Two days ago

"SIX RUNS ON THE LAST BALL... CAN ANSH DO IT? LET'S HOPE... THE PRIDE OF ST. XAVIER'S IS ON THE LINE!" - the commentator began chanting Ansh's name. But Ansh, unfazed by the tension in the air, knew he was going to hit a huge six.

Ansh... - a 34-year-old woman waved at him, and he noticed her with a smile, removing his helmet.

She gave him a thumbs up, and he smiled back, feeling a renewed surge of hope as he hit the ball, sending it flying out of the ground. For him, this woman's words meant everything. When she laughed, he laughed; when she was sad, he was sad; when she smiled, he smiled. It felt as though Ansh's entire life depended on her happiness.

"ANSH ANIKA RAO DOES IT AGAIN... HE WON THE MATCH... THE PRIDE OF ST. XAVIER!" - the commentator's voice echoed, and the crowd erupted, chanting Ansh's name. However, Ansh's eyes searched for the woman's reaction.

She smiled and whispered, "I am proud of you." Ansh read her lips, threw his helmet aside, and began celebrating his win.

While everyone eagerly waited to congratulate him, he ran toward the audience, waving for the woman to come down. She did.

"I am proud of you... Well done, my son," she said proudly, hugging him.

"Thanks, Mom," he said as he embraced her.

"Love you," she said, kissing his forehead.

"Ansh, come..." - his friends called him to join them.

"Tomorrow, guys," - he shouted back.

"Why tomorrow? I don't mind, Anshu. Go ahead," - she said calmly.

"Miss Anika Rao, I'm going to celebrate this victory with my closest friend. Do you have any objections?" - Ansh asked with a mock-serious tone.

"Of course not," - Anika replied, wrapping her arms around him.

"Then why are you waiting? Christmas?" - Ansh teased dramatically, mimicking 'Poo' from K3G in his playful way of making her smile. She chuckled.

"Let's go," - Anika said, intertwining their hands as they left together.

Ansh took out his phone and directed her to a famous Thai restaurant in Bangalore. She drove confidently, trusting his directions. They parked the car in front of "Rim Naan - the Oberoi," a well-known Thai restaurant that stirred some unease in Anika.

"Mom, let's go," - Ansh urged her.

"It looks expensive... Should we go somewhere else?" - Anika asked.

"Come on, Mom... It's the best Thai restaurant! It's my treat, Mom... Let's go, please please please," - Ansh pleaded, leaving her no choice but to agree.

"Table for two," - Anika said to the receptionist.

"Name, ma'am?" - the receptionist asked.

"It's Anika Rao and Ansh Anika Rao," - Ansh quickly responded. The receptionist looked up at them, and sensing the tension, Anika quickly grabbed Ansh's hand to stop him from making a sarcastic remark.

They were seated at a table, but Ansh's expression remained downcast. He grabbed the menu and pretended to read it, even though he didn't understand the food options. He was clearly avoiding conversation.

"One Pad Krapow Moo Saap and Gaeng Keow Wan Kai," - Anika ordered.

"Sir, what would you like?" - the waitress asked Ansh, who suddenly felt self-conscious, still unsure of the menu. Frustrated, he closed it.

"Do you have mac 'n' cheese?" - Ansh asked the waitress.

"Sir, this is a Thai restaurant, and we don't serve Italian dishes," - the waitress replied, causing Ansh to frown.

"Then Naan and butter chicken," - he said, setting the menu down.

"Sir, we don't serve Indian cuisine either," - the waitress explained.

"What the f***k?" - Ansh muttered under his breath, though Anika pretended not to notice.

"Just bring the same for him," - Anika told the waitress, who then left.

"Why are you so upset over such a small issue?" - Anika asked.

"Mom, let me ask you something... We're in India, right? So why don't they serve Indian food?" - Ansh asked, still irritated.

"You knew that before we came in... and you also know I'm not talking about the food," - Anika responded, revealing her knack for reading his thoughts. Ansh took a deep breath and acknowledged the deeper conversation they needed to have.

"What's wrong, Ma? Why does society treat us differently? Is it because you're a single mom? I'm tired, Mom," - Ansh confided, feeling relieved to finally share his feelings.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" - Ansh asked, noticing her calm gaze.

"I'm just wondering how you're going to play for our country with all this anger," - Anika quipped. Ansh blinked in confusion.

"Come on, dear. Let me tell you something: we can't expect the whole world to think like us. Some people are like us, and some are different. That's life. We are the ones living our lives, so we should live happily and ignore what others say. Our hearts are meant for happy memories, not garbage," - Anika said as she sipped her water.

"They think we're living an incomplete life," - Ansh said, still hurt.

"Correction... A happy incomplete life, according to their definition," - Anika responded with a smile.

The food arrived, and while Anika seemed to enjoy it, Ansh did not. He tried his best to hide his feelings but failed. Anika noticed.

"Ansh, can I ask you something?" - Anika said.

"Ask," - he replied.

"What does 'f*ck' mean?" - Anika asked calmly. Ansh choked on his food.

"What?!" - Ansh exclaimed in shock.

"I'm just asking because I know what it means. I'm wondering if you do," - Anika said in her usual composed manner.

"Maa... I can't believe you're asking me this," - Ansh said, still surprised.

"You said we're best friends, right? That's why I'm asking. If you don't want to answer, it's okay," - Anika replied casually, though it shocked him. But since Anika was more of a best friend than just a mother, he decided to answer.

"Gaurav said it's when men and women f*ck each other," - Ansh whispered.

"F*ck each other... for any particular reason?" - Anika asked casually.

"To make babies!" - Ansh answered.

"Is making babies a bad thing?" - Anika asked.

"No..." - Ansh said, more relaxed now.

"Then why all the embarrassment? People have been making babies for ages. It's just a normal part of life. If we can talk openly about these things, there will be fewer issues in society regarding such topics," - Anika explained. Ansh laughed.

"I don't get why people make such a big deal about it. It's just a term, not a bad word. I noticed you said it earlier, and I don't want you to use words without understanding their meaning. I want you to be unique, not like everyone else," - Anika said with a smile as she ate.

"Mom, I don't want to be like everyone else," - Ansh said, finally understanding her point.

"Mom, then why does rape happen? What exactly is rape?" - Ansh asked.

"Rape... a word that's been used a lot lately. If both a man and a woman want to be in a physical relationship, it's mutual. But if one forces the other, that's rape," - Anika explained.

"Isn't forcing someone to do anything a crime?" - Ansh asked.

"Yes, it's a crime," - Anika confirmed.

"Mom, why do people do this?" - Ansh asked, saddened.

"There are many reasons. Some people can't control their hormones; others have a mindset that sees women as weaker and thinks they can do anything to them. Some even objectify women. There are many reasons, but they are all wrong," - Anika said thoughtfully.

"Mom, didn't God create men and women to support each other, not to harm each other?" - Ansh asked, disappointed.

"Ansh, the world is full of good people, too. And I'm proud to say that you're one of them. So stop being hard on everyone, okay? And if you don't like the food, don't force yourself to eat it," - Anika said with a smile.

"No, Mom... I like the food," - Ansh said, causing Anika to burst into laughter.

"I can tell..." - Anika teased.

"You won the match, like I knew you would. But one thing is still uncertain," - Anika said playfully.

"What?" - Ansh asked.

"Will you pass your 9th standard?" - Anika asked with mock seriousness.

"I'll pass with 95%," - Ansh said confidently. Suddenly, the lights in the restaurant flickered.

"Even the electricity can't handle your shock," - Anika joked, and they both burst out laughing.

****