"Thanks for today." says Anna opening the door when he held her hand. Looking at him she raised an eyebrow to which he responded with a smile and says, "Are you sure you are fine?"
Freeing her hand from his she replies, "Yes."
And then she left while he watched her until she entered the house.
Isabelle welcomes her as she entered the home. Getting her back with a slight smile she asks looking around the house, "Where is Liz?"
"She's in the study Madam."
"Okay." saying this she steps towards the stairs when Isabelle asks, " Shall I serve the dinner? "
" I have no appetite. Feed Liza and please make sure she eats well and sleep on time. " she replies with a slow voice without turning around.
Isabelle sensed something bad must have happened but she dare not ask her. Anna moves with heavy steps literally dragging herself through the stairs.
Liza came flying from the study and asks, "Is sister home?"
"She is."
"Let's have dinner then." she says cheerfully.
"I'm sorry but you'll have to eat alone as she said she has no appetite. But you should eat properly."
Isabelle informs her.
Liza seems sad and went back to the study without saying anything to her but mumbling to herself, "She is like this every now and then since that day when that bastard returned. It's already six months yet she is being bothered by him. What should I do? " sitting on the couch she thinks and thinks and keep thinking.
While Anna in her room, took shower and changed into her night dress stands at the window looking outside. Snowfall has started and the air is chilly but she cannot feel it as her eyes are burning, her mind is at unrest. Her body is already numb to feel the chill and her head is so much in pain to think about it. The entire scene keeps repeating in her head in loops without pause. She still cannot figure it out as to why did it happened. "I never intended to keeps his child to me. I told Uncle to do as he asks them why does he even bother to come at her office? Where did I went wrong? Wasn't I selfless enough this time that I had to suffer such embarrassment. My entire office witnessed whatever happened today and they will now be making talks and gossips for days." as she murmurs all this suddenly her mind reaches at the moment when Jim came near her and hugged her. Her heart skips a beat as she recalls that moment. But those venomous words of Marcel ringing in her head didn't allowed her mind to shift somewhere else. She is feeling sick maybe because of all the spectacle caused by him. She can't help but think about what would be tomorrow's environment in office because people need no reasons to talk and gossip. Opening the towel from her head she let her hair open and went to bed. Looking inside the drawer of her side table she found her anti depressant and sleeping pills which she haven't taken since a couple of months and was expecting not to take them any time sooner but today she is in dire need of them to be able to handle tomorrow's stress. Taking a deep breath, she picks up the glass of water and gulps down the tablets. Closing the lights, turning off her phone she lays down straight facing the roof with burning eyes which started to become heavy after a while as the sedatives kicks in. And soon she is asleep.
Jim is unable to sleep yet because he may have not asked Anna anything but all the chaos caused today is keeping him up. He didn't even ate as he can't keep his anxiety and stress aside for a while. Also he is worried about her more than anything. The entire way back to his home his mind keeps reminding him about today's afternoon when they were having lunch and spending some quality time together. Just then like always Marcel ruined everything. "Why on earth he had to do the same every single time? " he says and band his palm on the steering. His irritation is clear from his behaviour but he kept it under check when with her. "Why didn't she stopped me when I hit him? Also she didn't said anything afterwards ! What's going on with her? " he wonders as he entered his apartment.
It is a 3 bhk apartment fully furnished with all the luxuries a person needs. Although he owns a bunglow which he inherited from his father but he wanted a place of his own, build by his struggle and hardwork and most importantly his own earned money. So he purchased this apartment in a 20 storey building build for elite people. He wants his family to live with him which includes his mother and father but he can't get his wish granted as his father had kind of hated his passion for music and this house of his income disgust his father. Though his mother visits her often but his father haven't met him or even talked to him since he left home 6 years ago.
There was a huge argument and he even got grounded for not following on the footsteps of his father. Being the one and only child of his parents brought lots and lots of expectations and hopes on his shoulders. Though he happily followed whatever he was told to do since young age but after completing graduation he felt his heart going towards music more strongly. However he was attracted towards singing and songwriting since his primary school days but his father made it a huge deal at time also, so unwillingly his mother convinced him to focus on his academics rather than arts. A child's heart at that time was not ready to give up but seeing his mother worried made him chose the hard path against his will. He has always been concerned for the ones he hold dear and for them he can go any limits. He often thought that one day when he'll grow up he will for sure convince his dad about choosing music as career but as years passed he realised that nothing can make him understand what he feels and wants. His father is self centred and only thinks and listen to whatever according to him goes up to his standards. He cannot bear his one and only heir leaving the company and joining some music label.
