ArSh FF - 'Tu Meri Ghazal Hai' - Page 9

awsum part...

loved it alot..

ARSH meeting was superb..

thnx for the pm...

I returned home from their apartment to find a woman and a girl surrounded by my mother, sipping coffee and chewing cake around the kitchen table.

"Guess who this is?" Mom grinned.

The girl eyed me from under massacred lashes, and the woman, petite, corseted and skillfully made up, sized me up and found me deficient. I had no idea who they were and didn't care.

"Friends from your childhood?" I suggested and mom laughed.

"This is YOUR childhood friend, Anjali."

My mouth dropped in surprise, and I quickly closed it, because they laughed. Anjali, her mother, Sheela aunty, and my mom, all seemed to think it was hilarious that I didn't recognize someone I didn't remember meeting.

"He's got the most expressive face", Sheela aunty giggled, and my cheeks burned. Then I looked at Anjali who looked like she wanted to slap me for not recognizing her. So I moved forward to her.

"Oh my god! Anjali tum? I can't believe it!" I was so surprised to see Anjali as a grown up woman.

"Yes, me. I know long time huh."

"Yeah man, I'm so glad to see you after 15 years."

Anjali was actually the closest friend of mine. We used to go to the same school, same class, till 6th grade. Then they had to move to New York because her father found a better job .

Mom served me coffee and cake that Sheela aunty brought from a bakery near her apartment in Manhattan. It sure taste amazing.

"So Armaan, how are you liking it here"?

Anjali asked while taking couple of bites from the cake.

"I'm loving it, I mean it's so quite here, so peaceful, and most of all there's no one to stop you from doing anything." She chuckled.

"True, you can live peacefully here."

"So, what have you been doing these days"? I asked taking a sip of my coffee.

"I finished college , now I teach at the University of New York."

"Wow! That's great yaar." I was surprised yet happy to see the cute little Anjali had grown up so fast.

"And what are your plans? Kiya socha hai yahan kiya karoge"?

"Well, I'm thinking of getting a job at some local store so I can get some experience and when I get some experiences I will hopefully work in a better place."

"Oh that's nice, if you need any help just let me know. I'm always here to help you. Here, note my number."

"Haan do."

I saved her phone number in my cell phone meanwhile the two women talked as if they were long-lost friends. Well they were close to each other since we were living in India. They both shared a great bond with each other. But it got a little lessen when they had to move to USA.

Sheela aunty boasted about their apartment in Manhattan, where she pointed out Anjali had her own room. About how Anjali was one of the top students in her school, about how they'd lived in the U.S so long, they were forgetting their hindi while learning English.

"Do you still miss Billy"? She cackled. My mom will be mute, with nothing to say! Mom and I exchanged a look, remembering our far-from- speechless silence.

My dad was a great man, a very big business man. He had everything under his control. Everyone respected him knowing how great this man was. He was rich, really rich. But he was a betrayer. He betrayed my mother.

One night he brought his secretary home. He was fully drunk. He was so drunk that he was not in his senses at all. My mom unintentionally went inside the room to check on him, she couldn't believe the view she was seeing. He was making out with his secretary!! My mom crashed down and asked him for the divorce the same night. That's one of the reasons why we came all the way from India to U.S just so that she can forget his memories and live a new life.

I sulked at my end of the table, listened to our mothers babble, aware they were still discussing about my father, who was married to another woman. He married his secretary. I heard nothing but criticism in my mom's remarks. My mom was strong, strong enough to bear all the pain, all the past memories of my father.

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As mom closed the door after them. She breathed a deep sigh. She had teary eyes, I wished to kill my father. I could never see tears in her eyes. Never! She whipped her tears when she noticed I was walking towards her. She calmed herself and to avoid the "topic". She asked.

"Isn't Anjali pretty?" I was about to make a sarcastic remark but decided against it.

"She's pretty." I allowed.

"Toh...kaisi lagi woh tumhe?"

"Kiya matlab?" I asked knowing exactly what she was asking.

"Main soch rahi thi ke tum ab shaadi karlo, aur mujhe lagta hai Anjali bohot achi lardki hai...khoobsurat hai..yahan ki pardhi likhi hai."

"But mom..I don't like her that way, she's just one of my closest friend, that's it!"

"Toh tumhe koi aur pasand hai kiya?" She asked with a mischief smile.

Mom was not just my mother but she was like a friend. My best friend who I can share almost everything. No matter what it was, I just couldn't keep it to myself. So I thought I should also tell her about Shilpa.

My heart was racing like never before. I don't know why I was feeling so nervous telling her about Shilpa. Was it because it was too early to tell her since I just met her and in one day how can I have so much feelings for her? What would mom think of me? Definitely...awaara.

"Armaan, kis khayaalon mein kho gaye ho"? She asked putting her hand on my shoulder.

I gave a second thought then I finally managed to tell her.

"Mom, mujhe aik larki pasand hai."

"Aik lardki? Armaan zaahir hai tumhe aik hi larki pasand aayegi, ab tum teen chaar larkiyon se shaadi toh nahi kar sakte na". She laughed.

"Mom'."

"Kiya? Acha bolo. Main toh mazzak kar rahi thi baba."

"Mujhe'.mujhe..pyaar ho gaya hai."

"Arrey wah! Mere bete ko aur pyaar? Kis se"?

"Larki se."

"Uffoo Armaan zaahir hai larki se pyar hoga na, ab tumhe ghode ya mandaron se toh pyar nahi ho sakta unless you're an animal yourself." She laughed it off.

"Maa aap bhi na' I paused to think again if it's the right time to tell her. After a silence I spoke out.

"Maa.. who humare baraabar waali building mein rehti hai. Uska naam Shilpa hai."

I told her the whole story from how I met Gia to how she took me to her house.

"Oh, tabhi main sochon ke tum itni dair se kahan ghaayab the."

"Toh maa, aap hi bataiye main kiya karoon? Kiya main ussay bata doon?"

The best thing about my mom was that I could tell her anything, she was my adviser, my guidance, someone who shows me the right path, who tells me to take right decision. My mom was like my best friend. My everything'

"Nahi mere laal.. abhi nahin..tum abhi toh us se mile ho, itni jaldi ussay bata doge toh who kiya sochegi? Tum kuch din aur ruk jaao. Jab tum usay theek se jaan jaaoge aur who tumhe '. Toh tab jaake baat aagay bardhaana." She said smoothly taking my hand in hers.

"Thank you Maa, you're the best mom anyone can ever have." I hugged her.

"Now go and change I made dinner, so come on get fresh and come to eat fast." She started pushing my back towards my room.

"Okay mom."

I took a big sigh, thinking how awesome my mom is, how she understands me, and how friendly she was to me. I just couldn't thank her enough. I felt like a huge burden had just got lessen from my shoulder after telling her about Shilpa.

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