by Mahita Varma
Damon came from behind her, I completely ignored him and he didn't bother to talk. He stood there observing my every move.
"Why this sudden change, is everything ok?" I asked unsure.
"Oh no, it's not okay." She replied.
"What ha.."
"It's double triple okay my sweet daughter in law." She widened her smile.
"What?" I asked shocked.
"Yes sweetie, you both will become man and wife in a week." She exclaimed.
"Oh!" I sighed turning to take in Dam's reaction, and I was quite happy to see him grinning.
"Are you not happy?"
"I am." I replied to Mary, averting my gaze to the floor and not to her.
"Dam, can you leave us alone. I am sure you have work, to do after all you are a busy mafia king." She said, but her last sentence laced with sarcasm.
Dam looked hurt, but soon covered up his expression with a cold expressionless look, which in short is called Dam's look. Nodding to his mother and giving me a last glance he left closing the door behind us.
Mary turned to me and inched closer, placing her arms on my shoulders she asked,
"Tell me the truth sweetie; I will accept anything you decide. Don't you want this marriage?"
"It's not that, am okay with it." I replied.
She cupped my face in my hands and gave me a kiss on my forehead like my mother used to do always.
"Sasha, please reply me correctly, so that I can help you." She asked concerned.
"I love him Mary, I don't know fortunately or unfortunately I am not the old Sasha West who used to come to you complaining about your son's behaviour. It's too late now, am head over heels in love with this devil." I said walking over to the bed and sitting on it.
"Then what is it you are worried about?" She asked walking to me and sitting beside me.
"Your son, he is the most bipolar human I have ever come across. Once he is good and all caring, the other second he is rude and a rubbish man I have hated." I replied heaving a sigh.
"Sasha?" Before she said anything else, I continued.
"Every time I think I have understood him and be happy, he does something so unexpected that I start doubting my choice. Every minute I start believing him, he pisses off my every single thought, that I start doubting his intentions." I mentioned, face palming myself.
"And..... Alan his brother, Dam isn't worried about his own. I am shaking with fear every second thinking about what could have happened to Alan, but he doesn't give a fuck about it. Strange!" I said still my face in my palms.
"Sasha, he is raised to be cold and ruthless. You can't expect him to change overnight. Still I can't make a decision for you, but I can advise you since I was in your place years back, follow your heart. No matter what, I will always support you and respect your decision, whatever it may be." Saying she walked to the door but stopped before it.
"Remember, that things are not always the way they seem to be." Turning the knob she left closing the door.
I sat wondering about Alan, took my phone from my pocket and scrolled through the contacts. His name was the first in my list, thanks to his first letter.
I kept looking at his contact, my mind and heart fighting to find a correct solution to my problem. Soon as usual my heart came out as a winner and due to which I pressed the call button.
Hearing the familiar ringtone my heart raised, each time increasing with the tone. What would I say to him, if he asked where was I? Will I be able to confess about marrying his brother? What would his reaction be?
The major tension was did he come back to the farmhouse at all? If he did, why didn't he try contacting me? Many more questions were running in my mind, but before I could cut the call due to the panic attack I was going to face if I didn't.
"Beautiful, how could you?"
Chapter 35- Key to the conundrum
"Beautiful, how could you?" His voice brought relief. I was so worried for him, that hearing him felt like going and hugging him.
"Alan. It feels so good to hear you." I sighed.
"Don't talk to me. You used me and I never expected this from you." Saying he cut the call.
I sat astonished, his accusing words echoing in my ears. He was angry; I should clarify and apologize, so without a second thought I called him again.
"How many times should I say not to call me?" He asked anger dripping from his voice.
"Alan please don't cut the call, am sorry." I begged.
"You don't have to be. Strangers don't need an explanation." He replied harsh.
"Stranger, you are not a stranger." I said crying.
"Emotional blackmail, cry and get things on your side, and great this formula worked on me too. But am not goanna talk to you, didn't you ever think of telling me your problems, like your kidnap. Am I a no one?" He asked depressed.
"Alan I didn't have my phone to call anyone. Dam came without me informing him." I replied.
"Oh well I am trying to believe you and the irresistible thing is that I can't be angry with you for long. Also beautiful I have something to confess." He commented.
"Aww that's so sweet Alan and even I have something to confess." I mentioned.
"What is it? You tell me first."
"No you."
"Ladies first baby"
"Why not change the myth?" I told to which he chuckled.
"But promise me you won't ignore and stop talking to me after my confession." He asked unsure.
"I promise. Maybe by not doing so I can make it up to you." I grinned.
"Okay then, meet me in the farmhouse, in an hour." Saying he cut the call, without hearing me reply.
I sat thinking about an appropriate reason so that I don't have to tell Dam about meeting Alan. If I told him then he wouldn't let me meet and there would be world war three between him and Alan.
So I went down searching for him, but he wasn't there. I went to the kitchen only to find Robsy there.
"Oh! My Ghosh! Is it real or am I dreaming?" I said rubbing my eyes.
"What's wrong Sassy?" Asked he worried.
