Tainted Love by Maniah (i love reading TXT) 📖

Vani Pov:-

"Gunnu, Khush behave with other students on the school bus, just because I am your mother and your aunty Khush, you can't take advantage of this. It's a bad habit. Do you both understand me?" 

They both nodded at me but I could see a hint of anger in Gunnu's eyes. His lips were thinned as if he was thinking something. "What's the matter Gunnu?" I asked him.

"Mumma, Danish and his brother Vaibhav always tease us. Vaibhav even tried to hit Khush bro many times but he never hit him back. Khush bro cries in the school toilet because Vaibhav calls him battery because Khush bro wears Specs," Granth said, I glanced at Khush.

"Stop it Gunnu," Khush scolded Granth and turned his head towards me "it's not true aunty, he is just exaggerating," I was shocked hearing it. How did I not notice it?

"Khush, tell me the truth. Is this true? Why didn't you tell me?" 

He looked down while slanted an angry stare at Granth. "Tell Mumma everything Khush bro. She will punish Vaibhav for making you cry."

Khush squeezed Granth's hand in warning. "Khush stop this and tell me everything now," I asked him strictly this time.

"Aunty…" 

"Tell me now Khush."

"Vaibhav always made fun of me in class and outside class, during the game period, he intentionally pushed me to the ground when I complained about it to the sports teacher, Vaibhav's friends stood by him. They too hit me one day in the school toilet. When I warned them that I will tell my mother about it he… he…" Khush answered in a thick voice, with tears in his eyes. The boy was twelve years old and if he was crying it only indicates under how much pressure he was at. 

 "He did what Khush?" I asked, wiping his tears. He gulped down and spoke again, "He told me that if I do that he will beat Granth and his mother will make fun of you in the colony and school. He called Granth a Bas…" he stopped before saying the word from his mouth. Granth was a child Khush was not. He understood what the word meant.  I was numb for a second, blood drained from my face. 

"Yes Mumma, his mother once called me a bastard and Vaibhav too called me that yesterday on the school bus. That's why I told him that 'I will tell my Mumma and she will punish you,' 

Then he told Danish that I am a bad boy because I...I," Granth's brows pulled together, "yes, I was trying to show off that my Mumma is a teacher of our school since then Danish is not talking to me anymore."

"Khush, Why didn't you tell me that?" 

"Mumma, yesterday when we were playing in colony garden, Vaibhav and his friends pushed Khush bro. I wanted to hit them but Khush bro took me away, I am angry with Khush bro. I wanted to hit them back…" Granth said angrily, folding his hands to his chest. 

Tears pooled in my eyes, I hugged them both. How much they were suffering because of me. Granth didn't even know what he was being called and Khush, this twelve-year-old boy was protecting me and my son. How selfless he and his parents are.

I had enough of this nonsense, Who was Mrs Bhalla or anyone else to look at my child as if he was beneath them. Who were she and her son to victimize Khush just because his parents cared about me. " look at me both of you," I told them in a strong voice.

They both peered up at me "The more you get scared of people the more they will scare you. Don't bow down to your fear, he was telling you that he will hurt Granth and make fun of me right. Tell him to do it." 

"Aunty…"

"Khush, his mother can't do anything. He can't do anything to you. Don't give him power over yourself son. Don't show anyone your fear. This world is cruel. They will take advantage of your fear and make you do things which you don't want to do…" I gulped down the hardness in my throat. The past memories ran in front of my eyes. How this world has taken advantage of my innocence. 

 I touched Khush's shoulder "Don't worry about me or Granth, son. They are just big bullies and nothing else. I will talk to his mother today but if he tries to do anything then you will directly go to the principal office today. Do you understand me?" 

"Yes, Aunty," Khush answered. I nodded at them "and you my naughty son of mine, you will finish your lunchbox today. Don't hide it in between your books like yesterday." 

Granth bit his lip trying not to laugh "okay Mumma," he kissed me. We turned around when we heard the horn of the school bus. they both went inside the school bus. I waved them smiling but inside I was raging in anger. This Mrs Bhalla was crossing the line day by day. Till now I thought it was normal neighbourhood jealousy but what she and her son were doing was not acceptable anymore. Instead of teaching his son to be respectful to his fellow classmates and protecting his juniors, she was teaching him to be a bully just like she was. Disgraceful woman!

I glanced at the wristwatch in my hand. My bus will arrive in fifteen minutes because the staff bus was different from the student bus. Mrs Bhalla's house was just a street away. I decided to go to her home and give her a piece of mind. 

I was walking towards her home but she was buying Vegetables with the other women of the colony from a vegetable vendor. They all were gossiping while checking the vegetables.

Not caring about anyone else I went to her  "Mrs Bhalla, I need a minute of your time." I said. They all turned towards me, Mrs Bhalla frowned, looked at the ladies one time and then at me "yes," she nodded and came to me.

"Look, Mrs Bhalla, I don't know what problem you have with me and seriously I am not interested in knowing it but kindly keep yourself, and your son in line. He is harassing Khush in school and warns him that if he tells his mother or anyone he will hit Granth. Please raise your son with some decent values..." I was saying but Mrs Bhalla stopped me.

"Oh hello! Wait. Who are you to tell me how to raise my children? And what do you think that you will come here and lie about my son and I will accept it. Unlike you, I am a respectable woman who teaches her son values. Don't even know about the name of your son's father and came here to preach to me about raising my children…"