"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday day, happy birthday, happy birthday to you"
The whole family of Clara sang together as they all celebrated their one and only daughter, who 18years ago her cries were heard at the gate of the childless couples Mr and Mrs Anderson. They had accepted the little pink child as her cries kept disturbing them from their sleep. They named her Clara, as her eyes reminds the couples so much of the one and only child they had lost few months ago.
"Happy birthday, my darling Clara, mummy and daddy loves you so much" Mrs Anderson, Clara mother said, gifting her daughter a gift as it had become a ritual to always present her with a gift on her birthdays. " thank you so much mummy, you are really the best" Clara said, as she extended a big hug to her mother, which nearly sent them both sprawling on the floor.
Mr Anderson walking in with his own present, which was just delivered by the delivery man. " I see, mother and child enjoying themselves, happy birthday my darling daughter".
" Wow, dad I am so glad" Clara took the presents both of her parents had given her " I know these presents are going to be lovely, and I will love to open them only after I've also given you both mine". Both parents were amazed, as it wasn't even their birthday. " Clara, we are your parents and you did not have to go that far to get us a present, we love you and also want the very best for you" Said Clara father, as he pulls her into his warm embrace. "Mum, dad, you both are amazing and deserves the best from me also, therefore wait here while I go into my room and get my present"
While waiting, both couples thought of what their daughter would have to present to them, they waited for a few minutes and it felt like they have waited forever. Finally, Clara arrived and the period of waiting was at least over.
" I made this drawing using pencil and coal, I spent three days on it and I really hope you both love it" turning the painting she had made of her parents, they were amazed as the painting was an exact replica of them both.
"Clara, my darling daughter I am so proud of you, this is beautiful, I see your art class with Mrs Smith is going on well and perfect..."
" this is in fact so perfect" said Mr Anderson, "I am so proud of you Clara."
"I am happy you both love it, I promise to remain your best daughter that you will always be proud of". "We are forever proud of you" both parents said, while giving their daughter a big hug. There and then, the family of Anderson hugged themselves as the secret of Clara not being their real daughter lingers in their heart.
Their get together reunion was cut short as a the cell phone of Mr Anderson rings. " Mr, Anderson, your attention is needed here at the office, the investors are threatening to vandalize this place as they are yet to get their ROI for the month" without hesitating, he leaves for the office with a goodbye kiss.
It was night already, tired as the day had been long, Clara retired to her Cozy room, which she had grow up in for 18 years, the walls were covered in pink flowery wallpapers, the floors were titled, making ones feet feel very cool. It was the habit of Clara to always perform her daily rituals– before retiring to bed, by checking her arm to see if her destined partner name is still written on it. With the aid of a light, which is placed under her right arm, one is able to see a name written in icy blue colors, before retiring to bed, Clara too her special light, which came with an handle, and placed it underneath her right arm, only to find her future partner name missing. With fear and doubt, she carried the act several times and realized the name missing.
"mummmmmy".
....
"hello hunnie where are you?"
"I am still at the company darling, we are here with out biggest investors"
" do they still want partnership with Anderson forte?"
" We really are doing our best to pacify them, and abate all of their fears, so as they realise that Anderson Forte is a save investment platform"
"will you be home tonight?"
"Yes, my lovely wife"
"Are we going to tell Clara about who she truly is?... hello, hello, hello are you still listening?"
" I really have to return to work now, I will be home late, talk to you later, I love you"
Mr and Mrs Anderson, has decided to divulge the truth on how Clara came about to be their daughter on her 18th birthday, as they believe as at then she will be mature enough to handle the truth, as the truth can not be hidden for long from Clara. Even if many people believed Clara to belong to the Mr and Mrs Anderson,as no one even heard of the death of the couples first child, who died after deliver due to complications, which resulted in Mrs Anderson womb being removed, as that was the only option to make her stay alive.
due to the pain of not being able to bear another child ever again, Mrs Anderson lived in denial, she became a shadow of herself, as her dream was to become a mother too, like every woman. A month into the death of their child, Clara was heard crying at their gate, and they had taken her in as their child, with nobody even suspecting.. Mrs Anderson had been the one to give her the name, as that was the name she had in mind to give her dead baby.
While Mrs Anderson sat on her bed reminiscing on how Clara had come into their life, she heard Clara call out to her with a voice of pain, mixed with confusion.