CHAPTER 02

          Back in Time.

Calla remembered the stranger. He was the same person who met her 6 months ago. She had been searching him since then, but never found a single clue about him. And here he was standing, he hadn't changed a bit. She came back to her sences when she found him stairing at her. She tapped on Sophie's shoulder who was still busy looking at things and admiring them.

Calla: Don't go anywhere, I'll be back in a minute.

Sophie: Go talk to your price, he's cute.

Calla: Henry's not here Sophie.

Sophie: I'm not talking about Henry, he's not your Prince.

Calla shook her head and went to that strange man who was still drooling over her. To her surprise, she wasn't even uncomfortable with his stairs. She stood right in front of him and spoke.

Calla: who are you?

Man: Really, that's the best question you could come up with?

Calla: Pardon please?

Man: What's in your heart Miss Calla Davis.

Calla: How do you know my name?

Man: I'm not a cheep stalker, I'm a guardian.

Calla: What? What do you mean with that? Guardian for whom?

Man: The time will tell you and teach you everything about your future soon.

He said it with a raised finger but this time, he pointed Sophie. Calla looked at her niece who had so many pendants in her hands.

Man: Baware the darkness that soon will rise.

He whispered in Calla's ear as Calla looked back at him but he was again gone. Calla was now confused with the hide and seek game he was playing. Calla didn't waste her time to look for him, she went back to her niece. Sophie made her choose one of the pendant. All of them were so beautiful but one of them caught her eyes. It was a blue crystal pendant with silver sparklings inside. Sophie gave it to the shopkeeper and asked her to pack it in to a cute box. They paid for the pendant and went out. They did more shopping. Sophie sat on one of the ponies like a princess. So far the day was good and it made Sophie so much happier than Calla had imaged. It was almost dusk when they went back to their house. Sophie happily took all the shopping bags from her ant. They opened the door and Henry greeted him from behind.

Henry: Hey.

Calla: Hi. What are you doing here?

Henry: Just came to see you.

Sophie: Hi Henry.

Henry: Oh hi. What are you doing? Can we go for dinner tonight?

Calla gave him a deadly glare and spoke to Sophie.

Calla: Baby take all this to your room. We'll check everything, I'll be there in a bit.

Sophie: Okay ant Calla. Bye Henry.

Calla: What the hell is wrong with you? I've already told you about a hundred times that I can't go to have dinner with you. I can't leave her alone.

Henry: Who's asking you to leave her alone. I've told you to get a nanny for her.

Calla: And I've told you that I can take care of her by myself.

Henry: How will we be able to work like this? How will it work in future? If she won't learn to live with nannies or alone.

Calla: Wait, what do you mean with live alone or with nannies?

Henry: You're not planning to adopt her.

Hearing the word adopt, Calla's anger rose and she could not hold it back. She yelled at Henry.

Calla: Adopt, what are you even thinking? Henry, For the love of God, she's my niece.

Henry: Her mother was your step sister, not your real sis….

Calla: That's enough. If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be even here. You've said that once, but make sure that ain't happened again or I swear to God I won't think once for choosing her over you.

Henry: That's what you're going to do now. You wanna babysit her your whole life. Then what about your work. It's growing bigger. Look at you. You're comparing me with that little witch….

He could not complete his sentence because of a sharp slap made it's way to his cheek. Calla slapped him hard enough that it left mark on his cheek.

Calla: You're sick. You dare to call her names? She's not my niece but my daughter, my family and my life. That strange man was right about you. You don't love me but my money and success. It was actually a mistake. I should have known better. A sick person like you can crave for money and fame only. GET OUT AND NEVER SHOW ME YOUR FACE EVER AGAIN.

Calla threw his ring on his face and he left. She felt so angry. (How dare anyone think of my Sophie like that? She's my life and I can give up on anything for her happiness.) Calla thought. She splashed some cold water on her face, then went to Sophie's room who hadn't heard a single word. She was happily going through all the stuff she bought. Calla sat on the couch and was in her deep thoughts. She was pulled out of her thoughts when Sophie started singing her a song.

Sophie: Happy birthday to you,

            Happy birthday to you.

            Happy birthday dear ant Calla,

            Happy birthday to you.

She gave her the box with the pendant she bought from the gala.

