6. Family Ties

Alizeh's POV

We soon reached my parent's house. Mum as usual ran towards me and bombarded a series of questions.

"How was the date?"

"What did you two talk about?"

"How was he?"

"Can we fix your wedding with him?"

I sighed looking down and shook my head slowly.

"I don't think we are a perfect match Mum. He wasn't like I thought"

She gasped.

"You must have done something"

"MUM!"

"Did you tell him about your past?"

When Mum asked, Kiara came out behind me. Mum's eyes horrified looking at her.

"What is she doing with you? Don't tell me you took her with you!" Mum looked perplexed.

"No, she wasn't with me. I picked her up from Anna early." I said, roaming my eyes around. My dad wasn't at home.

Thank God!

"What he said? Is he willing to marry you?" Mum asked in a voice filled with warning.

"Very much but..." I paused.

Mum waited for me to talk.

"When I told him about Kiara. He..." I paused and looked at Mum "Doesn't want to marry a single mother"

A slap stung my cheek. I wasn't ready for it. Mum started yelling at me.

"Haven't I told you not to tell your truth to anyone? Why don't you listen to me? You are such a burden on our lives. Everything... I repeat everything you have done that is only mistaken. None of the things you have done right. If you keep doing this then nobody will ever want to marry you. Then be single forever. And trust me if I tell you Alizeh, if your wedding doesn't get fixed in a month then my dad and I will cut off ties with you permanently" She spotted venomously looking at Kiara.

I marched at Kiara and held her hand keeping the things down from her hold.

"Let's go home"

I took her away.

Is this what she thinks about me? That I am a burden.

Then, I will surely lessen her burden.

Before I stepped out of the house I looked back at her once, "Next time Mum don't find anyone for me."

"Then who will?" She snapped.

"I will. I am capable of finding a partner for me" I answered.

Mum huffed. "We saw your capability before, and we are also witnessing its consequences" her eyes glared at Kiara. I turned my feet and walked out of her house.

Mum kept yelling at me from behind, but I ignored her and kept walking ahead till I reached the highway. I stopped a taxi, and we went towards my apartment.

—

I unlocked the door of my apartment and walked in. Behind me, Kiara ran inside and went into her room. I closed the door and turned, I saw Anna still in my living area. Probably waiting for me and Kiara to arrive.

"You are still here Anna?''I looked at her, hardly making any eye contact, feeling drowned in guilt because Kiara pranked her.

"Yeah I was worried about you and Kiara, but I am happy that you both are at home, safe and sound," She said.

I couldn't hold back my sadness. I hugged her and let my tears flow from my eyes.

"What happened honey?" she looked at me pulling away from the hug. ''Oh my god, you are crying!'' She squealed.

''What?'' ''What?''

I heard two voices at the same time. I looked around and saw Sofia and Edward walking out of the kitchen.

"You two! I mean, you all are here?" I was baffled by their presence.

Sofia and Edward are less like neighbors but more like a family to me. Sofia is a multitasker and widow. Edward has recently come out with the truth of his newfound self. When he shared about being gay, his family kicked him out, and then he shifted her only a few months ago. I felt relieved seeing the surrounding people.

"Actually what happened to me was, I couldn't find Kiara, and I didn't want to disturb your date, so I called Sofi and Edie, to find her and when we did not find Kiara anywhere, I called you, I mean Sofia told me to tell you," Anna told me nervously.

"Oh"

That's how I could react.

"And yeah we decided to wait until you arrive here, So I prepared coffee for us," Edward said holding the coffee mugs.

—

I let out a sigh in the name of coffee. I had enough coffee today.

"I don't in the mood now," I said.

''What happened? How was your date? You look upset and so Kiara'' Sofia asked.

''Yeah, what happened? Tell us'' Anna plopped on the couch.

I looked at those six pairs of eyes, uh-huh correction, including Sofia's four pairs of eyes as she wears spectacles, waiting for me to talk. I started telling them from the start, and they became engrossed listening to me.

''And this is how my date ruined'' I said, throwing my hand.

I can't believe what I expected to happen and what happened in reality. Only if Kiara would not reach there during my date, everything was going well. I was about to tell him about my past when Kiara appeared.

"This is all my fault. I should have kept my eyes on her, I shouldn't have come into her trap while playing hide-and-seek'' Anna said.

"It's okay Anna, Kia is growing naughtier day by day, Even I don't understand what to do with her?" Edward said.

"Chill Ali, she is a little naive girl. Tell us what more he said to you?" Sofia asked me about Jason.

"Oh please don't ask me about him anymore, he is the one nerve-wracking guy. He not only blamed me for hiding the truth but also asked me if I can get rid of my daughter"

All the ladies gasped in disgust.

