They have been married for 25 years now and life has been passing through difficult times off late.
"It has been a long journey"Gopal said in his mind "tiring too" he sighed .
Meera was cleaning the house as usual on all the weekends
"Come on darling what are you doing over there ,day dreaming ,that too at this age " Meera tried her usual wits to get him moving .She was always like this only Gopal thought,from the day of first meeting to this very moment,the sparkling energy the flowed out of her ,always keep him moving all through these years. Gopal said to her during their wedding day
"I want you to be my mentor,my supporter, my best friend and everything a girl can be ,be with me always ,I always need some one to push me on".
Meera did just that ,and did it with 100% perfection.From securing a job,building a house and looking after their only son ,she was every where ,bustling with energy. In between they loved each other so wildly in the way only they could understand . Gopal was deep in thinking ,when he heared a sudden shout ,"I knew it ,you were always like this only,you never ever loved me did you,father and son both making my life a living hell".
Gopal just smiled ,got up from the chair and went behind Meera .He kissed her on her shoulder and back neck gently ,as he used too during their younger age.He turned her face and kissed on her cheeks and asked ,"when did you felt that I never loved you"?She didn't utter a word ,instead tears started coming from her eyes flowing through her cheeks "you always loved me ,I know, but how could our son do this to me I brought him up when you were away,I was his first listener,I was his best friend and what did he do to me ,simply walk away with a girl whom he saw yesterday " she soabed ,weeped ,the tears made his shirt wet.
Ajay their only had completed his engineering degree from a reputed government college.As any other guy of his age,he too fall in love,the only thing he ever hided from her mother. Meera started noticing the changes,in him very lately,yesterday night to be precise ,when he accidently saw a message on his phone.Meera didn't ask him anything.Late in night she heard phone conversations from Ajay's room,fed up by this she went and ask Ajay to come out from the room. Gopal was already asleep and didn't yet realised what was happening.
"Tell me whom were you talking,and please dont say lie,you can't lie to me ,can you" Meera shouted.
Ajay also retaliated,"mother please don't interfere in my personal matter,I am grown up and I will take my own decision"
"personal?when did things get so personal huh?I will kill you idiot -Meera shouted angrily ,deeply hurt.
"Mother,I said you dont need to shout ,I love that girl and I am gonna marry her soon" he could not finish her sentence ,as Meera slapped on his face .
Ajay said nothing ,went back and shut his room.Meera was about to bang in the door when Gopal took her in his arms and said "Please dear,dont act like a child,your son is now a grown up man,he has the right to do whatever he likes,we will wait and see".Meera didn't utter a word again ,she was lying in Gopal's chest "come on sleep now , dont worry I will always be there for you "Gopal said ,and she couldnt resist his request to sleep.
Gopal suddenly woke up from his thinking.Today morning Ajay went out and till now he hasn't reached yet. Meera on the other hand ,never spoke a word.In the evening Ajay reached home,didn't said anything,prepared his travel bag as if he was preparing for a long journey.Nobody spoke a word ,Ajay broke the silence and said"I am going with her,I know I will not get her as long as I stay in this house"there was no reply,Ajay went out without looking back.There was continuous flow of tears from Meera's eyes ,Gopal said "cry ,but he is your boy,he will never disappoint you ,he will come back".Meera was surprised by the calmness of Gopal,but she didn't said anything.That night was sleepless for both of them.
Next day morning,when Meera wake up early.Very unlike sadness was written all over her face.She opened the door,and surprise hit her eyes,Ajay was laying in the floor sleeping ,there was no bag with him.She almost fainted with happiness,the old energy returned all of a sudden .She woke up him up ,a short break of silence followed,Ajay hugged his mother,"please don't ask me anything,I couldn't understand you ,I couldn't understand her either ,I am sorry mother!".Meera just smiled ,Gopal was watching all these ,Meera smiled gently at him,an acknowledgement thet even now there is no person who understand her better than him.
That evening while Gopal was reading something,as Ajay went near him.They too were never attached ,talked rarely,so the reluctance was evident in Ajay's face.
"Yes son whats the matter" Gopal asked."Father I want to ask you something "
"Come on ask my son "
"Whats the magic of understanding my mother"?
Gopal just smiled and said"Son,I am her husband,your father "
"Ok please help me with this question too"
"oh the questions are not yet finished"Gopal said
"Father how can I win a girls heart,how can I understand her"?
Gopal take a deep breath ,he stood up,put his arms around his son and said "Go ask your mother she can definetly answer how a guy can understand his girl"the old wild smile was again blooming in his face.