You Were Always The One

I Am Scared.

Author's POV

"Please dad stop!" Karan exclaimed approaching them and held both of his mom's hands. She squeezed his hands gently to stop him from arguing.

"Yes, now you only tell me what I have to do and what I don't!" his father shouted at the top of his voice and slammed the main door shut leaving the house.

"Mumma..." Karan mumbled facing her. She shook her head and freed her hands from his. She started walking to her room and he followed her. Karan always stood up to his dad ever since he could understand what was going on between his parents and as he grew up, his father stopped bad mouthing his mother as soon as Karan even entered the room possibly because he could not gain control over him as he did over his wife.

"What was it this time?" Karan asked once they were inside her room.

"Karan...the mistake was mine; yesterday evening he was sorting some files into different categories. When he went out for a break, me being an idiot I saw them scattered on his desk and arranged them together again. He was in a hurry today morning and did not see that all the files were kept together and took them to his office. He had to invest extra hours today just to sort them once again." His mother explained him what happened and it pained Karan seeing what years of constant verbal abuse has done to her self-confidence.

"You are not an idiot ma! Don't say that please. He is an idiot to leave everything around so carelessly. It is his mistake that he did not check them yesterday only after returning home. You did not know and you only wanted to help." Karan said trying to make her feel better.

"Hmm..." She only hummed in response. Karan sighed and kneeled down on the floor in front of her as she was sitting on the bed and held her hands.

"Let's go to your favourite ice cream parlour and have that yogurt you liked so much. It's been so long we both went somewhere." Karan offered hoping to cheer her up.

"Karan...So much work is left and I have to prepare dinner also." She protested.

"No excuses ma! You are coming with me. I'll help you with dinner when we return." Karan said getting up and went to his room to get some cash from his pocket money and his phone.

His mom was ready by the time he changed and came down, in a plain saree and her hair in a low ponytail. She didn't use any makeup. She was a simple woman yet she looked elegant to Karan. He smiled at her and they headed out locking the main door knowing his dad won't be returning before dinner time.

They went to her favourite place and Karan told her all about his new school and friends while eating a double scoop chocolate ice-cream. He however did not tell her about Disha's parents not wanting to feel sad when he had to make his mom smile. She listened to him talking continuously and involuntarily a beautiful smile came to her face. Karan felt relieved seeing her smile again.

They went back home and Karan hugged his mom before heading to his room. Karan laid down thinking how his mother could think so low of herself. To Karan, his mom was like a selfless angel who plucked the feathers off her wings to lay them on one's path full of thorns making their journey less painful.

Karan freshened up and went downstairs to help his mother with dinner as he promised. They made dinner together and arranged the table for dinner. Karan's dad came back home, ate in silence and went back to his home office. His mom ruffled his hair wishing him a good night and Karan went back to his room.

It was 10 p.m. He picked his phone and saw a text from Sid.

S: tomorrow's plan still on right?

K: Yep!