"Urgh, men" Anna rolled her eyes.

"That's shit'' Sofia twitched her lips. Edward did not comment but his face frowned.

"It couldn't get bad anymore'' I growled under my breath, controlling my anger.

''Expected. Especially when on such matrimonial dates. Everyone wants a different level of assurance which matches to their expectations''

Anna stated.

"I can't believe in him. The only thing that happened well today was the woman who gave me a lift'' I said remembering the beautiful woman I met in the morning.

"Woman? Who was she?" Edward asked, sipping some coffee.

"I don't know her. Just know that she was a beautiful stranger who helped my day to get better" I told.

''Girl, I know you are sad and all but all in this, it wasn't Kiara's fault at all. So you should not blame her at least, '' Sofia said.

''Yes Sofi is right'' Edward said. ''If his reaction is going to be like this around Kiara, then no matter how much you tell him the truth, he was supposed to act like this only''

Like a douche!

"I think he just got to know most dramatically" Anna laughed.

''So whatever happens, it's for a good, think this way and try to move on'' Edward said, assuring me and patting my head. I smiled at them.

"Hey look at that smile!" Anna cheered me up. I giggled through my tears.

"So on this note, let's order a pizza," Edward said.

"No please I am full already, I drank four cups of coffee" Sofia got up to leave.

"I don't want to get fat, yet I am working out to get six packs abs for my crush" Edward flexed his muscles.

"One slice doesn't make you fat" Sofia poked him with her elbow.

"Oh, then why don't you eat as well?" He taunted.

"SO WE ARE HAVING PIZZA," Anna said and dialed the pizza shop number.

"I can't, I can't," Edward shook his head.

"Come on, let's feed him lots of pizzas," Anna said, holding his hand.

I laughed along with them.

After talking with my squad, I felt so right.

Even if I had told him the truth in a more subtle way, the chances of his refusal don't decrease. He was a douche and I could have wasted my time with him if we ever married in the future.

Thank god!

But now I have started feeling guilty about Kiara. I shouldn't have an outburst on her in the park.

I looked at her room making myself prepared to talk to her.

--

After Sofia, Anna and Edward left, I walked into Kiara's room carefully opening the door, and saw her sleeping on the bed.

I walked closer to her without making any noise and sat next to her. She looks so peaceful while sleeping. Because of me, she cried today. A pang of guiltiness has been drumming in my heart. Her face screamed the innocence she has. I softly caressed her head, adjusting the duvet over her body. Her eyes fluttered open.

"Ali" she murmured my name.

"Hey, you are awake!'' I softly murmured.

She got up into a sitting position and rubbed her swollen eyes. There was silence between us for a while.

"I am sorry"

We both said at the same time. I felt my chest heavy.

"I should not have done this," Kiara said, making me feel more guilty.

"You don't need to say sorry Kiara. It wasn't your fault. Whatever you did have nothing to do with my ...work" I chose the words correctly.

"But I ruined your date," She said that word which I was avoiding.

I gaped at her.

"Who told you this word? I wasn't on any date, okay? It was just related to work and nothing else" I said, defending myself. It's not her age to know about the date and stuff.

She shrugged her shoulders.

"Mumma, can I ask you something?"

I nodded, folding the scarf.

"Where is my father?"

I looked at her.

"In school, my friends asked me. What should I tell them?" Her big eyes held lots of hope.

I sighed.

"Umm...tell them I am your father as well as a mother."

She nodded happily as if I solved her puzzle.

"And by the way, where are you learning about this word, dating?"

She smiled, pulling out a book from her duvet.

"This book has every information in it"

I read the book's name. The Notebook. I gasped. She is reading an adult book.

"You are too small to understand such things." I snatched the book from her hands. "So don't think much and get up now. I am hungry, and I was just waiting for you to wake up, so we could have this together'' I put the pizza box in front of her on the bed.

"PIZZZAAA...YAYYYYY" Kiara cheered up in joy.

"First wash your hands and face," I commanded.

She removed the duvet and got down from the bed happily and ran to the bathroom.

It's so easy to make up a kid's mind then why does it become difficult when we grow older?

Why does it become so hard to comfort our sad minds once we grow up?

I have said so many hurtful words to Kia.

Oh, my heart still squeezes remembering it.

My eyes fell on the photograph of me with my family in my childhood.

The happy faces of us!

Mum, Dad, my elder sister Alvira and me.

Everything flashed in front of my eyes as I remembered the past clearly and how my one mistake changed my entire life. I cringed and cursed after remembering him.

Alexander, I hate you.

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