SINNER

"Stop crying please." Shamim whispers and places his hand on her shoulder, patting her. "You can consider me a family now."

Juvenal looks at Shamim with suspicions. "Why the sudden change?"

"What do you mean by that?" He asks and releases his palm from her shoulder as she appears to be in a better condition.

"You are being extra nice to me today, may I know why?"

"Extra nice? I am just being me and treating you like my colleague at work."

"I mean, you never did all of that before. You even asked me to meet your sister, and never tried to oppose it when your father invited me for dinner. Do you know how many times I have asked you to go on a mere date with me?"

"Maybe, I have decided to be a gentle man now." Shamim says bluntly.

"Or you are doing all of this on purpose? Maybe there is something you are aiming at."

"I am not aiming at anything young lady, I just realized I have been too cold to you of recent."

"Alright." Juvenal nods and the nurse walks out if the ward. "Can we go in now?"

"Of course." The nurse replies and walks away.

"Let's go in." Juvenal picks up her tray and walks in. "Will you mind having some apples?" She asks Ella.

"This is so nice of you." Ella collects the tray and places in front of her and the bed and tastes a piece of it." The apples are so sweet,I love the taste."

"I am glad you like it." Juvenal looks at the time and whispers reluctantly. "I think I have to take my leave now, I've got lots of work to do in the office."

"Okay, so when next am I seeing you?"

"I can come by tomorrow, I don't know when you will be discharged. But I will get in touch with Shamim so he can keep me updated."

"Dad already invited her for a family dinner." Shamim says to his sister. "I guess the family dinner is going to hold a few days after you return home."

"Really?" Ella asks excitedly. "I can't wait to see you that day, you have a nice dress, don't you?"

"I do have one, but it's outdated." She says slightly embarrassed.

"Shamim, can you please take her to the mall and get her a nice dress?"

"Why must I take her there?" He asks sounding irritated.

"Why else? Cause you have best taste when it comes to clothes in general."

He sighs with his eyes close accepting the tasks already. "Okay."

"He will communicate the day to you with prior notice, so do not worry, you will have more than enough time to prepare for it."

"Thanks a lot, but I still feel a bit nervous to sit and chat with your entire family."

"You don't have to my dear, we will all love to have you around us anyways." Ella assures.

Juvenal looks at her wrist watch again and whispers. "I will get going now."

"Let me drop you off." Shamim offers.

"No, do not bother, leaving your sister alone won't be advisable."

"You can call me Ella." She says with smiles.

"Alright Ella." she whispers and smiles back too. "I will see you later." She turns her back to walks out.

"Thanks for the visit, I'd give you a call later in the evening." Shamim says a bit loud, that is his own manner of saying good bye.

Juvenal raises her right hand above her head and waves him good bye then uses her left hand to open the door and exit the ward.

"She is such a wonderful soul!" Miss Smith exclaims almost quietly as soon as she is out of sight.

"You like her that much?"

"Of course I do, can't you see how calm and reserved she is? Unlike Cassandra." She lays more emphasis and energy when pronouncing the name. "Who is too ratchet."

"I guess Cassandra did all of that because she was in a mission."

"You are still trying to defend her?!"

"I dare not." He denies with a soft laugh. "Please, do not plead to father to spare the lives of those girls."

Ella's facial expressions changes immediately, from excited to sad. "Did you read my mind already?"

"They should pay for what they have done, not only did they tamper with my heart, they disturbed your health and everyone's peace of mind. You even almost lost a true friend of yours because anyone was suspecting everyone."

"I know, but if we decide to take this up, a lot of things are involved too. Jessica's mom and grandfather went to jail because of me and they died along the line. Hence, I practically killed both of them. I do not want the same thing to happen to them too."

"It isn't your fault that all of these are happening, it's theirs for being terrible set of human beings." Shamim tries to talk his sister of her thoughts. "I will never allow farther to spare them."

"Shamim." She calls whispering.

"You should have seen how tensed everyone was the day you disappeared, especially mom, she broke down and shed tears in presence of everyone." He swallows his spit and continues. "Mom ran here without any slippers on, do you think she will allow those people who threatened the life of her daughter go scot free?"

"If we don't forgive those girls and let it go,they are all going to die in prison one after the other." She stares at her brother for a second or two. "Even Casandra."

"I don't care, every sinner must be punished." He turns his head to the direction of the door when he hears a knock on the door. "Who is that?"

The nurse from earlier walks in. "You are still here with her?"

"Is there a problem?" asks Ella.

"You should be resting by now." The nurse checks her body temperature. "I injected you with some sleeping dosage earlier, and it is compulsory you sleep, if not, I doubt if you would be able to handle the heavy head ache." She notices the the fruits. "Try as much as possible to finish the fruits and have a good sleep ma'am." She says and walks out.

"I will be outside Ella, by the time you wake, mom and dad should be around." He says with smiles.

"I am tired of this place already. I want to leave." She nags.

"Come on Ella, it's just for a while, you won't be here forever."