Tangled Ties

Chapter 19: Worth my tears?

"Hey! What's wrong?" Abigail asked, as I was just staring at the food.

"No need to say thank you!" Abigail proudly added as I was quiet.

I was feeling very bad. Abigail, the one whom I trusted the most lied to me. I was feeling so betrayed. Abigail knew how much I missed my parents, still she lied to me saying she didn't know where my parents were. My eyes were full of tears! Before those tears fell on my cheeks I ran to my room.

"Luna!" Abigail's smiling face turned into worried one. Within seconds she followed me in my room.

As I reached my room, I couldn't stop myself from crying.

"Luna what happened?" Abigail sat beside me on the bed.

"Can't you read my mind?" I harshly replied.

"Luna..." Abigail replied after a minute, looking at me pitifully.

"Why did you lie?" I shouted.

"Luna! I'm sorry" Abigail said in a low voice.

"Yes, I know where your parents are. And yes, your father prepared those foods for you on your death anniversary. But trust me my intentions were not to hurt you. I just wanted to protect you." Abigail tried explaining but I cut her off.

"Stop it! I can take care of myself! LEAVE ME ALONE!" I harshly said and lied on the bed covering myself with the blanket.

Then Abigail started saying something:

My dad named me Abigail because I was his joy. I was my parents first born, just like you. We were a happy family, mom, dad, grand ma and grand pa. When I was 2 years old my baby sister was born. Our family was the happiest. We named her Anuka.

Due to less age gap between Anuka and me, we grew up together. At that time, girls were not sent to schools so both of us were taught household works. We learned to cook together. We learned swimming together. We learned sewing together. We used to work in the farm together. During festivals we used to clean the entire house and decorate our house. On our birthdays we used to surprise each other preparing each other's favorite meals. Anuka and I were more than sisters, we were best friends and we were the example for the ideal sisters in the whole village. Where there is Abigail, there is Anuka too. Anuka was my better half.

At the age of 20, my family introduced me to a boy, Oliver. He was dad's friend's son.

Oliver came to my house with his family. He was 23 years old at that time. He was an educated man. He was from a renowned family. And both of our families liked each other and wanted us to get married. Oliver and I were free to keep our point and none of our family forced us to get married. We were given enough time to understand each other better.

That night after Oliver and his family returned, dad came to me. He asked me if it was weird meeting them. Being honest I shook my head. It wasn't awkward at all. Dad smiled and patted my back.

"I really like Oliver. He is a good man; he will keep you happy." Dad expressed. He didn't tell me directly but with those words I knew he wanted me to marry him. My dad always fulfilled my wish so there was no chance I'd deny his wish.

"But no one will force you. Final decision will be yours!" Dad added.

"Okay dad." I replied and hugged him.

"You guys are forgetting me!" Anuka interrupted us and joined us making both of us laugh.

The next day Oliver came to my house and asked me if I was comfortable going out with him. I was not expecting that. I turned to mom and dad, they nodded and expressed to say yes. Then I agreed to go out with Oliver.