The Lustre [On Hold]

chapter twenty-five

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chapter twenty-five • you deserve an apology
K E N N E D Y R A J M A L H O T R A

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"Oh, wow. I definitely wasn't expecting all these beautiful couples to be this passionate on the dance floor. And the couple over there, Mr and Mrs. Malhotra were so romantic and intimate. I've never seen a more passionate couple dancing together than them." The host comments which made her pull away from me.

Immediately after she left my hold, I felt something was taken away from inside me. Like, I was missing an important piece of me.

"Give yourselves a round of applause! That was amazing, guys!" The host complimented everyone as we clapped.

I move closer to Zara and whisper in her ears. "You still owe me a hug."

Her eyebrows were drawn together, looking at me. "What hug?"

"I said it's a shame I can't pull you even closer to me and hug you. And you said yes but I only pulled you closer. I haven't hugged you."

"That counts as a hug." She smacks her lips.

"Don't cheat me, Zara. That wasn't a hug and you know it, stop cheating yourself."

"Whatever."

This woman is going to be the death of me. I mean, who am I kidding? She already is.

Soon, we were taking family pictures with the newlyweds on the stage. After a few snaps, a cute little girl came running towards me and hugged my legs. It shocked me because as much I love kids, they fucking hate me. They always get scared of me and scurry away whenever I try to talk to them. So, this is the first time I've ever had an experience where a child approaches me first.

I smile at the cute little girl.

"Kiara, baby? What are you doing?" Zara noticed her and was about to hold the girl but I stopped her. Then, I carried the girl in my arms.

"Raj, why are you troubling yourself?"

"I'm not," I reply. "You know this little cutie?"

"My niece, Kiara. Aria's daughter." Zara caresses her cheek while she's in my arms.

"Oh, so this is Aria's daughter."

After sometime, Zara decides to ask me something. "You love kids?"

"Very much. But the thing is, they don't love me. This is the first time a child has ever approached me, no kidding."

She smiles lightly and lowers her eyelids like she's thinking of something. The whole time I stole Kiara from her parents and played with her. I spent time with her and found out a lot about her. Her favorites, her least favorites.

But again, I wasn't lucky enough to spend more time with her because she had to leave. When she left, I became disappointed.

"So, this means you would want to be a father?" She says after noticing my attitude with and after Kiara left. So, that means she's been watching.