In Auroville Mansion, Madam's home, there were chills and pangs. Harold, Marion, and Fabien were on their knees staring up ahead. Their faces were solemn and troubled. Their cheeks were flushed, and their eyes were growing weary. It was as though there was no life in there. They were all staring at someone who was seated in a fancy as well as an expensive chair. Madam. She was seated in the chair, staring into the space. For a few seconds, it felt like it was a staring contest between the children and their mother. It was hard to tell who the winner would be. Though Madam hardly blinked, compared to the rest who blinked every second as though their lives depended on it. "Please say something, Mother. Please." Fabien was the first to severe the choking silence. "It is as though our life will end if you keep quiet all day long." Marion added emphatically. "Since we have arrived from the white hall, you have been silent. Speak to us, Mother. Whatever. Anything." Harold, the eldest
Madam pushed the door to Hannah's room opened. She could hear her sons calling her name, but she didn't seem to care. Her face was too solemn to house a shade of concern or empathy. Hannah was lying on the bed. A doctor had come to check her immediately after they arrived from the white hall. The doctor had told them that Hannah needed to rest for a long time. As soon as her body system adjusts to the natural order of the stimulus, then she would wake up of her own accord. That was the exact reason that they had left her alone. But now, suddenly, Madam had barged into her room. Knowing fully well that the doctor had warned that a forceful waking could affect Hannah's mental state of mind. That was the exact reason why the sons were very worried. They couldn't begin to imagine what their mother might be up to. Madam didn't walk straight to her bed. Instead, she changed her route in the direction of the restroom. She headed into the restroom. "Where is she?" Harold had rushed into
Achiel arrived at the place where the map had directed him to. He turned and looked around, but he couldn't see a trace of her. "Did the map make a mistake?" He thought for a while. When he realised that there was no point bickering over something that was so insignificant, he decided to adopt the better option. "I should call her." He brought out his phone and put a call through. It rang for a while and then was answered. "Where are you? I am here." He said, looking to his side to determine whether or not a magic would happen this time. "Across the road. In the restaurant." The voice over the speaker said. Achiel didn't bother to drop the call. Instead, he turned around to see what he had missed. When he did turn, he saw a restaurant across the road. "Woah. Why didn't I think of this?" He complained. He crossed the road and arrived at the front of the restaurant. For no reason, he looked up at the name of the restaurant. SAFE HAVEN TREATS. "This restaurant sounds very fami
Not only the words but the seriousness etched in the face of the maid got Achiel gobsmacked. Boyfriend? Who? Of course, Achiel strongly disapproved of this. But when he looked away from her to the attendants, their reactions set him on a fence. Not only would he have to argue with the maid, but the attendants too. He would have to convince them that he wasn't her boyfriend. He realised that there was no point stressing over something like that. It would be for just a matter of time. After they sorted this out, they were going to have a talk in person. "Oh, sorry, sir. We should have been more perceptive when you walked in." One of the attendants said, turning to bow softly to Achiel. Then suddenly, one of the four attendants tugged at the arm of the fellow who was taking a bow. The man was whispering something to the fellow. Achiel couldn't tell at first what the problem was until the fellow lifted his gaze. The shade of respect that was idling in the face of the fellow faded aw
There was a strange wave of quietness that swept across the outlet. It was as though everyone had taken a vow to be quiet for that short period of time. The actual events that went underway were exchange of glares and tough, solemn faces. All of these variates of stares were aimed at just one person. Achie!Suddenly, someone burst out laughing. The lady attendant. She laughed so hard that it looked like she would pass out from the effort spent. No one could really tell what was funny to her or from where she got that strength to laugh that hard. Laughing as though she would be given a trophy. "Please don't kill me." She kept on laughing, trying to stop herself. Then, slowly, she put the mirth to rest and sobered up. "This punk is such a fun guy. Your imagination must be so wild. What did he just say? He wants to buy what?" The lady put her hand over her lips to stop herself for breaking into another round of laughter. It was in her right to laugh so hard. How could someone dres
Walking out of the outlet, they were met by numerous gazes plugged to them. During the yelling and noise inside the outlet, they garnered so much attention from the people inside the other outlets. People were beginning to wonder who this insignificant man causing problem was. Achiel didn't care much about the people. As long as they didn't bring out their phones to film, he was okay with any other thing. He held hands with the maid as they walked towards the elevator, which led in the direction of the office of the manager. Even though he was holding her hand, yet Achiel could feel her shuddering. If he was to let go of her, she might crumble under the pressure. He was starting to imagine what she must have gone through when she was forced by Harold to frame him! He hated to feel pity for her, yet he found himself struggling to ignore the feeling. The ten of them could not use the elevator at the same time, so the bouncers stood outside while the four attendants entered with th
Everyone was drop dead shocked. They looked like they had just seen a ghost. Those who had their jaws hanging in the air could not relieve those who kept blinking their eyes as though they had just caught a sort of eye disease. It was as though life was suspended for the next few moments. The situation could be likened to a supernatural force relieving the natural order of events of their duties. Everyone stood their like statues. Except Achiel, who still had the manager pinned to the wall. The manager was having great difficulty breathing. The speed with which Achiel had pushed him back, coupled with the strange strength, had taken a toll on the breathing pace of the plus-sized man. Achiel was not necessarily holding him in a chokehold. Instead, his hand somehow went around the thick neck of the manager, pushing up his nape. As soon as Achiel opened his eyes, he came back to his senses. He stepped away from the manager at once. The man dropped on the floor, panting heavily. He
Hannah was crying and pacing every corner of her room. The bed was untidy, and the pillows were thrown here and there. She would walk to sit on the bed for a while, then get up to throw another shade of tantrums. She walked straight to the door and started to bang on it. The pinkish cover of her palm had turned red from the constant pouncing on the door. There were tears flowing, pouring from her eyes as she called in a loud voice, "Mother, please let me out!" She was beginning to lose her voice. "Mother! Mother, please!!" She hit the door over and over again, but there was nothing that came. "I was wrong, Mother. Please forgive me. It has been hours, Mother. Mother, please!" She kept dealing all the cards she could lay her hands on. She did all she could to get the attention of her mother, but it seemed as though she was talking to the walls. Well, that might be true because she was the only one in the room, and her neighbours were the four wall corners and the indifferent door