˗ˏˋ humid days and little wonders 'ˎ˗

➷

Only a few days after Naina leaves, Mahika wakes up to the sight of light sprinkle of rain outside her window.

Her mood immediately plummets some more—which is ridiculous, considering that lately, her emotions seemed to have found a permanent home on the floor—because apparently, it was possible for her week to get worse.

Mahika loves the rain, she really does.

But not when she knows it's going to drizzle upon the city for a few minutes and then stop abruptly, leaving behind a dense blanket of humidity in the air for the rest of the day. She scrunches her nose at the thought of having her clothes sticking to her the entire day, the thought of spending hours and hours outside doing hundreds of things with her mind stubbornly focused on how badly she needs a lukewarm shower so she can smell like herself again.

She considers skipping for the day, but the idea is gone as soon as it appears.

Mahika probably couldn't be that person even if she tried.

So she begrudgingly swings one leg over the edge of the bed and then the other, hunching over and burying her face in her hands for a few seconds before allowing her feet to touch the floor.

A specific kind of heaviness had settled on her shoulders as soon as Naina had left, and although it isn't enough to stop her from going about her day, its presence still demands enough attention to remind her that it's there. Throughout the day. Mahika doesn't know how long it's going to stay, but she can only hope that it doesn't weigh her down more with time.

When she brushes her teeth, her eyes pointedly stay away from the mirror in case she would notice the permanent frown etched on her face and only feel worse. Doesn't spend too long in the shower, aware that it's the one space in her house where she overthinks the most. Tries not to look at the framed picture of her and Naina on her desk from four years ago when they went out for a spontaneous drive so early in the morning that the sun hadn't come out yet, and fails.

She does fleetingly wonder if she's being dramatic—like this isn't supposed to hurt as much as she's letting it. Tells herself that Naina is only a call away and it's not like they'll never see each other again in person, right?

Just because there's distance between them doesn't mean their friendship is going to dwindle... right?

But before Mahika became friends with Naina, she had felt like the loneliest person alive. She knew it wasn't healthy to rely on another person for emotional support so heavily, but it had happened long before Mahika could have stopped it. Her parents got divorced. Her mother was never around much because of her work. No siblings. She was never too good at making friends. And Naina was the only person she saw most regularly.

And now, Mahika doesn't know what to do with herself.

Because as much as she tries to tell herself that she's going to get used to it soon, she can't stop wondering if it'll ever stop feeling like someone ripped half her heart, packed it inside a box, and shipped it to the other end of the world.

She finishes the rest of her morning routine in slow-motion.

And sure enough, when she's about to leave the house, the rain has stopped. Mahika couldn't be less thrilled about being right even if she tried, though. But before she can convince herself to just give up and stay in for the day, she throws the door open and shoots one last disdainful look at the sky before stepping out.

Screw it, she thinks, when she remembers that she didn't make herself any coffee today. I deserve to drink ridiculously overpriced coffee for one day.

If she scowls all the way to the coffee shop, there's no one around to point it out.

-

Despite what Mahika thought, it's a good day outside by the time she's done with half her classes. There's just the mildest of chills in the air to make it pleasant enough for a drive, and hearing people laugh and chatter in the cafeteria is a nice change from the stress that seems to blanket the campus during exam season.

Mahika, who has her cheek smushed against Dhruv's shoulder in defeat, though, can't exactly bring herself to enjoy it.

"Wow," Keerti says, blank-faced when Dhruv sighs and tilts his own head to rest it on Mahika's. "The two of you are stinking up the place with your negativity."

Samay snorts.

"No, for real. It's like, hurting me in the chest," Sakshi adds and then pretends to wince.

"Then leave," Dhruv deadpans, and doesn't even flinch when a tissue comes flying in his direction and then bounces off his forehead. Mahika sees a crack in Keerti's expression though; the way her lips twitch in amusement before she schools her face back into one of indifference.

"Cheer the fuck up."

