“You are not going anywhere. Just do what I say.”
Andrew Jones shouted at his daughter Zara, who stood in the middle of the living room, staring at him with agony and fear.
Meredith her mother and Jenna her elder sister stood either side of her, their hands wrapped around her shoulders, hoping to give her strength to withstand Andrew’s anger.
Zara struggled a bit and stepped forward, wiping her tears and raised her head to face her father who she feared all her life.
She should fight for her future and she’s determined to talk to him.
“I will not do as you say. This is my final decision and I am going to abroad for my further studies.”
Andrew fumed in anger and wanted to slap her but held back.
He never intended to hit his daughters but they knew how to drive him crazy.
Look at his youngest.
She never raised her voice at him but now she is boldly stating her ridiculous decision.
“You are talking back huh?”
His voice turned cold and stern which made Zara shiver but she still didn’t back down.
This is the only chance she got to stand for herself.
She is not going to waste it.
“I am not talking back to you dad. I am talking about my future. Please let me go.”
She begged him, joining her hands together as a pleading gesture and hoped that he would agree to her request but didn’t expect him to slap her.
The slap was harsh and hard and it burnt her cheek like hell.
“Arghhh”
Zara screamed, waking up from her sleep and touched her cheek.
Her head pounded like it was hit by a hammer as she woke up from her deep slumber and rubbed her sleepy eyes.
“Again!”
She heard her friend’s anxious voice coming from outside of her room and in the next second the door burst open and came Selina Benson with panic written all over her face.
Zara scratched her neck awkwardly, staring at her friend who stood at the door shooting daggers at her.
She knew why Selina is angry with her because this is not new to them and she is not in the mood to calm her anger so she just got down the bed like nothing happened and hugged her friend who is still fuming like a bull and gave her an innocent smile before disappearing into the bathroom to wash her face.
Looking at her reflection in the mirror, Zara sighed heavily, remembering her nightmare.
She dreamt about her fight with her dad that happened a year and half ago.
Her dad didn’t slap her in reality but in her nightmare, he always slapped her.
She didn’t know why and didn’t want dwell into her troublesome dream world.
After everything that happened with her dad, she succeeded in living her dream life so she should enjoy it while it lasts.
After five minutes she came out of the bathroom to see Selina still standing in her room and now her eyes directed towards her.
Poor soul.
Still worried about her.
“I am fine Selina. Please get ready for work.”
She spoke to the worried woman and held her shoulders before shoving her out of her room.
She heaved a sigh when Selina didn’t protest and tried to close the door but stopped when she heard her question.
“It’s been more than a year Zara. Why are you still dreaming about that?”
At first Selina thought she was having nightmares and tried to calm her down but only later did she found out that she is dreaming about her dad.
As days passed, she got used to her screams but isn’t it abnormal to keep on dreaming about the same thing over and over again.
“I would be happy if I knew the answer.”
Zara answered as she shrugged her shoulders and opened her closet to choose the dress for the day.
Not just Selina, even she didn’t know the reason behind her nightmare.
Perhaps, she still feared her dad.
Or she’s scared to go back after she’s done with her graduation.
Whatever.
She should concentrate on her present than spoil her mood thinking about her unpredictable future.
“Maybe you will feel better if you stop thinking about your dad.”
Selina hugged Zara from behind, trying to give her warmth.
She knew how much the poor girl suffered to finally come this long way to build her career.
She didn’t want her dad to torture her even in her dreams.
Zara smiled and nodded as an acknowledgement before gesturing her to leave her room.
Selina’s face turned gloomy and she rolled her eyes at Zara, storming out.
Staring at her back, Zara chuckled softly and picked out an outfit to get ready.
She is really lucky to have Selina in her life.
Selina is three years older than her and took care of her while she was struggling to survive in a foreign land.
She knew her from middle school and approached her when she had difficulty to plan her future as she too had similar life goals as her.
She genuinely supported her decision to continue her studies in abroad and even suggested to fly to her.
If possible she would’ve applied to the same university as Selina but she was into technical stuff unlike her.
With her guidance, she picked the best university for her master’s degree in Business course and luckily Selina helped her to find part time job to pay her expenses.
Everything turned out easy for her to survive with Selina’s support.
She always treats her like her little sister and she will forever be grateful for her help and care.
…………………
“What did you cook for breakfast?”
Zara ran down the stairs hurriedly, holding her growling stomach.
She’s late again.
God!
Blame her dad for consuming her thoughts so early in the morning.
“Pancakes.”
