It was Diwali night, the old house in the centre of the road was the only one without lights, candles and Rangoli.
An old woman was sitting on the old broken sofa inside the almost empty house, staring at the stationary half open door since hours.
Even a little breeze would make her heart beat fast.
She was quite hopeful that any second her son would arrive and hug her tight.
Apart from the old woman, the little diya lightened in front of the “Lakshmi-Ganesh” idol was the only sign of life in the house.
The photograph of her late husband couldn't speak anything, sadly not even on a festival.
The kheer she cooked after standing for hours in the kitchen was lying silently in one corner.
Her phone had not been working since weeks but she was confident that her son would never miss celebrating Diwali with her.
She smiled once after every few minutes remembering her little grand kids.
Finally there was a noise.
She jumped out of the sofa in joy just like a young 10 year old girl.
But within seconds she realised that guests had arrived in the next house.
Soon people started bursting fire crackers, celebrations reached new highs.
Amongst the loud noises and celebrations everywhere, she was still desperately staring at the door.
Hours of wait made her tired and hungry, her eyes were not supporting her quest, they kept closing but she kept rising back.
“How would they feel to find me asleep on the festival night”
Finally they arrived!
Yes! The poor mother was not betrayed!
They did the auspicious pooja together.
She played with her grand kids.
Everyone loved the kheer.
They talked for hours.
Suddenly her grandson burst a fire cracker.
The sound was so loud that she woke up from the deep sleep.
She rubbed her eyes to realize that it was around 9 am in the morning and the sound of fire cracker which her grandson burst was nothing but the milk man beating the door.
She looked around in confusion to realize that the house was as empty as always.
Her hands and legs were shivering after sleeping on the sofa for the whole night, with no one to put a quilt or shawl on her old body.
Without wasting any more time she shouted in her old unclear voice-
“Aa gayi! Rukja beta 2 minute!"
(Coming son! Wait for 2 minutes!)
Finally she started a new day, all alone captured in the old painful body inturn captured inside that old broken house, lying somewhere in this ruthless world!
Answering your question in just one line-
Do whatever you want to do but don't betray your parents!
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