This is by far the easiest I have written as it has minimal romance😆. Something different from my previous ones. Hope you guys like it. Flashback in blue.
~14~
"Mummy... I am sorry... I made a blunder.."
Samar's scared face and voice took her back to another time a tearful 10 year old Samar came to her with the same words.
"Mummy... I am sorry... I made a blunder..."
"What is it son?"
"Paapa gave me 20 rs to get that notebook. The shopkeeper gave me 10 rs change. I lost it. Will Paapa scold me, Mummy?"
"Of course. How dare you? Do you know how much I suffer to get you your things and you so easily say you lost it? Tell me what did you do? Did you buy something for yourself? Tell me now before I thrash you."
"Please forgive him... see how scared he is..."
"Shut up... you are spoiling him and making him irresponsible. Nowadays I feel my son is becoming a loser like you. Actually you should be the one who is thrashed not him."
He pulled her and threw her out of the door.
"Bring me back the money he lost. Don't come back till you get it. Remember your son won't get any food till you are back with my money."
"Mummy... Mummy..."
She pulled herself together and cupped his face.
"What happened?"
"I had an idea to develop this academy... when I shared with Anuj, he said he would help me and gave me 10 lakhs... I transferred it to Ketan and now he is missing..."
"Missing means?"
"He is not picking up calls, I went to his home and it's locked... Mummy I am scared he is gone and I lost Anuj's money..."
"What?"
They both turned around to see Anuj at the door. He entered in and out of habit, she held Samar's hand tightly as if protecting him. She opened her mouth when Samar spoke
"It's not Mummy's mistake. Mummy didn't even know that I had the money...."
"I never said a word about your mother, Samar. Tell me the entire truth... what did you do?"
She reached out and held his arms.
"Anuj... I am sorry... he won't..."
He gently removed her hand from his.
"Anu... I am talking to him... please..."
She moved back nervously praying for her son.
"Samar... I am waiting..."
"Ketan said he would give the money to one of his friends who is a big shot at marketing..."
"And you gave him the entire 10 lakhs?"
"Yes... he said he needed that immediately and anyways after the marketing is done we would get 20 lakhs as return... I transferred the money 3 days back and I am unable to contact him."
"And you are telling this to me NOW?"
Anu shivered at his voice. He was angry. She tried once again to talk
"Anuj..."
"Anu... please... let me finish... Tell me why didn't you come to me before?"
"I... uh... I thought I would find him..."
Anuj took a deep breath.
"You came to me with an idea. I gave you the money... didn't you think it necessary to check with me before you actually gave away the money."
Samar bent his head down and mumbled.
"I am sorry... I thought he was trustworthy..."
"Didn't you meet this Ketan guy just last month? How did you decide he is to be trusted?"
"Umm.. I am sorry. I should have asked you. I lost your money. 10 lakhs is no small amount..."
"10 lakh or 10 rs... Every penny is hard earned... Look at me when I am talking to you, Samar"
He looked up nervously.
"You trusted a guy you met last month but didn't trust me enough to let me in your decisions. I am disappointed, son."
Anu's eyes filled with tears as the word 'son' dropped from his lips. Samar felt his heart prick at his disappointment. He was used to taunts, threats, punishments and worst of all the demeaning of his mother whenever he made a mistake. He had always felt angry and resentful but today he felt ashamed of what he had done.
"I am sorry... I... I will somehow earn it back."
Anuj put his hand on his shoulder.
"Listen now, whatever is done is over. Now let's think what we should do next. Give me all the details you know about this Ketan. Let's inform the police and we will find him. If we can't get it back, I will give you another 10 lakhs and you can work on your dream again. Only this time promise me that you would be careful."
"Why would you trust a loser like me again?"
"You are not a loser..."
"But I lost..."
"Yea yea I know that you made a mistake but I also know that you won't make the same again. I trust that just like your mother you would rise up from this fall and show the world you are a winner again. Mistakes happen... but what you learnt today on trusting people is priceless. Never forget it and come what may, remember that I will always have your back when you fall and be there to cheer for you when you do well."
Samar looked at the man standing in front of him. Here was a man who had trusted him and he had broken the trust yet he was willing to trust him again. This was the kind of love and trust he had yearned for all his life.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Hmmm..."
"Can I call you Papa?"
***
"Here have some chocolate fudge... Samar's Papa"
He smiled looking up at her. He took the bowl from her and placed it on the table. Grabbing her hands he made her sit on his lap and rested his head on her shoulder.
"Fudge later... first let me have you... Samar's Mummy..."
She reached out her hand and dipped a finger in the fudge. She placed the finger in his mouth grazing his face with the rest of her hand. As he sucked eagerly, she bent closer to his ears and whispered
"Why not both?"
***
Edited by ...Tiana... - 3 years ago
0