Suddenly, the fringed curtains of her eyes parted. She breathed hard and stretched her sluggish body. She stretched her arms and rubbed her eyes. After that, she casually switched her gaze over to the television inside that car. Her eyes stared open and kept gaping at the time on Joe's car television.
" Oh, why didn't you wake me up? it's 1:40," asked Sophia in a tense tone, her eyes staring shockingly at Joe. She began to shove Joe's body angrily.
" Now don't say that you are going to cry. I just did it for your advantage, dear. An angel was sleeping quietly, what could I do?" saying so, he clasped Sophia's hands and caressed his lips on her smooth cheeks, striding them slowly towards her neck.
" If I had broken your sleep, I would have cursed myself. It would have been a great wrong for me, dear. You were tensed today, so that's why I decided to let you rest for a while. Please forgive me for thinking about your benefit, dear," said Joe, lightly and as calmly as he could.
" First of all shut your damned television. it's interrupting the conversation, I could hardly listen to some of your words," said Sophia grimly, covering her ears with both hands. When Joe switched the television off, Sophia took a deep breath and stared at her lover to open up her plea," Actually, Joe, I want to ask you something."
"Yes, Yes ask me, I am free to listen to you"
"Joe, mmm, Do you love me?" Saying so, Sophia blushed harder and hid her face inside her palms.
" Yes, of course, I love you," smiled Joe," Do you have any doubt about our relationship, dear?" implored Joe.
" No, I do not doubt it. But since you love me I want to ask you something. " Sophia paused for a while. Then inhaling a deep breath, she began with the request," Can I live with you? I know you won't refuse it. You promised that you will take me away from this harsh situation. I will act as your maid and will desire no more than just a room till we are married, please don't refuse it."
After listening to such a conversation, Joe's body paralysed. Then, slowly he started ticking his fingers on the car dashboard.
Then slipping his fingers down the dashboard, and pulling his face away from Sophia's gaze, he answered, " Actually girl, this could not happen. I will surely marry you but keeping you at my home at present is not possible. You know I live alone, and I am a busy businessman. So, you should stay at your residence. Okay, I hope you understand."
Sophia glanced at Joe with a gloomy expression. She didn't expect such a reply from someone who had previously offered to protect her entire being. But understanding her boundaries and his predicament, She nodded in favour of Joe's plea.
"It's okay, Joe. I can understand your situation. You are just 21 years old. At such a young age, you did wonders in your business. You expect to take your business to great heights and I hope so when it happens, we will marry. " said Sophia, her eyes filled with tears.
Seeing her condition, Joe stretched his right hand toward her face and wiped the tears away that had seeped through her orbs. " Listen, Sophia. I don't want to break your heart. But, to be straight, I want to say that you are a nice girl. You never gave me a chance to display a single grievance against you. You are exactly the girl I was looking for. I do not have parents or family to support me. I can't handle anything except my business. Please allow me to live in my present situation, meddling not with it."
" I can understand your situation. Just like you, I have no parents or family to care for. We should continue with our current life, till we complete our studies." Saying so, she closed herself in deep thoughts. Then slowly she opened the door of the car and stepped out.
She waved at Joe and smiled, while Joe returned a flying kiss to her. Sophia didn't look back and stood outside the college. Joe steered the wheel of his fortuner and drove off in the opposite direction. Sophia continued to stare at the huge mustard gate, with folds in it, while waiting for her cousins.
When her cousins' figures appeared in front of her own eyes, she waved her hand toward them. Both her cousins approached her and gave filthy expressions, with their eyebrows creased. Then one of her cousins raised her palm, and asked " How do you happen to be here?"
Sophia stood there, giving out a grinning expression to both the cousins, and answered," I just came here ten minutes ago. I was waiting here for both of you when I decided to eat ice cream. It was so delicious, I can still remember its taste."
Sophia closed her eyes and wiped her lower lip with her tongue. She knew what she was admiring in her brain, standing there quiet and pondering over his fellow man.
Suddenly, one of her cousins produced a pen drop sound by blowing her thumb to her index finger. Sophia came out of her creations. She saw her cousins, standing with folded arms.
Then, the eldest cousin named Stella came forward and grabbed Sophia's collar. She stared wildly into Sophia's eyes untiringly and asked in a furious loud tone" Tell us where you had been. If you tried to fool us any further, we would see what to do with you. Our mother will try her best to make your life a piece of hell. So, to save yourself, speak out all the truth. You have only one minute and your time starts now."
Saying so, Stella withdrew her hand from Sophia's collar and walked on to stand beside Diana. Both of them were staring at Sophia without blinking, with arms in a cross.