Madam and her two sons hurried into the White Hall. Though they had been told over the phone that families were waiting on them, yet Madam looked a little stunned to see everyone awaiting their arrival. It was quiet and lifeless in the hall until they stepped in. Stepping in, there was a wave of soft chatter that swept across the hall. Haunting stares were thrown in their direction. Madam's first gaze picked someone. Hannah, her daughter. She was already standing not far from Grandma. Unlike before, when there was a secluded spot for her family to settle in, there was nothing in sight. "All of you, over here." A voice called. It wasn't Grandmother who had called. It was Laura, Doris's mother. "All of us?" Harold muttered, trying to make an absolute meaning. They reluctantly walked to the spot, which was next to Laura. They joined Hannah, who was already waiting for them. There was a pool of sweat idling in the corner of Hannah's temple. "Where have you been?" Madam asked in a
"Who is that?""Who is she?""I don't think I have seen her before."A couple of people were confused. Most of them didn't know who this new girl was. She looked well and fine, but she was dressed in a simple gown. She looked beautiful and neat, yet simple and unimportant. "You!" Harold exclaimed.When Harold exclaimed, everyone got even more invested. Most of the other families didn't know the maid. It was natural. They could only know the family members of Madam's family. Maids weren't important. They weren't even seen as humans by these aristocratic families!Since most of them were bought instead of hired. Madam didn't really look at the door when Achiel pointed. She was still stunned by Achiel's audacity and the things that he had said. But now that her son, Harold, had exclaimed, she flung her head in the direction. Her maid was walking towards them. Unlike before, she looked brighter and warmer. She got to Laura and bowed. Then she turned to Grandmother and bowed too. Afte
Madam wished for the floor to pave beneath her and gobble her up. Harold's bewildered face continued to broaden to house a wider range of shock. Marion wasn't really good at expressing his reactions. Derek had scarcely walked to join Achiel when suddenly, Hannah strutted towards him. "Derek? What the hell are you doing here? What brought you here?" Hannah asked, her wild eyes running across Derek's unamused face. Derek didn't answer her. Instead, he took a glance at Madam, who was still trying to solve the puzzle. There were so many questions that shot up in her mind. Derek and Achiel? How? "Talk to me, Derek! What is happening? You didn't tell me that you'd be here? What are you doing going to meet Achiel?" Hannah was trying all her best to understand the situation. But it seemed like the more she tried, the clueless she was. "What is this?" Laura suddenly called. Everyone in the hall was equally stunned. The only person who had everything under control was Achiel. Achiel knew
A couple of days ago, Achiel had met with Derek in a public garden. Achiel had met him to discuss with him the article that Derek had wanted to publish. Derek had wanted to publish an article about Miss Zoe having an affair with her new boss. He wanted to create a scandal. A scandal that would help bring his company back into the business world. Achiel had decided to discourage him. "I used to think that you were smart, Derek. But you are no different from Harold and his shitty brother." Achiel had mocked. "You shut the fuck up, scumbag! Or is it a trash bag?! Isn't that your title?" Derek had retorted, with a corny smile. "That they call me a trash bag doesn't mean I am that. But I mean, you are a different story. The way you think and address situations screams how dull you are." "You fucking piece of shit. I don't even know why I'm standing here with you?" Derek became furious and decided to leave. "I have a proposal for you." Achiel called him back. Derek had stopped walkin
All jaws dropped to the floor. Everyone was crushed to smithereens by confusion. Everyone was taken aback, knocked for a loop, stunned speechless, gobsmacked, flabbergasted, thunderstruck, dumbfounded,in disbelief, astounded, overwhelmed, and.... (words elude)The video was proof enough! What is grandmother doing? Why did she suddenly slap Achiel? What in the world!!!"Is this family a joke to you! Ah! Achiel! Is this family a joke to you? After all this family did for you?!!!" Grandmother raved in utmost rage. When Harold heard and saw this, his accelerated heartbeat slowly calmed. He suddenly became hopeful. Even Madam had just snapped out of a long trance.Was Grandma trying to ignore everything that Achiel had just said, looking away from the claims of the maids and proofs presented by Derek? None of the people could tell what was happening. Achiel was broken into confetti by the hammer of confusion. He could do nothing but stare inquisitively and bewildered at Grandma. "How c
"Ouch! Ouch! This hurts. This hurts so bad." Derek groaned as he tried to fight himself free. He couldn't possibly forcefully fight himself free. Though he was feeling pain, yet he wouldn't want to hurt the old woman. He has a father and knows what having an elderly person means. But this pain was becoming unbearable for him. Why is this old woman doing this to him? He wasn't even part of her family? While Derek was suffering the pain, he was trying to read the odds, too. "Please stop. This hurts." He reached his hand to touch the back of Grandma's hand. "It's not supposed to make you laugh. It's supposed to bring you to your senses." The old woman said, adding more pressure. Derek couldn't hold himself up anymore. He dropped on his knees. Grandma let go of his ears. "How can your finger be so strong? Ow." Derek made a fuss, groaning. "How dare you have an affair with a married woman? How dare you have an eye for someone who belongs to another man? What has the world beco
There was a long minute of silence. Everyone watched as the old woman walked out of the White Hall through her special door. This was an unusual and sad day in the history of Auroville Groups. And the family at large. None of the family members had ever been shut out of the group! None of them have had the reason never to be a part of the family anymore! Madam's family would be the first. Many of those present were still trying to decide whether or not this is real. They wanted to know whether or not this was not a sort of spell or trance they'd been launched into. "What a great torn in the flesh of this great family!" A voice out of nowhere ran across the hall. Every eye looked in the direction of the voice. No one could tell precisely what the intention behind the tone was. "This is such a sad day for all of us. One of us is no longer a part of us!" It was a young man with silver hair. "Bullshit! They deserved it! That's what you get when you don't know how to keep your family
Achiel's reflexes took control of his body. Involuntarily, he threw his other arm in the direction of the force and felt a contact. "Ouch! Ow, Achiel. That hurts." A man groaned, staggering to the back as he clutched his hand to his nose. Achiel turned to see Derek. "Oh shit, Derek. It's you." Achiel sounded very concerned. His feelings and reactions at that moment were very genuine. "Of course it's me. What's the matter with you? Why would you suddenly do that?" Derek was not willing to drop this. He must be suffering from some pain. Achiel had struck him where the old woman had made a feast of his ear. "I'm sorry, man. Let's drop this. I didn't know you would be there. You could have just called my name. What happened to that? Was that not how you would do in the past?" While Achiel tried to apologise, he tried to create a fort, too. "What if it was a kid behind you? Would you have done that, too?" Derek kept on arguing. "Okay, let it pass. Let's just get out of here. We ca