Lying on the settee with legs folded and a book in hand Sapna heard her son utter the word 'Anklet.' At that moment she did not give any thought to it as she was fully engrossed in the book. It was after sometime on seeing him staring at her feet 'what was it you said,' she asked.
'Anklet' was his curt reply.
'Anklet,' again she did not take it seriously. Her only interest was in having him caged in the house. Since the summer holidays had begun she had found it very difficult to stop him from going out with his friends. It was not that she objected to his going out but the time he returned back was not healthy skipping supper daily. What junk food did he have she wondered.
Being a single mother she had strived hard in bringing him up and now that he was eighteen years the fear of him going astray haunted her. Though she was well acquainted with his friends the time at which he returned back was not feasible. Having him locked inside her pent house and lying on the settee she kept an eye on him.
Turning to face him 'yes what it is you said,' she enquired.
Pointing to her feet 'Anklet,' he replied.
'Anklet? What about it,' she asked.
'I have never seen you wearing them before,' he replied.
'Wore it yesterday as I had to attend the meeting. You know I am a member of that women's club,' said she.
'It looks pretty on you Mom.'
'Is it,' asked Sapna a little surprised.
'Yes as it is first time I have seen you wearing it, it looks damn pretty on you.'
'Oh thanks,' as she said it she lifted her foot.
'That gives a better picture,' he said seeing her dangling her foot.
'Is it? Do you like them,' she asked moving her foot again.
'Yes they look pretty good on your feet,' he replied.
Those words made her sit straight and seeing him staring 'would they not look good on others,' she asked.
'Yes that's what I meant to say. They go very well with your pretty feet,' he replied.
'So it's my feet that are pretty and not anklets,' she asked.
'You have pretty good looking feet and those anklets compliment each other,' he replied.
Surprised by his reply 'how do you know so much about them,' she asked.
'That's what we do the whole evening. Pass comments on them,' he said.
Stunned by his words 'can you elaborate on it,' she asked.
'You know our group,' and when she nodded her head 'we sit outside the malls, parks, movie halls and pass comments,' he replied.
'On the girls passing by,' she asked.
'No not on girls.'
'Then who else,' asked a puzzled Sapna.
'On women,' he replied..
'Why women and not girls,' asked she.
'Girls are very arrogant and they are not so mature to read our comments,' he replied.
'And with women is it any different.' She asked.
'Yes not all women but a selected few,' he replied.
Getting interested 'how do you differentiate them. I mean under what criteria,' she asked.
'One should be simple, mature, elegant and not those painted ones,' he said.
'I see. You pass comments on only elegant mature women. Don't they get mad at you at any time,' she asked.
'No our comments are very polished and sensible,' he replied.
'All in good humour?'
'Yes all in good humour and nothing to hurt their sentiments,' he replied.
'What sort of response do you get from them,' she asked showing some interest.
'It varies but mainly a smile that makes us happy.'
'So you guys hang up outside the malls all evening passing comments on elegant, mature women. Don't you think you are kinky,' she asked.
'Its not everyday you come across such women. It's only once in a while and not all women are like you that we pass comments,' he replied looking straight into her eyes.
His words shook the earth underneath her. Controlling herself why bring me into the picture,' she asked.
'It all started because of you,' he replied.
'Me, why, how?' she grasped for air as she uttered those words.
'One day as a woman walk past Ajit my friend exclaimed does she not look like you for which my other friend Dinesh replied that none can hold a candle to you. That's how it started and that's how you have become a role model for us,' he exclaimed.
'My goodness Raj how can you guys . . . . I mean how can I be a role model. What do you see that you consider me . . . No, no, no somewhere you are at fault,' replied Sapna.
'Mom Ajit or Dinesh may have gone wrong but me and the other members of our gang cannot be wrong. You are one such role model,' he replied sternly.
'I find it very hard to digest it Raj,' and changing the track 'So that's how you and your kinky gang spend the time ogling at women,' she said twisting his ear.
'No Mom we don't ogle just pass a comment,' he replied.
'Don't tell me that you pass a comment without looking at them,' she said twisting his ear harder.
'Mom it's just to pass time we do it,' he said.
'Can you have not thought of something else,' she said softly.
'We could have but every time I come across a woman my mind deviates and please don't ask me why it does so,' he said.
Shaking her head and resigning 'have any woman in some point of time discouraged you guys,' asked she.
'No on the other hand we have always been encouraged,' he replied.
'Have you found some success. How do they react,' she asked mildly.
'Most of the time it's a gentle smile or their faces brighten or you see a twinkle in their eyes and very rarely they lift their hand to acknowledge,' he replied.
'That's all and you guys feel as if you have conquered the moon,' she said.
'Yes we feel delighted and we go into a trance,' he said.
'For a smile or one act of kindness you spend the whole evening looking out for them is it,' she asked.
'Yes and that one smile makes us dream of hundred similar ones,' he replied.
'Anything else you would like to add to it,' she asked to get a picture of how far he had ventured.
'Nothing except that stud of your nose. Its so well placed that it enhances your beauty ten folds,' he said.
'Yes you are right there. I have heard such comments from many people,' saying it she blushed.
'It's so small and yet the little diamond stud pierced on your nose looks so fascinating that it gives a different dimension to your beauty. You look astoundingly beautiful,' he said.
'Raj I am not your girlfriend that you can praise me so much,' she said shyly.
'Have I not said that I don't like girls. Its mature women I love to befriend with,' he replied.
'Then why don't you find one there are plenty out there,' she said jokingly.
'But none to match your personality,' said he.
'Well you can have me as one but think what your friends would say when they see you with an old brat like me.'
'They would feel jealous Mom. In fact right now they may be feeling jealous as I told them that I am going to spend this evening with you.'
'Oh Raj it's my pleasure to be in your company,' replied Sapna.
'Mom you are one classic woman and it's my privilege to be with you. You know you have such a lovely face that I can just keep looking at you for ever. To add to it you have a pleasing personality too,' said Raj.
'Are you using these words to impress me. If you are thinking so then you are right. It's good to hear such words and I don't remember when I had heard them last. Well let's forget it for some time and delve deeper on your episodes. Come on tell me what you have so cleverly tried to hold back. Did anyone of them showed any interest in you,' she asked.
'Yes I recall one woman who turned up frequently. I think she wanted to get acquainted with me. I am telling you this because she used to appear in front of me whenever I was alone which I think was not a coincidence.'
'I see, did she try to convey any message any action of hers which had some meaning,' asked Sapna cautiously.
'Once coming down the stairs the top of her sari slipped. Now that I recall the sequence yes it was a deliberate act,' he said.
Sapna was tempted to ask whether his eyes were rewarded then changing the subject 'any other such occasion which you could remember.'
'Not with me but Ajit was lucky. I am not sure it could have happened but he said he escorted one such woman to a movie.'
'Yes it could have happened,' saying it she went to the restroom.
Coming back and sitting besides 'what did he say happened there.'