Bird

" Banwara mann dekhne chala ek sapna"...crooned the radio somewhere and I wondered, " Can we ever stop dreaming?".... Smilingly I looked at the picture on the wall , that was my sweet lil angel, my 2 years old daughter with her scooter. I looked at it and smiled.

I remember how when she went to that toy shop, she out rightly went to this scooter and said

"Mom, this is what I want."

I looked at my lil baby, how would she be able to slide a scooter at such a lil age, but she!!, she always knew what she wanted in her life. That day she fell at least thrice off that sliding scooter and hurt herself real bad, but not even once did she weep. I always knew , she wasn't a daughter , she was a clone to me. As determined, as stubborn and as crazy as I 've always been.

If I was the person who chose to go out with a person, I never knew, I knew my daughter would give me no lesser shock. And here I am today. MY DAUGHTER, gosh today she had walked up to me and told me that

"Mom, I m moving into a live-in."

I smiled in her eyes and asked

"Sweetie, are you telling me or asking for permission??"

She said ," I am telling you mum"

then came closer to me and like always, whenever she wanted anything from me, she came and held my hand, sat on the floor in front of me and said

"Mom I know nobody but you could understand me the best today, tomorrow and forever."

I saw that trust in her eyes that I always longed to see in my husband's eyes. Anyways, my daughter knew that I would understand her and

"SHE WAS RIGHT"

I can understand her I can understand her in every thought, probably I m going back to the time when I was her age. I was in love, that was a mature love, I knew what I was stepping into , I knew what decision I was taking and I too went to my mom and had said the same words

"Mom! I m moving into a live-in."

But her response was different..

"Are you crazy??"

"Do you even know what you are saying??"

" These kind of things do not happen in our society."

And all the words that you can ever think of.

Not even once did she bother to ask "Who is he??" Who is the person I trust so much and why a live-in , why not marriage. Not even once did she ask anything about me and him. She was bothered about her "society and family", me--her daughter was not important. I thought of that day and this, she was holding my hand and said.

"Mama, what happened?? Dont you want to ask anything or say anything?"

I smiled at her and said

"I know my BIG doll wants to tell me alot. hmmm I am all ears tell me sweetie... Who is he?? Am I ever going to meet him, what made you decide on this and everything that you want to tell me."

I had that interest and glitter in my eyes. She knew I was really interested.

"Well mom you know him and have already met him."

"Oh-ok, so he is one of your friends? Right".

"Yeah mom."

"Now, can we cut this crap and come to the point." I was sarcastic.

She grinned and said " Yeah yeah , why not." and giggled.

"Kavya!!" I said.

She went on .."Oh-oh mom, thats no one else but Shiv."

I looked at her, I was amazed. I could not believe that Shiv could have asked her for a live in, I knew he was a deep-rooted and emotional person. C'mon I cant be wrong in judging a person. I looked into her eyes again. She said

"Yes Mom that's Shiv and I know your next question, and the answer is NO, he dint ask for a live in, it is me who wants a live-in."

"I dont want a marriage, he wants a marriage. Both of us love each other, we want to live together, but this was the only point of difference, he wanted to marry me and I don't believe in marriages at all."

Gosh!! Was that Kavya talking infront of me or was it me!!.

"I understand that sweetie. Tell me, do you understand the responsibility that this would bring to you??"

"You will have to be like everything to him. Him being emotional, you will have to take care of him in every possible way and then I wont be there any longer , so even for yourself, you will have to take care. Are you sure you will be able to take care??"

She smiled and said.

"Listen mama, I dont know how to cook, he does. I dont know how to manage money, he does. I am a health freak, he isnt. I am a complusive non vegetarian, he is a vegetarian. I mean there are lots of differences and we KNOW we are different so we have decided who does what. I ll take care of cleaning ,diet and workouts for us. He will take care of money, cooking and other arrangements."

"Rest if you talk about emotions, I know how Shiv has to be handled, he is a little kid and needs to be pampered out and out. I think I know how to do that. If you talk about me, uh!! Who else but YOU and Shiv can handle me."

"Rest if there is a problem , my super mom is always there." I smiled and said "Are you sure my child."

"A hundred percent."

"Great!! Now who breaks the news to your dad?? And do we tell him or ask for permission??"

"Mama you know I will tell him, I wont ask for permission. Anyways that doesn't matter. So I m moving the next Sunday, I m gonna look for an accommodation for the two of us, something that is not too far from both our offices. Can you please help me?"

"Oh sure! This friend of mine is in the rent and sale of real estate, you can call him up and check what all he offers and then if you want, we will go there and decide."

"That sounds great!. Thanks mom!"

"I gotto make a call, I ll be right back.'

I heard her say ---" Hey you emotional fool! I spoke to mom, she will help me get the apartment. Hows that??"

"Uh-huh"

"Yeah yeah oh-f-course, do you want to talk to her??"

"See I told you, you are a fattu!!" And she giggled.

"Hey listen up man!!"

"Ummmm nothing..........................."

"Hehe, I love you."

"Nope, that's not true, I love you more."

"Me more, me more, ME MORE, MEEE MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORE!!"

"That's better."

"Hey hon, I gotto go and talk to mom now, you pack your bags."

I could see myself in my daughter. I could not do what I wanted to, in my life, but I want her to live her life the way she wants to. I knew she would be happy and I was happy for her.

Oh! I loved her.

And I also knew she would never come back , whether or not her decision is right, I knew my bird was leaving the nest forever to make one of her own. A drop of tear rolled down my cheek.

I had to be the guiding angel and help her with everything. Today, I wasn't talking with my daughter, I was talking to a girl who is a different individual and I am happy I made my daughter an individual good enough to take care of herself, an individual who could decide and stick to her decisions.

"Hey Varun! Had to tell you something. Your daughter wants to move in a live-in."

"Gosh !! How I knew what you would say. Now, just shut up and listen to me, she is going to TELL you this, not ask for permission, don't get shocked. Understand that you are meeting another Kamini, don't make her do what I had to do in my life. I m sure you understand. And the guy is our own Shiv. Now what's your opinion??"

"Better." I said and turned back just to find Shiv and Kavya together, smiling at me.

"Thanks a lot. I know convincing him wouldn't have been easier." Said Kavya.

"Baby, he loves you and I did not want him to get hurt I care for him."

"I know mom, my pa is not as strong as you are" and she smiled.

I kissed her forehead and smiled at Shiv.