** Any resemblance to any characters in this story and real persons is purely incidently. ** ** This is a work of fiction **
***** Chapter 1 Our story starts with Deepa, a modern 40 year old MILF living in Mumbai. Of course 'MILF' isn't a term Deepa is familiar with nor has ever encountered.
Indeed, as modern as Deepa likes to think of herself, she's actually lived a rather traditional life by most standards. She married at 19 to Anup, the wealthy son of an Industrialist. She spent the next 3 years as a loving and traditional wife with her loving and traditional husband. She attended the usual high class social events and rubbed shoulders with the Indian elite but her life was mostly at home, attending to the domestic issues – many of which were undertaken by the several staff in her and her husbands employ.
At 21, bored of life at home watching far too many 'stories' on satellite TV Deepa took on the job of teaching at the nearby grammar school, mostly after encouragement from Anup. Deepa's teaching career didn't last long however as only 6 months into her tenure she found herself receiving the news from her doctor that her extensive bouts of sickness were because she was pregnant. Subsequent scans showed an overjoyed Anup and Deepa that they were to expect a son.
Indeed several months later she gave birth to a healthy baby boy whom they named Kiran after Anup's grandfather. It was of course a very joyous occasion for all the family who would visit regularly and shower both Deepa and her son with affection.
Deepa spent the next 5 years in marital and domestic bliss. Playing the loving and caring wife to her husband and the loving and caring mother to her son. Deepa was thankful for the blessed life she had received. Unfortunately, Deepa's world was soon to turn upside down as on one fateful day she was called to the hospital to identify a the body of her husband. Unbeknownst to Deepa, Anup had become embroiled in shady deals with Mumbai's criminal underworld and had paid the price for double crossing a rather vengeful and vindictive gangster.
Deepa and her son Kiran were quickly taken into protective custody. With the help of her family's extensive connections she was re-homed in a new downtown apartment and her old identity scrubbed from existence. From now on, she and her son would adopt new names and live a new life, limiting contact as much as possible to family and friends.
Deepa spent the first few months in a depressive rut. Servants took care of the domestic duties leaving her nothing to do but mope around the house thinking about Anup. Kiran was taken away to boarding school after her mother-in-law accused her of being overprotective.
It was only when Kiran turned 16 that Kiran was to return to his mother. By this time Deepa had become a weak shadow of her former self. Forced to rebuild her life from the ground up, she was no longer the vibrant youthful woman she used to be.
Deepa and Kiran spent the next 2 years sharing their lives with each other, reaffirming their bonds. It was wonderful for Deepa to finally have a son back home with her. She regretted not being able to watch him grow, feeling like only a spectator who would visit him at specific times during the academic calendar. Now he was a young man at home whom she enjoyed attending to.
Eventually, it was time for Kiran to attend college, Deepa knew this meant that he was to be leaving her again. She put on a brave face for her son and tried her best to be enthusiastic for this new part of his life but inside she was broken.
Thankfully, this time around She and Kiran would be able to stay in contact better through emails, letters, and phone calls. The last of which they did almost daily even if just to say hello.
Deepa, found a renewed enthusiasm in her work as an auditor. She was praised highly by her bosses and commanded a lot of respect from her fellow employees. As the only woman in a male dominated office this gave her confidence a tremendous boost to have succeeded despite the social limitations imposed on her gender.
Moreso, she was especially pleased that her career success was not due to anything but her will, ambition, dedication and skill. She had seen many other young Indian girls join the company and progress fast in the hierarchy only to hear on the grapevine that this was only by submitting to the lewd demands of some of the male bosses.
Deepa had also received her share of suggestions, some more explicit than others. But she had always refused point blank, unwilling to devalue herself in such a way regardless of the consequences.
At 40 now, she would never attract the kind of attention some of the younger women did, neither did she want it. Yet still she would catch the interested smile from her male co-workers, some as much as half her age.
Deepa simply was not interested in that kind of attention anymore. As far as she was concerned Anup was the only man she had ever loved, nobody could ever replace him. She satisfied herself with the thought of devoting the rest of her life to taking care of Kiran and looked forward longingly to when he would return back home.
***** Chapter 2 The phone rang and Deepa picked up knowing it would be her beloved son Kiran. He called usually around this time and today was no different.
"Hi mom". Kiran sounded happy as ever Deepa's spirits were always uplifted as soon as she would hear his voice. "Haloo beta, how are you". Deepa's soft warm accented English floated along the line to greet her son.
