Monster Mom

Chapter 1

*** FLASHBACK***

'How could you do that Meera? How dare you?' Daya roared throwing the photographs on the floor.

He shook with fury when his eyes fell on one of the photographs fallen on the floor. It was a photo of his wife Meera. A man stood next to her, his hand around her waist. That man wasn't Daya - he was someone else.

Both of them were grinning at Daya as if mocking him.

'Daya tell me for how much time did we stay together after we got married? You were always busy with your work. You never had time for me. When Aryan and Sara became old enough, I decided to work and the distance increased. Do you even remember when was the last time we had a proper conversation?' asked Meera.

'Are holding me responsible for this? And what effort did you make on your part? You never tried to share my likes, hobbies. You never compromised for my happiness! And you could have reasoned it out with me. We could have talked about it. But that doesn't give you the freedom to sleep with someone else!' Daya yelled.

'Mind your tongue! And remember it's my life! I will decide what is right for me and what not!' Meera shouted at him.

'Dad? Why are you and mom shouting at each other? Please stop' Aryan said from the door.

He looked terrified and pale.

'Aryan go to your room! Now! And don't you dare come out till I say!' Daya said in a stern voice.

Aryan nodded and ran to his room. They heard him bolt the door.

'Why are you shouting at him? He hasn't done anything! Look at him! He is so scared!' said Meera.

'As if you really care. Please don't pretend that you are worried for them. I know you very well.' Daya sneered.

'Daya we were never meant to be. I really can't stay in this relationship anymore. I want a divorce.' said Meera calmly.

'Yeah you will be dying to be in his arms' said Daya.

'Daya that's enough!' Meera yelled.

'Get them papers! I am ready to sign them' said Daya.

'I've got them. And I won't be able to take Aryan and Sara with me. We are moving to US and they won't get the Visa.' said Meera.

'How convenient! I've not seen anyone selfish than you. I really regret that that day when we got married! You ruined my life! You snatched my right to have a happy family! And I would never send Sara or Aryan with you because I care for them. I don't want them to be unhappy' said Daya angrily.

'Shut up Daya! You will regret someday saying those things to me. I never forget insults!' she screamed and handed him the divorce papers.

'Get lost! And never show your face ever again to me as well as Aryan and Sara!' Daya shouted.

Daya signed divorce papers and walked out of the room without another word to her.

Muttering angrily to herself, Meera gathered her things and left the house never to come back again.

O-o-o-o

A few years later -

'Dad! Look what I found!' a nine year old Sara said in an excited voice.

'What is it Sara?' Daya asked.

'It's mom's photograph! Mom looked so pretty!' Sara piped in.

Daya's face was contorted with fury.

'Where did you find it?' he asked snatching it away from her.

'A - Aryan gave it t - to me' she stammered retreating a few steps.

'Aryan? Come here at once!' Daya yelled making Sara jump.

A minute later, Aryan came into the room. 'What happened dad?'

'Why do you still have this photograph?' Daya thundered.

'I - I found it in my cupboard. I swear I - Sorry dad. I am really very sorry' he muttered in a petrified voice.

'How many times do I have to tell you both that I don't like to have photographs of your mother with you?' he asked angrily.

Both Aryan and Sara kept mum.

'Dad I am sorry. I don't even remember how mom looked like and when Aryan gave me the photograph I was really happy. But if you don't like it then I won't take another look at it. But daddy I miss mom. I feel like crying when my friends tell each other how much their mothers love them.' she said tearfully.

Seeing her teary, sad face, Daya's anger melted away.

He knelt down and cupped Sara's face, 'Sweety I am sorry I didn't want to yell at you. I know how much you and Aryan miss your mom. But I don't want you to have any memories of her because it will make you miss her more. Please for me - promise me that you will never do that again. Your mom is not in this world anymore. She is not coming back. But I am always there both as a mother and father to you. I have never asked anything from both of you but today I am asking you to do a little favour for me - Please don't talk about you mother ever' said Daya softly.

His explanation seemed to convince both of them. They nodded. Daya hugged them both feeling really sad.

O-o-o-o

Back in her room, Sara was crying into her pillow.

'I miss mom' she said.

'I miss her too. But dad is right, thinking about her or looking at old photographs will make us miss her more' said Aryan.

'Do you remember how mom looked like?' asked Sara.

'Yeah. I do. She was prettier than the one she looked in that picture' said Aryan.

'But what happened? Why did she leave us?' asked Sara wiping her tears.

'I don't know. I remember that day when I last saw her. She and Dad were fighting and yelling at one another. I asked them to stop but then dad got angry with me and told me to stay in my room. I saw mom leaving in a car from my bedroom window. You were too small. You wouldn't remember a thing. But after days I never met mom. A few days later Abhijeet uncle and Dad told me that mom was no more. She had died in an accident. I cried for two weeks. Then I got used to the fact that mom was not coming back.' said Aryan.

'Why was god so cruel to us Aryan? Why did he take her away from us?' asked Sara.

'Tell you what Sara? Whenever mom was around, she never really talked to me. She never told me stories or took me out. I remember going out with dad but not her.' said Aryan.

