Synthesis of Scattered Pieces ✔️

48

"Mommy," holding the corner of my apron with his tiny hand he successfully grabbed my attention. My little boy, my only hope to live.

"Yea, mommy's little prince?" Without stopping my hand to stir his favourite dish, kheer I asked him, just to get another innocent question, "Tomorrow is eid, right?'' There was something in his eyes which always resemble his father. Alas... We're far away from each other.

"Absolute right." Leaning down to his level I replied and kissed his cheek. "But my new clothes?" He asked with curiosity; in reality, he wasn't interested in clothes but I knew!

"Don't you think only a few days ago we bought two good pairs of shoes and many clothes for you?" With fake innocent expressions and puppy eyes, I asked him but my little boy had real innocence on his face.

"But you also promised to buy me new toys!"

"Umm... Yeah... But for now, lemme cook dinner. We'll go tomorrow." I replied with a sweet smile but it was a fake one.

"Please mommy, you promised me," Zaryab stressed his words but I wasn't in the mood to listen. It was a tiring day at the office then cleaning and preparing for eid, and besides everything, I just didn't want to go anywhere! That's it. 

"Mommy please!" Zaryab pulled my apron one more time but I ignored,  "Mommy... Mommy please..." This time I looked at my son who was on the edge of crying. His little eyes were flickering with tears. My heart clenched with an unnamed pain, kneeling in front of him I pulled him into a hug.

"Mommy has to do some work beta! She is busy!" Zaryab sobbed and pulled himself away from my arms. I was pretty surprised to see him furious, this is the first time when he had shown this stubborn side.

"Zary...'' Before I could say anything he burst out crying "You're bad mommy, you're a liar! You never fulfil your promises. You don't love me." I was stunned! I wasn't expecting anything like that. It hurts when a loved one takes no notice of your efforts. I try to give him everything I can, I forget my comfort to make him comfortable but I have to admit little kids don't consider these things, according to them eid is a synonym for enjoyment and my son deserves all happiness. Gulping down my emotions I took a step towards him. "Zaryab beta, listen to me." I tried to pull him softly but he wasn't ready to hear anything, he was just crying out loud.

"Zaryab... Beta listen. You wanna go to buy toys?"

"Okay, we're going. Get ready." I said louder than usual to grab my crying son's attention, he sobbed one more time while wiping his tears. "I'm sorry beta?" I just pulled him in a tight hug and kissed his head. "You're right... Mumma doesn't keep her promises. Let's go I'll buy you everything you want." I mumbled and two tears rolled down from my eyes but I make sure to hold myself together. These tears are a clear explanation of my weakness and I can't show myself as a weak person in front of my son.    

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Walking on the road is not easy when each and everything make you realise that tomorrow is eid but this day is meaningless for you. I looked at the little boy walking beside me, his face and eyes were glowing with joy. "Do you want anything else?"  Just to fulfil his demand I ignored my heartache.

"A robot."

"Okay... Anything else?" I asked with a big smile and he represented an endless list, I was quite amazed to heed but keep walking with him silently, but before I could walk further my feet were rooted to see someone on the other side of road.

It was none else but Daniyal!

It felt like a dream... My lips stretched into a smile, He was only a few steps away from me, and I wanted to meet him not as my ex-lover but as an old friend who taught me many things. But suddenly my smile died when witnessed him lifting a piece of pani puri and soon he fed it to the girl standing next to him. His wife! The way they both were smiling and talking was indicating the state of their happiness and love. Daniyal deserves every happiness! I'm glad he is enjoying his life with his wife. Half of me wanted to go to him and ask forgiveness, I knew I didn't keep my promise and left him in the ditch of sorrow, I wanted to get rid of this guilt; on the other hand, half of me was stopping to approach him. I didn't want to remember him about the past and our love... I didn't want him to think about me when his wife is with him.