Chapter-6 His Gaze

Erica

The alarm clock ticked by the head of the bed.

I gazed at my hands both drawing downwards, but there was no clock.

Time was still ticking like a bomb. 

Tick...tick...tick..Ti

But the next moment, there was a sudden stillness like the gap between those tick which never appeared. 

I gasped and my eyes got wide open. The drops of sweat were oozing down my face.

That's when I realized how a familiar room slowly changed color as morning arrived. 

It was a dream, a mere dream where I knew I was falling. There were ups & downs, no walls, or ceilings, just the ruthless sensation of cold & darkness everywhere. 

I was so scared at that time, I felt that terrific moment, I wanted to scream, to call. But when I opened my mouth, nothing happened. 

Then I thought, "Am I still falling?"

"I think I will fall forever." The small voice came from my mouth. I got my hand enveloped in a newspaper which was kept at my bedside. 

At that time I saw a column, which I surely have read the day I got it. But the last few lines seem like they were written for me, and I read them loud & clear this time. 

" Nothing is forever. Your win, your failure, your strength, your weakness, the good or evil. Nothing is forever, not now, not later." 

With this, my fingers traced the name of the author of this column, Mark.

That's when I remembered his words again, "I am giving you a chance, but a single one. Prove yourself." 

This time there was no room left for any disappointment in me. I stood up from my bed & saw the file under my pillow. 

Today, I would give this to Mark, no matter what. He was an honest man, he would find the truth himself.

After 45 minutes 

I closed the door of my room without making any noise. 

Today was a very important day, last night I told Lauren to wait for me at the college gate so that we can go to Print Trust Academy. 

I silently passed the stairs, just to move towards the main door. 

I walked so that I keep following, making my way down to a path that leads to a set of honesty, my dream, & a lot of satisfaction.

I was passing by the garden area when a sharp and stern voice stopped me. 

I immediately tightened my hold on the file, closed my eyes in disbelief. 

"Erica" I heard my name a second time in seconds but this time it was Dad. 

I turned my head and forcefully plastered a smile on my face. 

I was completely aware of what was coming in my way now? 

"Good....morning...dad." I finally spoke. 

Just a chair away from Dad, Daniel kept his bag. 

He blinked at my sight, I felt he was missing something important. Suddenly, his expressions changed like he realized what it was. 

" Sit down," Dad said, more like an order. I hid the file under the veil of my scarf.

While reaching the chair towards them, I saw Daniel's bag on the chair, and for a moment, kept that file in his bag. 

"Why did you leave the party with Lauren's family, without informing us?" He asked. 

That's what Lauren had already warned me with. But I couldn't stand there anymore, I couldn't stand that man there.

I saw dad who was calmly taking another sip of his tea. Calm much more from my liking. 

" Take some tea," Dad said to me very earnestly, absorbing my every step. 

"I don't want to," I said, with muffled force. " I am getting late for college, Lauren might be waiting for me."

I tried to stand up, "You haven't answered it yet." Daniel repeated his words.

" I....", I stammered, but dad cut me off.

"I don't want to know what you were doing in Mark's office yesterday.

I don't want to know why you left the party without even informing us. "At that time the annoyance was real in dad's voice. 

" Do you know how insulted dad felt last night there?" Daniel said.

I wished I could say I was feeling guilty, for what I did. 

But I didn't. 

Right now, I know my life is twisted, exhausted, uncertain, and full of guilt, but there's something there. 

"For now I want you to go to your grandparent's house and stay there for a few days." Dad stood up while leaving me all astonished. 

Was this my punishment? Were they sending me away from all this? But how could they?

" Dad...please I'm sorry. I won't do that again." I said in a defensive tone. 

"Just for a few days, can you do this much for me? I am doing this all for you, trust me. It's for your good." He calmly said.

" Daniel, do the required arrangements. I have talked to Lauren's parents and she can go with Erica if she wants. " Dad spoke. 

" How are you doing Mr. Wilson?" Avery tall and large man asked, well dressed, bald with a manner of gliding into the house with dad and Daniel from a glass door without perceptible his feet.

"Have you made all the papers according to the conditions we've discussed earlier?" Mr. Smith asked him.

" I've checked everything. Now Mr. Wilson should." A voice came from behind.

When I turned back and saw the owner of the voice. 

We were staring at each other, time tended to stop. Those eyes were piercing mine.

I could swear at that moment, he sensed the real me, the one without attitude, without the facade. 

Reluctantly, I moved my eyes away.

"Erica, come pack your bags," Daniel said while taking his bag in his hand and moving inside the house. 

I was feeling the warmth of the gaze and a shadow moving towards me. 

" I would have never sabotaged you." He wiped away one of my stray tears with his fingertips. 

"Of course, you have taken that file. Can you give it back to me now or sometimes later?" He said in a mocking tone.

" Such a coward you are," I said in a disgusting tone. 

If he hadn't told Daniel about me going to Mark's office, dad would've never sent me there.

"Whatever makes you happy." He replied. 

" Sir, Mr. Wilson is calling you inside." Mr. Smith came back.

"Well! Goodbye for now." He said, rolling his neck as if we hadn't been talking about anything important.

Aiden

" Mr. Wilson, I've made the papers according to the terms we've discussed last night," I said. 

"But we hadn't said, that last say will be only yours in every project." Mr. Wilson said.

" I'm already giving you & Daniel 49 percent of the share in the issued capital. Isn't that enough?" I asked while standing up.

"Don't forget that the business plan is mine, this brings superiority for me," I added.

" Okay! Knight's has given its main branch office as the head office for this endeavor. What about the factory plot?" Mr. Murthy asked. 

"We have our ancestral land that can be used for the factory," Daniel said.

" Ancestral land?" I said, more like a question.

"Yes! My grandparents live there. We have many plots unused. We can select among them" Daniel continued.

" That's great. I want to start the factory and this project soon. When should we head back there at your grandparent's house and see the land?" I asked. 

"Whenever you say." Mr. Wilson said.

" That's good, we will go there today's evening and will come back once the factory is set," I replied and moved out without their reply. 

To be continued...

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Till the next time

With lots of love & hugs

Your writer

Purva Narang