~Poem dedicated to my Dad.

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 My prized possession

Aged figure,

Wrinkled cheeks,

Piercing grey hair,

Which speaks the experience within,

Yet his posse remains the same,

Calm and calculating,

He was the hero of his little doll,

A Superman without his cape,

His eyes glint with sheer affection,

Sacrifices he made to fulfil her every wish,

Yet when you see him through your eye's you see a black truth,

A life full of melancholy,

He wears a crown full of thorns,

A man, a true fighter,

But what happens when one fine day,

His bundle of happiness was destroyed by some devilish souls,

At times of loss, it was your chance to stand up for him,

The world who galore's the son as their prized possession,

She stood still, chin up held high,

When the society was too busy to question him,

Yet you don't regret those bruised wounds you gave to those who speak ill of him,

He never ushered tears,

He never complains,

Suffer in Silence was his metaphor for his pains,

He was her prized gift,

For she has seen that man grow,

From the sand dunes to the castle,

She was a princess of her King,

Yet her role was different than those exaggerating riches,

Where the world dressed her to be a pristine doll,

He made her a warrior princess,

It's not wrong if she sets a standard against every man she judged,

Cause trust me,

Cross her once,

And weak won't be the word you describe her,

She was taught by man to deal with a man,

He is the most influential man in her life,

Named as a Father,

For he taught her 'Tit for Tat, even for man'

So you better think twice.

By_Trishala. A .

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***

1988- Freshman Year.

1989- Sophomore Year.

1990- Junior Year.

1991- Senior Year.

I glanced at the four yearbooks, kept in front of me on the table respectively.

I started with 1988 freshman year of Revalia Academy; there was nothing much to read in it but a bunch of photographs of my mom and the other's.

"And this is our freshman yearsbook, that is 1988. You can see there, Jin had long hair when he was freshmen. We use to laugh at him for his long luscious locks, your mom even asked him once what kind of shampoo he uses, Matheli always got humour running through her veins" said Mrs Ottonoha, as I scanned around the photographs of various clubs and committees.

"Oh here's James, he was the student council president in all the High school years. And there is Landon who was the star basketball captain, Mya was in the literary club, Jin was in the music club. Then there's me and Timathy who were in the cheerleading squad, Matheli in creative arts club and then there's Vridhaan and Adam both of them in the entrepreneur club, they both got this rivalry right from the freshmen year."

Pages by pages Mrs Ottonoha explained me the details, but my concern was to find a single clue, some kind of link that is connected to my mother. I wasn't really interested in reading their high school yearbooks. I was more interested in knowing their stories, and most importantly a clue of my father.

It's already been an hour and still I was rummaging through the books, I got four books and I still got nothing. One can say I was frustrated.

"Oh don't look so disheartened child, you surely going to find something or the other. I guess Jovie and your friends will be coming back by now, let me make some snacks for you guys. Till then you keep searching dear" said Mrs Ottonoha as she went to the kitchen to cook some snacks.

But my whole focus was to find something, some clue that will eventually lead me to my father; I was currently going through 1991 senior year's prom photos. My mom was there, as expected she had gone with James Trystine, nothing was really out of the loop that I could find out, everything was the same as Mrs Ottonoha told me, so where to find the hints was all I was concerned of.

I was going through the senior year photographs class wise, and suddenly something catches my attention.

'This.....this can't be true, there's something wrong' I thought, as I quickly grabbed 1990 junior yearbook again, I flipped through the pages and searched for my mother's class to find the same result.

I was beyond appalled, once can be a coincidence twice won't be, so I immediately searched for 1989 sophomore year's yearbook, searched my mom's class and to my astonishment I found the same result. By the time I had already knocked down a Japanese pot kept beside me, I was on my knees, frantically comparing all the three books, I didn't cared that I had already occupied the entire coffee table as my eyes searched for the answers.

'Okay.....Okay.....it is a coincidence for sure. There's nothing like that, please god tell me there's nothing like that' by the time I was already mumbling to myself, sweat tickled down my head, as my eye's watered on its own accord, my hands were shivering with the minuscule clue and the fact that I found out.

'Fine then if this is true, then the Freshman year's class photograph will prove my doubts' I mentally thought to myself, it was the final straw of my hopes, if my suspicions are correct, then I will always regret my decision for searching for my father. It would be my stubbornness which will hurt me eventually, but I didn't care I was already long lost deep involved in this situation and I was just a book away before learning the truth.

In order to complete my investigation I needed Zenith, yes I need him immediately, so I did picked up my cell phone as I dialled his number from my contacts. My hands were already shivering, after two rings Zenith picked up the call immediately.

"Hello Kiara, what's up" greeted Zenith's voice, as I couldn't help but exhale a strangled breath.

"Ze-Zenith...." I stammered for the first time, as my voice itself looked scared enough.

"Kiara, what's wrong. Why are you crying" asked Zenith's stern voice which was laced with concern and curiosity.

"Zenith, I need your help. I want you to hack Mr James Trystine data right this instance, I want you to match my DNA with his right this instance" I was fumbling with my words but I didn't cared, my voice was already stern as I knew exactly what I was doing.

"Fine I'll do it, but can you just tell me exactly what's wrong with you!" asked Zenith's angry voice as I can tell that he was being impatient, but I can't tell him anything. Because I myself I'm not sure about it.

"Just d-do what-t I say" it was getting tougher and tougher to speak; I was already taking huge breaths as my heart beat was going under a frenzy.

"Okay-Okay I'll do it, you need to calm down Kiara, I can hear you and I can tell for sure that something is awfully wrong with you. Me and the other's are on the way back at Jovie's place you just need to calm down and stay put" said Zenith as I can hear him already moving back towards the house in the background.

