Chapter 1

My mother Deepa always showed great affection for me. I knew that her relationship with my dad was very ruffled. Dad never gave her the freedom she wanted. He did not want her to work.

But being a courageous woman and well qualified with an Engineering and later an MBA degree from a prestigious institution she stood her ground, took up her profession in the corporate world and was very successful on account of her capability and competence.

Being the beauty that she was, she looked great in both Indian sarees and business suits. I was always attracted to her for the way she carried herself with dignity. She was modest concerning her beauty and cared for me, taking time to spend time with me, as she always did all through my childhood, school days and now even after I joined college.

I remembered how she always came in at least once or twice a week to rub my back as I took a bath. She never showed embarrassment or hesitation even after I entered adulthood after joining college, as she always hugged me with the same unchanging affection when we were together. I always looked forward to the physical warmth, loving kindness and kisses on my cheeks or forehead.

Her boss Rohit was a dignified and well groomed man whom I had the occasion to meet on several occasions - mostly private diners and parties hosted by her boss in which he called very few select persons. On the day I graduated from my school and joined college at 18 years, I remember Rohit giving me a smart phone and a sumptuous ward of notes to settle down in college.

After the first year in college, I got home to spend time at home during the semester vacation. I asked mom if I could intern in her company during the vacation. She told me that Rohit liked me a lot, which I knew well myself. Mom told me she would however have a word with Rohit and confirm.

Before the day passed, I had Rohit calling me to inform me that I could join tomorrow itself. I had a great time thereafter in going to work with my mom and understanding the nuances of how an organisation functioned.

Things had not, however, changed much at home, with Dad continuing to display his bad behavior in not appreciating mom in whatever she does. He was a workaholic and spent a lot of time talking to his secretary even when he was home.

When mom and I were alone one evening, I broached with mom the topic of why dad was behaving so badly. She broke down and conveyed to me how he was having an affair with his secretary. It beats me how he cannot love a woman like mom and what made him attracted to any other woman. The only reason I can think of is perhaps his feeling of inferiority.

I saw how Rohit, my moms boss, contrasted him in every way. He was kind, handsome, appreciating mom in all she did, complementing her on the quality of her work, her insight in assessment of talent in employees that worked for their company. As a HR Senior Executive, she was no wonder an asset to the company that Rohit owned.

While Rohit had many managers working for him, he always relied on mom for prioritizing agenda for board meetings or while organizing parties for his close circle of friends. Rohit always treated me with great kindness and love. He regularly gave me presents and always insisted that mom should bring me for their parties.

I often wondered how great Rohit and my mom looked when together. I wish mom had met Rohit before her marriage with Dad. It would have changed her life. I also progressively started a dislike for my dad, and chose to maintain a distance from him.