Wait Om! I have something for you" I heard Surili aunty's urgent voice. Om halted making me stumble on my own foot and hit my face on his elbow.

A slight whimper escaped my lips when I saw so many butterflies soaring around and stars shining forming a sparkling halo above my head,as an impact of that tremendous hit I got on my head.

I held my head with my one hand casting an irk look at Om. He rubbed his elbow scowling at me.

"! Be careful when Pearl is around you. ( you should put an end to Your age old habit of flying a jet on earth.) " Surili aunty admonished him sternly.

Om grinned sheepishly while letting go off my hand and looking at me in an apologetic manner.

I looked away huffing when I saw a streak of mischief sparkling within his blue eyes. He will never learn from his past experiences.

"Wear this I specially bought it for you." Surili aunty said flashing a golden Chain before us which had the pendant charm of the Sanskrit word Om Sign carved out of solid gold with blue sapphire stones adorning the lower curve of the letter.

The middle curve was embedded with ivory pearls. The upper curve with a dark shade gems and the upper spot was studded with a sparkling and dazzling white stone that twinkled magnificently.

A trishul was carved across the Om sign with special twinkling pearl beads embellishing the surface. All together that pendant held a mesmerizing and enthralling enchantment of its own

I was mesmerized and drawn by the magnificence of that pendant. My eyes gleamed in its flash like shining. The designs were intricately woven with meticulous finishing.

"Ma!" Om whined like a kid when he saw this.

"I know your ways Om. And making you wear such accessories is like tormenting you. But this one is special. Take a look at the charm." Surili aunty urged Om who reluctantly and with a bored expression glanced at the charm.

His listless expression slowly faltered from his demeanor when his eyes got a closer look at the charm meticulously perceiving the intricate designs of it.

"Wow! Ma! This is just awesome. I cant believe it!" Om exclaimed reaching his hand to clasp the chain.

He looked mesmerized and drawn by the ornament.

A trishul was crossing over the Om symbol adding the grace and divinity of the symbol a thousand clogs up. I understood that it was supposed to symbolize the name of Om's girl friend, Shakthi.

Also his ardent love for his Shakthi.

" ( If you don't feel like wearing it I will keep it with me)" Surili aunty held back the chain when she saw the dreamy look on her son's face and said with a smirk.

It was discernible as day light that she was pulling Om's leg as he is now all eyes and heart for that chain.

I snickered closing my mouth when I saw the lost childish look on Om's face.

"I like it mom. It is really beautiful." Om complimented as a last chance in getting hold of that chain.

"If you have forgotten let me remind you son, you are getting late. Hurry up and go fast" Surili aunty again tested waters with his patience with a feign haste tone waveing her hand like shooing him out of her sight.

"( Mom! You sometimes are just impossible and hard a nut to be dealt with) Om whined like a child stamping his foot.

A beautiful yet teasing smile stretched across her face

Surili aunty folded her hands across her chest and stared at him with the same mischief ,as that of Khushi, resurfacing within her beautiful green eyes yet in a different and brilliant way.

"( Should I give this him or not?)" Surili aunty asked looking at me with a wink indicating me to play along with her.

At first I didn't understand clearly but the next moment when I saw a smug smile on her face my mind got a steady wave of what she is up to.

I took her side with a triumphant smirk on my face mirroring her stance.

We both stared at Om tormenting him with our mischievous ways.

When Om saw this side of me and his mom he snorted shaking his head in a feign dismay.

"Girls! Your ways are unbearable at times" Om muttered under his breath keeping his hands over his hip and looking up.

"And Boys! Your ways are just tacky, yew!" Surili aunty retorted with a shrill squeal fanning her hand around her face and batting her eyelashes in mock attitude display.

She was really blending with the ways of her kids beautifully. Whether it is a stern admonition or being a playmate or a playful friend she is absolutely perfect in whatever role she dons as a mother who has different facades.

"You are just perfect aunty" I said amazed by her prowess in carrying out everything efficiently and keeping her kids in her protective radar.

