she devil

Chapter-4.5(part-3)

"What? I am sorry, I think I didn't hear you right. Could you please repeat what you just said?"

"Mr. Madhav, we have traced your adoption documents back to your birth family. It seems that your grandfather has been searching for you for a while. He's willing to take you under his care. Since, you are still a minor, he is automatically registered as your official guardian. If you have any requests or questions, feel free to talk with me. I am your adoption agent."

I heard it right. I was adopted? How is it possible?

"Sir, are you sure the person you're searching for is me? Could it be that you've got the wrong person?"

"We're pretty sure that you were adopted in 2003, right after you were born. We didn't know you were unaware of the fact that you were adopted by your parents. I understand that you must be confused as it was so sudden but we made sure there wasn't any mistake."

"Can I know more about my birth family?" that was the only question I could ask. I never thought, even for a second, that my parents weren't my biological parents. They treated me with care and love. How could I possibly doubt that affection?

"Sure. Your surname is Arora. Both of you parents passed away in 2004 in a car accident. Your grandfather has been searching for you ever since. You were born in Mumbai city hospital on April, 3rd, 2003. We have documentation to prove that you were born to Mr. and Mrs. Arora. If you insist, you have the right to ask for paternity test."

How funny could my life get? I've been grieving my parents for months now and now they say that they're not my real parents, only to say that my real parents passed away right after my birth. I didn't even get the chance to know them neither did I had a chance to live in oblivion with my foster family. I guess, I was destined to lose my parents. He said I must feel confused but I have no idea how I feel. I feel this weird sensation growing in my stomach. I've truly become alone in this world. I don't know why but I felt a flicker of hope when they said I had a family. The feeling of disappointment after knowing my family only consists of two people neither of them my parent.

After that day it took them over a week to clear the paper work. The adoption agent assured that I will have a smooth life here on. I don't see how that is possible. They've arranged for me to study in the town's high school. The day I was finally handed over to my birth family, my grandfather was nowhere to be seen. My grandmother didn't have much to say to me. The mansion I am going to live in is huge and high, only it had no warmth. After a week of living there, I still didn't get to see my grandfather, rarely saw my grandmother. She sent over a servant to take care of my room every day. A maid informs me when the meal is ready but it's always only me at the dining table. When coming here, I didn't have any expectations of being a real family. It's been years and it's hard to be family with strangers but I didn't think I would feel as if I am living in a hotel.

Finally, the day came for me to attend school. It should be much better than being bored at home. I should feel happy for having a chance to complete my education. So that no matter what the future holds, I can live on my own effort. They said I would soon get a car of my own. Until then, their driver would drive me to school. It was Mercedes. I can't name a time in my life when I rode in a car half as expensive as this one.

As I got to school, anxiety grew in me as reminding me of my past school experiences. It always came down to being bullied. But as I went in to find my classes, I realized everyone is looking at me. I feel my stomach turn and the feeling of disgust returns. I remember walking down the corridor in my previous school with my school uniform drenched in sewage water. The feeling of their eyes on me makes me so nervous. I don't hope to be popular. As long as people don't mind me, I am fine with it. Soon, their attention shifted from me as noise erupted from behind me. I turn around to find a group of students running behind a rabbit, trying to catch it. As an instinct, I bend down to catch it with my hand. With my right hand I got its ears and held it with my left. A lot of people gathered around me. I was too embarrassed to look at their expressions and stayed where I am. Soon, a pair of the blackest looking shoes I've ever seen entered my line of vision. I slowly lift my head to look at the owner of the shoes. A girl with long hair and striking brown eyes stood over me. Somehow, in this chaotic corridor, everything went silent the moment she stood in the crowd. Her presence took over the space around her. She somehow, felt familiar. She tilted her head to side as if analyzing something fascinating. She looks like an entirely different creature than the rest of them. I stood up, somehow gaining the courage to face the people around me. As I looked at the girl in front of me, the guy across her right stepped forward, placing hand over my chest, pushing me to side, making way for the girl to pass. She breaks our stare and soon, her eyes are fixed on the guy's hand on my chest and for a second, I see something cross over her face. But just in a moment her expression desolates, becoming much frigid than before. Lifting her chin, a little higher, she moves forward. Even her walk is domineering. It makes me wonder if it's true that these rich kids are trained to behave in a certain way. For all I know, my grandfather arranged for etiquette classes for me but I thought it was because I don't know how this circle runs. But I guess they really did take classes as learning needs teaching.

I turned around and handed over the rabbit to the students who were after it. A girl with reddish brown hair and petite frame moves forward to take the pet from my hands. She then gives the sweetest smile possible and says "Thanks. I was worried it would get out of the building. It would've been a headache if it escaped. Wait. Are you the new student? I've never seen  you. You must be the Arora kid. Let me introduce myself. I am Deepika Mehra." she's this cheeky, bubbly girl that you find cute in a younger sister way. but for some reason, even though her smile felt real, it still had a shadow over it. I didn't let myself think about for too long.

The crowd around us soon dispelled and started settling down in their classes. Deepika helped me find my class. In lunch break, she told me everything about everyone in the school. It's hard to follow all that information. I briefly understood the hierarchy here. But the thing I paid most of my attention to, is the girl I met this morning. Zoya Akhtar.  that's her name. Deepika didn't tell me much about this particular girl. Somehow, it felt like Deepika was unwilling to reveal anything about Zoya, as if she's too loyal to the girl. For all I heard about the girl, she's the heiress of Akhtar industries, she returned after a year of isolation and declared herself the Queen of this school. It's interesting, the incident in canteen that everyone's talking about. Actually grabbing someone's hair in the middle of the canteen and in front of the entire school, including teachers, is an act of bravery. That kind of situation can only look either cool or nasty. Apparently, this girl made it look awesome and I believe it, considering the way she stood over me today. I didn't find her in dining hall that day, not even at the "high table" where everyone says she sits. I wonder when I will see her again.