'I think we should follow dad's advice' said Sara finally.

'Yes. You are right. Three of us will stay together like one happy family' said Aryan smiling at her.

*** FLASHBACK OVER ***

Few More Years later (Present Day)

Daya was running really late for bureau. He had to fill the car's gas tank and drop his twelve year old daughter to her friend's house.

He pulled his car into the gas station and groaned as he saw a big queue.

Five minutes later, Daya was starting to get really impatient. He kept checking his watch. The line seemed to be moving at snail's pace.
'What was taking them so long?' he wondered.

'Dad, how much time this is going to take? I am really hungry' Sara complained frowning a bit.

'I really don't know' said Daya with an exasperated sigh.

He hot down from the car and peered over the heads of people. A man and the cashier seemed to be involved in some kind of spat.

'Honey it is going to be a bit long' said Daya getting back in the car.

'Can I just go and get myself a burger?' Sara asked pointing at the McDonalds joint located right next to the gas station.

'You skipped breakfast?' asked Daya a bit sternly.

'Yeah I am sorry. I got up late and I wanted to come with you. I didn't have time to eat breakfast' she said.

'Okay. Go and get a burger then.' said Daya.

Sara hopped down from the car and went to get her food.

Few minutes later Daya was glad that he was now only two people away in the line. He gazed out of the window when a gorgeous woman caught his eye.

'Shreya!' he called.

Shreya didn't hear him apparently as she did not pay attention. Then she got call and got busy talking with the caller.

Finally his turn came and he got down from the car while the gas was being filled into the car. He saw Sara making her way towards the car.

And then everything happened very fast. A man dressed in black with a hood covering his shirt appeared out of nowhere. He put a gun on the cashier's forehead and said, 'Get down on your knees! Now!'

Daya stared at him for a minute and then his hands went to his pocket and he withdrew his gun.

'Hey! Gun down! I am from CID!' Daya yelled.

Sara was not paying attention to what was happening and as she approached the car, the hooded man seized her and pulled her to him roughly.

Sara screamed. The burger dropped from her hand and fell to the ground. A few customers who were left shrieked and yelled unable to understand what was happening.

'Put that gun down officer and don't move! Or I will shoot the girl!' said the hooded man.

'Daddy!' Sara screamed tears falling from her eyes.

'Darling it's alright! Don't worry I will not let anything happen to you!' said Daya looking at her.

The man fired a shot into the air.

'Alright I am keeping the gun down! Let her go!' said Daya.

Everyone down on their knees and hands behind your backs! And you, officer kick that gun away!' he ordered.

There was a general murmur of scared voices around him as Daya kicked the gun away.

'Hey you! Put all the cash which you have in this bag! Make it quick, you lump!' he ordered the cashier.

The cashier did as he was told. Daya had eyes only for his daughter who was whimpering still in the masked man's grasp.

Daya was thinking of a way to take the man down when he saw Shreya approaching. He felt relieved. Shreya walked up behind the man noiselessly and put the gun behind his head.

'That's enough! Now throw away that gun and let the child go! I swear I will shoot!' Shreya said in a steely voice.

The man got distracted by Shreya's appearance and Daya got his chance. He aimed a perfect kick at his hand and the gun fell down with a thud.

The next moment Daya had slapped him hard and Shreya had caught him.

Sara ran to Daya and and hugged him tightly, crying badly.

'Honey it's alright! You are okay! Shreya call the local cops!' Daya ordered.

Daya pulled Sara behind him and caught the man by his neck.

'You are going to be very sorry. How dare you hurt my daughter?' he said angrily.

The local cops arrived and took him away. Daya turned back to Sara who was still white in face.

'Honey, are you okay?' he asked gently.

'Yes' Sara mumbled.

Daya felt a hand on his shoulder.

'Shreya! Thank god you were there!' said Daya in relief.

Shreya smiled and turned to look at Sara. 'Your daughter?' she asked.

'Yeah' said Daya.

'She is really cute and indeed very brave' said Shreya smiling. 'And that surely calls for a chocolate' she said handing her a huge bar of Chocolate.

Sara stared at Shreya curiously with her big brown eyes. She had seen Shreya for the first time.
She accepted the chocolate and mumbled a small 'Thanks'

'Are you going to come late to the bureau?' Shreya asked him.

'Yeah I guess. Sara wanted to go to her friend's house. If she still wants to go then...' said Daya.

'Yeah I still want to go' said Sara.

'Daya if you are getting late and if you don't mind, I can drop her at her friends' house. I have some personal work here' said Shreya.

'No! I want Dad to drop me' said Sara.

'Okay. Okay. I will drop you!' said Daya smiling.
'Shreya that was really sweet of you but you carry on. I will be there in an hour'

'Okay! See you!' said Shreya.

A/N – Author iAndromeda would like all the readers and writers out here to check her Profile page and go through 'The 26 Commandments of Fanfiction'.

I have read them and trust me, it's worth a read.

Lastly review and tell me how you found the first chapter of 'Monster Mom'