Adopted

Another Family?

We walked out of the Orphanage at around 11 am. It was already getting late and our breakfast hadn't been that filling today. We walked the long street and reached the grocer's . We smiled and waved at the lady who would stand across the street selling beautiful flowers. I'd make sure to buy a flower from her at least once a week.

Peter went in first as I got caught up with some mangoes stacked outside. I love mangoes! But then, by the time I was done picking just 3, I noticed a girl looking my way. I turned to see her staring straight at me. Such people had always creeped me out. I looked in through the door and saw Peter fiddling with tomatoes. I looked back at the girl and she was making her way towards me already.

Okay... Just act casual. She's just gonna go right outside. And why would she wanna come to you? Stop over thinking.

But then, she stopped right beside me. She seemed to be older than Peter. She started playing with a mango.

I looked up at her and she was staring down at me. I felt panic as soon as I met her gaze. I tried to be normal now.

"Yes? You need help choosing? "

Wow. What a nice thing to say.

"Thanks. But I only came to ask if you were all right Tara." she said in a sweet voice that reminded me of Miss. Coulter.

Wait. How did she know my name?

"I'm sorry, but I don't remember seeing you anytime before."

"That's because you haven't. I'm your elder sister, Sapna. You wouldn't know me. But I know you. "

What!

"What the hell do you mean by you're my elder sister? "

"Our father is here too, Tara. We have searched for you so much! Finally we found you here." she said and put a hand on my shoulder.

I pushed it away almost instinctively and looked back to find Peter but he was probably at the billing counter because he wasn't in view.

I looked at her and she was smiling at me softly. She had light brown eyes, that resembled mine so much. But I put that thought away as soon as it came to me. How could I even think that this stranger was telling the truth. Dad had told me I was adopted and after all, I was an orphan! I kept staring at her when a hand gripped my shoulder from behind. I turned around to a tall man in a long coat smiling down at me.

They're gonna kidnap me, aren't they?

I stepped away and out from between them. To my blasted luck, there was not a soul on that road now and Peter was still not out.

"Don't worry, child. We are not here to cause harm. We're your family. I just wanted to wish you a very happy birthday. I've got something for you. You're 17 now, right? Here, take this. "

How did this man know my birthday!?

He handed me a little gift and a card. Wait, he shoved it into my arms when I didn't accept them initially.

"There's no need to be afraid. Come on, open it child." he said in a soft voice.

He sounded so convincing and persuasive.

I pushed the card into my jacket's pocket and held the gift in my hand.

Before I could pull the first of the tapes off, I saw it fly out of my hand and get thrown into the man's face.

I looked up to find Peter glaring at the man. His eyes were so angry, I could feel goosebumps.

"How dare you come here!?" Peter screamed at the man.
I'd never heard Peter scream.

"Calm down, boy!" screamed back the man. "You don't have to act like your dad. You people stole my child from me! You stole her because your weak mother couldn't give birth to your sister! You stole my child because you were greedy! Shut your mouth and behave!"

"You are nobody to talk to him like that! And they didn't steal me! And you aren't my father!" I stepped forward unable to take the way he was talking.

"Oh, child! I am your father, and you cannot change that. No one can. The truth will hurt, I know. But, it had to come out sometime. These people aren't your real family." he said changing his tone almost immediately.

He reached out a hand to touch my cheek but Peter pushed it away and stepped in front, covering my entire figure with his own.

"Don't you even think of touching her." he said angrily. "And don't show yourself in front of her again."

"Oh! I will see her, talk to her, meet her whenever I want! She is my daughter. I don't need any permission for seeing her. "

This man has either broken out of a mental asylum or he lost his mind recently.

I wasn't ready to take any more nonsense now. I was an orphan, and these people were creepy.

Peter was now addressing the girl."And you! How can you go back to him? After everything!"
She looked straight at him now, "He is my father! You people stole my sister but I was not going to let my dad be all alone. You are thieves! But we'll take her back from you two soon."

And then I noticed the man looking at me and smile. It looked very polite and soft. But then he looked me over as though he were scanning me. It felt uneasy and I stepped behind Peter.

I think Peter noticed I was feeling uncomfortable by the way the man looked at me so he took my hand and led the way out of the place.
"Don't you dare lay your eyes on her, Ram." Peter said threateningly and gently pushed me along.
He put an arm around my shoulder and handed me the vegetables. I was about to look back when I felt his hand on my cheek and he forcefully pushed my face straight.

I looked up at him and he said without looking back, "Let's get you home. I'll tell you everything there. Now don't look back."

~~~

We reached home to dad waiting for us in the hall.
"What took the two of you so long? " he said as we entered the house.
I ran up to him and hugged. Peter still looked very angry and I didn't feel good about it at all.

Dad pulled me straight and looked at me with concern. Then he turned to Peter and noticed something was very wrong.

"Dad, there were these two people at the grocer's and they were saying that... " but before I could finish, Peter pulled me to face him.

"Go to your room now. I'll tell dad everything. Go to your room and don't come out. I'll come upstairs in a while."

I shook my head. "I wanna know."

Dad now turned to me and said softly, "I'll send him upstairs to tell you everything, okay? Now go."

I wasn't used to disobeying any of the two so I went to my room. While on the stairs I heard my dad exclaim loudly and Peter shushing him.

Once in my room, I closed the door but didn't lock it for it would mean rudeness. I sat on my bed and tried to figure out what the hell had gone through at the grocers.

As I replayed everything in my head, my hands reached for my pocket. And there it lay, the card the man had given me.