"That will be twelve bucks." I smiled at the teenage boy who had ordered a few eateries for him. He wanted it to be parceled and I had agreed to his requests.

As he handed over the money, I smiled at him once more before I bid him farewell. Though I was internally dying every second, externally, I had put on a bright smile and claimed that everything was going very well for me.

I had been doomed and I couldn't believe that I was living a life of complete lies tangled to make sure that I was dangling in it like a puppet. After knowing it from my Dad's mouth, everything seemed clear.

My talks which were already less with Dad, had turned to nothing now and I hardly spoke to him. I didn't even go to him to ask if he was taking his medicines on time. 

I had believed that my parents loved each other too much to even have a fight.

Now, I understood why my Dad had abandoned me the whole time. I reminded him of her and the guilt he carried along with it. He had avoided me to erase his past and I had been the lamb to be fed well only to be scarified by the end of the day.

"Hey, you okay?" Monica asked, placing a hand on my shoulder. She had taken her time off of her shopping spree for a day to make sure that she also took care of the shop here. I had insisted her to not cancel her dates for my sake as I would be fully capable of taking care of the shop for them. "I know it's too much work around here."

"Nothing like that." I said and got up the counter. "I'm just having a terrible headache." I really did have one, especially after the knowledge I had got yesterday. "I'll just have a strong coffee to get rid of it."

Monica nodded and I went in the kitchen to brew one for me, but Mira had bet me to it. Mira was back in the kitchen with her magic wand, making coffee and cupcakes.

"Here, darling." Mira said, even before I had asked her for a cup. She placed the cup in my hands and smiled sweetly. Monica came back to the kitchen and leaned on the door, folding her hands as she blocked my way out.

I looked at her and her mother alternatively as suspicion slowly grew in me. "What's happening?" I asked, as I held on to the cup of coffee. "What are you guys planning?"

"What makes you think we are planning after all?" Monica rolled her eyes at me. I looked at Mira for confirmation for which she only shrugged back. "Why are you assuming the worst? Have you done anything wrong lately?"

"Maybe." I said to Monica to which she only smiled back. I didn't wait for her to tell me what the mother daughter were conspiring against me, but went ahead to give the ordered customer his cupcakes and lattes. When I came back to sip on my coffee, Mira came and sat next to me, which she had never done before. "Seriously, what's wrong?"

"Mon, she looks pale today." Mira said, running her fingers on top of my head in a motherly gesture. "Maybe you can tell her tomorrow."

"Tell me what?" I turned to Monica for more details. "You guys are firing me?"

Kapoor's café was the only thing that looked normal in my life. Everything else seemed like an already designed trap waiting for me to take one misstep so that it could consume me whole. For all I cared, I wanted this job, not only for a distraction, but also to keep my mind sane. It was the first real companionship that I had got without any adulteration in it. I didn't wish to lose it too.

"No, silly." Mira said with a smile of her own. "You are not going to be fired, even if Monica tells otherwise."

"Why will I be telling otherwise?" Monica asked more to her mother than anyone else. "She can take care of the whole café single-handedly, we wouldn't want to lose that."

"Right." I said. "Then what's the problem?"

Monica and Mira looked at each other one more time and there was some unspoken conversation that held them back from communicating with me. I rolled my eyes, tired of waiting for them. I got up from the counter to clean the table when a guy left.

When I came back with the rag cloth, Monica stepped up. "Okay, here it is." She said, blocking my way. "I have been thinking over this for a long time now."

"Its about the wedding." Mira said to get me prepared.

"It's still on, right?" I asked. Horror grazed passed me.

"Yes, yes." Monica waved her hands in front of me, as if it was least thing to be bothered about. "You have become just like mother."

"Then tell me what it is about." I said, not able to take the suspense any longer.

This time Monica, the CIA that I believed she was, stood in front of me with troubled look. For the first time, I saw Monica was jittery and nervous about something.

"Will you be my maid of honor?" She asked slowly. She closed one eye, making a pained expression on her face, as if she was scared of my reaction to her question. "Please?" She put her hands in front of me and folded it as if she were praying.

