) Yeah okay.
Vihaa: By the way, I forgot to say one thing.
Me: What?
Vihaa: Our mother's always do a lot of thing for us and even for the whole house. In the midst of all this, they sometimes do not have time to spend a few moments peacefully with their children and talk to them. But that doesn't mean she doesn't love her kids or that she's mean. She does love us but she shows it in different ways.
Me: Okay but it des hurt when you have lot to say but she is nowhere to listen to you.
Vihaa: Yeah I can understand but think from her side too.
Me: Yeah you are right.
Vihaa: (Smirking) Hey, I am always right.
Together, we share a laugh. We sit there for ten minute or so then after bidding our goodbyes to each other we leave for our houses and this time when I ring the bell of my house, mother opened the gate with bright smile on her face. Seeing her this smile my mind immediately speaks up...
Mind: Looks like she hasn't met aunt and granny yet, otherwise she wouldn't be smiling like this.
Me: (Smiling a bit to my mother and while moving inside the house) Yes, otherwise by now both of them would have eaten mother raw.
Mother: Sorry Siya, I was not here while you come back home. How was your day? What all happened?
Me: (Getting happy) Will tell you about it at dinning table while having the dinner okay? Let me change clothes first and get fresh.
Mother (Smiling) Okay, come soon I am waiting.
After saying 'okay' to her I move inside the house, reaching inside my room I start getting fresh then start changing my clothes. It took me around less then five minutes to finish getting ready, as soon as I am completely ready I move outside of the room and hurriedly walk towards the dining room. There I found her setting the food on the dining table so, without thinking about anything I start helping her and start telling every good detail about the university plus about Asher too.
While I am telling all this, I also receive some humming, ohhh and wow sounds from her, which means she is listening to me carefully. This makes me feel quite happy and contended that I let my mother know how was my day and she actually listen to my talks. Just like this whole dinner time passed and fortunately, no one else joined us for the dinner.
Once the dinner got over, I walk inside my room with a water bottle in my hand. After closing the door behind me I plug earphones in then walk towards the balcony, I play Stay A Little Longer. I lookup at the sky at the mood then enjoy the song while watching the moon and feeling slight breeze on my face. Later in the night I walk inside granny's room, call it a night with a thought or you could say a hope in my mind...
Next day will be the another new day and I hope it to be better.