An effort for love

“Mother, I do not want to wish him. It is nothing but a formality.”

Today was the birthday of Manjot, Keshav’s cousin. Last time, it was Keshav’s birthday when they talked to each other.

“This is what happens. I’ll wish him, and then we pause. It is then when we remember to ask about each other’s work. Just for a sake of formality, we ask about life, the answer to which is always that it is good. It is then followed by bidding a very cold goodbye with a passing promise to catch each other up later.”, Keshav was visibly irritated at the moment.

“So what is bad about it. That is how it is supposed to be. This is how relatives talk”, his mother responded.

“When these relationships only has a name, why are they even needed. Why do I have to talk. I don’t love them, and they don’t love us either. What is the point?”, Keshav interrupted his mother.

“It is because when there are good times, and, especially, when there are bad times, you want to have your relatives to support you. These are the only people who will stand by your side. Rest of the people might not.”, Mother said, “And then, people gossip.”

“So let them.”

“Son, you are only a kid.”

“I am 25”, Keshav urged.

“But not 54.”

Keshav smiled and tried to say something, but felt short of words.

“Anyhow, pick up the phone, do not argument with me, and call your brother.”, his mother yelled.

“I don’t feel like it. I feel uncomfortable.”

“But you love him.”

“Not like I used to.”

“Whatever you feel like, do it?”, his mother said annoyingly, “I do not seem to understand you people. He doesn’t call. You don’t call. Both of you will regret it. Later on you will only put fault on each other.”

“No”, Keshav grimaced, “I’ll only put fault on you and his parents.”

“You know every summers I looked forward to visit him. That didn’t change until he went away for his studies, and I went for mine. I was so busy in my world that soon I forgot about him.”

“You both needed to build your careers. Now you can again start where you left off.”, his mother tried to pacify.

“It doesn’t happen like that maa. We have both grown so much away from each other that I do not know him at all.”, Keshav frowned, “He just feel like a stranger. Tell me how can I talk to any random person.”, Keshav paused for a moment and then continued, “Talking on a phone is not going to bring me closer to him. Only when the time is right and conditions are, we might start behaving like family. Until then, I would like it to remain as it is, and it is good that he doesn’t do the formalities either.”

“As you wish. Still I would like you to do what you call a formality. Do it if you feel like it, I’ll like it.”