Chapter 2

Single Mom

"How dare you" a girl slapped the guy who was standing just behind her with the most innocent look ever. He clenched his eyes in reflex and held his cheeks from burning.

He looked up to her and the anger building up inside vanished in thin air. Her blue eyes which were staring at him like a volcano looked so warm. Her cute lips released many bashing words for no one in particular but him. In short, she looked at him in disgust while he was just mesmerised by her beauty. Did he see any girl like her before? Maybe yes. But the vibe he gets from her is different.

"Are you guys coming by bus for these cheap things?" She added as he was brought back to reality. He widened his eyes when he realised that the girl misunderstood him to be a cheapskate.

"Ishu, it was this guy." Her friend pointed out the guy who had a smug look on his face.

"And this is our senior, Arjun Rathore" the girl introduced Arjun to Ishu. Ishiita blinked twice and looked at the guy who had touched her inappropriately and looked back at Arjun who she has slapped now.

"Trust me, your slap was hot as you" Arjun whispered near her ear and turned to the guy and slapped him hard on his cheeks without taking his eyes from Ishu who is also staring at him without blinking. The guy was thrown outside while Ishu looked away not even apologising for her actions.

"Ishiita Kapoor. Nice name." Arjun spoke, grabbing her id card, making her flinch.

"Why don't you get it from me once you get inside the campus?" Arjun asked, caressing his cheeks as if he was ready to play with the new target. It will be fun to play with her. She is fierce as fire.

Arjun climbed down the bus with a smirk while Ishu's friends got terrified as she got tangled with Arjun Rathore.

2021:

It's been ten long years since Ishu started living alone. She sighed recalling her first meeting with Arjun. It's indeed a dramatic and thrilling meeting. Her lips curved up with a smile recalling how she slapped him even before looking at his face. Maybe that's the good thing that happened to them to get to know each other.

"Then? What happened to you and Arjun?" Neha asked who is the best friend of Ishu. She is the one who gave support to her when Ishu came to the town all new. Everything was new to her. Still, she can build a new life and thanks Neha for that. She has been with her in her tough times.

"Why don't we get ready first?" Ishu asked closing her diary making Neha pout. Ishu has never told anything about Arjun in these ten years but when she got hold of her diary, Neha read the first few pages and Ishu was compelled to tell the story.

"You will again cheat me and will never tell anything about you" Neha added and left the room making Ishu singh. She made up her mind to tell Neha already. But will it open her wound? Will she be able to live those moments again and come back to reality? Ishu looked back to her diary and caressed it lovingly.

Her eyes fell on the page where she took pictures with her college friends. She did have many friends. But after leaving Arjun, she wanted to live aloof. So she never contacted anyone who could make Arjun aware of her presence. She made a good hideout.

Her parents smiled at her in the photo frame when she lit up the lamp in front of them. Her lips curved upwards to a smile and her eyes were full of gratitude. She is thanking them every day for educating her which is helping her today to run her life. If she was not a brave girl, she would have ended her life far before.

"His naughtiness has reached its limit. Ma'm, you have to take strict action today" Leena teacher's voice echoed in her cabin as she shifted her eyes from the photo frame to the teacher. She sighed internally as she hates wherever any teacher complains against a kid. But as the headmaster of the school, she has to punish those kids for their mistakes. But she has no heart to even yell at those pure buds.

"Bring the child to my room" Ishu said sitting over her chain hiding her soft disappointed face to look a little rude so that these kids at least get scared of her.

Leena entered the room with the screeching sound of the door. Ishu's eyes soon turned to wide sauces when she looked at the kid. Soon she hides her inner thoughts and looks back at Leena who is still staring at the kid with anger.

"Siddharth" Ishu called softly when the ten-year-old kid looked up to his mom who is now not his mom but the headmaster of this school. She didn't want other teachers to pamper her just because she is his mom. So no one knew that he was her son.

"Siddharth, look at me," Ishu spoke in an authoritative tone whereas he just drew patterns on the floor. He slowly looked up and soon his eyes fell over the floor. He hates to embarrass his mom but damn his naughtiness.

"He tore all pages of his classmate, Neha's notebook" Leena complained in a dejected tone. Siddharth is known for his new antics to trouble the kids and teachers. Ishu stuffed her smile under her facade.

"Ask him to stand outside of the classroom for a full day" Ishu prayed hard that Leena might ask her to change the punishment. Maybe a full day is too much. But Leena smiled in satisfaction. All teachers just hate Sid for his naughtiness. Ishu just can't understand what's wrong if the kids are a little naughty? Leena got him out while Sid hung up his head low sighing tiredly.

He is just like his dad in terms of naughtiness. Ishu blushed at the thought of Arjun. She shrugged it off immediately but she can never stop thinking about him.

She stopped smiling like an idiot when her thoughts got stuck in between. Her eyes welled up when she slid up the news column in her phone. Arjun pictures with his family. A hot topic for seven years.

"You did move on easily" Ishu mumbled as she caressed his picture where he is posing with his wife and a small kid. She just couldn't accept the fact that Arjun can ever give her place to someone else. But he did. She switched off the mobile phone and turned away from all thoughts of Arjun.

***

Mumbai is infectious. Once you start living, you can never adjust anywhere in this world. Arjun opened his eyes and looked around his room which is designed in white curtains with maroon furniture. It's her favourite colour. His lips curved up remembering HER. He switched on the music player and the old Hindi songs filled the room. He closed his eyes and was diving inside the music of heaven.

"Sir, coffee" one of the servants came inside his room with a black cup which had red roses on its handle. He took the coffee and smiled at the servant. His life is perfectly complete with the lavish standard of everything. But is he happy? His eyes lacked that warmth that was once his strength. His heart is empty where he used to have a party every day.

"Ishu" he mumbled to give a long breath. Maybe this name only gives him some peace.

"Where are you?" He added as he looked at the sky as if trying to see her in those clouds. He sighed tiredly, not able to bear the weight in his chest.

"Ajju" a voice echoed in the room and he turned to give his evergreen smile. He looked dashing even in this cotton nightdress.

"Aren't you ready? We are getting late." She voiced out and kept the royal blue coat suit over his bed with a frown expression.

"I will be getting ready in just five minutes." He replied and took the dress.

"Won't you at least look at me?" Vidya frowned. She is annoyed with the fact that he doesn't even recognise her presence. But she is not the kind of girl to seek his attention every time. She will just snatch it if she needs it.

"Red suits you best" he smiled again at her and entered his bathroom. Vidya smiled back. His compliment even though it's one word, it's always special for her. The best part of their story is Vidya knew about Ishu and Arjun. She married him, accepting everything.

"Mom, Dad, I am ready" seven years old Pihu jumped in excitement when Arjun picked her up in his arms. His smile reached its eyes and the reason for us was his daughter. A beautiful barbie to fill his life with rainbow colours.