"What the hell are you doing in the kitchen?" I asked, he then came out of his worry and grinned at me sheepishly.
"Okay? What were you up to my stupid?"
"You’re stupid?" He chuckled.
"Obviously mine and Elle's" I giggled.
"Please don't tell that again, at least not in front of your fiancée. Otherwise I wouldn't be alive to see the morning sun." He begged.
"Very funny, by the way where is he, your elder brother?"
"Why do I care?" He replied.
I was taken aback by his rude behaviour.
"Is it Robsy or a doppelgänger of his?" I asked widening my eyes.
"What?" He asked.
"Am asking about your brother and you are reacting as if he is a terrorist."
"A rapist for sure"
"Oh! Thanks Robsy but no thanks. I don't want brothers to fight for me. Already two are, please don't climb that list. Please." I pleaded.
"Sassy, Alan isn't safe, stay away."
"What's wrong with you brothers? What did he do to become a slave of your hatred? He should despise you all not vice versa."
"Why him and not us Sassy, what do you know about him and not to us? Do you know what kind of a person he is?" He asked scrunching his nose, to show his hatred for the second Knight.
"Stop doing that, especially to him. Anyone would react the same even me if I was in his place. Losing your loved ones, that to when your family is the reason behind the loss." I demanded.
"Oh and whom did he loose?" He asked making his eyebrows meet.
"Lily." I replied, and he stood still shocked by my answer.
"Lily?"
"You can't blame everything on someone else because your king asked you to. Well tell your king I will be back in an hour or two." Saying I turned to leave.
"Advise him to think before doing. I will be watching his every step." I heard Robsy warn.
I
stood shocked and slowly turned towards his side so that I could see his face.
"Why will I tell Alan? I don't know where he is." I stuttered.
"Do you think we are dumb Sassy? You might be unaware of my brother but I know each and every thing he is doing or goanna do. After all, twenty five years is worth it. Isn't it?" He asked stepping closer to me.
"I can only manage for two hours. After that am sorry, hope to see you back before Damon comes." Ordering he passed me and out the door.
I thought how Robsy would know about me going to meet Alan. Okay but whatever it is I have only one hour and forty five minutes left.
So I rushed to the car and drove out of the mansion, all the while thinking, whether it isn't safe to meet Alan, without Dam. But then he was my friend and had all rights to know how I am. After driving for twenty minutes till the road I know, I called to ask him the route.
"Hello beautiful. Come straight and take a right near the check post and again straight and then extreme left. Come straight for fifteen minutes and you will find the farmhouse. I am waiting for you lovely lady." He said, goose bumps rising hearing him call me that.
"Thanks for the route and a punch for calling me that." I emitted.
"Oops! Sorry."
"Well see me outside the house duffer."
"Woah, Woah! Coming lioness" Chuckling he came out, standing in front of Dam's car.
"Aren't you too confident to bring his favourite one?" He asked not removing his gaze from the car.
"Shit! Is it is favourite car? I didn't know." I gaped, crossing my lips with my palms.
"It's ok. He wouldn't notice for an hour, hoping probably for our safety." Sighing, he courted me inside.
We spoke for a lot of time. I told him about the marriage that got fixed he looked shocked and hurt but soon wished me asking if I was happy. I said yes, even though I had a doubt. Then he confessed of killing Simona, I asked him the reason for it.
"She kidnapped you and what could be a better reason than that." He replied.
"Killing is not the solution to everything."
"Then why not stop your husband? And I am also working to start a new gang against them." He said looking straight into my eyes.
"Alan you are playing with fire let it go. They will accept you with arms wide open. Please stop doing all this and come back." I tried to make him understand.
"He took away everything from me. I won't forgive him for anything." He yelled.
"Okay, cool down." I said going to him and placing my palms on his jaw.
Before he could react, his phone rang making him walk out of the room. I moved around in his room looking at everything slowly, and thinking about Simona, even though we weren't best of friends her death made me shiver with grief. Suddenly I noticed a book shelf which stood in between. It was a box of medium size that had shelves to hide the books.
I touched the books seeing the genres, but nothing seemed interesting, so I slightly pushed the shelf moving forward to reach the portraits of him and Lily.
But something caught my attention, as a screeching sound came lightly to my ears. I turned slightly, sweat dripping from my forehead, shaking terribly I saw the book shelf turn in a slanting position.
I walked towards it, my mind told me to run finding Alan, but my heart the other way. As usual I followed my heart I could see a hole inside the slant side of the box. Something in me asked me to put my hand in the hole, and I did, to find a key after searching for some time.
It is a gold coloured key but in a small size which didn't fit normal sized furniture. What could it be, what will it open?
I searched without leaving even a small corner. Then at the side of the front door was a slight edge where hid a small jewel trunk that I found when I stayed here. But that day as I couldn't find the key I didn't open, but now, I will.
But is it fine to open the box? Isn't it against someone's privacy? Again there was a battle between the two parts of my body and naturally the one beating in me won.
So I inserted the key turning it to the left opening the box. That was the most shocking moment in my life.
How can this be?
