A Proposal For The Mother!

"How could she do this to him? How could she do this to me?" It wasn't a question; it was an expression. Ayaan was standing in their gallery smoking cigarettes, which was unusual for him. Rubhi was standing there, letting him vent or rather reflect (in her words).

 

Moments passed; nobody spoke anything. "Didi, I need to leave. Can you check on Baby now?" It was time for Pushpa Di's departure. Rubhi had to go inside and check on their daughter, a curious and over-energetic toddler. She tapped Ayaan gently, he looked at her, face still crowded with disappointment, surprise and not sure what. "You can't be this, Ayaan. I am always proud of you, but now you started letting me down.” With that Rubhi left him alone. He never thought of that this day would come.

 

He was crying. Walking, circling slowly with the earthen pot on his shoulder pouring water on the ground. And then he was standing there with a lit torch in hand to light his father's funeral pyre. He froze suddenly, he couldn't do it. "How could I let him go?" a 12-year-old Ayaan thought and cried. A gentle hand touched his face and wiped his tears. She was standing tall behind him, her hand on his shoulder assuring him that she was there for him.

"No matter what, I will always be there for you, my child!" she said, shedding tears looking at the burning pyre of her husband.

His eyes glistened with moisture. The memory was still as fresh as yesterday. 

 

 And she kept her word. It was Ayaan and Mom's gang. She was his mother and father both. She worked hard. But she always made sure she was there whenever her son needed her. She raised him right, she turned him into a gentleman same as his father. Ayaan was very proud of his mother. She was beautiful, independent, and successful. Any man could have been lucky to marry her, but she never did. She focused on Ayaan and her career. She was always there, no matter what! The time when he decided to join the army, when he turned into an army officer, when he proposed to the girl he wanted to marry or when it was time to convince the girl's family. She was there with him. She took time off whenever possible for her grand-daughter Nitya. Of course, both grandma and granddaughter shared the same name!

If everything was all that great, then why that life-changing decision? 

 

"Am I not a good son?" He asked Rubhi.

 

"Why are you asking this?" she countered. She looked at him with surprise. She never had expected her military officer husband would be so much anxious or rather obsessed over his mother's decision. His mother, her mother-in-law Mrs. Nitya Devkar, a self-made woman, an industrialist, and a very strong but caring woman. She was Rubhi's idol! Truly, the most important person in Ayaan's life. He was very proud of his mother, he always said. 'My mother is just not my mother; she is my father, my teacher, my guru. If we do only 10% of what she did for me as a parent, we are done!" 

 

"Do you wish that your mother would stay with us as a stay-home grandmother? " Rubhi's counter-question.

"Of course not. She has her work, her office, and her life! Do you really think I am that selfish?" Ayaan's hurt was apparent.

 

"Exactly, she has her life. She had done everything for you. Isn't now her turn to live life her way? Why are you questioning her decision!"

 

 It was their first get-together after lockdown. Everyone was excited. Rubhi, Ayaan, and Nitya were eager to see their beloved Nanna. Mrs. Nitya Devkar was ready at her home waiting for her family. It was 3 months since they hadn't seen each other. She couldn't wait to hold her little bundle of joy, her grand-daughter Nitya. With all that excitement she was also worried about an announcement she was finally ready to make. She had waited quite long, but the lock-down time had given her a lot of time to think about her life. She was ready, she was not afraid.

 

"Nanna '' the sweet cry at the door made her heart beat faster. Little Nitya ran and leaped in her Nanna's lap, followed by Ayaan and Rubhi. Both hugged her tight, the family reunion was complete. All followed by home-made lunch and lock-down stories. Suddenly the doorbell rang, the house-staff opened the door. It was Rushabh Kedar, her business partner for the last 4 years. He smiled and greeted all of them. Instead of sitting, making himself comfortable; he bent down and offered Ayaan’s mother his hand. She accepted and got up. Both stood together smiling at each other. Before Ayaan and Rubhi could process what was happening, just then his mother showed the ring on her finger. Rubhi squealed with happiness and hugged her tight. She looked at Ayaan, who was dumbstruck. His mother was looking at him expectantly, she was searching his face for a reaction, emotions. But nothing! He stood up in a trice, looked at his mother and the man for a moment. And he was out of the door within minutes. 

 

It had been a few days, but the son didn't reply to any calls from his beloved mother. Finally, she stopped trying! Ayaan knew whatever he was doing was only hurting his mother. But he was struggling to accept her decision. He and Rubhi had been fighting over that since that day. But then what Rubhi said had struck him.

'She did everything for him. She built his life and now when she is looking for her happiness, he is making it hard for her. It's her life.'

But still, one question was troubling him. He asked Rubhi.

 

"But why now? It's time for her to retire. Why not in the golden days of her life?"

"For a celebrated military officer, you definitely have a lesser IQ than I expected. The answer is in the question, Major Ayaan. It's time for her to retire, it's time for her to live and love life her way. It's time when she is free from all responsibilities." She looked at her husband who was contemplating what she was saying, thus she continued.

 

"Love only happens in the younger days of your life, is a myth. Statistically yes, most people fall in love in their younger days, triggers could be attraction, youth, beauty, sex, and blah blah blah...But that doesn't mean one cannot find love in the latter days of their lives.

 

If you ask me, the young love is a bit selfish. It has everything… youth, sex, money, beauty. But when you find love in the dusk of your life, it's about care, respect, companionship, understanding each other, support." His psychologist's wife was in full form. Before she could continue more, Ayaan asked her to stop. "Got it my dear wife. Please don't counsel me! I am not your patient." She looked at him with false anger. Suddenly the sad, disheartened Ayaan was replaced by cheerful Ayaan. He kissed Rubhi on her forehead and muttered ‘thank you’.

"Please excuse me. Now I have a very important task to do!" With that again he was out of the door suddenly.

 

"Sorry I had to do this. In normal situations, this question could be asked by a parent to the boy their daughter is seeing. But we need to reverse the things here." Ayaan said to Mr. Kedar who was sitting in front of him at the table in a famous café near his office in the middle of the afternoon. He smiled in response. "Go on son!"

"What are your intentions toward my mother?" He smiled at him again but before he could start, a complaining voice filled in the air.

 

"Ayaan, please don't harass Rushabh. Don't go all military on him please!" Ayaan's mother was standing there, ready to scold him more. But before she could say the next words, Rushabh stood up and helped her sit on the chair in the middle. "My intention towards your mother is to marry her and make her the happiest wife of the century. I know she is a tough nut to crack, but I will try my best!" with that he held her hand tight.

 

"That was the only answer I was hoping for Mr.Rushabh or shall I say Rushabh Uncle for starters!" Ayaan got up from his seat and suddenly got down on one knee in front of his mother.

 

"Mrs. Nitya Devkar, mother of Major Ayaan Devkar, can you forgive your unworthy son and give him the opportunity to make you happy all your life ahead?"

 

Ayaan's mother was all laugh and tears. "Mom, it's hurting. Is that a yes?"

"Yes, my dear, it's a yes!"