Mom?

That unlimited supply of stress and disgust couldn’t deter me from my early evening nap. I had slept early that evening because there was no one at home when I returned from school. I remember My mom had bid adieu to me in the morning, saying that she was off to Chandigarh for her branch visit and that she would return after two days. My father must’ve taken a delayed day at work because of which his derrière wasn’t planted at the couch when I stepped in. The house never looked so uninhabited ever. There was also this influx of an anxiety that always befell before my Science exam. My anxiety coupled with an urge to run away from the whole education system concocted with stress had caused my brains to give out early sleeping signals to my body.  

The lonely house helped that urge and I fell asleep. It was almost midnight when I heard soft footsteps in my room. My eyelids were heavier than the arms of a wrestler but I still tried hard to open them. The footsteps rustled on the floor and stopped. I was pretty sure that I wasn’t dreaming. It was as if I was under the grip of some curse that was stopping my eyelids to pop open. Just then I felt the touch of a soft palm on my forehead. It was an ice-cold palm but I knew the touch! I tried to open my eyes to see the face I had been wanting to.... but the goddamn sleep headedness! I just couldn’t! 

“Sorry Jatin, I wasn’t there when you returned from School.” 

“It’s alright Mom, I know you weren’t there.” (Did I speak it or just blabbered something that sounded like that in my head?) my eyelids still shut. 

“Sorry Jatin, I won’t be there....” 

“Mom, it’s alright. I know everything.” This time I didn’t even let her finish her sentence... “You must go and sleep now Mom, it’s too late. You must be tired.”

”I wanted to wish you all the best for tomorrow’s science exam, Jatin. I know you would do well”

”Thanks Mom, now go and sleep!” 

I didn’t hear any footsteps rustle again.... I was fast asleep. The next morning I opened my eyes to a very dull and noisy morning. By the time I got off the bed, I was sure that the noise wasn’t only of the rain and the thunderstorm outside. There were some hustle and bustle that had travelled to my ears straight from our living room. I walked up to my door and peeped out. Saw a few people in the house. Some I knew, some faces I could only try to recollect. I treaded slowly towards the living room; A lady who looked like my maternal aunt walked hurried past me. 

What was she doing here? 

When I peeped through the living room door, I caught the glimpse of something that was beyond my limits of understanding. Loads of our relatives were all scattered across the whole of the living room, there were riots of conversations happening over the mobile phones and the landline, some

of them were throwing out weird wails occasionally and some were simply glued to the chair donning a Frankenstein's face. 

Why were they holding my Dad? And why was Dad crying and howling like a small toddler? 

I turned around and started to look for my Mum, as I had to get ready for school. I went about every room and corner; nothing. I took a shower, changed into a school uniform and got ready to leave. I knew Mum would be in the kitchen ready with my lunch pack. I kept my inquisitiveness for the morning’s episode at bay and rushed to the kitchen.....; Nothing. Just this time, our grandfather clock gonged! I gaped wide mouthed! It was 11 am! Oh No!! My science paper!! The goddamn alarm!! I badly needed my mom at that time. 

”But where’s Mom??” I kept wondering.