Ram's POV:

I was typing codes rapidly on my keyboard, our team was handling a very important project. This Friday is the presentation, i have only one day to make it perfect. Me and my team members were working hard from past two months. We didn't even have time to eat properly, hell! we didn't even have time to breath freely in these past two months, we were looking like zombies working day and night.

Soon it became evening and we are pretty much wrapped our presentation and checking of executions. We got small errors but we can easily rectify them. We all agree to run the final execution for final check up on tomorrow morning as the presentation was scheduled in afternoon. It's a big project and a step up stone to my career too, as it was worth some millions. If I could crack the deal I'll get hike in my salary and ofcourse i could get more important projects to deal with. So i want it to be done perfect and peaceful. After wrapping up everything we left the office.

I went to the café on the opposite road as usual as i like their coffee very much. I seated there and ordered my usual black coffee and took a breath leisurely as i couldn't do that these days.

My phone began to rang and i checked the caller ID to see it's my mom. I picked up immediately as i was not able to talk to them very much these days due to this ongoing project

'Hey mom!' I wanted to say that but i couldn't because i didn't get a chance.

"Is there anyone with the name of Koushal Ram there?" My mom chide at me.

"Yes mom! I'm here and I'm talking to you." I tried to dissipate her anger.

"Oh really! I thought he forgot his name along with forgetting his parents." My mom stated, the sarcasm in her voice is very clear.

" Mom! How could I forget you, you know i love you both!" I tried to coax.

"Oh my god! Krishna do you know what is he saying, he loves us!" She exclaimed talking to dad, but i can literally see her eyes roll in sarcasm.

"Mom it's just i was very busy in a project. I'm sorry." I tried to reason.

"No busy card is working today for you young man, i want you to be at the dinner table tomorrow. Or else be ready to face my wrath." She warned and cut the call.

'What was that!?' i exclaimed myself looking at the mobile screen in disbelief. Maybe mom's really angry this time. 'Whatever, it's been so many months that i didn't go to home. I would go to dinner tomorrow, it'll be weekend too, let's rest for these two days.' i thought.

My coffee has been arrived and i add 2 cubes of sugar into it. While i was stirring my coffee to blend with the sweetness i got another call, this time from my boss.

He told me it's very urgent so i dropped the coffee back on the table without drinking and paid the bill. I run to my car while talking into the phone, i collided with someone and said sorry. The call was about the presentation that has to held on the afternoon has been moved to morning due to some personal reasons of the client. So i hurried from there and climbed into my car. After getting car off the parking lot to the road, i stopped the car for a moment and sent a message for my group to come back to the office as we have to do the presentation tomorrow morning itself and we don't had much time.

But just in that mere second a girl hit my car in the front and started to argue. She was the one who was riding her bike on the one way but she blamed me to parked the car on the road which i didn't did. God i couldn't even open my mouth to say anything, that much of a fire bomb she is.

At last she went off after lashing me what not! And i went to office to resume our work. It was 10'O clock when we finished our work and i went home with a food parcel i fetched up on the way from a restaurant. I got freshened up and wore just my shorts as i don't have a habit to wear anything on upper half at nights in flat and at home. I ate the food which is tasteless but i had no other option right! At first i was happy to eat new food outside everyday but along with the running time i got bored of it and felt not at home though it's my home as i bought it with very much happiness, i didn't get any happiness being there all by myself. I went to sleep with emptiness in my heart and in my house.

Soon it's Friday i completed my morning routine and went to office to see all my team members were already there. We rocked the meeting and got that project, client was very much happy with us. So at the afternoon i took my teammates for lunch as they were also working with me on this project without complaints and put up with me even when i called them at their family times. I know it's not a good thing to disturb them on their off work times but i never ask to work them in their homes i just called them to ask certain information that's all. I will never deprive them from their family times as i know how does it feels to be alone and lonely, so i rarely arrange emergency work meetings on off duty times. Yesterday was one of that time that they had to work till night.

After lunch we went back to office to resume our work and after office time i went to my favourite café where i didn't get to savour the delicious coffee yesterday. I order my regular and my taste buds immediately revive with new energy. I paid the bill and when paying the owner was giving weird smile with wide eyes and i just gave my hesitant laugh as i don't know what to do, i must be looking like a joker to her.

I went to my mom's and open the door, it was already 7:30 when i went there as there was always too much traffic on the weekends.

Mom told me to freshen up and she was setting the dining table. When i came back to the kitchen my mom made me sit on one of the chairs at the dining table and started to full my plate with food. My dad was reading a book opposite to me sitting on another chair. The dining table was filled with all my veg and non-veg favourites.

"Wow mom! Is there any special today, you made all my favourite. But why did you made both veg and non-veg  foods today itself, i can't savour them at the same time." I whined.

"Eat what do you feel like to eat, i don't know what you might be craving for so i prepared everything." My mom told me caressing my hair.

Oh how much I miss my mom's touch, not to mention the food she made.