"No-No! you don't understand Zenith, you just got to fucking hack that system and tell me the results" I was already screaming madly on Zenith, but I didn't care cause currently I was lost in the thirst of knowing the truth.

"Okay Kiara, you just need to calm down. I'm working on it right now, but let me warn you once I get into this system there's no way back. He'll exactly know who was trying to break into his system and I'm not afraid to get caught, but with me you'll also get caught." said Zenith as he tried to reason with me.

"Look Zenith I don't care whether James Trystine comes to know that it was me who was tinkering with his system. I just need the god damn result! Right now, I'm going to expect a call from you in next ten minutes and I want the result, do you get it" I said to him sternly.

"Yes I got it, I'm on it" said Zenith as I cut off the call. And stared back on the four books kept in front of me. Three of them were already checked and open in front of me, it's the last freshmen year book left.

With trembling hands I picked up the book and opened the page I was looking for.

And the result was same.

My eyes were wide open like a gawk, as I was totally frozen on my spot. I literally heard my heart shattering into pieces, as my mind put the final puzzle piece right at the place. The puzzle was solved, but the prize that I paid for it wasn't good.

I don't know how long I was sitting there frozen, I was totally numb with the shattering truth of my life, as my mind replayed the results again and again in my mind, only to destroy me every time.

It was only when I heard my cell phone ringing; I grabbed the phone and put it on my ears.

"Kiara- I got into the system" it was Zenith he sounded concerned. "I checked Mr James Trystine DNA and yours, unfortunately it didn't matched." said Zenith's voice sadly. I wanted to tell him that I already know, I wanted to tell him that I have found the truth. But I can't fathom the courage to even open my mouth.

He thinks I would be already broken by the news but this wasn't I was expecting to hear from him. In fact I was interested in some other information than that.

"What else did you find" by the time I asked that my own voice sounded like a monotone, there was no life in it as the truth of my parent's left nothing inside me but a hollow space.

"Sorry what did you asked" said Zenith as I can say his voice was laced with astonishment, he wasn't expecting me to say that.

"You heard me very well Zenith what else did you found out" this time my voice was more sharp and stern rather than being lifeless.

I heard the door open of the living hall I was sitting in, as I turned my head to find a huffing figure of Zenith, as he was looking all worked up with the speed of which he came here, the phone was still hanging on his ears.

He took the phone down, as he walked towards me determinedly, as he stood in front of me looking straight into my eyes as he said "I found that you aren't biological daughter of James Trystine, but you're indeed related to him."

And that was the final stroke, everything shattered. The final puzzle piece was now fitted exactly at the place where I wanted it to. But the picture wasn't good enough nor the conclusions of it.

"I know this sounds really crazy, but there is this part of your DNA which matches with James Trystine, even though he is not your father it's not hard to tell that he is not related to you at all. It can be anyone, you're related to him and I can say this with exact confidence that you may be a relative to Mr James Trystine"

I fell back on the floor, I know the truth now.

The truth that I was seeking my whole life.

I exactly know who my father was now.

By the time Zenith was already by my side "Kiara- you got to listen to me, what's wrong I know you got something more to it. And I can tell that you already figured out who your father is, can you just stay put for once" Zenith's face was close to me, he held my forehead to his. But I was beyond repair, I already lost my mission.

I can't meet him and the thought already eats me alive.

"I want you to take me to St Pastel Graveyard in the west. And please Zenith for once don't ask questions" by the time tears were cascading freely down my cheeks as I didn't let them stop.

I got every right to cry today.

Sid, Aditi, Jovie and Mrs Ottonoha already barged in the room, but I couldn't hear anything, they were all a blur to me. It is as if someone has injected this drug inside my veins to be totally numb.

I never really realised when Zenith grabbed me by my back and buckled my knees, I never really realised when Zenith cradled me in his arms as he took me out of the house, I never really realised when Zenith put me down in Sid's Sedan and got into the driver seat.

And I never really realised when we reached the Graveyard.

Dark clouds were looming around the sky as if crying for my lose. I got out of the car on my own accord, as I walked down the road towards the cemetery. Winds blew my hair, as I can smell the freshly garlanded orchids to many head stones; even the soil was moist enough to give in the smell of newly arrived rain. Zenith was walking behind me silently, not even once interfering in my moment. He respects my privacy and for that I'm grateful to him.

Sometimes a human doesn't want soothing words and support; sometimes silence can equally do wonders.

I walked silently through the graveyard, as I finally came in front of the headstone which I was looking for.

And then it happened, my legs buckled down on its own accord, as I fell on my knees right in front of the stone.

Deep down eight feet in the ground, lays my father dead five years ago, a year after I lost my mother in a car accident.

He is dead and he is no more.

Finally I'm an orphan; the lie that I was telling everybody has now turned out to be the dark truth of my life.

Tears brimmed in my eye's as I read the name which was drawn on the headstone stone,

Adam Trystine

1974~2012

Beloved twin brother of James Trystine.

***

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Today I'm going to stay silent and you guys going to speak.

In this chapter Kiara came to know the truth, as a token of respect to her father, I won't ask you many questions.

She is my character and I'm emotionally connected to her.

A few words of your experience after reading this chapter would be enough.

Also I want to thank my very special fan, best friend eddyray26 for her amazing fanart of Kiara and Zenith.

So here you go when AMGT meets social media!.

And Zenith one is my fave 'Being Aham' 🖤🖤

Hope you enjoyed it.

Till then toodles.