C3 Poles Apart

A girl entered the cafe and looked around. She saw her mom sitting with a woman and a man who were back facing her. She walked towards their table. "I am so sorry for being late, there was so much traffic on the way." The girl said and greeted to them in apology. "No worries Anna, Daniel also came just now." As soon as the guy turned around, girl’s smile dropped. "YOU!” she and the guy said in unison. They both looked at each other in surprise. Mrs. Alves and your mom furrowed their eyebrows in confusion.

"You guys know each other?” Mrs. Alves said. Anna looked at her "uh, we just met each other this morning." she said with an awkward chuckle. "Oh is it? That's great! You guys talk then, Mrs. Alves and I are sitting there." her mom said and walked towards another table with Mrs. Alves to give you guys alone time to talk. She let out a breath and took a seat. Daniel sat on her opposite side as well.

Both of them were sitting there without uttering a word. Forget about talking, both didn't even look at each other for once. Daniel was busy drinking his coffee while she looked at the other side crossing her arms. You turned your head slowly and looked at Daniel. You sighed and started to make conversation with him. "So... Do you have any reason for getting married?" Daniel looked at her for a second and then took a sip of his coffee. "Yes, I am not getting married for myself, I just want to get married for my son." "Oh, so you have a son! Yet you were so ignorant and insensitive towards that little kid in the morning. How can you be so harsh?" she said to him.

Daniel put down his cup of coffee and looked at her. “You are at it again huh! I told you that I'll pay for the inconvenience caused because of my driver, what else do you expect me to do?" she scoffed after hearing his words. "Wow! So you think that money can compensate for anything in this world? Do you know how scared that kid was? The few words of comfort could do much more than your money. But why would you do that, for you money is the only solution for everything.

And you think I am a gold digger who would get head over heels for you after seeing how wealthy you are and marry you. But sorry to say Mr. Daniel Alves, I am not one of those. Even if you were the richest man on this earth, I'll not marry you." she said while looking straight into his eyes all this time. She got up and walked out from there. Daniel didn't say anything and clenched his jaw.

She went towards her mother and Mrs. Alves. . "Mrs. Alves, it was nice to meet you after a long time. We will get going now", she said to her politely. "Oh, already? But you just came here and didn't even talk to Daniel that much." Mrs. Alves said. "Uh we talked enough for the day Mrs. Alves, I'll see you soon, bye Mrs. Alves." You greeted to her and left with your mother. Mrs. Alves sensed something doubtful. She went to Daniel. "Daniel, why Anna left so early, you both just met" "we talked enough for the day Mom, let's go home now". Daniel said and walked out of the cafe. "Wow, have they already decided what to say to me? Even their reply is the same. They are perfect for each other" Mrs. Alves said to herself while chuckling.

Next morning Daniel got ready for work. He went downstairs. Good morning Dad", Abram greeted him with a smile. "Good morning champ!" Daniel said and kissed his cheek. "Dad, today is my competition and those students who have participated, their parents are also invited. So........ Could you please come as well to motivate me?" Abram said, hoping to hear a 'yes' from his father. "Umm... I am really sorry Abby, but I have a very important meeting today. I won't be able to come to your school, but next time I promise l'll be there okay?" "But Dad it would be nice if you could come for some time I am seriously getting late Abby, I gotta go to work. All the best for your competition. Fighting!" Daniel said and left for work in a hurry, not even giving Abram a chance to complete his sentence. Abram just looked down, saddened and sat on the dining chair. "Why did I even ask?" Abram said, feeling extremely saddened.

Daniel was at his office working on his laptop when his phone rang. He picked it up. "Good morning Mom", Daniel said. "Good morning son! You didn't tell me about yesterday yet. How was your meeting with Anna?" Mrs. Alves asked him. "She doesn't want to marry me" Mrs. Alves was surprised. "What! Why? What happened?" "We both are different people Mom, I don't think we would ever be able to agree on the same thing. It's better to not make any relationship with each other." "But" "Mom I am really sorry, I am a little busy right now, I'll call you later okay? Bye Mom" Daniel said and cut the call immediately without even waiting for her reply.

Anna was at the NGO, spending her best moments of life with the children. She was smiling ear to ear while playing with them as it gives her immense pleasure to see the smiles on those innocent faces who were once abandoned by their own families. Suddenly, a staff member called her name. "Miss Anna, someone has come to meet you, she is waiting for you outside." she nodded with a smile. She went outside and saw a familiar face.

