Zakham

10

NAMRATA'S POV:

Crisp wind raced through my hair, causing it to flow with it. The ends of my hair tickled the back of my neck, its touch felt just like a lover's caress. The sun was shining brightly, warming my skin and the scent of hydrangeas permeated the air, bringing me peace. I closed my eyes but the vibrant hues of the beauty around me didn't disappear. I could feel the sun's warmth on my face from in between the gently swaying leaves and the sweet chatter of birds slowly lulling me to sleep.

A burst of laughter from somewhere woke me up just as I was at the brink of falling sleep. Rubbing my eyes I got up and saw my mom running bare foot as peals of laughter tore out of her and my dad chasing her. The whole scene was amusing....two adults playing around like little kids.

Children.

'Children' that's what my parents were. I couldn't help but laugh along because that's what my mother's laughter was like.....contagious.

"Mithu don't just sit there and laugh....help your poor mother out." Ma spoke while still trying to reel in her laughter and dodge dad's advances at the same time, her pale blue sun dress dancing with her every move.

"Vo humari ladli beti hain Nandini....aapko humse aaj koi nahi bacha sakta." Dad yelled in mock anger from behind her. It was then I realized the state he was in. His hair and the front of his shirt were drenched and there was a bright pink lipstick mark on his forehead.

"Ab aap ne kya kar diya hai Maa sa" I asked my mother, not really needing an answer because I knew what she had done.

"Hum kabhi kuch kar sakte hain Namrata. Kya aap apni Maa sa ko janti nahi." She spoke with a hurt expression on her face but her warm brown eyes shone with mischief.

"Hum aapko bohat ache se jante hain Maa sa isiliye puch rahe hain." I chuckled as she breezed past me with dad hot on her tail.

As I see my business tycoon father, in front of whose intimidating aura people barely spoke, turn into a little child at my mum's antics, I couldn't help but smile at the thought of finding someone who would be the same for me. My father's love for my mother was so pure and beautiful that if I even I received one percent of it from my partner I would consider myself lucky. The way they could be anything with one another...without any fear of judgment...the way they could be at opposite sides of the room, yet somehow their eyes always found each other.....they way their bodies moved around one another....always attuned....always aware......sometimes I just couldn't fathom the depth of the bond they shared.

My mother called my father her soul mate...she is nothing without him just like he is nothing without her.

And my father called my mother his light who entered his life like a beacon of hope. Even after so many years together he still looked at her as if she hung the moon.

"Namrata..." I hear a shriek before my mother firmly planted herself next to me shielding her body with mine.

"I am tired baby.....ask your father to leave me alone." She pleads with me with a little pout on her face and I couldn't help the laugh that escaped me.

"I can't believe you, maa sa......that's supposed to be my line. You should be the one protecting me from baba sa's wrath when I do something that teenagers are supposed to do." I shake my head from side to side in mock disappointment.

"Like what" Maa sa whispers.

"You know maa sa....going out with friends, parties and...well you know." I shrug.

"Does that mean what I think it means? Awwwwww my baby likes someone." She yells a bit too loudly, joy evident on her face.

"Sshhhhh maa sa....baba sa ne sunn liya to ho gaya humara kaam." I place my hand over her mouth looking over my shoulder to see if my father heard anything.