It was a quiet summer afternoon, I, Vaidehi Upadhyay, a 28-year-old girl with chocolate brown eyes, curly hairs which grew out after having a page-boy cut was waiting for my mother, Sunayana Upadhyay. Mumma was a teacher in a private school, ironically, she was counted in the non-teaching staff, though all the students had to spend the last 4 years of their school life with her. She was a Lab Attendant in St. Columba's School, Ashok Place, Delhi. Though the school was closed due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the non-teaching staff was called, why would anyone pay somebody without any work.

She was back sharp at 01:00 PM, by the time I was also done with my Designing, I'm a graphic designer for Arianna Animations, they get us placed in a couple of companies at a time on a contract basis. So, the timings of my work aren't too rigid. So, this was all about my job.

Mumma came and rushed into the bathroom, "tea?" I asked her banging the door of the bathroom softly, yes, tea at 1 in the noon, firstly, an engineering student, then, a teacher, so tea at any time is welcomed.

"Oh yea, please," Mumma replied from the bathroom, and I started preparing tea for her. And in some time, Mumma came out, "you know Vaidehi, today, that Sujata teacher, got a nice scolding from Sindhu Ma'am," she told to me.

"Oh, that Sujata Teacher, who talks very rudely?" I confirmed giving her a cup of tea. I've also been to the same school so, I kind of know the old teachers.

"Yes, that Sujata Roy," Mumma replied, "Thank you," she added taking the cup. "At what time did you wake up?" she asked, as I was asleep when she left, cuz, I do late-night studies for another degree, I keep on enhancing my degrees.

"8:30 AM," I said, and noticed the Nuptial Chain in her neck, "Aye, you're looking good in this Nuptial Chain," I said pointing towards her Nuptial Chain, and, she made a face and took her phone in her hands. I don't even know how to express her expressions, Mumma is too good in it, and I... I have no expression except for a smile. Either I'm happy or sad, either I cry or I laugh, that's just what you can see on my face. But, Mumma, her every expression is different from the other, it's not a single one, a mixture of two or more.

"Vaidehi, how is Raghav?" she asked glancing towards her phone, I was surprised. For an Indian girl, it's quite unexpected for her parents talk about her boyfriend.

"M... Mumma," I stuttered.

"I asked, how's Raghav?" she repeated herself, "I met with him yesterday, in the shop nearby," she said sounding a bit serious.

"He's good, well and fine," I said, "what happened?"

"Nothing, he was just asking, if he can take you on a date today in the evening," she said looking into the phone.

"And, what did you say?" I asked raising one eyebrow but, ended up raising both. I knew she must've cussed him.

"Yes," she said still her eyes on the phone, "he must be reaching here to pick you up at 01:45 PM, it's already 01:30 PM."

"What?" I was surprised, rather shocked, "you, said yes to Raghav Shastri?" Though I've told her earlier about him. That time she was neutral and said, "OK" just an OK, you don't know what this OK would mean.

*