"Mrs. Alves?" She said surprised. Mrs. Alves turned around and looked at her with a smile. "Hi Anna, how are you?" "I am good Mrs. Alves, how are you?" "I am also good". She smiled. "Umm let's sit". She said and sat on a bench with Mrs. Alves. "Umm Anna, I came here to talk to you about something. Can I ask you something?" "Sure Mrs. Alves, what is it?" "Why did you refuse to marry Daniel?" her smile faded. You sighed and said, "Mrs. Alves, I respect you a lot, but sorry to say your son is your opposite. He is a cold, insensitive and selfish person and I can't marry a guy like him. Our very first meeting was also not that pleasant. I don't think this marriage would work, we are poles apart."

"How was your first encounter with him? Can you tell me something about it?" she thought for some seconds and then nodded. "Yes Mrs. Alves". Then she told her everything. How that incident led her and Daniel into an argument making things worse between both of them. Mrs. Alves listened to your words patiently.

Once she told everything about the incident, Mrs. Alves sighed. "Look Anna, I know you must be thinking that Daniel is a rude, insensitive and cold guy. Well, I can agree with you that he is a cold person. I also know that what he said to you was so wrong and am sorry on his behalf but, I know my son Anna, he can be cold, but he is not an insensitive person. And I am not saying it as a mother but I have seen him how he secretly cares for people but never shows it." "But Mrs. Alves-" "Ok come with me" "Where?" "I want to show you something."

Meanwhile, Abram was sitting backstage of the school auditorium, waiting for the results. "And the first prize goes to... ABRAM ALVES!” Everyone started cheering for him. Abram was surprised and happy at the same time.

He came on stage to receive the prize. "Congratulations Abram for winning the first prize, where are your parents, call them onstage", the presenter said. Abram's smile faded and looked at the audience, hoping for the one last time that he could see his dad cheering for him, but sadly, there was no one. Abram looked down for a moment and said, "Uh, they are not here today" "Oh okay, no problem, Congratulations once again Abram, keep it up". The presenter said and gave him the award. "Thank you sir" Abram said, smiling and curving his lips into a thin line. He turned to face the audience.

He looked to his left side where other awardees were standing there with their parents, smiling happily, posing for pictures and there he was, standing alone with no one beside him. His eyes went glossy. He looked down to hide his tears from everyone. He couldn't control anymore so he ran away from the stage. He ran to the playground and sat under the tree, holding his award in his hand. "What should I do with this award when I have no one beside me to celebrate with "Abram said and sobbed.

Mrs. Alves and Anna were standing outside the school. They both entered the school through the entrance gate. "Why are we here Mrs. Alves?" She asked her, clueless. "I want to show you something, come on let's go". Mrs. Alves said and started walking. She followed her. Both reached the playground where no one was present. "What do you want to show here?" "Look there Anna, do you see someone?" Mrs. Alves said, pointing at something from a distance. She looked in that direction and saw a little boy under the tree sobbing. "Who is that little boy? Why is he crying?" she asked, sounding concerned for the little boy. "He is Abram, Daniel's son" she looked at her surprised. "He is Daniel’s son? Why is he sitting all alone crying like this?" she asked as sorry can be evidently sensed in her voice.

"His teacher called me when I was on my way to meet you. She always tells me about Abram's whereabouts. Abram took part in the competition. He won the first prize. And now you must be wondering why he is crying. He may have won first prize but he has no one beside him to celebrate with him. Today, the parents of every child were present to motivate them, cheer for them, and celebrate with them, except Abram's. For them, every child was standing with his parents on stage, but Abram, he was standing alone. Even if he got first position, he felt like he was standing in the lowest position." Mrs. Alves said while tears were running down her cheeks. Anna just stared at Abram from a distance. Mrs. Alves continued, "Abram is a bright kid. He is good in sports, in academics basically he is good in everything just like his father. Yet he has no friends whom he can talk to or share his feelings. He is just 7 but look at him, he is so lonely. Does this little kid deserve this?" Mrs. Alves said and wiped her tears.

"You said that Daniel is selfish. Well, yes! He is selfish, for his son. He knows even if he tries his best, he is not able to spend much time with his son because of his work commitments. He mentally curses himself everyday thinking that he is not a good father. That is why he wants to get married; not for himself, but only for the happiness of his son, thinking that if his son is not getting the love of a father, at least he could get love off a mother. Every father is selfish for the happiness of his son. Daniel is no different. He just wants to see Abram smiling all his life. That is why I chose you as his wife and Abram's mother because I know very well that you will take care of him better than anyone else just like your own son." Anna just listened to her while tears were rolling down from Mrs. Alves cheeks.

Anna feel heartbroken to see how a 7 year old innocent kid is so lonely, craving for the love of a father and a mother. "Now it depends on you Anna, I am not forcing you to marry Daniel, it's completely your choice. Just think about what I told you and then make your decision. Whatever your decision would be, I will accept it happily." Mrs. Alves said, leaving her to make a final decision.