Colors

                                                     Night 1

Time 8 past 45,

        Radha, in her early 20’s, asked her 5 year old son, “so, how was your day kiddo? “

       Aaditya replied, “Not bad, got new friends, we played. Over all nice day except that my friend’s dad” he frowned his face “came there to pick up his kid. Ma! Where is dad? Tell him to drop me at school.” The innocent little kid pleaded his mother. His eyes almost in tears 

      Radha shrunk her eyebrows and closed one of her eyes and asked him, “Someone has got a new friend“She tickled him “yeah, yeah! Yeah!”

     The little kid laughed and they both played on their bed.

     Aaditya sighed, “Ma! Shall I ask you one thing?”

     Radha Rejoined, “tell me kiddo! What is it?”

     “Today Madhi asked me about dad.”

     “Madhi?” She questioningly asked him “who is Madhi?” She snapped her eyes once and playfully said,”girl friend huh?”

      Aaditya continued without giving much importance to his mother’s words. He said, “She asked me where my dad is? Is he here or in foreign? I don’t know how to answer her. I just remained there confused. I replied her that I’d tell her tomorrow.” He gave a puzzled look at his mother.

      Radha delicately said, ”Oh dear! Tomorrow tell your friends that your dad was an adventurous man. He was a hero. You know? I just can’t find words to express his adventures. Tell your friends. Are you fine now?”

     The curious 5 year old was enigmatic and wanted to know more about his father. He asked his mother, “ma! Please ma! Tell me more about him.”

     Radha rubbed his cheek and said, “Curious case of Mr.Aaditya huh? You are one curious kiddo.   Okay. Here is the deal, my little sweet heart is gonna sleep now and Tomorrow, his ma will tell the adventurous ride of his dad. Is that ok champ?”

      Aaditya shook his head negatively and said, “Okay. What if they ask me about his adventures? How will I reply them?”

      “I’ll tell his adventures one by one, one per day. They would be okay with that. Don’t worry”

      “Not okay. At least tell me what he was doing”

      “Well, your dad was a patriot. He served at Indian Army”

      “What is he doing now?”

      “Not fair. This is not fair. I told you that I would tell you tomorrow.” She looked down at her son and rubbed his head “One adventure per day.” She kissed his cheek and the little kid hugged her mother saying, " I love you ma!"

      "I love you too"

     Satisfied and Excited about the day, Aaditya started to count the time and his mother patted on his belly as the conversation looked down the end. He slept on the bed hugging her mother. Time was 10 past 15. Someone knocked the door. Radha looked at her son, kissed his forehead, slowly got rid of him and walked towards the door.