"Happy anniversary Mom!!!" Said pie in a sweet voice as she hugged her mom from back while later was preparing oats and chai pudding.

"Thanks sweetheart!!! You are up so early?" Said pie mom in a warm tone as she kissed pie's forehead which was leaning on her right shoulder

" Yeah mom you leave everyday early so thought atleast today I will have breakfast with you.." said pie in an excited voice as she released her mother from her grip..

" Ohh that's wonderful ..call cherry also, I have made pudding for you both .." said Pie's mom as she lifted the vessel full of pudding and moved out of the kitchen towards dinning table.

" Cherry....!!!come soon..!!!.we are waiting for you else I will finish the whole pudding alone.." said pie in a loud voice as she carefully  got settled on the dinning  table.

" Hey...No..Pie..I am coming...!!!!said cherry as she rushed down from stairs towards the dinning table.

"Happy anniversary mom.." said cherry smilingly as she half hugged her mom as later already sitting at the dinning table.

" Thanks sweety.."

" Mom why dont you take a leave today..we will also take a break from cafe and can go out and celebrate.." said cherry while taking the pudding in her bowl

"Ohh dear ..I wish I could but I have an important client meeting today so...." Said Sheryl in a low tone purging her lips

" No problem Mom..We will come back early from cafe and celebrate in the evening" said pie with a smile as she dip her spoon slowly in her bowl full of pudding.

Its been 12 years since you left but ..we still celebrate our marriage anniversary..I am sure you are watching us from there that how much we still love you and how much we miss you honey.. thought Sheryl to herself as she softly  wiped the tears which were flowing down from the corner of her eyes..

" Psstttt..Pie..this is the right time ..ask mom go ahead.." said cherry whispering near pie's left ear and  poking her elbow in pies waist while her eyes were fixed on her mother

" No cherry I will ask later.." said pie whispering back to cherry

" What secret is being shared among my daughters which mommy doesnt know" said Sheryl as she noticed the girls whispering to each other..

" Aammm...nothing..nothing..mom" said pie in a broken quivering voice as they were caught by thier mother..

" Yeah mom pie wants to ask you something.." said cherry in a loud tone with a half smile looking at pie

" Yes Pie tell me " said sheryl as she took the nibble of her pudding

" Actually....mom...few..of my friends are travelling to Zurich to celebrate Christmas and they asked me to join them....so can I go...?" aksed pie in a low tone blankly looking at the dinning table

"What...???? Are you kidding me ..???
No...No...how come you can even think that I will give you permission to travel alone ..???" Said sheryl in loud voice looking angrily at pie as she dropped her spoon in her pudding bowl.

" But mom..I wont be alone..I mean..Kim  will be there with me.." said Pie in a low voice pressing her lips trying to justify her mother

" Pie you very well know next week is cherry's graduation exams and she wont be with you...how come you can even think of asking me for such stupid thing..
No .. you are not going anywhere and that's final.." said Sheryl in an agitated voice as she got up from the dinning table

"But..mom.." said cherry..
" No more discussions on this..." Said Sheryl interuppting cherry as she collected the used dishes from the dinning table and moved towards the kitchen

Pie slowly looked down with a sad face still sitting on her chair

" Don't worry pie , I will try to persuade mom..she will surely say yes..trust me.." said cherry in a suttle tone ,softly holding pie's left hand.

" No cherry.....it is mom's anniversary today and I spoiled her mood..I am such a fool...leave it..Let's not hurt mom anymore.." said pie in a warm voice softly lifting her face

" Mom is really lucky to have  a lovely daughter like you pie.." said cherry as she softly planted a kiss on pie's forehead.

~~~~~~~
It was lunch time sheryl was sitting in cafeteria with her friend Marilyn

" Here Marilyn ..have this pudding ..." Said cherry as she opened one of her lunch box and kept it in front of her friend

" Hey...Marilyn is everything alright?? You look worried..!!!" Said sheryl in a concerned voice softly keeping her right hand on Marilyn's left shoulder

" What shall I say Sheryl...??? Today morning when I called my daughter anna for breakfast she didnt answer
When I checked her room all I found was a letter which said "Mom I am going on a vacation with my friends and will be back after a week " said Marilyn in a low tone looking down at the table with a sad face and teary eyes

" This is really daunting Marilyn .. did you try calling her up..?" Asked sheryl in a worried tone as she shared a tissue with Marilyn

" Yes I did ...So she said she is fine and not to worry about her...
And later when I checked my wallet I found my credit card was missing.." said
Marilyn while wiping tears off her eyes

" I wonder Sheryl we work hard day and night for our kids , sacrificing our personal life and ....this is how our kids treat us...
I must say sheryl you are very lucky that you are blessed with an obedient and sweet daughter like pie..." Said Marilyn sobbing

" Dont worry Marilyn anna will be fine.." said sheryl in a suttle voice as  Marylin's words were echoing in her mind

Pie was sitting on her favourite corner table in the varendah quitely and looking blankly towards the garden

¶¶ You..and I we are like fireworks..¶¶
Oh no Kim is calling ...what shall say her..now, I wish she doesn't ask me about the trip? Pie thought to herself as she lifted her phone

" Hi Kim!!!" Said pie in a suttle voice with a smile trying to sound normal

" Hey Pie..are you all set??
Are you done with your packing ?" Asked Kim in a excited voice while playing with the paper weight kept in her table

" Kim..!!!." Said pie in a low voice

" Oh..Pie I can't tell you how much excited I am..
You know its after long time I am going on a vacation.
I think after my graduation this is going to be my first vacation....
And even ....first Special vacation as you will be there with me.." said Kim in a lowering her tone at the last statement and blushing alone in her cabin

" Ummm...kim.." said pie trying to pitch in the conversation

" Pie you please dont worry about anything..Just pack your essentials rest all I will take care off..
I have taken all the medicines, umbrella warm clothes for you too and even your tickets are done..
And pie we have our flight at 8:30 in the morning so you be ready by 6:30 am I will come and pick you up.." said Kim in an excited voice again interuppting pie

" Kim is so happy ,how can I say no to her ,after a long time I have seen her so happy..she will be wrecked if I will say no...jesus please give me strength to handle this ..." Pie thought to herself with a heavy heart as she closed her eyes softly in regret.

" Pie are you there ..?" Said Kim in a concerned voice when she didnt her pie for quite sometime

" Actually Kim..I....I ."

" Tell me pie what is it..?" Asked Kim now in a more worried voice

" Kim..I wont be able to join you on the trip..." Said Pie finally gathering all her courage to deny Kim

Kim's all excitement suddenly got washed away with Pie's single NO..all her dreams got shattered in one go..for few seconds her mind got out

" Actually Kim..mom has some important official work this week and she needs my help in that so...." Said pie in a suttle tone trying to hide the truth

I know Pie you are lying..I know you dont want to come with me
Why are you such a jerk Kim ? Why you overthink about everything...
You are just a friend to her nothing else..
Now you have put her in such a embarrassed situation also made a fool of yourself  Kim murmured to herself as she slammed her right hand on