‘Yes I will, I intend to bribe her,’ he said.
‘Bribe her with what?’ she asked.
Caressing her scalp and holding a few strands of grey hair ‘these need to be dyed and also you may need lots of appliances,’ he replied.
‘Appliances, what would I do with them?’
‘You need them as you would be stepping into a different world,’ he replied.
Excited by his words ‘does my son plan to take me into a new world?’ she asked.
‘Yes a world where you may not have to lift a finger to get things done,’ he replied.
Hearing those words she was in a trance. She was reminiscing the early days when on getting married she had come to this house. She recalled how her husband could not even touch her fearing his father. He used to tremble whenever his father was inside the house and at nights when the old man used to cough he used to grasp her with fear. She could not recall when her husband had taken her in his arms last.
She recalled the twenty odd years she had spent in that house. From early in the morning to late in the night she was virtually a slave of the old man. She shivered recalling the hardship she had to face when Raj was young. Now as her son was talking of a new world she found it hard to be believe that such a world exists.
Shaking the past memories out of her mind ‘I don’t know what you are talking about,’ she replied.
Holding her firmly in his arms ‘Mom you need not worry, everything will be fine,’ he said.
Nuzzling her face in the comfort zone of his broad chest ‘no I don’t know anything of the outer world, I only know you,’ she said burrowing her face deeper onto his chest.
Feeling elated by her words and taking advantage of her closeness ‘I won’t disappoint you Mom’ he said caressing her back.
‘This feels so nice Raj, I have not been comforted like this in my whole life,’ as she let out those words she kissed him again on his cheek.
‘Brace yourself Mom, tomorrow we may have to go to town again,’ he said as his hands caressed her back soothing her.
‘No I don’t want to move out of this comfort zone,’ saying it she hugged him.
‘Even I want to have you in my arms Mom,’ as he let out these words he bent down and planted a kiss on her forehead.
Feeling delighted to stay put in his arms ‘so what do you intend to buy me?’ she asked.
‘First we will buy a few saris and other essential garments,’ he said.
‘Do I have to come, can you not buy them as you did yesterday,’ she asked looking straight into his eyes.
‘I can but I want you to be by my side,’ he replied.
‘I would feel shy to accompany you to such shops,’ she said and looking up at him ‘moreover you know what to buy.’
‘Yes I can understand how you would feel,’ he said nodding his head.
‘Tell me how you were able to fetch my size,’ she asked quizzing him with her eyes.
‘I feel shy to explain Mom,’ he replied.
‘Oh! Come on who is here to listen to what you have to say,’ she insisted.
‘You have an hourglass figure Mom,’ he replied shyly.
‘What does it mean?’ she asked.
‘It’s a figure which attracts many a person,’ he blurted out.
‘Daht, don’t tell this old woman that she possesses such a figure,’ she replied.