"Wow, that totally just took away all of my misery," Dhruv says in the most emotionless voice known to humanity, not moving an inch. "My chest no longer feels like someone punched it into concavity. My headache has mysteriously disappeared. I no longer want to flip this table."

Mahika feels the amusement quickly make its way up her throat, bubbling out in a little giggle.

"Alright, Tennyson, we get it," Keerti retorts but with mirth dancing in her eyes. She folds her arms across her chest and leans forward. "Are you two seriously going to keep being like this? Naina would punch you in the throat."

Mahika heaves a sigh. "She would."

"I can do that on behalf of her—" Sakshi starts.

"I'm the only one that gets to hit Dhruv," Samay interrupts, reaching forth to touch Dhruv but it's like the other boy moves at the speed of light, grabbing his wrist and threatening to twist it. "—sheesh, fuck, I was kidding. I was kidding. Please let go—"

Mahika pulls away from the commotion and straightens up in her seat.

Dhruv notices and turns to give her a smile that looks sheepish and apologetic at the same time, but she waves it off with a smile and stretches her arms above her head. "Do you guys have any plans this Wednesday?"

Sakshi clicks her tongue. "I have to study."

Keerti scrunches her nose. "Me too."

"Me too," Mahika nods. "I was hoping we could meet up and study together?"

"That sounds great."

"Yeah! Your place?"

Mahika raises both her thumbs up in approval.

"Now, where's my invite?" Samay complains. "And Dhruv's? You guys are mean."

"Dhruv likes to study alone," Sakshi points out, raising an eyebrow.

"And you don't like to study at all," Mahika adds in a sing-song voice.

"Hey, that's not—" One look of do-you-really-want-to-do-this from Dhruv, and Samay slumps back in his chair with his arms crossed. "Fine, yeah. Whatever. Have fun. I don't care."

"We're literally meeting up to study," Keerti scoffs.

"I don't care."

Mahika shakes her head at them and then turns to Dhruv. He raises his brows in question when their eyes meet, and Mahika asks, "Do you want to? Join us, I mean."

He smiles, reaches out to ruffle her hair, and replies, "Absolutely not."

-

By the time it's late in the evening, Mahika is feeling much, much better than she did when the day started. The knot in her chest has loosened a little ever since she made plans with her friends.

Having something to look forward to always makes her feel better.

And when her phone rings and 'Ma' with two tiny pink hearts beside it flashes on the screen, a slow, happy grin immediately makes its way to her face.

"Maaa," she drags out in a childlike singsong voice, her eyes almost closing with how wide her smile is as soon as she hears her mother's affectionate little laugh on the other end. "I miss you."

"I miss you too, mera baccha," she responds, and Mahika feels a squeeze in her chest from the burning need to hug her mother. "How are things going? Are you taking care of yourself? Have you eaten?"

"I have eaten, yes, my friends threatened to come over and babybird me all of my food when I was about to procrastinate on dinner." Her mother laughs again, the sound both soothing the traces of loneliness clinging to Mahika's heart and increasing it tenfold at the same time. "I am taking care of myself, I promise. And things are... going." The last part comes out sounding small, and the very next second, Mahika shakes her head at the way she automatically seems to turn into an open book whenever her mother is involved.

"I knew I liked your friends for a reason." Mahika pulls her knees to her chest and puts her chin on top of them, smiling to herself. Her mother does like her friends. She's always been very openly affectionate with all of them, and it's part of the reason why her mother is their favorite parent among everyone's. Her voice is soft when she asks, "You want to talk about it, sweetheart?"

"Ah, you know how it is with Naina and I. I'm just being dramatic about the situation. I'll feel better once I talk to her."

There's the sound of a little shuffling, so Mahika assumes that her mother moved the phone to her other ear, and then the very obvious clicking of a tongue. "What did I say about belittling your pain, hm?" Mahika smiles sheepishly. They had a very long talk about how Mahika tends to pretend like the things she's upset about aren't worth being upset about. A lot. "You two are inseparable, Mahi." Mahika has always adored the way her name sounds when it comes out of her mother's mouth. Like it's sacred. Protected. Made out of only the purest form of love in the world. "You're allowed to miss her. And be upset about the distance. I would be worried if you weren't."

