Why was Dad beating Mom?

Ranveer's POV

The voice of the thunder woke me up.

I sat on the bed and looked around.

The sound of the thunder was frightening me.

Mom!

Mom!

I took the teddy bear in my hand and went towards Mom's room.

I love this teddy bear.

Mom gifted me this today.

Today was my seventh birthday.

Mom has invited everybody.

I cut the cake and fed everyone and then played games with my friends.

I was so happy today.

I don't want to disturb Mom and Dad but today I don't want to sleep alone.

I went towards the room and saw that the door was open.

I clutched the teddy bear tightly as I saw Dad was beating Mom with a belt.

Why is Dad beating Mom?

"Please stop," Mom was crying but Dad didn't stop.

He pushed Mom on the ground and pulled the pleats of her saree and started beating her more.

"Ashok, please stop," she was crying but Dad didn't stop.

"M...om," I stuttered and both of them looked at me.

Their eyes widened as they saw me and then again Dad went back to beating her and after a few minutes he left the room.

I went into the room as Mom wiped her tears and adjusted her saree.

I sat on her lap and hugged her.

She hugged me and started crying once again.

"Mom why was Dad beating you?" I asked.

"I don't know, Ranveer," she said and once again started crying.

I got up, went into my room and took out the first aid kit.

I opened it and took out an ointment.

Mom always applies this on me when I am hurt.

I took it and sat in front of her.

"What is this?" she asked.

"For you, Mommy," I said as I opened it and started applying on her hand which had become red.

She kept the ointment aside and took me in her arms and once again started crying.

Why was Dad beating Mom?"

End of flashback.

I woke up from my sleep and felt that I was sweating.

Again that dream?

Every year I dream of this on my birthday.

When will this stop?

It has been so many years but still I can't move on.

I freshened up and cleaned my whole room.

The door rang and I went downstairs and opened the door for Daya uncle.

"Good morning sir, "he greeted me and came inside.

"Uncle, how many times have I told you not to call me 'sir'? I am your son's age," I said.

"I will call you sir," he said the same thing he says every time I tell him not to call me 'sir' and went to bring the broom.

He cleans and mops the whole house except the bedroom as I don't want anyone coming into my personal space.

I still remember the day I saw Daya uncle for the first time.

Flashback

It was raining heavily so I was driving fast but I stopped my car as I saw an uncle shivering in the rain.

At first I didn't pay much attention but then I remembered Mom's words.

"Always help someone who is in need."

I stopped the car, took my umbrella and went towards uncle.

He had no umbrella and was sheltering under a tree.

Shit!

I went and gave him my umbrella and he looked at me and I could see the surprise in his eyes.

"It's okay," he said and gave me the umbrella back.

"The rain will increase, where is your house?” I asked.

"My son threw me out of my house sir, I have no home," he said.

I clenched my jaw in anger.

How can someone do that?

"Then come to my house," I said.

"I will manage, please leave.”

"Where will you go?" I asked.

"I don't know sir."

In the few seconds I realized that his self-respect is more than his life and he will never take my help.

"You know about household work?" I asked and I could see the shock on his face.

"Can you help me with my household work and cooking?" I asked.

"What?" he asked and his reaction told me that he was astonished.

"And instead of your help I will pay you," I said and he was quiet for some time.

"Okay sir," he said and with a smile on my face I asked him to sit in my car.

End of flashback

I got ready and went downstairs to see that uncle had made Poha for breakfast and put it on the table and now he was mopping the floor.

"Today I will make matar paneer for lunch," he said, making me smile.

"I know it's your favourite," he continued.

"Bring the lunch ten minutes early then, "I said and he smiled.

"And Karela for dinner," he said and I scrunched my nose in distaste.

He makes lunch and brings it to the office and makes dinner and keeps it in the refrigerator.

"Uncle, you know I hate Karela and beetroot."

"But they are healthy," he said and again went back to mopping the house.

I know I will never win with him.

After having poha I gave the house keys to him and left for the office.

*****

As soon as I reached the office everybody greeted me and I greeted them back.

They were not only my employees but were like a family to me.

My aunt, Simran, established this management company but few years ago she was diagnosed with cancer and that time she took me under her care and taught me everything and before dying she gave the company to me and asked for a promise to handle everybody with love and care.

She had no one as she was unmarried and my grandparents died when Mom and aunt were in their mid ages.

I reached my cabin to see my personal assistant, Harsh organizing the files on my desk.

"Good morning sir," he greeted me.

"Morning, Harsh, I want the files of Mr. Mittal," I said.

"Yes, sir,” he said and was searching the file.

Harsh was one of the few people I trusted.

My mobile rang and I looked at the name to see that Mom was calling me.

"Happy birthday Ranveer, "she greeted me.

"Thank you Mom," I said.

"How are you?" I asked.

"I am fine. Now I am leaving for the NGO," she said.

"Then we will talk later," I said.

"Today have dinner with me. I will make matar paneer and kheer for you.”

"Uncle had made matar paneer for lunch and karela for dinner," I told her.

"But you don't like karela.”

"You know I can't win with him and he doesn't know that today is my…" I said and stopped talking as I saw Harsh reading the file.

I don't want anybody to know that today is my birthday.

"Otherwise he would not have made it," I continued.

"Then I will bring kheer for you," she said.

"Okay Mom, then we will talk at my house,” I said and cut the call.

I heard a knock on the door.

"Come in," I greeted the person on the other side to see Mr. Sharma.

"Yes, Mr. Sharma? "I asked.

"Sir, I needed some money as my son will undergo a major heart operation," he said.

"Which hospital is he admitted to?" I asked.

"Attentive hospital," he told me.

