Part1/Recap
Part2/Recap
The maid opened the door for us and told us the kid was fast asleep and the lady went into her room to sleep.
So she walked me to her room to show me her little princess who was all neatly draped with only her face left exposed. I badly wanted to hold her in my arms and hug her tight.
Seeing the anticipation on my face,
“I know what you are thinking! Don’t even think about it now!!! If ever she wakes up now, she will wake up the whole neighbourhood.”
On seeing me go pale and disenchanted, she continued.
“Okay.. You can give her a light peck. But please don’t wake her”
...
Not wanting to wake up the baby we stepped out of the room and she offered to make me a cup of coffee. We were always coffee addicts who would never turn down a coffee offer no matter what time of the day.
Her house being on the 18th floor I was standing out at the balcony and savouring the view, this is when she entered with the coffee.
“I do this every night. Stand here with my coffee till it’s very late night”
“It’s sure a great view you have from up here”
“I don’t stand here to enjoy the view; I stand here every night thinking about my daughter”
As I looked on, she continued
“I am scared. It’s really not easy being a single mom. I’ve seen enough in the last couple of years. I was glad my parents were around, else I wouldn’t ve made this far. My little one is my forte.”
It was an uncomfortable moment; I sure wanted to know what had happened. But then I didn’t want to probe. I knew it was not the right moment either.
But she began to narrate her story as she stared hard into the distance. And I stood still listing to her misfortunes. At one point there were tears fast rolling from her eyes and this time around I didn’t stop her. I continued to listen.
Soon she broke down and leaning against the balcony front railings she started weeping like a little one.
Now I knew from whom her kid had got the habit.
Not sure how to react, I had to first let go my inhibitions.
I slowly walked up to her and gently moved the hair off her face and slid it behind her ears. And it sure was not a pretty sight. As I quietly rested my chin on her shoulder from behind and tried to speak into her ears , she turned around and gave me that one tight hug.
I didn’t know what to say nor did I know how to console her. Usually I am good with words, but sometimes silence speaks a lot more. I just held her tight and that’s the best I could do. As she was still firm in my arms, all events from today started to make sense to me. I realized how scared she was in life and how insecure she felt at every stage.
It was one long night; we spent the entire night sitting in that balcony speaking in length about our lives. We also relished the beautiful sun rise early morning. In fact we were so intensely immersed in our conversation; we didn’t even hear the little one crying. The maid had to come around and let us know.
It was breakfast time and I was busy playing with the kid, while her mother was busy cooking breakfast for us.
This is when the maid came by and said
“I have never seen her so happy ever since this little one was born. In fact today is the first day she has even entered the kitchen to cook breakfast. How do you know her?”
I had to go around enlightening her of all things about me and us. And then once she had gathered necessary information about me, the maid left us alone. But she insisted I visit them more often going forward.
For once it was a nice feeling, that even I could be the reason for bringing back someone’s lost smile.
After our breakfast, it was time for me to take leave. I had for once forgotten that I didn’t actually belong or live there.
As I was about to take leave
“Can I ask you something?” she muttered.
As I raised my eyebrow and gave her that what is it kinda looks. I feared for a moment.
“Find someone soon. A person in front of whom you can cry and pout out your feelings. Else I fear I ll lose a good friend forever”
We both knew what she meant.
“And ya, please don’t stop blogging or writing. I always at least once a week visit your page.. Promise me you will always write..”
………
As I took leave that day, I decided I should pen this and so started writing. And so here I am sitting in front of my laptop with my coffee next to me as it rain outsides. And when those droplets of rain fall on me through the window I am reminded of her tears which are still fresh on me.
