Aai

"Aai!" calling by the three lettered word filled with love a girl entered in the room that was pompously designed.

The taller person bent down to meet the eyes of her daughter, "Are meri gudiya! Every time you are here you look like you have come here for first this time" she kissed her cheeks as it left a bright red lipstick mark there on her cheek.

The girl felt displeased and made a face. 

"Aai!!", she whined wiping the unpleasant lipstick mark and continued, "How many times do I have to tell you to keep your mode of living away from me !"

Her words made her eyes filled with tears but she didn't utter a single word in protest, just to respect  the wish of her daughter, who didn't like her lifestyle.

"Meera! Meera!" The another person called the girl by her name , But Meera didn't stop as she ran away from her Aai's room.

Aai made a sign with her hand to stop the another one. "Karishma! She is just a child and accepting her mother the way she is is hard for her.  We are different. She needs time to understand" She said wiping her tears.

"But Tai! We all are different aren't we? She has to accept you to know yourself" Karishma objected. 

Aai pressed her lips to think for a while, her eyes shining with unshed tears , "To tolerate me, that's why she comes here and it was me who went too far. I think I shouldn't expect too much you know? That would be pushing my luck. People like us are born to be tolerated not accommodated? She knows that."

"But she hates you !"

"Does our parents love us?" Aai asked.

"My parents didn't like me wearing lipstick either, they ended up hating me because I couldn't become the man they wanted me to be" 

Aai heard a vague sound on the door, "kaun hai waha? Kaun hai", looking for it.

Meera skimmed out fearfully and Aai said, "Daro mat! I would not peck your cheek again, promise"

Meera on hearing the same from the door came running to Aai's arms, "I love you Aai, I am sorry I will never repeat this again." She was crying hard.

Aai bent down on her knees, "Ma aur bacche me dosti ka rishta hota hai, mafi ka nahi !" She said embracing her.

"Sacchi! Am I daughter?", Meera looked into Aai's eyes with hope having a motherless life from childhood.

Aai giggled and swear, "Promise!", embracing her tight with tears in her eyes.

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