Introduction 1 ( a childhood better imagined than experienced )

Many years ago.....

It rained heavily. Poor Andria sat legs crossed beside the slightly opened door of her parents room weeping. It made her sad that no one was paying attention since both parents were involved in a serious conflict. No one knew she was at the door. Having quarrels were normal for both of them but this time Andria felt something was really going to happen. Something bad.

7 years old Andria could barely understand what it meant to have lovely parents. It wasn't her dad but her mom. Her mother never cared about her and always brought up conflicts between her and her husband. Andria felt sick watching them. She cried and was scared than ever. her life was like a white colored sheet and she deeply needed colours for it, and obviously these constant fights weren't helping her. She had learnt to do most things herself and mainly wished she did be with her dad all the time. He was better and cooler than mother. He did take her out most times.

Their voices echoed all over and it was even difficult to hear the rain dropping. Her stomach made terrible noises due to hunger but no one was there. It never occurred to them that their hungry daughter sat at the door weeping. If only her hands could reach the counter, she did filled her belly. She had no option than to eavesdrop and then she thought of walking in. Maybe that would help, until she saw her mom angrily smash the glass vase on the table close to their bed. Smith tried calming her down as he grabbed her hands. The wind badged in sharply making the curtains fly simultaneously as the windows rattled.

" Get your filthy hands off me!" She yelled exposing her injured palm with blood gushing out.

" You are injured? Let me take a look" smith had a pitiful look on his face.

" Don't act like you care. Coz you don't!" She shouted almost slipping. " I'm sick and tried of enduring your insults and pretence. It's over for us." She blurted out.

Smith stood dazed. Andria wondered what her dad had done this time. It was always about him or the way mother treated her.

" You can't do that to me, think of Andria at least . How would she take this?" He asked trying to secure his home.

" Who's Andria?" Meg asked harshly. Throwing the divorce papers to his face. She walked out angrily.

Andria grabbed her leg. " Mom please don't leave. I love you"

" Get out of my way you brat. I'm not your mother!" She pushed the kid away without regrets.

Smith rushed over to her. " It's fine darling, we would be okay without her. She doesn't love you." He tried consoling her. " Daddy loves you okay?"

