Sana was determined to reunite Sid and his mother. She couldn't see her friend hurt, she couldn't see him in pain. Even the thought of staying away from family scared Sana. She couldn't even imagine the pain Sid had gone through in these past years. That's why she decided to reunite Sid and his mother at any cost. She was just waiting for a chance. And fortunately she got it soon.

Their school was going to arrange a felicitation ceremony for the students who ranked in the exam. Sid would also be felicitated as he topped in the exam. Hearing the news, Sana hit upon a plan.

In the tiffin period, Sana met Kushal and Asim.

"I need a favour from you guys." Sana said to them.

"Kaisi favour?" Asim asked.

"Tum dono mujhe Sid ke ghar ka address de sakte ho?"

"De sakte hai lekin suddenly tujhe Sid ke ghar ka address kyu chahiye?"

"Main abhi tumhe kuch baata nahi sakti. Lekin mil jaata toh bohut accha hota."

"It's ok. Tujhe kuch baatane ki zaroorat nahi hai. Main deta hoon tujhe address." Kushal said and gave her Sid's address.

Sana noted it down.

"Thanks guys! Aur please Sid ko iss baare mein kuch mat baata na." Sana said and left from there.

"Humein Sid ko baata dena chahiye. Sana ne suddenly uska address kyu maanga? Kuch toh baat hai." Asim said.

"Sochna bhi mat. Sana jo bhi kar rahi hai zaroor kuch accha soch ke hi kar rahi hai. Isliye hum mein se koi bhi Sid ko kuch nahi baatayega. Main nazar rakhunga tujh par." Kushal said making Asim quiet.

After school...

Sana and Shivangi were walking to home.

Suddenly Sana said, "Shivangi, mujhe na suddenly ek kaam yaad aa gaya. Tu abhi ghar jaa. Main apna kaam khatam kar ke ghar chali jaungi."

"Kaunsa kaam?" Shivangi asked.

"Hai kuch important kaam."

"Tu akele ghar jaa payegi?"

"Haan haan kyu nahi? Tu bekar mein chinta karti hai."

"Thik hai. Toh phir main chalti hoon. Bye."

"Bye!"

Shivangi left from there with her bicycle. Meanwhile Sana went to Sid's home.

After reaching there, Sana pressed the doorbell. After sometime a middle-aged woman opened the door. Sana understood that she was Sid's mother.

"Namaste Aunty Ji!" Sana greeted.

"Namaste Beta! Aap......"

"Main Sana. Sid ki...."

Before she could complete, Rita Ji recognised her and asked, "Sid ki friend?"

"Exactly. Uss din maine hi aap ka call uthaya tha. Aap se baat puri ho paati uss se pehle hi aap ke bete ne....."

"Jaanti hoon. Uss hi ne call cut kar diya hoga." Rita Ji said sadly.

"Aap se kuch baat karni thi. Andar aa ke baat karu?"

"Sure. Come in."

Sana went inside the home. Rita Ji told her to sit and she sat on the sofa. She looked here and there in the room. The house was not big still very much well-furnished. Sana understood that Sid belongs from a rich family.

"Beta tum chai, coffee kuch logi?" Rita Ji asked.

"Nahi nahi Aunty. Main toh bas yaaha aap se baat karne aayi thi." Sana said.

Rita Ji sat on the sofa and said, "Baatao kya baat hai."

"Actually kaal naa humare school mein felicitation ceremony hai. Sid ne iss baar exam mein top kiya hai isliye usko bhi felicitated kiya jaayega. Agar aap aayengi toh...."

"Kaash main aa sakti. Lekin Sid ko toh tum jaanti hi ho sayad. Usse accha nahi lagega agar main waha gayi toh."

"Yeh aap kya keh rahi ho? Aap aao toh sahi. Dekhna Sid ko bohut accha lagega."

Rita Ji smiled sadly and said, "Tum ko humare baare mein sab kuch paata nahi hai. Kaal uske liye bohut hi special day hai. Main nahi chahti mere jaane se uska special day kharab ho jaaye."

"Aunty Ji mujhe sab kuch paata hai. Sid ne baataya mujhe. I know yeh aap logo ka family matter hai. Lekin phir bhi main ek suggestion doon? Sid abhi naraz hai aap se. But I'm sure, jis wajah se woh aap se naraz hai uska koi naa koi justification toh aap ke paas zaroor hoga. Ek baar baith ke aap uske saath baat ki jiye. Baith kar baat karne se toh bade bade wars khatam ho jaate hai. Yeh toh sirf Maa Bete ke bich ki ek chhoti si narazgi hai. Yeh kyu khatam nahi hogi?"

"Wahi toh problem hai. Jab se mera aur uske Dad ka divorce hua hai, Sid baat hi nahi karna chahta mujhse. Mere paas baatane ko toh bohut kuch hai lekin uske paas sun ne ka time nahi hai."

"Agar woh aap ki baat na sune toh usse do chaar thappad laga dena."

Sana's words made Rita Ji laugh.

