“Arjun, why are u doing like this, we are dependent on you. You should take care of us in future but you are so irresponsible, please try to be matured Arjun” sobbed his mother sharadha
Arjun s dad came to comfort shardha and sat next to her, and continued
“She is right da kanna, we are all worried of you, and you must not make us feel sad about you, see your mom is crying from morning,
At least now say to your mom that hereafter I will not throw my shoes here and there.”
Come on say arjun”
Arjun replied in his tender voice
“Ma, don’t cry I will not throw my shoes hereafter, I also promise you that I will behave maturely”
Those were the words of a 6 year old arjun.
Arjun is the only son of sharadha and ram, since he is the only son, they are so affectionate to arjun, and they expect him to behave out of his age and poor arjun has no other option but to do as his parents say.
Every child that is born to a parent is special, it’s even more special if it’s their first kid, arjun was of that kind, and he was born to ram and Mrs. Ram after a long wait, so he is always given an extra care.
There are two kinds of parents in this world
1st category of parents: treat their children’s as kids even after they grow up. Here sufferers are the kids; they fail to get recognition from the family. Their words will never be given importance and hence there forth they lose interest in the happenings of a family and tend to stay away from family matters.
2nd category of parents: they expect a lot from their kids ignoring the fact that kids are meant to be kids and it will take time for them to realize what they need to do. In this case also sufferers are kids; they get into confusion on what to do and what not, this eventually end up in spoiling their colorful childhood.
When a child is born to a couple, a parent is also born but the growth of a parent has to be same as with the growth of a kid, else the kid will be in trouble.
Our hero arjun belongs to the second category of parents; his parents just know one type of emotion that is “EXTREME”
Either its extreme love or extreme anger.
Arjun, said “I still remember what my mother told when I was born, she told to my dad that he is special to us and everything around him has to be special.”
HOLD ON ….HOLD ON……
You say you were just born then how can you still remember what your mom said to you? Said arjun s girl friend priya.
“People say that babies get information from their mom when we are in mother’s womb, so it’s also possible to hear what my mom says after I was born also “replied arjun.
“This is too much dear “
“You asked me to describe about my parents, so I am sincerely narrating the story from first, if you mock at me I will not continue,”
Arjun tried to get up and move away from priya, priya held his hand and said
“No, no, I will not question you hereafter, you continue dear let me hear about my in-laws, fingers on my lips is that ok for you now?”
“That’s good, so as I said I was special for my parents, every time I cry and disturb their sleep, they never complain, both will take turns and try different tricks to stop my cry. The moment I stop crying both used to fight in deciding whose trick worked.”
“Arjun, tell me this who do you resemble the most, mom or dad? “Priya asked
“Well, I resemble both of them”
“ not that arjun , have you noticed , though we have been brought up by both our parents , we take the characteristics of only one parent, have you noticed mithun of our class , he has a habit of rubbing his nose after a glass of water , he has acquired it from his father, like wise what characteristic have you inherited” priya enquired.
“Well dear, that’s where you are wrong; I acquire all characteristics equally because I have got equal participation from both of them in all activities of my life”
“Take for example my swimming class, when I was a kid I joined for a swimming class, not only did my parents come for dropping me, they also swam with me.”
“Then during my exams my mom would help me in studies and dad would prepare milk and serve us both.”
“Each day when I got ready for my school, my mom would comb my hair and my dad would polish my shoes, so l have had equal participation of my parents in all things”
“Hey! Your father will do all these things? , normally it’s said guys are close to mom and have respect to dad”
“Well I have not felt that way, all that I say to my mom is said to dad also da”
“Arjun, you are lucky dear, baby will your mom like me?”
Arjun placed his hand on priyas shoulder and brought her close and said
“Hey! Don’t worry da, they will love you, the moment she sees you, she would say that you are her daughter-in law,
now get up lets go, I told my mom we will be at home by 12”.
As Arjun got up to start his bike, priya sat there lost in her thoughts, she is going to meet arjuns parents for the first time, so she is very nervous, she had a problem which she cannot say and make arjun understand.
The problem is that , love and mother always don’t go well, they see the new gal as a replacement of MOTHER in their sons life , in Arjuns case since he is close to both of them , there is a possibility that priya would be portrayed as villain in both his parents minds.
