As Melisa opened the door, she expected someone standing right there. Whoever she was expecting that person did not gave her any good feeling. But she saw no one. No one was there when she opened the door. That should have made her relaxed but she became more anxious and at some point she was also disappointed too. She went outside to have a proper look of her surroundings but found no one in particularly familiar to her. She did notice few people in her lane but none could be the one ringing her doorbell and she was sure that she heard the doorbell ring. This day was becoming more and weirder since that particular parcel has arrived. What was it? Who send it? Is that supposed to be a warning or threat? Such thoughts made her panic and very unwelcoming and unpleasant memories surrounded her mind. She ran inside her house and locked the door so that nobody could come in. She checked the door lock again and after ensuring she left the breath she did not realized she was holding.
"Is there a problem?" someone said from behind.
Melisa was startled by the voice and she instantly realized that she is not alone in the house. She turned back so quickly that it looked like she could have hurt her neck. But the neck pain she felt was nothing compared to the shock she get when she saw the unwanted person in the room. That person was the last thing she could wish and expect to see at least in this life time. Julia Parker….
"You? How did you get in here?" Melisa asked Julia with anger and disgust at the same time.
"I arrived here first?" said Julia.
"What? Why? Oh my God…." Melisa could not believe that Julia was there all along and she had no idea about that.
Both the woman startled when they heard the door bell rung again.
"Were you the one ringing the bell before?" Melisa asked Julia in a lower tone.
"No" Julia replied quickly but lowly.
"Who is it then?" Melisa wondered.
"I don't know" said Julia. Both the woman kept staring at the door, not sure if they are willing to open it or not.
**********
Samuel was getting ready for the Office. Usually, Henry and Samuel were like a pair in working but today was not the day Samuel could count on Henry. It was 9'O clock in the morning and Henry was suppose to go the court for final divorce hearing. Samuel thought it would be nice if he could accompany him there but Henry would not like that. But the least he can do to drop him there. That should be no problem at all. He grabbed his house keys and reached Henry's house in exact 10 minutes. When he rang the door bell, there was no response. He thought may be Henry has left for the court when he noticed his car was missing too. He began to leave but stopped noticing the front door slightly opened. He found it weird and decided to check inside. The lights were on which is not so like Henry; when he leave the place he always remember to shut all the switches behind him. Samuel checked the whole house but found no one. The broken glass pieces were seen but no other sign of struggle was there which ruled out the idea of someone breaking in and trespassing as everything else looked normal and nothing else could be noticed to be taken. He reached out to his cell phone from his pocket and dialed Henry number which rung in front of him as Henry had forget to grab his phone while leaving. Samuel was uneasy and was not convinced that everything was normal. Too many things were out of order and he worried for Henry. He checked his watch and it was already 9:30.
Samuel left for court to check on Henry. He knew he was going through a lot but being so disoriented was not okay. Henry could be seen lost to anyone but now he was started to become a matter of concern for Samuel. He just needed to know he is in court and then he will leave for office. May be Henry would not like the idea of Samuel being there but he could not think about that right now. But for all that he should be there.
It already took him forty five minutes to reach the court. He noticed Sara calling someone over the phone and he knew it was Henry. As upon leaving Henry's house, Samuel kept his phone to return it to him but since last thirty minutes Sara and Henry's lawyer was calling him which makes Samuel sure that Henry was not with them. That means he did not reach to the court.
When Samuel walked out of his car, Sara noticed him and was practically running towards him. Samuel now regretted his decision of coming there as he knew Sara is very angry and she ought to be. She might have billions of questions but Samuel himself knew nothing of Henry. Samuel was as clueless as was Sara about Henry.
"Where is he?" Sara barked form a significant distance. She looked angry enough to kill Samuel if he did not answer her question.
"I don't…" Samuel tried to explain himself.
"Don't you dare tell me that something came up at work and he is going to be late enough to skip the court hearing?" Sara retorted.
"No… I would not…" Samuel tried to defend himself.
"It's a court Samuel. You don't do that with court or judge or lawyers or law…" Sara said.
"Yes, I know…" Samuel said.
"So where is he?" Sara asked again.
"I don't know" Samuel answered.
"What do you mean you don't know? You always know about everything" Sara said.