"Kya?" Rita Ji said while laughing.

"Haan. Agar main kabhi apni Mummy ki baat na sunu toh woh laga deti hai mujhe do chaar thappad. Aap Mom hai Sid ki. Itna toh haq banta hai aap ka."

Rita Ji started thinking.

"Toh phir aap rahi hai nah?" Sana asked.

"Thik hai. Main aaungi." Rita Ji said.

"Yeh hui na baat. Accha abhi main chalti hoon. Agar ghar late pohuchi toh Mummy se sach mein thappad padenge. Bye Aunty!" Sana said and left from there.

"Kamal ki ladki hai! Ab se toh mujhe Sid ki fikar karne ki koi zaroorat hi nahi hai. Jiske paas aisi ek dost ho uske life mein koi problem ho hi nahi sakti." Rita Ji said in her mind.
_______________________________________

At The Felicitation Ceremony....

Sana came to the school with her parents. There were many students' parents who were presented at the felicitation ceremony.

"Papa, aap khush toh ho na?" Sana asked suddenly.

"Haan Puttar. Kyu?" Santokh Ji said.

"Nahi matlab har baar aap apni duty se time nikal ke mere felicitation ceremony pe aate ho. Lekin aisa pehli baar hua hai jab maine top nahi kiya. Kahi aap naraz toh nahi ho?"

"Tune iss baar kitna score kiya hai?" Santokh Ji asked instead of giving answer.

"98%"

"Jaaha tak mujhe yaad hai, pichli baar bhi tera score yeh hi tha."

"Haan."

"Iska matlab tere studies mein koi changes nahi aaya. Tu pehle jaisi thi aaj bhi waisi hi hai. Bas fark itna hai ki koi tujhse aage nikal gaya hai. No problem. Yeh koi race thodi hai? Tujhe bas apna level nahi gir ne dena hai. Samjhi?"

"Ji Papa!" Sana said with a smile.

"Jo hua so hua. Saamne CBSE board exams hai. Abhi uske liye mehnat kar. Phir tera doctor ban ne ka sapna bhi toh pura karna hai?"

"Haan Papa. By the way, thanks for understanding. Isliye main kehti hoon, aap dono world ke best parents ho."

"Aur tu world ki best daughter. Ab chale yaa yehi baatein karte rehna hai? Woh dekh teri Mummy kitni aage nikal chuki hai." Santokh Ji said pointing towards Parminder Ji.

Sana laughed and then they both joined her.

After sometime, the Principal called the students who ranked in the exam.

Sid, Sana and Ayush went to the stage. The Principal felicitated them. Everyone started clapping. Their parents were proud of their children.

After that they were getting down the stage. Ayush tried to help Sana to get down. But Sid pushed him slightly. He hold Sana's hand and helped her to get down to which Sana smiled. The more she was watching Sid's possessive nature, the more she was believing that Sid loved her.

"Sid, ab main neeche utar chuki hoon. Ab toh haath chhor." Sana said as he was still holding her hand.

"Darr lagta hai. Kahi mere haath chhorne ke baad woh Ayush phir se na tera haath pakad le." Sid said.

Sana freed her hand and said, "Nahi pakdega. Main mauka hi nahi dungi."

"Paata hai. Uske liye hi toh itne papad belne pade. Aur dekh, iss hi wajah se main top bhi kar gaya. Kabhi socha nahi tha ki Principal Sir class mein top karne ke liye mujhe felicitate karenge. It's all happened because of you. Waise tu khush toh hai nah?"

"Haan yaar. Aur kitni baar kahu ki main khush hoon?"

"Paata hai. Sab se zyada khush toh tu hi hai."

"Waise aaj yaaha pe koi aur bhi maujood hai jo mujhse bhi zyada khush hai."

"Kaun?"

Sana pointed towards Rita Ji who was standing at a far distance. Sid noticed him and suddenly his expression changed. He got very angry seeing her.

He tried to leave from there but Sana hold his hand tightly.

"Kaha jaa raha hai?" Sana asked.

"Sana, mera haath chhor."

"Nahi Sid. Aaj tujhe apni Mom se mil na hi hoga."

"I said leave me."

"Teri problem kya hai? Woh sirf tere liye aaj yaaha aayi hai. At least baat toh kar."

"Yaar nahi karni mujhe unse baat."

"Tujhe meri kasam!" Sana said loudly.

Sid became silent. Sana left his hand.

"Jaa. Baat kar le unse." Sana soften her voice.

Sid was hesitating.

"Please!" Sana again said.

This time Sid nodded and went to his mother. Rita Ji's eyes became moist seeing her son after so long. Sid also became emotional but didn't express. Rita Ji tried to touch Sid's head but he moved backwards.

"Kaisa hai tu?" Rita Ji asked while taking down her hand.

"Thik hoon. Aap.....Aap kaisi hai?" Sid asked without looking at her.

"Tujhe kya lagta hai? Tujhse dur rehke thik rahungi?"

