The Price of Sainthood
Pontai

"Has Miss Lara come home yet?"

The question was thrown from Narendra's lips at a housekeeper who greeted him on his way home.

"Not yet, Sir." The servant-dressed woman replied while looking down. He then receives a small suitcase where he puts the file from Narendra's hand. Then passed away after getting a signal from Narendra through a snap of his fingers.

Narendra snorted softly and then anchored his butt on the long sofa of the middle room. He took off the tie and the suit that was attached to his body. Inwardly felt inexhaustible at the manner of her only daughter, Lara. The girl seemed to be unceasingly making herself rise in blood. Lara always does. Whether it is his hobby or just a way to attract the attention of his parents.

Honestly, Narendra realized that he was not paying attention to his daughter because of busyness. But all that he did was just for Lara. The girl will inherit all her property.

Leaning his back on the back of the sofa, Narendra's mind wanders on the events of a while ago when he met Alisha. Just a few meetings, the girl had already managed to grab his attention. His expectations about the dream child really exist in Alisha. If only, Lara was like Alisha. Narendra will definitely be the happiest father in the world.

There is a strange denyar that creeps in his soul every time Narendra is with Alisha. Her eyes are beautiful. Her ripe lips, as well as a tiny, high nose with a fitting portion on her tapered face, reminded Narendra of someone. A woman he left more than twenty years ago.

Somehow the woman he had married. Instead of wanting to throw away, Narendra once sought his whereabouts but never got results. The woman named Wanda was like she was lost to the earth. No one can be asked for information. He lost track of his most beloved woman.

Laughter blurted from Narendra's lips. The man laughs at himself who presumptuously fantasizes about the figure of Alisha is Wanda. He felt there was something in common even though clearly the two were different figures.

Crazy, indeed. But that's the fact. Maybe it's true people say. Meeting the right person is a cure. The cure for Narendra's feelings that have been empty. Medicine will miss someone who is impossible to be found.

If Narendra had gotten a magical ticket that could grant any request, he would have used it to plead for her to be reunited with Wanda. Not the others.

The squealing sound produced from the friction of the shoes that collided with the marble floor restored Narendra from the drift. The man suddenly rose to his back, then turned to the door as if waiting for the appearance of someone who had just arrived.

Justright. Alisha's figure appeared with a flat expression as usual. The girl continued to pass as if unaffected by the existence of Narendra who was staring at her full of threats.

"North. Where have you been?" Narendra's question successfully stopped Lara's move. The girl turned to look at Narendra who was sitting on the sofa with his haughty face, then asked a question in a satirical tone.

"Take your talk, Lara! Papa's not that bad!" Angry, Narendra stood up and clenched his hands together. It's always been this way. Every time she wanted to pay attention, Lara instead provoked a commotion. Where is the decency he once taught? Lara has not spoken softly to him in the past few years.

Taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly, Narendra tried to quell the anger. He stepped closer to his daughter and looked at the girl who was looking at him gently.

"Mara ... Papa Rindu Lara is as gentle as ever. Papa misses Lara who loves Papa as she used to. Can we have a good talk, son?"

"Hindu?" Lara asked with a doubtful smile. "Why is it now Papa says miss! Where have you been until you realize that!"

"Lara–"

Not intending to say anything, Lara chose to throw her face away to hide the anger on her face. Hiding the heart wounds that appeared in his eyes. Honestly, he did not want to make his father sad and hurt. No child wants their parents to suffer. However, his mother's behavior had gone too far and made him feel disappointed.

"Mara ... Papa knows Papa's wrong. Papa wants us to fix the relationship of father and son who are starting to be unhealthy. We start again from the beginning. As an apology, Papa wants to treat you tomorrow afternoon. Can you just take a minute to have lunch with Papa. Whatever is important anywhere you like. Dad wants to introduce you to someone. He's the same age as you, son. Papa's sure you can be good friends because Papa knows he's a child who–"

"Keep, Pa!" cut Lara with a thunderous voice. "Keep Bandung-Compare me to the children of men! I'm not a good kid who just disappoints!"

"No, Son. It's not that." Lara's remarks made Narendra speechless even though Lara's accusation was completely untrue. The heart of which parent will not be sad if his kindness is always despised by his child. Moreover, he saw Lara shed tears.

"Papa doesn't want to compare you to other kids, honey. Dad just wants you to be motivated. That's all!" narendra with his sad face.

"Enough, Pa." closed her eyes, Lara raised her hand. He hinted at Narendra to keep his papa quiet. Wiping away her tears, she spoke in a soft but quivering tone. "I don't want to talk about this anymore. I don't want to talk about marriage anymore either. I'm sick of all this."

"Well!" call Narendra when his daughter moves on.

Alisha ignored her papa's call. After tired of running up the stairs, he stepped foot into his room.