She never cared

It was a calm morning. A mystical peace prevailed in the house. The old lady in the house just woke up and was chanting. Her face seemed to have an eternal glow and each and every wrinkle in her face showed the maturity, experience she had earned over years.

While this morning is very usual for her like any other morning, she knew that her day is not. She wasn't able to balance her emotions through meditation or chanting slogans. A tinge of joy had stuck her face that wouldn't fade away. She started cooking some delicious recipes at the kitchen all singing and smiling in a feeble voice.

The door bell rang. She went up to open the door. "Namaste maa ji! What is this delicious aroma coming from your kitchen? What are you cooking?", asked her neighbour. She replied with a smile " Aao beti! My grandson is coming to me today for his summer vacations. I am cooking his favourite dishes."

Her neighbour exclaimed and went along with her to help with the kitchen chores. The neighbour told her that she had never seen her this happy before. The grandma blushed. They had completed cooking the meals.

They decided to rest on the sofa for sometime. " Maa ji, can I ask you something?..." she nagged. " Arey! Puch lo beti! What is the hesitation? Tu meri beti ki tarah hain.", the old lady answered.

She struggled to start such a conversation." You,....You told me the other day that you never got married...But.. ", the grandma laughed before she finished her question.

"I never got married. Is it necessary to get married to get children?" she questioned. The neighbour was super puzzled. She couldn't answer.

The grandmother laughed again. " I was sixteen when I fell in love with him. He also was an orphan, raised in the same orphanage. Although he was much elder to me. We enjoyed the days to the fullest. We made love, a lot of times. We were so much into each other. Little did I know that, I was not his priority. One fine day, he left the orphanage. I had no clue about it. I was told that, a rich man had adopted him and he's going to study abroad. It was the same day when I found that I was pregnant. Those were tough days.

Our owner was a kind man that he allowed me to stay there, despite the protests from others. I gave birth to a baby boy. I knew I wouldn't be able to raise him. I gave him for adoption. I meet him once in a while. He doesn't like me. It is only after my grandson was born, things changed. The first time I took my grandson in my arms, he clinged to me. Our warmth was so soothing and comforting that it told others, that our bond is inseparable.He wouldn't leave me. From then on, my son allows me to be closer with his child. He is my happiness that I saved throughout my life.", the old lady was still in a trance.

The neighbour was quite baffled. She couldn't respond either. The neighbour didnot like the grandma's past. She thought, the old lady had been a bitch in her youth. Her face showed it all. She then told the old lady that she will take a leave. The grandma told, " Wait beti, I will bring you some sweets." "NO, No Maa ji! I am leaving. I have work", she said as she was almost running to the door.

The old lady saw her leaving.Days passed and the grandmother enjoyed with her grandson. The neighbour never came back after listening to her story. The old lady smiled at that thought. She knew that already. 

And she never cared.