Chapter 22

514 89 28
                                        

When Sidharth reached his home, he began searching for his mother. "Maa, maa. Kidhar ho aap?"

"Tere kamre mai hun. Idhar aaja." Sudha replied.

Sidharth saw his mother was cleaning a trolley suitcase with a cloth.

He asked, "Yeh kya kar rahe ho, maa?"

"Abhi free hui hun toh socha yeh saaf kar dun dhul jam gayi hai ispe. Tu jaayega na ab." Sudha's voice choked on the last sentence.

Sidharth held her hands, took her to the bed and made her sit. He lied on the bed keeping his head on her lap. "Aap kyu udaas ho rahe ho. Mein aata rahunga na chhutiyyon mai."

"Tu nahi samjhega abhi. Jab tere bache honge na tab dekhugi mein." Sudha said ruffling his hair.

"Kya maa. Abhi toh mein hi bacha hun." He whined.

"Chal aaja tere kapde pack karte hai." Sudha said but she was interrupted by her son who pulled her beside him. She was lying on the bed while Sidharth was snuggling into her like he used to when he was a kid.

"Kya hua mere bache ko? Aaj itna pyaar." Sudha teased.

Sidharth did not spoke for some time but then he mumbled, "I will miss you maa."

"I will miss you too, mera bacha. I know it is difficult for you too but mera strong bacha hai na tu." Sudha said to which he nodded like a kid. She kept cooing him till they both slept.

They woke up in the evening when Ravindra came searching for Sudha in Sidharth's room. Sidharth did not speak anything to his father. His father too left signing Sudha to come.

Before Sudha could leave the room, Sidharth took a promise. "Maa, abhi jab hum jaayegen na tab aap hi chhodne chalna mujhe. Aur please kuch aisa karna ki aunty chale Shehnaaz ke saath, vo pehle hi dari hui hai."
Sudha kissed his forehead as a promise.

Three days later, Sudha and Sidharth were leaving for Delhi. Though the college would begin after ten days but she gave the reason of settling them and their kitchen, making them aware of the nearby market and public transport.

Kulwant was supposed to go with them but Sudha taunted him if he knew anything about kitchen. Kulwant was baffled with this new behaviour of Sudha with him. Sudha, without beating around the bush, told him that she will take Reet along with her. Kulwant wanted to argue but Ravindra made him understand that they need to be settled there by their mothers. The main problem was of food for which Aasha said that she will handle it. The senior Gills had decided to return one week later as requested by the hosts.

Shehnaaz was coming down supported by Sidharth on one side and Reet on the other. She was panting hard due to pain so Sidharth made her sit on the sofa and Reet went to fetch water for her. Sidharth went back to her room to get her luggage which was only one bag. He shrugged his thoughts for he time being. She was sitting along with Kulwant and Gurvinder but she dared not look at them. She was both angry and hurt from them.

She was taken to the cab where Aasha, Arpita and Ravindra came to meet her. She burst into tears as if she would never meet them again. When Ravindra hugged her, she was quite emotional as no matter what she says but she also wanted love of a father. So as response she hugged him even tigher. Sidharth was happy for her but he became sad as he knew he will not get any hug from his father. Sudha looked at him and blinked her eyes in assurance. He wiped his eyes which Ravindra saw but he did not take any initiative. His ego was getting bigger day by day. Sidharth already had heard enough taunts to take a step. But he went and hugged his Badi Maa and Aru.

Standing By You (SidNaaz❤)Where stories live. Discover now