Fated Under The Dark Sky

Chapter 22

Richa jolted as she bounced up and down, the entire garden. "Cool off Lil Sister and wake-up. If you want to survive 'this world', you have to come out of your illusionary world and see through the reality." Sammy spoke in a high-pitched voice. Kabeer who was shocked at first, was now laughing uncontrollably.

"What was that?" he chuckled.

"Ice-water." She shrugged. "Someone had to wake her up. English ways never work on us. So, I thought why not do this desi style." Sammy told him, while pointing a hand at a calmer version of Richa, as though proving her point. Sammy dragged Richa inside the house and gave her a change of clothes. Once she was back, all three sat at the breakfast table to talk it out.

"My Pa is not a murderer." Richa spoke breaking the silence. Kabeer rolled back his eyes, "Yeah, right and I am Prince of Persia" Sammy narrowed her eyes at him asking him to shut-up, but he didn't bother. "What? Are you telling me to let her live with that lie? She's already lived enough of a misguided life, it's time we show her the clear picture."

"I am not asking you to lie, but look at her, she is so clueless about her father." Sammy told Kabeer.

"Just stop this bull-shit and tell me what it is, okay? I am not a kid anymore, stop treating me like one." Richa snapped at both of them.

Samaira sighed and dropped the food back on the plate. She had no appetite left, not anymore. "I've known your father even before you were born. He's my father's younger sibling, my uncle; I called him Sky uncle." One after the other Samaira revealed her and her uncle's past. Richa's eyes grew wider with each revelation and by the time Sammy was done, tears danced in her eyes.

"You must really hate my Pa" Richa saddened.

"I did at first, but not anymore. When he told me his reason for his action, I realised how hurt he was. He was betrayed by the two people he loved the most and I am the living proof of that betrayal. Though I cannot forgive him for killing my parents, I know I don't hate him anymore."

"Do you hate me?" She asked with eyebrows arched.

"Hate is a strong word Richa and I have no reason to hate you. It's between me and my uncle, you are nowhere connected to it. In fact, I am happy, I got a cousin now." Sammy placed a hand on her palm, to show her affection.

"Yeah, I got one too" Kabeer chuckled.

"You don't share our blood" Richa pointed out.

"It doesn't matter" He shrugged. They bickered for almost an hour before they left, leaving Sammy to think how everything had changed in blink of an eye.

-----

Two weeks later, on a Thursday, was Samaira's birthday. She was already fumed up because Kunal broke his promise to spend the day with her, and left for work early morning, leaving a sorry card behind. Kabeer, Richa, Rihaan, her parents and her family of twenty-five all wished her, except Kunal. Just as she thought, a notification popped up her phone.

Happy Birthday Angel – read Kunal's message.

Sammy frowned. That was not how she'd planned to spend her most important day. Saddened, she didn't bother to respond and began working on her new assignment instead. Sometime late afternoon, she received a big white box tied in red ribbons. Opening it she discovered, the exact same dress Kunal had gifted her for Office's Anniversary party. He knew how much she had loved that dress and how much it hurt her to trash it, after the accident.

I hope to see you smile when you wear it.

Be ready and wait for me in the evening.

Love,