The morning sun slowly spread its golden light across the small village. Birds chirped softly in the trees, and the cool breeze carried the smell of fresh earth. Arjun walked along the narrow path that led to the small house of the old lady.
Since the day he met her, something had changed in him. Her words, her calm voice, and the strange sadness in her eyes kept coming back to his mind. He didn't know why, but he felt that there was a story hidden behind her quiet life.
When he reached the house, he saw her sitting outside on the wooden chair again. Just like before, she was looking at the road as if she was waiting for someone.
"Good morning, Grandma," Arjun said with a smile.
The old lady turned her head slowly. When she saw Arjun, a gentle smile appeared on her face.
"Ah, Arjun. You came again," she said softly.
Arjun sat down on the small bench beside her.
"Yes. I thought you might feel lonely."
The old lady looked at him for a moment. Her eyes were warm but tired.
"Lonely?" she said with a small laugh. "Loneliness becomes a friend when you live with it for many years."
Arjun didn't know what to say. For a few moments, both of them stayed silent.
Then Arjun gathered courage and asked, "Grandma… can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"Why do you always sit here and look at the road? Are you waiting for someone?"
The old lady's smile slowly faded. Her eyes moved back to the road.
"Yes," she said quietly. "I am waiting."
Arjun felt curious.
"Who are you waiting for?"
For a long moment, the old lady didn't speak. The wind moved the leaves above them, and somewhere in the distance a dog barked.
Finally she said, "My son."
Arjun was surprised.
"Your son?"
"Yes," she said. "His name is Rohan."
Arjun leaned forward slightly.
"Where is he now?"
The old lady looked far away, as if she was seeing something from the past.
"Many years ago," she began slowly, "Rohan left this village to study in the city. He was very smart. Everyone in the village believed he would become a big man one day."
A soft smile appeared on her face as she remembered.
"He used to run around this house, laughing and playing. He always told me, 'Ma, one day I will build you a big house in the city.'"
Arjun listened quietly.
"What happened then?" he asked.
The old lady sighed.
"Life happened."
She continued, "After finishing his studies, he got a good job in a big company. At first, he called me every week. Sometimes he came home during festivals."
Her voice became softer.
"But slowly… the calls became less."
Arjun felt a small pain in his chest.
"Did he stop coming?"
The old lady nodded slowly.
"Yes. First he said he was busy. Then he said work was difficult. Then… there were no calls."
Arjun looked shocked.
"You mean he never came back?"
The old lady looked down at her hands.
"It has been ten years."
Ten years.
Arjun couldn't believe it.
"Did you try calling him?" he asked.
"I did," she said. "But his phone number changed. I wrote letters too… but I never received a reply."
The wind blew gently again, moving the edge of her sari.
Arjun felt angry, though he didn't know the man.
"How can someone forget their own mother?" he said quietly.
The old lady quickly shook her head.
"No, no," she said. "Don't say that."
"But—"
"He did not forget me," she said firmly, though her voice trembled. "He must be busy… or maybe he is facing problems."
Arjun realized something then.
Even after ten years, she still believed in her son.
She still waited.
Every day.
Every morning.
Looking at the road.
As if one day he would appear and say, "Ma, I'm back."
Arjun felt his throat tighten.
"Grandma," he said gently, "do you really think he will come back?"
The old lady looked at the road again.
Her eyes were calm.
"A mother never stops waiting," she said.
For a moment, Arjun didn't speak. The silence felt heavy.
Then suddenly he had an idea.
"Grandma," he said, "do you have any photo of him?"
The old lady looked surprised.
"Yes… inside the house."
"Can I see it?"
She slowly stood up and went inside. Arjun waited outside.
After a minute she returned with an old photo frame.
The photo inside was slightly faded. It showed a young man in a graduation gown, smiling proudly.
Arjun studied the picture carefully.
"He looks happy," Arjun said.
"Yes," the old lady replied softly. "That was the day he promised he would never leave me alone."
The words felt heavy in the air.
Arjun held the photo for a moment and then returned it to her.
In his heart, a decision was slowly forming.
He didn't know how yet.
But he wanted to help her.
No one should wait alone for ten years.
"Grandma," Arjun said, standing up, "I will come again tomorrow."
The old lady smiled.
"I will be here."
As Arjun walked back along the village road, his mind was full of thoughts.
Who was Rohan now?
Where was he?
And why had he really disappeared?
Arjun looked back once at the small house.
The old lady was still sitting on the chair.
Still looking at the road.
Still waiting.