"What?" I asked shocked that she had brought that up. Wasn't maid of honor for best friends and families? "Maid... of honor? Mon, I think you should think about it again before you ask that."

"I have thought about it for a million times already and you are the best person for it." Monica said. "Even mother thinks you are it."

I looked at Mira who nodded her head at me enthusiastically. I wondered if she had been completely healed now. They both looked hopeful about my answer and I knew they were looking forward to see what I had to say about it.

"Guys," I started. "I'm really honored, but it's not my place." I said honestly. I turned towards Monica and held her hand. "It is for someone who is a best friend, knows you inside out. Or for a family member if one follows the custom. And clearly not for the one who is an employer."

"Scar, you are not just an employer." Monica said, quickly. "Tell me, have I ever seen you like that?" I held my head low. Both Mira and Monica had treated me like someone who was in their own family. Mira's affection reminded of my mother while Monica was the sister I never had. "You are much more that than. When are you going to learn?"

"But... Mira, make her understand." I said, thinking of ways to make her realize.

"Dear, she is right." Mira said, pulling me to her. She made me sit next to her and smiled at me. "You are like my daughter too. I don't understand these English weddings. I asked her to get married in Indian way..."

"Mom, it's going to take one whole week!" Monica whined and that alone made me smile.

"And she might not be able to wait that long." I teased, in spite of the pressure I had on me.

"Yes!" Monica said without any hesitation. I opened my mouth to tease more, but she bet me to it. "That's why I want your presence next to me."

"Monica..." I said.

"Wait, I've got all the speech ready." Monica said clearing her throat. Mira smiled at us and turned towards us to see the scene in front of me. "Scarlet, you know me more than any of my friends or colleagues. You also know that I don't have any family that would do that for me. Besides, I've already considered you as my sister."

"Wow. I..." I stumbled.

I looked at her and she seemed like she really wanted me there. If I did think about it, I knew it was after my final race in which I didn't know if I would survive. I didn't want to give false hopes to her regarding my presence in her wedding. It would crush her if she knew that I was not attending her wedding, not only as her maid of honor, but even as a guest.

Though I told her a number of times in a number of ways about how it was not a good idea, she was persistent. She was not only a good observer, but also a great negotiator.

When I finally gave her my approval, she squealed and danced in her spot like a teenage girl, making me laugh. Monica hugged me tighter and held on to me. "You don't even have to get me any gifts." She told me. "You agreeing is more than enough for me."

"So that you can run me like a slave everywhere?" I teased as I hugged her back. "Not happening."

She laughed and let me go. "Well, that means a lot to me, Scar. Thank you."

I nodded my head, but a small ray of doubt hung above me like a rainy cloud. For the time being, I shook it away and smiled and laughed and teased her as I ran the coffee shop.

"My coffee!" I scowled at Monica for making my coffee get cold with her long speech.

I went over the microwave to get it heated. As I stood there in the kitchen, waiting for the beep to turn it off, I saw a familiar car on the road side. I bent over the window to see properly.

I hadn't met Robert after he had confessed his love to me. Though he had said that he loved me, I wasn't able to say anything back to him. I wanted my confession to be spontaneous rather than just agreeing with the guy even when I knew my feelings were all over the place with him.

Now, as Robert stood in front of his car in his normal clothes, no hoodie or hideous goggles to cover his face, all the smile that my face held evaporated as I knew why he was here. That meant he was ready to expose himself to his family.

I knew he wanted me to be there for him when he came out clean with his family. But now, I stood at the window hesitating about the matter.

For all I knew, I was not in a proper emotional state, especially after I knew about Dad. Considering how Monica was happy with the current situation, I didn't want to ruin her happiness yet. But then again, if I told Robert that it was not a good time now, I knew he would back away forever. Him coming here without any hoodie was a positive sign and I didn't want to ruin that for him.

He saw me watching him from the window and raised his hand at me and I knew. Just like how I wanted a pep talk from him before a race, he wanted to talk to me before he could confess. The microwave beeped and I jumped, startled.

