Awaken by the sunlight coming from the window in her room, Anna checks the time which shows half past 9. The sun is not much bright but finally Sun has started peeping through clouds. She is not much of a sunny day person so she tries getting up from her bed to close the blinds but in the moment Isabelle enters the room with her breakfast, seeing her getting up she rushed towards her. Helping her sit comfortably she then close the blinds herself. Apologizing for not closing then beforehand she serves her breakfast.
"Where is my phone?" Anna asks looking on the side table.
Isabelle handed over her phone taking it out from her bag saying, "Jim gave it to me yesterday to keep it."
She nods and checks the messages and missed calls.
" So you told Lisa I'm going out of station with delegates and you are visiting your sick friend. " says Anna with a smile.
Isabelle nods and says, " I'm sorry I made that up so that she can focus on her preparations for exams. Also she has an exam today and if she knew about you she would have been sitting here. "
" Yeah. Thanks. "
Isabelle smiles giving her the glass of juice. Wondering how come there is no calls or messages from Jim, she sips the juice.
Meanwhile the nurses entered to take her data and after checking her blood pressure and other details they left.
" Wait, when can I go? " Anna asks before they could left from the door.
" Dr. Maxwell will be visiting you soon. " said one of them and left.
Sighing she says," How much more days do I need to be here? "
" Madam it's good here atleast you are resting. Because once you leave the hospital you'll not be listening to any of us. " says Isabelle seriously.
Anna glaring at her with narrow eyes and pouted lips. Seeing this Isabelle chuckles and takes the glass from her hand.
" Stop making faces and take your medicine, and rest. Doctor has not allowed you to sit for long. "
Gulping down the bitter tablets and capsules she made very bad faces. Isabelle helps her in laying down again and then she pats her hand slowly.
" I'm not sleepy at all. " says Anna in a slow voice.
" I know. But you can't stay sitting either. Here take your phone but don't strain your eyes much. "
She hands over her phone and gets up from tbe chair to leave.
" Where? " Anna asks.
" Would you like to have brownies with Vanilla ice cream or chocolate or butterscotch? " Isabelle asks with a bright smile.
Smiling widely Anna says, " Butterscotch. "
" Fine I'll be back soon. " she says and turns towards the door.
Again she come back to her and says seriously, " Do not think of getting down from this bed. If you need anything even if it may be just water then either call me or take this buzzer and ring it. " giving her the buzzer and a stern look she left.
" Was she threatening me? Ohhh how can she?" she says to herself.
Smiling at the thought of ice cream and brownies she felt at ease and scroll through her e-mail.
Suddenly the thought of Jim strucks her and she wonders why didn't he came yet? Is he alright? He didn't even texted last night to inform about his safely reaching his home. No wait he did called Isabelle. She started talking to herself.
"Was I rude yesterday? or did I said something wrong? Is he mad at me or he is avoiding me after what I said yesterday? If thinking practically then maybe he must be busy with work. " she says nodding her head.
Suddenly there is a knock on the door and with that her heart jumped up. A smile flashing on her lips she says, " Come in. " hoping it to be Jim.
But her hopes failed as Dr. Maxwell enters.
" Hello Anna ! " he says in his heavy voice with a bright smile on his face.
" Hello uncle.! " she says disappointed.
" Did you saw how bright sunny today is? " he says opening the blinds.
" No don't. I don't want to open. " she stops him instantly.
" Okay okay no problem. But does your eyes or head hurts by looking at light? " he asks checking her eyes with flashing light into them.
" No not so far. But what if they do later? Is it a matter of concern? " Anna asks rubbing as he finishes the check up of her eyes.
" Nothing can be said now. Situation and the way your body response to it is most important at that time and then only we will be able to clearly sort things out. " he told.
" When can I go? " she asks.
Smiling he replies, " Not Today. " and left the room before she could convince him.
Rubbing her feet on the bed she took her frustration out. But this is not enough for her irritation to side off.
As Dr. Maxwell left the room Isabelle meet him outside and thanking him for night discharging today she went inside with a large ice-cream cup and a packet of extra choco chip brownies.
Walking towards her with long steps she looks very excited and happy. Keeping the cup and packet aside on the table she lifted her bed and arranged her pillows. Handing over the large ice cream cup to her she opens the brownies container and gave her a piece.
She happily took one and asks for the table, so Isabelle slide the breakfast table over her bed and they both enjoyed the ice cream and brownies treat.
"I got brain freeze." Anna says rubbing her temples.
"Me too." chuckles Isabelle.
The meeting room seems tense over the entry of this new person and Jim getting anxious about her presence with his father.
"Good Morning Everyone." his father says in his heavy voice and get seated.
Cindy took the seat reserved for only major share holders while his mother sat next to him. And this causes more chitter chatter in the room. Everyone want to know about the scenario.
" We are eager to know who this new member is?" says one of them.
Looking at him and then her Richard smile and says, " She is the new shareholder of our company. Meet Ms. Cindy Carl."
She looks at everyone with a sophisticated expression and a big smile on her face. Her smile turns into smirk when her eyes met with Jim.
"What is she doing here, Mum?" he whispers.
