CHAPTER 10 - The bonds

Although Raisha had negative thoughts about Milee, she decided to stay calm and do her best in studies. She wanted to be an accountant one day. Raisha wanted her father to be proud of her. She wanted to be an example for her only younger sister. Raisha wanted her relatives to show how courageous she is. So Raisha began her studies with so many positive thoughts. Milee too wanted to earn a recognition in her studies and paid attention in a better way on her studies. Both the friends had decided to be more attentive and reap a golden harvest out of the cultivation of education.

They both decided to attend the same tuition classes because they both had no choice. At the beginning Raisha and Milee paid their full attention on the studies. But later on, the two girls began to compete with each other for their looks and outfits. If Milee wear something red, Raisha too wanted a red outfit. If Raisha looked more attractive when wearing something black, the next day Milee tries to wear something black. If a boy looked at Raisha in a special way, Milee got upset and the same thing Happened to Raisha as well.

Gradually the two girls started heading to a different path that they never expected to walk. But Raisha still getting better marks than Milee was lucky enough to survive in the first ten positions of the class, in the first term examination. But Milee's position was not satisfactory. So Milee's jealousy on Raisha raised up and she started to disturb Raisha when lessons were taking place. Sometimes Milee knocked her desk with a pen to generate a disurbing sound, when Raisha is listening to her teachers. Sometimes she started talking with Raisha while lesson is progressing and grabbed raisha's attention out of the lesson. The worst thing is if the teacher saw this, most of the times Raisha was asked to stand up during the whole period as the punishment. As Milee having a unusual luck, even the teachers couldn't catch the correct person to give the punishment. Poor Raisha always got caught by the teachers while Milee acted like a timid pussy cat in front of them.

Raisha talked about this matter with her parents at home. So, her parents decided to choose tuition classes without informing Milee hereafter. They asked Raisha continue the classes that they both already attending. But for the newly found classes Raisha decided to go without Milee. Sometimes when she found out about this Milee got upset with Raisha.

Raisha.... Why didn't you tell me about the new Economics class ...? Is the teacher better than Mr. Redwood?

oh!!! Milee I .... I ... Act.ually did not like to attend that class ...mm... but my father pushed me so hard on this and had to join the class. It is not that good as Mr. Redwood's tutoring...escaped Raisha with a struggle.

In her new Economics class, she found ten girls in it. Most of them looked friendly and the Raisha enjoyed their company a lot. They all shared their ideas and helped each other with their studies. Their Raisha happened to meet a special friend. Her name was Daisy. Daisy was a cute girl with attractive looks and had a genuine heart. Both Raisha and Daisy became fond of each other and soon became good friends. Daisy even came to visit Raisha to her home as they were both lived in Mateland.

One Saturday Raisha had to get up early as she had to attend the Economics class earlier. While she was in the bathroom, Raisha heard a voice calling her name. She listened carfully and identified that voice was Daisy's. Then she quickly got dressed and came out of the bathroom. Then directly went outside to welcome her friend. When she opened the gate Raisha got totally astonished by what she saw.

Daisy was with a boy in the motor bike. He was so so adorable and Raisha even felt shy, and her words got tangled when she talked with Daisy.

Raisha dear...Did I disturb you?

Ahh.... No... No... Daisy...Don't think like that.... I..I... struggled Raisha.

My mama and papa cannot fetch me to the class today. So, they asked my brother to drop me at your place. Then both of us can go together .... isn't it Raisha....said Daisy in a merry notion.

So Raisha asked both to come inside the house, but Daisy's brother kindly refused it and left Daisy and went back. So, the two girls after having some breakfast left happily for the Economics class.

While they were travelling by bus, they talked on many things. But Raisha wanted to know more about Daisy's handsome brother. But she was too shy and bit proud to ask about him. But Raisha had totally fallen for him, and she could not resist the feelings filled her heart on that cute boy.

Oh, I want to see him again... He is so cute. He looks so attractive with his height, complexion and mostly with the curly hair. I cannot forget the way he looked at me and smiled with me. I saw something special in that smile. What would I do if he talks with me? Will he see how shy I am? Will I tremble while talking to him? Does he already have a girlfriend? oh, please God do not let that to happened. thoughts like these cycloned Raisha's head.

So, after that day Daisy's brother came to fetch his sister after the class and three of them happened to travel in the same bus. At first Raisha avoid talking with him only because of the shyness but gradually the shyness faded away and both began to speak to each other as friends.

Raisha wanted to know more about Daisy's brother, but she was too proud to ask it directly from Daisy. But Raisha was not ready to give up!!!

Hey Daisy.... did you complete the second exercise? It was hard. asked Raisha.

Ah yes... I did it. Is it that much difficult? asked surprised Daisy.

Yes indeed. It is very difficult. You must have got your brother's support and done this easily, I think.... said Raisha to make Daisy to get into the correct track.

Hmmm... No actually I ...

Before Daisy utter anymore words Raisha began....

