"Is that your son ?"
"Yes, thats him in the library. "
"He seems to be very fond of books, ever since i came he has been leafing through them !"
"Ah,yes ! He is a bookworm,alright ! i remember that when he was a child, he would leaf through all the magazines for days...one day i asked him if he was looking for anything in particular. he said,'I am looking for something special for you mom ! then when i get older i will get if for u ! on your birthday !' "
" Aww, thats so sweet of him...hey, your birthday is coming up on sunday ! maybe he IS looking for a gift for u !"
"oh no ! he is way too busy for it these days ! no, no, he is a wonderful son, but work keeps him so occupied, you know !"
He had been through the entire pile, but something kept nagging him. he wanted to make sure it was the right thing...
"hmm...where is his wife ?"
"well, she seems to have gone to her parents' place for a while...girls need a break you know ! "
"seems ? didnt she tell u ?"
"er...no, it must have been very urgent, you know kids...they can be so impulsive !"
"kids ? only 30 yrs old ! so your son told you about it ?"
"umm...yeah, you could say that.."
"so he didnt either...."
"well, i assumed it must have been so."
"why didnt you ask your son about it ? if a family member leaves home, she should atleast inform the elders, if not ask for permission."
"i dont like to interfere in their personal lives. but they are both wonderful kids, i really love them both."
He had finally narrowed his search to two places. now all he had to do was make a few phone calls and everything would be fine.
"my dear, i know how you have brought up your son after your hubby's death. having chosen being a single parent and devote your life to him. he owes all this success to you. have you ever told them ?"
"no ! and i wouldnt ever ! that was my choice,my decision, my love ! impose my love on them ? i wouldnt dream of it !"
"ok, forget it. all of our old friends are meeting up on sunday. why dont you join us ?'"
".....i dont know....i will ask him...."
He had nailed it ! It was just the thing he was looking for. he was sure his mom would like it, find it comfortable. now that all the arrangements had been made, he wondered how to break it to her. maybe i should call wifey first, thought he....
"sunanda ! dont tell me you are afraid of your own son ! look at u ! you used to be such a strong,joyous person ! what has become of you ?"
"i dont know what you are saying...i have a good life...i am happy...look, you were probably right ! he may be looking up a gift for me ! those look like brochures from here !"
"when was the last time he got you something ?"
"......."
"and you think he will get you something now ? what ? dentures ?"
"anything that he gives with love will be invaluable to me !"
Finally, he got through..."Darling ! i have done it, just the way you wanted ! all the arrangements have been made. i will tell her by sunday. come on love ! my beautiful wife ! come back to me ! you know how i love you ! "
So they patched up. She would come back and he couldnt be happier....afterall, thought he, its with my wife that i have to spend the rest of my life....and he brushed aside all the other brochures of the Old Age Homes.