“Baby, we are getting late come on “arjun called.
“Yeah, coming sweet heart”.
Both moved to his house, with priya sitting at the back and saying her prayers.
They reached home very soon, now all four were sitting in hall. Mom and dad were watching priya constantly; finally someone needs to break the silence so dad took the initiative
“Hmm, it just seems like I have just changed his diaper, now he has grown up and started making his decision.” Dad said innocently.
“Dad, will you stop embarrassing me “arjun said
“Oh, sorry I should not have said it, it spoils your image right”
“Don’t worry priya, dad is always like that, he doesn’t know what to talk just relax and make yourself comfortable.” Arjuns mom said.
“Ok mom, you guys talk I will take a shower and come.” saying this arjun left the place.
Priya tried to hold his hand and make him sit near her but she was scared to hold his hand in front of his parents.
With arjun leaving the place, priya became nervous, she felt that his mom was having a magnifying glass in her hand and watching her.
“Just feel at home, priya” dad told.
Arjuns mom sat next to her and said “you look pretty in your outfit”
“Thanx aunty”
“Arjun always speaks a lot about you. Since you came in his life, all talks have been related only to you in this home.” Mom said.
“Aunty, arjun has told lot of things about you to me also. You have brought up your son very well; he is a gem in my life”.
On hearing this dad got excited and came forward and said,
“Is it, what has he said about me?”
“He would have said my dad is crazy and does not know what to talk, am I right priya?”Mom asked.
“No, aunty he keeps both of you in high regards, when he talks about you he has a glow in his face.”
“What do you like to have priya, coffee or tea? “Mom enquired.
“Its ok aunty “priya replied modestly.
“No, you have come to our home for the first time, so you should have something, I will make coffee for you.” Saying this mom left to kitchen.
Dad was sitting next to her, when he was about to start conversation with priya, priya noticed some movements at the corner of her eyes. It was mom who was signaling to dad asking him to come to kitchen.
Dad just got up with the permission of priya and made his way to kitchen.
Priya was left in lot of thoughts, why did she call dad inside, what does she has to say to dad? ,
Didn’t they like me?
Priyas felt that her logic about mothers and love was true, maybe she felt I am gonna replace her place in arjun’s life, to which she is not comfortable.
Priya was biting her nails in nervousness, she told to herself
even if his mom doesn’t like me , I will talk to arjun and ask him to marry me, if he doesn’t agree I will threaten him saying I would end my life , then he would oblige to me , once married me and arjun and can live separately that can solve my problem. Arjun is more important in my life; I can’t afford to lose him.
Priya was already getting prepared on what to talk to arjun.
Dad entered the kitchen, sharadha was preparing coffee, and he stood behind her and asked
“What’s the matter? Why did you call me now?”
Mom started talking in a low voice
“How is it going? Am I talking good? , did I give any impression that I am a strict mother-in law?”
“Oh, come on dear you are doing good, now don’t worry come and serve coffee to her, if we leave her alone she will think bad of us.”
“It’s not that honey, what if she thinks that I am in the thought that new gal is going to replace my place in arjuns heart and behave indifferently to us,
Then problems will come and they will stay away from us, and later they will not show our grand children’s to us, we will lose arjun, and I can’t bear that separation dear.”
“ stop , this nonsense sharadha, it’s not like our generation , this new generation is open to all , they don’t have any such cheap thoughts , nothing of that sort will happen come lets serve her coffee .”
Sharadha wiped her tears and went to hall, sat near priya and served her coffee.
As priya sipped her coffee arjun entered the hall with two shirts in his hand
“Which shirt should I wear blue or black? “
“BLUE” Mom and priya said in unison.
Mom looked into priyas eyes both exchanged smiles.
“Seems like my wife and my daughter-in law have same tastes” dad mocked.
Now arjun and dad smiled, arjun said
“Ok I will get ready soon; we will go out and have lunch.”
“NO MOTHER THINKS THAT HER PLACE IS BEING OCCUPIED BY SOMEONE, SHE KNOWS THAT NO ONE CAN REPLACE HER, THE THING SHE WORRIES THE MOST IS THAT HIS SON SHOULD NOT BE MADE TO MISS THE PRESENCE OF A MOTHER”.
