Still sleepy, Ajay pulled out a chair and sat down.
“Sushma,” he called, rubbing his eyes. “Where’s my tea?”
Arjun was sitting on the sofa with a book in hand. He looked up at his dad with eyes full of sadness. Ajay looked at his son and once again, the truth struck him like a bolt of lightning. He turned to look at Sushma’s garlanded photo on the wall. Just last week they had performed her last rites but the household was so used to her, it seemed almost unbelievable that she was no longer there. Ajay’s eyes welled up with tears but he made a conscious effort to not let them flow in front of his son.

“Sorry, Arjun,” he said. “Go take a wash, I’ll quickly make breakfast till then. Don’t want you to be late for school.”
“Ok, dad,” replied Arjun and went to the bathroom.
Ajay dragged himself to the kitchen. He went to the kitchen sink and just stood there quietly. He was no longer able to hold his tears back. Sushma’s demise was so sudden, Ajay was still not able to accept it. His eyes welled up once again and this time he could not hold his tears back. They raced each other down his cheeks, but life must go on. So, he splashed some cold water on his face and started preparing breakfast. The cold water wasn’t able to conceal the tears running down from swollen red eyes.

Ajay had never done any household chores hence found it difficult to find his way in the kitchen. A patriarchal society incapacitates a man in more ways than one.
‘You should help me with the household chores, what will you do if I’m not there anymore?’ Sushma’s words echoed in his head.
‘You’re not going anywhere’, he had replied then. Who knew then, that Sushma’s words would come true.
Ready for school, Arjun came into the kitchen, Ajay did not notice. His hands were busy preparing breakfast, his mind was busy worrying about life without Sushma, and his heart was just missing his beloved wife. Arjun felt his dad’s pain, he felt the same, maybe more intense.

“Dad,” he called. Ajay turned around.
“Good boy, Arjun,” breakfast will be ready in two minutes, he said wiping his tears.
“Dad, please come here.”
Ajay walked up to him. “What is it?”
“Come down, please,” requested Arjun.
Ajay went down on his knees and with his little hands Arjun hugged him as tight as he could. His hands were small for Ajay’s big frame, but ‘a hug is always the right size’, they say.
“Don’t worry, day,” said Arjun. “I will be a good boy and together, we will make it.”
Ajay hugged him back and cried profusely. “I’m sure we will, Arjun. We got each other. I love you, my son.”

"I love you too, dad," said Arjun, with tears rolling down his cheeks as well.