CHAPTER 11
Abeer laid down on the bed thinking of the challenge he had accepted. Not the first time someone challenhed him but it bothered him. He couldnt be overconfident here. Something told him the task at hand was not going to be accomplished with his charm, popularity or witty one liners. No. But he wanted to win. Not just to show her but to prove to himself that he didnt need her to manage his son. He could be as good a single parent as she was. He had to be. Again something ...probably his instincts...told him that it wouldnt be that easy. She was different...responsible and authoritative always...he wasnt. He was a good so to his mom but not a responsible one...he had been a loving husband to Meher but when responsibility had come in he had failed. What if it happened again?? He was a doting father but could he be a responsible one. That too to an 8 year old son whose existence he had no idea till a month back. He brushed aside the thought. He told himself.." you are Abeer Malhotra...born to win...she is messing with your head...dont fall for it".Then he barely knew when he had drifted off to sleep.
The next he knew was a prick of heat at his fingertip. His bed had caught fire???? Alerted by the though he got up screaming. But there were no flames around. Just his wife standing in front of him in a red suit and wet hair.She had just showered.. He saw a cup of steaming tea on the bedstand. And a bit of the tea dripping off his finger. She had dipped his hand in the hot tea to wake him up!!!!
This was so not done. Not even his mom had woken him up like this.
That too this early.
He asked" Are yaar...why are waking me up at midnight?? Ab subah subah hi harassment shuru karogi kya"
Meher replied "Well dear husband...most people call this morning...its 7 am u idiot...dont u remember your challenge?? Lets get started".
He looked at her as she pulled him off the bed.
Ab: "What do you want me to do?? Make breakfast?? This is Malhotra Mansion. There are servants around to make breakfast for Ishu."
Meh: "Not breakfast...I dont wanna kill my son by giving him what you make...I want you to wake him up"
Ab:" This early?"
Meh: "Its a weekday...he has school...now go wake him up while I get ready"
Abeer looked at her and moved closer. She stepped away. He laughed and left the room.
15 minutes had passed when Meher was ready. Ishu and Abeer were not yet to be seen. Where on earth were they???Maybe Abeer was having difficulty waking up Ishu. She went into Ishu's room to know what was happening.
The scene half shocked her and half made her laugh.
ABEER MALHOTRA WAS SLEEPING SOUNDLY CUDDLING HIS SON!!!
Great. This was so like him. He couldnt handle anything. She started waking them up.Ishaan woke up first and was surprised to see his papa sleeping with him. She sent him off to brush and woke Abeer.
Meh:" Wake up..you were supposed to wake up ur son...not sleep with him...and you knowcwhat he ias awake and getting ready...unlike you...so you failed ur first test."
Abeer got up angrily.
Ab: "Haan toh...I just lost this...lots more to go...waise bhi Ishu doesnt need me to wake him up."
an alarm would do"
With that he left.When he came down to breakfast again there was another test for him to fail. Meher told him to convince Ishu to have puha for breakfast and he bribed Ishu to have chocolate shake without his mom's knowledge only to be caught by Detective Meher. Test 2 fail.
The evening she gave him another test. Ishaan had some test the next day and he was supposed to telll him not to play video games fofor the day. That went well. Once he told Ishaan that if he scored well for the test he would get him a new video game his son was immersed in studies. Even without the bribe the kid was studying well. He was like his mom...the topper kid. Meher seemed satisfied.
That night she asked him to help Ishu with his homework.
Ab:" Sorry Meher...Anything for Ishu except this...All through school I never did even my own homework...and you are asking me to help him...sorry yaar...no...i dont want my kid to give gis teacher a hear attack"
Meh: " You are right...anyway fail again"
With that she left to help Ishu herself.
The next day when Abeer woke up Meher had left. She had sime urgent meeting and he was supposed to drop off Ishu. When theybreached the school Ishaan told him his school was closing for summer after the day's test. He asked Abeer to sign some notice given by his teacher. Abeer was getting late for his recording. It was some marklist. He yold himself waise bhi yeh topper hoga and signed it.Then with a bye to Ishu he was off.
That afternoon Meher came into his office. She looked at him enquiringly.
Ab: "Kya hua??? Kya chahiye??"
Meh:"Abeer did you sign any paper for Ishu today morning??"
