Chapter- 5 Introduction

Camilla was hell excited. As she is going to meet her Father and sister today. She heard her mother talking with Robert and all she understood is that her mother is going to meet them. Without listening to the whole conversation, she ran inside her room and took out all the pretty dresses from her closet.

She was hell confused, so she took the four dresses and went to her granny's room for her opinion. Isabella was already there talking with her mother when Camilla barged into the room.

"Mom, granny which dress shall I wear?" asked Camilla showing her dresses to them.

Isabella and Marina can notice her happiness but they don't know the reason. 
" Are you going somewhere? "Asked Isabella.

" Yes, I'm going to meet my dad and my sister today. Sorry, mom but I heard you talking with dad. And I'm also going to join you. So tell me fast which dress shall I wear?"

"NO...you are not going with me. How dare you to listen up my conversation? What were you thinking?" Isabella's voice roared in the room.

Camilla flinched when her mother yelled at her. Her mother never shouts on her. This is the first time, Isabella has scolded her.

With teary eyes, she looked at her mother and the dresses fell from her hands. She looked at her granny, who herself was shocked and pissed at Isabella.

"Granny" she called Marina, as she doesn't know what to do. 
Marina immediately stood up and hugged Camilla. Isabella realized what she did, and moves towards Camilla.

"Camilla, look. You can meet your sister at school. After one week, your school will start. And you can meet and talk to her. I'll be there with you. I'll introduce you to her."

Camilla shook her head, "Why? Why can't I meet them today? I'll be busy at school. I won't get enough time to spent with them. And why are you going to introduce me to her? Didn't she know about me? More than that I want to meet my father. He won't be in school. I want to meet him, today. I don't care." stating this she ran into her room.

Isabella looked at Marina, "how? How would I explain to her that he didn't even ask about her? He just wants to meet me. Not her. Once she knows the truth, she will be heartbroken. I can't take her. He hates her."

"Hate is a strong word, and emotion, which only destroys people life. You only told me that Rob is thrilled to meet you. It means he still loves you. Take her with you. Gabrielle needs to bond with her sister. Don't you think?"

"I hate this situation, where, I have to introduce Camilla to her own sister. Who does that? Which mother introduces her kids to each other. Gabriella must have hated me. For leaving her. "

"As I said, hate is a strong word. Robert will never allow Gabriella to hate you. She must be pissed at you. But hate you, no way. Now, go and talk to Camilla. Maybe it's a chance that both sisters can bond before the school starts.

******
Camilla was looking at her father's picture and crying in front of him. Soon, Isabella entered, but Camilla ignored her.

Isabella huffed," I think this purple dress will look good. What you think?"

"Really!" Camilla turned her head and narrowed her eyes at her mother when she noticed Isabella was carrying her dress instead of Camilla's.

"Are you going to keep sulking? " 
Camilla ignored her but Isabella smacked her head.  And took out the new dress for Camilla to wear. Camilla immediately got ready and goes into Marina's room.

She nervously paced into her room. 
"What shall I say to them?" 
Marina rolled her eyes. 
"Shall I say, hi I'm your daughter and sister Camilla. But you can call me a cam."

"Oh my God, Gabrielle is tick-tock star. And I'm nothing.  Granny are you going to help me or are you going to keep rolling your eyes. You know this day is important to me. Help me"

Marina huffed and advised her, "just be yourself. You are going to meet your sister, not some stranger. Tell her how you miss her, how much you love her."
Camilla smiled and nodded her head at Marina's advice. Isabella who was listening to all of this got more tensed as she has not informed Robert that Camilla is also joining them.

*******
Camilla was sitting with Isabella in a restaurant waiting for them. Isabella excused herself stating she needs to use the restroom. Camilla was tapping her fingers on the table. When she noticed Gabriella and Robert entering. They both were laughing, and enjoying their father-daughter relationship.

Camilla's eyes welled up. She stood up, and but couldn't gather the courage to go there and introduce herself. She was so overwhelmed at that time, she was trying to control her tears and emotions but was not able to. She kept her right hand over chest and patted, "it's ok Camilla, they are here. It's real, not the dream. Just calm down." She was about to move towards them when they moved pass to her. She realized they have not recognized her. She wants to gain their attention by yelling, she is here. But her throat constricted. Tears kept falling down from her eyes. Her hand started trembling when Isabella intertwined her fingers with her.

