FATED BOND

Daisy’s POV

I was in my room but I could hear the yellings from Nina and Amar. I was as confused as hell. And I could see the reason why Nina fell in love with him. He was handsome and calm-looking. His bears were curly, the same with his long hair. The hair reminded me of Damien. Amar also had clear crystal blue eyes, which I found rare in India. His round face and cheekbone added to his looks. He looked manly with his broad shoulders and I was sure he had a tattoo. I could see the traces from his neck.

Even without having a conversation with him, I liked him already. He was looking very calm with his infectious smile. I could see why Nina couldn’t get him off her head.

After Nina left him with Ellah, I went downstairs to meet him. His eyes were full of sadness and sorrow. The moment he saw me, he smiled and picked Ellah up from where she had fallen asleep before passing her to me.

I watched the way he handled her carefully and I was thrilled to see the way he also looked at her. It was obvious he loved children and I love men that love children. It reminds me of my dad. Dad used to say he wanted to have as many children as possible.

He said my mom also loved children and they tried so hard to have more kids after mom gave birth to me, before they discovered she had cancer. They stopped trying and gave me all the attention. I was an only child and I enjoyed that position well before death came knocking and took my mom away. Before Susan came in to destroy our family. Before dad lost his wits by getting married to the bitch.

“You remind me of my late dad. With the way you handled Ellah. He loves children.” I told him with a smile.

I felt like striking up a conversation with him, maybe that will reduce the aches in his heart. It was obvious that he was hurting and he might break down. His eyes gave him away. He was that predictable.

“You have no idea how much I love kids. They are God’s gift to mankind. When I was little, I used to tell my friends that I would have as many children as possible. When they asked me how many, I told them 10.”

“Oh, My God!” I laughed heartily and Ellah turned in her sleep. “Seriously?”

“Seriously”, he nodded with a smile. “But I am stuck with my big-headed Damien.” He laughed.

“Yeah,” I said.

“Though he is worth more than a thousand kids. He is really making me proud.”

“Didn’t you get married?” I asked, scared that he wouldn’t want to share his story with me. But I asked him anyway.

“I did.”

“No children?”

He only shrugged and I kept shut. It was obvious he didn’t want us to breach that topic and I respected that. But I needed to give him some form of assurance.

“Don’t worry about mom, she would come around. She’s just mad at you and to be honest I will do the same to my baby father if he did the same thing you did.”

“What’s your name please?”

“Daisy.”

“Daisy, I didn’t do anything wrong. If only she had informed me of her pregnancy before I married Lakshmi, I would have found a way to opt-out of the marriage. Lakshmi was betrothed to me. I didn’t love her and I still don’t.”

“That is where the problem is coming from. You don’t want to accept fault and she doesn’t want to. You can only resolve your differences when you admit your faults to each other.” I said and he sighed loudly. “I have a similar case too. My baby is 3 already and her father doesn’t even know that she exists.”

“Why? Why didn’t you tell him?”

“We didn’t see each other again. I left home and he also went to school, as I heard. I know nothing of him and there was no way to contact him.”

“There is no way at all to contact him?”

“I’m still trying.”

“That’s bad.”

“But I was angry with him for not remembering what we shared or even trying to contact me too. That is the same way Nina feels. Don’t be hard on yourself, she will come around soon.” I concluded.

He nodded and after a moment of hesitation, he said. “You called her mom and now Nina, are you really her biological daughter?”

I could see the curiosity written all over his face. I smiled and shook my head.

“Who is that guy crouching one knee and asking my woman to marry him?” I laughed. “Thank God I was in time to ruin it all. Nina can’t marry him”, he declared.

I sighed and looked at him. He stared back and I could see the burning passion of love. “You truly came back for her?”

“Yes, I did. I was supposed to come back with Damien but I wasn’t myself. Thank God I listened to my intuition for once.”

“Mom has waited for a long time for this moment. She was not happy with her life. When I came here four years ago, I was not happy because she was not happy and I wanted to see her happy. Her happiness makes me happy. Her sadness makes me sad. Her cries make me cry. Her hopes and encouragement are what me going. So I hooked her up with Danny. She wouldn’t let any man into her life and I thought Danny was a good man. He loved her and wouldn’t stop pestering her. Mom avoided him as much as she could but I devised a way for them to meet and that was how it all started.”

“Oh, God! This beauty here hooked my woman up with some law clerk?” He questioned and I couldn’t help but laugh again. His sense of humor was something else, despite his sorrows.

“He is not a law clerk”, I laughed again. “He is an editor.”