".( Great! You got one more fan in your list)." Om pouted cutely. His dimples enhanced the cute look a bit more.

What am I thinking?

Concentrate Pearl! At this rate you will remain a measuring app for cuteness quotient. Just wake up!

My prankster fairy slapped straight on my face clicking her tongue and shaking her head in anger.

" Okay, leave it! Lets talk business )" Surili aunty said suddenly her features hardening and face moulding to the expression of a strict executive lady.

I was spellbound by this versatility of her personality. She is really a sparkling rainbow in whatever she is up to.

"Business? ( Mom! What has gone wrong with you?)" Om asked impatiently shaking his head in resentment.

"Just teasing ( my block headed boy )" Surili aunty said tapping Om's forehead shaking her head smiling.

Om grinned sheepishly at Aunty while skimming his fingers through his hair.

"Come! I will help you in wearing this" Surili aunty said urging him to bend forward to make it easy for her to do it.

Om leaned forward bending his head to the level of Surili Aunty's reach.

She put the chain through his head without disentangling the loop.

The chain was pretty long that it reached up to his chest area.

He looked down stroking the charm with a profound likeness.

He put the chain inside his shirt and corrected the folds of his shirt. He is not a showy kinda person. His discipline can be seen in the way he chooses to carry himself.

There was a perfect touch of Daniel uncle and Surili aunty in his way of dressing or any sane thing he does.

"Bless you ,my light. I know today is an integral part of the endeavour you are up to. That is why I decided to gift you this. You will never feel alone or astray when this chain is with you. I know how much you hold for that particular person in your life. And she will be always with you through this chain, may be not in person but as a symbol of her identity she is for sure with you. And God will never leave your hands. He will help you to make it up to your destiny. Trust his Judgement, son." Surili aunty blessed Om and kissed his forehead and explained all this pointing her finger upwards.

Om nodded seriously while patting the charm which lay underneath his shirt.

"Thank you ma!" He said sincerely.

"Don't be, my sparkle. I know the hardships you are facing to reach the desired destiny. For keeping your spirits high up till the completion this is the only thing I have gotten to give you to keep you motivated. When ever you feel like giving up this mission at some point just glance at this charm and remember that it is not just about you or her but about the people who are sticking to you guys for a fair judgement. There may come occasions when you feel utterly disoriented and disarrayed or even doubt your existence or the cause for life but never give up my child. You are a brave one. And I feel great as a woman to give birth to such a precious child. Move on and our blessings and prayers are always with you in every step you take" Surili aunty blessed Om with so many enriching words which will aggrandize his spirits steadily.

Om's face grew serious as he processed her words in his mind. He kept his palm over his chest before letting his mind out to Surili aunty.

"Ame na jivita.Ippu u ee shakthi leda shakthiga ame na nu I ame paapincha na prema sthirapa ina leda balamaina." ( She is my life. Now no force or power is as established or strong as my love for her, to dispatch her from me.) " Om said something in Telugu with determination filling his features and hardening his boyish cuteness and taking it to a next level.

Surili aunty placed her hand on his cheek and fondled his cheek with her thumb endearingly.

"Na ko uku telusu. Mi alasa a ellappu u svachamaina mariyu manasu sulo uddessha mariyu mancitana vijayaniki Svachatanu oka vijaya unca aniki.( I know my son. Your intension is always pure and purity of intention and goodness triumph in every situation. ) Surili aunty retorted in the same language with a kind smile whilst running her fingers along his hair.

He just nodded with a small smile. Aunty fussed over his prim brown velvet shirt and took his hand in hers.

He winced suddenly.

"( what happened?) Surili aunty asked surprised by his reaction.

"( Nothing mom. It is like this)" Om's voice trailed off trying real hard to find ample words but failed when Surili Aunty's powerful glare penetrated through his soul. He broke his eye contact with aunty.

Surili aunty stared at the reddish mark embellished over his wrist and his vein protruding out throbbing angrily.

She glared at Om accusingly. He looked away but his eyes were met with mine.

