*Kalpana Pov*

"Done?" I glanced up from the system only to see him standing near my table.

"Yes, Sir! I was about to bring it." I mumbled finally taking out the papers and adjusted them before giving him.

"I just got an important call. So, I have to leave early." He said shrugging along with checking the papers.

"You are improving well." He added turning around not even looking at me.

I shook my head and sat down. He talks like no one is around him and gives compliments like giving them to the air surrounding him.

Why am I even surprised by this when I am seeing the same for the past few months? At least he is saying good things! I thought reminding myself and pushed away remaining thoughts.

"Did you send notification to everyone regarding the salary being released today?" Mr.Girish asked walking near to me.

"Yes, Sir! Everyone is excited too." I replied, smiling and stood up realizing it is lunch break.

"You also seem to be excited." He said smiling.

"Yes! I thought of a gift for Sudhir and going to buy today." I said taking my bag.

"That's great! He is lucky to have you as his mother." He said making me shake my head.

"No, Sir! I am the lucky one because if not for him then I wouldn't be here." I said shrugging and his smile slipped.

"What do you mean?" he asked with a big frown making me frown back at him.

"If he was not there to give me inspiration to look forward to do something to take care of him, then I would sure have settled for a corner. That's what I meant." I replied and he slowly nodded before removing his frown.

"What model will you buy?" Pallavi asked when we started having our lunch.

"He saw one on television a few days ago and liked it. I am thinking to buy it." I replied and she nodded.

"Of course! She will never do something he will not wish for." One of the co-worker said teasing making me laugh.

"Any problem?" I asked him raising my eyebrow.

"Don't scare him, Kalpana." Kiran said pushing me.

"Why? Do you have all the rights of getting scared of me?" I asked raising my eyebrow.

"Yes! I have full rights to you." He replied, grinning and I rolled my eyes.

"Stop flirting!" one girl said, laughing and I laughed at her words.

"I will come with you, Kalpana." Pallavi said when we walked out of the canteen.

"Sure! We will go together. You may deal all this better than me. I don't wish to get looted." I said, smiling and waved to her when we reached her floor.

"I have an important meeting suddenly. You may leave soon if you wish to but after finishing your work." He said when I was busy trying to finish my work before he even said that.

"Ok, Sir! I just got a call and a client is wishing for an urgent meeting for tomorrow, whereas his scheduled one is after two days." I said taking out the notepad.

"What is the reason?" he asked frowning.

"He is saying he has to go out of station tomorrow evening as his son is not feeling well." I replied glancing at the reason.

"Okay! Then tell him I am fine with tomorrow meeting. Call him now only bringing him out of his tension." He ordered typing on his mobile and walked back inside his cabin.

I smiled while pressing the client's number. Even while informing I couldn't remove this smile that just stayed.

This moment I am more than satisfied to be working for him. Who is out there thinking about other people's problems?

"What happened?" Pallavi asked when we are walking towards the showroom.

"What happened?" I asked her back frowning.

"You are smiling too much today." She replied shrugging.

"I am just proud of our boss." I said shrugging back.

"Uh oh! And what can be the reason for that?" she asked pushing me.

"The same reason due to which you always praise him like from the beginning day." I replied grinning to which she pouted but we stopped the conversation walking inside the shop.

"Do you want to spend half of your salary on this?" she suddenly asked.

"I have been saving every month, Pallavi. Until now he didn't ask much and isn't it wrong of me to not give him something special sometime. This age will not come for him again. I don't want him to wish something has changed in his childhood in every aspect." I replied tightening my hold on the purse.

"Cool, cool! You show me which one he liked." She asked, dragging me and I looked around before pointing it out.

"He sure has a great taste. You wait here while I go and talk about the prize. Let's see if he can reduce the price. In the mean time see whether it will be fine for him." She said before walking away and I walked near to the cycle.

"Are you sure?" I asked the salesman in wonder.

"What is it?" Pallavi asked, walking near to me.

"This can be adjusted near the seat and at the connection, making it useful even when he grows up more." I replied in an amazed tone.

"That is great! However, the manager is not budging to reduce the price saying they already gave a discount." Pallavi said in a sad tone.

"What is the price?" I asked her, hoping I can afford it.

"Hey! That is lower than the budget I kept." I said feeling happy.

"I need some safety gear too." I added, glancing at the salesman and he nodded walking away.

"So, you are fine with it?" Pallavi asked frowning.

