" We are just a few steps away from our uncle's cottage. There it is," said Stella, pointing her finger to the top right. When they approached the cottage, the taxi driver halted. The girls got off and picked up their luggage from the deck. Sophia thanked the taxi driver for his patience. After that, she walked indoors slowly, with both her hands clutched to the handle of the bag.
The figure of a bald man appeared as the lights were turned on. He was a man of senior age, with hardly any hair in the middle of his head, and his body was as thin as a skeleton. His eyes were little and greyish. He was staring at the girls with bulging eyes as they dropped their bags in the living room. He stepped slowly towards the girls, eyes continuously staring in alarm. " Who are you and why did you drop your luggage inside my kitchen?" asked the old man angrily.
" Kitchen? I thought it is a living room?" asked Sophia, scratching her head and turning towards her cousins. " Yes, it is a living room. Every rational man would call it a living room. But our uncle is mentally not normal that's why he calls it a kitchen. " explained Diana, using gestures frequently to communicate.
"You are our mother's uncle and so we call you grandfather. You have low retaining power, Uncle Joseph. Now, do you remember us?" asked Stella, stretching her brows up, with eyes glued to the old man's countenance as if expecting a quick positive response.
"Yes, Yes, I remember you. I can't recall your names, but I can recognise you. You are my niece's daughters. I guess she sent you here to enjoy your vacation. Isn't it true?" answered the old man.
" Yes, it's true. We have come to stay here for three days. We have to spend our time fruitfully. We have to execute a crucial plot too."
" Which plot, Stella? May I know? you didn't talk about it throughout the journey. Is it something new?" asked Sophia with her gaze shifting to Stella and Diana frequently.
" It's something that is not only beneficial for us but you too. You will enjoy it as if it is your last pleasure ever loved in life. Don't worry, just wait for the consequences." saying so Stella blinked one of her eyes at Diana, who gave a thumbs up to her in return.
Then the old man went inside the actual kitchen and covered his head with a chef's hat. "You will not cease licking your plates once you devour my dishes. My customers do appreciate it and I make a fortune every day."
"His fortune means bringing home losses every day, and his customers are dogs and cats and other stray animals as always." chuckled Diana.
" He is happy with his own company, I guess. He lives in a fantasy that no one can unlock. Let him live in it. It seems quite impressive that he lives his life to the fullest even during Alzheimer's." smiled Sophia and walked to her room.
After a few hours, In the bedroom...
" Shall we execute it now?" whispered Diana, drifting her eyes to the right and left.
" Wait! what's the time?" asked Stella in the same light tone.
" It's quarter to 7."
" Okay, the time suits the purpose in mind. Let not anyone follow us during the performance of such an act. Seal your mouth and burn off the memory card of your brain after such an act. Confide your heart that it was not a spectacle to moan at. Everything has a motive."
" But without her, we cannot perform this plot. She is the centre of this plot, she has to wake up."
" I will wake her up, don't worry."
Sophia stayed in the limited space, next to both the sisters. As Stella nudged the door of her room gently, it opened ajar. The room was inhabited by a single wooden bed, made of strong light brown wood, with a neat bed sheet, supported by a nightstand with a lamp, beside it. Opposite them, there was a white-coloured almirah and a fan. The walls were painted green on one side and yellow on the remaining.
There, she could notice Sophia lying on her back, on an individual bed. Stella kept roaming her eyes in several directions, looking for the switchboard. She would place her fingers on the wall and stroll it horizontally in a continuous motion, in that greyish room. Then coming upon a pair of switches, she switched on the lights of the room and rushed inside and threw her body on the bed.
She continued to shove Sophia, but she didn't wake up. Instead, she changed her sleeping position and exhaled a deep breath without advancing her eyes. Then Stella spoke something to lure Sophia," Sophia, we are going to the valley side. Do you want to join us? but how will you join us? You are napping right now. We were planning to eat momos as a feast. Since you are reposing and could not wake up, we would have to go alone, leaving you here."
