Andrew

"What do you want now?" I asked my father as soon as I picked up that call.

"Well, hello to you son! I want you to come back to New York. It's your sister's 10th birthday."  He asked me.

That's a first for my father, he is calling me to attend a birthday party.

My relationship with my father is holding on to the last string, He calls me when he needs a son to show the world. Other than that he doesn't care if am drowning in a pit or dying on the road.

"I have work to do and I don't have a sister. All I had was my mother and she died. I don't care about your family." I said to him and he went numb. He deserves it.

"If you don't have anything to say, Goodbye Father." I snarled and cut the call.

Just when I thought I was having a good day, the thought of my father makes me furious. I threw the vase to the wall not able to hold the anger.

Theresa our secretary and Jameson came and opened the door after the loud bang.

 The moment Jameson saw my face, I guess he understood my problem. He sent Theresa away to get a Janitor to clean up the mess. He walked into the room, pulled the chair and sat beside me.

"Relax Andy! Don't think about him." He told me.

Jameson, Ana, and Shaurya were with me when the whole world thought I was nothing but a bag of scum. They helped me become the man I am today. Jameson is the reason I'm still alive and breathing. He is the family I chose not the one I was born into.

"I'm sorry! It's just he called me to attend her daughter's birthday and I couldn't take it." I explained the reason behind my behavior.

"It's okay, ignore him. Calm down!" He said in a worried tone.

"You send Hannah birthday presents every year. You love that girl, Why not just go and visit? I know your anger towards your father doesn't redirect it to her. She is a small child." Jameson said.

Hannah my step-sister is not the victim here, if my father didn't ask me I would have gone. But now that he did I'm not going there for sure. I told myself that I should hate Hannah and his wife but I couldn't do that.

"Speaking of kids, how are you doing?" I asked him about his new position as a dad.

One day Jameson told me that he is planning to take Amaya to Greece and the next day he came back with 3 kids. When I asked him if he is ready to be a father he said you should have seen the look on Amaya's face when she was with them, I didn't see her that happy in the past few months. If they make her happy then I'm ready to be a father. I will do anything for her.

I knew he loved Amy but adopting three kids overnight just to make her happy was the epitome of it. I'm happy for Jameson and Amaya, they are my best friends and family.

"Ahh! Danny came down with a fever last night. You know Amaya, she was with him all night and now she is infected too. I dropped Elena and Alex at Mom's."  He said in a thoughtful full low tone.

"I'll drop by around 5 and meet her. How's Danny doing now?" I asked him.

"He is a bit better but I'm worried about Maya. She wouldn't let me and the kids near her saying that we would be infected. She locked herself in a room with Danny. She loves them too much, Elena is having a hard time accepting Amaya and Alex is not leaving her at all. What if the court doesn't approve the adoption, she will be devastated and I can't see her like that." He sighed in frustration.

"Don't worry, you go home and take care of her. I'll manage the office without you." I assured him.

"Thank you, I wish I could but I have to get to the hospital, and Uncle Harish is gonna come by to discuss the merger," Jameson answered with his mind elsewhere.

It's been a month since they got Elena, Alex, and Danny. Their parents died in a car accident and no one came for them for a week. Amaya took care of them like a mother. I never knew that she had this angle in her and I'm really proud of her decision.

"Are you sure about the merger? I know it's a great opportunity but with everything on your plate right now will we able to do it?" I asked him the question that's been wandering my mind ever since Uncle asked us.

"I'm not sure. We will do it and that would make us reach our goal faster. Remember the goal we had." He asked me about the moment we decided to start this company. 

We were a couple of 19-year-olds when we thought about the company.

"We will make it the top company in the state and country." We repeated what we planned initially.

We are already in the top 5 in this state and we are in 10 other states too. Merging with Elite which has international reach will make it easier for us to reach our goal. It's been 6 years since we started this and we are going to be an international baby.

"This is fucking cool. I have so many ideas for us. This going to be the best decision ever." I said not able to hold the thought of being international.

Jameson chuckled at my response. Theresa knocked on the door and informed us about Uncle's arrival.

Uncle Hairsh is a down-to-earth person, if you look at him, you will never guess he has such a big company. With all these thoughts I went into the conference room with Jamie.

We talked about how to start the merger and how to move forward. When the meeting ended Jameson asked Harish uncle the question which has been in his mind.

