He wasn’t expecting anyone.
When he opened the door, he froze.
Kalpana was standing there with a small suitcase beside her, wearing a simple cream-colored salwar suit. She looked tired from the journey but gave him a small, nervous smile.
Kalpana: Surprise.
For a few seconds, Keshav couldn’t speak. He just stared at her.
Keshav: Mom…? What are you doing here?
Kalpana: I took a last-minute leave from college. I wanted to see you. I hope it’s okay that I came without telling you.
Keshav: Of course it’s okay. Come in… please.
He quickly took her suitcase inside and made space for her. The flat was a decent 2BHK, clean but simple. Kalpana looked around quietly as she entered.
For the first few hours, they behaved like a normal mother and son. Keshav made tea for her. They sat in the living room and talked about normal things — how her journey was, how Sonam was doing in Pune, how Sanjay was handling his business. There was a slight awkwardness in the air, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. It felt like both of them were carefully avoiding the elephant in the room.
That night, after a simple dinner Keshav cooked, they sat in the living room again. The TV was on but muted. The real conversation finally began.
Kalpana: Keshav… we need to talk about everything that happened.
She looked at him directly. Her voice was calm but serious.
Keshav: I know. I’ve been waiting for this.
Kalpana: These past months… what happened between us… it was wrong on so many levels. I was talking to my own son as if he was someone else. I sent you pictures of myself. I did things on video call with you. I told you things no mother should ever tell her son.
She paused, taking a deep breath.
Kalpana: When I saw your face that night on the video call… I felt like my entire world collapsed. I couldn’t believe that the person I had been sharing everything with — my body, my fantasies, my secrets — was my own child. I deleted the account in panic. I blocked you because I didn’t know how to face you. I needed time to think.
Keshav: I understand, Mom. I really do. I know how wrong it was from my side too. I should have never created that account. I should have stopped when things started getting… personal. But I didn’t. And I’m sorry for that.
Kalpana: I was angry at first. Very angry. But as the days passed, I also started thinking about why it happened. Why I continued talking to you even when it became sexual. Why I sent those pictures. Why I enjoyed our conversations so much.
She looked down at her hands.
Kalpana: The truth is, Keshav… I was lonely. Your father is always travelling. Sonam is busy with her own life. And I… I felt invisible for a long time. When “Aryan” started talking to me, listening to me, making me feel desired and beautiful again… I got addicted to that feeling. I know it’s not an excuse. But that’s what happened.
Keshav: I felt the same, Mom. Talking to you became the best part of my day. Even though I knew it was wrong, I couldn’t stop. Because for the first time, I felt close to you in a way I never had before.
