"His excellency, we have the man. We are driving to the agreed location as we speak."The voice over the speaker came. But the Prime Minister didn't know what to say. He was reluctant to say the words. His eyes were glued to the TV screen which was a distance away from him and Madam Casper. The both of them had just watched with mouth agape as Alves led the gateman into the press Hall to give the speech. And now, someone was calling him, the P.M., telling him that they have the man. "What man are you talking about?"The P.M. finally found his voice. His eyes were glued to the TV screen, yet it was obvious that his attention was on whoever was speaking with him over the phone. He didn't have the luxury of time to check out the reaction of Madam Casper. He seemed to be caught up in his own worries too. He needed someone to bail him out of the bars of confusion which he had just been hurled into. "The man whom you sent us to retrieve. Sarah Casper's gateman."The man argued over the
There was a grave silence which paced the nook and crannies of the large living room of the Casper's mansion. It was an extrinsically looking living room, furnished exhaustively. But the strong grip of silence choking the peace and life which the chandeliers had upheld in the living room, made every sense of life scary. The four children of Madam Casper were seated in the living room, all eyes on the TV screen. The TV screen was like a fancy tarpaulin which had rolled out of the ceiling. The manner at which they were all staring at the television, it was obvious that there was something really significant as well as puzzling happening. In the screen, there was Alves helping the gateman up. Then the both of them bowed at the crowd of reporters, greeted by blinding flashes of light and chatters. Then Alves turned to the man and led him out of the hall. Press meeting was over!The silence which had suffered the life a breathing space earlier couldn't afford the generosity anymore.
The four watched in utmost dismay. They couldn't believe their ears. It was only natural for them to feel that way. If there was anyone who should be pissed to the brink, it was them and not Madam. How dare she say that to them? How dare she?"What the hell is happening here? Who the fuck are these people?"Simeon raised his voice as he looked from the men hired by madam to Madam. "What do you think you are doing, Madam?"Simeon carried on, with much rage evident in his tone. "Is this how to hide your promiscuous lifestyle from us? Oh you don't feel any remorse and would kick us out of our father's mansion when you should be the one ought to be kicked out?!""Simeon..."Michael tried to caution, but Simeon didn't seem like he gave a damn. "Why the hell are you calling my name, Michael? Didn't you hear what she just said? She wants to kick us out?! After all she had done? After what we just heard about her? She thinks she has the right to do that to us? I mean what kind of boldness
"My name is Sarah Casper, the wife of the deceased Arnold Casper, and the daughter-in-law of the lovely Casper who is the founder of the great Casper groups.""That ---""Simeon!"Michael snapped at Simeon. "We will all be silent for as long as this meeting takes. Just watch. No one is allowed to say anything until all is done."Simoen grunted in displeasure after the warning of Michael. Not that he held it in high regard, but it was quite obvious that he was somewhat willing to allow the beast in him rest for a while. He looked it. There was silence again. "But why is she looking like she had just lost someone? She's fucking pretending and you are telling me to be quiet?"Simeon argued further but no one answered him. So, it was only right for him to take wisdom. Speaking of Madam, her face looked sad and swollen. She looked like someone who had been crying for seven days. Her eyes were weary and her nose busy. There was a handkerchief with her which she used to blow her nose eve
"This crazy woman! How dare she?! How dare she lie to the public?!"The gateman was on his feet, bawling out his rage, but at no one but the moving subject in the TV. Madam Casper. "How could she even say that? Is Grimming Hills a joke to her? Are the people a sort of joke to her?"He carried his argument on as he yelled. He had much energy which was identical to that of Simeon, but a projected calmness that rules over Gareth. "Is she telling a lie?"Alves called at him. Alves was settled in a couch behind the man, and Villian was standing behind the couch. The man spun around almost immediately. "Absolutely! She is telling a lie, Alves. She is telling a fat lie and putting up a show!"The man argued so passionately. It was written all over his face that he wished he could do something else other than yell on top of his voice and argue behind the screen. "Mind your words, old man. You should never call my boss by his name, never again!"Villian snapped at the man almost so sudde
The car pulled over at the front of a shabby bungalow. The roof was thatched and the garden which surrounded it was outgrown and unkempt. It smelled rots and oil. "I'll advise you stay in the car, Young Master. That house looks like the hide of a otherworldly things. I can't and won't allow any stain to smear you let alone---""After you."Alves said to the gateman, throwing all what Villian had said into the air. "Young Master."Villain called, watching as the gateman led the way. "That fool has no idea what I have been through before now."Alves said to the man. "I should wait here and watch."Villain was reluctant, looking around him. The neighbourhood looked local and confined. It was the quietest place in the whole of Grimming Hills. "Maybe not."He changed his mind and hurried inside. When he walked into the room, where Alves and the old man were, something dropped from the door posts and hit him on the head. He didn't even make a sound let alone touch to feel the pain. "
Several days had passed, and Gareth and Laura were seated in the living room of Simeon's duplex. None of them knew yet how he was able to secure such a magnificent building under the haunting watch of Madam. But that wasn't really the main deal. The past few days had been spent in silence and solitude. Each of them had needed time to process the information which Madam had given in the press meeting. Even some of them didn't have the interest in other superficial things, like taking calls and other things related to it. The news had hit them off guard, making a cat out of a ruthless lion. Gareth and Laura were talking almost in whispers as though this doesn't want the other to hear what he was saying. That kept on going for a while. Unitl the door was pushed open and Michael walked inside. "Simeon."He called so loudly that even the deaf wouldn't have an excuse.He settled down and say greetings to his younger ones. The reactions of Gareth and Laura changed. They looked anxious a
"What the fuck exactly is happening?""I mean I can't wrap my head around it.""This really has got to be a sort of sitcom or something.""Or perhaps someone is using all of you to catch a sort of cruise... or a prank?"The silence which had been suddenly crushed and beaten to pulp by the sequence of argument miraculously found its old form again, clothing and draping the living room in its best fashion. Each person who would stare into the nothingness, now pick anyone, whom his mind dim fit, in his gaze. The coldness slowly graduated into a chilly warmth. "He is not our legal father?"Gareth smeared the silence again, ripping it open to let every form of sound intrude. "Legal father? Since when did that become a thing?"Michael carried on almost immediately. "Does that mean that somehow Gareth is still my brother?""Will you just shut up and let me think?"Simoen snapped at Laura all of a sudden. He looked a little bit irritated. Yet he wasn't done with whatever he had in mind.