Episode 11 || Where Is Your Father?

At Summer Camp,










Wearing a blue jacket and black trousers, a ten-year-old boy was standing facing the paper target. Black headband neatly lifted his light brown hair back, and he focused on the target through his eye blinder. He was holding Walther Hammerli’s ar20 air rifle in his hand and he waited for the next direction of his trainer.










“Focus on the golden ring and shoot at 10,” The trainer said and the deep blue eyes of the boy focused on number ten in the middle of the target paper.










“Shoot,” The trainer directed, and while he pulled the trigger, his friend Noah came running shouting his name, and the boy missed the shot.










“Eric!!! Eric!!!” Noah came running to him and Eric lifted his eye blinder, looking apologetically at his trainer.










“I am sorry, sir,” He looked down.










“It’s alright, we’ll try again later!” The trainer patted his shoulder, but before he could say anything further, Noah interrupted them again.










“Eric!” Noah rushed to him and was panting heavily while Eric glared at him, removing his eye blinder and headband.










“What on earth happened, Noah?” He asked, appearing furious, and Noah stopped him, showing his palm to take some breath.










“Your mom is here, and she is looking for you,” He said while breathing through his mouth and Eric’s eyes bulged out and the rifle slipped from his hand. “Go fast! She is coming in this direction.” Noah further added.










Eric’s face paled. “What is she doing here?” He asked hastily while quickly removing his jacket and handing it to Noah, and taking Noah’s baseball cap and fungo bat when his eyes landed on Mishka, who was coming in his direction.










He gulped in nervousness, and wearing the baseball cap, he rushed to her, hugging her waist. “Mom! So good to see you,” He smiled and Mishka wrapped her hand around him, lightly caressing his back.










Eric looked up at her. “We were coming back in the evening! Why did you come to pick us up?” He asked, while Mishka took out a handkerchief from his left pocket and wiped the sweat off his forehead.










“Why are sweating?” She asked.










“Oh! I was playing baseball,” He gave a convincing smile and Mishka nodded.










“Okay, but we are going home now.” She said and Eric’s face dropped.










“N-now?” He stuttered while Mishka continued to look at his flushed face. “I mean, is there anything wrong? We still have four hours left before the end.”










“Kiara beat up some boys. I got a call from here, so I had to come. I’ve asked your teacher. She said I can take you both home.” Mishka answered and Eric nodded. “Now, come on, let’s go home!”










“Okay, I’ll just say bye to my friend and join you,” He said.










“Cool, I am waiting for you in the parking lot.” She said and Eric dashed in the opposite direction.










***










“Your mother must be very angry?” Rylie, one of Kiara’s closest friends, said.










Kiara chuckled, “What’s new in this? She is always angry.” She said, rolling her eyes and Rylie laughed. Kiara came close to Rylie’s ear, “You know? I have gotta perfect a nickname for her,”










“What?” Rylie turned to her.










“Promise you won’t tell anyone?” Kiara said, and Rylie quickly promised.










“Angry Bird!” She said, and they started laughing when Kiara spotted Ivaan approaching, and her expression turned serious.










“Hey!” Ivaan hesitated before opening his mouth, and Kiara arched her eyebrow with her hands on her hips.










Ivaan looked back at his father with pleading eyes, but the latter gestured for him to go ahead and Ivaan focused back on Kiara.










“Thank you for saving me!” He said finally and Kiara rolled her eyes at him.










“Finally, you remembered to thank me,” She said. Her babyish voice was full of attitude, and Ivaan just continued to stare at her. “But you are so bad. I asked you to protect me and you ran away!”










“You were asking me to protect you from your mom? She would not hurt you, Kiara.” Ivaan tried to explain, but Kiara cut him off.










“This doesn’t concern you. I asked you to help me but you didn’t and I will always remember this,” She said the last part glaring at him and Nikhil pressed his lips in a thin line to suppress his laughter.










“Okay, next time, I promise I’ll help you even if you don’t ask me to or try to push me away, and trust me, I never break promises,” Ivaan promised, staring right into her honey colour eyes.










“We’ll see that in the future.” She said, giving a full on attitude and Ivaan nodded, turning back to his father.










“Can we go home now?” He asked Nikhil.










“Sure!” Nikhil answered and his eye travelled back to Kiara. “Where is your mom?”










“Must be trying to find her perfect son,” She said, making faces and Nikhil found her really cute, but her expression quickly changed when he heard Nikhil’s next question.










“Where is your father?”










Rylie looked at Kiara and waited for her to answer, “He is a soldier in the Indian Army.” Kiara answered after a brief pause but her looks didn’t look convincing to Ivaan while Nikhil raised his brows in amazement and when Kiara noticed Nikhil opening his mouth again, she ran away to catch up with her friends while Nikhil tried to stop her.










