Growing up or Apart

5....4....3....2....1 and the clock struck 7.

 "Its time."

She smiled as her daughter stormed out of her room, gulping down a glass of fresh juice and grabbing a piece of toast, grabbed her car keys and moved to the door.

"Bye mom", she said with her mouth full. "If you need anything just drop me a message. I will get it on my way back home."

Medha, her daughter, hardly had time to sit with her ever since she had been in job, let alone take a meal with her. Arunima sat down on the huge Mahogany dining table, switched on to the huge plasma TV and ate in silence while she had her breakfast. Though she is now used to this lifestyle, but sometimes a pang of loneliness would hit her for no reason. Earlier, when she moved in with her daughter after her husband's death, she tried to make Medha take her out in evening's somewhere nearby, for a walk. But off late her working hours stretched to late nights and ofter past midnight. In the beginning she would try to stay awake at least to have dinner with her daughter but her "I ate at office maa, you should not stay up so late or even dine so late" got her sleeping early. Now she only get to see her daughter when she storms out of the house at 7 A.M grabbing her breakfast. She misses her daughter a lot. They hardly talk, so she made it a point to stand around the table just for a glimpse of her daughter.

Arunima had plans for the day, it was her daughter's birthday. As the clock struck midnight, she walked in to her daughter's room excitedly to wish her, only to find her fast asleep. She sat at her head side and watched her sleep, reminiscing her childhood days. She ran her hands softly on her cheeks and heard her sighing. She walked out for the fear of waking up her daughter, giving her a long longing look before she closed the door quietly. The day started usually and before Arunima could wish her daughter birthday, she stormed out of the house.  Sadness and disappointment was apparent on her face.

"My baby is always so busy, she must have forgotten her own birthday". She said to herself and decided to make her favorite dinner by herself.

It was 8 P.M already. Arunima did not want to disturb her daughter, but her excitement was hard to contain. At last she called her daughter.

"Medha, when are you going to be home baby?"

"Why maa, is everything alright? Are you okay?" She sounded worried.

"Yes baby, everything's fine and am good too. I just wanted to know when you will be home."

"You scared me maa. I don't know when I will be back. Don't stay up for me, okay."

"Yeah, okay."

But she waited up nonetheless, in a vain hope that her daughter will be home early. That she would find all her favorite food on the table and  jump with joy like she always did when she was a child. She waited up just to see that pleasure on her face. What she forgot was that her daughter had grown up now. She isn't same little girl she used to be.

She was still awake when Medha returned from her work at around two in the morning.

"What maa, why are you still up? You should have been to bed long back."

"I know, I just wanted to wish you .I had been waiting all day but you were too busy. This was my only chance. If I had slept, I wouldn't have been able to wish you. Happy belated birthday Medha. May God bless you with everything you wish for."

Medha stood stunned as she looked at the beautifully decorated table laid out with all her favorite food. the aroma told her that her mother had cooked them. She felt like a criminal. In between all her work and colleagues and friends, she had not given time to her mother. She walked in to her mother's room. Arunima was in meditation, something she always did to calm her mind when she was hurt or distressed. Medha laid with her head on her mother's lap, and closed her eyes. A feeling of bliss eloped her. She knew her mother had forgiven her like always. In her mind, she resolved to spend as much time possible with her mother. And she slept in peace, first time in years, as her mother ran her fingers in her hairs lovingly.