Reuniting Parents

"Good morning honey, what's the good news" Mom called up at night.

"Mom its night here"

"Sorry dear, I forgot." she chuckled lightly.

I intentionally told her about my results in sad tone and she congratulated me.

"Mom, I was expecting more marks. I could have scored better but" I sighed.

"But what?" her tone became serious in a second.

"Something came up" I replied casually.

"Alex" her tone was threatening.

"Mom, dad got ill" I finally blurted out.

"What happened to him? Don't you dare hide anything boy" She snapped.

"He got a heart attack few days back" I replied nonchalantly and she boomed from the other side.

"And you are telling me today. Alex, your father could have died. Do you know that? You are acting like his condition doesn't matter to you. I have not brought you up like this. You have disappointed me. I am coming there." She hung up and I did a happy dance on my bed.

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"What?" I blocked her way when she was about to enter dad's office and she frowned at me.

I tapped my watch to tell her that she was late for practice.

"Hey I wanted to relax. I was not in mood to practice fighting." she whined a little and made a puppy face.

"Okay but you have to come an hour early tomorrow" I demanded.

"Hell, no, why would I come early and that too an hour earlier" she rolled her eyes.

"Because you have missed your training"

"Okay, Now step aside" she shoved me to make way into the office. I knew that want to learn new fighting forms and can't say no to him in this regard.

"Your mother called up yesterday. She was asking about Mr. Miller's schedule" Gawri informed me while doing her warm up before our training session.

"She is coming on Saturday and leave on Monday" she added.

"That's great!" I punched the punching bag. I would tell mom about my feelings towards Gawri.

"Gawri, can you arrange a date for them on our terrace" I suggested.

"Date on terrace?" She eyed me in confusion.

"Don't tell me that you don't know what a date is?" I frowned.

"Yeah, I heard something like that and seen girls jumping on simple mention of this word. But I really don't have an idea about how a date look like or feel like" She explained herself.

"Didn't you ask Mrinal about it?" I teased her

"No, we don't discuss her personal life" she became serious

"Is it because Rohan?" she simply nodded in affirmation

"Okay then, I will explain it to you"

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"Hey Dad! Going somewhere?" I called him from behind.

"I was going for an evening walk. Would you like to join?" he turned around and smiled.

"Sure, wait for a minute, I will be back" I run inside the embassy and ordered John to arrange lights and dinner on the terrace and give me a call when mom got up.

I lied to her that dad was sleeping when she arrived at embassy. I advised her to rest and meet dad later on.

"Hey dad, I am back" I reached to my dad.

"You are acting weird these days" he smirked.

"Weird?" I frowned.

"Yes, you are smiling a lot and spending time with me too. And now a sudden evening walk" he smirked.

"If you don't like my company then I can go back" I snapped.

"No chipmunk, I really like it" he patted my shoulder and I made a face.

"Now let's go" he tapped my back.

We visited nearby jogger's park but not spend time without talking much. He inquired about my studies and upcoming exams. I got a call from John and I got his signal.

"Dad let's go back" I stopped him when he was about to take the fifth round.

"Okay" Dad agreed.

We returned to embassy in complete silence. I have stopped him when he was going to his room and he turned to me.

"Dad" I stepped closer to him.

"Dad, there is a surprise for you. Can you wait at terrace?" I hesitated before requesting him.

"What is it, Alex? First walk and then surprise" he wiggled his brows.

"Nothing dad, just wait upstairs" I turned towards mom's room but returned to dad.

"Dad, the surprise I am giving you is very special to me. Promise me that you will take care of it" he lightly squeezed my shoulder in assurance and nodded in yes.

I informed mom about dad and she made her way to upstairs. I didn't want to intrude their privacy but I wanted to see their reaction so I followed her and hide myself behind one big potted plant. I could hear my parents' conversation very clearly from that location.

Dad was standing against the railing staring at the horizon when mom reached him. She kept on watching him with longing like she was admiring a painting.

"James" she whispered.

"Rose" Dad turned with a lightning speed and looked stunned like he has not expected this moment.

"Rose, is it you? Are you?" he tried to touch her face then stopped his hand.

"James" she called him again and then my father pulled her into him and fiercely hugged her like his life depended on her. He started crying like a baby while calling her name and saying sorry in between.

"I could not find them. I tried my best" he said between his sobs.

"James, then don't find them. Let's go home" she pleaded.

"How can I, Rose? What about my promise?" he asked her. Hell, what are they talking about? Shouldn't they ask about their well being?

"It is already 12 years" she reminded him. What the hell they are talking about?

"I know" he kept her close to him

"Let's go home" she put her head on his chest.

They stood like that for 10 minutes. Dad gazed into her teary eyes and gently caressed her face. He dipped his head to kiss her and they kissed like they are separated from centuries.

I closed my eyes shut and moved downstairs as I couldn't breach their privacy anymore. My parents truly love each other and the scene in front of me has just proved it.