Chapter 1: The First Interaction - I

Radio is on full volume ‘It is 9: 00 am folks and the Sun is at its peak in the city of London. It is a good day to go on the trip to the countryside. . .’ Anna turns the radio off . . . and started packing her luggage for the trip that day. She was quite happy that finally she will meet her father after many years.

Anna: (thinking) . . . ‘Okay, life’s been really good, so far!’ affirming to herself in a low voice watching her daughters play tag. ‘It’s summer break at my girl’s school and college. So, I thought why not with their father being away on work. I will be able to bond with my little queens, they are absolutely like any other kids these days busy with their cell phones as homework and school tasks have been through these devices in the covid era. So, most of the kids these days have the habit of carrying their cell phones around as some sort of body part. The trip we are going to have will keep them away from it, hopefully! I remember at that age; I was busy with my mum enjoying, the gentle breeze playing wickedly with my curls as I rested on my mother’s lap listening to her voice as she read in her soft and calming voice the fairy tales that have been the tenderest memory of her to me till now!’

Anna suddenly dropped the book she picked from her little bookshelf in the corner of her bedroom. While looking at Linna ‘What’s the matter?’ said Anna. ‘Mom, can we just leave to grandpa's house now because you have held the book! It looks like you are done packing!’ said Linna. ‘Yes, love let’s go out but first help me with these suitcases; everyone is going to take their own bag to the car in 5 Minutes, okay? Let’s leave! After a few seconds Anna added, ‘Oh Linna, tell Glorina to get done with whatever conversation she is having with her friend and ask her to get her bag in the car before she starts blaming all of the world for it! ‘Hehe! okay mom!’ said Linna.

Anna places the book of the fairy tales back on the shelf and picked all the necessary items and reaffirmed Linna of telling her sister to get her bag, the door is locked, check! All the windows checked; all the lights are switched off and the machines are unplugged!

Glorina thrashed the door. ‘Mom! I am sixteen now’ said Glorina.

Anna: Yes, you are my big girl!

Gloria: Mom, just leave me at Cindy’s home?

Anna: For a month, are you sure? Her mom would like the idea!

Glorina: Mom, she is sweet, and she will allow me!

Anna: And what about her dad?

Glorina: He is not at home, mostly!

Anna: Glorina, you know dad doesn’t allow this at all till you are eighteen! You can’t violate dad’s rule. See, I want to stay and spend my weekend at home with no work as well, but I have taken this time off especially, for you girls as I want you to meet grandpa for the first time!

Glorina: Mom, I don’t like it! Why don’t you just let me be!

Anna: To the car Glorina!

Glorina knocks her shoes on the wooden floor . . .

Linna: Here goes the grumpy queen! Mom please, can I take that book over there on the shelf you seem to love it, I want to read that too!

Anna: Yes, sure we can! Oh! you mean this one, but I already read this to you!

Linna: Sure, but I want to lie down on the grassy fields and want you to do that again! Oh yeah! and I want to relax in your lap while listening to it.

Anna: Hehe! alright my little love, I will surely! Alright, take it with you!

Handing the book to her. . ..

Linna: Mom it scents so sweet like . . . like fresh grass after the rain!

Linna runs down the stairs . . .

Anna: Careful Linna!

Linna: ALRIGHT Mamma!

Anna sat down on the chair as she envisaged her mother sitting on the green grass reading in her mellow and soothing voice that often used to put her under a spell of sleep. She hears her mother reading her Hansel and Gretel and Anna was listening to her resting beside her on the grass on the picnic matt, where they used to have the basket with all the most appetizing food that she loved. Her mother was a ginger with beautiful curls and blue crystalline eyes. Anna often used to put all the white Camomile flowers in her hair, and they looked the most beautiful and precious than the jewels of that anyone can wear. Her mother was like a fairy pretty, intelligent and playful at all the time. She remembered the walks they used to have in the wilderness. It also appeared to welcome them when she was with her mother. The horrid feeling used to just shed off while her mother was with her.

Tears rolled down her face as she remembered her and how she felt so betrayed the day she went in the wilderness and never came back. Anna saw her twelve-year-old self that followed her that day, but she disappeared. She was lost there and went somewhere unfamiliar. It was dark, and horrifying. She was afraid now unaccompanied by her mother. She wanted to cry but she started running deep in the wilderness out of fear. She could hear her heartbeat, and something else as well that was now following her. She couldn’t see anything in front anymore and the voice of her pursuer was that of crunching stems braided in a large rope moving extremely fast towards her flying the air. She fell in a ditch somewhere and everything went dark. The last thing she remembered was watching this thing bending over her as she fainted. She remembered waking up outside the wilderness that day on the ground. She was not hurt but she was exhausted.