"Uncle, why are you giving us this company? You should give this to Arjun and Dru."

Harish uncle smiled at his question like it was a stupid one.

"Jamie! Arjun, and Dru might be my biological sons but Amaya and Ananya are the daughters I always wanted. I gave you my daughter and this company is not more valuable than that. Andrew and you are like my kids. Can't a father give his kids whatever he wants?" He said and it moved my heart. I felt a warm feeling near my heart with his reply.

I might have a father who doesn't care about me but I gained 2 fathers because of his negligence.

Harish Uncle hugged us both and left the office. I started working on my meeting with the client for tomorrow. I prepared the bid to submit for a project. I have to talk to the Lawyers, HR, and Accounts about the merger with Elite.

With Jamie having both the hospital and this in his mind, he sometimes overlooks things and trusts me for it. So I feel completely responsible for everything about this company.

I mailed Theresa to schedule a meeting with everyone about the merger. I didn't get any reply for her, that's weird she usually gets back to me within minutes. I checked my watch and it is 4:45, that makes sense.

I closed my computer and walked out of the office to meet Amaya. I drove to their house and rang the bell.

I heard the door creak and saw Amaya looking like a patient. Her nose is red, her eyes watery, and dark circles around her eyes, she looks really sick. When Jameson said she has a fever, I didn't know she was this sick.

She looked at me with a smile and opened the door wide enough for me to get in.

"Andy! You will get sick too, leav.."

THUD

I turned around and saw Amaya lying on the floor unconscious. I picked her up and moved her to the living room couch and immediately ran to the kitchen for a water bottle. I gently placed her head on my lap and sprinkled a bit of water on her face.

What the hell is Jameson doing, leaving her all alone like this? I'm going to kill that idiot for leaving her. I tapped on her cheeks trying to wake her up.

What do I do now? Let me call Shaurya, and take her to the hospital. I pulled my phone out of my pocket to fail Shaurya's number.

"Andrew." I heard Amaya whisper. Thank god she woke up. I helped her sit up, and ran to the kitchen for some water and some soup for her drink.

"Did you eat anything at all? How are you feeling now?" I asked her rubbing her back.

"I am okay, I woke up just now. My Aunty came by this morning to pick up Danny. His fever went down."  She told me in a low voice rubbing her head.

"That's great Amy, but you have to take care of yourself too. I know it's chaotic with the kids look at yourself. Let's go to the doctor now." I pleaded, looking at her face.

"I will Andy. I had a meeting this afternoon and didn't have my lunch. I see myself and Ananya in Alex, Elena, and Danny. I want to take care of them as my grandma and grandpa looked at us. I love them so much, I know it's been a month but I feel like they were born from me. I love them to pieces." She said with tears in her eyes.

When my own father didn't care for me after my mother's death, I felt lost, I wish I found someone like Amaya then.

"Don't tell about this to Jameson, He was skeptical about going back to the office. I had to kick him out of the house today, he wouldn't leave my side. He already did so much for me and the kids. I don't wanna pull him away from his work." Amaya said.

"I understand Amy. I won't, this will be our Ace club secret okay." I told her and hugged her.

The ACE club is all the people with A as the first letter in their name. So me, Amaya, Amar, Arjun and Alex. It's a growing club Arjun and Amaya started to make us feel like we are part of something. 

The cute little girl who I met at school is all grown up now. She is being all mature and knowledgeable.

"Oh shoot! I promised Divya that I will pick Amar up from the daycare today. I can't go now. Can you pick him up and drop him at Divya's place?" She asked me and panicked about the situation.

"You take care and rest, I will pick up the little man," I said and gave her a kiss on the cheek before leaving.

On my way to the daycare, I called Jameson and threatened him to go home and look after my best friend. I gave him an earful for leaving her like that.

Amaya is my annoying little sister and seeing her like that hurts. We fight like crazy people but at the end of the day, I will literally kill anyone who hurts her.

I parked my car and walked into the daycare, went to the reception, and asked for Amar.
Soon a lady came in with Amar holding her pinkie. As soon as he saw me his sleepy eyes lit up.

"Aaanddduu" he yelled through the hallway and hugged my legs.

"Hello, champ!" I picked him up and kissed him on the cheek.

"Where Amu, Amu," the little one asked me pulling my tie.

