PART 2B
~~~~ Kartik~~~~
"No, no, no, mom" Kartik said with finality, as if he didnt want to discuss the issue further. And he really didnt.
Exasperated, his mother folder her arms under her chest and shot him a look.
Kartik shrugged, "ma, that look might have worked when i was 5. In case you havent noticed, i am 25 now"
His mother smiled, "oh i have noticed, my chotu is all grown up. but in case you havent noticed. 25 or 40 you will always be my baby"
"Maaa!!!!"
" okay, alright. But seriously, why do u have to make a fuss everymonth about going to your father's"
" Mr. Kapoor" kartik corrected
His mother shot him one of her looks, "your father's" she continued "home? Its just a day and we do this everymonth"
Sighing, Kartik sat down on his bed, not looking at his mother.
" is there something thats bothering you beta?"
He looked up. "What makes you think that somethings bothering
me?" She smiled, "this" she said, lifting his hand up even as he was picking the cuticles of his thumb finger with his index, "you have been doing this since you were in your diapers"
Kartik chuckled, "mom I dont understand why do you still -"
His mother sighed as she sat down next to him, "I dont love him now. But beta, we were in love once. And you are his children. Nothing will change that"
Kartik turned around to face his mother. Folding his legs under him, he asked, "how can you be so forgiving ma?? Yes, we are his children. Nothing will change that. But nothing will change what he did either. Arent you angry for what he did?"
His mother smiled, " i was. Very angry. But i realized that anger wasnt going to bring back your dad, nor was it helping me in anyway. So i channeled it to become self sufficient and independant. And if i may say so, a darn good mother"
Kartik placed his hand on his mothers, " the best"
His mother smiled back, "Thank you. This isnt greatness kartik. This is just being focussed on yourself and your children. I just told myself that my children would not suffer just because my husband realized he no longer needed us. Me"
"But - "
" but, he is a good father. You cannot take that away from him."
Riiing.
They both turned to his phone, he leant forward to grab it and cancelled the call. His mother raised her brows at him.
"Not important" he muttered.
" all these years he has been there for you two, and been a good father. You used to love him. I dont know what happened, that you've now completely alienated from him" his mother said, her voiced laced with disappointment.
Seeing the look on his face she immediately said, " no. This isnt love. But all these years, your dad and I, we were committed. Not to each other, but to you two. To being good parents. To putting you two first. And seems like we failed. Are you sure you dont want to talk about this now?"
"Uh huh" kartik muttered shaking his head. His mother sighed, "ok, but i would still -"
Riiing riiing
His mother glanced at his phone, "maybe you should just pick up"
" naah. Thats just shreya" he said without thinking.
His mother was amused, "shreya?!!! Does this son of mine have something to tell me?!"
"What?! No. No. No, ma. No way. You know what I think."
His mother peered at him but let it go.
"Ma, can I ask you something?!"
"Anything. Aways" she said, as she had always said
Kartik smiled. Her answer contained so many memories. So many wonderful memories.
"Why is it important to you that we go to this monthly meeting at Mr. Kapoor's?!" His mother glared at him, but answered him anyway, "because atleast one day a month my children - YOU" she said, stressing on the word, and squeezing his hand, " have a complete family. And that takes some guilt off my chest"
He wanted to argue. He wanted to say that he didnt need anyone else. He had all the family he needed. He wanted to say that ma, your logic is flawed. He wanted to say that when he didnt consider mr. Kapoor as family, what was the point of all this. But he didnt. He didnt because his mother was tired. It was there in the way she slouched. She never slouched. It was there in the way she had just collected her long hair in a messy bun. She never did that "it tangles up and i hate tangles" she often said. It was there in her face. It was there in her gait.
His heart sank. So he just said, "fine. I'll go"
*****
30 minutes later Kartik was pacing the room, wondering what had he gotten himself into.
Riiing riiing riiing
Gritting his teeth, he snatched the phone off the table, "what?!" He snarled without looking at the caller ID
"Whoa! Stepped onto something hot, bro?!"
Damn! He pulled the phone away from his ears, and looked into the smiling face of his sister. Wincing, he placed the phone back on his ear, "sorry, keerti. I was just - "
"Pissed off about going to dad's. I know" his sister said, blunt as always. "Is there something important, kiki?!" He teased.
"Dont call me that!!!"
Kartik chuckled, "accha listen, i need to go temple bay. Client event. An engagement. Ill be late to dad's-"
"I'll take you" he jumped in.
" i have a car"
" ill take you" he repeated.
His sister laughed, "whats the magic word?" She cooed. "Pleeeaaasee" he said through clenched teeth.
" i repeat, whats the magic word?!"
"Fine. Please DIDI"
His sister laughed. For a half damn minute. He thought he would break a few teeth from clenching his jaw so tight.
"Are you done?" "No-pe" she said, her voice breaking between sniggers. He pulled the phone away from his ear and waited. A few second passed before he placed it back just in time to hear her say, "Yep. Now i am done. Pick me up in 10 minutes. Ill tell dad and mom that we will come only for dinner"
"Bless you"
" i love you too, lil bro"
******
Author notes
1. This part is an insight into Kartik's world and his most important relationships right now.
2. Kartik-his mother (suggest some names please) relationship is entirely based out of mayank and mayanks mom relationship(from MJHT) i absolutely adored that relationship.
3. We will meet kartik's girl next. And her name is shreya!!
4. Kartik and Keerti are headed to an engagement. Lets see what happens next.
Read and review pl.
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