Chapter 7

Shivay sat on the couch crossing his arms with a scowl set on his face. He looked at Annika putting away his clothes in the washing machine while his mother hovered over her shoulder overtly checking if Annika was doing her job right.

Shivay's parents, Radha and Manohar were in the city to attend a function. Though the function was only in the evening, Radha wanted to come early and spend time at Shivay's house. That way she can not only get a share of her son who she misses terribly, but also make sure he is eating well and living in a hygienic surrounding. Knowing Shivay, Radha was sure he can eat junk for a week straight and live between the piles his unwashed clothes create.

Shivay was the last one to be made aware of the visit as his mother was sure that his reply would have only been, "Today? Of all the days, you choose the day I have an important meeting?"

It was no coincidence that Shivay has life changing meetings only when his parents decide to visit him. Radha being the typical Indian mother she is, waves off his melodrama about busy professional life and does what she is best at, mothering.

Shivay was anxious ever since he received the call. His ex wife Tanisha was always at loggerheads with his mother the reason for which no one knew. So, his mother's visit was nothing but sure shot at fight between them. It has become a habit of sort for Shivay to make an excuse when his mother says she wants to visit him. As the saying goes that habits are hard to kill, even today, Shivay couldn't help but instinctively veto his mother's plan to visit. Nothing worked though.

"My mother is going to visit today." He called Annika as soon as his call with his mother was cut.

"So?" asked a nonchalant Annika. "Do you want me to cook any special lunch?"

"No."

"Do you want me to buy anything on my way?"

"No"

"Okay. Then why are you saying this to me?"

Shivay didn't know the answer. His mother was coming to his house. There is no reason for him to inform the same to Annika.

The rumpus Tanisha would create about cooking extra, cleaning extra, making house look spotless to save taunts by his mother has been embedded in his bones so deep that he felt as if he was obliged to inform Annika who is like the caretaker of the house.

'She is the house help. Not your wife, stupid. Why would she care if your mother visits?'

Once the unnecessary anxiety that Shivay only bought upon himself because of practice wore off, he relaxed waiting for his mother's arrival.

After Radha's initial complain about Shivay's tired eyes, unruly beard and lousy lifestyle, she began going around the house finding faults that she could reprimand the new house help with.

"The carpets have stain. Is she even cleaning it?'

"Are the cupboard corners even dusted?"

"You must be lenient, I bet. Look at the clothes not properly ironed."

"The drapes! When were they last washed? I am sure you are overpaying her."

Shivay was used to the taunts about his looks, house, attitude, work style and life in general. Complaining incessantly and proving that he is doing something wrong with him is his mother's way of telling him that he needs a better half to make his life complete and worth living. Shivay has once fallen for the same technique and learned a lesson for life. He is not going to be trapped again.

Shivay just let his mother dissent whatever she wanted while he sat beside his father discussing first world problems. It was easy to satisfy his dad at least. He just has to be informed about everyday news.

What Shivay was not prepared for was his mother going all stern over Annika.

When Annika came to work at her usual time and greeted Mr and Mrs Oberoi, Radha gave her a disfavouring once over before she began to list things that she was not satisfied with Annika's work. While Annika found the whole thing amusing for she has been used to worse from her previous employers, Shivay was furious.

"You can't be rude to her maa, she is my friend." He wanted to shout but caught himself at the right moment when his mind registered how absurd it sounded.

Well, even Shivay knew that it was not as absurd to think about it as it was to tell it to his mother.

In Shivay's heart, Annika has become less of an employee and more of a friend. He was not going to deny it. They had shared wonderful conversations together. He has met her son. They had also managed to understand each other well. Annika was definitely his friend. If he can be boss and friend to new interns, then he can definitely be same to Annika. Her profession is nothing to be condescending about and also Annika as a person was interesting. However, Shivay knew none of his logics would work on his mother. He still remembers how disappointed his mother was when he shared half of his imported cookies with their maid Manga's son when Shivay was only twelve and the boy was ten.

"I gave him one to taste. He liked it. So, I shared half with him." Shivay had said.

"Giving one for tasting is fine, but why do you have to give half of them?"

"But he liked cookies."

"So? We could have given him some biscuits we bought from local store. Why give him those expensive ones?"

Shivay knew his mother was no different from majority of the population of the world. He didn't support them. He vowed he was never going to turn like them. Also, he was not going to play the role of the leader and reform them. He was not made for it. So, Shivay did what was universally convenient. Ignore and adjust.

However, seeing his mother grill Annika about every silly thing, he was neither able to ignore nor adjust. Shivay strangely felt protective towards Annika.

"Maa, if you have come here to spend time with me then you are not doing it right by going around the house and being meddlesome in Annika's work."

While Radha turned around and glared at Shivay, Annika raised her eyebrows and looked at him amused. She thought Shivay was a mumma's boy and didn't expect him to use that tone with his mother.

"If you have learnt anything by living away that is scolding your mother." Radha complained as she went to where her husband was seated all the way murmuring about how the city has changed her son.

Shivay sighed deeply and shook his head at how his mother hasn't changed at all in years.

"I am sorry." Shivay said to Annika

"Why?" she asked

"My mother is...I don't know." He shrugged. "You know what I mean right?"

"She is nice."

"Is she?"

Annika nodded her head and then went about her work of sweeping the kitchen.

