CAN I GIVE YOU SOMETHING?

We locked the door of our apartment and savored the cold breaths of air. Jenn and I moved before Anaya and Tommie. I was wondering at the sudden change of company by Tommie. That was pretty different for me to swallow that my Tommie is liking someone else except me. The street was all dark but the torches of mobiles were enough for lightening our ways. The moon was crescent shaped as a splendor bride of new year. I was enjoying the new scent of new place. This place has something special and I don't know what that special thing is.

"Ash! What are your plans for your job?"

"I haven't got any job yet. It was my first day at Los Angeles."

"I was offering you one. Actually this offer is given by my boss and my apartment owner."

"Now don't tell me both are same."

"Basically you are right this time."

"stop giggling and just say more. Tell me why is he giving me job?"

"I called him this afternoon and decided to inform him that I am sharing an apartment with someone. He was in good mood so he just said okay and asked me more about you. So I told him that might be you are jobless so he just offered a job for you of being a personal assistant to him."

"That is so nice of you but where is his last P.A?"

"His last P.A. was his wife."

"It seems kind of interesting information. Where is his wife?.....divorce or something?"

"No divorce Ash. They were too happy couple with one daughter but one day his wife and he got some personal clash and they parted with each other."

"Where is she now?"

"God knows if she is dead or alive."

"very sad. Can you please give me his contact number so that I could undergo the procedure and details."

"Okay here you take it."

"Thanks a lot but I forgot to ask his name."

"Ryan"

This word produced a sparkle of something very familiar. I seemed like I called this name for many times in my life. What was happening to me today. These games of mind had never played with me like this before. Was there any truth in these unknown links. I wanted to know about Anaya so I just asked Jenn.

"Anaya."

Jenn's voice broke up as if she was pretending to stop her sobs. She might be a mother to her.

"yes Anaya. Yes tell me about her."

"she is my daughter."

I felt a choke again in my chest and something pinched deep inside my stomach.

"Where is her dad?"

"Her dad has left her alone but I love her very much. She does not need anyone except me."

This fat lady is different as she is too good. I had never met her match in my life because she had a reason to live but I don't have the reason. She is not like Mary. She is not like anyone on this Earth. For few moments we were silent and walking, beating one another's shadows. Jenn broke the ice.

"Can I know something about you?"

"I lived with my husband and I have got parents and two siblings. I am here because of some personal reasons."

"why your tone is hinting me some of your tragedy? It seems to me that you have broken up"

"Apt guess. I have broken up with him because he just accused me of stealing money from his damn account."

"leave this shit. Tell me about the good times. Your wedding ceremony?"

"I don't remember it."

"what….don't tell me…..Ahhhh…brief me your story."

"The thing is that...…"

Some soft hand pulled my hand two times and I heard Anaya saying to me in her sugary voice:

"Can I take Tommie to my school at Thursday morning?"

"why not pretty girl. Go ahead."

"Thank you very much. Now my classmates would see that I have got my friend. Tommie will surely enjoy this. Can I give you something?"

Her last sentence connected me to another episode from rotten and puzzling past. I could see clearly the flash of twinkling sun reflection in the sea. I don't know the place but I found the baby girl, younger version of Anaya, sitting inside my lap.