And when he graduated his father proudly asked him, "My son tell me what do you want?" patting him with pride on his back.
His father seems very happy and it could be seen in his bright face where all the wrinkles have straighten up because of his wide and haughty smile.
Scratching his head he asks sheepishly, "Will I be given any thing that I ask?"
"Sure my son." he answered.
His mother smiling at both of them sitting in her chair.
"I want to be a singer, Dad." he replied smiling.
Suddenly the air changed and all the smiles and pride flushed away and that frowned face returned on his dad.
And then he was being shouted and yelled at until his mother fainted due to high blood pressure, trying to stop his father from hitting him. At that moment he realised that he has been the reason his mother is suffering so he once again decided to give up on his dreams and surrender to his father's will.
He was sobbing beside his unconscious mother in the hospital room saying, "I'm so sorry Mother for saying what I wanted. I promise you that I'll do as Father says and will never talk about music or singing. Please Mother wake up. I promise I'll be a good son." his tears overflowing his eyes and wetting his mother's hand which he was holding in his.
His mother was awaken by his sobbing but she do not want him to be embarrassed in front of her so she kept lying there silently. The next morning when she woke up he brought her juice and sat next to her kissing her forehead he smiled. His mother patted his head slowly and lovingly and said, "Go my son. Take the path which pleases you and where your heart feels contented. Leave before it's too late, even to regret on your broken dreams."
He looks at her with eyes full of tears and cried his eyes out hugging her while she patted him lovingly until he stopped crying.
Wiping his face he said, "But if I'll go then you'll be in hell with Father. He will be so mad at both of us. And who knows maybe he won't even let me meet you ever again." with head down in disappointment.
Brushing her hand through his hair she said, "He may seem bitter and harsh but he will never keep you from meeting me. You are our only child, my son. I will never leave you no matter what happens. And I believe that one day your father will understand, hopefully. "
He nodded and smiled.
" Now go home take whatever you want and leave. "
" I won't leave unless you are completely healthy, Mother. " he said.
" I'm completely fine now." she assured him.
" No need to give me such assurance. And just see how can I leave you all above by yourself here in this hospital room. At whose responsibility could I leave you? " he said.
" Your father is with me. "
He laughs and said, " Father? He didn't even visited you since last night till today's afternoon. How come he'll be with you to take care of you? " he said irritated.
" He is just going to arrive any moment now. I know him since 22 years and with that experience I very well am aware about his timings. So you can be at peace now and go. "
" Fine. I'll leave as he arrives. " he said shrugging.
" Will you be able to handle him?"
She smiled and nodded in yes. By the afternoon when his father arrives the air in the room turned tensed again and in order to avoid anymore arguments he just left the room silently.
His bubble of thoughts pops as the fire alarm starts ringing. He looks here and there in order to locate what's on fire and there was this kitchen towel burning from the flame of his lighter which he had left open and kept on it after lighting his cigarette, in his spaced out mode.
Rushing towards it he put the towel in sink, and switched off the alarm while closing the lighter.
He is not a chain smoker but when deep in thoughts he unknowingly just lit one up. When he returns to his couch he noticed that a cigarette is lying in the ash tray half burned. Putting it off her went into his room got changed and slipped into his bed. Click is showing half past 10 but he is not feeling sleepy right now so he just text Anna.
But Anna took her medicine and is asleep by now, of which he is unaware. Waiting for her reply is making her more anxious about her well being.
"She looks bad when she left. Will she be all right?" he thinks to himself.
"Should I just call her." shaking off this thought he says, "No, no. Keep your calm Jim. She is a strong girl and if she needs him she would have called him. Let's wait till tomorrow." tapping his hearty through his chest he said to himself and lays down hugging the pillow. As he closes his eyes, that moment flashes in his eyes when he hugged her tonight. Reliving that moment makes his heart race again and his eyes opened wide. His heart started aching suddenly and his breathing become hard. He got up from his bed holding his chest with his right hand, and went to the balcony. He is unable to understand as to why does this happens everytime he is with her. A pounding heart is acceptable by him but this pain becomes unbearable sometimes. "Should I consult a doctor?"
"But what would I tell him."
"Leave it."
he murmured softly looking at the sky, trying to normalise his breathing. Slowly the pain subsides and he is able to breath normally but his feet are frozen due to the snow in the balcony.
"My feet, my poor feet lets go inside." he said pouting and looking at his feet.
Closing the door of the balcony he again slip into his bed, yawns and tries to sleep without thinking about anything.