Ab:"Haan...some marklist"
Meh:"His teacher wants to meet you...what did u do??"
Ab:"She must be a fan and might wanna get a autograph"
Meh:"From her tone she isnt amused"
They left together for the school and met the teacher.
Tr:"Mr. Malhotra did u sign this paper??"
Ab:"yep"
Tr:"Did u even read it before signing??"
Ab:"Yes...its a marklist na?"
Tr:"Yes...but its not Ishaan's...I mixed up the papers accidently and gave Ishaan someone else's papers...most of tge kids whose papers got mixed up brought back the paper unsigned.. .only 3 were signed...Ishaan's was amongst those...but what is weird is that the paper Ishaan got was of a kid with very poor marks and u signed it...didnt u ask Ishaan how his marks are so low...he is a topper and those grades were very poor...I was thinking how careless you are...Its my mistake that the papers were mixed up...but u didnt even check what you were signing on..thats not good for a child of Ishaan's age"
Meh:"Sorry Maam...it wont happen again"
At the last part Abeer saw her glaring at him. As they came out Meher tild Ishaan to wait in the car.
Ab:"Woh Meher..."
Meh:"No Abeer...you are so careless...you can be a loving father but not a respobsible one...you can never manage your son without me...you cant take care of anyone "
Ab:" I know"
That took her by surprise. She looked at him. He was teary eyed. She couldnt help feel sorry.
Meh.:"Anyways chalo...Ishu is waiting...and I am around for these things...we have a meeting u remember??"
They drove to the hotel. They were supposed to meet some people regarding his show. They left Ishaan in the playing area.After an hour the meeting got over and they went to get Ishaan. He was sutting there all by himaelf and was crying.
Meher went to him and he hugged her. As Abeer moved closer Ishaan stepped back.
"STAY AWAY" he shouted at a shocked Abeer.
Meh:"Kya hua Ishu...dont talk to papa like that"
Ish;"I hate him mom...and you lied for him"
Meh:"What??"
Ish:"I know everything...you guys got seperated beacause he fought with you and didnt want you to live with him...and he didnt want that because he didnt want me...he ran away because he didnt like kids...and now he took me back coz he loves you still...he will send me away soon...he wants only you"
Meher and Abeer looked at each other shocked. Abeer looked shattered.
Meh:"Who told you this??"
Ish:"Akshat uncle...he lives here...he was angry with papa...i told him to be your friend ahain and be papa's friend too.and he tild me papa was bad...i argued and then he told me this"
Meher felt an urge of anger. No way Akshat was getting away with this. But first she had to convince Ishaan.
Abeer came forward.
Ab:"Meher I will handle this..."
Meh:"No Abeer ..I dont want you to be hurt more"
He smiled at her. True. It was irony. But then everything related to love was.
Ab:"No its between us...he deserves to know""
She nodded. He went up to Ishaan and sat by him.
Ab:" Ishu...Akshat was right...I left your mom coz I didnt want kids...but i never meant to leave you...You remember the daybwhen your teacher asked you to be the class monitor and you told me you said no because you were scared?? You said you feared that you wouldnt be able to handle the responsibilty...u wanted to be free...and you were scared that you would do something wrong and be punished ...the same happened to me 8 years back. I feared resposibilties and when ur mom talked about kids I got scared and I ran away...but then I realized my mistake and came back...i was ready to take up responsibities...like you went to the teacher the next day and took up the responsibility I came back...but your mom was gone. And then she didnt come back to me. Till I met her 3months back I had no idea about your existence. I am sorry and hope you forgive me . I love as much as I loved your mom...more than my life"
Meher was in tears. She didnt know how but she felt herself hold Abeer's hands...supporting and consoling him.
Ishaan got up and hugged his papa.
"I love you too papa...as much as i love mumma...dont leave me ever again..."
That was a happy reunion. Watching the duo Meher realized one thing...she was wrong...Abeer might never be the father she wanted him to be...he was a better one. He loved Ishaan. And that insyant she felt her frozen heart melt completely once again. Now she had no grudges towards him. She might fall for him again now that there was nothing to blame on him.
Meher Malhotra...beware...you are gonna fall for him anytime ...she told herself.
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Guys this one is a bit clumsy...but do read the next...it will be totally Mehbeer.