She squeezed her hard assuring her that it's ok. She is here for her. Before she can comfort Camilla with her words, Robert called her name.
"Isabella"

Isabella turned around and looked at Robert. She was overwhelmed and  she ran up to him and hugged him tightly. After so many years, they both were seeing each other. Robert wrapped his arms around her and hugged her back. They both were lost in each other, Robert was so happy to see his wife, but frowned when he heard the sound of clapping.

He looked behind Camilla and saw, Camilla was smiling &  clapping for them. Isabella can sense how Robert's arm tightens around her indicating he is upset.

*****
Robert, Gabriella was sitting in front of them when Isabella introduced Camilla to them. Camilla was not speaking and was shying around them. She was not able to meet their eyes as she got nervous around them. 
Gabrielle looked at her dad and noticed that he is very angry. So to lighten the mood she introduced herself to Camilla.

"Hi, I'm Gabi.I'm...."

"Ticktock star" Camilla cuts her in between. "I know...I know....you have millions of followers. I also follow you. I'm your biggggg fan. David and I always fight who likes you the most. Do you know...."

"Camilla, let your sister also speak. You know her, but she didn't know you," explained Isabella

"Did you miss me, mother?" Asked Gabi, with tears in her eyes.

"You never called me. Didn't wish me on my birthday. Did you even care about me?"

"Gabi...."

"I missed you. I love you very much." Said Camilla, cutting her mother. Camilla didn't like it when Gabriella complained. Before she can continue, Isabella shook her head and squeezed Camilla's hand.

"You are always my princess, Gabi... I didn't miss you, because even for a second I didn't forget about you." 
Isabella holds Gabriella's hand, "let's go to the food court and we'll order for everyone here. Let's spend some time alone just you and me. "

Gabi looked at Robert, who himself was emotional, nodded his head. Gabi held Isabella's hand. Camilla saw their retreating figure and noticed how Gabrielle has intertwined her fingers with their mother.

She looked at Robert who was busy checking his mobile. She looked at him for a minute and waited thinking now he will talk to her. But he keeps on scrolling the mobile. Camilla pouted, she recalled how Gabi started the conversation. Gathering some courage, Camilla touched Robert's hand and asked him, "Did you miss me, daddy?"

Robert stiffened when Camilla touched his hand, and her question took him off guard. He released his hand and uttered, "don't call me your dad."

Camilla saw the confliction in his eyes and got hurt by his gesture the way he removed his hands from her. She didn't pay attention to his answer and got up from her seat and sat beside him. Robert ignored her again, but she forcefully intertwined her fingers with him. He was about to yank his hand from her and shout at her, but stiffen when Camilla spoke, "I missed you. Every day, every second I missed you. I love you, daddy."

Robert saw big pearl size tears in her eyes and something moved in his heart for a moment hearing honest confession.

With simple words, Camilla has put him in trance. He felt Camilla's hand on his cheeks wiping his tears, "Don't cry Daddy....don't cry. I'm here with you. I won't leave you ever again, so don't worry. I'm not going anywhere. Handsome men don't cry. "

Robert wants to wrap his arms around this little girl, but soon he came out of the trance when he heard Gabriella clearing her throat.

Camilla looked at her sister, but frowned when Gabi said, "you are sitting on my place."

"No, I want to sit with him, you can sit with mother." Camilla winned wrapping her arm around ROBERT'S arm.

"Cam, Gab...why don't your sisters talk to each other while I and your father go for a walk." 
Camilla and Gabriella were sitting alone when Camilla again told her how beautiful she is. 
Gab rolled her eyes, "tell me something new. I know I'm beautiful. And you are my big fan. You told me 5 times in one minute. Honestly, I'm bored listening to this from my fans every day. "

Camilla think for a minute, and said, "pretty, gorgeous everything"
Gabi scoffed,"yeah everything and daily. Looks, like all words, have already been used. There are no more words left anymore to describe me."

