Nakusa, hima [debian ebook reader .TXT] 📗

You gave me one month time…”Andrew picked up. She silenced him with one look. “I promised to give time for your marriage and I remain on my word. This is just an engagement.” She said.

“Now…come on.” She said tugging my hands. My head reeled…engagement??? I followed her reluctantly. She is making sure that her son would marry me of course she wouldn’t let her son have his way.

She walked me through the whispering people and to the center where Mr. Wilson was standing. There was a cheer followed by sudden silence. Andrew was by my side, he was lost in his thoughts. Maria came forward with a silver plate in her hand in it were two tiffany boxes. My throat became dry; I thought I could avoid this thing but… I couldn’t probably run now even if I tried my legs wouldn’t.

“Andrew…” Mrs. Wilson gestured her son. He hesitated but picked up; I could see his annoyance and helplessness in doing it. He picked up my hand and placed the ring to my finger with such a force that told how much he hated to do it. He didn’t want this to happen, he didn’t want me. I was used to being unwanted but knowing that Andrew didn’t want me made me feel sad somehow. Moist began to form in my eyes; I rolled my eyes hoping to keep them at bay.

“Linda…” Mrs. Wilson thrust the ring into my hands. I tentatively did it. The crowd cheered for the new to be couple. Mr. & Mrs. Wilson joined the crowd in celebration. I quickly turned my back wiping out the one tear that escaped. Andrew saw me doing it and he frowned.

One by one people came to congratulate us; Andrew was giving them his best smiles but failed to fake the sadness in his eyes. I did my best to fake it too.

“Now…dear. You must be tired just go and have some rest…” Mrs. Wilson said as soon as the rest of our visitors left. I broke into a run as soon as I was out of their sight. I didn’t know that she was this clever. I thought I could… I sobbed into the pillow.

“Linda…” Anna walked in. “You should have left when I asked you too.” She said rubbing my shoulders.

“You still have chance to leave…” she sat with pleading eyes. I nodded. “I’ll come for you at 11 when everyone slept.” I gave another nod.

I fell sobbing on the pillow, I thought I could manage the whole situation, I was so wrong. I looked at the large diamond sitting on my finger; fresh tears ran through my checks as I remembered how reluctant Andrew was at that time. Why does it hurt me so much? Did I expect something different to happen? No, I always knew that I’m unwanted everywhere.

I sat rubbing my eyes as they began to sting; I got up and cleansed my face.

“Are you ready to go?” she asked. I nodded she wrapped a black cloak around me. She went out first and gestured me after making sure there is none outside. She walked me through the back door in the kitchen; all the maids were deep in sleep. She grabbed a lantern from the closet and shut the door behind carefully without even a creaky sound.

We sneaked past the gates, once I was outside the gates and away from the house vicinity. “Anna, I think you should go now.” I said turning towards her.

She stood reluctant to move. “Anna, I can find my way to my house…”I insisted. “It’s not safe for you to go alone…” I cut her off. “Anna, you should be back home, I don’t want you to be in any more trouble because of me. Just go…”

She handed me the lantern and left. I ran all the way to our house glad that I would finally meet my sisters after so many days.

All the way I never had any idea of what I should say at home. As soon as I reached home, it struck me for the first that I couldn’t go in barging through the doors because father will get upset, he may probably even beat us up. I can’t put my sisters through this besides I couldn’t explain anything to my father and I doubt he would even turn me in to the Wilson’s.

I glanced at the room where we usually slept, the windows were open, and I could climb there. I sighed. Taking deep breaths, I started climbing up the tree that leans on to the roof. I stumbled twice; I grew irritated and cut of the lower portion of the frock to make it an easy climb. From the tree, I made a jump on to the roof surprisingly I didn’t make much sound or didn’t fall. From there I made my way to the window. I jumped into the room, Julia stirred as she heard the noise, she rubbed her eyes staring at me, and I made a quick move and covered her mouth before she started shouting.

“It’s me Linda…” I whispered into her ears, I removed my hand when I was sure that she wouldn’t shout. She gave me a sisterly hug and cried. My other sisters and mom woke up soon; they were so excited to see me that they didn’t find it odd; me sneaking up at such an odd hour. They gave their share of hugs and cries when finally mother walked up to me and enveloped me in her arms, it felt so nice to be with her after long time. This is where I was needed and wanted. This is my family.

