Part 4 - Some answers

Contd from Part 3 - Memories

I woke up to the sound of the wonderful sizzle. I checked the time...It's only 8:00 am, what's cooking so early I wondered. I couldn't control my gastronomical urge and sniffing like a dog I approached Ma in the kitchen. With a little of the yellow batter smeared on her black saree, a laddle in hand and a smile on her lips, I found her cooking my all-time favourite pakoras. The usual onion, potato and chilli, cut in desired length, well coated with the besan batter were waiting to be placed in the simmering oil. I licked my lips and clasped my hands in delight, when I spotted the unusual brinjal too waiting its turn. I was about to question Ma when she asked me to make tea, after all pakoras without chai is like a romantic dinner date without the soft music and candle lights!

"You know your father loved his pakoras too, especially the brinjal ones. I think I'm making these after almost an eternity" she said with a forlorn look. "But Pa hated..." I bit my tongue holding back my words, realizing that she was talking about my birth father. She had started this conversation on her own! I held my breath, not letting her sense my anticipation. I quietly kept stirring the tea eager to know more yet fearing to know the truth.

"We first met when I was all but 14. He was my best friend's brother. It was an instant mutual attraction for both of us but it took almost a month to just say a coy hello. For weeks it was just our eyes that spoke" Her face so ethereal when she spoke these words, love that had been buried for all these years was being dusted off. "You can meet her...Simran...my once friend...his only sister..in Amritsar" My jaw dropped were we going to my father's land! Would I find my answers there?

"Ma if you loved him so much why didn't you wait for him? I read that letter you gave me...why didn't you wait for your love to come back?" This question had been bothering me for so long. I just had to know. "Anuj was your father's childhood buddy. Only he knew about our relationship and no one else. He lied for us, spied for us, got into trouble because of us and also was the one who gut us out of troubles. When your father left for the army neither of us knew that our lives were going to change forever. Neither of us knew that you little one were already in my womb"

(to be contd.)

I am taking part in The Write Tribe Festival of Words 8th – 14th December 2013
Day 2 prompt is Food!