“She doesn’t stick long in one place!” Ivaan commented while staring at Kiara’s retrieving figure.










***










At Knight Mansion.










It was already seven in the evening. Christian wore blue jeans and a blue jacket with a black V-neck white tee underneath. His hair was neatly combed, and he was about to step out of his room when Vera knocked.










“Come in,” He said.










“Are you busy?” Vera peeked in through the door.










“Never for you!” He smiled as she walked inside.










“Are you going somewhere?” She questioned.










“Yeah, I have dinner with Andrea.” He answered, and Vera raised her eyebrows in surprise.










“Date?” She asked earning a chuckle from Christian.










“No….. dinner.”










“So, dinner date?” Vera asked again.










“Noo! Just a catch-up with an old friend.” He said, and Vera nodded.










“What’s wrong, mom?” He asked as if he could read Vera like an open book.










“Oh, nothing. Just enjoy the evening.” She smiled and Christian narrowed his eyes.










“Come on, mom. Why do you hesitate so much before talking to me?” He said, and Vera decided to speak her mind.










“Actually, I wanted you to talk to Daniel. He seems a little disturbed these days.” Vera said, and Christian knitted his brows.










“Daniel? You know we have a strained relationship. He doesn’t appreciate my interference in his life.” Christian said. “He is changed drastically. In fact, grandpa too. After my accident, they both behave hostile toward me. Grandpa doesn’t even like to have a long conversation with me, just gives a small reply and moves away. Sometimes, I feel, he doesn’t even wish to eat with me at the same dining table.”










“He is very old, Chris. Don’t misinterpret his action and as far as Daniel is concerned, he is just a teenager. It’s normal,” Vera said. “I want you to be his friend. Maybe he opens up to you?”










Christian nodded. “Okay, I’ll talk to him tomorrow.” He said and glanced at his wristwatch. “I should leave now.” He said, kissing Vera’s cheek and left. While Christian’s closeness with Andrea was another stress for Vera.










***










Holding his travel bag, Eric walked to where Mishka parked their car and settled on the passenger seat while Kiara was eating chocolate in the back seat. “Is it always necessary to create troubles?” He asked, glaring at her in the backseat.










“Omg…. What is wrong with you all? I was just helping a boy. I didn’t intend to create a problem for Mumma,” She replied. The sides of her mouth were covered in chocolate and Eric huffed in annoyance, turning his face away.










Kiara poked him in the arm, “Are you angry, Big B?” she asked, giving her best puppy eyes, but Eric didn’t respond.










“Big B…. Big B…. Big B…” Kiara continued to chant while poking his arm and they both end up laughing at last.










“Who was that boy you saved?” Eric asked and Kiara pointed her small finger to the car parked in front of them.










“That boy who is staring at us,” She said and Eric looked at the boy sitting on the passenger seat of the black car that was parked opposite to them










“Ivaan?” Eric mumbled and Kiara picked the name.










“Ohhh… Ivaan,” She repeated when Mishka slid into the driver’s seat keeping Kiara’s travel bag in the backseat.










“So let’s go home,” She smiled at them but received a warming smile only from Eric while Kiara settled back comfortably and continued to enjoy her chocolate.










Mishka was searching for something in her handbag when she touched the pen drive and she quickly retrieved it. She was about to step out to look for Nikhil when she found him sitting in the car, parked opposite them.










“Eric, can you give this pen drive to him?” She asked Eric, pointing at the car, but before Eric could take it from her, Kiara snatched the pen drive from Mishka.










“I can give this to them!” She chirped loudly, jumping out of the car while Mishka and Eric looked at her actions. She ran to the black car and Ivaan knitted his brows when he saw her approaching them.










Nikhil rolled down his window and Kiara gave the pen drive to him. “Mumma said to give this to you,” She said and Nikhil looked at the Mishka briefly before turning to Kiara.










“Thank you, Kiara! You are so adorable.” Nikhil ruffled her head, and an idea strikes in her mind.










“Thank you!! Why don’t you come to my house for dinner and tell mommy how adorable you find me,” She said, showing her a toothy grin and Ivaan rolled his sea blue orbs.










Nikhil giggled, “I’ll surely tell her you are a sweetheart.” He said and Kiara smiled.










“Okay, bye-bye!! And yes, don’t bring him along for dinner” She pouted, looking at Ivaan and the latter snapped his eyes in her direction.










“As if I’m interested,” Ivaan spat.










“Whatever!!” She rolled her eyes and ran away.










“It’s okay, Ivaan. She is just a kid. Look at her size.” Nikhil said.










“Look at the size of her mouth!” Ivaan countered as he watched Kiara sliding into the backseat of the car. “Anyway, let’s go home.”