"She only cares for you."

"Yeah, but she cares for me like I am 4 not 34."

"I wouldn't blame her." Annika interjected.

"Excuse me!"

Annika held the broom in one hand and placed her other hand on hip as she narrowed her eyes at Shivay and looked at him curtly.

"Why didn't you tell me you were borderline diabetic?"

Shivay gulped and fake coughed while thinking how to avoid the subject. Though diabetic is a condition and not disease, Shivay only saw it as something that contributes majorly to his impending midlife crisis. So, he likes not to talk about it.

"So? It's no big deal."

"It is." Annika argued. "Especially when you keep drinking litres of coffee everyday with tonnes of sugar."

"Now you are exaggerating." Shivay rolled his eyes.

"Am I?" She challenged

"Annika, I am good now, okay? I am not a kid."

"And what about your green vegetable allergy?"

"What about it?"

"You don't have one."

"I do." He said offended

"No, you are lying to get out of eating vegetables."

Shivay glowered. "I thought I was saving you from maa. I didn't know you both were gossiping about me only."

Annika chuckled seeing Shivay exit the kitchen making faces and mumbling something inaudibly.

Annika deliberately made Palak curry and bitter-gourd fry to spite Shivay. He glared at her seeing the menu and she only smirked.

Shivay knew his tantrums are going to be nullified in front of his mother and Annika. So, he had no other option but to gulp down the food.

"Let's start at 5, okay? Function starts at 6 only." Radha said to her husband and son.

"Us?" Shivay frowned. "No way. I am not accompanying you."

"Shivay, don't be difficult beta. It is just a small gathering."

"Maa, please. I have no interest in socializing and you know why."

"How many days are you going to avoid all this?"

"As long as I want, I can."

Radha looked at her son exasperated. "Mano, why don't you put some sense in your son's head?"

"Shivay, I have to support your mom in this. You can't..."

"Come on, dad. I know what I am doing. You can't force me to do anything that I am not interested."

"But, Shivay..."

Radha interrupted her husband. "Fine. In that case, I will invite Sushma and her daughter to dinner here. "

"Oh God!" Shivay pushed his plate and leaned back in his chair. "Is this what it is about? You want to set me up?" Shivay turned to his father feeling betrayed. "Dad!"

"It is all your mom." Manohar raised his hand in surrender.

"What's wrong with that?" Radha questioned. "Can't a mother expect her son to settle down and have a family? Can't I wish to see my grandkids?"

"Maa, we have had this discussion thousand and one times. So, I am not going to explain anything again." With that Shivay left the table and went to his room.

Annika was in the kitchen all the while and so was not oblivious to anything that happened in the dining room. However, after few hours, when Radha and Manohar left, the former with teary eyes and the latter with worry, Annika gave them warm send off. Annika even took Radha's strict rules and instructions with silent nod.

"Sure, mam." Was Annika's only reply

Radha left mumbling how Shivay was overpaying Annika while Annika only smiled.

"My mother is just..." Shivay raised his eyebrows in exasperation. "If she hurt you in anyway, then I am really sorry."

"All cool." Annika assured him

Later that day, when Annika's work was over and she was packing to go home for the day, she saw Shivay sit on the couch with a book and drink.

"It is just 6 in the evening." Annika commented looking at the drink in his hand.

"I need this and more after a visit from my mother." Shivay said taking a sip. "Wanna join?"

"I'll pass." Annika said. "I have to go groceries shopping for home."

Annika was near the living room door, her hand on the door knob. She turned to look at him.

"Can I ask you something?" Shivay nodded at her."Why don't you want to marry? You mother is right in her place. Are you one of those snobs who look down upon arrange marriage?"

"I am not. That is why I agreed to it ten years ago." He said.

"Oh!" Annika nodded."Then why not try marrying for love this time? Well, that can happen only if you get out of the house though." Annika chuckled awkwardly.

Shivay stood up from where he was sitting and walked towards Annika. Standing in front of her, he lowered his eyes and bit his tongued. After a deep sigh he said, "I tried it once three years ago and even that didn't work for me."

Annika didn't mean for her shock to be visible, but the gasp that escaped her lips betrayed her.

"You mean..."

"I was married twice and divorced twice. Yes, that type of failure I am in relationships."

***

The idea of this story came to me during one of the conversations I heard one of my cousins had with other. My cousin is divorced. His family wants him to marry again but he is more skeptical about everything than before. When another cousin questioned him about his inhibitions, he said that he is just insecure. He wonders what if even second marriage fails. "If I divorce for the second time, then it will be apparent that I am incapable of holding relationships." His second prospective marriage was cancelled few days before engagement.

Now, I am no one to argue or discuss about any of this. Neither I have been in his shoes, nor I am experienced enough to understand how marriage works. However, I understand where his fear is coming from. So, I wanted to write a story of a person whose previous failures in relationships (especially two divorces) approach his life and new relationship.

There is one dialogue by Rachel Greene in FRIENDS where she says, "No uterus, no opinion." Similarly, I feel "Not been in that situation, then no opinion."

So, this story is complete fiction and I am not debating how one should be. I am neither trying to address any social message or promoting anything. I have already spoken how I feel about messages in art form.

Enjoy the story. If it is able to do any good for you, your mindset or your attitude in future then awesome, if not then*shrug*.