"Of course! I think we are lucky that there is a discount." I replied, grinning and started selecting the safety gear that was brought near to us.

"Thank you for coming with me." I said, walking out of the showroom.

"Please! I welcomed myself and you need not thank me for it." She said, rolling her eyes making me chuckle.

"So, how are you going to take it home?" she asked gesturing the cycle.

"Some taxi will be useful." I replied and looked around to stop some taxi.

"Maam! We can deliver it near your home if you wish." Suddenly some man said walking near to us.

"He is the manager." Pallavi said when I gave her a confused look.

"That would be helpful." I said with relief and scolding myself for forgetting such thing.

Maybe I have been away from all these things for too long. It took a few months to learn such things so that he will feel proud. Now, I am not thinking about the little details.

"What happened?" Pallavi asked worriedly.

"Nothing! Sometimes the past just slaps its way into the head." I replied, giving her a smile and released a breath to keep those thoughts away.

"Bye! And do call me today regarding his reaction. I am actually excited about it may be more than him." Pallavi said, winking and I laughed waving at her.

I turned the other way before getting inside my bus. I sat down and smiled thinking about how he will react too.

"Hey! I am sorry that I am little late." I said, rushing near to him while he stood in silence near Jhanvi and Harsha.

"You are not that late." Jhanvi said, assuring me and then raised her eyebrows to which I grinned nodding.

"Shall we go?" I asked, smiling at her and turned to see Sudhir still looking down.

"Is everything fine, Sudhir?" I asked, lifting his chin and he just nodded.

Maybe he is tired with today's work at the school. I am sure he will be recharged seeing his surprise which will be waiting for them by the time we reach mostly.

I frowned, looking at the empty place before our home and unlocked the door. He immediately walked inside and before I can step inside I heard a horn.

"Thank you!" I said before signing the papers.

"Sudhir! Come out and see what is here." I called out for him and he came out after a few minutes.

"Cycle?" he asked with wide eyes, walking near to it.

"Yes! You like it?" I asked and he immediately nodded with a grin before moving towards it.

"You can learn easily and I will help you too." I said gesturing the helping wheels.

"Yeah! Then I will also tell my friends that..." he stopped in mid sentence before stepping away.

"What happened?" I asked, frowning at him.

"They all learned from their father. I... but... where is he?" he finally asked, looking at my face and I stumbled back not expecting that question.

"Ma!" he mumbled frowning and moved near to me.

"Harsha! You go inside taking Sudhir and play." I suddenly heard Jhanvi's voice making me turn towards the gate.

After they both started walking away, I felt tears in my eyes. Why am I feeling this much emotional for just a question? I thought brushing them away.

"It's ok!" she mumbled hugging me and I silently cried.

"It... it is not illogical of him to ask. But... I got suddenly scared when he asked that question." I explained stuttering between my cries.

"I know! Why don't we have some coffee?" she asked and made me walk inside the house.

We directly walked in the kitchen and she started making it while I leaned onto the cupboards.

"What are you going to tell him?" she asked, breaking the silence when we finished drinking.

"I don't know! I should have prepared myself, but I didn't." I replied shaking my head.

"I don't want to lie to him, but I can't exactly tell the truth too. It will break him." I added suddenly feeling as if everything is closing upon me.

"Don't beat yourself and take your time thinking about it. I am sure you will come up with some solution." She advised and I nodded, giving her a small smile forcing myself.

"I don't know what would I have done if you were not there." I mumbled.

"Harsha got excited when I told him you are bringing a cycle when we got home. So, I brought him not able to say no to him." She explained.

"Do you think I am inefficient in taking care of him?" I suddenly asked to which she slapped my shoulder.

"Don't bring such thoughts into your head. This has nothing to do with you. He just asked a general question and he was quiet late compared to Harsha." She replied glaring at me.

"What did you tell him?" I asked her frowning.

"The truth that his father left for an important work and will return when it finishes." She replied shrugging.

"I definitely can't choose the truth." I mumbled, but I don't want to lie to him.

"He is an intelligent kid. However, I am sure you will come up with something." She said and I nodded.

After she left, we had a silent dinner. He didn't say anything and I didn't start one not knowing what to say.

And for the first time I cried more that day laying on my bed breaking my promise to him but I couldn't control myself.

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hey guys! So, i updated early than yesterday... :P

Now, who do you like as a friend for Kalpana... Jhanvi or Pallavi??? vote... :D

How is the chap???

comment plz and vote...