Unconditionally

Everything had to be perfect, everything had to be the way he liked it, not necessarily it was the way he wanted it, in fact he hated being fussed upon. But she was his mother and she wouldn’t have it any other way for him, other than the way he liked it.

He would be here at any moment, he phoned from the airport, the moment his plane landed, when he was able to switch on his phone, and then again when he completed with his customs check. His flight was on time and custom checks had been smooth, so be would be here soon.

She was giddy with excitement, giddy with anticipation. There was so much to do, and so little time, he would be here soon and she wanted everything to be perfect for him. She gotten his room cleaned, changed the sheets, the curtains, et.al. Fresh new sheets had been laid on his bed, the pillow cases changed and the pillows fluffed. She also draped the room with new curtains. She knew he was allergic to dust (after all she was his mother), so she had to have the room spic and span. Ah had spent the past few days ordering the servant, directing her, supervising her, ensuring everything was in place and ready.

She was preparing his favourite food, she could have the cook do it, but she wouldn’t have him eat food prepared by anyone else but her. God knows what he had been eating for all those years he had been living abroad. So she was pulling double duty, or was it triple, she lost count.

For the longest time it had between just the two them, ever since her husband’s passing. And now he had some news for her that he couldn’t wait to share with her but would do this in person. Now she was really excited at what he had to tell her, what news he bore. He had teased her for being old fashioned, for being technologically challenged. But she was comfortable that way.

She sensed him as his cab pulled into the driveway of their small little house. Call it a mother’s intuition, or some filmy effect. She hugged him tight and kissed him the moment she saw him. No matter how Big he may be, he would always be her baby. He had not come alone, a friend has come with him, a young handsome man who maybe a couple of years older than him. 

“Maa,” he said introducing his companion to her, “meet my partner Suraj”. She smiled and welcomed his friend, not really understanding what he had just told her. “Suraj and I have recently got engaged and would like to settle down together,” he said slowly, measuring each word he shared, trying to study her reaction.

For moment she was speechless, she didn’t know how to react. This was not what she had expected. She may have been old fashion, but her thinking wasn’t. If this was who he was, this was who he choose to be, whom he chose to be with, then so be with. If he was happy this way, she would be happy for him. She loved him no matter what, she loved him unconditionally. And this was a part of him and she accepted him, unconditionally.

She smiled and hugged his fiancé, kissing him on the forehead, like she would for her own, welcoming him into the family. She slapped her son for taking such a big decision and not telling her. All he could to do is hug her and burst into tears. She hugged him back, hugged him like she had hugged him the day he was born, tenderly and with love. She pulled her new son and hugged him too, one big hug, one big group hug, filled with love. This was her family.

She spent the rest of the day getting to know her new son and how they met, totally pampering him, dotting him. That day she may waited for one son, but got two in return.