"Oh, how lucky. But if I gave you a compliment which was never given to you then. What will I get?"
Gabi looked at her and think for a minute.
"What do you want?"
"Can you video call to my friend. He is your big fan. He is my best friend." 
She agreed to this. But when Gabi, heard the compliment she burst into laughter. 
"Did you just call me Handsome?" 
"Yes, tell you something which was never been said to you. I don't think so, anyone has called you handsome." 
Gabi looked at her for a minute and smile inwardly looking at her cuteness. She really wanted to pinch those chubby cheeks. But she got disturbed when Camilla touched her. Yanking her hand back, she took out the sanitizer and sanitized her hands. 
Camilla was about to ask her what happened when they both heard their parent's laughter. Robert was tucking Isabella's strands behind her ear whispering something making her giggle. 
"Mom looks beautiful when she smiles. She hardly smiles. All the time she takes tension. Do you know Gabi, we became poor recently. Technically we are the new poor. I hate being poor. Mom is so naive. Always trust the wrong people. "
"Did Mom ever talk about me?" Asked Gabi, desperately trying to know what her mother said about her. 
"No, she hardly talks about you." Replied Camilla, but when She saw Gabi, sad expression. She couldn't control herself. 
"But, don't tell mom. I told you this. She didn't even know that I know this." Camilla looked around, leaned forward, and asked her sister to give her mobile. 
Gabi reluctantly gave her, and Camilla instantly open her tick tock videos and showed that their mother is following her on Instagram& on Tick-Tock with a different username.

Listening to this Gabi's eyes welled up. When Camilla returned her phone, she hesitated to touch the phone and said, "you keep this phone. You'll need it. You don't have a mobile right. You can have it. Take it as a gift from my side." 
Camilla's eyes twinkled, "oh my God, Gabi. Thank you so much for this. I was asking our mother for two years but she never listened to me. Thank you, dear, sister.
Camilla stood up to hug her, but Gabi immediately stood up and went towards their parents. Camilla followed her and show her mother her new phone. Isabella scolded her, asking for a phone, but Gabi interrupted them. 
"Mom, Gabi is awesome." Saying this she hugged Isabella, but in the process, the water spilled on Isabella dress. She went to the restroom, leaving Camilla alone with them. 
Camilla was so happy, with her new phone, and was praising Gabi continuously. Robert and Gabi shared a look clearly annoyed with her presence. 
Camilla remembered something, and with a lot of hesitation took out two cards. 
"Dad, Gabi, I made cards for you. How is it?" She forwarded her cards in front of them?
"It's, ok. You don't have to do this. "  Gabi tightly squeezed her father's hand. Robert knew his daughter doesn't want to touch them. 
Robert took the tissue paper and hold the card and kept it in his laptop bag. 
"I told you not to call me Dad." 
"Ok, so shall I call you Robert?" 
"Nothing, and shut your mouth."
"Ok, I will call you Nothing then. Ok, Mr. Nothing." 
"Didn't I ask you to shut your mouth." This time he yelled at her.
Camilla flinched, and controlled herself, "I'll tell mumy, that you shouted on me."
Gabi doesn't want their parents to fight again. So she explained to her, "Cam, you are a big girl. You should not take mothers to help in every matter. You don't want them to fight. Right?"
Camilla nodded her head, "Dad, are you mad at me? If you talk to me, I'll give you my chocolate." 
Camilla took out her chocolate from her little purse and forwarded towards Robert. 
Robert was so annoyed with her constant talking, he threw the chocolate on the floor. 
"Listen up you little vixen, I'm telling you. Don't call me Dad. Or I'll make sure you, this is the last time you met with us." 
Camilla got scared. She looked at the chocolate which he threw. She stood up and bent down to pick that chocolate. Her hand started to tremble. She felt like instead of chocolate, Robert threw her heart and asked her to pick it up. 
She kept it in her bag and looked down. Gabi noticed her that now she is not looking at the mobile too. 
Isabella returned, and Camilla immediately held her hand tightly. 
"Hey, what happened? Are you Ok?"
Camilla nodded her head. Gabi, Robert, and Isabella got busy in talking. But all this time,  Camilla held her hand. Gabi reassured her with eyes that she will talk to their father. And Camilla calmed down 
They parted their ways. 
*****
Robert and gabi were sitting in the car when Robert took out those cards and was about to throw. But Gabi stopped him. 
"Dad, don't. It's just a card. I'm sure cam will ask us about cards. Mom will get angry. So don't." 
Robert crumbled those cards brutally imagining Camilla. He whispered, "I hate her." 
He didn't want Gabi to hear this, but she did. And she looked out of the window, "Me Too"

C