I nodded my head at him and poured the coffee down the sink and made my way out. Without making any eye contact with either of the women, I went outside to see Robert. He stood there next to Maria, facing away from the sun, running his hands over his curly hair.

"Hey," I said as I neared him. He was facing away from me and when he listened to my voice he turned towards me. His face was full of confusion and the dread of the situation he was in. "You okay?"

For the first time in my life, I saw him stutter and stammer as he spoke. His fingers shook as he gestured the café. His curly soft hair often covered his eyes from me as he tried to get some words out. "I... I'm ready."

"You have thought about this, right?" I asked, taking his hand in mine.

He put his head low and his hair covered his face again. I took a step forward and pulled him to me. I put my hands around his neck and hugged him. This was so familiar to the way my Dad stuttered before he confessed everything to me. But here, Robert hadn't killed anyone unlike my father.

"Hey, it's going to be alright, okay?" I asked, pulling away.

I held on to his neck as I stood in tiptoes to meet his height. I knew it was not easy to face people whom he had abandoned years ago and with the things he had left behind, I could understand his desperation and the fear behind his brown eyes. He only nodded his head at me, not meeting my eyes.

"I've got you. Come on." I said, clinging on to his arm as we made our way to the café. Thankfully, the café was slow moving today with less customers to hang around. As we reached, I turned towards him. "Ready?"

"Scarlet... just don't leave my hand." He requested and I nodded my head in understanding. "Just... don't."

"I promise I won't." I smiled back. As we went in, I changed the sign on the café doors from open to close just to make sure that we got enough privacy to take in the situation.

Even when the whole confession was on his part, my heart beat faster than usual. I had heard how Monica was very hard on her brother since he had left nothing but misery to her. I squeezed his hands and smiled tightly. He nodded his head once as if to tell he was ready and we went in together hand in hand.

"I saw you hugging some hot guy, Scar!" Monica squealed from the kitchen. My cheek flamed at her words while I heard a few utensils fall down before she came out. "Who the heck was that?"

She came out and for a second, her excitement and smile froze in the spot. Mira came next and she looked at us. Robert's hand tightened in mine and I only hoped that no one was fainting today.

"Monica, Mira." I started. "This is Robert... the one whom you met at that party."

---

We sat on a round table taking opposite sides to each other. As Robert and I sat together, Mira and Monica sat in front of us, looking at Robert as if he were a new specimen in a science project. Initially, Mira was a crying mess - which was better from her falling unconscious - but Monica just looked, trying to understand what had happened.

Monica shook her head and greeted Robert like a stranger who had helped her mother and her, but Robert had remained mute to those words of praise. Slowly, he talked about how he had run away and suddenly the truth was out there in the open.

Mira, after finding her son, still alive claimed that she always knew her kid was alive no matter what others told her. She had come forward to hug him, but Monica held her hand and restrained her.

Now as we sat on the chair looking at each other, I felt like an outsider looking at the family drama. Even though I had told Robert that I would stay, I had never told that I would be comfortable handling the situation with him. I wanted to go out and not be a part of this, especially when both the parties were very close to my heart.

"How could you do that to us?" Monica said in a cold voice and I didn't know if she was really herself anymore. She was like an inspector who had caught a criminal and was just teasing around before handing him the death sentence. "You have no idea what hell you put us through."

"Mon, please..." Robert begged. He kept his hand on the table while he held mine on his left hand underneath the table. "I was just... just not strong enough."

"Strong?" Monica's voice was stinging, even to my own ears. "You think we were hulks to deal the shit you left behind?"

Robert hung his head low and sulked. I knew it was difficult to open their arms and let him into their family now, especially after the things they had to go through just because he had a change of heart. Mira took another tissue from the table and wiped her face.

"Ma... I'm really sorry." He said looking at his mother. Mira placed her hands on his. It was as if she couldn't believe that he was finally here. "I didn't want to hurt you guys anymore and... and I thought it was for the best. I hoped you forgot me... in time."