“What difference does that make? He can’t have my woman. I won’t allow it.”He felt silent again and I was about to stand up and bade him goodnight when he said. “Do you think Nina will accept his proposal?”

I shrugged. I couldn’t tell. I was also confused about who to choose between the two men. I liked Danny and I also like Amar, and they both loved her. “I really don’t know. I can’t say.”

“Can you help me?”

“I doubt that. She won’t listen to me.”

“At least try. I’m ready to do all it takes. Tell her I’m really sorry. We are both at fault and I have admitted mine.”

“Alright, I’ll do my best”, I stood up with Ellah who was sound asleep.

He stood up too. “Thank you for your time, Daisy. I enjoyed our conversation. I hope we get to converse more and get to know each other better.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I’ll get going.”

“Do you have a place to stay?” I asked him with concern.

“Yes. I lodged in a hotel earlier.”

“Alright. See you tomorrow?”

“He shrugged. “That depends on your mom’s mood.”

“I hope you won’t run away again.”

“Of course not. I’m here to stay. But I might go back to China to bring Damien back home.”

“Can’t he come on his own?”

“Nina spoiled the boy. He insisted I come to take him and I promised him already.”

“Alright, sir.”

“Take care.”

“Bye”, he said and pecked Ellah on the forehead before sauntering out with his gait that I found familiar.

I went to place Ellah in the room before going back downstairs to take the cake to the kitchen. It was still untouched. The day ended badly. Nadia had fallen asleep already, so after locking the front door and the kitchen, I went to Nina’s room. I met her sobbing and looking at her phone.

“Mom”, I called.

She raised her head and opened her arms. I ran into it as she cried some more. Then I pulled her into my body and tapped her back, to console her.

“It’s ok, mom. Sometimes, we just need to face our past and the things that hurt us. How we handle situations like that will determine how strong we are. I know you’ve always wanted him to come back but then you gave up on him coming back. He came back at the least expected moment, just when you decided to move on. It’s fine. Everything is going to be just fine.”

“Daisy, don’t you get it? I’m confused.”

“I’m confused too, mom.”

“Danny is mad at me.” She told me.

“Is that why you’re crying?”

“No. Amar just spoiled everything.”

“Mom, you still love him”, I asserted. It was written all over her. She looked at me as her sob subsided and before I knew it, she burst into fresh tears and hugged me tightly.

“Amar is your son’s father and he loves you. It is evident. He looks like someone who is carrying the world’s responsibilities on his shoulder. He is looking sad and his eyes speak of nothing but sorrow. The smile on his face is just to hide the pains away. You love him mom and he loves you. He is back for you. He took a long time but it’s better late than never.”

“I can’t leave Danny for him, Daisy. What are you saying?”

“I’m not saying anything. Danny is a good man, mom. But will you be happy with him, knowing fully well that you had another chance to be with your first love, yet you didn’t let it happen? He married his wife because of some family obligations, don’t marry Danny to fulfill righteousness or because you don’t want to hurt him. Marry him only if you know you love him so much that it hurts. Marry him only if you know you can never let Amar’s thoughts cross your mind again. You didn’t let things work out well between you and Amar in the first place because you wanted him to be happy, yet that caused you 26 years of sorrow and sadness. Don’t let it happen again. Think about it. Think about yourself. Do it for yourself. Not for anyone. Not even for your son. And please do what makes you happy. Your happiness is all that matters to me the most.”

“Oh, Daisy! Amar is an asshole”, she muttered and hugged me back.

I chuckled lightly. “A handsome one at that.”

She was quiet, then she looked up at me. “I love Danny but…..”

“No buts.”

“Are you supporting Amar?”

“I ain’t supporting any of them. I like Danny and I like Amar too. We just met but I like his personality and sense of humor. I’m just telling you to do what needs to be done. I don’t want you to end up like him. Like Amar. His marriage was a loveless one. I don’t want you to make the mistake he made. It’s time for you two to make things right. Isn’t this obvious?”

“What’s obvious?”

“The fact that you are fated?”

“Fated?”

“Fated to be together. You love him. He loves you. You two have a son. He is back to you after 26 years and the passion is still there. I could sense the chemistry the moment he entered the house.”

“What about Danny?”

“Think about yourself first, mom. Do what makes you happy.” I stood up. “Should I stay with you or you are going to be fine? I feel you need some space.”

Her hand was on her forehead. “I’ll be fine. Thank you.”

I bent down and kissed her two cheeks, then raised her head up. “Your happiness makes me happy. Please be happy.”© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

With that, I left her. I was halfway through the staircase when I heard her cries again. I knew it was a cry of admittance. A cry that will change everything.