May 15, 2042

Family
Where love, anger, disappointment, pride, regret, satisfaction, sadness and happiness all live together under the same roof, in a little bubble of sentiment except one thing, HATE. A family may go through a lot of emotions, they might sometimes don't even wanna talk to each other but there's never the word HATE. Where there's someone who's your family or whom you consider as your family, the black clouds of hate could never hover above the little happy garden of beautiful butterflies where a big tree is keeping everyone under its comfortable shade. Even if sometimes emotions makes everyone so overwhelmed that it showers but it's for their good. Facts can't be changed and it's a fact that where there's family there's no hate and where there is hate there's no family.

Hope's POV

What could've gone so wrong that my Uncle Sam has to go against Dad? Has anything happened that day? Or has he always been like that? Does he hate me too? He wanted to kill me when I wasn't even born, then why all those birthdays presents you gave me? Why you were always the person to wish me on my birthday after mom? Why mom trusts you so much to give all Dad's labs and works to you?
Did you know that dad was doing something wrong? Maybe that's why you hated him so much? Or maybe you're the one who has been the reason why I spent all these years without Dad? Why mom has spent all these years without him.

I thought we were a family Uncle Sam. You can't hate my mom and dad so much that you wanna kill them. A family isn't like that, or maybe you were never a family?

Hey! Hope? Girl! What are you thinking? *Urvashi said as she snapped her fingers to break Hope's reverie*

Huh? What? Oh! No...no nothing. *Hope said and smiled*

Is it a guy? *Urvashi said and nudged Hope*

Stop it! *Hope giggled*

Did you get the picture?*Hope asked her*

Yeah, you wanna see it before I wrap it as a gift? *She asked*

Of course! I mean... Yes *Hope said controlling her emotions*

See, this is my Dad, he looked so handsome back then. Well, he's still the most handsome man for me. *Urvashi said and smiled*

Hope searched through the whole picture to find the one face she's been looking for until she saw one. Even though Elsa kept her away from every memory of Aakrit it didn't take her long to find the face that resembles hers.

Is... Is he Aakrit Andrews? *She asked her*

Yes, he is the one. Dad has a lot of pictures with him in his photobook. *She said*

Hope had tears in her eyes but she didn't want to show it to Urvashi so she kept looking down at the photo to avoid any eye contact. She slowly touched the picture and closed her eyes. She turned back and wiped her tears.

What happened Hope? *Urvashi asked her*

Nothing! I forgot to grab the gift I brought for him*She said and grabbed the gift*

Really? What did you bring? *Urvashi asked her happily*

Hope showed her the book...

Quantum world? He'll love this book *She said and hugged Hope*

I thought he'll like it being a professor of this University, you know.*Hope said and smiled*

Absolutely, lemme wrap my gift as well then we'll go *Urvashi said*

Hope nodded and smiled.

Urvashi was wrapping the gift whilst looking at that old picture inside the frame, wondering about how things were back then whilst looking at everyone present in that photo.

I don't know, it might sound a little weird but if Prof. Andrews were alive, his daughter might've looked like you. *Urvashi said while wrapping the frame*

You resemble him a lot *She said and looked at Hope*

Hope looked at her and said nothing

We...umm...We'll be late, let's go *Hope said and grabbed the keys of her room to lock it as they finally left after a while

Both Hope and Urvashi were at the University's main gate when Hope's phone started ringing.

Am I talking to Hope Jones? *Someone asked*

Yes, speaking. *Hope said*

Boss was right, we should've checked, she's still alive *Hope heard the guy whispering to someone*

Hey! Who are you? What do you mean still alive? *Hope shouted*

Who's that? Hope*Urvashi asked her*

I don't know, someone really strange. He was talking about me being still alive, I don't know it must be a fake call. *Hope said as they exited from the main gate but instantly took their steps back as Hope grabbed Urvashi's hand and pulled her back*

What are you doing? *Urvashi asked*

Shh! Let's go from here first, these people are the security guards of Uncle Sam*Hope said*

Who's uncle Sam?*Urvashi asked annoyingly*

That Quasar Corporation's head? *Urvashi asked her*

Yes! *Hope said as they hid from those guys behind cars*

Ohh!*Urvashi said*

Wait! He's your uncle? *Urvashi said in a loud voice out of excitement*

Don't shout, they'll catch us*Hope said whilst covering Urvashi's mouth*

Oh no! I think they've already seen us, let's go from here *Hope said and ran with Urvashi inside a nearby cafe*

Why are we hiding from those guys? And how Samuel aka Sam is your uncle? *Urvashi asked*

I'll tell you everything later but I need your help right now. Please pretend that I don't exist and take my phone with you.
*Hope said*

Sit here and I'm right behind that wall, pick up the call this time and just tell them lies and convince them that it's your number. You have to do it Urvashi. Please*Hope said and hid behind the wall as the two of Sam's security guards entered the cafe*

I don't exist for you okay?*Hope whispered before hiding behind the wall*

As Hope reckoned, they called on the same number again and searched through people to find who's picking up the call. They saw Urvashi and walked towards her, she turned around as they put their hands on her shoulder to grab her.

