The mansion narrated the story of the riches. Golden and ivory painted, carved walls and pillars displaying the artwork of the old times. The huge chandelier hung right in the middle of the living area, shined like a thousand lamps together in one place, in the night. Marble embedded flooring let the entire environment shine, luxury curtains, and red laid carpets gave a royal look at the house. The huge teak wood door opened to the flower garden at a distance. Clearwater flowing from the fountain that was a part of it.
The little girl was sitting beside the fountain holding a doll in her hand. When she heard the voice of the car screeching she took her doll and her ball, but the ball fell off her hand and it rolled to the person who had just stepped out of the car. The person picked it up and stepped towards her but she moved behind and ran away.
"Clara did you have your dinner?" asked the man as she reached the door.
The little girl looked at him and nodded a yes and ran into the house immediately. An old man came to the person.
"Sir please give me the bag, I'll take it to your room," he said.
The man handed his laptop bag to the old man and asked 'Rico, did Clara had her milk?'
"You know it very well Raymond beta, that Clara follows everything that I ask her to do, she is a good child, but she drinks the milk only because she fears you, "Rico replied.
Rico was the caretaker of the entire mansion. In addition to this, it was his duty to take cook food and take care of the little girl, Clara.Rico had been working at the mansion for the last twenty years. He had now become a part of the family. Raymond relied on him since the time he was left alone with Clara.
"Okay, I'll see it" Raymond replied.
Rico got the milk for the little girl. Raymond straightaway went to Clara's room and knocked at her door.
"Clara, come outside," he said.
Clara was too scared hearing that strong heavy voice. She rubbed palms in agitation. She took a photo frame from her side table, hugged it, and slowly opened the door.
"Clara, I am waiting" he again called.
Clara slowly stepped outside. She noticed the furious look on Raymond's face and was more disturbed now.
"Clara, what is this? You haven't finished your milk. Care to explain?"
"I don't want to drink it"
"Why? What's wrong today? Stop being dramatic and quickly finish this glass of milk" Raymond snapped.
"Okay...but did you get my doll," she asked.
"Oh! I am so sorry bacha, it completely slipped off my mind, I will get it tomorrow, I promise, now come on, have the milk" Raymond said softly.
"Okay then I will also not have milk"
"Clara! Drink the milk quietly" Raymond yelled.
Clara was scared by his voice, she saw him glaring at her. She quickly took the glass from his hand and drank the milk in a single go.
"That's like my good girl, I promise my dear I will get your doll tomorrow," said Raymond bending to her, he smiled and caressed her cheeks. Clara jerked his hand and immediately stepped back.
"No! You are a liar, you won't keep your promise, you are my uncle and you would always be that, had my Papa been here, he would have got my doll, no matter how busy he might have been. But you would never be able to take their place, you took them away from me..." She cried.
Clara got back to her room and locked it from inside. Raymond was left speechless, he didn't have anything to speak. After all whatever Clara said, even his thoughts were the same.
Clara was Raymond's niece. Though Raymond was not only her maternal uncle but also her guardian, Clara had never accepted him. Since the time Clara's parents had died, she was staying with him. Raymond was struggling to build a cordial relation with her but all his efforts went in vain. It had been nine months now that his sister and brother-in-law had died in that accident, leaving the little Clara with him, still, he couldn't be at least a good uncle to her. Clara couldn't build any bond with him. For her, he was just a person who was taking care of her.
This was not the same when her parents were alive. Clara enjoyed Raymond's company whenever he visited his sister's place. He not only used to get toys, gifts, and chocolates for her but also cooked for her. Clara liked spending time with him, she liked him a lot. The accident had changed it all.
Melanie was holding the baby in her arms. She had held many babies like this, but never did she realize the presence of motherhood. She felt as if she was holding her child. Her eyes were teary, the baby smiled at her constantly. The more the baby smiled, Melanie's smile too widened. The baby girl was so warm that her warmth filled Melanie's emptiness.
"Melanie, till when are you going to watch her like this? Won't you let her sleep? Give her to me, I'll make her sleep" her mother said.
"Maa, how can, someone leave such a lovely baby?" she asked lost in her thoughts.
" There are many such people Melanie, the world is too cruel"
"She is so warm Maa," she said
Her mother smiled and replied "Till when are we going to call her 'baby'? I think we should decide on a name"
"Look at her Maa, how beautiful smile she has, I am going to call her Pia,"
"Lovely name Melanie, okay then it is decided we'll call her Pia" her mother agreed.
"Whose baby is that?" the mother and daughter heard a strong voice behind them.
Melanie knew it was going to happen. She knew that her father would object to the presence of the baby. Melanie had already decided to ignore his objections.
"Maa, I am taking her to my room," she said ignoring her father.
"Melanie, I am asking you something, whose baby is that?" he inquired.
"And I don't think it necessary to answer all your questions"
"Melanie! you are have become insolent day by day" he bellowed.
"Calm down dear, Melanie is just.." her mother interrupted.
"Just what? At least you tell me whose child is that Alice?"
Alice narrated the entire story to her husband and this made him even more furious.
"What? Someone left an orphan at our doorsteps and you brought her in? And as fas as I know you Melanie you must have decided to keep her here, with us?" he asked.
"Dad, this little girl needs us and..."
"Enough Melanie! That's enough! You are attached to kids and I don't have any problem with that, but that doesn't mean that you are going to become a nanny for that purpose" he bawled.
"But Dad..."
"This is my house Melanie not one of your orphanages that you'll bring anyone to the house. Tomorrow you will be leaving this kid to Muskaan foundation and I don't want any argument or discussion regarding this, I don't want to see her tomorrow"