Chapter 49 – The Distance Between Mother and Son

Poornima carried the breakfast tray carefully and knocked softly before entering Devki’s room. Devki looked up from the window and gave a faint smile when she saw her. “You brought this?” she asked.

“Yes, maa,” Poornima replied, placing the tray near her. “You didn’t come downstairs, so I thought…”

Devki looked at the food and took a bite quietly before nodding. “It’s tasty.”

Poornima smiled slightly and sat near her after a moment of hesitation. “Maa… I want to ask you something.”

Devki looked at her calmly. “Go ahead, beta.”

Poornima stayed silent for a second before speaking carefully. “I know you love him… then why are you distancing yourself from Veeresh?”

That question made Devki still completely.

Her fingers tightened slightly around the spoon before she placed it down. For a few moments she didn’t answer, and Poornima thought she wouldn’t, but then Devki looked away and spoke slowly, as if reopening something painful.

“I never distanced myself from him intentionally,” she said quietly. “It just… happened.”

Poornima listened silently.

“When Nirmala gave birth to him, she trusted me completely,” Devki continued, her voice softer now. “I raised him more than anyone. He used to sleep beside me, follow me everywhere… he would call me mumma all the time.” A faint smile appeared for a second and disappeared just as quickly. “Even Rajeshwari…” she paused, emotion tightening in her throat, “both of them were more mine than anyone else’s.”

Poornima’s expression softened.

“But children grow,” Devki said after a moment. “And families…” she gave a small bitter smile, “families poison things without even noticing.”

A silence followed.

“When your father-in-law died, everything changed. Responsibilities, property, business, relationships… all became complicated.” Her eyes lowered. “I failed too. Instead of holding him closer, I became strict… distant… because I thought that was needed.”

She laughed softly at herself. “And one day… he stopped saying mumma.”

The room went quiet again.

“The first time he called me Mrs Thakur…” Devki whispered, “it hurt more than I can explain.”

Poornima looked at her carefully.

“Then why don’t you stop him?” she asked gently.

Devki smiled sadly. “Because I am afraid.”

“Of what?”

“That if I force him… even this much relationship will break.”

That answer stayed between them for a moment.

Then Devki looked at Poornima and said quietly, “But when he brought you here yesterday… and the way he looked at you…” a faint warmth entered her eyes, “I understood something.”

Poornima waited.

“He is happy with you.”

A pause.

“And Veda…” Devki smiled faintly, “she found her mother.”

Poornima lowered her eyes slightly at that.

Devki reached forward and held her hand gently. “Bring this family together if you can, beta,” she said softly. “This house has too many people… but no warmth left inside it.”

Poornima looked at her for a long moment before nodding slowly.

“I will try, maa.”