Short Tales

Part 10

Hey guys. I'm back with another update. Thank you for reading my stories. Vote and comment if you like them.

Let's start...

Sidharth's mother gasped hearing his confession. He had closed his eyes fearing her reaction.

She hugged and whistled the air out.

"Finally! You know it's a very tiring job to act. I don't have to do it anymore."

"What? What do you mean?"

" I simply mean that I knew everything."

"How do you know?"

Sid was utterly shocked hearing her. The problem they thought they had was never a problem.

"Baby, the minute she entered the home I knew she was your girlfriend."

"But how?"

"Okay listen to me. Your dad died when you all were very young. I had to take care of three children on my own. Since you two were younger, you took my whole time I had after the office. Vikas was getting depressed. I had to send him to the hostel since doctor advised change of place. But maybe I pushed him unintentionally. But eventually he found happiness there. He was very happy with the Sharmas. Maybe more than he could be here.

You have always been close to me. The closest among my children. If you expect me to leave you unguarded in the college when you were merely 18 then you're absolutely wrong. I knew about the people you met, especially the girls."

"You spied on me?" He sounded disappointed which he was.

"No, I guarded you against people who could destroy your life. Do you remember the Taniya girl who asked you out?"

"Taniya Mittal?" She got up to rejoin her work.

"Yeah! She sold opium in the college and you were her next target."

He felt suffocating in the situation remembering he never the girl again. He looked at his mother. She'd never do something illegal. Although they had the power but he didn't want it to be true what he thought may have happened.

"What happened to her?"

"She's in jail now-a-days. I had nothing to do with it before you think something weird. I just warned her to stay away from you and she complied."

He felt relieved of the weight on his chest. But suddenly he remembered something.

"So, you knew about Shehnaaz?"

He knew the answer already. But when she left the gift wrapping and looked at him directly in his eyes, his doubt was confirmed.

"Yes, I knew from the day you asked her for library. I was shocked. Mera beta itna unromantic kaisa ho sakta hai. Main paise to barabar bhejti thi na phir bhi library date. Come on Sid."

Sid shook his head.

"But why mom? What's the need for this surveillance."

"You know tumhare dad kitna kujh chhod ke gye hain tum sab ke liye. I had to protect you. Ki tum log kisi ki greed ke shikar na ho jao. You were naive, baby. I had no other option to save your heart from breaking."

"If you knew about me and Shehnaaz, why didn't you confront me before?"

"I didn't want to burden you. I wanted you to introduce her to me when you thought it's time. I love you but I am not gonna force my decision on you."

He again sighed.

"I'm speechless. I don't know what to say anymore."

"Aur Maan lo mere bina ab bhi sad songs sun rhe hote."