Adopted

The Letter

I was almost crying when Peter entered the room. I looked up at him and tears started to stream down my cheeks. He sat beside me and I hugged him, wetting his shirt with my tears. He held on to me for a while.

"What is it? Why are you crying? " he asked pulling me up to face him.

I handed him the card and wrapped my arms around his waist. He pulled me closer as he opened the card.

The cover read a simple 'Happy Birthday'. On opening, a letter popped out.

From where my head was, I started reading it again.

Dear Tara,

It has been a long time since I last saw you. You would not remember, of course. It was when you were weeks old. If I remember correctly, 2 weeks old. My wife, your mom, died of labour pain and I was left to take care of you and your elder sister Sapna. The family you live with now, experienced similar events at their house around the same time. Peter was just 4 years old and his mother was pregnant with his sister. His mother died as well but could not deliver the baby either. It was a tragedy, yes. But instead of just accepting the truth, they jumped to actions that left our lives twisted.

A few days after your birth, you went missing from the hospital. On searching, we found that Peter's father had been spotted around you last. It took me more than a week of searching and I had to take care of Sapna too. She was 7 years old and was innocently confused about why her father was leaving her home alone almost every day and going out to meet police officers.

After a lot of days, we found out that your current family had given you away to an orphanage. We let you be there because it was safest. I came to see you then. You were so pretty, like a little angel, I can remember so clearly. We got Peter's father arrested but somehow in court, they showed false proofs and got a bail. After that, I never saw you. They adopted you from there and took you away.

Only after so many years have I seen you again and you've grown to become a beautiful lady. I'm so proud that you were such a good girl. I don't blame you for whatever happened, child. I'm issuing another complaint against them. And this time, I promise you'll come back to live with your real family. I'll never let anyone take you away from me again, I promise.

I hope you stay safe and I'll always be there if you need me.

Lots of love,

From your father,

RAM.

P.S. If you ever want to contact me, just give me a call on the number behind the card.

Peter closed the card and the mobile number was scribbled there in the same dirty hand writing.

I looked up at him with tears still dripping from my eyes slowly. He wiped them off with his sleeve and cupped my face in his hands.

"Do you believe this guy?" Peter asked.

"I don't know. He seems too convincing but... I don't even know him... And, I'd rather believe you." I say, almost choking over my own voice.