"Harsh, take the details of his son and go and visit him first and if he is really in critical condition then I will help him," I orderd.

"Okay, sir, "Harsh said and asked Mr. Sharma to give the details.

"Thank you so much sir," he said and left the cabin.

"After what happened five years back, I cannot take any risk," I said.

"I know sir. By the way, according to what was promised, in few months Mr. Mathur has to pay you back, right?" he asked and I nodded yes.

"I want to see how he will pay me back," I said.

Sanjay Mathur, my ex employee who lied to me about his wife's illness and took five lakhs from me, five years back.

Few days back I came to know that his wife died long ago but didn't say anything as I wanted to see how he would pay me back.

*****

Today I had to take a different route as some construction work was going on.

I was driving towards my house when I heard a few children shouting.

I looked outside to see that a girl was giving ice cream to all the kids.

She wiped the face of a little girl with her dupatta as that girl had smeared ice cream all over her face.

I smiled looking at them.

Then she saw another boy crying as his ice cream fell down.

She picked him up, wiped his tears and asked the shopkeeper for another ice cream.

The way she was taking care of the kids reminded me of my Mom.

Mom is also like this.

Mom cares for everybody in the world.

I looked at her carefully.

She was beautiful, not the type of beauty we get after wearing makeup but she was a natural beauty.

She was wearing a white salwar suit which made her look like an angel.

I don't know why but I wanted to go and meet her.

I wanted to be close to her.

I parked my car at the side and went to the ice cream parlor.

I went inside the ice cream parlor and the shopkeeper asked me for my order.

I looked at her having butterscotch.

"One butterscotch," I said, looking at her.

I never liked butterscotch but by looking at her having butterscotch I felt like having it.

"Didi when will you come to meet us?" a little girl asked.

She knelt down in front of her and wiped her mouth with her dupatta.

"I will come back soon baby girl," she told her.

"We miss you," a little boy said and a smile escaped my lips.

"I also miss you all. I promise I will come back soon to meet you all," she said.

"Now let's take ice cream for Jaya Aunty and Sania Didi," she said and was going towards the shopkeeper but I was standing in the way.

"Excuse me," she said to me as she took a scoop of ice cream.

She was looking so cute with ice cream on her nose.

I took out my handkerchief and gave it to her.

She looked at me with a question in her eyes.

"There is some ice cream on your nose," I said and once again gestured her to take the handkerchief.

She wiped her nose quickly with her dupatta, pushed me slightly and went towards the shopkeeper.

I smiled looking at her as I finished the ice cream and went back to my car.

Everybody came out of the parlor and she gathered all the children in front of her and crossed the road.

I looked around to see an orphanage across the road.

The way the kids said that they will miss her I think she came here for a visit.

They went inside the orphanage and as I saw her coming out, there was a smile on her face.

I smiled looking at her and once again started my car towards the house.

Naina's POV

After coming outside from the orphanage I looked at the ice cream parlor to see that man has left.

Weird man.

I took an auto towards my house.

I took out my mobile to see that there was a message from Sameer.

I smiled looking at his name.

Sameer.

The guy who I have a crush on but I am too shy to confess my feelings to him.

I opened the message.

"You will come tomorrow at the same time to teach English to Shivam, right?"

"Yes," I replied back.

"Okay we will be waiting for you."

I smiled looking at his message.

Shivam was his younger brother and I have been teaching him English for a few months.

When Sameer asked me to tutor his brother, I couldn't say 'no.'

Shivam was in high school and in few days he will give his board exam.

I still remember the first day I met Sameer.

It was the first day of my college and I was too nervous as I was a week late.

College started a week ago, but I could not attend it as I had high fever.

I got in the class, and thanked god as the teacher had not arrived.

I looked around to see that everybody was sitting in a group.

I was too shy to talk with anyone and everybody had their group.

Flashback.

"Hello," I heard a voice as I saw a boy sitting beside me.

"Hello," I greeted him back.

"I am Sameer," he introduced himself.

"Naina," I introduced myself.

"I didn't see you in the past few days," he said as he took out his notebook.

"I had fever so I could not attend the first day of college."

"How are you now?" he asked, making me smile.

"I am fine."

"Don't worry I will give you the notes of the whole week," he said.

"Okay."

*****

It had been a few days since the day I met Sameer and by now Sameer has become my good friend.

During lunchtime I looked at everybody going to the canteen but I didn't have enough money to buy food from the canteen.

Dad used to give me some money but that I spend on buying self-help books for exams as I had not applied for tuition.

I was feeling so hungry as I didn't have breakfast.

Dad is busy in the office so he makes me lunch and dinner but he never makes me breakfast as he goes to the house in the morning after I come to college.

"Hi," Sameer greeted me as he sat beside me and was having a burger.

"I am so hungry today so I ordered two burgers," he said.

"I tell you so many times to have something from the canteen but you never listen," he continued.

"I will have lunch after going home," I told him.

"But still you are feeling hungry, right?" he asked and I nodded yes looking at his burger.

"Bring money from tomorrow or have a heavy breakfast," he said and left.

A small part of me hoped that he would at least give me half of his burger but I can understand that he was hungry.

End of flashback.

I reached the house and unlocked the door and went inside to an empty house.

Dad was still working.

I got freshened up and made coffee and sat in front of the T.V.

After watching a movie, I had my dinner alone and went to my room.

I looked at the picture of my Mom on the nightstand.

"Mom it's been so many days since I had dinner with Dad. He is so busy working that he doesn't even have time for me but I am happy that at least once or twice a week he comes home and we have dinner together," I said as I kissed her photo frame, switched the light off and went into a deep slumber.

*****