When You Are Alive There is Still a Hope

Chapter 10

Merry was washing the child's bottles for the formulae. She couldn't breastfed her because she had no milk in her breasts. They named her Comfort..There is a story behind the name. She came as their comforter, as their peace. She comforted her parents. Alphoes was asleep in their bedroom because he was working the night shift. Merry heard the knock on the gate. She answered the telecom and soon she pressed the button to open the gate. She was stunned when she see the person infront of her. She didn't expect to meet this person at all. She didn't know whether to wake Alpheos or to chase away that woman. She froze on the door step. The woman in her fifties appeared on her door step. She looked noble and elegant even though she seem to lost weight a litle. Her beautiful and expensive cloths can tell you that she was rich. It's was none other than Merry's mother in law ( Old Mrs Zuh)

"Merry! How are you my child?"

Said the woman in a calm and polite manner.

Merry was dumbfounded, she didn't know whether to respond or what.

"I know you are surprised to see me here, I really need to talk to you please."

Merry just stood there as if she has turned into a statue..Her mind went blank for a moment. Her heart was in a mess and she didn't know how to react at all because this woman really abused her emotionally and physically.

" My dear daughter! Can I come in!?"

Merry didn't say anything she just opened the door and gestured a woman to come in.

"Thank you my darling. Woow you have a beautiful home..it's stylish and I really love the decoration..it is stunning.Its beautiful. Look at you...you are glowing..You look amazing."

She was looking up and down in a house as if she was loosing her mind.

"Thank you."

Merry was cold, she couldn't believe that this was the very same woman who insulted her and called her names is now complimenting her.

" You don't seem so enthusiastic to see me. Do you hate me that much?" Old Mrs Zuh asked with sinister smile.

"Mrs Zuh you said you wanted to say something to me...go ahead I'm listening."

Merry didnt want to talk nonsense with her, she said that in a very cold tone.

"Aah! Am I not your mom now?"

She opened her eyes and pretended to be a victim.

"You made it clear before that I should not call you mom. You made it clear that I do not deserve your family name. How can I call you mom now? And i remember very clearly that you didn't say you were joking."

She refuted coldly. She couldn't buy her acting.

"I know what I did and said you..I know I treated you like a trash. I know now that I was wrong.I know i ill treated you...i was wrong. I am here to apologize and ask you to let me see my granddaughter."

" A granddaughter!? Didnt you call me a barren many times?What makes you apologise now? Huh!? Mrs Zuh you are the hypocrite and a manipulator. You don't mean to apologize, you don't mean what you're saying. All you want is my baby."

Merry was boiling with anger and she was hurting at the very same time. All the things that this woman said to her was still vivid in her mind as if it happened yesterday.

"How dare you say that to me Merry. How dare you raise your voice at me? Didnt your mother teach you to respect elders?I came all this way and left my luxurious life just to apologize but you throw it on my face..what kind of a daughter in law are you. Is that how your parents teach you? Is that how you speak to your elders? Huh!?" Old Mrs Zuh couldn't pretend to be warm anymore, she flew into a rage.

" Wow I am touched....youre here to apologise." Merry clapped her hands.

"Hahahaha...what kind of a daughter in law I am!? Well let me tell you Old Mrs Zuh. I am a girl who came from a poor family and married to your own good son whom you always said I do not deserve. I am still that girl you called a barren...I am still that girl you called a cheap sl****t who was doing family planning and do not want to give birth.I .....I...*sigh *** I am still that girl who didn't deserve your good son. I am still whatever you used to call me." Merry was shouting now and her voice was trembling and she couldn'thold back her anger. Tears were flowing as water in the waterfall in her face.

" I said I am sorry okay. I am alone and sick.. I don't want to die alone. I just want us to put all that behind us and start afresh." Mrs Zuh was moved by what Merry said, She was shouting also and that caused Alphoes to wake up.

" Mom...why are you shouting my wife? What are you doing here?" Alpheos's face darkened and he came to his wife's side and hug her.

"Alphoes I came to apologise to your wife and see my granddaughter. But your so called wife is insulting me."

Old Mrs Zuh pretended to be wronged and shared tears.

"Stop doing that mom. I don't buy it.How are you apologizing when you shouting and insulting her. Wasn't it enough before?" Alphoes was disappointed again by his mother.

"You know what...I think you should leave. Our precious daughter is still sleeping. You can't meet her with your anger issues and since you don't like her mom, it is the same as you don't like her."

