Part 24

**Flashback**

"James.. please stay..tonight.." I said nervously.

"Why? Why do you care? Where was your concern when you left my place to live here? Please stop your fake care and leave me alone." He said angrily.

His knuckles were still covered in blood.

Why do you care?

Leave him Liza...

You are again doing the same mistake..

I nodded and left the car with a heavy heart.

Why God? Why do I love him?

I went straight to the elevator without looking back.

**Part 24**

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"hey mama! I am coming home." I said to my mother on the other line.

"That's great sweety. When are you coming?" She asked excitedly.

"By tomorrow. I need to pack my things now."

"Sure. See you tomorrow. Take care. Bye."

"Bye mama."

I smiled and put the phone on the table.

As I got a leave for a week from the office, I decided to go to my home.

The building was going through some technical issues so we got a week leave.

I was very glad because I haven't visited my parents for a long time.

*****

I rang the bell and waited for a while when my father opened the door with a huge smile on his face.

"Hey darling you have become more beautiful." He said smiling and I blushed at his comment.

He always complimented me regardless of how I actually looked.

"Thank you dad." We entered to the hall room and my mother came with a tray in her hand.

"But you are looking weak dad. Are you sick?"

"No I am extremely fine." He said with a proud smile.

"Yes he is extremely fine, he is only suffering from a heart disease and diabetes." My mother kept the tray on the table with a thud.

"You didn't have to tell her about this." My father spoke in an irritating voice.

"Why not? You are hiding this since a long from her." My mother said in the same tone.

"Dad? Why?" I asked feeling a tug at my heart.

"I was not wanting you to feel sad by knowing it and I knew you would have been keep concerning about me."

"Dad, I care about you. You two are the only hope of mine. Why did..."

"Yes I know. But we will not be here with you forever Liz. We are getting old and your mother kept on nagging at me to make you understand that you should have a life of your own, a family of your own, a hope in life after our death..."

"Stop it dad. Why are you telling this now..." I started crying.

"It's the truth Liza. But I'm really sorry I shouldn't have started all this discussion right now. Please take some rest." My mother said patting my head lovingly.

I nodded and went to my room.

I shouldn't have come here..

Don't be selfish Liz, you hardly come to see your parents.

But now they will again keep on talking about me getting married.

They want you to settle down, to let you see with your soulmate. They want me to be happy.

But they shouldn't have hide dad's problems.

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I had dinner with my parents and we chatted for a while.

"What is the condition now?"

"The cardiologist has said that if he kept on eating food with high cholesterol level then he would not be able to survive for the next two months. But he is as stubborn as a mule. He keeps on eating..." My mother didn't finish when my father started.

"Death is not at his hand, if I am going to be dead then it is because it's the will of the God. Now stop all this nonsense." He said and stood up.

"Dad.." I stood up and held his hand.

"You are the our life, if something happens to you I don't think we would be able to bear the pain. Please listen to mom. She scolds you for your good..for our good. We love you dad please take care of yourself." He nodded and sath on the sofa to switched on the television.

I knew he was not trying to listen to my words.

"Dad, what if it was mom in your place? Would you live her to die in months?" I asked him sincerely.

"Stop irritating me please. Fine I will try to avoid eating such things but please stop irritating me like your mother." He said in anger and went to his room.

"He is always like this. He don't listen to me Anymore." My mother cried while wiping her nose in a tissue paper.

"Mama don't force him. Make him understand with your sweet advice." I hugged her.

Two months...

No...I will not be able to bear the pain if something happened to my father...

No God please don't take him away from us.

I went to my room to sleep but it was impossible for me after knowing the condition of my dad.

I closed my eyes.

I should get marry...

My eyes opened at the thought.

I know he is not going to leave us in months... No.. he can't...

But.. I want to see him happy in months.. I will make him happy by getting married.

Yes I will.

The thought of my father smiling at my wedding made me smile.

But for that...I need to talk to...James..

If he can't let me see any other boy then I think he would not like the idea of me getting married to someone else.

That stupid son of a...

He should have asked me for marriage but here I will have to ask him.

And if he dare to reject me....

Then what?

I will marry someone else...

But..I love him..

He doesn't..

I didn't know the time when sleep got over me.

I woke up the next morning to see my mom feeding soup to my dad who was complaining about the bitterness of the soup.

"What's up guys?" I asked the in a lively tone.

"Getting tortured by your mother." In returned he received one spoon full of the soup.

I smiled at the scenario.

"Mama, dad I am going tonight." I announced.

"What?" They both asked in unison.

"Umm.. sorry..but I will come soon." I promised them.

"No. I know you will not show your face again in a million year." My mother said and I rolled my eyes.

"This time I am promising you that o will come soon, very soon infact." I stood and hugged them.

"She is a weak woman. Don't listen to her. Be brave and live your life." My father said to me taunting my mother.

"Sure." I hugged him again.

I got a message from Melissa that morning that the work had resumed and I was needed to be there.

So I decided to took a flight that night.

You have to give a proper answer this time Mr. James Ashton.

Either yes or no.

That's it.

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I hope you liked it 😊