Calla: Thank you baby, you remembered?

Sophie: How can I forget your birthday. You're my best friend and I love you.

Calla: I love you too baby and you're my best friend too.

They hugged each other, then Sophie went back to unpack all the things she bought, where Calla opened the box and looked at the beautiful pendant. Suddenly she remembered the man again who told her about Henry. Her heartbeat rose as she looked at her happy niece who was busy in shopping bags. (I need to find him and ask him what did he mean about beware the darkness and why he pointed Sophie?) She thought. Calla went back to the kitchen and cooked dinner for her niece. She was humming the lullaby Xavier, her step brother in law wrote for her. He used to sing it for her. Calla wasn't even born when her father died. Her mother took care of her and Mara. Calla was 5 and Mara was 16 when Calla's mother Sophie was diagnosed with stomach cancer. She loved Mara more than her own daughter, she didn't want to leave her like this. She set her up with Xavier Luke. He was a great man. After Sophie's death he took Calla in as well. He raised her like his own daughter and they both decided not to plan their family until Calla turned 18. Mara got a baby a year later. Calla was 19 years old by then. Mara named her daughter after her step mother who loved her like her own. The time when Mara was in labour, she got some complications and doctors asked Xavier to make a choice. He chose his wife. When Calla came know about it she went to her sister, put her hand on her sister's baby bum and spoke.

Calla: Hey little baby. Please don't leave me. I've been waiting for you for so long. I promise you I will take care of you and make all your wishes come true. Just come to me, don't leave me. I want to see you, hold you, cherish you, love you and give you everything you will ask. 

Xavier held her hand and took her out of the labour room. They waited and Calla kept praying for both Mara and her baby. A baby cry made it's way to Xavier's ears and he looked at Calla. Nurse came out with a beautiful baby in her arms and told him.

Nurse: Congratulations Mr Luke. It's a girl and your wife named her Sophie.

Calla quickly stood up and looked at the baby who was now asleep. She was so beautiful like a flower.

Xavier: And how is my wife?

Nurse: Your wife is perfectly fine and so is the baby. Mother and baby both are fine and out of danger.

Xavier: Can I see her?

Nurse: Yes she's asking for you.

Nurse left and Xavier gave the baby to Calla. She first hesitated but then carefully took the baby in her arms. Xavier left to see his wife while Calla kissed the baby's forehead and said thank you.

After the dinner, Sophie went to Calla's room instead of her parents room. After her parents death she asked Calla to make it her room. Calla did as Sophie asked but she never left her alone. But tonight she wanted to sleep with her ant again. Calla requested Xavier to set her room as Sophie's room. Since Sophie was born, she lived in Calla's room. Calla took care of the baby, even she took care of her at night. Mara tried to take Sophie to her room for nights but Calla never let her. She loved the baby so much. Calla helped Sophie to change into a comfy night clothes. She also changed into silk nighty and laid besides her niece. Sophie hugged  Calla and Calla sung her the lullaby Xavier used to sing for her.

Uncle sun has gone to sleep,

It is dark outside.

But baby you don’t need to fear,

Daddy will always be by your side. 

For the birds those sings,

And the stars that shine,

You are the only princess, my sunshine. 

No monsters under the bed,

Daddy will always check.

No bed bugs will ever bite,

My princess will always sleep tight.

For the rain that falls,

For the fairies those fight,

You are the only princess, my moon pie.

Your smile make the flowers bloom,

Your eyes sparkle like glittery night.

Your heart is bigger than the ocean blue,

Your shinning hair makes the world bright.

For the roads ahead , difficult to easy,

We will always together fight.

Daddy will love his princess Sophie, 

The love of his life.

Soon Sophie was in her Wonderland and Calla kept on thinking about the strange man she met twice. She didn't know him at all but it still felt like she have known him for decades. He was drooling over her but she didn't feel uncomfortable. He whispered in her ear. She could still feel his hot breaths on her ear. She felt butterflies in her stomach as her cheeks burned by only thinking of how close he was when he whispered in her ear. (Who is he? How did he know about Henry? Why he pointed his finger at Sophie this time? What did he mean by he's a guardian?) Thinking about all those questions, Calla also drifted off.

poetry credit Niharika Katare.