"Mom, please relax. You look fine, beautiful in fact. And it is just Dad that we are going to meet now." Aryan smirked while his mother gave him an exasperated look.
"You know your dad well. Everything could be perfect, and yet there would be something he could find wrong with, or to criticize. That would be enough to set me off totally." Shobana said and again started searching for invisible creases in her kurta. Aryan shook his head and chuckled.
Ten minutes later, he saw his dad enter the restaurant. The not-so-old man cut an impressive figure, he had to admit. In his mid-fifties, his dad was a stunner with just the right amount of grey hair at the right places that gave him an uber-cool look. Dressed in jeans and a simple white formal shirt, he didn't look his age at all. He walked with the confidence of a man who had it all. Aryan felt his mother stiffen beside him and again smothered the need to laugh. He could never understand why these two had opted to walk out of their marriage when still, ten years after the divorce, they were madly in love with each other. Only, their love came out in the form of tiny skirmishes and conflicts and little explosions.
-@-
"Hey." Rajiv said and sat down on the chair opposite to them. Hey? that's all he can manage? Just a 'Hey'? Who is he meeting? His drink buddies? Shobana thought with irritation as she acknowledged her husband with a barely perceptive nod. He was looking good, she noted. Way too good for an old man. She chuckled at the thought of addressing him so. Oh, how it would wound his inflated ego! She thought with glee.
"Looking good, Shobana." She waited, for she knew that something would follow this compliment too.
"Though, I have to say, the color of your Kurta is a bit gaudy for my liking." He said this in the same tone that he had complimented her with, a few seconds ago. She shook her head even though she had expected it.
"It would have been a surprise if you had liked it. More of a shock, if you like anything about me at all." She said icily and he just gave her a surprised look.
"All right guys, reserve the fireworks for later please. Dad, if you don't mind, I have to meet my friends soon. I don't know when the three of us will meet again. So let us keep it cordial, okay." Aryan said in a pacifying tone.
-@-
This is not my boy, this is a young man talking! Rajiv thought in wonder and with pride as he took in his son's handsome young face. When did the years fly by? When did you finish your pre-school? Where are the weekends that we both spent together in my home, when I tried to get all the information about your mother from you, hoping that you wouldn't divulge our secrets to her? He resolutely brought his mind to the present. He had already made a blunder right in the first few minutes of their meeting, he didn't want to make it worse.
He cringed in embarassment as he remembered his remark about the 'gaudy' color of Shobana's Kurta. It was perfect. She was perfect, just as he had always thought about her. She was aging gracefully. Everything about her was graceful and lovely. So why couldn't he compliment her properly? He had just blurted about the color thoughtlessly. He didn't miss the disappointment and hurt in her eyes and badly wished that he could undo that moment.
Aryan was leaving for Canada in three days to pursue higher studies. Rajiv had spent the past whole month with his son as he carried out all the formalities, starting from student visa to obtaining currency. He had treasured every day with his son.
When Aryan had finished his schooling and moved to higher classes, the weekend visits had ceased. The past month had kind of made up for all the missed weekends and dad and son had had a great time together. And tonight Aryan had wished for a family dinner, just a normal family dinner.
Except that, their family had never been normal at all. There was too much of love, and thereby, too much of hopes, too much of disappointments... He could never explain how he and Shobana had mutually agreed to part on cordial terms, she getting the custody of Aryan who was just ten years old at that time and he getting complete visitation rights. He remembered the days when he would eagerly wait for the weekends, for that meant meeting both his son as well as Shobana. He treasured the few minutes that he would get to see her whenever he went to pick up Aryan from his house and when he returned to drop him off.
Aryan kept up a polite conversation at the table and Rajiv was grateful for that. It made things easier, all he had to do was nod his head. Time and again, his eyes strayed to Shobhana, watching the way she ate, the way she looked at Aryan with pride and a little bit of nostalgia. He could watch her forever, if she allowed him to.
-@-
Shobhana tried to concentrate on Aryan but she was fully aware of Rajiv's presence. There was something soothing about him. He always gave the impression that he would take care of everything. And to his credit, he had taken care. The daily fights over petty issues had taken a heavy toll on their marriage and it was with relief that they both had agreed to part mutually. But the divorce seemed to have mellowed Rajiv down. He started getting more involved in the family affairs after the divorce and watched over her and Aryan protectively. He had never missed a weekend with Aryan, as far as she could remember.
Before she knew it, Aryan had finished his meal.
"Ok people, I am sorry I have to leave now. I am meeting my friends at the cafe for dessert. You both please carry on."
Shobhana began weakly. "But.." Before she could say anything, Aryan got up and kissed the top of her head. "Sorry Mom, got to go. Don't wait up for me. I will be late."
He turned towards Rajiv and held out his hand for a shake. "Dad, you are dropping me to the airport right? No change in the plan?"
"Of course, I am dropping you. Wouldn't want to miss this at any cost. I will be there to pick up both of you by 3 in the noon." Rajiv shook Aryan's hand and clasped his shoulder. For a moment, Shobhana felt that Rajiv wanted to hug his son. She was very close to pitying him when suddenly Aryan hugged him hard. And just like that, her heart melted as she watched the two most important men in her life.
"Bye guys. Behave yourself, no explosions tonight, please. For my sake." Aryan winked at her and left swiftly.
