See you again - It is easy to reconnect with friends after a semester break or a few years away. What happens if a loved one shows up after a decade?

 

See you again

“How have you been my child? It has been ages since I last saw you… My hands shivered as I tried my best to come up with a response, tugging on the sleeve of my date I replied dryly,” I’ve been fine, yeah!” 

It has been a few days since that first call and yet Noori fails to recognize the dry voice that came out of her. She did not feel like she was answering the call, for she was never so mechanical or un-animated when talking, not even to strangers. 

Growing up as a second child in a one parent family was a journey of major ups and downs for Nupur Romil. What she remembered of her mother were faint memories of fleeting moments as she was only a child when her parents parted ways and Noori was left in the care of her father and grandfather. Growing up in a stag house as she called it with her brother, father and grandfather, Noori learnt to be skilled in what most people considered manly pursuits like woodcraft and mechanical repairs. She learnt early on that no task was manly or womanly to do as she watched her father cook and clean on a daily basis for her and even go shopping for her needs as a growing woman. Years passed and turned to decades, Noori has grown into a young woman who runs her own life managing a steady practise in defending legal rights and stinting as an animal rights activist in her spare time. 

 What changed on this early autumn morning was a call she had never expected. 

It is an early October evening, light breeze and rustling tree leaves in the background, Noori sits on an outdoor dining stump of this uber local cafe hid away from the busy city life in a small namesake village behind an old fort in the heart of the city. She very much liked the place not only for it’s minimalistic decor and quite but also because of the architectural marvel in the vicinity that had seen its fair share of seasons and rulers alike.

 Mridul joins her at the table with some coffee and passionfruit tea, She twirls onto her stirrer in the tea glass as Mridul sips on his coffee and talks about work and his day, they have newly started going out with each other and on most days Noori likes to watch Mridul transform into a lively bunny rabbit like person talking animatedly about all the amazing pursuits he got to explore at work rather than being the shy little mouse she perceived him to be first time she saw her at her friend Sana’s workplace. Two months later she just can't help but gaze in utter amusement as to how much extroverted this introvert has turned out to be. As she smiles, her train of thought loses track and Mridul notices her smile losing sheen. 

“What’s wrong Noori, you seem troubled. Is there something you would wanna share?”

It’s complicated she says trying to brush away her thoughts but fails as tears well up in her eyes. I don't know what to say and what to keep Mridul. How would you react meeting someone you once knew, someone you were once close to but now cannot even relate to? She asked with a confused look.

Mridul studied her face for a while, “You mean like an ex or previous lover? Is someone bothering you?”
No silly, not like that. But, like …. You know someone coming back into your life after decades. That sorta thing, she flailed her arms in exasperation as she could not find the right words to describe what it was running on her mind.
They both left for home after their mini catch up since that was all they could afford in their respective busy schedules and the need to be back home in time for an early dinner as the entire nation had learnt to cease all leisure activity and try to be in homes by 8pm thanks to the covid surge in the early months of March 2020. 

Back home Noori finished up dinner, followed with the usual daily soap marathon of two hours with her father which was now a regular feature of both their lives. A good tradition she mused, as it gave her what she called a holistic Indian parent feel with her dad watching the news early morning like the stereotypical north indian dad and turning to sappy, unrealistic Indian telly soap operas in evenings like most of the stereotyped indian mums. It was their own inside joke between father and daughter. 

Restless with her thoughts, she retired to bed earlier than her usual time and sat in her bed staring at her phone screen again, re reading the whatsapp text she had received a few days ago from an unknown number that she did not need much help to guess. The picture was enough for her to figure out who it was, the question on her mind was, was she the same person anymore?

 She thought she would call up Sana, but her voice failed her as she felt like she was choking on her own words even without speaking. She decided to text Mridul instead, thinking it would be easier. Explaining the scenario in as brief a write up she could, she told him of this stranger who was none other than her prodigal mother who had resurfaced in her life after two decades of estrangement. Mridul called her back but Noori wouldn't pick up.

