Never let me go Ever

22

"Don't tell me that this pretty young lady is your daughter?" Suraj pulled Pihu's cheeks lovingly. Pihu smiled broadly accepting his compliments. Which girl doesn't like such compliments?

"There is no trace of you. She looks really pretty" Suraj added as Arjun laughed at Shagun's expressions. Pihu did look pretty with her egg-shaped eyes which don't belong to Shagun in any way. Her fair complexion and her cute dimple add more beauty to her appearance. 

"But mom, can you sit beside dad?" Pihu asks as she doesn't like how Shagun is all smiles near Suraj. She felt uncomfortable and sensitive. 

"Possessive and smart kid" Suraj mumbled and sat a little away from Shagun as Pihu smiled again. 

"But yeah, Pihu is an exact copy of my wife. You can't say that to my wife" Arjun commented qs Shagun looked at his side with longing. She did feel so special with his single comment. Suraj could see her expressions and was wondering what's wrong with their relationship? He could see that they were happy but not happy enough to act in front of him. Should he ask her about it? Will it be relevant?

"Why didn't you introduce yourself as Shagun's friend back then?" Arjun asked to change the topic.

"Back then, I was not stable enough to face Shagun. Now when I meet you again, I think I will meet her at the party which we are organizing for your film." Suraj reasoned himself.

"Will you mind if I call you by name?" Pihu asked all of a sudden, diverting all attention to her side. 

"Pihu, call him uncle." Shagun strictly eyed her daughter making her pout more. Suraj laughed at both. 

"Oh come on mom, how can i call such a handsome guy an uncle. It will be a sin to the entire universe. I mean look at his style. He doesn't look like an uncle ``Pihu's words made Shagun widen her eyes. Her daughter is all grown up now and she should check on her seriously.

"Thanks" Suraj bowed his head as Pihu winked at him

"How about I call you a partner?" Pihu asked excitedly as Suraj gave thumbs up to her.

"Okay partner. I gotta go. My friends are waiting. Party time you know?" Pihu winked at Suraj as Shagun stood up abruptly to go to her side.

"Which party? Where are you going? It's evening. When will you come back? Where is the party?" Shagun asked all questions without any gap making Pihu roll her eyes. 

"Mom please relax. I am not a kid. And trust me for god's sake. There are no boys at the party. We girls are having a night out. But I will reach home before 12. I won't stay out with them. As I know you worry a lot for me" Pihu stressed the last sentence with a low sigh. How she wished to stay with her friends but her mom won't allow for that. And Pihu doesn't want to hurt her mom for anything.

"Shagu, she is a grown-up girl. You should give her some space and trust her. She is telling you, right? That there are no boys. Then I guess you should believe her words" Suraj voiced his opinion.

"Sandy, don't believe her. She is a number one liar" Shagun commented as Pihu pouted her lips.

"If she has a boyfriend, I wouldn't mind. But all her friends are" Shagun stopped and massages her temples not able to say the word. Suraj looked at her in confusion.

"Are lesbians" Arjun completed as Suraj widened his eyes. Pihu didn't dare to look at her parents in that awkward moment.

"I just hope that she doesn't come with any girl one day demanding to get married to her." Shagun sighed tiredly and both the guys laughed out loud.

"Mom. They are not lesbians. It's just. You won't understand" Pihu defended her friends but gave up at last as she also knew that no one would believe no matter what she says. 

"Shall I go?" Pihu asked as Arjun gave thumbs up to his daughter and gave her a flying kiss. She ran instantly not wanting to stay there more.

"I should also leave." Suraj stood up as Shagun's face fell instantly. She didn't want him to leave this early. 

"I have lots of work and have to arrange marriage things for your husband's event too," Suraj added as he saw how her face fell because of his words.

"Fine," she replied with a long face. She waved him bye as she grabbed Arjun's hands for support. She feels all alone in this entire universe. But she can't point out anyone for her miseries in her life. It's solely because of her decisions. Arjun released his hands and left the place leaving her to cry alone. 

It's not that Arjun never cared about her. But it's just he couldn't connect to her emotionally to know about her turmoil. After Ishu, he forgot that he was once a lively human being. His mom was his life. He wanted to fulfil her last wish at any cost. He sacrificed his life for her wish. 

Arjun caressed the photo frame of his mom as a tear rolled down his cheeks.

"Why did it happen to me?" Arjun asked his mom and felt her hands massaging his head. 

"It's all because of me" He added as he hugged his mom's picture close to his heart. He feels as if his whole life has no meaning at all. He misses his Ishi like hell. He regretted every moment of his life. 

Only if he didn't ask her that day to stay hidden. Only if he stays by her side and rejects that film offers. Maybe he would still be poor but he would have been happy with his Ishu. Maybe they have had some kids together. A lovely happy family is what he missed today by his one choice. 

*****

"Do you love her?" Ishu asked, massaging his hair. 

"Love? Come on mom. It won't affect me. Love is just a game of human minds" Siddharth replied with a dry chuckle. It's not that he doesn't believe in love. But he believes that people have misunderstandings about love. He despises that love that made his mom a weak woman. He doesn't like the love she has for her husband even now. He doesn't like it when she doesn't move on with another man. 

"For god's sake, behave like mom and son. A typical Indian mom and son" Maddy commented, all annoyed.

"Just advice him for me. Ask him to see some girls and date. Maybe he could like someone." Ishu spoke standing up from her place. She knew deep in her heart that because she failed in marriage, Sid has some wrong perceptions about marriage and love. She wants him to fall in love and marry the right person. She doesn't want him to live like a saint for sure. 

"If my mom says these all, I will bring ten girls per day to date her" Maddy commented feeling all jealous towards Sid for having such a cool mom. Soon a slap landed over his shoulder making him yelp in pain.

"Mom, i love you and that's enough for me," Sid replied in a final tone making Ishi sigh tiredly. She needs to talk to him one day on this topic on a serious note. She can't just predict things. She wants to know if he will marry one day or not. 

"But yeah, Mishty is cute, '' he added as he left the place. Ishu smiled in satisfaction. Maybe she is overthinking about everything. Her son is just a normal kid who would fall in love at the right moment. He won't spoil his life by judging her life experience.