"But not this time!!! I went to his house" Samuel tried to explain.
"You left him in his house?" Sara screamed on Samuel with astonish look.
"No, he is not there" Samuel tried to ensure Sara.
"So where is he? Don't tell me he is in office" Sara worried that Henry might left for office and hence is not there.
"No, he couldn't, wouldn't do that" Samuel was blabbering.
"Check in the office" Sara said.
"But I am here" Samuel thought that this ides was stupid. He was using his hands to be a sign of his presence in front of her which made Sara angrier than before.
"Oh my God you crazy man, call there, use your phone or brains for once and check it if he is there. What are you looking at? Call!!!!" Sara shouted at Samuel.
"Yes, Call!!! Right!!!" Samuel thought himself to be stupid. He was both scared and worried not only for Henry but for himself too. Sara was eyeing him when he was dialing the number and that was not helping Samuel in any way. He kept pressing wrong digits and his hands were shaking and trembling with fear. He found whole situation very intimidating. All he wanted was Henry to come and save him from somewhere but as long as Sara is concerned even Henry is not safe.
"Hello, Henry, is Henry there? Is he there?" Samuel asked over the phone.
"No… ohh… yess… he is on leave. No… yess…okayyy" Samuel continued with his phone conversation.
"He is not there" Samuel said to Sara.
"You are lying" Sara accused Samuel.
"No, I am not. Why would I?" Samuel denied.
"How can I say? You are the one who is lying" Sara said mockingly and with a straight face.
"But I am not lying" Samuel said again by making more emphasis on each and every word.
"Why? It's not going to be the first time you would lie" Sara accused Samuel again.
"But I…" Samuel could not find right words to defend himself as he knew that she was right. He had lied to her multiple times for Henry and if she does not believe him now than it's not her entire fault.
"Have you reached him? Is he going to be here any time soon?" Lawyer with an annoyed face asked Sara.
"No. I don't think so" Sara replied in a soft tone which was not soft when she was speaking or one can better say scolding him.
"Well if he is then, please do tell him not to come here" Lawyer said with a straight face.
"Wait… why?" Sara asked panicking.
"The judge could not wait anymore. He is going forward with other proceedings. We will get another date but firstly make him aware of his irresponsible behavior towards law. Such a behavior could not be accepted here. Judge was so angry…" Lawyer explained.
"I know��� I am sorry… I am just so sorry…" Sara said with embarrassment.
Lawyer left annoyed by Henry's behavior and Sara was clearly very upset. She was holding her tears but Samuel knew she could not do that for very long time. Samuel went forward and hugged her in a friendly manner and she hugged him back and then she started crying. After few seconds she composed herself, and said-
"I had worries that he might do that and I was right" Sara said while closing her eyes in denial.
"No… Sara… There must be some explanation…" Samuel tried to calm Sara down.
"What explanation Sam? What could be more important? He should have been here" Sara yelled at Samuel for giving excuses on behalf of Henry.
"I know. I know" Samuel regretted for taking Henry's side in this topic.
"I met him last night just to remind him about today. And he acted like he will do things for once he is supposed to do but then now… he did it again…" Sara said distraughted and disturbed by the fact that nothing could persuade Henry to do right thing or the thing she wants ever. He always does things he like or decides.
"I am so sorry" Samuel apologizes on Henry's behalf.
"Why did he do it again? Why does he always do this? Why? Just… why?" Sara was panicking and asking same questions again and again.
"I don't…" Samuel said.
"You know what… I am done…I am done… with him and with everybody. Just tell him to get lost and never ever show his face otherwise I will just… I will just…" Sara said while leaving.
Sara left without completing her sentence and Samuel felt very bad for her. He thought for once to follow her as she did not looked like she should be alone but what good could he do to make her feel better. Samuel went back to his car and wondered about Henry. He checked his Henry phone for some lead but found none.
"Where are you Henry?" These words escaped from his mouth unknowingly.
**********
Who is at the door?
How Julia and Melisa did know each other?
Who send the parcel to the Melisa?
Where is Henry?
What do you think about Sara's outburst?
What will Samuel do now?
Whatever your answers are, do tell me in the comment box. Let's see whose guesses are right.