Homecoming

Mischa was at the station as the bus parked by the platform. Miki saw his mother long before he got off, and the smile had settled well on his face as he went over.

"Carry my bag?"

She stared at the almost too small bag hanging from the end of the outstretched hand for a couple of seconds, then threw a toothy grin as her hand snaked past and grabbed his ear. She twisted the ear ruthlessly.

"Getting smart with me son?" She spoke softly, but the warning was a cold blade running down his spine.

"Sorry mother." The apology was sincere. The hand backed down, with the bag.

She let go of his ear, and wrapped her hands around his arm. "Congratulations," she whispered.

He beamed in reply.

"Cici didn't insist on coming along?"

"Their parents are meeting."

"I know. You told me. She did too. How come she didn't push it back?"

"They're in a hurry to marry."

"Oh," she nodded knowingly. "He's worried."

"Worried?"

"No? Okay. Scared. Who knows when Cici and you would run off. What would poor Jiro do then?"

"You're my mother. Please don't forget that."

"I know. I love you. But you're so evil, the both of you. I can't help feeling sorry for Jiro."

Mischa looked nothing like her age. So much so, that the two of them, laughing so joyfully, walking arm in arm, looked like a loving couple. A young man with a slightly older woman. And it wasn't like the two weren't aware of this picture in the heads of the onlookers. It had been a long time since Miki had gotten used to it. And Mischa had always enjoyed the idea, maybe even a little too much. She was shameless like that. In fact, the only thing she enjoyed more was watching the crumbling expressions as she revealed their relationship. Many a rotten but innocent minds had been shamed into embarrassment that they needed years to get over.

As they joined the line for the taxis outside the station, Miki asked. "Uncle didn't come?"

"No," she answered. "And I refused his car. You're now going to be his employee. He can't seem partial to you. Won't do any good to the company."

She could drive, but she had never bothered about getting a license. There were more than enough taxis on the streets, she said. And there was uncle to take her wherever she needed to go in case of an emergency. She could afford to be lazy.

He couldn't even drive. He learned well from his mother.

There was no welcome party back home. It wasn't as if he hadn't returned in the last four years. And he didn't need someone else welcoming him to his home. He unlocked the door, and walked them in. He went to take a shower, while she went to the kitchen. Breakfast was prepared, for three. She only had to set the table. As he finished, the unwelcome guest showed himself in.

"Trius, you aren't welcome," Mischa coldly said.

"Of course not," Trius agreed. "I'm just hungry."

She snorted, but remained silent otherwise. The two sat at the table, waiting for Miki.

���Uncle," Miki greeted as he joined them at the table. "What do you have for me?"

Trius smiled fondly, and pulled out the small present from his pocket. "Try to guess what it is?"

"A pen," Miki answered without a shred of doubt. "A fountain pen. Black body. Gold nib. I'm sure you've got the pot of ink in the car, which you'll give before leaving."

"Why is he so smart?" Trius asked Mischa.

"Because he loves showing off, Mischa replied proudly. "Spoilsport."

"Yeah," Trius agreed. "Spoilsport for sure. I just don't understand what Leila sees in him."

Leila was Trius' wife. And as far as she was concerned, Leila was going to be Miki's mother in law. No one was willing to challenge Viki, Leila and Trius' daughter, about who loved Miki most. It was the only fight even Mischa backed away from.

"When is Viki returning?" Mischa asked.

Trius looked terrified at the question. "Not any time soon I hope," he answered truthfully. "She insisted on joining the company. I've extended my medical insurance coverage."

"Of course," Mischa nodded. "She's going to be where Miki is. It was surprising enough that she went to a different college. Four years is as much as she can be away. Just dump her on Miki. Don't ask her anything. Don't even look her way. And you'll be fine. Leave the two of them to Leila."

"That's the plan."

"Leila's gone to bring Viki back?"

"Yeah. It's not like Viki is a little girl. If she can go by herself, why can't she return by herself. I can never figure out what's running through that head."

The two of them deliberately didn't look at Miki. He certainly knew what was going on. But if he wasn't speaking already, he wouldn't even if asked. The greatest display of his stubbornness was in how tight his lips could be sealed.

Breakfast was all of Miki's favourites. Fluffy omelets. Bread toasted in garlic butter and topped with molten cheese and green chilies. Bourbon biscuits. And coffee. Miki's breakfast was either very heavy or empty but for coffee. At home, Mischa always prepared a big breakfast, which he ate fondly. Outside, he loved only coffee in the morning. And Mischa wasn't much different. She only enjoyed breakfast with Miki. In his absence, she too had only coffee. It was as if the coffee shrunk the distance between them. Trius was a heavy eater. It was almost disturbing, especially to the women, that he never grew fat despite the mountains of food he feasted upon every day. His body devoured everything he ate, and seemed incapable of building fat.

After breakfast, Trius brought the pot of black ink from the car. Mischa and Trius sat watching as Miki filled the pen with ink and wrote into the notebook Mischa had prepared as his homecoming present. It was a plain notebook, with a black cover and white pages. The notebook didn't look particularly impressive, but it was actually handmade, and expensive. Mischa loved the notebooks, and only wrote in them. And since she wrote a lot, the notebooks in the house were far too many to count. Miki didn't write as much, but he learned to write only in the notebooks his mother loved.

The first thing Miki wrote was Mischa's name, followed by his, and the Trius'. And that was all. Notebooks were personal, so he would write when he was by himself.

"How long before you have to report to work?" Mischa asked.

"I'm thinking a week," Miki answered, looking at Trius.

"Don't mind me," Trius answered with a shrug. "You can join whenever you want to. I told you, the company is yours when you want it."

"Not yet," Miki answered with a smile.

"At least you're not refusing," Trius replied. "All I can ask for. Take your time. Spend time with Mischa. I'm sure the two of you long more than anything to run amok in the city. Remind all those who've forgotten of the wildcats. Leila and Viki will readily join too."

"You will too," Mischa said, leaving no room for disagreement.

"Of course,��� Trius said in a servile manner. "Just leave me the day. The nights I'll be with you."

"Yes," Mischa agreed. "The company needs you. Until the kids grow up. Then, let's go on a long trip. The three of us."

"I'm looking forward to that," Trius confessed. "For now, I'll get to work. The two of you, have fun."

After Trius left, mother and son collapsed on the ground in the living room. Today they were going to accompany the tv. There would be popcorn and pizza to eat, cola and whiskey to drink, and many movies to watch. It was the best way to start a holiday.