"Ratan... you were never forgotten." Mira sobbed. "You are my son, how can you... even think of that?"

"What do you expect?" Rob's voice rose in agony. "I was a kid back then. I didn't think properly!"

"Don't you raise your voice here." Monica warned. "How dare you come in here and shout at my mother?"

"She is my mother too!" Robert demanded, standing up, eventually I stood up next to him, putting my head low. For the moment, I seemed to be invisible and I wondered if I should be taking sides now. "You can't take that away from me!"

"Where was your mother when you ran away?" Monica asked standing up too. "She had panic attacks because of you! You destroyed my career in Harvard! You destroyed everything and now you come to claim your mother?"

"Well, I was destroying things even before I ran away!" Robert shouted. "And you know it! I... I thought it would be better without me in the picture."

"Well, flash news!" Monica shouted, raising her hands in the air. "With or without you was always a disaster!"

"God, please stop fighting." Mira said, bawling her eyes out.

For a second, I thought I should leave Robert's hand and go to her and console. But I stood there next to Robert, watching three broken souls suffer in pain only because their egos were bigger than their love for each other.

It was so different from the fights that took place at my place. I usually turned quiet and often gave a cold shoulder, ignoring everything instead of fighting with them... fighting for them. Perhaps, that was the thing that got us apart from the beginning.

Here, even with those fights I could sense a ray of hope and love pouring on each other. I only wished that were true in my case.

"Why have you come back now?" Monica asked, ignoring her mother's wails. "Did you lose all your money and now you have put your tail in between you legs running back home?"

That was when I felt a ping in my heart.

"Mon," I started even when I didn't know what I was telling her. "He's here because I asked him to come clean with you guys."

As soon as my voice broke in half at the silence, the room noticed that I was there too. Monica slowly turned her attention to me, her eyes shooting daggers as she looked. I swallowed audibly as her eyes darted from my face to the hands which were intertwined with Robert's.

"So you are the one." She said slowly, her voice full of malice. "You were the one to pull this off. I thought you were my sister. God, I even let you in our lives and you... you just betrayed all our trust."

"Monica, please." Robert supplied. "She doesn't have to do anything with our fight."

"She knew who you were!" Monica shouted. "I told her all my personal stuffs that I had never told anyone. Mom looks at her like her own daughter, but what did she do? She took our trust, made it a spear and pierced it in our hearts!"

"I didn't know he was your Ratan!" I said, making sure that everyone heard me. "As soon as I knew about it, I asked him to come and confess. But you guys are only shouting at him even when you know both of you guys suffered alone."

I shook my hands away from Robert and moved towards Monica who was watching me with wide eyes. I looked at Mira who was still sobbing looking at the scene unfold in front of her. It was as if she couldn't tolerate her kids fighting something about the past.

My voice softened. "Monica, you had Clark after some time, but with Robert... he had to do things all alone." I said. "I understand that he left a lot of ruins behind, but he certainly had created more for himself."

"So, you are saying whatever he did was fair?" Monica asked, folding her hands. "And what you did was fair? Tell me, how long did you know he was Ratan?"

That was when the gravity of her words shook me. "I... I..." I stumbled. "For a few weeks."

"Weeks?" Monica almost screamed. "Yet, you didn't find it in you to come and tell us first?"

"I wanted to tell it first." Robert said, veering the tension onto himself. But Monica was more angry with me than Robert.

"I could have understood with Ratan... but you?" Monica said, hurt evident in her voice. "I considered you to be my sister and look where you got me! I had told mother not to let you in the first day you were here, well the blame is all on us."

"Monica..." I started, but she cut me off.

"Just leave, Scarlet." Monica said. "Please, do me a favor and both of you get out."

I hung my head low. Perhaps I deserved that. I nodded my head going towards Mira. I hugged her before I made my way out to the door. Robert took his time though.

He went to his mother, hugged her and touched her feet before he came back and held my hand in his once again.

---

A/N: Drama, drama, drama. What did you like among those three? You think Scar or Rob is going to be okay especially after this?