*Beep* Nupur yaar atleast take my call. Talk to me.
I dont think I will be able to. *Text Sent*

Nupur turned down the sound on her phone and chose to be on text. 

Mridul calls again. Noori ends the call, and replies telling Mridul she might cry. Also, that she feels it’s too early for her to cry in front of Mridul.

*Beep* Nupur thats bullshit. If you feel like crying, cry but take my call. I wont ask you why or why not. Just come on call.
Mridul calls again. This time Noori answers his call but remains silent.
“Nupur are you crying?” Mridul asked in a concerned voice

Noori just nods holding her phone in one hand and her teddy in the other. Something which has been a long lost habit from childhood days.

She gasps for air between sobs and Mridul is now convinced of his query. He asks her to take some sips of water and breathe.
Noori does that and Mridul keeps telling her every few minutes to deep breathe and drink water as Noori slowly slips into the dream world of peaceful sleep.

They decide to meet next day for a short break as Mridul decides he needs to do an intervention so Noori would stop stressing about her situation. They walk behind the marketplace in a secluded lane. Mridul tries to bring up last night’s situation and Nupur tries to distract him with flirtation. Teases him about having chosen a full moon night for their evening stroll, a personal favourite of selenophile Nupur.Mridul loses patience and refuses to lose track of his thoughts.

“Nupur yaar, stop acting up. That lady is your mother after all. You might not know her side of the story, at least give her a chance man. Baat to kar unse kya pata kyu baat karna chaahti ho wo tujhse.” He shrugged his shoulder as he tried his best to look serious.

“Mridul, tu bossy bhi hota hai? So cute” Nupur stuck out her tongue playfully at him.

“Nupur mazaak nahi yaar, har baat mazaak nahi hoti”
“Then what should I do? Tell me?”

“I can’t tell you what to do. I can only guide you to take a chance and assure to be by your side in case you need me. That is all I can do, it is your path you will have to walk it”

The phone beeped again, Noori decided she would call, but in presence of Mridul. She held onto his sleeve like a child visiting carnival and seeing the clown for the first time. She couldn't wrap her brains around the fact that she was clutching onto him (someone she had known only a couple of months) like a lost child while calling up her own mother.

How have you been my child? It has been ages since I last saw you….. I can’t believe I am hearing you”

Noori just nodded and kept clutching onto Mridul’s sleeve, finally managing to utter ”I’ve been fine, yeah!” She couldn’t believe how dry her own voice felt, deadbeat and unanimated.  She looked at Mridul with tear filled eyes as if looking for a prompt.
Mridul shrugged his shoulders, Noori ended the call.
*Beep* Is everything okay? I think the network went out.
I did 

I don't have words. (Noori typed back)

“Mridul, I ran out of words. I don’t run out words talking to inanimate objects, and i ran out of words. Something is wrong with me.. My system broke I guess. . . . .

Noori trailed off in a blabber. Mridul had to stop her.

“Calm down okay, I don’t know what you feel or how to suggest anything in your situation. What I do know is, it won't be easy so take your time and proceed with what you call Baby Steps.” Mridul shrugged and tried to ease her. He made her walk around the fragrant tree lane she loved and had mentioned an ample number of times for him to possibly forget. He loved how she would know stuff that he never bothered to learn, like names of random trees she liked

The night was getting darker, and the full moon was a stark contrast to the sky. It was beautiful, leaves of a large Peepal tree rustled in the background.
Noori looked down at her phone, knowing well that she would not be able to talk, she left a text.

“I don’t have any words. Can we meet ?” She kept her phone inside her pocket and held tightly onto Mridul’s arm. They both smiled as he walked her home under the moonlight. 

Before taking leave, Mridul asked,”So now what? I mean you’re gonna be okay? What did you say on text to her?”

“When I see you again.. . . .  . .  .” Noori hummed and went away with a wink. 

It could be a start or a chance to closure, either way Nupur Romi knew she would have to brave the storm; life had brought her what made her smile knowing she had someone holding an umbrella for her.