The book of snippets

Ugly Duckling

~

"No ma" her eldest said into her shoulder, "they should know. They have a right to know I'm adopted."

"Then why are you so upset that they know" she asked caressing his cheeks.

"I should have been the one to tell them" he mumbled.

"Is that all?" She pried.

There was silence and then.

"What if they don't love me anymore?" He asked with a wobbly voice.

"Oh you silly boy" she chuckled, "they worship the ground you walk on. They will always love you."

"You think so?" He asked again with a voice strained with doubt fear and anguish.

"I know so" she reassured, " you're their big brother aren't you?"

He nodded with a smile.

Then she hear her husband's voice, "Sakthi?!" He was shouting for their son.

Before either could answer, he spotted them, "oh there you are.... Listen I don't know why kesavan blurted it out like that... he had no right... I like that boy... but..."

He looked at her and immediately knew it was all okay. He walked up to them and caressed Sakthi's face standing before them, "You're my son... it's not the same."

~

"Hi ma" Sakthi greeted her as he walked into her room.

"Hi kanna" she greeted as she put the saree in her hands on the bedside table.

She gestured for him to sit beside her on the bed.

He walked in and dropped down beside her.

She waited for him to say something but he simply stared ahead.

"Sakthi" she held his shoulder, "ennachu?"

He sighed, "I'm quitting college."

Her eyes widened and her hold faltered. He turned to look at her.

"Why?"

"I don't fit in there anymore?" He answered, "I've been going on errands with dad and it's about time I stop being a kid."

She knew this day would come. She dreaded it. She knew her son, her eccentric, implusive yet smart, strong and strategic son.

But she still wasn't ready to accept this shift.

"Sakthi, you're not a kid for going to college."

"I am a kid for being a kid in-front of dad's clients."

"That's not how it works kanna.."

"No ma... I need to step up... being in college isn't going to help me."

There was a finality in his tone and she knew she couldn't change his mind.