“How are you?” Mother asked sitting me on the bed. Why are you here? How did you come? Why at this odd hour? My sisters were asking me questions all at a time. “I missed you and I wanted to see you…” I said. “Oh! Dear.” They hugged me.

“I’m happy for you; at last you got what you deserved for…”Mom said smiling. “Didn’t I say there are happy endings?” Jenny said smiling. “You should have seen father’s face when he came to know that you are not a servant but the soon to be owner of the place…” Julia said laughing.

Jane slapped her to stop. “How did you come? Did father let you in?” Emma asked.

“I sneaked up…you know father wouldn’t have allowed me in…” I said. “Did you sneak from your house too?” Jane asked. I know where this will lead too. I held my head down as the tears began to make their way.

Mom hushed them all and walked me to the window. “I know how much you miss us all but this is not a good thing to do…” I opened my mouth to tell her the truth but her next words caught me like dagger.

“You know that your sister’s future lies in your hand since you are being married to a good family. I expect your sisters will be getting good matches too. Please think about it before you do this type of things. If they saw you missing at night what would they think of us? What if they broke your engagement, I don’t think I can stand it…”

“I’m sorry mother…” I replied meekly. I said my goodbyes to them and promised to come back soon for them to tell them all about the Wilson’s. Mother sneaked me outside the door and went to wake up our farm boy to accompany me to the Wilson’s house.

“Mother…There is no need for it. I can go by alone and if you wake anyone they will sure tell father about this and I don’t think it will do any good for us…” Mother looked dubious but seeing my confidence she let me go not before fussing about this.

I made my way back home, what to do now? Mother’s words echoed in my mind, I couldn’t escape now at least for the sake of my family but could I sacrifice my life for them? I gave it a thought, yes; I could if it can help them. If I wanted to help them, the Wilson’s shouldn’t know about my escapade. With that thought I ran as fast as I could through the dusty and dark roads.

I could feel someone following me, I stopped with an abrupt halt and saw a dark figure coming towards me, and he swayed while he was walking as if he is fully drunk. I stood paralyzed before I could move further, he strongly smelt of liquor. I could see another silhouette not far from him. I began to run but was tripped by a rock. They closed on me, feeling me under the black cloak. I winced at their touch.

“Give me the cloak…”he slurred. If I gave him the cloak he might go but what if he recognized me? I was considering the possibilities when another one joined.

“Cloak…” He croaked. “It’s mine…I saw it first.” The other slurred. I began to crawl back from their grip they both caught my cloak and began to tug it on both sides as if it is a tug of war.

I clenched my fists and hit them in the stomach and made a mad dash away from their grips. I didn’t notice the vehicle that was coming towards me in my hurry. It hit me and I fell down.

I hit my head and my skin scraped at my elbows. I tried to stand up and my knee hurt me very much in doing that.

“Let me help you, sir…”a familiar voice boomed. Where did I hear this voice? It sounded so familiar… He leaned down and grabbed my arm to make me stand. I was still focusing on his voice that I forgot to hide my face. He must have seen that I was indeed a girl not a boy; I could hear his sharp intake of breath. I raised my eyes to meet his. His deep brown eyes met mine, how stupid I could be? I stumbled into the very person that I shouldn’t.

“Andrew…”

“What are you doing here…?” He struggled to recollect my name. It hurt me to know that he even don’t know my name properly.

He helped me up and back to the car. He sat me in the front seat and started his engine. Andrew waited for the girl to say something when she didn’t say anything; he thought she was in shock. After all what girl wouldn’t be; running into thugs and ran over by car? He checked her.

“What are you staring at?” I scowled. Andrew was surprised to see her behave normal and she even scowled at him.

“I thought you are in shock…”he mumbled. “Why would I?” I asked. He could feel a smile escaping through his lips. Andrew knew this girl was different when she saw her that day in his dad’s office, bold and witty to solve the poor girl’s problem but he never guessed how different she was until now. Unlike other girls who would freak out at every possible situation, she is strong. She seemed so normal after all that she had gone through. This interested him to know more about her.

“What were you doing out at this time?” he asked tentatively. “I was visiting my family…” she said. He studied her while he drove home. She was wearing night gown and the lower part of it is torn that surprised him.