The Circle of Life - Addicted Series - BOOK 4

12. Knight in shining armor

Lana and Siddy were sitting with Neal and Olivia in the backstage of the auditorium waiting for their turn.

"Why do I have to dress up?" Siddy asks. He was made to wear the little grey suit that his Mom saved for a big occasions like weddings or parties. He hated wearing his grey suit.

"Ask your Dad. It is his idea." Neal laughs.

"They look like little dolls." Ollie tells Neal. "Just wish they'd smile a little more."

"I think that's the best they can do in the given circumstances. Hey, thanks for coming. I know I said drinks but..." he smiles at Ollie.

"Eh, I like toddlers parties." She purses her lips and waves her hand comically.

"Do you?"

"Not remotely. But, it's okay." she smiles.

A couple of her classmates walk up to Lana. "Hi Lana." the first girl greets.

"Hi Alex." Lana smiles.

"You look so pretty." the second girl adds.  Lana was dressed in a ivory colored frock  layered in glossy pearl studded lace.  Her hair was pulled in a lose pony with a band having a large matching daffodil. She looked nothing short of a little princess.

"Thanks."

"My Mommy said your Mom died. I am sorry." the first girl tells Lana.

Lana  looks at Siddy and  down onto the floor.

Neal and Ollie were watching the scene with great interest, exchanging looks between them.

"What are you doing here? You don't have a mom now." the second girl asks.

"Woah! That is a sucky thing to say to your friend!" Neal interferes. "You, crooked face...come here." he calls the second girl to him.

"My name is Darcy Macmillan and I am not crooked face!!" the girl objects standing in front of Neal with folded hands.

"As crooked as a twizzler. Listen, she doesn't need to have a Mom to kick your ass out of the competition. Go tell that to your Mom." Neal tells her making a face and imitating her.

"Um, actually she does! My Mom is the head of the parents committee and she said the competition is only for kids paired with their Mom. It's Mother's day! Duh!!!"

"Really?" Neal looks at Siddy and Lana confused.

He sees Nick talking to somebody who looked teacher like and goes to him. He was giving her his laptop that was open. "Did you know  they need to have a Mom to participate." he asks.

"Yeah." Nick signals Lana and Siddy to come to him. It was their turn next. He kneels in front of them. "You know what to do?" he asks. And both nod their head.

"Good. Now, the goal is not to win. The goal is to kick everyone's ass out okay?"

"Mom always said do your best and don't worry about the rest." Siddy tells him.

"Well, that's Mom. This is Dad. When Vaderas are in the competition, everybody loses by default. Give me a high five..." he opens both his hands. They both look at him suspiciously but nevertheless comply. "Now, go, rock that stage." he hugs them both.

"Cool talk, Nick. Do you know what you are doing?" Neal looks at him worried.

"Nope." he folds his hand and looks at his Mom and Dad in the audience below. They wave at the kids proudly as they slowly amble onto the center stage.

Siddy walks Lana to the piano and holds her hand as she settles in front of it. He then takes the remote and goes in front the piano and switches on the giant screen on the stage. He then talks into the mike. "My sister Lana is going to perform on an Indian song. It was my Mom's song for Dad and now it is our song for Mom, who will stay with us in our hearts, always and forever. Like this..." he plays a video and their Mom comes on the screen.

Nick looks at the image of Lia  on the screen in front of her. He had ripped out the part with her song from a video recording he had since years ago. That was exactly how he had remembered her all these years, from the day of their engagement. In silver and white, like a beautiful angel, his whole world, his love and happiness. He closes his eyes and hears her words.

"Nikki...."

"Yeah???"

"You are my knight in shining armor. Even though I never wanted one. This is for you, love."

 Faili thi siyaan raatein, aaya tu subah leke
Bewajah si zindagi main, jeene ki wajah leke
khoya tha samandaron mein, tanah safina mera
sahilon pe aaya hai tu, jaane kis kadar leke

I was anything but your knight in shining armor, baby. I couldn't give you anything. All I gave you was complications, heartache and all my problems. I did that because I thought we were partners, I thought we will face them together. And we did, you held my hand through all my shit. But, at the first sign of a problem from your side, you run? You didn't think I was strong enough to hold your hand, did you?  Forget letting me be your knight in shining armor, you tried to be mine. And I never fucking wanted that from you, Lia! I never wanted that.

And opens his eyes and sees their daughter. She was playing the interlude between the lyrics. She looked  lovely. Her fingers moved on the keys like a pro. But, he could sense her tension, her face was all scared. He looks at Siddy and signals him to go sit with her. He did and Lana looks up from the keys at him. He smiles in tears and she smiles back at him shyly. And that was when he knew he fell in love with his daughter. 

It didn't matter that he was eight years late. It didn't matter that he was facing the biggest loss of his life. All that mattered what that undeniable connection he has with them both.

As the song ends, he walks onto the stage, holds both their hands, bows and walks them back as the whole auditorium erupts in a ear blaring standing ovation. People were sniffing on their tissues and closing their eyes in prayer as they knew what had happened to their mother. There was a wave of sympathy in the hall.

Once he was backstage, he runs to Neal. "Car keys. Take them home please. I will be right back."

"Where are you going, Nick?" he gives him the keys.

"I saw Sid. He was taking a video. I am following him." he yells as he runs to his car.

~~~