"It's just... I feel... childish. You know?" Mahika presses her cheek to her knee, tightening her arm around her legs. "Like... we're grown women. I should know how to deal with this."

"Mahi... I'm forty-four. I've had to live away from you so many times in the last decade. And I still miss you every single day."

And... oh. It's like something just clicks inside Mahika's head. She hadn't really sat back and thought about it this way, even though she, at twenty-three years of age, misses her mother every single day just as much as she did back when she was a teenager.

Now it just feels silly that she was trying to convince herself that it's weird how hard she's taking Naina's physical absence in her life. She was feeling miserable about feeling miserable, and having at least the first half taken away because of a few simple words from her mother breaks down some of the rocks sitting in her stomach.

"Also, that's kind of why I called you right now. I can't believe I almost forgot," her mother adds after a few seconds, and Mahika straightens her legs out and leans back against the pillow on the headrest of her bed. "I've been meaning to do this for a while now but I didn't want to bring it up until I had everything in place."

"Mhm?"

"I'm coming home, Mahi."

"Oh—oh? When? Wait, for how long? I didn't think you were going to get a break anytime soon—"

"In two weeks." Mahika can barely contain her squeal of happiness before her mother adds, "For good."

Mahika blinks, frozen in place. "For... huh?"

"I'd been working on figuring out a way where I can continue working for the company without traveling so much. I love my job, but... I think it's time for your old mother to take a step back from this hectic life."

Feeling tears spring to her eyes, Mahika asks, "You're really coming home? You're gonna stay?"

"I am." Mahika can hear the smile in her voice. "It's going to be a bit different, but I want to work from home now." Trying not to sniffle or let out a sob, Mahika pulls out a tissue from the box on her bedside table and holds it to her nose. "I want to do other things now. I don't know. Cook new dishes. Try gardening. Spend more time with you."

"Oh, my God, you can't garden for shit, Ma."

"Language! And how dare you? I have never had the time to do it properly—"

"You literally killed an entire bed of perfectly healthy periwinkles!"

"You're being very rude right now."

Mahika snickers. "Don't try to use the 'I'm your mother' card on me. Maybe you should just stick to what you already know."

There's a sigh on the other end, but Mahika already knew it was fake before it dissolves into a chuckle. "Fine, maybe you're right."

They talk for a while, laughing and bickering, and by the time they're both ready to hang up and get some rest, Mahika feels lighter than she has in a long, long while. The realization that her mother is coming home still hasn't settled in completely, and Mahika can't comprehend the extent of her happiness right now.

She hasn't had her mother live beside her for more than a few weeks at a time for years now.

This feels like a seemingly far-fetched dream coming true.

It's not the end of surprises for her, though, because only a few minutes after, the sound of the doorbell echoes inside the house. Glancing at the clock while she slides her feet into her slipper, she reminds herself to look through the keyhole before opening the door.

Who is it at almost nine? Do the neighbors need something?

One look through the hole and the sight of Keerti and Sakshi standing on the other end stuns her.

Blinking, she checks again.

It is them.

She opens the door quickly, her mouth open and her eyes falling on the two bags on their feet.

Sakshi reaches forward for a hug first, and then Keerti follows, the latter pressing her cheek to Mahika's shoulder, and her words replacing the air of confusion between them with warmth.

"We figured you must be lonely so we thought we'd turn that study date day to a study date week instead."

➷

a/n

hello ! hi ! i hope you guys have been well !

for my non-hindi speaking readers, 'mera baccha' translates to "my child" in a  very tender way. it's is a very common endearment that parents (mostly moms) use here ! 

and as always i am very grateful for all of you. thank you for reading, and thank you for being patient! please let me know how your week was in the comments if you want <3

until next time x