Eifad had just got down the car when an overexcitedly young curly haired girl rushed to her.

'Baby!' Eifad kneeled with her arms open, the girl rushed into her arms hugging her tightly. An older woman wearing a floral saree stood there admiring the two with a smile.

'I knew you will come.' The young girl turned to the older woman, 'Told ya, Mamma will come on time.' She said with pride. Eifad stood up smiling, she ruffled the girl's hair who made a face. Aisha smiled happily accepting her defeat by her grand-daughter. Aisha walked towards the little girl and placed her hand on her shoulders.

'Ho gaya, Zara? Now let Mamma rest and then we should also go to your school, right?' Aisha smiled and Zara nodded her head. Eifad is relieved. She loves Zara and spending time with her little daughter but for now, she needs to rest.

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Eifad took a long refreshing bath, most of the time she just sat in the bathtub staring front at the marble tiles. Her mind blank though.

She then quickly dried herself and slipped into an evening dress. She blow dried her hair. Short hair is very easy and quick to dry.

She combed her shoulder length layered bob cut hair and adjusted her side bangs neatly across her forehead. Wore her black kohl and red lipstick. She adjusted her pendant and wore a watch and a delicate bracelet on her other wrist. She wore a red Stiletto, applied cologne and walked out of her room.

In the living room, Aisha sat with a visibly worried Zara. Zara played with her fingers while Aisha spoke some encouraging words. Eifad stood in front of them, Zara didn't look up. Eifad gestured Aisha with her eyes and she nodded standing up.

Eifad sat beside Zara and threw her arm around her pulling her closer, 'What happened? My champ is scared.' Eifad teased.

Zara looked up pouting angrily, 'I am not.'

'You so are.' Eifad smirked. Zara stood up and puffed her chest with pride, 'No, I am not. I am confident.' She said confidently.

Eifad smiled leaning forward she held her arms and pulled her daughter closer to her.

'This is it, Zara.' She cupped her one cheek, 'Confidence. It is all about confidence. Even if you fumble, just don't lose the confidence and no one will notice. You will do great.' Eifad kissed her forehead and Zara smiled, she hugged her mother feeling very confident.

'I am going to be just as confident as you are.' She said

'Of course, you will.' Eifad patted the back of her head.

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Zara introduced Eifad to few of her classmates and their parents. They ladies eyed Eifad strangely while the men couldn't look away. Many ladies were surprised to know Eifad was a single parent, also unmarried. Because of this Zara didn't have many friends. Most of their parents didn't want their kids mingling with someone whose mother is unmarried and yet a mother.

Back in the hospital, no one dares say it on her face but Eifad knew this gossip was famous among the staffs. She had once caught two nurses chatting where one of them had said, 'What to say about these bade log. She must have had an affair, got herself pregnant and to hide that all this adoption bullshit.'

Eifad doesn't care what people think of her, she knows what type of relationship she has with her adopted kid and how much she means to her, even Zara knows she isn't Eifad's own kid and both are cool with it, they don't need someone else's certificate.

Nevertheless, Zara has only one close friend, Koyal, she is going to sing in the competition. Zara held Eifad's hand and dragged her backstage to meet Koyal.

'Koyal!' Zara beamed happily as she spotted her friend, she stood dressed in yellow and white fork with a young woman with her back facing them. Koyal waved at Zara and looked at the woman saying something. The girl turned and Eifad is surprised to see a familiar face.

'OMG! Maam, you here.' the young girl, whose name Eifad couldn't recollect, gushed happily. Eifad blinked confusedly at the girl, 'Maam, I am Kiran remember. Dr. Kiran Rai.' She re-introduced herself and Eifad recollected her immediately. She felt the same pang of hurt once again.

'Mamma, this is Koyal my best friend.' Zara introduced the little girl. Eifad smiled at the little girl and shook hands with her.

'I am her elder sister.' Kiran took Eifad's hand and shook it excitedly. Eifad just made an awkward face. She is amazed by the girl's audacity, generally people don't behave so casually with her. When her hand began to hurt, Eifad moved it out of the girl's grip.

'Loser.' Everyone turned when they heard a young girl's voice. A slim brown haired, white complexion girl stood with her arms folded across her chest and looked disgustingly at Koyal and Zara. Zara shifted little towards Eifad. The girl flipped her hair haughtily and walked away.

Koyal and Zara exchanged a nervous glance at each other.

'That is Avni Mathur, she is a hot shot. Daughter of a filthy rich father and her mother is a socialite. Too full of themselves.' Kiran explained. Eifad looked at the girl, she is with a woman dressed in an attire suited for a maid. Eifad rolled her eyes, these filthy rich people are so caught up with everything else, society, image, making money that they don't have time for their kids.

Instead of being hateful for the kid, Eifad pitied her.

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So guys, How was the chapter? Eifad is surely one confident and strong woman *sunglasses emoji*

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