Bewitched His Soul

Asher and Aria were the six-year-old fraternal twins of Aiden and Sophia. Asher was older by one minute.

Even though Asher and Aria were twins, their personalities were polar opposites, and most of the time they never get along.

They were like day and night where Asher was bright and sunny, Aria was snobbish and unapproachable.

Asher was obedient, smart and a good kid but couldn't stay still for a moment, he always needed something to keep him busy. He liked playing outdoor games and after school, goes to his neighbor's playground.

He was very talkative and most of the time initiated the conversation just like his father. He was easy to be around and people liked being in his company.

Mrs. Cooper loved taking both the kids to her kitty parties. All the elders were very impressed with both kids, especially with Asher.

Asher politely greeted them as instructed by his grandmother and patiently answered their endless questions.

He did not mind as the elders pinched his cheeks until it became red and he always gave them this sweet smile which melted everyone's heart.

Aria was silent, reserved and aloof. If something could be answered by a single word then she did not bother using more than that. She enjoyed being alone, hated crowds and noisy places. Most of the time she was locked up in her room with her art supplies. She loved drawing and painting.

Aiden had brought the twins all types of toys. Asher was very interested in Legos, Aria did not seem too interested in dolls or any other toys.

So to find out what she liked he brought her a coloring set, surprised that Aria had used all the crayons within three days and demanded she needed a larger set of crayons. From then on her obsession with art had started.

Asher was holding one end of the paper while Aria held the other end.

"Give me back my painting," Aria demanded.

"Play with me, then I will return it," Asher replied.

"I don't want to play," Aria had spent two hours painting the landscape.

The painting was messy and unsymmetrical. But for a six-year-old kid, Aria had done a very good job.

"You are no fun, let's play Frisbee," Asher suggested.

Frisbee was probably the only game she enjoyed as it involved less physical activity compared to other games.

"Let me complete this painting then we can play," Aria bargained.

"No, play with me now," Asher screamed and forcefully pulled the paper towards him tearing it in two.

There was absolute silence for a minute.

Asher panicked and tried to explain, "Aria I am sorry. I didn't mean to tear it."

Aria gritted her teeth and started to walk out of the room not listening to Asher's apology.

In the living room Aiden and Sophia were sitting on the sofa. Aiden saw his daughter coming down the stairs and gave her a smile.

Aria's eyes were red and she was biting her lower lip very firmly. Aiden frowned and stood up, seeing her father was like finding an oasis in the middle of the desert.

"Aria what happened to you?" Aiden asked as she came running to him.

"Asher tore my painting," the tears she had held for so long started to fall on her cheeks.

Aiden could not bear to see his daughter in pain. Her tears shattered his heart into a million pieces.

"Shhh... dear, stop crying now. Let me talk to your brother, " Aiden picked Aria in his arms and wiped her tears.

"Asher is bad, he bullies me," Aria complained.

"I will scold him," Aiden consoled as she started tearing up more.

"Hmm... beat him," Aria said in-between her hiccups.

Sophia placed a glass of water near Aria's lips.

"Drink slowly, now stop crying, otherwise you will hurt your throat, " Sophia patted her back.

Aria tightened her arms around Aiden's neck and placed her head on his shoulders.

And as Asher came downstairs looking at the scene in front of him he understood that his parents were aware that he had troubled his younger sister.

"Asher came here and explained what happened, " Aiden said sternly. Asher gulped and slowly walked to his father.

"Dad.. I just asked her to play with me, but she refused. I took her painting and said I would return it if she agreed to play with me, but I destroyed it by mistake," Asher confessed.

"Why don't you play with your friends?" Aiden asked.

"Everyone was busy," Asher lowered his eyes.

"Asher, you know how much your sister treasures her art. Even if you are bored you are not supposed to trouble Aria. Will you like it if I forced you to draw or paint,"Aiden growled.

Asher flinched knowing his father would never go easy on anyone if it was related to his sister.

He shook his head and Aiden continued coldly, "Then why did you force Aria to do something she does not enjoy?"

"Dad, I am really sorry. I never meant to tear her painting," Asher said in a meek voice.

"I hope you will never repeat this again, now apologize to your sister, " Aiden commanded.

"Yes dad," Asher promised his father and then turned towards his sister to apologize.

"Aria, please forgive me, I am sorry," Asher pleaded. Aria nodded slowly, saying she had forgiven him.

"Dad, will you paint with me?" Aria asked softy.How can Aiden refuse anything to his little angel .

"Yes , we will make a better painting than the previous one," Aiden gave his word.

"Who wants to have ice cream?" Sophia asked to lighten the situation.

"Me!" Both kids yelled loudly.

"I want strawberry!" Asher ran to the dining room. Aria silently followed her brother.

After dinner Aiden sat with his daughter and helped her make a new painting as promised, and this lifted her mood.