FAMILY

Mathew's father was tall, bald, and looked like he was in his early fifties. Mathew's mother was very fair, and beautiful and she looked very young. While Steve Mathew was an identical twin of Jones Mathew, they both hardly had any differences, even though both of their voices were similar. Catherine was a pretty woman gorgeous to look at, her waist-length brown hair was shining grabbing the attention and her skin complexion was remarkable, she was skinny and had a good height, she was a perfect match for Mathew. I was standing there already shipping them both. My imagination about their both romantic moments was disturbed by the sudden start of a discussion.

"Jones do you care to tell me who these two girls are?", Catherine encountered a question

"This is Sahana and she is Megha", he replied

"Megha is she the one you were crushing on"

"Yes long ago"

"Why did Megha take bath here?", she asked Mathew pointing to my hair which was tied by a towel

"We planned to go out for dinner tonight and she had got very tired playing with Sahana so she took bath"

"How long has she been here and how often does she visit you?"

"She comes here regularly and she is here from morning"

"Ohh I see, so this random girl is a common visitor to your house, who knows what relation you both share? Who the hell is this kid, Sahana?"

"Catherine mind your words. Megha is not some random girl and we purely share a brother-sister bond so don't insult my relationship with her and put down your character and Sahana is my daughter. I hope you show some bloody respect towards my sister and daughter"

"Sister, daughter!! Hahahaha. So Mr. Jones Mathew I guess we need to call off this marriage"

"What? Why?"

"I can't marry a guy who has his ex-crush and a daughter with him"

"Catherine wait for a moment before you take the decision dear", Mathew's father said

"Fine uncle", she said irritated

"Jones you have got two choices either you come with us leaving these two girls behind and get married to Catherine or if you think they are more important to you then forget that you belong to my family," Mathew's father said

"Dad this isn't fair I can't even imagine a life without my daughter", Mathew argued

"Okay so let's do this I can accept this kid. Now I give you a much better option. Either marry me and we will be good parents to Sahana but you will have to cut ties with Megha or Forget me and stay with your so-called sister", Catherine threw another deal in front of him.

There was complete silence in the house, everyone was waiting for Mathew's decision. There was a slight fear in everyone's eyes I assumed that they were thinking that Mathew might choose us instead of them and that was the reason behind the fear. Mathew's mom held her husband's hand tightly and whispered something in his ears. Catherine was raging in anger and tapping her feet continuously. Mathew's brother was completely confused and his face did not show any reaction to the situation. I insisted Mathew go with his family and assured him that I will take good care of Sahana and myself. I kept on repeating the same to him while he looked at everyone and then looked at me. His face turned tomato red and his eyes which was filled with tears that were hesitating to roll down his eyes. He rubbed his eyes, held me by my hand, and pulled me closer.

"I have made my decision", he said breaking the silence. I guessed what his answer was.

"Mathew no, you need not have to do this go with them", I whispered in his ears

"Shut up Megha, I know what I am doing. Everyone listen this is Megha, my sister and this is Sahana Mathew, my daughter and this is my family", he declares.

Mathew's father chuckled and asked his family to walk out. Steve and his mom silently followed uncle and Catherine stared at me for a while, mouthed something to Mathew, and walked out of the house. I thought to console them and explain everything to them and took steps ahead but Mathew pulled me back and ordered me to stay right where I was and never to have word with that family again. As everyone walked out, he fell to his knees and tears rolled down his cheeks continuously. I was not able to see him this broken and the guilt feeling flowed pin my system because PI was the root cause for this state of him.

"Daddy what happen why are you crying?", Sahana asked

"Nothing sweetie don't worry. Megha please take Sahana to her room", he said and kissed her forehead

I took Sahana to her room and sat with her for a few minutes. She was pretty curious to know what just happened, who were all those people and many more questions were running inside her small brain and I couldn't give her any answers. I played some cartoons on my mobile and gave them to her so that it could divert her because I had no answers to all her questions. I asked her not to step out of the room. I walked out of the room to check on Mathew. He was sitting disheartened on the balcony, there were already two cigarette butts on the floor and he was still having another one lit up in between his fingers. I sat next to him and tapped his shoulder. He turned to me, his eyes bloodshot red, and his cheeks were also red and swollen. I snatched the cigarette from him, put it off, and handed him a glass of water.

"I guess you should have gone with them", I said

"Shut up Megha, it has just been a few months of bond with you and Sahana but trust me I have never been this happy ever in my life, spending time with you both is so amazing. Didn't you tell me that it is tough to handle when there is no one to listen to you and so do you think that I can leave you in that state? I know you have people who will be ready to listen to your problems but Megha right now you are alone, your father and Riya both are out of town, I will never do anything that could cause any kind of hurt, lonely feeling, etc. So am not leaving you.", he explained.

"But that is your family and she is your fiancée"

"Correction ex-fiancée, see they failed to be my family when they couldn't understand me and Catherine lost all the respect I had towards her when she bad-mouthed you"

"Still, she is the one you dearly love"

"You are my priority and that's it"

"Mathew..."

"Now enough, go get ready"

"Where?"

"Our plan of dine-out is still on madam", he said

We drove to Chung's restaurant and ordered food and gobbled nicely. When we walked out we encountered a family member of Sahana. They walked to us greeted us and handed over some chocolates to Sahana.

"Listen Mr. Mathew", he said

"Yes please tell me", Mathew replied

"Thanks a lot for taking care of my brother's daughter all these days, now please hand over her to me, I will take care of her from now"

"I am sorry but she is legally my daughter now and she will be with me always, you are welcome anytime to meet her"

"I see", he said and pulled Sahana's hand while Mathew slapped that guy and we walked away from that place.

Days passed on we became closer and happier day by day. Mathew was playing his role as a brother and father very amazingly and responsibly. He started spending his life with me and Sahana. He equally spoilt his daughter as well as me. Whatever we want we had it the next moment. Though he used to get doubt whether he has one daughter or two and how much ever we irritated him, he kept all those aside and loved us unconditionally. We were a happy family together having regular movie nights, outings on Sunday and short trips now and then. I used to not accompany them on foreign trips because it was disturbing and incomplete to be there without a person.

At last, my life which was grey and dark a few months ago started to get some colors because of this person who made me his priority, took care of me, gave me the love which was needed, and gave me a shoulder to cry on when I was down and he had successfully bought smile back to my face, made my heart ease and made my life beautiful again.