"Amy got a boo boo, so Andy is here to drop you off at Mama's," I told him and took the bags from the lady.

"Sir, I'm sorry we can't send the kids with everyone who comes in. Can I get your name so I can check in with his file if you are allowed to take him?" She said looking at me.

"Sure. It's Andrew Jones, and let me know if my name is not there. I can call his mom." I told her while she was looking through Amar's file on her computer.

"There you go, I found you. It's right under Amaya. Sorry sir, but it's the rule." The lady said giving me a sheepish smile.

I feel proud that I am an emergency contact for this little guy. I am proud that Divya trusts me enough to put my name there.

I gave her a nod and smiled at her.

"Amartya has been a bit cranky today, he is teething and it's hard on him." She explained while walking out the door with me to my car.

"I'm sorry if he bothered you. Let's get an Ice cream to ease your pain. What say, buddy?" I told her and asked Amar about the ice cream.

Amar just wiggled in my arms with happiness, this kid's smile, I can just die knowing that I was the reason for it. He has such a beautiful smile, just like Divya.

"Thank you so much," I told the lady and drove to the nearest Baskin Robins for his ice cream.

We picked up our ice cream cones, and we both picked double chocolate. I don't know why but the color white in food makes me wanna puke. Amar hates white-looking foods, just like me. He won't eat anything that's white in color. Divya is mad at me for that, being an Indian the main staple is rice which is white and Amar wouldn't eat anything that's white. She started making colorful kinds of rice, just to make him eat food.

I looked at Amar, his concentration on the ice cream is explicable. I love this little man. 

Did you know that Amartya means Immortal, such a meaningful name?

I hope he lives forever too. I was there for his first step, first word, and hope that I will be there in the first of his life.

We reached Divya's home and I knocked on the door with Amar in my arms.

"Ammu, What took you so long, I was scared ... oh, Hi Andrew! I thought Ammu was picking him up." Divya smiled scratching her nose, she does that when she is embarrassed.

Amar jumped into Divya's arms as soon as he heard her

"Yeah Amaya is sick and she asked me to pick him up,"  I said handing her his bag.

"Amy got a boo-boo mama. Me and Andu got ishceam. Yum." The little one explained everything.

"I'm sorry! The caretaker said he was cranky all day with the toothing pain and I read somewhere the ice cream helps." I blurted out before she could yell at me for pampering him.

"How is Amaya? She didn't even tell me she is sick. What about the kids are they okay?" She asked scrunching her eyebrows tensed.

"It's a  fever, Danny is with Vasudha Aunt, Alex, and Elena with Ana. I met her she is fine now. Don't worry, I sent Jamie to take care of her." I told her.

"She should've informed me. This girl will never understand. How can she be so irresponsible? I'm going to kill her tomorrow."

She kept mumbling and invited me in. She is wearing a pink shirt and cute unicorn pajamas. Her hair is open and all over the place. She looks good in casual wear too. Why am I so obsessed with her?

I liked Divya the moment I saw her picture on Amy's phone. I don't know but I had this attraction that just pulled me towards her. I felt a pang when I got to know that she was married. But after looking at her like that in Hyderabad I felt like punching that crap of man. I vowed to myself that day that I will do anything to protect her and not see her cry. I've been doing the same for the past 3 years.

"Why don't you stay for dinner? I'm making some mint rice with chicken." She said walking into the kitchen after placing Amar in his high chair.

I become more and more fascinated by her, I like the way she treats people, and I like how she invests time and effort in everything. I like how her eyes twinkle every single time she looks at Amar. I like how she scrunches her nose when she is angry. I like how she pouts her lips when she is thinking. I like everything about her, in fact, I love her. I never had the guts to tell her, I might never tell her too. I don't wanna lose the friendship and trust she has in me. I will happily live by the sidelines watching her and Amar grow up.

I said yes to the dinner, even though I can't tolerate Indian food. I just wanna spend some time with her. Killing my stomach lining for a day is what it takes to spend time with her, so be it.

Yippe Kay Yay

So, that's Andrew. I don't know how it turned out. I hope it's better.

I wanted to write more chapters but was not in the correct mental space to do it. Now I know why people prefer quiet places to do creative work.

That's it for this chapter. Let me know about the mistakes and peace out.

Love,
Sneha.