ANISHA'S POV
While I sat with Iris, waiting for Dylan who had gone to talk to his sister, my phone started to ring. I quickly answered it, and in came a timid voice,
"Anisha…Anisha."
"Yes. I'm listening" My body suddenly became stiff when I heard Amelia's voice.
I had not yet managed to tell how I felt about her. I was not even sure. Part of my heart told me that I was OK with Ms Meyerton; she was my mother and I was happy with her.
"Anisha are you still there?" she asked in a low, scared voice.
"I'm listening," I spoke.
"Anisha…err,…Anisha, I am in Southrain!"
"What! When did you come?"
"Anisha listen, Tessa and I are here with my dad and step mother. I am with them now, at their home. Anisha…I …I told everyone about you. All along, we thought ….we thought you were ….I mean… dead. I mean…I told them I lost the pregnancy…..I am sorry. But now they know the truth...everyone wants to meet you, Anisha. I am sorry for all the pain I caused you. Are you still on the line? Anisha…"
"I'm listening."
"OK Anisha, I was saying…umm…I mean…my parents would love to meet with you. My dad is here with me now. If you are not too busy, he would like to say hello. And of course, if you have some time to spare, can we meet…I mean….can you come….can my parents see you?"
"I will check my schedule and let you know."
"I will be in Southrain for two whole weeks. I came along with Tessa, but she's going back in just two days….she has to be at school. Do…do you….do you think you can meet up with Tessa before she goes back to Hallowcave? She …she admires you a lot."
"She does?" I just rolled my eyes as I recalled the arrogant Tessa from the hair salon.
"Of course! You are the big sister that she had always longed for! Anisha…I know I wronged you, but for Tessa's sake, please forgive me my child. Anisha….Anisha…here, your grandpa wants to say hello…here Anisha..just hold, my child."
The phone was silent for a while, then a horse but very energetic voice came through,
"Ohh my grandchild!! I get to know that I have two granddaughters after all these years! Oh! I have seen Tessa here; now I have to see you too! So, what did you say? Are you visiting us soon?"
"How are you sir? I will…"
"Sir? Why call me sir? I am your grandfather! And Amelia here is your mother! Didn't the DNA test just prove it? You have to come and see us! We are a family!"
I felt anger welling up inside of me, but I had to do my best to fight it and remain calm. A family? Was it not for the old man and his wife, Amelia would have never suffered in the streets while carrying me, surviving at the mercy of some other homeless people. And now he was saying we are family! I already had a bad feeling about the man, even before I met him.
"Huh? Is that correct? How long have you known him?" I heard him asking me. Just at that moment, I realised that the man had been speaking, and I had not heard a thing he said, since I was busy thinking about the life that Amelia had to go through while she carried me.
"Sorry, please come again, sir," I said.
"Sir! Sir! You're calling me sir again!" he chuckled.
"I'm sorry. I guess it will take some getting used to…for me to call you…g…gran…."I became silent. My tongue felt like it had just knotted and it refused to move no matter how hard I tried to talk.
"Grandfather!" the man laughed heartily. "You can't even say the word?...Listen, my grandchild, I was just asking you something. Amelia told me that you are very close to the de Milo boy. So I was asking, how long have you known each other? Could he be in any way interested in you? What kind of relationship do you two have?" he paused, and I knew he was waiting for me to talk.
"We are friends."
"Oh! I mean…the young billionaire is said to have flown from here to Hallowcave when he heard that you were sick. And I understand he ordered you to be moved to Hallowcave's best hospital. What's more; you were in a VIP ward! You must mean a lot to the young rich man."
"Yes we are close friends," I said in a low voice.
"Oh well, if that's the case, then make sure to get very close to him. The de Milos literally own this country, I must tell you. Get close to him. I also want you to bring him along when you visit us. I have a few business proposals that I have kept up my sleeve for a while now. The only reason I didn't proceed with them was because of capital. You see, money is not easy to come by, especially for the ordinary people like us. Err, Anisha, where are you now? Where do you stay? I mean, right now, where are you?"
"Right now I'm at the Clear Opal Manor."
There was dead silence. When I concluded that man had ended the call by mistake, his voice came shrieking so loud that I had to move the phone away from my ear. What; did he intend to burst my eardrum or something.
"At the Clear Opal Manor? What! Do you mean the one, the real manor that is out of town, down Lavender Street? The huge white building which is always heavily guarded? Is that the same manor you're talking about? Are you inside that place right now as we speak?" the old man could not hide his excitement.
"Yes," I answered calmly, amused at how money will move people to go crazy.
"Oh well, then it means Dylan and you are more than just friends. I knew it! Amelia told me that the young billionaire was worried out of his skin when you were sick! He is in love with you, Anisha!"
I did not say anything. It was interesting to hear the joy in his voice, and already I was able to tell that he planned to use me as a meal ticket to achieving the dreams which he had not managed to achieve over God knows how many years.
"Anisha!" a female voice came through, "you are at the Clear Opal? Oh it's me, your grandmother…I almost forgot to introduce myself. So, the billionaire's son....what's his name? He's a billionaire too, is he not? He too runs a hospital, doesn't he? He does; he is the new CEO of the de Milo Children's Hospital, I read about it. Is he in love with you? Please bring him along when you come…."
"Anisha, listen," the man's voice spoke up before the woman had finished talking.
"I was still talking!" I heard the woman protesting.
"OK, we will all have a chance to talk to her," the old man assured his wife before he proceeded, "Anisha listen, you are more than welcome in this house! This is your home! feel free to come in any day. As for the young de Milo master; bring him with you any day! he is welcome here. Make sure you come before your sister leaves. Tessa would love to meet you too."
And more voices came. It was all of them; Amelia, Tessa, the grandparents and whoever else was there with them too.
"Anisha…you are welcome…"
"Anisha…bring the young billionaire with you…"
"Anisha, you know that we all love you…"
"Anisha, we can't wait to see you…."
"Anisha…."
"Anisha…."
"Anisha…."