Alphoes said ruthlessly. Mrs Zuh open her eyes wide and couldn't believe that his son is chasing her.

" Alphoes!!! Are you chasing your mom!? I don't believe you. How could you do this to me." Mrs Zuh shared tears. At first she was pretending but now her heart ached really. She wanted her son to take pity of her, but instead he chased her away as soon as he met her. She really missed his son. She didn't expect that Alphoes could read her mind..

" You disowned me, you insulted my wife again and again mother. You mistreated her as if she was an outsider. What else do you want. We left you peaceful in your big house. Why do you cause trouble for her now,?"

Alphoes felt coldness when he saw his mother instead of joy.

" Alphoes...this is me...your mom who gave birth to you". Mrs Zuh lowered her head and still pretended to be wronged.The atmosphere was very tense. Both couple were very disappointed in their mother. Especially Alpheos he didn't know that his mother was this shameless. If he didn't know her or if he didn't hear her before he would have believed her. This is what happened years ago. She controlled him with lies...she manipulated their relationship.

" My love I am really sorry."

Alphoes felt helpless and hugged his wife tightly.

"You didn't do anything wrong my love." Merry was still sorbing.

" How could you treat me like this after all I have done for you. I am still your mother after all. You can't let your wife come between us. You can't take her side. She didn't give birth to you."

Alphoes didnt know whether to laugh or cry. He felt that his mother was ridiculous.

"My mother died along with my father. My mother would always want to see me happy. My mother wouldn't treat my wife as a slave and insult her calling her names. And as far as i remember you didnt do anything for me. When i was young the nannies and my father took care of me. As for my education my father did a good job even after death."

He looked at his mom coldly and said those words ruthlessly.

"Alphoes! Am I dead to you. What has changed you. You not yourself. Is it the influence of this woman.....

" The woman you talking about is my love and also my wife. Don't you dare call her names again. Please leave. You will wake my child."

He enterupted her.

Mrs Zuh couldn't refute.

"...............".

" Don't come here anymore. You have done more damage again and again. Dont you feel tired?.. I won't allow you to come between us again. Do you hear me Old Mrs Zuh."

"This is your mom you chasing away Alphoes, I gave birth to you. I gave you life. I miss you. Both of you. I know I was wrong..I am sorry."

She was sorbing again because her plan didn't succeed.

"What you did is despicable. I don't believe that you will ever realise and repent to your mistakes. You are the most shameless person I ever met. I am so ashamed that you gave birth to me."

"Alphoes! You don't have......" Merry who was on Alpheos's arms couldn't stand it anymore. No matter how wrong Mrs Zuh is, she was still his mother.

" Sshhhh.."he put one finger on Merry's mouth.

" I wronged you before, I didn't believe in you. I made you suffer and didn't protect you. Let me handle this. Go and check our baby."

" But.........."

"No buts Merry."

He looked at her with affection but his voice was firm and commanding.

"Okay. I will listen to you.' After that she left.

"Stop right there Merry. You can't create trouble between me and my son and then leave. You're not going anywhere!" Old Mrs Zuh commanded.

"Go ahead Merry. This is your home. Nobody can command you."

"Okay."

The tension between the mother and son was so immense. The room turned cold as if there was a snow. Alpheos's face was gloomy.

"That woman is controlling you. She gave you love portion. You're not the same Alphoes I know."

" I am glad she gave me love portion because I am enjoying the peaceful life she is giving me. I am grateful to her respect she shows me everyday. I love her." Alphoes refuted.

"Hhheee....the respect my foot. Can't you see she is manipulating you? She is...."

" Stop right there. What right do you have to criticize my wife? Even if she is manipulating me..it is her right."

"Huh!? How come?"

"Because I am her husband."

"............."

"Please leave now and don't ever come and disturb our peaceful life again otherwise don't blame me for being ruthless."

He opened the door and gestured his mom to leave.

"Fine I will leave but don't come to me crying when she shows you her true colors."

" I'd rather go to my father's grave than to come to you. You are the hypocrite, a lier and manipulator. You are selfish. My wife has never done anything to you but you even called her barren. What if it was me who had a problem? Huh?"

" I......" Mrs Zuh didn't know what to say anymore.

"Go....Go and enjoy your wealth that my father has left. Go and enjoy being alone.

( cried) " I am sorry my boy. I didnt mean to, please let me see my grandchild please.

"No you can't and you won't see her. You disowned me remember! Alphoes refused ruthlessly without thinking. He had enough of his mother.

Old Mrs Zuh left dejectedly.