THE BEAUTIFUL MINDS

CHAPTER 5

Angela Carter had a beautiful mind.

She seldom remembered her life with her parents. They died when she was less than a year and a half old. The only thing she remembered was her father taking her to an open terrace above their small house.

He taught her to gaze at the stars, to feel the gentle breeze, to listen to the flaunting leaves and the dancing trees.

One day, he pointed to the most ugliest and slimiest creature she had ever seen and said it was beautiful.

"Eeeewwww... What's that?" Angela had asked, loathe evident in her voice.

"It's a bat and see how beautiful it is"

He told her there was beauty in every creature and all of it deserved to be loved.

"We should deepen our thinking"he told her. "Most of the time we believe in conventions and narrow our minds. But, if we make an effort to look at the world with a wider eye, we'd see beauty in every rotten creature and learn to love them"

At that time, Angela was too young to understand the depth of those words. But, she still remembered the spark in his eyes and the passion in his voice when he said that.

She lost her parents to a tragic accident. Her maternal uncle, Mr.Louis adopted her and gave her all that she needed.

At first, she was taken aback by the plush environment. Angela wondered if she were living in the lap of luxury itself because she could see her reflection almost everywhere she turned, on the lush marble below, classy chandeliers above and glass enclosures all around. It took her a while to get accustomed to that.

As days went by, she understood that despite all the luxury the house was empty.

There was no love.

Mrs.Louis was neither too cold nor too warm to her. She never spoke to her daughter until and unless she had to.

Angela would wonder why she carried a constant expression like she'd got cow dung sticking under her nose. And then, she realised that's how her face was.

Mr.Louis would be travelling all around the world throughout the year. He would come to their house once in a blue moon and even when he did there would only be heated arguments between his wife and himself.

She didn't know about what, though.

Rachel seemed to be a moody girl. Angela didn't like her a bit. She was so easy to convince, so lifeless and somber all the time. No one, not even her maid seemed to like this melancholy girl.

It was only a year later, only after Mrs.Louis died, Angela realised what an amazing girl Rachel was. Everything, her father had told her made sense to her then. Behind, Rachel's sorrowful eyes, she saw a heart made of flesh and blood.

A heart that was deprived and starved of love.

Slowly, she began talking to Rachel. After a few more weeks of formal chats, they began talking their hearts out. Rachel would confide in her and in turn she would protect her.

Angela knew Rachel like she were a part of her heart. She can even say what's going on in her mind by looking into her eyes. On the other hand, Rachel would ask Angela's opinion in every decision she took and believed that whatever she said was for her good.

Back to the present.....

Both Angela and Rachel were curled up in Rachel's bed.

"You lied to him" Rachel said.

Angela got up and fetched a can of Pepsi from the mini fridge.

"I had no choice" replied she, gulping a mouthful.

"What if they find out?" Rachel asked, agitated.

"They won't, will they? None but you and I can contradict it. Besides, this is so insignificant a lie. I bet Chief Jones wouldn't even mind to probe on it"

Rachel and Angela weren't together at the time of the murder.

Rachel was still unconvinced. Angela walked up to her and gently took her hand in hers.

"Rachel, I had to save you from suspicions. I had no choice. I can't bear to see you getting punished for something you never did"

Rachel leaned onto her shoulders and cried. "I miss Richard. I miss him so much" said she , sobbing. "Do you think Derek would have done this?"

"I'm sure it is him. That guy is such a bold lump. I'm afraid it's because of him that Richard broke up with you"

No matter what she said, Rachel refused to be consoled.

Finally, Angela decided to put her to sleep.

"You want a drink?" Angela asked pointing to a glass of water.

Rachel nodded. After drinking a few sips, Rachel laid her head on Angela's lap.

And soon, she fell into a deep slumber.