A mom's hug lasts long after she lets go.
Many months before a baby is born,many months before a new life comes out from darkness into light,the baby is already aware and responds to stimuli.But what it hears constantly and loudly is its mothers heartbeat.It responds to its mothers moods and pains for it is bathed in its mothers liquids.what goes on i wonder in those moments and where are those moments in our adult brain stored.Never in a persons life will he or she come this close to another soul or spend so much time in such close proximity.Unbreakable bonds that are stronger than the hardest metals are forged in these quiet and tender moments.They are bonds and ties that bind two souls forever,at least in most cases.No mother will ever abandon her child unless it is for the good of the child and a child is abandoned because it has come too soon in the mothers life,like in the case of Kunti in Mahabharata and in extreme cases because of poverty.
COUNTDOWN TO THE END OF LIVES
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The very air around Bala and Chitra seemed to be charged up and it lay heavily around them both.They quietly helped themselves to the food and both in tandem went about picking and pecking at their food.Then in unison they both looked up and began talking and in unison they both said " you first".
Chitra looked at bala and asked " how is your current case going and will you solve it soon ?"Bala well versed with his mothers tactics looked at her and replied "well the case is really complicated,but you know me.i will not stop until i have solved it."Chitra " what do you mean complicated?" Bala did not know how to answer this for he did not want to lie to his mother and even if he did he knew that she would know that he was lying.after all she was a great criminal lawyer and he knew that her mind was much,much more brilliant than his.So still looking at his plate unsure of how to reply to his mother he evaded the question by saying " sorry mum but i cannot discuss the case for it is highly confidential".
Chitra still in shock over what the astrologer had said thought it would be best to talk to bala frankly and directly.She looked at her son and said "bala. i normally dont interfere in your cases unless you come to me to discuss a problem,which you have done so many times.but somehow this case feels different for you look and are acting different.that is the reason i asked you about this case you are investigating right now.But that aside i was wondering that it has been such a long time since we visited my elder brother,ooty uncle as you call him and just thought we could go there for a couple of weeks or so ".Bala looked up and said " ma,what is wrong and why are you lying to me about wanting to go to Ooty or elsewhere.be honest and tell me what is really on your mind".
Chitra knew that her son could read her mind just like she could and also very perceptive to her moods and decided that being frank and open was the best way to solve the problem.She looked at her son and said " you might find this a bit weird and maybe even funny but whatever i am about to tell you is the truth and i want you to believe me on that".Bala laughed loudly and said " chitra,what is going on.are you by any chance thinking of second marriage or are you interested in anyone and want me to help you with the messages". Chitra just kept staring at him and asked him " will you be serious for a second and listen to me for what i am about to tell you has really upset me and some instinct is telling me that there are bad times ahead".
Bala nodded and replied "listen,i too had something weird to tell you about this case which i am investigating right now but i am worried you might fall off your chair laughing after you you have heard me/Anyway you first tell me what is troubling you and then i will tell you what is troubling me".Chitra told bala what all the astrologer had said,not leaving a single word or omitting a single detail.
After having heard his mother recount everything bala looked at her and said "wow,that is really quite a burden you have been carrying and quite a story to listen to.The funny thing is what i am about to tell you is equally crazy and farfetched and after having heard you speak i am just having doubts whether to tell you or not for it might make you even more worried.But i would rather talk to you about this than with any other person from the department for they might send me off to the asylum".Seeing the worry and panic in his mother's face bala was hesitant to start the topic that was preying him,but went ahead and asked her if she believed in ghosts and evil spirits.Chitra's expression changed from that of worry to one that expressed "what"?. She looked at him and asked him if he was serious and not playing a prank on her.Bala shook his head and said "no,this is not a trick question but nevertheless i want your take on the whole topic of ghosts and matter relating to that".Chitra replied "well the only ghosts i know are from the movies and books but i know that my son sometimes comes in and goes out of the house as quiet as a ghost thinking that i am not aware of it.But to answer your question,sorry i have never come across ghosts or anyone who has seen a ghost".
Let us not forget that chitra was a brilliant criminal lawyer and that she is still consulted on high profile cases and that being the case her mind started making logical connections between what the astrologer had said and what her son was telling her.Something tugged her soul and all of a sudden she shivered for she knew that somehow something dark had entered their lives.But she came out of her thoughts when bala asked her what shalini had to do with the whole thing and replied " i really dont know what exactly the old man meant by his predcitions except for the fact that something bad might happen if you continue with this case.maybe if you talk to shalini she might be able to shed light on this whole matter for she just might be hiding some information from you".
But then anything to do with shalini was easier said than done for she still plagued bala's soul and yet the idea that she might be able to help with this whole mysterious case left him with no choice but to contact shalini.Bala told chitra that he would try talking to shalini the next day and hopefully he might get a clue to solving this case.Chitra agreed but she knew that although shalini might be able to help her son there was also a chance that things could get more confused and dangerous for the astrologer had said that the very danger that was approaching bala was from shalini.Mother and son sat at the table chewing on their thoughts rather than their dinner for their minds were lost in framing the why's,whats,dos and dont's of this case.
Deep inside the various probabilities that were being thrown in balas's mind one thing begged for immediate answering and that was this whole prediction thing by the astrologer.Against his wishes bala decided that he would go meet the old man and try to understand what he had told his mother and if there was any truth in it.But more than anything bala wanted to know for himself if shalini would be safe for he valued her life more than his.so rather than meet the astrologer and talk to him about his stars and predictions bala seemed more bent on shalini and her future.Funny for this is the very same bala who did not believe in god or the stars and its predictions.But then love is a strange phenomenon for it makes us do crazy and silly things for the ones we are in love with.But that is love for in the end we are willing to live for it without it and are also willing to die for it.Yes,there are many lives who live in emptiness so that the ones they love might be happy and safe and are willing to be in the dark for their loved ones to be in the light.What is this abstract crazy stupid thing called love i wonder.
Aashritha is dead but still endures for her son mani.shalini is alive but is ready to die for mani.bala is alive but will die for shalini.chitra is alive but will gladly die for her son bala.And mani,he lives and yet he lives for shalini and for his mother.Love is the common thread and the one link that has bound all these lives together and soon one,two and maybe all will perish gladly for love.
But wait there is hope still for beyond ghosts,the undead,the living and the loving there is something.