You are so lucky to have an elder brother who does the same subject stream. Then you can always get his help with studies. I wish I also had a brother like you Daisy.... finished Raisha showing a worried face.

Seeing how her friend is worried, Daisy wanted to cure her friend and continued,

Hey Raisha although he is so kind and looks after me, he rarely helps me with my studies. But indeed, Malden is the best kind of a brother a sister must have. said Daisy with happy smile that has come to her face by reminding her lovely brother.

Oh!! Finally, I got what I wanted.... MALDEN yes MALDEN ...That's his name..... Raisha and Malden... Yes... They match nicely together..... Thought Raisha who forgot everything on earth.

Seeing Raisha's smiling face, Daisy thought that now she is convinced and feeling alright. So talked many things about Malden, and Raisha really enjoyed knowing more about his character and behavior.

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Raisha's sister Naisha was preparing herself to face ordinary level this year. She was tall for her age and a girl who possessed a cute character that anyone could feel fond of. She was not as smart as Raisha in appearance but had a smarter personality. They were good friends and their lives flowed in an ordinary way.

One day when Raisha was sleeping at about 3.00 am she happened to hear a holler from outside. Stunned by the sound, Raisha woke up a sudden and sat down on the bed and looked at sleeping Naisha. Then Raisha decided to not to woke up Naisha, and slowly walked out of the room. Still, she could hear the holler, and Raisha made clear that the sound is coming from their papa's room. Raisha pushed opened the door to see her papa lay on the floor. He was unconscious. Raisha shouted. She could not think of anything other than shouting.

Then her mom and sister came running and they all together somehow were able to put back papa into the bed. But still he was unconscious and Raisha brought some water and rubbed his father' s face. Meanwhile Raisha's mother went to find a taxi and Naisha who was shocked by her papa's condition kept on sobbing. Raisha prepared some clothes for papa and other necessary goods into a bag and waited until her mother returns. As soon as mama brought the taxi, they carried papa to the Mateland general hospital.

Raisha's papa was diagnosed by the emergency treatment unit and continued diagnosis to find the cause of this illness. The doctor decided that he should immediately give the medicine and monitor his condition continuously. Then mom and the girls were asked to stay outside. Naisha who was still sobbing was carried outside by her worried mother and sister.

Then three of them sat on a long wooden bench which was kept in the corridor of the emergency unit. Unable to talk to each other the mother and two children sat there aimlessly. Raisha was gazing at the small garden built next to the corridor from the dim light.

Raisha's mind had gathered with the thoughts of fears and uncertainty about the future. Then suddenly in her mind she ran to her childhood. She could remember how kind her papa was. Although he did not join with her mom for feeding the children, washing and making them sleep, Raisha's papa whenever her mom needed a rest carried her and hold her in his hands stood by the house and let her to watch the vehicles went by the road.

Your papa will stay standing the whole day carrying you if I ask him to do so..... says Raisha's mama whenever they remind her about Raisha's childhood. Raish's papa had that much love in his heart, towards the two children.

Raisha can clearly remember how her papa held her hand and took her to the school. Raisha also remember he was holding her so tightly as they must walk around a lake to get to the school. The way she cried in the first few days also came to Raisha's mind. She could remember how the cloud mark on the door reminded her of papa's curly hair and made her crying even worse. That much of love and care has being given to Raisha and her sister by her father.

As Raisha's family got a small income from their father's business mom had to spend it very carefully. Papa gave all the money to Raisha's mom to spend for the family needs. Even Raisha's mom bought an outfit for herself very rarely her papa bought nothing for himself and instead he became happy by seeing his happy wife and two children.

Raisha closed her eyes with a great pain and her eyes became wet with a hot wave of tears. Seeing this her mom who sat next to her put her hands around Raisha and held her closely and started crying with Raisha. Naisha unable to bear this wept keeping her head on mama's lap.

The three females were terrified by thinking about world they must face if they lost their only male in the family. Raisha's mom was so depressed by this state of life and was thinking how she could survive with her two daughters without any economical support as she was not employed. Her next fear was the security, love and care that should be given to her two girls and mostly how she could spend for their education. The whole future hopes Raisha's mom had built up has been collapsed and she was left with her two children helplessly.

The dark shadows about the future made the three of them afraid while Raisha's papa fought a battle with his illness. The doctors decided to do a heart surgery as Raisha's papa had undergone a severe heart attack and as a result he got unconscious, then fainted. This made Raisha lost her last hope about her papa and pray the God to give them only their father, nothing else. She begged the life of a caring father who had dedicated his entire life to his family.

Then suddenly the door of the operation theatre was opened. Then one of the surgeons with a complicated look came outside wiping his wet face with a piece of white cloth.

What happened doctor...?

Oh, please tell me.... Is he alright? asked Raisha's mom following him just as a woman who was out of mind. The two girls did the same, but the surgeon rushed into his room without giving them any answer. Raisha stopped where she was kept on staring at the empty corridor with lost hope.