Chapter 36- Ugly truth
I sat there looking at the contents of the trunk. How can this be possible? Is it true? Why couldn't I see this before?
I was too dumb to realize the truth which was right in front of me all these days. Or was I too naive to believe that wasn't true. Tears scrolled down my face choking my breath.
Hearing footsteps I quickly closed the trunk and rushed to throw the key in the hole of the book shelf and placed it back to position. Wiping my tears I went to sit on the bed, acting to be busy with my phone. It seemed more interesting than anything else at this point.
"Am so sorry beautiful, it was an important call." He said coming in.
"It's ok. How much important it is?" I asked looking into his eyes.
"What?"
"The phone call"
"Oh work related."
"Okay then, am leaving."
"Hey what's wrong? Leaving too early?"
"Yeah I was granted only two hours permission."
"There are forty five minutes left beautiful." He replied checking his watch.
"Oh! Well tell me then what shall we do?"
"You tell me. How's life and are you happy to be with my big bro?" He asked watching the door behind me.
"Why would I not?"
"Beautiful, he is...”
"Stop it Alan. Don't talk anything against my future husband, I won't tolerate it." I yelled getting up from the bed and pointing a finger accusingly towards him.
"Woah, I didn't."
"I am going. Thanks for the time." Saying I left the room and the house to the car.
I didn't know whether am doing right or wrong, but my mind wasn't working rationally. It was not less than a brain attack overwhelming emotions didn't help me a bit to come out of this situation.
As I ran out and into the car, he came behind me standing beside, seeing me reverse the vehicle with furrowed eyebrows. I didn't care to wave a bye, but gave him a last glance with a small smile.
I drove as fast as I could want to meet Dam, and clear a lot of doubts I have. Thinking about the trunk in Alan's room, I didn't see a four wheeler coming my way.
As I realized I changed the direction but, eventually hit the vehicle and it came to a screeching halt. I pressed the break hard enough for it to come to a sudden stop. What the hell, this man is gone mad.
How can he come like that? Isn't he aware of the traffic rules? Who the hell gave him license? I was angry but he came, speeding towards me, and stopped beside my window. Knocking on the glass, he called out.
"Come out lady. Its better you come on your own, or else you will regret not." yelled the man getting out of his car.
"Excuse me? It's you on the wrong way, not me."
"Dare you question a police man" He emitted.
"So what if you are a government servant, that doesn't mean you do as you please." I accused.
He dragged me down the car by pulling my hair with his hand. I fell on the ground and tried to run from the mad man, but he soon caught me pushing me inside the vehicle.
"Leave me you asshole."
"Watch that ugly tongue of yours. If it's not for our boss wanting you alive, you would be dead as soon as you uttered that." Saying he pulled me up by my hair and slapped me hard.
That slap and his words brought realization to my useless head, he wasn't any heavy headed police man, but a jerk who came purposely in the wrong way to drag me to his boss.
This is a pre-planned kidnap and maybe this time I know who his boss was. I can't be dumber than I was till now. But I wanted to confirm whether my doubt was true or not.
"Hey John stop there. Only if sir knew you would dead." shouted the other man of the two.
"But Alex.."
"Shut up and place her in the car."
"Okay. Get in slut." He yelled.
"Who is
your boss? Is this a kidnap?" I asked sitting between the two men.
"Can you zip your mouth, till we go there?" He asked.
"Tell me.." Before I finished the sentence he gagged my mouth and tied my hands.
I struggled to speak, but the disturbance in my mouth didn't let me. After sometime I sat crying as struggling would cause pain and nothing else.
An hour or more later, we came to a halt. That John fellow lifted me up removing the gag and the rope on my hands then, carrying me in his arms to the inside of the den. I banged my legs asking for release but he didn't, instead he cursed.
"How dare you touch her?" Saying the man in the hoodie shot John in the head.
I jumped back hitting a wall, seeing John's limp body on the floor. Falling on the ground I crossed my mouth with my palms weeping silently, more due to the frustration I was in.
"Don't. You are safe here. Will start a new life and raise our children, away from the reach of that monster." Saying he came closer hugging me in his embrace.
"Stay away. I love him and not you. You will lose this time too, to your elder brother. Even now you will be a failure." I hit his chest trying to move away from him.
He pushed and pinned me to the wall lifting me so that I was face to face with him.
"I lost once, but this time I am the ultimate winner. No one...” A voice came from behind him before he finished his sentence.
"No one can defeat Alan Smith. Let her know that son."
Chapter 37- Real villain
Emotions are a threat to your health; either they can be a boon or bane. The latter was me currently, as if the already spilled secrets were not enough for my sorrow, a new one raised and I have a feeling that more are yet to come.
The fog in my eyes due to the tears didn't show the lady standing in front of me properly. But I could tell she was a woman of mid-fifties. Her fawn hair stopped mid shoulders and hazel eyes made her stand out, of the rest her age.
"Thinking about your never goanna be fiancée?" asked the beautiful lady.
"Yeah about my definitely goanna be husband." I replied sarcastically with a smirk, rising from the ground.