Niche
Page 2
CHAPTER 2
Someone was hammering on my head .Oh it was the pain again. It was throbbing and intense. My hand reached for the sore spot by itself. I felt a bandage wrapped there. My hair was wet and plastered. Even my clothes were soggy too. I opened my eyes. This was not heaven, was it? It looked like a small cottage made of wood. I was lying on a wooden bed which seemed ancient enough to be placed in a museum but it was carved with such beautiful flowers that it must belonged to a palace. Beside the bed there was an earthen pot which was decorated with geometrical patterns in vibrant colours. A fire was lit across the room with another pot over it. A swinging chair was lying beside the fire. But still no body was there.
I tried to get up but was hit by sudden nausea so I immediately sank to bed. ” You should lie down for a while.” I looked up to see my adviser, who was standing on the threshold. He was the same guy. That couldn’t be heaven any more. Anger flared up inside me even in that state. I got up and this time my body allowed me. I turned to pot to get water but before I could reach he poured a glass of water and presented to me. His hands were big, rough and brown. I accepted the water and tentatively took the sips. I returned the empty glass and first time really saw his full profile. He would be of almost my age. He was tall and muscular but not in a hulk way. He was muscular in a good way, wearing khaki trousers with white shirt. His eyes were light brown with the flakes of grey in it. He had a crown of brown hair with an angular face covered not only with the stubble but with hardness which was impossible to ignore.
With those expressions, stiff shoulders and crossed arms he was actually very scary but I wouldn’t allow him to intimidate me. I lifted my chin and narrowed my eyes on him. Surprise flickered in his eyes but only to be replaced by that scary hardness just after a second.
“So you are awake. How are you feeling now?” asked a man entering into the cottage. He was tall, well built actually he was the hulk type with Caucasian skin and dark brown hair graying in some places pulled behind into a small ponytail He must be in his fifties with grey eyes full of experience and kindness. His face was strong looking with broad jaw and high cheekbones and an abrasion on his left temple. He was regal in every way even if he was wearing a simple shaded jeans and sleeveless brown leather jacket. He had an aura around him that told that he could be commanding and fierce so one must never cross path with him.
“I am fine” I answered timidly. I glanced at that guy for some introduction but I must have been in posttraumatic stress to accept such generosity from him. The hulk sensed my question; he turned his head to that guy. They exchanged a look and that guy sighed and shook his head in submission and frustration.
“Since you are fine now I assume you would want to know where you are and who I am. Well I am Reothal Smith and this is my nephew Rick Moore. You were drowning and Rick rescued you and brought you here.” Rick squirmed and passed an angry look to his uncle but Rheothal was looking at him with admiration. And Rick definitely didn’t like that look. So this guy had saved my life and I should atleast say thank you to him but one look in his direction changed my decision. He was looking at me again with that odd expression as if I was not human; as if I was an AIDS virus ready to attack him.
But now I have more important questions in my head. “How long have I been passed out?” I directed my question to Mr. Smith.
“Oh around two hours”
Ok since it was my off day I didn’t have to take any stress for work. I could just go to my place and make myself some tea and rest in my bed. “May I know your name young lady?” he asked me stirring the pot over fire.
“My name is Jasmine Sabiston .Thank you so much for your kindness Mr. Smith, I should go now.” I said getting up from the bed.
“Rick will take you back but first you will have this vegetable soup “he handed me an earthen soup bowl filled with warm liquid and sat in the chair. Rick gave me one last killing looks and stomped out of the cottage. I shuddered at the thought of going back with him alone. “Um Mr. Smith you don’t have to bother I can certainly go myself though I’ll appreciate some directions.”
“I don’t think you’ll be able to go back by yourself because first these islands can be pretty confusing for new ones and I assume that you are one of them and second you are injured so drink that soup, you need it.”
“How do you know I am new here?”
“You don’t seem like a native to me. Now, the soup.”
I concentrated on my soup; it was actually delicious, creamy with lots of well cooked vegetables and the aroma of black pepper and ginger.
“This is delicious”
“Thank you. So what are you doing here?” he asked me.
Oh, not again, no matter how much innocent this innocent question sounded I couldn’t answer the truth. “I am on a vacation; this place is like heaven on earth.”I tried to keep my tone as casual I could. “Do you live here?”
“Yes” He retorted.
“Do you know there are wild humongous animals lurking out there” my voice came much higher than I intended. I calmed myself by sipping soup. But he was finding that amusing, his lips were twitching upwards and finally he said “I know that you saved Rick from that… tiger and for that I am very grateful to you but this is forest; its their home too what else do you expect and I like this place.” He closed his eyes and leaned back in chair. He gave me that lame excuse with such easiness and peaceful expression that I couldn’t press further.
Suddenly the atmosphere became suffocating as Rick entered the cottage and said “Boat is ready if you want to leave”. I was actually very afraid to go with him but I stood up and returned the bowl to Mr. Smith.
“Thanks for the hospitality Mr. Smith but you don’t have to bother I am sure I can go on my own, just some directions...”
“Rick is taking you back to the mainland “he declared in atone no one would ever cross.