CHAPTER 1

ELEVEN YEARS AGO:

Mom: "Let's go to home, Ari."

Me: "No.

I will not leave until you say me about my father.

Why can't you understand?

I want to know about him.

Where is he?

Why is he not living with us."

Mom: "Please listen to me, Ari.

This is your school.

What will your friends and teachers think about you?"

Me: "I don't care.

I just want to know who's my father?

Mom, why don't you understand me.

All my friends love to play with their father.

They spent their time with their father.

Their fathers take them to park."

Mom: "I too take you to the park sometimes when I have time."

Me: "Why can't you understand that you are not my father.

I want my father."

Mom: "Stop shouting and get inside the car orelse I will leave you here and go back."

Me: "I said I don't care."

Mom: "Okay, I will tell you about him after we reach home."

Me: "Really?

Ok, I will go."

Both of us followed an awkward silence in the car.

After we reached home, I was very upset with my behavior.

Mom ran to her room, crying.

I think I shouldn't have behaved with her like that.

I should tell her sorry.

Me: "Mom, please don't cry.

I am really very sorry for being so rude.

My friends said that my father left me and you because you and I are bad.

They said you and I forced him to leave us.

Are we so bad, Mom?"

Mom: "No darling, neither we are bad and nor your Dad is bad.

He died in a car accident, when you were just one year old.

I haven't told you about it thinking thay it may hurt you.

So, I decided that till the time you ask about him, I will keep it a secret from you.

I know that you have many questions about your father but please believe me I don't want to remember that time.

I don't want to talk about him as it will bring out many other bad memories."

Me: "It's ok, Mom.

I am really very sorry for what I have done earlier."

Mom: "Ari wake up!

We have to go.

We will be moving out in an hour."

Me: "Ouch, not again.

When the hell will I stop waking up because of this nightmare and by falling from my bed?"

Mom: "Ari, don't tell me you are still sleeping."

Me: "I am heading to the shower now, I will be there within ten minutes."

Mom: "Ok.

Try to be faster than usual."

Me: "Ok, Mom."

(After having a shower and wearing sweats)

Mom: "Have your breakfast, baby.

I know that we will be running late because you were sleeping but please chew properly and then eat."

Me: "Mom, It's only bread and jam with a omlette."

Mom: "Don't you forget about the glass of milk infront of you."

Oh God, milk.

But why do I have to drink milk?

I am seventeen not seven.

But I do not want to hurt my Mom by saying that I will not drink it.

I am Ari Cross, seventeen years old.

And, I was thinking about the worst moment I had ever experienced in my life.

I was six, when I last asked my Mom about my Dad.

I haven't asked her about my Dad, because I don't want to hurt the most important person in my life.

I don't know the exact reason for me not having friends but my Mom use to blame herself because of her we need to move to other places.

My Mom is a Physician who used to get transferred to other places after a few months.

I had continuously been moving from this place to another.

So, I never tried to make friends.

As I knew, that after some months I have to leave them and go to another place.

I don't remember if I had stayed in one place more than four or five months.

Maybe this can be one of the reason that I cannot make friends as I don't get that much time to know them.

Or, if I have friends I know at one point if time they will be asking about my father.

For these reasons I am not able to make friends.

I don't want friends as I cannot open myself ti them.

So, I live with books rather than humans.

Books will be with you inspite knowing you.

Books will never question you.

It will only be with you when you need it.

I love to read books as I can carry them to the new places unlike friends.

As for so many years I am not leaving at one single place made me feel more shy.