Please read: This has more dialogue than action. So if you're looking for action, please -- to quote Bob Seger -- turn the page.
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I was leading a pretty normal life until one afternoon two years ago, when I came back from school, and Mom told me that Dad had left us for good.
Though I was aware that lately, they were arguing a lot and that they were having problems, I never thought that Dad would leave us.
The only explanation she offered was that they both felt that leaving was a better option than the constant bickering and fighting. She also assured me that Dad loved me a lot. He told me the same when he called me later in the evening.
I, of course, was heartbroken. On the other hand, Mom continued as before for some months, but then slowly started falling apart. She was a customer service agent at the airport and went to work like clockwork, but apart from that, she hardly ever went out. She wore the same clothes for days and lost her appetite for everything.
Dad stayed in touch with us for some time, and then he moved to another city and another, and his phone calls went from less frequent to once or twice a year.
Worried over Mom's condition, Grandma and Mom's 38-year-old sister, Vera, who was two years older than Mom, have come to talk to her and me.
After dinner, Vera whispered to me that she and Grandma would come to my room after Mom went to bed. I was waiting for them.
There was a light knock on my door, and Grandma and Vera quietly walked in when I opened the door. Both sat on each end of the bed, with me in the middle near the headboard.
"Our suspicions were correct," Grandma said, looking straight at me.
"You know, some people join the army because they need discipline. Some join groups. Similarly, your mother needs discipline in her life. First, it was your grandpa and then your father. They all provided her discipline. She becomes a wreck without it. To cut a long story short, you need to step up and provide her the discipline."
Vera saw that my mouth was wide open and I was looking at them as if they were speaking Greek.
"What mother means is that you need to treat her like a baby, like a pet," Vera tried to explain, but it made as much sense to me as quantum physics.
"Like a cat," Grandma piped in.
"Well, no, cats don't listen to anyone. You need to tell her what to wear, what to eat, who she can meet, who she can't...just like you tell a kid," Vera elaborated.
"We know it won't be easy, but if you want your mother to be back, that's the only way," she continued.
"And we'll help you," Grandma said in an assuring tone.
"Whaddaya want me to do?" I inquired as nothing they had said until now made any sense.
"We'll take it one step at a time. In the morning, when she gets up...what time does she get up?"
"These days after nine," I told Vera.
"Okay, when she gets up, you tell her to brush her hair even if she has brushed it. And when you tell her, tell her like a boss, tell her like you are giving a command, don't smile or laugh. Be extremely serious. Then after she brushes her hair, go with her to her room and ask her to put on those black shorts she's always wearing and that blue top," Vera explained.
"Undergarments, too," Grandma added.
"Yes, they are in the second drawer near the cupboard. Just pick any," Vera suggested.
"But remember, you need to act like a commander, speak like a commander. You know, she hates drinking cold milk, but in the morning, after she changes, give her cold milk with cornflakes. I've already put the milk in the refrigerator. Take out the milk from the refrigerator in front of her. And don't worry, we are here. Now go to sleep," Vera said as both of them got up and tiptoed back to their room.
As I lay there replaying their instructions, some past events began making more sense. Though I was just 16 when Dad left us, I remember Dad telling Mom what to wear, what to eat, and how to tie her long blonde hair. At that time, I found it romantic, and I even smiled at how she was always obeying him and doing whatever he wanted.
Now, when Vera and Grandma wanted me to do those things, I was panicking, shuddering at the idea. With all these thoughts running through my mind, I don't know when I went to sleep.
In the morning, there was a soft knock on my door, and Vera came in.
Just like Mom, Vera was 5'9", had long blonde hair, blue eyes, sharp features, and a big bosom.
"Your mom's awake. Remember what we told you," she whispered as she straightened her long blonde hair.
"Let's go," she ordered.
"Okay," I murmured as I got up and washed my face in the bathroom.
Mom was sitting in the kitchen and staring at the wall. Her hair was disheveled, her eyes were blank, and she was wearing faded pajamas and an old top.
"Enough of all this. I want you to brush your hair properly, wash your face, and pick yourself up," I said as I clenched my fists and raised my voice as much as I could.
However, Mom didn't even raise her head. I looked at Vera and Grandma, and both signaled me to try again. I again ordered her, and this time, I nearly shouted.
Mom raised her eyes, saw me, and nodded her head. She got up and began walking to her room. All three of us followed her. While she was washing her face, I took out the black shorts and the top from her cupboard and then grabbed a bra and panties from the drawer and put all of them on the bed.
"After brushing your hair, wear them," I said, pointing at the clothes.
She stopped brushing midway, turned her head to look at me and the clothes, and nodded her head. All three of us left the room. After around 15 minutes, she emerged from the room in those clothes and her hair tied in a bun. As she sat down in the kitchen, I took out the milk and poured it into the bowl in front of her and added cornflakes.
"I don't like cold milk," she murmured.
Vera and Grandma shot a look at me.
"I don't care. Just drink it, Mom," I replied, instantly regretting using the word Mom.
Vera and Grandma, too, rolled their eyes. Mom kept her eyes down and started eating the cornflakes. After breakfast, she retreated to her room. I went to my room with Vera and Grandma.