FIVE

CHAPTER 5

Diane sat on the chair in the ward, tears streaming down her eyes. Her cheeks were puffy and wet and her eyes were red. She supported her chin with her palm and sobbed silently.

Malvika sat on the bed. Tears rolled down her eye but she didn’t cry our loud neither did she sob. She just stared into space. Her hands were folded on her laps. The tears flowed freely but not a sound came out from her mouth.

Natasha, on the other hand, was throwing a tantrum. She screamed loudly, tears rolling down her eyes. She pulled her hair, jumped and wailed loudly. She was breathing hard, yet she didn’t stop crying. She panted as she screamed, wailed and cried. She breathed hard. Balls of sweat rolled down from her face. Snot ran down her nose but she was too busy crying to even bother to wipe it off.

Jayden held Natasha who just shrugged him off, pushed him violently and continued her mourning. Unsure of what to do, he walked towards Diane and took his seat beside her. He put a hand on her knee. “Diane,” he called out in a whisper.

She stared at him, crying. He put his arm around her and drew her closer. She put her head on his chest and sobbed into it, letting her tears soak his shirt while he rubbed her back comfortingly.

                           -----------------

“So, I saw these shoes, alright,” Ashley said. “And they were so gorgeous. I can’t just wait to purchase them.”

“Why didn’t you purchase them in the spot?” Jenny asked as she bit into her cake. “What if someone buys them before you get there?”

Ashley’s face dropped. “Gosh, I didn’t think about that. I think that was the last pair on sale. And I really need to purchase those shoes.”

“What kind of shoes are they?”

“Prada,” Ashley replied.

“Nice,” Jenny drawled. “We could go get it this evening.”

“I’m not sure. Maybe tomorrow morning,” Ashley replied, slowly munching her own cake.

“Whatever you want but I think it would have been gone before we get there,” Jenny said.

“Oh, stop it,” Ashley replied. “Let’s hope it will be there.”

The door opened slowly and Nicholas walked into the house. Ashley turned her head. She smiled. “Hey babe,” she said, dropping a piece of cake back on the tray and rising to her feet to give him a hug and a kiss on the lips.

“Hi big brother,” Jenny said with a little wave.

Nicholas smiled. “Hey.” He looked around wondering why he had not seen Diane or her sisters but did not ask any questions. Maybe they are in their rooms, he thought. “I’ll be upstairs,” he said.

Ashley clung to his arm. “I’ll go with you babe.”

“No, you just stay here with Jenny. I'll be back in a jiffy.”

“Nah, let her go with you,” Jenny said, waving her hand dismissively. “I’ll be fine alone.”

Ashley and Nicholas walked up the stairs with Ashley chatting as they made their way into his room. He locked the door behind them, pulled off his shirt and pulled down his trousers. “I’ll be in the bathroom.”

“Should I join you?” she purred seductively, tracing his arms.

He leaned in and gave her a quick kiss. “Nope. You wait right here for me.”

She batted her lashes. “Come on, Nick.”

He shook his head and walked into the bathroom after dropping his phone on the bedside locker.

Ashley proceeded to remove her shorts and top, leaving her in her bra and panties. Soon, the shower was running and she sat on the bed, waiting for Nicholas.

Nicholas’ phone on the bedside locker rang and Ashley stretched her neck to look at it. A frown appeared on her face as she saw Diane’s name as the caller I.D. What does she want? And why does Nick have her number? She answered the call angrily. “What do you want?” she snapped.

“Please give the phone to Nicholas,” Diane’s hoarse voice croaked. It sounded like she had been crying.

Not that Ashley cared. “Nicholas and I are busy having fun and we don’t need you to spoil it. So, don’t call again.”

“Please,” her voice cracked, “Please, give the phone to Nicholas.”

“He said he doesn’t want to talk to you. Go to hell,” Ashley spat out vehemently and hung up. When she dropped the phone, she saw Nicholas coming out of the bathroom, with a towel wrapped around his lower region.

“Who was that?” he asked.

“Diane,” she replied, rolling her eyes.

“What does she want?” Nicholas asked, as he picked another towel from the door and began to dry his hair.

“I didn’t bother to ask.”

“Why?”

“Does it matter?”

“What if it’s important?” he mused. “I don’t think she would call me for no reason.”

“Seriously? I can’t believe you are concerned about anything that happens to that woman.”

Nicholas shrugged his shoulders.

Ashley stood up and walked towards him. She wrapped her hands round his waist and looked into his eyes. “Don’t let her disturb us,” she whispered. Then, captured his mouth in a fiery kiss.

*

*

“Diane is not yet back?” he asked Rachel as she served them on the table.

“Yes sir,” Rachel replied politely.

“What about her sisters?” Nicholas asked. He put his arm on the table uneasily.

“Her sisters are also not around,” Rachel replied calmly.

“Wait…what? You mean all this while they had not been here?” He stared at Rachel, shocked and confused.

“Yes sir.”

“Did Natasha not return from school?” Nicholas asked.

“No sir.”

“When did Malvika leave the house?”

“Around two in the afternoon,” Rachel replied.

“Gosh! This is eight p.m now. What’s wrong with them? What do they think they are doing?!” Nicholas yelled.

“Why are you so worried?” Jenny asked as she scooped a spoonful of her food into her mouth. “It’s not like anyone likes the fact that they live here.” She, for one, didn’t care if they came back or if they died or if they lived.

“You cannot understand,” Nicholas said, rubbing his face with his palm.

Ashely rubbed his arm. “Baby, calm down. They are not kids. I’m sure they can take care of themselves.”

Nicholas heaved a deep breath. “Yeah, yeah, you are probably right. I should stop worrying. They can take care of themselves.” He picked his fork and began to eat.

They had been eating for some minutes, chatting as they ate with Nicholas and Ashley been all lovey-dovey when the door creaked.

They temporarily halted what they were doing and turned to the door.

The door opened and Diane, Malvika and Natasha walked inside. Their shoulders were drooping and one could see the evidence of tears on their face. Without acknowledging anyone, they turned towards the stairs.

“Stop right there!” Nicholas ordered, standing up from the chair and walking towards them.

The three of them halted. Malvika and Natasha turned to look at him but Diane stood rigid, staring at the direction of the stairs.

“Where are you coming from?” Nicholas asked gravely.

“Why does it matter to you?” Natasha spat out, her eyes red and her voice hoarse.

“Where are you coming from?!” Nicholas roared loudly.

“Leave us alone, Nicholas,” Diane whispered hoarsely and started to walk away.

Nicholas held her elbow, tightened his hand around it and roughly drew her back. He forcefully turned her around. “Don’t you dare ignore me!” he yelled. “Answer…..”

“Thwack!” That was the sound of Diane’s palm on his face.

He was cut short as Diane’s palm connected with his face.

They stared at each other, eyeball to eyeball. Nicholas with a shocked and dazed look on his face; Diane with the most furious expression on her face.”