When i want my parents to eat with me they said they will eat after sometime as it wasn't their meal time at.

I ate so much that i feel i should take antacid liquid.

When i finished with eating i gingerly drag myself to the living room and dropped myself on a sofa lazily with the stuffy stomach and started to fishing the channels to find something interesting to see.

My mom came and sat beside me and i lay on the sofa placing my head in her lap, she softly started to caress my hair and i fing myself drooping my eyes. So i said goodnight and went to my room to sleep.

I woke up very late at the morning at it was Saturday so i don't have office and i got not much sleep past few months due to the project. I got freshen up and went to have breakfast. My mom made onion dosa which was my all time favourite. When i asked her what is all about making my favourite dishes suddenly, she brushed it off with a smile and said to talk after breakfast. Though i feel something strange i ate my breakfast to my heart's content.

All this time my father was reading a newspaper without talking to me. I felt something unusual with his behaviour, he didn't talk to me at all, yesterday also he just talked to me when i asked him something, he was never like that.

After breakfast my mom made me sit at the dining table, saying she has to tell me something.

I sat there and she continued, "Rāma i want to go to Kāshi. That's why I made you all of your favourite foods. Since i don't know when i could be able to feed you again." She told me with a depressed voice. All this time my father was giving me glances while reading newspaper.

"It's fine mom! It's not like you're not coming back. Tell me when would you want to go, I'll book the flight tickets for both of you." I asked them cheerfully.

"You're dad isn't coming with me and no need to book any flight tickets." She stated sadly. My dad was glaring at me. My mom never gone anywhere without my dad. They were like inseparable. I never saw them fighting. Tension started build up in my heart. Something was definitely wrong.

"Mom, is anything happening here? How could you go without dad! Are you going with your friends!?" I asked in a hope.

"No! I'm going with some Swamiji Amma, and alot of devotees are also going there, all throughout the distance to Kāshi by walk, i thought to go with them. We were starting our journey this evening" She dropped a bomb finally.

"What by walk! That too with some unknown devotees, Swamiji's and Amma's. How could you take such decision all by yourself. Didn't you feel the need to discuss with me and dad." I let out rashly, rage was building up in me. what is this? A crazy joke.

"I already made dad to agree to this."
She said nonchalantly.

Now i was fuming, i glared at my dad and he glared at me back. I could read his emotions, why is he angered with me instead he should be angered with mom for her crazy decisions.

"Don't glare at him! I'll not tolerate you being disrespectful to your dad. Besides it completely my decision. I thought if i would go there by walk, then atleast god would take my wish into account and mde my life peaceful." My mom half warned and half informed me.

"What wishes do you got mom! Tell me I'll fulfill it, you don't need to do all this." I irritated by all this.

"You could never do that." She stated firmly.

"Please mom. Just tell me what was that I'll definitely do it if it's in my hands. I promise you." I kneeled before my mom and started to shed tears at this time.

My mom took me in her arms and started to rub soothing circles on my back. After sometime she took my face in her hands and wiped my tears.

"Get married to the girl of my choice." She stated looking into my eyes while my face still in her hands.

"Mom please not again! I told you I'm not interested in marriage." I told her irritatedly.

"Then fine. I already told you that you cannot do that. But it's you who promised to do that if it's in your hands, isn't it in your hands. Whatever leave it. It's my fault to believe your false promise. I'm going to resume my trip, i believe God will help me with my wish. If i still alive when come back then I'll see your marriage, otherwise you can get married without my presence." She started to go to her room.

I rushed to her room and swa that she was packing. I dragged the bag from her hands to the floor.

"Fine! I'll get married." I shrilled in annoyance.

"Won't you go back your word again right!" My mom enquired me.

"No." I said gruffly.

"Krishna! Look! didn't i told that he'll agree. I'm so happy today." My mom ran out to say the news to my dad. When i went back they both are laughing happily.

"So, call you're friends and cancel the trip." I said in a gruff voice.

"What trip!" She exclaimed.

"You just told me that...." I stopped my mid sentence in air when realisation dawn's upon me, she just fooled me to agree to marriage.

"Did you really thought I would left my loving husband and caring son." She pinched my cheeks teasing me. My parents both were laughing hard at my face.

"Wow dad! I was astonished by your acting. I was never expected this from you. Though i know mom was fooling me, you're face was the one made me believe that her tantrum was true. Hats off dad." I stated dumbfounded.

"Sorry son! I had to do that for you." He raised his hands. And i started to stormed off to my room.

"We were going to see the bride tomorrow, so don't be like a grumpy and have some beauty sleep, look at those dark circles, dont know if you're working at the nights too." My mom shouted after me.

What tomorrow, i stopped in my tracks and looked at mom. I opened my mouth to say something but i couldn't find my voice so i closed my mouth and stormed off to my room silently.

My mom's words were ringing in my mind, i looked into the mirror, i do have dark circles! Girls will never like me already, now with dark circles add on to this, will i be rejected tomorrow,  what will happen tomorrow.

I slept the night with these thoughts.