Chapter 3 03. The life I left behind

Friday felt like a lost day, and before I knew it, Saturday had arrived. I woke up with a strange feeling, sensing that there was someone I didn't know in our house. Brindha, my sister, can always sense my emotions as soon as I wake up. She casually chats with the guest, whom I consider a traitor, while my anger starts to surface. Just as I'm feeling the anger, I receive a message on my cell phone: "Remember: be happy, move on!" It feels like a slap in the face, delivered via text. I get up and head to the shower, as nothing resets my mind better than cold water.

I put on a denim skirt and a light-colored blouse, then head downstairs, unable to contain my curiosity. My father didn't say anything about her, and he knows me well enough to understand that every word he utters will be analyzed thoroughly. So, he chose to leave us in the dark, letting us draw our own conclusions.

"Good morning!" I greet as soon as I enter the kitchen area. Our house has a large living room and an integrated kitchen, with a glass door at the back leading to the pool and barbecue area.

"Good afternoon," replies my mischievous sister, enjoying my nervousness. My father enters through the glass doors, holding a plate in his hand.

"Good morning, princess!" he greets me with a kiss on the cheek. I prepare myself to feel his girlfriend's emotions, but it's strange. She doesn't seem jealous or possessive. I look at my sister, who shrugs, understanding my unspoken question about whether she is controlling our visitor's emotions. Apparently, she's not. My father introduces us.

"Velitha, this is Amanda. Amanda, meet my eldest daughter, Velitha."

"Nice to meet you, Velitha! I've been looking forward to meeting you both. You look even prettier in person than in the pictures," she says with a smile, seeming sincere. Usually, when someone says something like that, it's full of envy, but that's not the case here.

"Thanks! On the other hand, I haven't heard anything about you," I say, giving my dad a judgmental look. Amanda laughs and responds, "Arthur said he didn't say anything about me, that he'd rather let you judge for yourselves. I have to admit, that scared me a little!"

"You're beautiful as well. Don't worry, we're not as bad as my dad tries to make us out to be," I assure her. However, when it comes to her ability to make my father happy, I decide to reserve judgment for the days ahead.

"Arthur showed me some pictures of you when you were younger. You look so alike and yet so different. How is that possible?" Amanda asks.

"Didn't you tell her?" I inquire, looking at my father.

"What?" he pretends not to understand.

"That we're not biological sisters," I clarify.

"Oh, that? I don't think it came up," he says with a shrug. I know he doesn't like to talk about it. Since Brindha arrived, he has treated her as his own biological daughter, for better or for worse, as my mother used to say.

"Excuse me, I didn't mean to cause any embarrassment. Can we just pretend I didn't say anything?" Amanda says nervously.

I start to feel sorry for her. My dad really left her walking on thin ice. I just wanted to know if he did it on purpose. I look at him, trying to understand his intention.

"Don't worry!" Brindha approaches and speaks. "It's not a secret or anything like that. Our father doesn't talk about it, as for him, there is no difference between us, and sometimes he forgets that it might be strange to other people. We are distant cousins; my grandmother and Velitha's great grandmother were sisters. Our families have always been very close. When we were almost fourteen, I came to visit Velitha and stayed."

"Wow! I don't think I've ever heard a story like that. Don't you miss your family?" Amanda asks curiously.

"I miss them, but I love the peace of mind I have here. I have four older sisters, and if I went back, I would miss it here. It's complicated," Brindha replies.

"In three months, we'll go back there," I say to myself.

"Yes, in three months, we will return. Velitha moves in with her mother, and I go back to the chaos of my home," Brindha says.

"Really? Didn't you say you like it here?" Amanda asks.

"It's complicated, but we have to go back. Where I come from, when we turn twenty, we start college, and we have to do our mandatory military service," Brindha explains.

"Okay, let's talk about something lighter!" My father interjects.

I know this subject makes him nervous and afraid, however much he tries to take it lightly.

"Velitha, come here, I think the fire has risen higher than expected," my father says.

"Again, Dad!" I run to rescue the meat before it becomes something inedible.

The rest of the day goes by smoothly as we chat about random topics.