Peacock Smiles

Ankit picked up the tenth feather of peacock from under a rock and looked at happily. His mother loved peacock feathers, the multitude of colours on the feather used to bring out a magical smile on her face, which he missed sorely.
He planned to paint a beautiful peacock, stick the feathers on the card and gift it to his mother for her upcoming birthday. He just wanted to make her smile, the way she used to before his father disappeared, two years ago.

"Mom" Ankit jogged into the kitchen and placed the card in front of her ,
"Happy birthday mom" and turned his eyes to her face which failed to show any emotions, as she repeated the same question "Is dad home? " the only words she had spoken in the two years.