Life can be unpredictable. There are days when you wake up and wish things were different.
So it was with Darren. He had got up in the wee hours of the morning and had to take an early morning flight to his hometown which was 358 km away to meet his parents. His work required a lot of travelling as a result of which he would be away from home for many days. Today was his mother’s birthday. He wouldn’t miss celebrating it for anything in the world. His mother was his world as she stood by him at all times. She was the one person he adored as she never gave up on him. She believed in him and after all the struggles life would throw at him. He turned it in his stride. He was the Vice President of a bank and with every passing year, he added new accolades to his career. He was so busy making his career that he had turned away from all temptations his peers would have given in. Cupid had never struck him or in other words, he simply never let him do so.
Darren was always punctual and today even more so as they were in for cloudy skies. He arrived at the airport just on the dot. The weather had other plans and it started to get worse with rain pouring down. As he proceeded for the baggage screening his flight showed the delayed status on the screens as well an announcement was made.
‘I rather get the window seat to save the baggage falling on my head’ he thought to himself and proceeded to the check in counter. The ground staff greeted him and checked him in. During this process he saw this girl at the adjacent counter. She had pitch black hair freely flowing. She had pretty eyes but unfortunately she had created a commotion. The flight delayed news didn’t go too well with her.
Darren proceeded to the security check and started to read the newspaper. His mobile phone rang and he was happy to see his mom’s name flash on the screen. “ Happy Birthday Mom! Oh! I missed you so much. I am on my way home, the flight is delayed but I think I should get there soon.” “ See you soon baby. Miss you too. Keep us posted if any change in plans.” Saying so Darren’ s mom hung up.
“Mom’s birthday?” said that girl with the long black hair. “ Sorry, I eves drooped on your conversation with your mom. Hi! I am Natasha and you would be? ” “ Darren” saying so they exchanged pleasantries. Natasha was quite restless and impatient while Darren was used to delays and continued to read his paper.
The flight got further delayed and the passengers got complimentary meals. The flight kept on getting delayed. Now the passengers were agitated about this Natasha came to Darren and said, “ Look I am going for my refund, will you accompany me I am booking my taxi, let’s split the amount. What say?” Before Darren could even utter anything Natasha replied, “ Thank you!” So Darren just tagged along. Darren was mostly silent but Natasha kept up the conversation. Slowly Darren started to get attracted to her. She was bright, witty, funny, and bold she had just graduated in Physiotherapy and was joining a hospital soon to gain some experience.
Above all she looked pretty and had pulled some string of his heart and he wanted to know more about her.
“There we reached home sweet home.” Natasha jumped out of the car. The rain kept pouring she wasn’t afraid of getting wet. Darren helped her with her bags.
“ I have this crazy idea why don’t to come inside say hello to my folks it’s only one hour more. Eat something.” Natasha was beginning to miss him too. She was attracted to his calm, quiet and brilliant personality.
Darren was willing to do anything to get to know her family. He paid the taxi. Got his luggage out. Called his brother to pick him up and sent his location.
Natasha’s parents welcomed them in. Darren had a bath changed and sat at the dinner table with them. Natasha’s mom Celine had spread a wide array of dishes. She was a great cook. The aroma had already gotten Darren started. Her father Jack was a contractor. While her mother was a teacher. Celine was widowed early and had lost her son from her first marriage as he was stolen from her at the bus station where she kept him under the supervision of a couple where she had gone to buy milk powder for him. Natasha was her student and slowly she fell in love with her when Jack proposed to her. Celine said yes so she had Jack to make her life colorful and Natasha could have the motherly love that she missed as she had lost her mother too. Natasha had a kid brother Steven who meant the world to her. They were devout Christians and Darren was excited to introduce his family.
The door bell rang Jack went to answer it. Celine went in to the kitchen to bring out more cutlery for Darren’s brother. Darren was shocked to see his parents instead of his brother. He hugged his mother and wished her happy birthday. Jack ushered them in to the dining room.
While they had just seated they heard the sound of the plates falling to the ground. Celine was in shock and so were Darren’s parents. Celine raised her finger towards Darren’s mother.
“It was you, where is my son?” saying so Celine charged at Darren’s mother choking her. It took a great deal to separate them both. 28 years ago she had entrusted her 4 month baby boy in their arms. Everything was crystal clear.
Darren’s mom Stacy had lost her son in childbirth. She was in deep pain. When Celine entrusted them with her son she wanted to keep him. She convinced her husband to take a bus and left. That lost son turned out to be Darren. He was raised as their own, loved and cared for. They eventually had a son later. But Darren filled the emptiness that they needed initially.
Darren was shattered, he didn’t quite know how to respond to this newfound truth. On one side was his biological mom and on the other side was the mom he knew that had raised him. They all left him to decide what needed to be done.
Darren loved his mother Stacy and decided to live with her. Although she had stolen him for her selfish needs she had given him unconditional love. He decided to know his biological mother too.
Six months later Darren was ready to say “ I Do “to Natasha. Stacy asked Celine to walk him to the altar. Darren felt blessed and loved. He had both Celine and Stacy and now was willing to surrender to Natasha for happily ever after.