Her body inhaled a deep breath, and slowly her eyes advanced, staring vacantly at the ceiling. Then she stood upright, rubbed her face and tilted her head towards Stella, with her eyes still drowsy. Then yawning, she stroked her messed-up hair and said," I am also coming with you, don't forget me."
" How can we forget you," hushed Stella to herself.
" Did you say anything?" implored Sophia, turning her eyes at Stella.
" I didn't say anything. Your ears are ringing. Wash your face, refresh your body, and get ready, as quickly as you got ready for this trip."
Sophia walked to the opposite room to ready herself. Stella was about to move to the other room when she sensed that something was missing. She recalled that she had kept her glasses in the living room, but it was all empty when she walked inside it the second time.
She became a bit tensed with teeth rubbing against each other in agitation.
" What happened Sophia? Why are you so tensed, girl" a voice came from behind Stella. She rotated her head to find Uncle Joseph standing there. Stella started rubbing her teeth more and said," I am not Sophia, Uncle Joseph. I am Stella, Stella Dutson." saying so she joined her hands and gave an ugly grimace.
Suddenly, her eyes widened seeing Uncle Joseph wearing her spectacles. She immediately cried out," Uncle, why are you wearing my spectacles. These are mine, your's are lying in your room."
" I got these from my room only. My room is there. " he pointed his finger to the dining room, shut with glass doors. " Girl, you are not okay. I think you need to rest. Go to your room and take some rest." chuckled Uncle, making Stella more enraged. She returned to her room, hands pressed to her waists with fists beside the thighs.
Stella took a casual walk to the kitchen to check for any small food items to quench her hunger. She felt dull as she stepped into the aisle between the three distant rooms. It was as if she walked miles along the snowy paths, tiring her body for a further journey.
She roamed like a tiny beetle throughout the aisle to the kitchen. As she stepped into the kitchen, her glance switched over to the key holder beside the transparent window, inside that kitchen. It was above Stella, with keys placed in it jingling as the winds passed over them.
Immediately, she pulled a dining chair with her left hand, and planting it in front of her, she positioned herself on it. After getting the keys, she leapt down and walked with a warm expression.
" I will borrow Uncle Joseph's mini truck. My whole body is exhausted after this tiresome journey. Who will wander on feet after such a journey, especially in a low-standard car?" completing the last sentence, she exhibited an awful grimace.
Then shifting it, she smiled as she crossed the aisle to her room. Her mind was consumed with the flavours of savoury dishes that were quite popular in mountains. She licked her lips and began biting her fingers when Diana shook her.
" What are you thinking of?" asked Diana. Stella flinched at her words, and her gaze shifted to her. Suddenly, Stella pulled out the keys from her side bag's pocket. This made Diana pose with a photogenic smile. "Your mind always makes up for the worst situation. I was tired and couldn't get up to walk 5 km to the market. By the way, from where did you get these keys?" asked Diana, shaking her hands.
" These are Uncle's keys, I got them from the kitchen," stated Stella as fastly as she could.
" Uncle is kind to have entrusted you with his car, knowing that you do not possess a driving license. "
" He lend me neither the car nor the keys, I grabbed them myself," stated Sophia in a modest tone.
" What, You stole it?"
" Shh, Diana, don't speak so loudly. Everything will be alright. Just don't spoil the plot. You are acting like rains when you should bring the logs."
" But if he finds out?" huffed Diana.
" Do you think I haven't made preparations for that? my plans are ahead of my actions. See, what we will do. We will give him water before leaving, mixing the sleeping drug in it. He will drop unconsciously on the couch in a few seconds and will not wake up till 9 or 10."
" That's a great idea. My mind does not get such brilliant ideas. Stella, you are indeed wittier than you look."
" And most importantly, don't tell Sophia about this, mind it. She will alarm everyone, leading to more trouble. Don't allow her to investigate the water, keep her away from the glass of water, for if she smelt it, we are nowhere to hide."
As they both were conversing, a knock came on their door, making them startled. When Diana opened it, she found Sophia standing there, attired in a neat red coat, with her hair in one ponytail and braids on two halves of her head, divided by a line in the centre. She looked charming for the one who would trail his eyes over her, from down to up.