"Kya baat karni thi aap ko?" Sid asked straight. "Zaldi baataiye. Mere paas zyada time nahi hai."

Rita Ji smiled sadly and said, "Kahi aur chalte hai. Tujhe ek chiz dikhani hai."

Sid nodded and took Rita Ji to an empty classroom. Rita Ji took out an old radio from her bag.

"Yeh yaaha kyu laayi hai aap?" Sid asked seeing the radio.

Rita Ji didn't reply and took out a cassette tape. She gave it to Sid.

"Tere Dad ne kaha tha jab tu bada ho jaye tab tujhe yeh dene ke liye." She said.

Sid caressed the tape and remembered his father. Then he loaded it into the radio and played it.

"Hey Champ! How are you?"

Sid's eyes became watery hearing his father's voice.

"Ab jab tum yeh sun rahe ho, main umeed kar sakta hoon ki tum kaafi bade ho chuke ho. Aur sayad bohut ladkiyon ke crush bhi ban chuke ho jaise main tha apne school aur college ke dino mein. After all tum mujh par hi gaye ho."

Sid laughed a little.

"Ok jokes apart, let's come to the point. Tum sayad soch rahe hoge ki maine yeh tape kyu record kiya hai. Mujhe paata hai, jab main aur tumhari Mom alag hue the, tumhare mann mein kaafi sawal paida hue honge. Lekin main tab tumhe unka jawab nahi de paaya kyu ki tum bohut chhote the. Par ab waqt aa gaya hai ki main tumhe sab kuch baatau. Tumhe sayad laga hoga ki sab kuch tumhari Mom ki wajah se hua hai but trust me, iss mein unki koi galti nahi hai. Bachpan se mera ek hi goal tha ki main ek din bohut successful banunga, naam kamaunga. Taa ki mere family ko kabhi kisi chiz ki kami na mehsoos ho. Aur maine aisa hone bhi nahi diya. Tum logo ke paas paisa, luxury kisi chiz kami nahi rehne di. Lekin tumhari Mom ko yeh sab kabhi chahiye hi nahi tha. Unhe toh bas mera waqt chahiye tha, jo main kabhi nahi de saka. Life ki race mein itna bhaga ki paata hi nahi chala kab meri family piche chhut gayi. Aur jab wapas aana chaha toh bohut der ho chuki thi. Rita ne bohut koshis ki mere saath adjust karne ki. Par kab tak adjust karti? Akhir uski bhi toh apni life thi. Isliye hum ne alag hone ka decision liya. Sayad tum soch rahe hoge ki hum ne sirf apne baare mein socha, lekin aisa nahi hai. Hum ne sab kuch tumhare liye kiya. Hum nahi chahte the ki humare jhagre ka bura asar tumhare upar padhe. Tumhare mann mein sayad ek aur sawal bhi hoga ki main divorce ke baad tumse kabhi milne kyu nahi aaya. Maybe logo ne kaha hoga ki Rita ne maana kiya hai. Lekin usne kabhi mujhe tumse milne se maana nahi kiya. Main bas chahta nahi tha ki mujhe dekh kar tum emotional ho jao. Upar se mujhe Rita par pura bharosa tha. Uss se acchi parvarish tumhe aur koi nahi de sakta. Woh tumse bohut pyaar karti hai. Isliye usse kabhi galat mat samajh na. Filhaal main chalta hoon. Bas ek baat yaad rakhna, jo galti maine ki hai woh tum mat karna. Jo tumhare close hai unhe kabhi apne se dur mat hone dena. Bye! Take care! Aur agar bhagwan ki marzi ho toh ek din zaroor milenge."

Sid switched off the radio. Tears were coming out from his eyes.

"Apne mujhe pehle yeh kyu nahi dikhaya?" He asked.

"Kyu ki tab sahi waqt nahi tha. Aur uske baad jab dikhane ka socha tab tu mere paas nahi tha. Bohut dur chala gaya tha tu mujhse." Rita Ji said.

"Sorry Mom! I misunderstood you. Mujhe laga aap ne apne liye mujhe Dad se alag kar diya."

"Aisa nahi hai Beta. Main kabhi tum dono ko alag nahi karna chahti thi. Aur tere Dad bure insaan nahi the. Bas hum dono ek dusre ke liye perfect nahi the. Aur agar phir bhi hum dono jabardasti yeh rishta nibhane ki koshis karte toh hum mein se koi khush nahi rehta. Na tere Dad, na main aur naa tu."

"I'm sorry Mom! I'm so sorry!"

Sid hugged his Mom tightly and started crying like a child. Rita Ji also felt peace hugging her son after so long. They both cried a lot.

Sana was watching them from a far distance. She also wiped her tears.

"Wah! Maa Bete ek ho gaye. Ab Sana ko kaun puche?" Sana said.

Both Sid and Rita Ji noticed Sana and smiled.

"Aaja" Rita Ji said to Sana.

Sana immediately ran towards them and three of them did a group hug.
_______________________________________

How's the chapter?

Vote if you liked it.