The parent, NEW THREAD-PAGE 1,MAY 1,2013 - Page 95

"Try to have some tea or coffee,maan.." Savitri devi suggested to ease his struggle.

"I hate tea Dadi..and Coffee with "Aaloo ka parantha"??? weird combination.." He exclaimed shrugging his shoulders."Why Nakul is taking so much time to serve the paranthas???" He mumbled looking impatiently towards the Kitchen door.

He gulped down the milk in the glass atonce as he checked the time on his watch.It was already 9.30 am and Suta's train was going to arrive at 10.30.

"Nakul..How much time more,I have to wait for breakfast??" He yelled but did not get any response from the Kitchen.

Savitri devi chocked on her tea as he saw maan getting up from his seat to check Nakul in the Kitchen.

"Wait beta..Nakul would bring the breakfast .."She said immediately to stop him. She sighed in relief,as she saw their chef emerging from the Kitchen with plate of steamy hot paranthas in his hands.

"Look..He is here.." She exclaimed pointing towards the kitchen door.

Maan did not need to eat the food to tell that it was cooked by his mother. Parantha in his plate was not cooked by Nakul.The perfect round shape,fluffiness,light brown texture and that special crunch were screaming of touch of his mother's hands and her patience to cook it on low flame to savour and enhance the flavour.His taste buds craved to taste it but memories and salty taste of tears shed by him for the same "Parantha" some years ago, made him get up from the seat..

Savitri devi heard him say as he left the dining table.Her gaze shifted from maan who was now perched on the couch with newspaper, to Mamta who had come out from the kitchen now.

"Maan listen..." Mamta spoke with much reluctance as Moisture welled in her eyes watching the "untouched parantha" in her son's plate.

"Finally Delhi dare devils have tasted their first victory in IPL,Dadi" He blatantly ignored his mother's words.

"Maan..If you don't want to eat this,I would ask Nakul to cook for you.."Mamta tried once again.

"I am getting late dadi..Bye.." He exclaimed as he picked the car keys from the table before leaving the room with hurried steps.

I shouldn't have cooked for him..He would not have left with empty stomach atleast.." Mamta exclaimed wiping the corner of her eyes.

"Its his loss if he did not enjoy such tasty breakfast.." Savitri devi said taking a bite from her plate.."Finally..you have become an expert cook,beta.." She praised Mamta further in order to lighten the environment.

"I wanted to learn cooking for my son,maa..When he was there to enjoy my cuisines,I had no time..and now when I have time for him,He does not want to eat..Time had balanced the equation.."Mamta spoke before leaving the place with heavy heart.

"I hope.Time would solve the equation.." Savitri Devi mumbled to herself as she ordered Nakul to clean the table.

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Suta heard her best friend's voice as she pulled out her and Abhi's luggage under the berth. Train was going to arrive Delhi Railway Station with in few minutes.

"Ouch.." Suta yelped in pain.She had hurt her hand in her struggle to pull out the heavy baggage alone.

"What happened???"Abhie,who was perched comfortably on upper berth,asked worriedly.

"Nothing ma'am..You carry on with your drooling..I swear,I would delete all the pictures of Hrithik Roshan from your cellphone..." Suta exclaimed blowing at the small wound at her palm.

"HR was my last month's crush sweety..Its Alistair cook this month.." Abhi spoke getting down from the upper berth.

"Whatever.."Suta exclaimed shrugging her shoulders.."Now common help me with the luggage..I don't know what you have filled in these.."She whined gesturing towards four big bags which exclusively belonged to Abhi.

"I love to travel with lots of luggage,suta.."

It was a tradition for each and every member of Abhi's family including their domestic servant to come to Railway Station to receive Abhi..

"I am afraid,Tezi Bhaiya and his wife would also there to welcome me.."Abhi spoke putting on her shoes.Train's speed decreased gradually as it approached the station.

"Tezi Bhaiya who???"Suta asked as both of them got down the train.

"Our tenant" Abhi answered looking around for her father."Oh no...!!!"She whined as she spotted her family.

"Tezi Bhaiya and Rajji Bhabhi are also there..." Abhi informed as Suta tried to control her laughter.

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Suta felt the familiar longing as she saw Abhi parents hugging her one by one. She could only imagine this love,warmth and feel of protection that her best friend was experiencing at this moment.Her mother was asking whether she was drinking milk regularly where as her father was inquiring about dance competition she had participated. Abhi preferred to ignore her mother's "Milk queries" in order to save herself from telling a lie,as she got busy in showing her Dance competition pictures to her father. Suta was able to see the "pride" swimming in their eyes when Abhi showed them her picture,receiving the "First prize" from principle.The excitement on Abhi's face was double in amount at this moment than the moment,when she had actually received the prize.Next,Suta saw,Abhi's mother removing the " hair clip" from Abhi's hair and putting it again after securing her bangs which were poking in her eyes thus disturbing her badly.

Abhi was still busy showing the pictures to her father,oblivious to her mother's act.

"May be mothers are like this only..They solve your problem like 'magic' and you don't even realize"..Suta thought,as moisture welled in her eyes. She knew,Fate was solely responsible for depriving her from her mother's love but she could not blame "fate" for not getting her father's love.

"We are also here.." Teji spoke,getting the attention of three souls which were all busy in themselves.

