Toasted Bread

.................when Arun got home, he was thinking something he rather never did in his whole life. At a very confused stage of life, known as teenage, Arun had many debates in his head. However never in world did he thought that he would have ever have the question that he was having today. After talking to his friends he was not able to think of anything else. Arun and his friends would all walk together after school. The 14 years boys discussed everything from studies, movies, career, politics and a lot on girls. But today the conversation took a very different course. His friend talked about the sacrifices done by their mother for them. Some talked about how there mother sold her ornaments at one point just for there education. Some other talked about the resignation that there mother had to give just so that she could take care of him. One boy talked about an incident where his mother walked two kms just to buy a gas balloon which he wanted. Another example was about a boy's mother being awake all night so that her son could be awake during exams.

Arun scratched his brain but just could not find any such example. Apart from Mithun, who lost his mother, even before he could open his eyes all others had a story. Arun just had none. He kept on asking himself, "Really never, there should be something great my mother did for me.............." but all efforts of thinking were in vain. That night, Arun had little else to think. He kept his book aside and just stared at the fan hanging from the ceiling. He watched the fan rotating slowly, he turned his attention towards the open window, he could see the stars twinkling. Remembering the first poem he learnt, "Twinkle, twinke......." he smiled but still no story that explains how great his mother is, or then is she?

A thought that also made him guilty as if his conscious was stopping his heart from asking this question and now he finally did. Arun stood and went out to drink another glass of water something he was doing just because he had no sleep. He stood in the kitchen slowly sipping the water from the bottle. He had now drunk the whole bottle normally kept for the whole night. He kept the empty bottle away and turned around. Thats when he saw a man 4 inches taller than him. He was smiling looking at him. In his right hand he was carring a laptop.......he walked towards Arun and said "Son............"

Arun knew his father very well, and he knew his father would not let him go back to his bedroom unless he does not get his answers. "Son, three times you have stepped in the kitchen in just a matter of 15 mins. You are sleeping most of the time before I feel sleepy. I come to your bedroom after you sleep and give you a kiss on your forehead." Arun frowned, his father continued "At the age of 11 you said Dad, don't kiss me I am a big boy so I do it when you sleep, and I know you know that and thanks for not stopping me from doing it." Arun and his father walked out into Arun's bedroom where both sat on his bed keeping a distance enough for his father to keep his lap top. Arun looked again towards the fan, he was sweating and perhaps thought of increasing the speed of the rotating machine.

"I am your father, you can tell me anything and everything........go on dude..." Dude a word Arun's father started using for him. He just thought that it got him close to his generation. "Dad not sure how you will feel about me...........when I tell you............I think.............see Dad she is your wife.......but understand...." Arun's father was trying to find clues to understand where his son was heading. "I don't think I have a great mother..........I think she is just ordinary.............I mean all my other friends talk about how great there mother is and frankly speaking I have no such story............if you all deserve to have a great son, why can't a son expect............"

Any father would have got angry on his son in this situation, but not Arun's father, he only smiled, he got up and then movved towards the doors. He was now carrying his lap top in his left hand. He turned around and looked at his son who seemed had no expression on his face, his father broke his silent "Education is in asking question, and if you have a question or a concern or even a doubt that I am expected being your parent to answer I will, but not now, tomorrow is Sunday lets discuss this tomorrow.Arun felt bad the moment he spoke but then there was one part that felt good. Also seeing his father not having any answer to the question made him sure that he was right in what he was thinking.

Next day when Arun woke up it was 8am, and even being a Sunday morning he decided to get out of bed instead of giving another try at sleeping. He entered the kitchen and found an unfamiliar sight. His father was cooking instead of his mother. "Dude.....whats happening.." Arun smiled seeing his father in good mood. He was a bit worried if he had hurt his father somewhere. "Arun, can you do a favor please, I forgot to tell you something, I had a fight with your mother, and ended up challenging her, I lost the challenge as all husbands do when they challenge there wives. The punishment was to make the Sunday morning breakfast.

Now can you help me in completing the task.........." Arun was already standing next to his father with a knife waiting for his father to order. "Dad you just let me know what I need to do, I will help you....at least with the easy stuff........" "I understand", his Dad said, its just the bread toast that remains, I will call your mother you get them ready............." Arun's Dad appeared in some time, Arun had inserted two breads in the toaster, when his mother came to the kitchen and took the place on the dining room. "Arun you know how your mother serves the toast bread to you right, do the same way, we want to show her that we can do what she does and there is nothing........" Arun's father took a pause and then continued "..............great in it."

Arun recalled the every day proceedings when Arun would be late on the table in morning. Just when the school bus would arrive his mother quickly pulled the toasted bread apply butter and serve him. It was Arun's turn to do the same, he pulled the bread out of the toaster and then the next moment threw it away with a cry "Oh god......" thats hot. I think I burnt my fingers, his mother was quick to react and applied some cold water to his fingers. Arun's father watched it from a distant. Arun was pleased to see his finger had no injuries. He sat on the chair, while his mother said "I am sorry I should have warned you, but don't worry I can do it for myself, you two done a lot to prove that you are as capable as I am to take care of the kitchen, while she smiled looking at her husband who seemed to have his eyes fixed on his son.

Now Arun's mother also turned his attention to his son. He was having tears in his eyes "Son, its hurting a lot......", his mother inquired. Arun looked up and hugged his mother...."yes it is hurting a lot, but not in my fingers in my heart..............mom everyday you apply butter to the toast, I have seen it so many times but never thought that when you get the bread out it is so hot. Probably every time when you do that your fingers might also feel the heat that I did, I had a question in my mind if my mother was great or not, and I am proud to say that I have the best mother in this very world................."

Arun's mother could not understand how to react, "Son, but I cannot be the best mother in the world if I would not have got the best son...........you make my world the best......................after another two minutes of hugging his mother, Arun walked towards his Dad and kissed him........"