Repressed Memories: Unpaid Debts

"Sharina!"

"I'm here mama."

"Thank God. Stay hidden okay?"

"Yes, mama."

Sharina pulled her knees up to her chest as she sat, her breathing lowered, inside the kitchen cabinet underneath the sink. Her mother had just shut the doors, a look Sharina couldn't understand on her face. All she knew was there were strange men in the house, and her mother wanted her to stay as quiet as possible. She had wanted to ask where Ishita and Kaia, her two sisters, were but she had a feeling her mama would have either ignored her question or snapped at her. Alone in the darkness, she held her tongue, impatiently waiting for whatever game they were playing to end, so she could go back to the television.

As weird as the current situation was, her day had started pretty well. She had gone through her daily routine, wake up, freshen up, head off to school, come back and stay in front of the television still either her papa or mama chased her to do her homework or sleep. Upon her arrival home, her mama had called her and her older sisters together.

"You three go pack your bags," she instructed.

"Where are we going mama," Kaia, the eldest daughter, queried. She resembled her mother the most with her cropped brown hair and light brown eyes. Body-wise, Kaia was just barely under twelve so it was hard to say. But most people were sure in a few years she would look exactly like her mother.

Wishing her children would obey her, she sighed. "Ask your papa when he gets back."

"But mama," Ishita had tried to raise a comment, but their mother turned and rushed off to her room.

Ishita had her mothers' light brown eyes, but instead of short brown hair, the ten-year-old had medium-length black hair that fell to her shoulders. Out of the three, it was only Sharina that possessed both her fathers' deep brown eyes and dark hair. Like Ishita, her hair hung just over her shoulders but the three siblings all had their mothers' facial features, inheriting none of the man of the houses' handsomeness.

"Sharina! Go pack!" Kaia scolded, watching her sister walk back to sit right in front of the television.

"I'll pack when papa gets back," she said nonchalantly, automatically switching off everything around her like she usually does.

"I'll help her," Ishita sighed, moving past her older sister.

"Thik hai," Kaia nodded, walking off into her room.

Sharina wasn't aware almost thirty minutes had passed before anyone popped out with luggage in tow. Her attention was completely fixed on the cartoon series she was watching, at least until Kaia came up from behind and smacked her head.

"Bakwaas!" Kaia dropped her bag and stood in front of her crying younger sister, obstructing her view. "Go help Ishita, lazy cow!"

"I will tell mama you swore," she sobbed, pushing her sister aside and running to find her mother.

Storming into her parents' room, Sharina called out for her mother but met no response despite the open traveling bag with clothes scattered around it. Confused, she poked her head into the toilet, but to no avail. With tears in her eyes, Sharina stamped her feet in frustration. She decided to head towards the kitchen, her throat dry from her wailing.

"Have you reported me yet?" Kaia mocked as her sister walked past the living room with her fists clenched.

"Leave me alone," she snapped, not even glancing at her sister.

"Leave her Kaia ji," Ishita came in, dragging two bags behind her.

Rolling her eyes, Kaia walked over to Ishita and hauled one of the bags she was dragging behind her, beside the couch she had been sitting on. Looking over at the passing girl, she hissed loudly, taking her seat once more. Sharina ignored her, as usual, and rushed into the kitchen to find her mother standing hunched over the counter.

"Mama!" She ran towards her and tugged on her long skirt, demanding her attention. "Kaia cussed!"

"Waat lag gayi," her mama muttered, not seeming to even acknowledge her daughter.

"Mama!" Sharia tried again, oblivious to whatever was going through her mother's head.

The woman looked down at her, finally realizing there was another person in the room. She opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted by a hard knock on the door. Tensing up, she put her hand to her lips and gestured for Sharina to enter the cupboard under the sink.

"We're going to play a game, Rina." Her mother looked over her shoulder urgently. "Hide here till I come and get you, okay?"

"Yes, mama."

Satisfied, she shut the doors and left her daughter, worry heavy on her heart. She went into the living room and waved her hands at her two older daughters, shooing them to their rooms, before finally unlocking the door.

"Do you have it, Zara?"

As hard-headed as she was, Sharina felt fear flutter in her chest when she heard the voice. Too scared to poke her head out and see where the deep, threatening voice came from, she backed further into the empty space she hid in.

"Kabir is on his way, Raji", Zara scowled. "You will get your money before the deadline."

Raji laughed out loud, turning sideways to look at the three men that had accompanied him. "Explain the packed bags, Zara. Do you and your husband intend on running away from me?"

"That would be unwise," she replied with a blank look. "We are simply going on a short trip to my parents' house."

"I believe you," Raji said. "But just as assurance, I will be taking one of your daughters."

"This wasn't the agreement."

"I do not care what was agreed on. I don't trust you or that sneaky bastard, so I will be taking one of your sweet girls."

Zara wanted to oppose, but one of the men pulled out a 9mm pistol. Seeing the gleaming barrel, she decided to lie. She wasn't surprised he had one on him, but if she was going to get off the mess she was in alive, her chances had been cut down to almost nothing. Without even needing to observe their bodies, she knew all of them had a sidearm at arm's length.

"They should be with Kabir."

"I have time to spare. I'll wait."

Mentally kicking herself, Zara spun around and went into the kitchen. Gently shutting the door, she quickly opened the cupboard under the counter to find her daughter, cowering. Feeling guilty, Zara kissed her forehead and closed the door again, desperately hoping her significant other would return.

"With Kabir you say."

Zara spun around to find a gun staring straight at her midsection. Unable to move, she could only watch as Raji pulled the trigger.

And the sound of gunshots filled the room.