"Hi Tezi bhaiya.." Abhi exclaimed with a broad smile before giving a breath chocking hug to "Rajji bhabhi".."Hello would be mother..I am so happy,you and bhaiya came to receive me..I am afraid,next time our neighbours would also come.." Abhi whispered last sentence in Rajji's ear only to get a chuckle from her.

"We are here to receive Tezi's cousin..She is coming from Chandigarh.."Rajji informed Abhi.

While Abhi got busy with Rajji and Tezi,Suta had grabbed Mr and Mrs Sharma's attention..

"How are you beta???"Mr. Sharma asked caressing her head.

"I am fine uncle.."She replied,though Mrs.Sharma could feel how contrast her words were from her actual condition.They were aware of her father's death.

Suta heard Mrs.Sharma's soothing words as tears left the boundaries of her eyes finally.

Before she could respond to Aunty's kind and assuring words,She heard someone calling her name in deep baritone..

She turned around to find a young man,clad in Blue checked Shirt and Dark blue jeans looking intently at her.

"Suta.."He said again as his hand raised to wipe her tear stained cheeks without any conscious effort.."What happened to you??" He asked with worry dripping from his voice and eyes. Suta was very sure that she was seeing this person for the first time but somewhere deep down her heart,his touch and concern felt familiar to her.

"Who are you???" She asked furrowing her brows.She got more confused as she felt her question had hurt him,like he was expecting her to recognize him.

"I am Maan.." He answered.

"Maan who???" It was Mr. Sharma who questioned this time in a strict voice.

"I am her father.."Maan answered immediately. His answer shocked Suta along with Sharma couple. She had not expected him to be concerned enough to reach at railway station.Her real father had never come to receive her at railway station and somewhere,person standing infront of her was responsible for it. He had changed in to well built man from skinny boy.

"Suta beta..Is he right??? Mrs.Sharma's voice broke Suta's reverie.

"He is my legal guardian,aunty.." She answered in a cold voice.The loud announcements of train timings suppressed the coldness of her voice but it could not mask the "anger" in her eyes as she looked in Maan's eyes for a moment while answering Mrs. Sharma.

"Ohk.." Mr.Sharma nodded his head as he brought forward his hand for a shake with Maan.."I am Deepak Sharma..Suta is my daughter's classmate and best friend.." He introduced himself.

"Glad to meet you sir.."Maan shook his hand warmly.

He was introduced to each and every person after that,however he was able to feel the eagerness of other young girl whose turn for introduction came at last.

"And you must be Suta's friend..." Maan said bringing his hand forward for a shake.

"I am Abhi.." Abhi responded with a dreamy expression on her face while holding his hand..."and I am her best friend since fourth standard.."She spoke further.."and I want to be her mother now.."She thought in her mind as she kept looking at him with gooey eyes.

Suta gave a disappointed nod watching her friend's behaviour. Her "crush of the month" had changed once again and It was the first time when he wasn't some celebrity.

"Tezi..Geet's train is arriving at platform Number four,lets go..." Rajji told her husband after hearing the announcement however along with Tezi,her words had caught Maan's attention too. Those beautiful hazels flashed infornt of his eyes as the name "geet" touched his eardrums. He kept looking at Rajji and Tezi's retreating backs as his mind contemplated whether to ask them about Geet or not,though his heart was very eager to follow them to see whether she was same Geet whose picture had graced his wallet with its presence.

"Shall we go???"Suta's voice startled him as he turned towards her only to find her ready with her luggage.

"Ofcourse.." He exclaimed with slight smile as he tried to take heavy bag from her.

"I can manage,Sir.."She said in order to stop him.

His genuine words did not let Suta say No to him anymore as she found him taking off the heavy bag from her shoulder.

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A nostalgic smile appeared on maan's lips watching Suta sitting beside him,at the front seat.She was present with him,when he had driven alone for the first time,however at that time,She was too small that she had to stand on the seat to get the look of the road ahead through wind shield. He remembered her cute giggles and excited clapping,every time he used to blow the horn.Her presence in the Car was what let him feel the responsibility to drive safely,for the first time.

"Was papa missing me???" Suta asked him putting on her seat belt.

"Ofcourse,he was.."Maan answered. Uncertainty in her eyes,when she had asked the question,pinched his heart."He had handed me an envelope for you.."

"Really..Where is it??? Please give me." Suta said in a voice full of excitement.

"Its at home..I would give you as soon we would reach home.." Maan answered as he took a left turn.

"Why are you turning left..??My home is not that way.."Suta asked with confusion.

"I am used to stay alone in that flat..Papa used to come home late at night and go early in the morning,during my vacations.." Her sad voice was laced with slight anger as she remembered her father busy on international call with Maan one morning,when she had woken up early just to get a chance to talk to him.

Maan did not know what to say further.He got a chance to change the "topic of conversation" as Car passed near the "Central Park".Suta used to come with him to play there every evening. He started sharing his memories of time spent with her ,in that park. His voice was full of excitement and happiness as he told her how she used to chase the sparrows and how she loved to eat sand when he wasn't around,while his eyes were fixed at the road ahead. Her lack of response made him shift his gaze from road to her.She had put on her headphones and was busy listening her favourite music,completely ignoring his words..