STOP STARING

Linda can't possibly bring herself to stop staring at the woman sitting at the table very close to hers. She stares at her in such a way that every living soul in the restaurant except her father noticed it and started whispering to themselves about it. Even the lady she is staring at, starts to feel so uncomfortable at some point.

"Why aren't you eating?" Paul asks as he is still busy stuffing his mouth with the delicious meals.

"I don't have the appetite too." She replies bluntly, still staring at the lady.

"What are you looking at?" He asks again.

Linda faces her father and smiles. "Nothing, I hope you are enjoying your meal?"

Paul nods. "Of course I am, they do really have a good cook here."

"Finally, she takes her eyes off." Abdullah whispers calmly.

"Do you have any idea why she did that?" asks Shamim.

Ella smiles and replies. "I guess she is almost aware of who I am."

"Of who you are?" He asks again.

"I haven't changed much from before, and, a lot of people do say I look a lot like my mom. Thus, if you knew my mom before she died, I think you should be able to recognize me at once."

"You look like your mom that much?" Abdullah asks again.

"I believe so." Miss Smith says confidently.

"So you have a picture of her?" Abdullah asks again.

"No." She shakes her head. "I haven't tried to get any of her pictures since she passed. I don't find myself worthy until I avenge her death."

"She is staring at you again." Asma whispers.

Ella turns her head and then locks eyes with her. The look she gives Linda is strong enough to pierce through her heart.

"Ella?" Linda asks mumrmuring beneath her breath that no one could hear her.

"How can I help you ma'am?" Ella asks Linda confidently.

On hearing the voice, Paul stops eating and gently raises his head. "Whoose voice did I just here?" He asks screaming in his head.

"Didn't you hear me?" Ella asks again. "Do I have to repeat myself for you?" Now, both father and daughter have their eyes on Ella. "Could you please, lower you gazes and atop staring?"

"People are watching." Shamim pats his sister's shoulders.

"I am so sorry, you actually look like someone I know." Linda apologizes as soon as she finally manages to let words out of her mouth.

"Well, I don't know you." Ella replies with her brows up and continues to eat.

"There is no way that lady can be Ella." Linda whispers to herself as she forces a spoonful into her mouth.

"That lady," Paul whispers storing his food. "She looks a lot like Ella and her voice sounds alike like that of the late Alex."

"There is no way she is Ella." she repeats what she had whispered in her mind earlier. "Can't you see how confident she is? Ella is too naive to be like that."

"We never can say, the death of her parents and grandparents might have changed her totally and build her into something else." He says stiring his food.

"B-" Linda tries to say something but she remembers what had happened a day before. How she had suddenly forgotten what happened overnight and found herself on the bed. "Could it be that Ella is now playing her cards? Has she been watching us from afar all this while?" she asks In her mind.

"Linda!" Paul calls calmly.

"Stop stiring your food and just eat." Linda whispers and puts her head down with a million thoughts in her head.