Chapter 9 CYRIL’S SICKNESS

“Mom, I am home,” I yell as I enter the home, the home seems surprisingly quiet, I climb the stairs to see Cyril but his room looks chaotic and he isn’t there at all. I look at my phone but there is no call from my mother.

I frown and call my mother immediately, I have a bad feeling in my heart.

No… No... Spaghetti Bolognese if you dare to mess up.

My mother cut my call and then I receive a message from her as I groan unhappily, “SPAGHETTI BOLOGNESE.”

****

“I have told you before, he needs a strict diet…” The doctor says looking through his huge glasses and then his gaze falls on me and he narrows his eyes, “You young lady, how many times I need to tell this, huh?”

My parent looks at him confusingly and then at me.

“It’s his favourite,” I whisper looking down.

“We have given him only a small portion, Doc, you know I take Cyril’s diet very seriously.” My mother says offensively.

“Tessa, was it a small portion that you gave him last night?” Dr Wilson looks at me with cold eyes and it literally makes me sweat.

And then saying the truth, I shake my head, “No… I gave him mine too.” I whisper as low as I can and immediately my parent turns to look at me and then glare at me in unison.

I mouth “Sorry” as I hold the corner of my coat and look down guiltily.

“Look, Tessa, I know you love your brother but giving him these heavy meals would only make his health worse, he is not able to digest that food, he has vomited everything he ate and you know how painful it was for him. The few moments of happiness are now giving him unbearable pain for such a long time.” Dr Wilson starts to explain Cyril’s condition and in a way he is not saying anything wrong, he is indeed right. I should have been careful.

What if something bad would happen with Cyril because of my carelessness?

“I am sorry,” I mutter slowly, feeling ashamed of my act.

After that Dr Wilson discuss a new diet chart for Cyril with my mom and she hears him attentively and asks multiple questions related to it.

“You fool, within a few days you are going to get married and look at yourself doing such foolish things. Have some brain, young woman.” My mother starts scolding me as soon as we leave Dr Wilson’s office.

By the time we reach Cyril’s ward, my mother was still scolding me, she looks unstoppable until my father asks her to stop. “Dany, what has done it’s done, no need to exaggerate it. You take care of Cyril, I need to go and inform Miss Swan about it after all she is the one paying for his bills.” My father says tiredly.

And at this point, suddenly I remembered all the things that happened in the college and I stop my father immediately, “Dad…”

“Yes, Tessa,” My dad turns to me, I look at him and then at Mom, I can’t discuss all the things in front of Mom she is already against this marriage if I tell her that Andrew is not letting me complete my studies than she would never allow my marriage to him.

“Dad, I forget something at home. Can I come with you, please?” I try to make an excuse and by the way, I look at him, Dad understood that there is something wrong.

He nods his head, “Dany, I am taking Tess with me, if you need anything, call me.” My father said to my mother in concern and then we both leave the ward together.

****

“What is it, Tess?” My father asks once we step out of the hospital.

“Dad…” I take a deep breath, I don’t know why I am hesitating, it’s my dream to complete my education and become a jewel designer but why I am feeling a little hesitant in asking for my right.

Oh no, Tessa, if you pursue your study then you need to forget Andrew….

This truth is the only reason why I am hesitating.

“I went to the college today, and the Dean told me that my scholarship has been cancelled because of Andrew Jack,” I tell him.

“What? Sir? How?” My father looks at me shocked and then he said after a while, “Tessa, dear, don’t worry I am going to Madam Boss’s office, I will talk to her related to this. Ok?” My father comforts me and I smile happily in relief.

“Thanks, Dad.” My father drops me at home first and then he goes to Madam Boss’s office to inform her about Cyril’s medical bill.

I feel relieved, I know Dad would definitely help me through this, he won’t let anyone ruin my dream. I trust my father.

Dad says he will come early to pick me and then we both will go to the hospital together to see Cyril.

I hope Cyril will get better soon, with a deep sigh, I start cleaning our house, Cyril’s room was a mess yesterday so I clean his room first, his diary in which he keeps writing something almost every time has dropped on the floor, I pick it up and keep it aside.

I didn’t dare to open it because Cyril has told everyone strictly to not open his diary, he keeps his secrets in it but I am intrigued to know what’s inside it.

It takes me a lot of time to clean the house, after cleaning I start to cook dinner, and before 6 I am all ready with a tiffin of food, waiting for my dad.

I wait patiently for my dad to return, after all, I need to know what Miss Swan has decided about my studies, will she scold Andrew? Or is she the one asking Andrew to cancel my scholarship?

I was sitting like I am on pins and needles waiting for my Dad to return. When the time seems to get more, I decided to give a call to my father but he didn’t receive it.

And after a few seconds, he enters the home making me stunned for a second.

“Dad…” I exhale, excited.

He looks tense. “Tess, oh, you’re ready…” He looks surprised, has he forgotten that we were going to see Cyril in the evening together?

“Yes, dad, See I have packed our dinner also,” I tell him as I point at the coffee table where I have kept the tiffin.

“Oh… I see….” My father takes a long breath and then hesitating, he replies, “Tess, dear you can’t go with me, you have to stay at home. Hopefully, tomorrow Cyril will get discharged, and then you can meet him at home.”

My father’s words take me back, “What? Dad?” I ask because I am quite not sure if he really has refused me straightly to visit Cyril in the hospital. I mean why does he have an object? Before he never stopped me like this, so then why today?

What has changed today? I just don’t understand.

Without saying another word, Dad picks the tiffin and left leaving me alone in an unsettled and stressful situation.