“Let’s go then,” Mishka said while wiping chocolate from Kiara’s mouth with tissue paper, and starting the engine.










***










At Madison Restaurant,










Christian was reading something on his mobile when Andrea appeared. She was looking stunning in an off-shoulder black cocktail dress with double the bell sleeves. Her long hair was curled and a deep blush crept on her cheeks as she sauntered to where Christian was sitting.










“Hello,” Andrea said, and the server opened the chair for her.










“Hello,” Christian said, lifting his eyes from the mobile screen. “You are looking gorgeous,” He complimented and Andrea’s cheeks turned into a darker shade of red as she couldn’t believe that her long-time crush was finding her gorgeous.










“So, what would you like to have?” He asked Andrea.










“Whatever you’ll have,” She answered, staring at his handsome face and Christian looked up at her, confused.










“What?” He asked and Andrea quickly composed herself.










“I mean, I don’t know what they serve the best here. You can order for both of us.” She said and Christian called the server when his eyes lingered upon a couple sitting next to them.










The woman removed her heels and sat on the chair in an Indian Style (Criss Cross position) while the man with her continuously interrupted her to put her legs down and stop embarrassing him. A smile made his way to Christian’s lips, but soon the server blocked his view.










***










Knight Mansion,










Daniel was getting ready to head out and meet his friend when Rose and Rony stepped into his room and the former rolled his eyes as he watched them enter inside.










“I am not ready for any lecturing session right now. I am going out with my friends.” He groaned and Rony’s nostril flared in anger, but he controlled himself to have one last fine talk with him.










“Do you have five minutes?” Rose asked politely.










“If your lecture is gonna end in five minutes, then yes,” He said while spiking his hair.










Rony and Rose sat on the edge of his bed and Daniel settled on the chair in front of them. “What is wrong with you?” Rony asked.










“What is wrong with me?” Daniel raised an eyebrow.










“Your grades…. They are drowning and I don’t see an ounce of regret from your side.” Rony said and Daniel glanced at his wristwatch while jiggling his leg to show how much he wasn’t interested in their much-needed talk.










“Is there something bothering you? We can help you, son. You can discuss anything with us.” Rose asked politely, unlike Rony, who sounded rude seconds ago.










“Everything is fine and my grades aren’t perfect, but they aren’t too bad. I’ll get admission to a decent college if that’s what bothers you.” He replied to Rony while scratching his neck.










“Answer your mother’s question.” Rony was glaring at him, but Daniel seemed unaffected.










“I said everything is fine. I don’t know what you both exactly want to hear from me.” He got irritated and stood up from his chair.










“Your grades aren’t bad, but it’s on the verge of getting worse,” Rony said in a hoarse voice.










“I don’t see any problem if my grades get worst. It’s not like I am going to become the face of Knight Group in the future.” Daniel commented, and left out a chuckle. “Anyway, five minutes are over now. So goodbye and good night.” He said and left his room, leaving his parents who were disheartened and confused by his day-by-day insolent behaviour.










***










Aryan opened the door to welcome them, and Kiara jumped into his arms. “Mamu!! (Uncle)” She exclaimed, embracing him as if she met him after ages. “I missed you so much,” She said, wrapping her hand around his neck.










“Mumma scolded you?” Aryan whispered, and Kiara sadly hummed in response.










“Okay, I’ll take you out for an ice cream later,” Aryan said and Kiara’s eyes quickly lighten up and she kissed his cheek.










“Did you enjoy your trip to India?” Kiara asked as Aryan plopped her down on the worn-out couch.










“Yup!” He said, sitting beside her while Eric walked upstairs to take a shower.










“I also want to go to India! Why did Mummy never take me to India?” Kiara pouted and Mishka’s hand stopped while taking a sip of water and Riya looked at her.










“Mummy, will you take me to India? You never take me out anywhere!” Kiara complained.










“You just came back from your summer camp and now you want to go out again?” Mishka raised her voice and Riya patted her shoulder to calm her. “G-go upstairs and change your clothes.”










“See, Mamu!! She always scolds me for no reason.” Kiara gave a disappointed look to Mishka before running upstairs, while Aryan and Riya glared at her.










“What!! Now, don’t give me this look. I wasn’t scolding her.” Mishka tried to clarify, but she felt guilty for raising her voice at her.










***










The dinner ended well and Christian enjoyed Andrea’s company thoroughly. They stepped out of the restaurant and decided to hit the club.




The driver opened the door of the back seat for Andrea and Christian entered after her. “Take us to the closest nightclub.” Christian directed, and the driver started the engine.




As soon as they hit the road, a jeep crossed them at the wildest speed and the driver stopped the car with a loud sound of screech as they escaped from the near-crash.




Christian rolled down the window of his car, looking at the jeep from behind with clenched jaws as he caught a glimpse of someone known.