(To be Continued and Ended in Part 2)
"You know your dad well. Everything could be perfect, and yet there would be something he could find wrong with, or to criticize. That would be enough to set me off totally." Shobana said and again started searching for invisible creases in her kurta. Aryan shook his head and chuckled.
Ten minutes later, he saw his dad enter the restaurant. The not-so-old man cut an impressive figure, he had to admit. In his mid-fifties, his dad was a stunner with just the right amount of grey hair at the right places that gave him an uber-cool look. Dressed in jeans and a simple white formal shirt, he didn't look his age at all. He walked with the confidence of a man who had it all. Aryan felt his mother stiffen beside him and again smothered the need to laugh. He could never understand why these two had opted to walk out of their marriage when still, ten years after the divorce, they were madly in love with each other. Only, their love came out in the form of tiny skirmishes and conflicts and little explosions.
-@-
"Hey." Rajiv said and sat down on the chair opposite to them. Hey? that's all he can manage? Just a 'Hey'? Who is he meeting? His drink buddies? Shobana thought with irritation as she acknowledged her husband with a barely perceptive nod. He was looking good, she noted. Way too good for an old man. She chuckled at the thought of addressing him so. Oh, how it would wound his inflated ego! She thought with glee.
"Looking good, Shobana." She waited, for she knew that something would follow this compliment too.
"Though, I have to say, the color of your Kurta is a bit gaudy for my liking." He said this in the same tone that he had complimented her with, a few seconds ago. She shook her head even though she had expected it.
"It would have been a surprise if you had liked it. More of a shock, if you like anything about me at all." She said icily and he just gave her a surprised look.
"All right guys, reserve the fireworks for later please. Dad, if you don't mind, I have to meet my friends soon. I don't know when the three of us will meet again. So let us keep it cordial, okay." Aryan said in a pacifying tone.
-@-
This is not my boy, this is a young man talking! Rajiv thought in wonder and with pride as he took in his son's handsome young face. When did the years fly by? When did you finish your pre-school? Where are the weekends that we both spent together in my home, when I tried to get all the information about your mother from you, hoping that you wouldn't divulge our secrets to her? He resolutely brought his mind to the present. He had already made a blunder right in the first few minutes of their meeting, he didn't want to make it worse.
He cringed in embarassment as he remembered his remark about the 'gaudy' color of Shobana's Kurta. It was perfect. She was perfect, just as he had always thought about her. She was aging gracefully. Everything about her was graceful and lovely. So why couldn't he compliment her properly? He had just blurted about the color thoughtlessly. He didn't miss the disappointment and hurt in her eyes and badly wished that he could undo that moment.
Aryan was leaving for Canada in three days to pursue higher studies. Rajiv had spent the past whole month with his son as he carried out all the formalities, starting from student visa to obtaining currency. He had treasured every day with his son.
When Aryan had finished his schooling and moved to higher classes, the weekend visits had ceased. The past month had kind of made up for all the missed weekends and dad and son had had a great time together. And tonight Aryan had wished for a family dinner, just a normal family dinner.
Except that, their family had never been normal at all. There was too much of love, and thereby, too much of hopes, too much of disappointments... He could never explain how he and Shobana had mutually agreed to part on cordial terms, she getting the custody of Aryan who was just ten years old at that time and he getting complete visitation rights. He remembered the days when he would eagerly wait for the weekends, for that meant meeting both his son as well as Shobana. He treasured the few minutes that he would get to see her whenever he went to pick up Aryan from his house and when he returned to drop him off.
Aryan kept up a polite conversation at the table and Rajiv was grateful for that. It made things easier, all he had to do was nod his head. Time and again, his eyes strayed to Shobhana, watching the way she ate, the way she looked at Aryan with pride and a little bit of nostalgia. He could watch her forever, if she allowed him to.
-@-
Shobhana tried to concentrate on Aryan but she was fully aware of Rajiv's presence. There was something soothing about him. He always gave the impression that he would take care of everything. And to his credit, he had taken care. The daily fights over petty issues had taken a heavy toll on their marriage and it was with relief that they both had agreed to part mutually. But the divorce seemed to have mellowed Rajiv down. He started getting more involved in the family affairs after the divorce and watched over her and Aryan protectively. He had never missed a weekend with Aryan, as far as she could remember.
Before she knew it, Aryan had finished his meal.
"Ok people, I am sorry I have to leave now. I am meeting my friends at the cafe for dessert. You both please carry on."
Shobhana began weakly. "But.." Before she could say anything, Aryan got up and kissed the top of her head. "Sorry Mom, got to go. Don't wait up for me. I will be late."
He turned towards Rajiv and held out his hand for a shake. "Dad, you are dropping me to the airport right? No change in the plan?"
"Of course, I am dropping you. Wouldn't want to miss this at any cost. I will be there to pick up both of you by 3 in the noon." Rajiv shook Aryan's hand and clasped his shoulder. For a moment, Shobhana felt that Rajiv wanted to hug his son. She was very close to pitying him when suddenly Aryan hugged him hard. And just like that, her heart melted as she watched the two most important men in her life.
"Bye guys. Behave yourself, no explosions tonight, please. For my sake." Aryan winked at her and left swiftly.
(To be Continued and Ended in Part 2)
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