Taking a deep breath she says, "Wait and watch but don't react at all." she says squeezing his hand softly with a fake smile.
Looking at her with a confused face he nodded.
Everyone saying welcoming words and congratulating her but it is clear from everyone's face that they also think there is something more than this. She is not the chairman's relative and neither she has worked in the firm then why did he accompanied her all the way.
Clearing his throat the chairman speaks, "I'm happy with this new addition to our family, " but he paused hesitating and then continues, " To the family of our company. There are some more big news awaiting you all but for today this meeting is over. We will soon be meeting for a party and the details will be delivered to each of you respectively. Thankyou for your presence today." saying this with a smile he stood up and buttoning his coat he left the room. And behind him Cindy also left giving a smirk to Jim. Soon the room gets empty with only Jim and his Mother sitting beside each other. Jim withholding himself up till now, turns to her and asks, "What is happening? Why did Father came with her and not you? Why and how did she became the major shareholder? I mean how did Father transferred the shares to her?" he asks in one go.
"He hasn't transferred the your shares yet. He gave her the portion which he got after your Uncle passed away. The other half of your uncle's shares are under you." she replies slowly and looking at him with her last sentence.
He stood up realising why was he forced to come here today out of all the days. Leaving his place he walks towards the wall and then returns to her and asks, "And I'm invited here for signing my shares over to her?"
She nods. "And why would I do that?" he asks sitting back on his chair.
Looking at him she held his hand and says, "Jim you have always kept your calm and I'm hoping the same for now also." he listens carefully while she continues swallowing a gulp, "Your father is going to ask you to tranfer your uncle's shares to her and I want you to do it." he speaks in middle, "But Mom Why?"
"Listen to me first. Will you?"
"Okay."
"You have to do it in order to keep hold of your personal shares in the company otherwise your Father will be taking away all your shares by disowning you completely. " she paused.
He being surprised and shocked simultaneously, looks at her with a frown.
"And why all of a sudden will he be doing this? Had he wanted he would have done this years ago when I left. But today when I've created myself and I have earned a name, he is going to do it to me. "
" Yes. He has told me to inform you this. He wants you to decide wisely unlike before when you chose music over him."
" But Mom you told me it was my time to follow my dream so I did at that time. Otherwise I was ready to give up on it too." he says.
" I know. What I said earlier were your Father's words not mine." she clarifies.
" Okay." he took a breath of relief.
After a moment of silence he again jumps with a question, " Let's assume that I'm ready to do as you say but why on earth is he giving it to her? Did she made an investment? How much big was her investment because Father looked really happy. He didn't even passed me angry looks today. Is she really one of our shareholder?" he asks with curiosity.
"Yes. She invested in your Father." she says.
" What? " he asks confused.
" Your Father is going to marry that wench. " she says banging her palm on the table in irritation.
Her words stun him for the moment as it was nothing even near to his expectations. No one could have imagined this in this their wildest dreams because Richard have always been so loyal towards his wife. Everyone used to give examples of their love story and how they have lived happily even after so many years of their marriage.
Breathing heavily she is trying hard to control her tears in from of Jim.
Holding her shoulders he asks, "Mother what do mean by marriage? How can he be marrying her? And how come all this happened?" trying to keep his calm he speaks very softly. It is becoming hard for him too to control his emotions which is mostly anger but still he wants to know the entire story before reacting to it. He do not wants his mother to feel pressurised because of him too. She is already dealing with too much pain because of his Father and he do not wants to do any more damage to her.
"Let's go somewhere else from here. I don't want to talk about it here and now." she says but her face clearly shows that she is feeling suffocated here.
Hugging her softly he patted her back slowly trying to calm her down. Then after a moment he says, "Fine Mom let's go to my place for now. I'll make Spaghetti for you." he says sweetly.
She smiles at him. "I know what are you thinking."
"Really?" she asks picking her bag.
"I really can cook Mom." he says confidently.
"Okay okay we'll see." she says moving towards the door.
Opening the door for her he says, "Ladies first." with a wide smile.
Smacking his head softly she moves out while he after her. As the elevator reaches the parking and door opens there stands Cindy waiting for the lift.
She smiles and says , " Are you leaving? It was good to see you Mrs. Smith and you Jim."
" Mom please go sit in the car I'll join you in a moment." he says giving her the keys and convincing her with his long blink that he'll not do anything to create a scene. Believing him she left giving hard looks to Cindy.
Shamelessly smiling, she moves towards Jim while he stands there full of anger.
" How have you been?" she whispers.
" Stay away." he says taking steps backwards and asks, " Why are you doing all this? You know he is my Father. How can you ruin my parent's marriage?"
" I haven't done anything yet and you are blaming me. Don't you have any trust in your old friend?" she asks in her usual flirty way.
" I'm warning you to stop otherwise I will for sure forget that I once considered you my friend." he left warning her.
" Start considering me as your father's wife from now on, Jim ." she says a bit loudly for him to listen.
Clenching his first hard he stops for a moment and wants to choke her to death at that moment there only and just as he is about to turn his phone starts to ring. Realising it to be his Mother's call by the ringtone which he set for her number separately, he stops and continues to move towards his car.