Enchanted Love

Alex widened his eyes when he saw Ron and Bella outside. Did they all come with Clara? They were searching for Clara.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

“She came here before us. I was parking my car. Where is she?” Ron asked looking around whereas Frank had no clue of Clara at all.

“Is there another way to go out?” Clara asked, biting her nails. Alex slowly opened the door showing that there was no other way than to confront everyone.

“Hi, Uncle. Clara lost her way. I was showing her.” Alex stuttered as everyone laughed at his words.

“I know that we have built this home with hard-earned money to make this feel like a palace. But it’s not a palace, my son. It’s just two bedrooms with a hall.” Frank exclaimed with a chuckle while Alex looked at him ‘Is it necessary to explain this?’ Look.

“Is it her?” Everyone was startled by a loud voice from the entrance. The voice demanded respect and fear but her face was very bright and contained softness everywhere.

“Mom” Frank exclaimed as he hugged his mom tightly. It’s been ages since he met her. Elena doesn’t want to live with her son as she enjoys living alone in her home.

Clara came forward and got her blessing instantly. Elena touched her head and made her stand beside her.

“Beautiful name.” Elena voiced out caressing her cheeks.

“But it doesn’t mean that I approve of her,” Elena commented as she sat on the couch crossing her arms.

“(Grandma)” Alex exclaimed loudly.

“Relax, I just want to test her” Elena’s words tensed everyone around her. Clara looked on shocked and looked around for help. But no one said anything when Elena mentioned her testing.

*****

“What?” Everyone was perplexed by her test. Did she want this?

“Mom, do you want to see Clara’s karate skills?” Frank asked, gasping loudly. It’s an old tradition to see if the girl has the qualities to become a part of the family. But those were small tests. Elena is always different.

“I am sorry. But I don’t know karate” Clara mumbled in her low soft voice.

“How can you be so irresponsible? We, girls, should know everything to protect ourselves. We should not be dependent on anyone.” Elena is disappointed in her answer. Clara agreed to her statement and was disappointed that she didn’t know karate.

Vicky, a friend of Alex, entered the home with a large popcorn box. He smiled broadly seeing Clara in his house.

“I don’t know karate. But I am sure that I can save myself from anyone. I mean, no one can mess with me” Clara is very confident about herself.

“Can you prove it?” Elena asked as Clara eyed everyone as to whom she should show her skills. Frank gulped visibly and hid behind Jenny.

“Relax. You don’t need to attack anyone here.” Elena commented but her smirk was something dangerous.

“Just imagine that someone is attacking you from behind. I want to see how you will protect yourself.” Elena voiced out. Alex smiled inwardly seeing Vicky who was standing just behind Clara with no idea of what was happening there.

Clara took a deep breath and turned swiftly. She didn’t even see who was as her hand flew to directly hit the abdomen of the guy. Vicky widened his eyes when the popcorn paper crushes in his hand and his muscles experience a sudden reaction from everywhere.

He looked at Clara and fell over the floor in slow motion. Elena stood up in shock to see such energy from Clara. She was very petite to even expect such force.

Alex was also shocked to see the state of Vicky. He ran to help his friend while Clara gasped loudly seeing the consequences of her actions.

“I am sorry. I didn’t intend to hurt you” Clara felt very bad for Vicky.

“I have just punched a little part in your abdomen. You will feel pain for some minutes. Even you won’t be able to stand up. But it’s a short-lived pain. You will be alright in exactly 10-20 minutes” Clara explained her trick while Elena was just in awe of her intelligence. She didn’t know karate or anything. But she knew how to handle anyone who might hurt us.

Elena pulls Clara for a hug while Alex jumps in excitement. It’s not easy to impress Elena at all. Vicky couldn’t even get angry as he was wincing in pain. He shouldn’t have come here.

*****

“You all can play this 6 months game. But I can’t listen to your nonsense. This is my final decision and I don’t think that anyone would oppose me.” Elena commented sitting over her couch all pouting. She doesn’t care about them. She just suggested their engagement and she wants that to happen the next week itself.

Frank looked at Ron as he didn’t want to force anyone into this. Even though Frank wants to agree to his mom’s demand, he equally wishes to give some space to Clara’s family.

“Mom, can you just give them some time to make the decision?” Frank asked politely but Elena glared at her son showing that she had no interest in whatever he was speaking about.

“I am not asking to arrange for their marriage. Let’s make them engaged. It’s not wrong I guess.” Elena defended her decision.

“I am sorry, Ron. I didn’t expect this to turn out like this.” Frank apologized to Ron instantly.

“Please, Mr Smith. Don’t be sorry. If my mom was alive, she would have said the same. As far as I can see, I don’t think my daughter can have a better family than yours. So” Ron passed while Frank just pulled him for a hug with a broad smile. “Let’s do as she says,” Ron said and Bella couldn’t agree more. They were overwhelmed with their gesture.

Alex entered the room and was confused to see everyone’s expression. He eyed his father to ask what had happened. But Frank gave him a pitiful look.

“We have decided something,” Frank commented, tapping Alex’s shoulders.

“About?” Alex asked, ignoring Frank’s look.

“Your marriage,” Frank replied lowering his head

“Is it not great news?” Alex was annoyed with his dad’s acting. Ron and Bella just admired their conversation. They both looked too cute.

“Of course. It’s great news. We have decided that you guys will marry next year.” Frank winked with a smirk as Alex’s face fell off.

“Why?” Alex asked instantly.

“Because we need to see if you love Clara or not,” Frank replied nonchalantly.

“And you agreed to that condition,” Alex asked, literally eyeing the knife behind.

“Are you not confident that we might have the same feeling after one year?” Clara asked in her soft voice. Alex looked at her and how he wished to pull her to his side to show how much he loved her.

“Don’t tease my Alex. Dear, we have decided to keep the engagement tomorrow” Elena told Alex and he has no bound to express his happiness.

****

The engagement party is arranged in a simple yet elegant way. Frank made sure to make this unique one. He doesn’t want to regret anything later. He has decided to hold the function in his home itself. Each and everything was designed only for Alex.

Alex came down and his eyes fell over the arrangements. He can tell that his father and mother have tried like hell to make everything for him.

“Do you like this?” Frank asked like a kid excited about getting praise from his teacher.

“Hm, I guess it’s nice. Yeah, I like it.” Alex replied in an uninterested tone.

“I told you, we should have used real flowers. Look, how his face fell seeing these all” Jenny pouted and yelled at her husband.

“It’s not about it. I am sure that it would be because of these white curtains. I told you to use flickering lights. He might have liked that.” Frank replied and both started fighting. Alex grabbed them for a hug with a broad smile.

“Thank you so much for this” Alex replied, kissing both.

“It’s not at all needed,” Alex added.

“Yeah, I too told your mom this,” Frank exclaimed.

“After all you are my adopted son” Frank added as Alex pouted.

“It’s not Alex who is adopted, it’s you whom we both have adopted” Jenny screamed and hugged her son making Frank pout.