They talked in a mixture of English and Hindi as was now common in the Indian middle classes. Choosing to talk English when discussing anything other than every day domesticity and commonality.
"i got a present for you mom" Kiran said, his excitement palpable on the phone line.
"what is it?" she asked, curious.
Kiran told her about the web cam he'd bought her and enthusiastically talked about how it would be great now because they could chat on the computer and see each other at the same time. Deepa could not help but get carried away in her sons excitement. What a wonderful thought. Currently the only time she saw anything of him was when he'd send pictures over email. Kiran had already posted the web cam to her but it would be a few days before she'd receive it – they'd have to be content with phone until then.
After an anxious couple of days, Deepa was beaming when the package eventually arrived. She called Kiran straight away and practically begged him to explain how to connect it and use it. Unfortunately Kiran was just on his way to lectures but he promised he would return to his dorm room straight after and talk her through it.
Deepa excitedly agreed and did her best to pass the time. Out of curiosity she considered connecting up the equipment herself and found that it wasn't difficult at all. Deepa was no technology whiz, but anyone living the in modern times and using computers on a daily basis eventually learned how to plug in a USB device and install software.
The camera worked first time and Deepa was pleased when a picture of herself appeared in a small window on her desktop. With a little playing with the settings she managed to make the screen bigger, correct the brightness and record a few funny clips of her making faces at the camera.
Connecting to Kiran's computer however was something she had no idea about and contented herself with at least getting this far. She would proudly tell Kiran how his mother was now a dab hand at 'compootars'
It wasn't long till Kiran did call back and listened to his mother proudly exhort her computer skills. He laughed along with his mother's childishness as he began to get the software setup for their computers to communicate.
The first few attempts failed miserably and after around half an our Deepa could sense her son's frustration at not getting the thing to work. As luck would have it, it was actually Deepa who finally made a few changes to an interesting looking 'network configuration' panel of settings that the images of each of them appeared on the other's screen.
Deepa clapped in excitement and giggled as she told her son she could see him. Her heart fluttered as she could actually see a moving image of her handsome son and no longer static attachments to his emails.
They satisfied themselves with talking on the phone for now as they sound function still wasn't working on the web cams. It was only after a few more attempts over the next few days that they finally managed to get the sound working as well.
Finally mother and son could sit at their computer terminals and talk endlessly and see the nuances of each others facial expressions.
It was in one of these conversations where Deepa conveyed her disappointment at her Son's appearance.
"You could have made an effort betah, you look so scruffy" she joked.
"what? Comon mom it's just you"
"huh? Just me??" Deepa was taken aback and mocked offense at her son.
"sorry, sorry mom, I mean.. its just that I'm just at home, its not like I'm going out anywhere" Kiran tried to recover from his gaffe. He knew is mother wasn't really bothered by his comment but she could still be a little oversensitive at times.
"Still betah, a little effort wouldn't go amiss. Perhaps comb your hair? Put a little effort into your appearance? Not for me betah, for yourself. You look so scruffy!" Deepa wasn't angry at all and smiled as she nagged him in her motherly tone.
Kiran scratched his head. "the messy look is IN now mom. You're so 20th century you wouldn't know style if it knocked over your morning coffee"
This comment did annoy Deepa and if it had been anyone other than her son she'd have been more than a little upset.
"I'll have you know I'm completely clued up on what the style is now young man. You're not so 'modarn' that you can fool your mother that easily.." though she smiled as she spoke, Kiran could sense her annoyance.
Even when Deepa was mad she found it very hard to show it to Kiran.
"I've annoyed you haven't I mom?"
"It's OK betah, you haven't annoyed me." Deepa thought for a moment. ".. but I DO know what the fashion is right now, I see it in Mumbai every morning I go to work!" she added.
"Of course you do mom. It's just that you're outfit says otherwise" Kiran teased his mother.
"chaur! What's wrong with what I'm wearing" Deepa looked at her outfit and back at the screen in confusion. Her son was giggling into his web cam.
"it's just a little 'mumsy'. You know, domesticated..." Kiran replied playfully.
"well I'm your mother so it should be mumsy. And what's wrong with being domesticated?" she replied.
"I'll tell you what mom, I'll put an effort into my appearance as long as you do too."
Deepa was confused. In what way had she not made any effort on her appearance? She'd showered after coming back from work, and changed into one of her every day salwar kameez suits. What else would or should she be wearing if not this? She'd certainly done more than Kiran obviously had – the cheek of the boy!
