Chapter 5 MOM

Year: 2018.

Description: Before the reboot.

"Here is your food, Mr. Rathore," Rithika said and serve him the perfect-balanced-diet food which had all the greens including some chicken. Rithika made it to two plates and gave it to him. He smilingly takes that in his hand and started to have it without complaining.

She took a spoon full of plain rice and have it, Her facial expression remain normal but she was more concentrated in having food and proofreading the article for the news which were sent by her junior reporters, Rohan just noticed, how she wantedly decided to give up her food habits and turn it according to him. Rohan didn't ask her anything. Even if he asks, She will never be going to hear anything.

"Palak is good..." Rohan exclaimed when he saw her submerged in her work looking at the phone. She hardly goes to the office, once a week, and the rest of the days, she will work from home and stays with Rohan and do some work for his charity. They were pretty much popular in society as they own a youtube channel and have 4 million subscribers with them. They take brand integration and donate the whole amount to the Aids society of India. They mostly provide very positive content and their pair remain best both on and off-screen.

"Thank you. But your mom said you hate palak." Rithika asked while keeping her phone aside.

"Yeah, I used to run away whenever my mom prepares palak. But when I tasted your preparation, It became my favorite, how baby?" Rohan asked her while taking a rose from the vase and handing it to her.

"Because I made it by adding my pinch of love for you, and most importantly, It's my mom's recipe," Rithika said while taking the rose from his hand and kept it back to the vase.

"You are not looking like a person who could cook this much tasty food. It's finger-licking good." Rohan licked his fingers.

"I used to be the person who didn't even know the way to the kitchen. After mom's demise, It became my peaceful place, Somedays, I used to spend all the 24 hours in cooking and sent the food to the old age homes nearer to my house. So this skill helped me to come out of the depression." Rithika said with a smile.

"So Anusha Trivedi is the reason behind your talent, Anu ma. You're great! My first job is to kiss your palms when I get there." Rohan said casually, But the smile in Rithika's face faded away. He quickly recalled what he said and looked at her, By then, Rithika took her plate and moved towards the kitchen, and put it in the sink.

"Rithu. Baby..." Rohan ran behind her. She started to do dishes, Rohan just stood behind her.

"Baby..." Rohan called her again.

"Yeah..." Rithika called without turning her face towards him, She hid her tears.

"I am sorry. It just escaped from my mouth." Rohan said.

"Leave it, Rohan. It's not you, It's my fate which is in the hurry to take everything and everyone I love. You can't do anything." Rithika replied, Her tone shivered and he noticed that He moved towards her and turn her towards him. Her eyes became red in crying.

"Sweetheart. Don't cry. Please." He called her while cupping her face.

"You should believe that you will live longer, Then only miracles do knock on our door. But here, You are ready to pack your bag to go away from me. Am I that much worse?" Rithika asked him.

"You're my miracle, How can a miracle be worse?" Rohan asked her.

"Leave... Just words..." Rithika slightly pushed him. But he instead made her sit in the counter slap of the kitchen and wrapped his hands around her waist. stopped her from going anywhere.

"Leave me..." Rithika said and tried to get away from the grip. He forcefully held her hand kept on his left chest.

"Can't you sense it?" Rohan asked her.

"What?" Rithika asked.

"Doesn't it saying, I am ready to fight? Even there is a 0.000001% of chance... I am not giving it up, I am ready to fight for the only reason. That reason is not my mom, dad, or anyone but you, My Rithu... My customized version of Fair Lady. The only love of my life. Can't you hear it?" Rohan said. Tears crossed Rithika's eyes. But she nodded with a smile.

"I wish I would have noticed you earlier. I never would have wanted anything in my life." Rohan's voice trailed off.

"Okay, No more emotional talks. Tell me, How you are going to make it up? My costly kajal got spoiled and I am looking like a ghost..." Rithika said.

"How about Romedy film with ice-creams and cuddles?" Rohan asked understanding her.

"Improvement. What are you waiting for?" Rithika asked. Rohan tried to take her in his arms but he felt very weak, He just made her stand in the floor and they both left their room while intertwining their arms with one another.

Rohan switched on Ac, laptop and the projector which projected opposite in the wall to where they were lying, They were cuddling tightly inside the blanket and watched the random movie, The Cinderella (Christmas story) in Netflix and started to watch. Rithika kept her head in his chest, And he caressed her hair.

