Crack The Job

18- Hidden Truths

Siddharth 

Did you ever feel like your mind will be blown off your body and you will remain standing clueless to your surroundings? 

I know this is no way to start off but that was exactly what I felt when I saw my mother emerging out of nowhere. Did I know she came back from her trip? No. Did I expect to see her here? Of course not.

I scurried away in the pit of time, dragging Abhiraj along with me to hide in the corner made by the wide pillars in front of some stranger's door. 

"Wasn't that your mother?" His voice was full of doubt, contemplating his thoughts, ideas and his life too, maybe.

"Yes, don't tell me you don't remember?" 

"Of course… I do," he said, almost acting defensive. "I guess I do. I mean it's been so long so…" His voice trailed off as if he was trying to remember the useless details of his last meeting with my mother.

I sighed and shook him up from his deep dive into memory lane. "Snap out. It doesn't matter. She is here now. Try to find a way."

Abhiraj nodded. He was about to go out when I pulled him back. "What? Do you have a plan already?" 

"I have." I listened intently as desperation took over me. I will do anything to get out of this. "I am going to tell her that I don't know you and leave the country." 

I was left in splits at his answer. I didn't know what I was expecting from this man. "Are you fucking crazy?" I nearly shouted out loud.

"I am going." 

"No, wait." I pulled on his arm. "I will do anything you say. Just help me out, please. Please." I begged him, bowing my head like never before. I could hear Payal calling out for me. I was falling into a deep pit. Only he could save me now. 

"Will you do anything?" He looked amused more than anything. "Sounds great. I have a plan. Play along," he said, patting my back before walking away leisurely. 

I couldn't help but whisper under my breath. "He better not ask me to do anything weird. But can I even trust this guy?" 

In the next moment we were standing in front of all of them. My attempts in hiding clearly failed as my mother's mouth opened wide. "Sid, why are you here?" 

Under the pressure of eyes just constantly focusing on me, I pretend to be as shocked as her. "I was just— but mom, when did you come from Nainital? Wow! I didn't expect that." I was sure that I excelled in that act except my mother didn't really pay any appreciation to my effort. 

She bluntly asserted, "You were skipping work right? And you were trying to run because you were caught." She held her eyebrows up as if telling me to indicate to her that her theory was right. 

I smiled nervously as I turned to Abhiraj. I could only wait to hear from him now. 

"Excuse me, madam. As an employee, I want to say this. Siddharth sir wasn't skipping work. He just wanted to help me and my wife move in." My eyes threatened to bulge out of their sockets and my arms itched to catch him by the collar and hang him onto a cloth hanger because he clearly lost his marbles. 

"What are you—" Payal interrupted when she was cut off abruptly by the self-acclaimed husband that she got mere seconds ago. 

"Siddharth sir is so kind that my wife can't stop praising him. He is an idol." His smiling idiot face turned to smile at me only to creep me out of my mind and give me the chills behind my neck.

I clenched my teeth and punched him in the back, just enough to give him a reality check. Maybe, he seriously lost it. 

"Oh, so you are her husband. Let me show you your room." The middle-aged lady walked ahead of us but not before scanning him up and down.