The 3 AM Phone Call – Shades of Love (Fiction Story)

“Fuck You”, she muttered under her breath.

She instantly realized that she shouldn’t be saying it to her mom, but then another voice on the inside said that it was ok. After all, her mom was being a fucking bitch, so she deserved it!  

‘No ya, we don’t talk about Mumma like that’, said the first voice again.

‘Whatever, I’m calling Shiv again’, said her second angry voice.

 

***********

the 3 am phone call

Sunaina was having a rough day, actually a rough night. She was on a call with Shiv, talking about general stuff in life. I mean 3 AM wasn’t really unusual – that was like 6 pm in hostel life terms. Everyone was awake till late in the night in the hostel. 

That’s when Aarti came in her room, hearing the whispers. 

“Who the hell are you talking to at this time of the night”, Aarti asked, flabbergasted. 

“Oh, it’s just Shiv, mumma”, Sunaina said, trying to sound like the call was just with a regular friend, and that it was very common. 

“At this hour?”, Aarti didn’t sound convinced. 

“Mom, it’s very common in hostel life. I couldn’t sleep so I called up a friend. Why is that such an issue?” Sunaina felt angry too.

“Hang up first and then we will talk. I don’t want your Papa to wake up.” 

Chal Shiv, I’ll call you in the morning. You know how being home is ya!”, she chuckled sarcastically.

Sunaina tried to sound casual on the call in order to control some of her embarrassment in front of Shiv as well as her mom. But she was boiling from the inside.

‘It is better to stay in the hostel and not come home because then your mom strips you of all the freedom you have. These stupid society rules – how does it change anything if I speak to someone in the morning or at the night?’. Her inner voice had logic but the society pressure of being nice to your parents while at ‘their’ home trumps it all. 

“Sunaina, what kind of behavior is this. And how come you are always talking to Shiv. He is not a good boy. We sent you to Bangalore to study, not to befriend cheap boys who you can chat with at 3 am! How will I ever explain this to your father?! Beta, we are small town, middle class people, not TV serial and hollywood movie families.”

Sunaina just needed something to poke her just once more – and these words from mumma did!

“Ma, you sent me to be independent and now you want to chain me? What did I do? Did I start having nude video chats with random people that you are so yelling at me like that?? I know who we are and what we can do but please, control your own behavior. Yes, I love Shiv and I am in a relationship. Do what you want!” she yelled with words, not with voice. Papa was sleeping and in no way was she awake enough to handle two hypocrites in the middle of the night. 

Hey Ishwar, how are you speaking to me Sunaina! And all for that guy who is divorced twice and a decade older than you? He is luring you into a life of nothing, Sunaina! Listen to your parents and move on from even talking to this boy. He does not love you, we do. Can’t you see that?”, Aarti said, very angry and very emotional at the same time. 

“I want to sleep. See you tomorrow. It was a huge mistake thinking I could spend a week with my parents. You guys obviously aren’t interested in me, my happiness, my problems, or my life. So, close the door on your way out – now.” Sunaina said as she dunked inside her blanket and covered herself completely.  

Aarti held back tears, but without another word she left the room and shut the door behind her.

‘What did I do wrong to deserve such words from my own daughter. I spent so much of my life, sacrificed everything to build values in to this girl. Bangalore wasn’t a good decision. Dear God, please take care of Sunaina. She is such a child and does not understand what is happening.’ Aarti kept speaking to herself, holding back her emotions as she entered her bedroom.

********

In the quiet of the night, she could hear Sunaina back to her phone, taking to someone, telling them what a ‘bitch’ her mom is. Aarti just hugged Ashok, muffling her tears, her breath and the agony she felt. She didn’t want to wake him up, but Sunaina’s words stung like acid burns.

Ashok turned around, ‘I heard’.

Aarti felt like she couldn’t breathe anymore.

“I told you to not talk to her.” He hugged her mildly, allowing her to breathe and let out a tear.

“Ashok, I love her, more than my own self. How can I let her destroy her life with the wrong person. I overhear the kind of talks he has with her – such ugly, mature, nonsensical talks. She is so young and naïve – he wont stay with her. He is just using her and that blind girl can’t see a thing. She speaks of me so poorly – how can she not see how much I love her, but she sees that fake nonsense of that horrible person and blindly believes it?” she gasped as she talked. 

“Aarti, calm down and try to get some sleep for now. Let’s think about this tomorrow. Anyways, you have to wake up early for Vivaan and his exam tomorrow. He won’t go until he takes his breakfast and tiffin and given you 350 kisses before he leaves. So try to rest, and we will talk tomorrow’, said Ashok.

**************

Love comes in many shades in a person’s life – all I wish is that we were all able to see all the shades of true love and respect it for as long as we have it. 

‘This post is written for StorytellersBlogHop Season 3 hosted by Ujjwal (https://mywordsmywisdom.com ) & MeenalSonal ( https://www.auraofthoughts.com )’.

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