Can't let YOU go !!!

CHAPTER 11: MOM'S EFFORTS

In the Shukla's

Its was almost 9 when Sidharth reached home to find his Mom in the living room. He hugged his mom.

"Hi Mom." He squished her in his arms.

"Hi beta. How was your day?" she asked like regular.

"It was okay" he lied. It wasn't the regular one. He jumped on the sofa to get some rest.

"khana lagadu?" she asked.

"No, thori der baad. Aap baitho na yaha pe." He patted the place next to his.

She sat on the sofa with him. The moment she sat, he placed his head on his lap. He cooed like a baby. In front of his mom he becomes a baby sometimes. Or otherwise he takes every decision regarding his family and every other things.

He rubbed his face in her lap.

"Mera bacha. Kya hua? Kuch bother kar raha hain tujhe?" she asked rubbing hid forehead and hair.

"Nehi to." He said

"to fir aaj aisa kyun?" she asked.

"yese hi. Kabhi kabhi mujhe chota baccha banke aapke godi me uthneka mann karta hain." He said that made her mother chuckle but her eyes were little teary. Remembering how her son didn't get enough time for his childhood. He had to be matured before age. After his father's death he had to be the responsible one for his family. He died 20 years ago. When he was just a boy of 15. His two sisters were much elder than him. They were mature enough to take this sorrow but Sidharth who was a little boy, who used to play whole day at the playground suddenly changed. He started to act mature after that. His sisters were married. He started to take care of her mother like a grown up. He used to hold her when she cried her heart out in her grief for his father. He also cried a lot for his father. They both used to cry together for hours.

Sidharth was slowly changing But one night changed everything in Sidharth. He woke up at midnight when he saw her mother room light was on. Though it was dimmed. His room is the furthest corner in their house. He walked a little towards his mother's room when he heard her mother's crying word. He stopped in her gate. He didn't went in. he was just listening her mother's helpless condition. She was lying on the floor with a photo frame in her hand. He heard her mom saying

"Aap ne aisa kyun kiya. Saab app ki hi galti hain. Aapne bola tha kabhi nehi chodenge mujhe. Aab apki woh baat kahan gayi. Aap juthe ho Ashok, aap jhute ho. Aapne kahan tha zindegi me aagar mujhe kabhi bhi kisiki jarurat hogi to aap hamesha mere sath honge. Aab ap kahanhain. Mujhe aaj aapki jarurat hain. Main ye akela nehi kar sakti. Pretty netu to phir vi thik hain, main Sidharth ka karu. Kaise usse aapni papa ki kami mehsus na hone du. Wohh mere paas aake apke barein me baat karta hain. Rota hain. Main uske samne ro ti bhi nehi taki usse bura na lage. Par itna kaise kar lu!!!!!!! Aap ne itne pyaar se rakkha mujhe ki apke bagair kuch nehi kar pati main. Aapne hi bigaara hain mujhe. Saab apki galti hain. Aapko nehi jana chahiye tha hame chorke. Main uss bacche ko samhalu ya phir khudko. Bataiye mujhe."

She kept on saying and saying till her voice went lower and slow. After hours she fell asleep. Sidharth was watching and listening all these standing near the gate. His t shirts upper part was drained with tears. He also cried his heart out seeing his mom so helpless. He shed silent tears which was rare for a fifteen years. He wanted to jump in her moms arm and cry loud but he didn't. he came back to his room. He didn't sleep that night. He thought about a lot of things. He decided not to cry anymore in front of his mother. He decided to take care of her as his father always took care of her. he decided to be a good son.

From that day he didn't go to play cricket anymore. He spent his time in study and with his mother. His one sister Priti lived in the same building as theirs. She shifted here to be near to her mother after their father's death. She helped a lot. She is the 2nd mother of Sidharth. He became silent and responsible from then.

Her mother remember all these listening to his words. She had tears in her eyes. She replied

"mere godi me aaneke liye tujhe firse baccha banne ki jarurat hain? Tu to mera baccha hi hain. Mera chota sa baccha." She patted his cheeks.

"chota sa!! Main aapko chota lagta hu?" he chuckled and lifted his head to look at his mother's face.

"To aur kya. Mera chota baccha hi to hain tu" she again stated.

He laughed this time.

"Main chota sa!! If I stay like this a little longer Mom, you're lap is gonna hurt. Itna bada admi hoon. Sare chhup jate hain mere piche." He chuckled.

She also let out a little laugh.

"Tu jitna bhi bada ho jaye aur bhi jayada lamba ho jaye fir bhi tum era chota baccha hi hain. Bass" she sternly said this time. Sidharth accepted the defeat.

"Okay, mann liya. Chalo batao apki charity ke kaam kaisa chal raha hain?" he got up again in a sittiiing position.

"soch rahi hoon ke kuch karu. Tere papa ki death anniversary bhi aane vali hain na" she said

"Ha, jaroor. I deposited some money in your account three days ago. Waise kya karna chahati hain aap?" he enquired.

"ek NGO hain. Handicapped and orphan bacche ke welfare ke liye kam karte hain. Soch rahi hu waha ke trust me de du paise. Kya bolta hain?" She asked his opinion.

"that's very good Mom. You want me to talk to them?" he asked

"No, I have already talk to them. In fact they are having a fund raiser function in 24th this month. I am invited there. I also had a extra pass for you." She said.

"What!!! for me!!! I am not going anywhere. I'm too busy." He shrugged his shoulders.

"You should come with me. You really need some change. Ek din hospital se chutti lega toh kuch nehi hoga. You are not the only Doctor in our hospital." She suggested him.

"But Mom. I don't go to such places, you know that." He said softly to make her understand.

"you will have so much fun there to see little children performing." She defended

"No, Mom please."

"if not for me then come for your Dad. Its for him. I want you with me there."

Sidharth had nothing to say anymore and nothing to defend also. He have to go now. He cant say no after this.

"Okay Mom. But not for much time. Please don't say anything more. I will go with you and will be there for an hour. Not more than that. You can stay there as long as you want." He said and stood up.

"Okay. Thanks beta. Aab dinner kar le."

"Haan, main fresh ho ke aya." He said and left the living area.

Sidharth's Mom had a winning smile in her face. she had a light of hope in her eyes. She had met a girl last week in smile foundation. The same foundation where she want to give a donation. She really liked the girl. She was giggling around with the children. She was teaching them dance for their performance. Those children were always roaming around her. calling her every minutes. But she wasn't getting irritated a bit. She smiled at them in every response. She did it for hours but she had a constant happy smile in her face. she also made everyone laugh around her. nobody can be sad around her. she spread some positivity around her. everyone gets it. She can make anyone happy just by her presence. Sidharth's mother felt it. She stood in silence for a long time observing her. She has already liked her.

She wants her son to meet this girl. The girlis very beautiful from inside out. she works in that NGO. Sidharth's Mom had alittle talk with her. That girl talk to her as if she knows her from years. Shewasn't uncomfortable or made her feel that. She made everyone close to her. Shewas so sweet. She got her name there. Her name was SHEHNAAZ.