Oh! Who are you? *One guard said being shocked*

What do you mean, who are you? How the hell you have the gall to touch me like that? Huh?
Do you want me to call the police? *Urvashi said angrily*

Urvashi, don't overreact*Hope muttered as she saw her shouting and getting angry for no reason at all*

How come you got this mobile? *The guard asked*

What do you mean how I got this mobile? It's the result of my hard work and dedication that I put into my work. After all these years of blood, sweat and tears. I finally got my dream mobile *Urvashi said*

Isn't your dream mobile is a bit old? And why you answered it when I asked for Hope Jones? *He asked her*

What you do mean a BIT OLD HUH?
Well, it's second hand okay?
And Goddam that Hope Jones must be so famous little scientist among her friends, they have been calling me since I got this number and I keep telling them that it's a wrong number. *Urvashi said and laughed weirdly*

You sounded stupid so I thought of pranking you. By the way, aren't you too old to be her friend? *Urvashi said and laughed*

This girl doesn't like me alive and happy*Hope whispered and facepalmed*

Do you know Hope? *The guard intimidated her*

Urvashi didn't say anything as Hope was looking at her nervously.

How do you know her age, why did you call her little scientist?*Another guard asked her*

What do you mean by...*Urvashi didn't say anything as one of the guards put his hands on the table and shouted
"Tell us the truth" but calmed as everyone started looking at them.

This is the truth, why would I lie, you are old, you look very old and the people who called me sounded like they were young so I thought she might be young and most of them were addressing her as a little scientist that's why I used that word *She said in a rush and sighed*

So, how do you know Hope? Huh? Are you here to kidnap her? Do I need to call the police?*Urvashi put her hands on the table, this time her being intimidating for him*

Both the guards looked at each other...

Okay, one last question and then we'll leave. Which college do you go to? *the guard asked her trying to trick her into giving them the information to collect data about Hope from the University*

First things first! My parents told me not to share my personal details with any stranger, secondly, I don't go to college.
Do you wanna listen to my story...*She said*.

No! No! We've other important things to do.*They said and left*.

After a while, Hope sighed as Urvashi gestured to her that they are gone.

Let's go to your dad's birthday, we're already late*Hope said*

But Hope, why they were looking for you? And how Sam is your Uncle? What's happening? *Urvashi asked worryingly*

Let's go I'll tell you everything on the way but you have to promise me that you won't tell anything about it to anyone, not even your dad.*Hope said*

I promise*Urvashi said*

Hope told her everything, from her mom struggling for years to protect her to her finding out the truth about Sam when she tested her machine for the first time a few days back when Urvashi moved to her room.

Did you build a time machine? Really? I wanna see it. *Urvashi said ecstatically*

Oh! That's why you took things from labs and also asked me back then if I had extra money or not? You were trying to buy all the stuff? huh? *Urvashi said*

Well, correct*Hope said*

After a while, they finally reached her house as just before entering inside a thought struck Hope's mind. The thought of Urvashi knowing the name of her father's company that was meant to be handled by Sam but got closed forever after those allegations.

Urvashi. *Hope said*

Yeah?*Urvashi asked her before knocking on the door*

How do you know about the Quasar Corporation? Uncle Sam runs Future tech. not Quasar. Quasar Corporation belongs to my dad but after those allegations people accused him of... Everything was shattered *Hope said being frustrated*

The company was closed for a long time but it was temporary because your dad disappeared, that's what my dad told me. Mr Samuel was the head, he still is, now he's officially announcing or claiming the company Quasar as his but it has always been under him. It was never closed, they've been doing things unofficially since Prof. Andrews disappeared. *Urvashi said*

Also, my dad never mentioned any allegation? What allegations are you exactly talking about? *She said and knocked on the door*

What? Are you sure? *Hope asked as Urvashi's dad opened the door.

Dad*Urvashi said and hugged him as Hope looked at him*

Mr Williams? *Hope said being completely shocked*

Thank you so much for reading #SpreadLove
#RespectWhoDservesIt
#NeverGiveUp <3 :). Love you all