"Rithika. Does your stepmom used to torture you?" Rohan asked her when he saw the stepmom tortures in the movie.

"Not at all, She's innocent..." Rithika said.

"Then why did you stay in a hostel?" Rohan asked.

"Because It was very difficult to see people moving on with the reality soon forgetting my mom," Rithika said. People should move on, That's what Rohan thought but didn't speak anything. He didn't want to spoil her mood again.

"My mom had a brain tumor. In the most dedicated area of the brain, She was fighting for 6 months, And I come to know about everything after her death, You know, I was crying on that day, She hugged me tightly and slept next to me. I woke up but she didn't. I tried my level best, But she didn't open her eyes." Rithika said, Her tone shivered but the tears didn't escape from her eyes. Rohan kissed her forehead and hugged her even tighter.

"See, Nick is the Santa... I told you, Know... My predictions were always right..." Rohan exclaimed. And they both started to watch the movie while hugging each other tightly.

......

Description: After the reboot.

Rithika got ready for school, But she was still in confusion whether it was her dream or reality. But she didn't dare to see her mobile phone for confirmation. She threw her phone aside and got ready for school. Over then her mom knocked on the door.

"Mom. Not now, I am getting late for my exams. Today I have two exams, Chemistry and computer science practicals." Rithika told to her mom when she proceeded her way out.

"Baby. Have curd. For good luck. Please, Baby! For mumma?" Her mom, Anusha trivedi ran behind her. It was still confusing for her how can Indian parents have more trust in the sweetened curd than their kid. But Rithika didn't give an ear to her but walked at her high speed.

"Remember, You only said, We shouldn't depend on luck..." Rithika said to her.

"For my peace of mind. Please, my little mermaid. Pleache." Her mom pouted sadly at her.

"Okay. Give." Rithika opened her mouth, Her mom fed her sweetened curd with a smiley face.

"Now, There are 200% chances are there for my daughter to get to school first," Anusha said and kissed Rithika's forehead. Rithika sighed in disbelief witnessing her mom's antics.

"Mom, Why are you so cute?" Rithika said while kissing her cheek.

"Now, Leave. You're getting late." Anusha waved her goodbye by then she remembered about her two exams and she didn't take her lunch with her. Calling her driver, Anusha followed Rithika in another car.

"Rithu. " Her mom called her but nothing went inside her ear. She went inside. By then, Anusha felt a hand in her shoulder. She turned back.

"Hi," Anusha responded to Someone confusingly, She had no idea, who was that. But that student didn't speak for a while, seeing her right there.

"Hi, Aunty. I am Rithika's classmate, Do you need any help?" Rohan asked her controlling all his emotions inside. He heard a lot about her from Rithika. He thought he never going to see her in his life as he missed the opportunity but now, She's here! Right in front of him.

"Yeah. She forgot her lunch." Her eyes moved behind him and spotted her second daughter.

"Bhavya. Come." Her mom called her. Bhavya who was parking her cycle by that time saw her and proceeded her way towards her mom.

"Mom. What are you doing here?" Bhavya asked her.

"Didi forgot her lunch. Give it to her, Don't forget, baby. You know right, She will become very weak by five if she skips her lunch." Anusha said while handling the food in her hand. Rohan just noticed everything standing there.

"Everyone fell weak when they skip their lunch," Bhavya said and took the lunch from her hand.

"I care about my baby." Anusha said to bhavya. Bhavya slightly got pissed off.

"Bye. mom. I am getting late." Bhavya said and left. But Rohan stayed stand-still hearing their conversation.

"Oh my god, Bhavya. her bracelet." Anusha whispered by then her eyes moved towards Rohan who was standing where his eyes fixed on him.

"Hi dear, Can you give this bracelet to my daughter? She will never feel complete without this. I know I sound crazy. But she feels helpless without it. So can you please?" Anusha asked Rohan.

"Of course, Aunty. I will." He said and left. Tears crossed his eyes when he moved ahead of her. Rithika was true, Her mom cares for her for everything and Loves her to the core. But his mind arouses a question of whether it would be good to open up about her mom's condition to Rithika.

"Beta. Please don't forget." Anusha again shouted.

"Never aunty. It will be in her hands. She will never feel helpless and incomplete." Rohan shouted back. Her mom's facial expression changed in confusion but soon she passed a smile.

"Sure?" Her mom asked.

"I promise" Rohan shouted back.

......