In the past five years, all Maya had done was to study hard and look after her mother and weak sister. Due to Zara's weak immune system, she had to drop out of school and would stay at home most of the time. Maya had also started to teach her sister, at home, and often tried to win her mother's approval.
Maya's mother, Lisa had now attained a job due to her husband's death in the governement department and earned a fair amount of money to lead a comfortable life along with her two daughters. She had slowly started to like Maya yet again and things had started to grow back to normal.
Maya was a topper in her class and Zara too was doing fairly well, in her home classes under Maya's guidance. Lisa on the other hand, was also giving away sexual favours to several high - end government officials, and was earning pretty much from all of this. She loved her dead husband, but she knew she now had a huge respinsibility on her shoulders.
It all started when one official had fallen for her beauty and offered her a good amount of money, for one night with him. Lisa could not refuse as the money was extremely good and wpuld ensure the future of her two girls. Soon, it became a practice and Lisa came to be known as the bed warmer of several high officials.
One night...
Maya had been studying late for her upcoming exams, while Zara had already slep besides her. It was already pretty late and usually Maya had always dozzed off by this time. Lisa was not at home yet and it was not very unusual. Lisa would often come late at home, telling her kids that she is working hard to earn monney.
Suddenly Maya heard a motor car, halt outside there house and she stood up, walking in the balcony of her room which was on the first floor. It was not very usual to have a motor car in those days and only very rich and influential men owned it.
The balcony of there new big house, looked straight away to the main gate, and Maya saw her mother standing in a bright red colored short dress. "Mother?"
She had never seen her mother dress like this, specially after there fathers death. Her dress was too short, while her hair were left open to fall on her waist. She had done a bit of makeup too on her face and was smiling looking at an old man, dressed in an impeccable suit.
Even though Maya was just thirteen years old, but it was an enough amount of age to understand that her mother was upto no good. She was standing too close to the man, while the man's hands were caressing Lisa's hands and arms. Lisa was giggling softly, looking at him as he spoke something in Lisa's ear.
"Shush! The kids are sleeping sweetie. You need to lower your voice." Lisa spoke softly signalling the man to speak softly.
The man smirkex and then encircled his arms around Lisa's hips and planted his lips on Lisa's lips. Lisa too kissed him back as she encircled her arms around his neck.
Maya gasped in shock looking at her mother and she instantly rushed inside and lied down on her bed, as if sleeping. A few minutes later, Maya heard the motor car speed away and she closed her eyes, pretending to take deep breath. Zara was yet fast asleep in the other side of the bed, taking deep breaths.
Just then Maya heard her mother's heels as she was climbing up the stairs of the wooden floor. The room slowly opened and Lisa entered checking upon her kids. She planted a soft peck on each one's cheek and turned to walk away. Maya could smell a strange scent of alcohol from her mother.
She peeked a bit from the corner of her eye and saw her mother departing the room. She was now wearing a long robe, on top of her short dress to hide it. Maya wanted to ask several questions from her mother but she never did. She had made up her mind to never reveal to her mother that she was awake that night.
Maya wanted to believe that her mother was genuinly in love with that man, untill she saw her with a different man. Maya was totally heartbroken, but she yet again preferred to stay quiet.
She never told her mother how she kept a check on her. She never revealed how her dreams still haunted her. She already knew about the massive plane crash that happened in the United Sates, as she had seen it in her dreams. She knew about the death of her classmate too, who had dued by falling from the roof of his house. She knew it all, but she never shared it with her mother, from fear of being hated again.