Chapter 6
Hi, Mr. Raheja
As you may have noticed, we have started a pen pal relationship, and I'm enjoying writing you letters. We are using letters to communicate in this digital age.
I'm going to share some quite private information with you: my mother wrote me a bundle of birthday letters before she passed away. Every birthday, when I read the letter, I get the feeling that Mom is still close by, guiding me and pointing me in the proper direction in life. Her written communications serve as a constant reminder to me that, as a mother, she is well aware of the struggles I may have had. Her letter is what keeps me sane. Writing and reading letters is therefore my favorite type of work.
Even if you are rather old, I will still consider you to be my new friend. I was about to write, sir, but then I remembered that you are my buddy first and foremost, not just an old person. This time, I've made a great amount of food for you and your family. I hope you enjoy it. Please share them with everyone.
My mother's death cruelly took away a significant portion of my life. Everyone says that I was her shadow and that I lost motivation after she left. I used to spend hours by myself in my room, sobbing uncontrollably. Every day seemed worse than the one before it. Every day I felt like I was falling asleep in the dark. I dragged myself through the day because there was no light in my life. However, one day, as I was weeping, I looked around and realized that my father was making a lot of effort every day to bring me out of the circumstances. That day helped me to see that his anguish stemmed more from the loss of his life companion.
He sat next to me, comforting me, putting his wife's death behind him, and attempting—though it was an impossible effort for him—to pull me out of the darkness. When I asked him how he managed to restore me to normal, he replied that he loved me and that people would go to any lengths for those they cared about. He stated that his older daughter would eventually return to normal. I learned that day that you can do anything for the people you love. One can accomplish anything because of love.
I believe my response to your query was sufficient. However, I would like to ask you one more thing. Are you in agony right now, are you experiencing pain from the past that you are unable to get over? You can only share with me if you feel comfortable doing so. Despite the length of this letter, I liked writing to you, my new buddy.
With regards,
Ms.GoodDeeds
P.S. I'm studying for my final college semester right now. We are thus much apart in age.
Grinning, I read the letter again before folding it, putting it in an envelope, and storing it in a bag. I was going to give Mariam the letter, but first I have to make my favorite meal. Tomorrow, I'll give Mariam the letter and the food. I left the orphanage after spending some time playing with the kids while thinking about this wonderful day.
I had just arrived at the orphanage and was about to board the bus when my father called to tell me that I needed to pick up some paperwork from Raj's Uncle, one of Papa's close friends. I scheduled a taxi after he forwarded the address to me.
I thought sitting in the taxi that it was an odd night. It was warm and tense with energy, and everything seemed eerily real to me, almost like a dream. I am starting to feel remorseful about the entire concept as I gaze down the lengthy and dark path. However, it's already too late. I've driven here already. It took me thirty minutes to get to my location. After giving the cabbie his due, I turned to face a quiet, charming neighborhood with two-story homes spaced perfectly apart. This was a wealthy neighborhood, and I've always felt strange in places like this.
From where I was standing, I could hear loud music; there was presumably a party going on. I could no longer hear my shoes over the music after just a few feet. A dog sulks and trots behind the fence of a house I pass. He seems just as nervous about what I'm going to do as I do.
I pass a row of hedges and enter a scene that is very different from the rest of the neighborhood; it is loud, vibrant, and full of light. This portion of the street is blocked off by a jumble of cars, and the lawn is cluttered with folding tables, chairs, and garbage bags. The exterior of the house is covered in bizarre banners, stickers, and streamers, giving the impression that it is a massive artwork rather than a residence.
A restless group of people was crammed between the walls as the windows lit up and the doors were ajar. They didn't give a damn about what was going on as they sit about drinking and laughing.
People began to notice me as soon as I stepped inside Raj's uncle's home. I seemed like the ideal outcast at the gathering. While some people appeared astonished, others were staring at me irritably. I know what they're probably thinking.
"Pardon me, how may I assist you?" I turned around when I heard someone question me, and it was the waiter.
"uhhmmmm..Hi, I had some work with Raj's uncle," I said.
"Come with me, and allow me to inform him about you." He said, "I will escort you to another room," and I did what he asked.
We went into a library-like space. There was just the waiter and myself as I turned to glance around.
"Madam, sir will join shortly," he said.
"Hmmmm." I said taking a pause, "If he's busy, I'll come another day."
"Madam, Sir had informed me that you would be there." He smiled and added, "Don't worry, it's okay. This is his son's party."
I meandered into the library, admiring the assortment of books that Uncle Raj possessed. It was a truly fantastic assortment. I told myself that I needed to grab some books from Raj's uncle. The electricity abruptly cut off as I was pulling a book out of the collection to begin reading it. I closed my eyes in horror and then gently opened them. Fortunately, there was a candle far away, so I moved in the direction of the entrance.
With cautious steps, I reached for the door; suddenly, it opened, allowing someone to enter, and my book dropped to the ground. I sat down, picked up the book, and stood up when someone suddenly grabbed my waist from behind, spun me around, and the next thing I knew, my face hit someone's large chest.
"You see, my sweetheart. You shouldn't play games with me, I told you." This gloomy man continued, "Anisha, you were giving me hints the entire party, and now I'm going to take you here to your father's house."
I tried to get away from him, but he drew me in closer. "And where do you think you are going?" he asked, his voice hardening and sounding annoyed and angry. He mistook me for someone named Anisha and was blinded by the darkness to see who I was.
"Look, Mr...." I opened my lips to correct the error, but he covered it with his palm, forcing me to stop.
"Anisha, I'm not a patient man. so please don't agitate me again. Even if I am easygoing with you, it doesn't imply I'll put up with all of your bullshit."
Leaning forward, he reduced the distance between us, and I let out a deep breath. That was happening once more. Even though he was frightening, I thought his voice sounded incredibly raspy. His closeness was making me feel weaker once more. Why was this taking place? I should have pushed him away and given him my identity, but he had a strong hold on me.
I could see the outline of his face in the faint light given by the moon, but his face was not very visible. We merely stared at one another for a time, but suddenly I sensed something. He was stroking my waist with his hands over my Kurta. I could feel his breath on my face because we were so close. My heart was trying desperately to beat slowly from his warm breath. He took his hand off of my mouth, and I tried to speak once more.
I tried to push him back by putting my hand on his chest, but he pushed a little further forward and forcefully grasped both of my wrists before shifting to either side.
"Pl.. please move back. It's not who you think…." I tried to explain things to him, but all he did was hold my face between his palms.
"Let me demonstrate to you what occurs when you tease me...." He surprised me by putting his lips on mine, and all I could think was that I was getting kissed by a stranger in someone else's home.