"w a days you have begun to turn your eyes away from your mom when you have a conversation with me. Since when did you began to keep things away from me . Wow! Only that space was left in my life to see and I am viewing it gorgeously now. You exactly took after your dad in this.) Surili aunty said sarcastically yet a lacing of pain was shrouded in her voice and demeanor.

" ( It seems like someone is missing me terribly) I heard the deep baritone voice of uncle beside us. I jumped a bit at the impact initially but composed myself into a decent demeanor as soon as sense hit my brain.

"Think of the devil..." Surili aunty muttered more to herself and threw a scathy glare at Daniel uncle.

"Stop fuming, mi amor." Daniel uncle cooed at aunty twiddling her cheek playfully.

She still held an irate stance but there was a faint trace of softness lacing her demeanor when her eyes perceived Daniel uncle's form.

How is everything going ,Son?" Daniel uncle asked when he spotted the audience of his show, that is Om and me.

"Till now it is going as planned. I hope the same for the next level as well." Om said in a rigid tone.

The stance now he is adopting reminded me of some military person.

"Good, let's do it together. " Daniel uncle said turning his attention towards Surili aunty.

"I will be in the porch, Jaan. Join us when you are done with kids" Daniel uncle said scampering towards the stair way.

Surili aunty nodded quietly.She remained silent till uncle was out our earshot yet her features held a resolute stance.

" Now explain what is actually going on with my son. Don't give elusive reasons like your dad used to . I will strangle and smother you to death if you ever dared to adopt the evasive ways of your dad. I have had enough of that hide and seek games from him. Now not the same history repeating with my son as well. (It is better you find a way to admit the truth. Or else I have my ways to get the cat out of the bag. I am your mom, remember )" surili aunty said adopting an intimidating stance visibly exchanging a silent and heated convo moment between Om and aunty.

Her eyes gleamed evilly like green and yellow fire balls. Om's eyes dulled of any sparkles or of its usual twinkle.

( Mom don't you feel that you are going a bit overboard with your threatening spiels to your kids a lot nowadays) " Om asked playfully ,after a moment's silence, yet there was a slight trace of evasiveness in his stance.

He was desperately trying to change the subject. Surili aunty who was well mastered in such mind moving and mind mojo games held a single minded stance

Surili aunty glared at Om viciously .

". ( You are my only son. I agree on that point. But that is not enough a reason to prevent me from burying you alive for the audacity and nerve you are exhibiting to hide things from me and twisting matters with your subterfuge and bluff ways .) I warn you my boy I am not some oldie mom to cry my eyes out for the wrong doings of my reckless son.I am a well informed and smart mom of this technological era who knows to love her son to sky high and when needed knows how to tackle him with deserving punishment without showing any mercy if he failed to live a life that is sane and humane. " Surili aunty snapped at him in a harsh tone sending deathly and poisonous bullets through her glare.

"No mom. It is not like the way you weave things out." Om said in a plaintive attempt to make Surili aunty understand the situation.

"Then explain. What is this scar doing on my son's wrist. That too this stubborn and fresh scar. I need an explanation right now." Surili aunty demanded angrily.

Om by now paled a bit and held a worried stance. He was going all green with nervousness and fear.

I felt the need to break out of my mum stance and speak out the part ,I had in the art work that got etched on his wrist.

I drew in a deep breath preparing myself for the inevitable.

I blinked my eyes.

"Aunty ,it is because of...." I was about to take over the blame all for myself when things seemed going overboard.

"Stay out of this, Pearl. I am talking to my mom and that is enough. You keep your thoughts which are on their way out shut" Om said suddenly in a harsh tone.

"Om!" Surili aunty shook his arm forcefully in warning.

I took a few steps back when those words hit my sense like an avalanche of realization.

Om noticed this disturbance in me.

"Please try to understand, Pearl. I will explain this to mom convincingly." Om said in a soft and gentle tone.

I nodded quietly. Om hauled his mom to a lone corner of the living area and explained things to her.

At times Surili aunty glanced at me with so many conflicting emotions transiting in a broken sequential manner.

I held a sorry look on my face. At first I thought she is being furious towards me for inflicting pain upon her son