Mama... Mama, good morning, get up now."
In a room, a seven-year-old child was trying to wake up his mother. "Mama, get up! How long will you keep sleeping? It's morning already. You'll get late for the hospital."
The woman smiled, opened her eyes, and said to the child, "Jeev, you're already awake, son?" Jeev smiled at her and said, "Good morning, Mama. Today you slept for so long, but look, I woke up before you." Vani kissed Jeev on his forehead and said, "Good morning, baby! Mama slept late yesterday, so she woke up late today."
Vani then pulled Jeev closer and sat him in her lap, saying, "Jeev, what's the matter? Today you woke up so early, baby!" Jeev got off Vani's lap and stood on the bed, putting one hand on his waist and the other on his head, pretending to scold her, "Oh, Mama, you forget everything. You have to go to the hospital for your shift today. Sometimes I feel, if I wasn't here, what would happen to you?" Vani saw his expression and burst out laughing.
Her son was scolding her just like a strict mother. The same baby who would sleep till ten in the morning after a late-night party, and his mom would have to wake him up, now had more work and more teeth to show.
Vani made Jeev sit close to her and said, "Okay, baby, if you weren't real, what would I do if the truth wasn't true? You always make me laugh."
Jeev, seeing her laugh, pretended to be angry and turned his face away. When Vani saw Jeev getting angry, she tried to pacify him, moving closer and holding his ear, saying, "I'm sorry, Mama won't laugh at you anymore."
Jeev continued pretending to be upset. Vani apologized, "Sorry, Jeev, don't be upset, please," and started tickling him.
"Ohho... ahha... ahha... hahaha... okay, Mama, stop! I'm not angry with you anymore." Vani stopped tickling him.
Then Jeev said, "Come on, Mama, I'm hungry. Can you make something tasty? Otherwise, the wild Bubbly in my stomach will start fighting with me because she's still angry with me."
Vani picked Jeev up from the bed and said, "Okay, baby, let's go. I'll make potato parathas for you today. Then Bubbly won't fight with you, right?"
Vani started making breakfast for Jeev in the kitchen. Suddenly, the doorbell rang. "Who could it be so early?" She went to open the door. As soon as she opened it, a girl hugged her tightly and said, "My dear Vani, I am so happy today!"
Vani hugged her back and softly asked, "Calm down, Nisa. What's the matter? Why are you so excited?"
Nisa let go and said, "Sorry, I got a bit too excited. I wanted to tell you last night, but I got home late and Mom didn't let me out. But I woke up at 5 AM just to give you this good news. Do you know, when I got the news of my selection, I almost fainted from excitement! Now watch, I'll be featured in the book of top models!"
Vani stopped her, "Okay, Nisa, now take a break and relax today." Nisa pouted, but Vani congratulated her, "Congratulations, Nisa! All the best, you'll go far. But come inside, my son is hungry, and I have to feed you too. We'll celebrate together. Come in and cool off."
But before Vani could finish, Nisa ran to the dining table and sat on a chair.
Seeing her childishness, Vani just shook her head. Nisa showed her teeth and said, "You should have told me before the parathas were ready, otherwise I wouldn't have even had breakfast. I was so busy giving you the good news that I forgot. Let's hurry up, Jeev is waiting. We can't keep him hungry."
Jeev, who was drawing at the dining table, looked at Nisa and said, "Oh Nisa Maasi, you sit here."
Nisa replied, "Why didn't you just say it was for potato parathas? Otherwise, your wild Bubbly would have started fighting in your stomach."
Vani served parathas to both of them. Nisa pounced on the parathas as if she hadn't eaten in days.
"Hey Maasi, you're eating like a glutton! Eat properly, Mama says you should eat slowly and chew your food well."
Nisa glared at him, "Oh, Mama, just eat your breakfast and don't lecture me. You're still a kid, don't act like a grandma."
To be continue....