Selina shouted from the kitchen and set the plates on the dining table before getting the maple syrup from the shelf.
“Ew..I want toast” said Zara sulking like a three year old kid and took her seat.
“It’s eight already. I should leave for work.”
Selina said as she checked the time and served the food onto the plates.
They had breakfast in silence as Selina checked her emails from work and Zara went through her assignments to be submitted.
“Take care. Call me if you need anything.”
Selina packed her bag after breakfast and headed out putting on her overcoat.
Zara nodded like a good girl and spoke in a mocking voice.
“Okay mommy.”
Selina stopped at the doorway hearing her humour and came back with a smile.
She pinched Zara’s cheeks and planted a kiss on the top of her head before leaving for work.
Left alone, Zara had her breakfast leisurely, scrolling her phone and checked the news about her favourite pop band.
Heavens!
How handsome the boys are in black outfits?
Especially the one with dark hair and beautiful smile.
The man who stole her heart at first sight.
Butterflies roamed in her belly as she stared at his picture without blinking.
How can anyone exist with such remarkable features?
Everything about him is impeccable and she wish to see him for real in her life at least once.
While she’s busy reading the news articles about the pop band, her alarm rang indicating that she should leave for work.
She only have two college working days in a week that is Wednesday and Friday.
The rest of the days she works in a café.
Thanks to Selina.
After fifteen minutes, she entered the café she works in and is surprised to see the manager roaming inside.
Holy moly!
He wouldn’t be in the café unless he’s bored and is on a mission to fry his employees brains.
God!
Please help her to withstand his bullshit all day.
“Hello gorgeous.” greeted the café manager before she can open her mouth to greet him which made her blush.
She acknowledged his presence with a warm smile and started her work.
…………………
After a day full of heavy work and her manager’s constant comments on every employee, Zara returned home at seven and cooked dinner for her alone as Selina attended office dinner.
She switched on the TV and played her favourite band songs before getting her dinner served.
Just as she sat down on the couch to enjoy her delicious pasta, her phone rang and her face glowed like a bulb seeing the caller ID.
“Hey mom, How are you?”
She squealed through the speaker and stuffed her mouth with penne.
“I am fine sweetheart. How are you?”
Meredith chuckled at her daughter’s excitement and her heart filled with enormous joy to start her day but she really missed her mischievous daughter.
Her baby girl would always wander in the house with her giggles and if anyone who can put her stubborn husband in his place, it’s definitely her youngest, Zara.
“I am perfect. Where is dad?”
Zara asked as she held her fork tightly.
Her dad didn’t say a word to her for months except once.
Precisely after she fought with him for her career.
She worked alone for her applications and admissions for university and even for visa and other stuff, he didn’t help her except providing her with tuition fee.
That’s how typical her father is.
Meredith eyed at her husband who is listening to their conversation and lied to her daughter as Andrew never let Zara know that he is always keeping tabs on her through her mother.
“He is reading book.”
Zara’s face drooped as she drew circles on the plate absent minded.
Her dad never took the initiative to call her and even if she did, he would pass the phone to her mother.
When can he put aside his stubbornness and accept the fact that she is capable of living alone.
“Mom, tell dad that I will come back soon and also tell him that I remember my promise.” said Zara before hanging up and threw her phone beside on the couch.
“Why are you being hard on her Andrew?” scolded Meredith glaring at her husband.
Their daughter is coping up on her own without their support.
They should at least make things easier for her by talking nicely once in a while but Andrew is being so rough.
“She is living alone miles away from us. Can’t you be nice to her?” reasoned Meredith placing her hands on her hips but she didn’t see any changes on her husband’s face.
“She asked for it, didn’t she? It’s her decision to live alone miles away from us.” said Andrew opening his book to read.
“Really!! Then why are you listening to our every conversation? Why are you peeking at her pictures every day in my phone?”
Meredith mocked him with a rebuke but Andrew didn’t respond and continued reading, ignoring his wife.
She shook her head at his ridiculously stubborn anger and left him alone in the living room mumbling something.
Andrew sighed after being left alone and took out the picture hiding between the pages of the book.
His lips curled into a smile as his eyes looked at his daughter’s little form in the photograph.
How can he be angry at his cute little girl?
He is just worried about her.
He is angry because she chose to be alone when she can live with her family with all luxuries.
He didn’t want her to work hard in a shitty café when she can have everything here and most importantly he is afraid that she would leave them behind when she gets used to the life in foreign land which is why he took a promise from her before she left and he knew that she never goes back on her words.