Sohan wasn't surprised to see Ruchita's ecstatic face when he told her the news. Like his mother had said, it was predictable. Ruchita never understood what the love of a mother meant, and was probably as egocentric as Satan himself.

"When are you taking her to that place?" she asked enthusiastically.

"Tomorrow morning, I guess. It's Friday tomorrow," Sohan picked up his watch from the nightstand, "Maybe I should buy something for her?" he muttered to himself.

"As a farewell gift?" Ruchita perched on the study table. Sohan crossed his fingers. He didn't want another lecture on savings and beautiful apartments.

"Yeah, maybe you should!" Ruchita mused, leaving Sohan's mouth hanging open. Maybe she was so happy with the news of her departure that she did not care if Sohan spent a couple thousand bucks to buy her a gift.

So, after office, Sohan went to the nearest shopping mall and picked up two saris, a pair of beautiful sandals, a leather purse and a mobile phone with a SIM-card. He had had enough with staying completely detached from his mother. She might not be around, but they could talk every day, anytime he wanted.

As soon as he stepped through the door of his house, Ruchita snatched away the shopping bags from his hands.

"Let see what you've got for 'ole momma!" she laughed and ran to their bedroom.

By the time Sohan had reached her, she had already emptied the whole bag on the bed.

"Wow, you never buy so many things in one go for me!" she said in a complaining voice. Sohan didn't answer her.

"Okay. What do you think she's gonna go with all these expensive things?" Ruchita waved the purse at him. Sohan started to feel annoyed.

"Listen Sohan, that place is freaking rotting! Your gifts will rot there too!" she stated.

"What do you want?" he asked straightforwardly.

"This expensive sari will not last there for long. I think we should keep this," she picked up the soft pink sari. Sohan shrugged. If that appeased her and shut her up, he could let her have it. His mother would not die if he didn't gift her an extra sari.

"And maybe the purse, too," Ruchita took the purse and put it on the sari beside her. Sohan opened his mouth to complain, but Ruchita hushed him.

"She can use it when she comes here, of course!"

Sohan didn't know what to say, but he was truly mad when Ruchita picked up the mobile phone in her hands.

"Not that Ruchita!" he warned her.

"My phone is not doing okay. But I can make calls alright. How about I keep it and you give her mine?" she asked, faking a smile. Sohan knew that inside, she was burning with anger and jealousy.

"You're impossible!" he spat at her, and stormed out of the room.

He spotted his mother right outside his door, clutching the wall for support. Her eyes were all watery, and her face reflected extreme dejection.

"Ma..." Sohan's heart stopped beating for two seconds. Had she heard everything?

Rahela took a deep breath and patted his hair. Then she slowly turned and left for her room, leaving Sohan longing for more splashes of motherly affection.

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Copyright © 2013 Mehnaz Tabassum All Rights Reserved
Chapter published on September 19, 2015

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