Anupama sat in front of the sofa in the living room while Anuj massaged hot oil into her hair. She was physically and mentally tired. School, housework, dance rehearsals, and the nagging feeling that Kinjal's adoption wasn't getting anywhere had her exhausted. Fortunately, she was emotionally happy. It had been a little over a month since the article about Kavya and Anuj had appeared in the newspaper. The furore was dying down. Soon things would be back to normal. At least she hoped. She was banking on anonymity to move this adoption quickly. But thanks to the Shah's she hadn't had any of it for quite some time.

Everyone seemed to recognize her. The Aunty's who had previously scorned her with disdain on her divorce with Vanraj now beamed at her with approval. She had stood up for her fiancé. Despite the contrary evidence, she'd fought his corner. She wasn't a deserter.

Questions were then raised on the half-baked versions that had been fed to them regarding Anupama and Vanraj's divorce. Surely, the fault was more his. Once could be forgiven, but twice? And twice, Vanraj's wives had chosen someone else over him.

Loud whispers began making their presence felt.

"It must have been Leela, she was never nice to Anupama."

"Leela and Vanraj deserve to suffer. Goddess Lakshmi lived in their house in the form of Anupama and they never valued her."

The very people who had looked down on her now became her vocal supporters.

"What Anupama did was right. Who can live in that circus?"

"Because it was Anupama, she spent 26 years with the Shah's. Look at their new daughter in law. It hasn't even been a year and she's already looking for a way to run away."

The few neighbours who'd quietly and helplessly witnessed Anupama's plight over the years felt justice had truly been served. They were proud of Anupama, who had finally taken the reins of her own life. Their only regret was that the kids had all taken after their father. Well, not necessarily Samar...

The doorbell rang to break Anu's reverie. As she held Anuj's hand to ask him to stop his message, Sheela opened the door. Standing in front of her were her three children - Toshu, Samar and Pakhi.

*****

"Ma," Toshu and Pakhi cried in unison as they darted across the extensive hallway to reach her in record speed. Only Samar remained near the door.

"We missed you so much," cried Pakhi. "Why didn't you ever visit us after the divorce?"

"Indeed, which Mom forgets her kids?" quipped Toshu, extending his hands to take Anupama into a hug. She stepped back.

"Ma?" questioned Toshu, his hands' arrested mid-air.

"My hair," she pointed to the oily mess that graced the top of her head. "It's that smelly hair oil that you both hated. The one that was tacky, the fragrance that lingered in my clothes and transferred onto yours? After which you couldn't go out for a few days, just in case?"

Toshu and Pakhi stepped back, having the decency to look chastised. Ignoring their guilt-stricken faces, Anupama continued: "Luckily Anuj and Kaka don't seem to have an issue with the oil's fragrance or its tacky nature. In fact, Anuj is perfectly comfortable dipping his hands into this fowl smelling oil and massaging my hair."

As she bundled her hair together and tied it on top of her head into a loose bun, her hands became coated with the same oil. Purposely, she pulled the stole of her sari and wiped her hands on it. 

"I'm a mother, and I know my children's preference. So I would suggest you both sit here and wait for me here, while I go and shower."

Toshu and Pakhi nodded.

Leaving them standing, Anupama made her way to the front door, where Samar was busy shuffling his feet.  Taking him into a hug, she asked: "Bakhuda, why are you standing here? Come inside. I've made your favourite coconut laddoos. I'll ask Sheela to serve some while I take a quick shower."

Samar nodded, taking a seat on the sofa near Toshu and Pakhi, while Anuj too excused himself.

While the trio waited for their mother to come back, Toshu and Pakhi's eyes roamed around to take in the simple yet lavish settings of the Kapadia apartment, while Samar continued to stare at the floor.

*****

"Bakhuda, what's wrong?" Anupama asked Samar. 

Toshu and Pakhi had left a while ago, promising to visit her again, soon. While Anupama had politely smiled, she'd harboured no hopes. Both these children were the very same ones who had completely abandoned her. Forget visiting or calling, Pakhi had refused to acknowledge her even in school all these months.

But Samar? 

"Ma, I never wanted to come. But Baa forced me," he blurted, unable to hide the truth from his mother anymore.

"Forced you, for what?"

"To remind you that you have three children."

"I haven't forgotten that."

"I know," he mumbled, suddenly turning silent.

"What is it, Bakhuda?" She cupped his chin with her palm and gently turned his face up to look into her eyes.

"Don't worry," she told him when she saw fear in his eyes. "Your mother is no longer weak. Whatever it is, I can deal with it."

"Papa has been crying his eyes out and Baa is convinced that you're the love of his life. She wants you back in Papa's life and in the Shah house. According to her, she is willing to "forgive you for all your transgressions and give you another chance", Samar blurted, angry at the nonsense that was going on in his house ever since Kavya had walked out.

Anupama silently laughed. Now that she was an outsider, she could marvel at the obscene situations and conclusions the Shah family members periodically arrived at.

"That's why she sent the three of us here. To lure you back home with our "love". After all, a mother can never say no to her children."

"Is that what she said?"

Samar nodded, picking up the glass of water in front of him and gulping all of its contents in one go.

"I know Ma, I know you're strong. You've always been strong. But why you? Why you, Ma?"

She smiled at that and pulled him closer to herself.

"I always asked that question, Samar. Why me? But then I realized, I only ask that when I'm not happy with my current situation. 

"I never asked why me, when I helped Gopi Kaka. I never asked why me, when Anuj and I got engaged. I never asked why me, when I realized that Anuj remembered me from 26 years ago. I never asked why me, when I started dancing again after 26 years. When I can accept all the happiness in my life, I should be able to accept all the challenges as well. 

"Surely it's me because Kanhaji knows that I am fully capable of dealing with it."

Samar smiled at that. "You've changed. And you've changed for the better. Anuj Ji is good influence."

"That he is..." She started doodling on her palm with the tip of her sari stole.

"What is it?" he asked, still able to read his mother's nuances. 

"I don't care about the other two," she began haltingly, "but it would really make me happy if you called Anuj, Dad," she said in a soft voice.

Samar smiled some more at that. "Are you serious?"

She nodded. 

"Does that mean you will not get blackmailed to come back to the Shah house?"

She shook her head.

Placing the glass on the coffee table in front of him, Samar hugged his mother. 

"Thank you, thank you, thank you Ma, for thinking about yourself. I was scared that Baa's plan would work and I didn't want to be the one to drag you back to that hell.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you, Ma for not giving in. I love you."

She smiled at that, and fondly ruffled the feathers of her middle son. He had always been a Mama's boy and she was glad.

As she handed him a box full of his favourite coconut laddoos and bid him adieu, he promised to visit again soon. "And tell Dad, next time I visit, I want to spend some time with him as well."

Anupama's eyes welled up with tears of joy. She knew Samar was doing this for her, but hearing him call Anuj Dad had her heart fluttering in ecstasy.