Andria went for a deep hug, sniffing as she cried. Her dad was enough for her, why bother about her mom who had never for once cared?

~~~~~~~~

That night was the last she saw him. Some how meg had managed to claim possession of Andria clearly stating that she needed her since she was her mother. Truth be told, Meg's friends actually told her to claim the child Incase something comes up.

Smith did promise to keep in touch with his daughter. He did but not until meg reported to the court. He had to back off, she had threatened him too. A decision was taken, Andria didn't know what it was but it sure did send her dad away. Far away.

" Let's forget that bastard and move on with our lives." Meg told her just as she returned from God knows where.

" Is she asking that I pretend like I never knew him?"Andria thought. " You can if you wish to but I will never forget him. He is my dad and you aren't even better than him. I wonder what you did to claim me. Didn't you say I wasn't your daughter? You are heartless!" Andria spat out.

Meg gave her a hard slap in return.

" You don't talk to elders that way. I could never have given birth to a riff raff like you. You should be grateful I took you in." She scolded her.

Her phone rang.

" Yes darling. How are my girls doing?" Meg smiled taking a seat.

Andria shook her head in annoyance. " Just who did she think she is? My savior?"

" We are good as always. And you?" Talon replied with excitement.

"I am cool believe me I've never felt this happy for a long time." She replied with a laugh.

" That's my girl. I see you and Andria are getting along?"

" She has too. She's no match for me. She should be grateful I let her stay." Meg replied proudly , giving Andria a scornful stare.

" Take it easy on her. She is still your daughter you know." Talon said softly.

" She is not my daughter. I don't even remember giving birth to anyone. Would a child fall from the sky?" Meg argued.

" That's the problem. It's weird you don't remember your daughter. Just treat her nicely." Talon suggested.

" I'm not promising. I can't even stand her. I only let her stay because you asked me to do so. If not she did be gone with that wicked thing, She's his daughter after all. Why am I keeping her again?" Meg asked slightly offended. She just hated Andria since she was smith's daughter. She is just like her father- ungrateful.

" Let's forget that. Right now, we are having a party for you. Make sure you come over. You know where to find us- sisa's studio" talon replied with excitement.

" A party? What for?" Meg asked taken aback. She leaned forward. This wasn't part of the schedule.

" Your freedom girl. I can't believe you just asked me that. It getting hot. It's just the five of us. Joy would be playing the piano too." Talon sure sounded convincing.

Andria watched with disdain. "She just came back and now she is leaving again."

" That's awesome. I will be there. Thanks guys."

" What are friends for?" Talon asked. "Don't be late." It sounded as a warning and meg laughed. The call ended.

She didn't even look at Andria twice as she found her way to her room.

From her window, Andria noticed a moving figure heading towards the car. She walked majestically as though the world rested on her shoulders. She looked elegant too. " Beauty without brains" Andria thought. She was leaving again, leaving her alone in this freaking house.

Things would have been much better and she did feel less lonely if only Andria had a friend. Andria couldn't sleep as her eyes roamed about the room. Sounds of fireworks came from outside and from her window she could see them. " Pretty" she muttered trying to reach out.

Withdrawing her hand, she tried wiping her tears. She knew her life was damaged with her dad gone. She walked over to her drawer and took out her dad's photo. Her weak hands ran through his face slowly as constant tears dropped down. " I miss you" she sobbed as she picked up the next picture. Smith and her had taken that a year ago.

He had returned from a trip and promised to make a lemonade drink with her. Meg was invited too but she declined with silly excuses. Andria had thought it was a chance to have happy moments with her mom but was disappointed.

She had a hat on her head and smith's hands occupied with lemonade drinks, his face painted with ingredients. She giggled remembering the incident. She went ahead for a shower after closing her drawer.

Standing in front of the mirror, she dried her skin. She still had the tattoo smith had drawn few days ago - a red rose. She went over to her mother's room. It was quite and off course disorganized. Her towel on the bed, rumpled sheets, debris of food on her desk, the tiny alarm clock on the floor. Andria gasped.

The night breeze made the door shake and Andria trembled. Realizing she was the only on in the room she relaxed and opened her mother's wardrobe. There were pictures and other stuffs in it. She found a picture of Meg and her friends. She didn't know their names apart from talon bay who visited twice. Smith hated seeing her and adviced Andria to stay clear of her path. They had also been at the court room that day too. And had some how influenced meg's decision to divorce smith. Andria despised them for that.

With anger, she tusked the photo into her breast pocket, storming out of the room with hatred and annoyance. " Just what right did they have to make my life useless?" She wanted to think what to do to them.

Hours later, a drunk lady walked in staggering as she took each step. She was murmuring something inaudible, something she herself didn't understand.

Andria shook her head with bitterness and watched as the careless woman stumbled on the floor. Andria didn't move an inch instead she took a sit crossing her legs to watch the drama.

Meg fell, Andria laughed silently. She watched meg try to gain balance which she did after few minutes. The staggering was still there though. She placed her hands forward trying to find her way.

Andria chuckled as she fell in front of the stairs thinking it was her bed. The sharp edges of the stairs pierced her tummy and she jumped up with a scream. Luckily there was no injury.

Andria left for her room and didn't know how her mom managed to reach her room.

That was it. That was the drama she saw often. No school, no friends and a bad mother with bad friends. That was Andria's life....

She had lost everything - happiness, courage, pride ( what was there to be proud of?), And love.

Andria learnt things on her own. She was helpless and no one hanged out with her. Then Claire came. A miracle to Andria....

Sir James and his daughter let her stay over most of the times. They knew her mom and wondered how one could change so fast.

Claire was her best friend and they hanged out often. Claire did help her with books too and she was able to catch up. They ran errands together and made plans too. It was great having her. Andria almost forgot she had issues at home.

" What's happens if you leave me?" Andria asked innocently laying down on the roof top together with Claire. It was late and her mother wasn't back yet.

" Don't say such things. I ain't going nowhere. I'm with you always." Claire promised patting her head. Andria liked it. She felt more relaxed.

" But what if something happens and you ...."

" Come here. " Claire said spreading her arms wide open for her. Andria went for the hug. It was comforting.

" No matter what Andy, I'm always here for you. I love you and you are my best best best friend." She said giving her a cute smile. Claire preferred calling her Andy.

" Yeh, best best best friend" Andria smiled back making the promise sign. She gave Claire another hug. She was becoming teary.

" Look ...that star looks like you" Claire pointed to the sky trying to cheer her up.

Andria pulled out from the hug in surprise. " Yes, that one over there looks like you too" she giggled pointing at another star.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

2 years later...

Andria was nine. Things weren't better. Mother spent more time at work and with her friends. She felt neglected but Claire was always there. She supported her and she feed her most of the time. Meg didn't care if she ate. The scene at home was very annoying and she was afraid of the next episode.

As she was returning from Claire's house, she cleaned her nails with her nail cutter. she sighted a woman and a boy.The woman threatened her son and pulled his ear widely. The little kid was about her age and she felt pity for him. The woman shouted at him and he cried.

" Why are mother's like this?" Suddenly anger sprang out from her and she walked over to them. She couldn't bear to see the woman act bitchy like her mother. The poor boy needed help - she thought.

She tried separating the woman from the boy, her grasp on the kid was tight. The boy struggled too and fell. Andria tried helping him up and mistakenly injured the woman with her nail cutter as she tried grabbing her son again. The woman fell unconscious and Andria stood shocked. The boy ran over to his mom. Andria couldn't get what was going on, realizing herself she tried running but the boy caught her shoulder tearing her dress. Her rose tattoo exposed. Fearfully she took off. The kid yelled for help crying for his bleeding mother.

Police sirens were everywhere. She watched from a distance. She felt like a criminal and hoped the woman was dead. Dead mothers were better than cruel ones. "Some how I saved him" she thought. He shouldn't suffer the same fate as me. " I can't believe I almost killed someone. Thank God the nail cutter didn't cut deep into her stomach"

She ran home sweating madly. Meg sat in the sitting room.

" Where are you coming from? " She asked with a stern look her face upright.

Andria shivered. She hid the bloody nail cutter behind her. Andria kept mute.

"Speak up!" She ordered slamming the table. Andria moved backwards slowly.

Meg stood up and walked towards her. Holding her jaw up, she stared at her with scorn. " Go clean up, you smell like dirt." She said forcefully dropping her jaw.

Andria felt like stabbing her too. She walked out slowly.

Face buried on her bed sheets, she cried hot tears. She had taken a decision. She was going to teach them all a lesson.

" Each and every one of them" she promised holding tightly to her dad's picture. "They messed up my life. They took you away. I have no joy. They have to pay for making me miserable. I'm a criminal." She broke down in tears as she sat on the floor, face on her bed.

A week later after staying indoors for fear of the cops. Andria went over to Claire's place but she was gone. For good....