Gloom
1216 Words
NUR
My world tilted. “Marry your second son, the feared mafia?”
Her smile indicated that it was him. “I don’t remember having three sons,” she added, her smile broadening.
“I will never do such a thing!”
“You will, and you have.” Auni retorted, standing up.
“You think you will come into my family and wreck it; you don’t even have a child for the man you claimed to love before his death, and I am sure you killed him!”.
“Do not accuse me of killing Aiden.” I whispered in sorrow. “We both know your son had a terminal disease that was killing him slowly. You should be grateful that I gave him enough love to shield him from your controlling attitude.” I felt the pain before I saw her palm leave my face.
“You will speak to me in a respectful manner even if you lack it!” Auni shouted and left me sitting with my palm on my reddening and hot cheek.
I sat down there wondering if the hatred Auni had for me was just because I came from a poor family or if there was more to it.
Sri’s hands trying to pry my hand from my cheek brought me back to reality.
“Do you still want to go for the walk, madam?” She mumbled, so Auni don’t hear her.
I stood up and walked towards my room while she followed. “I want to have a bath.” I said as soon as I was inside my room.
“Yes, Madam,” Sri replied as she made to leave.
“Sri, I called to her, halting her steps.
“Thank you.” She smiled, a faltering smile that showed she understood the sorrow and pain I was feeling, and then she went to the bathroom.
“What am I going to do about Sri?” I thought to myself, “She has been the only servant who didn’t allow Auni’s hatred for me to influence her; she had been the one who, on some days that Aiden was not around to defend me, comforted me after the storms Auni always brought my way. I knew I was going to leave here, but I was scared for Sri; Auni will make her life miserable if I leave. She will believe that Sri knew where I was; how do I help Sri to leave this place?”
Sri’s voice made me know the bath was set, and I stepped into the bathroom.
And then it hit me: tomorrow was my Aiden’s burial. The only man I have ever loved. I was tired of crying, but the tears still came, and Sri, being her usual self, allowed me to cry it all out.
“How was your night, madam?” Sri’s voice and the daylight from the window she opened woke me up.
“It was fitful.” I muttered, “Each moment I wake up, I remember that this morning, I will be seeing Aiden in flesh for the last time.” I finished.
Sri looked at me, a look filled with sympathy.
With Sri’s help, I dressed in my mourning cloth, and we trudged to the cemetery. Auni was already there, and she glared at me, and as usual, I ignored her.
“Isn’t she the wife?” a voice said from my left.
I stilled; I knew this was going to happen, and I was prepared for it. I listened at the same time pretending that I was paying attention to the man at the podium.
“She is; look at how unconcerned she looks.” Another voice responded.
“I don’t think she looks unconcerned; she is mourning, remember?”
“Hmmm,” snorted the other lady. “She looks unconcerned. I heard that she forced herself into that family by using pregnancy to trap Aiden. After the marriage, she pretended she had a miscarriage, and till her husband’s death, there was no child.”
I felt cold shivers run through me. “Who would smear my name this way?” I thought.
“Who told you?” the other lady now quipped, asked.
“You know I’m close to Auni; she told me everything. This lady is a gold digger; do not mind her innocent look.”
“What is Auni going to do to her now?”
“That poor soul?” With a sympathy-laden voice, the lady continued, “What will she do? The son claimed he loved her so much, but I believe this lady trapped him, and you know poor Aiden; he does not like trouble.”
“She looks so innocent.”
“She isn’t; I believe that she has more plans up her sleeve.” In a more lowered tone, she continued, “Auni informed me that she said she will be going for the second son now that the first is dead.”
“What?” inhaled the other lady, now shocked. “Why will she do such a thing?”
“ told you she is not innocent; seems she wants to wreck the family before she rests. Ah! They are done; let’s leave.”
I turned at that time to see the woman who was spreading such a lie about me, and it was Maria, Auni’s friend.
I was not surprised, but I still felt the pain of being smeared by a woman I have done no wrong to.
“And where do you think you are going?” Auni’s voice stopped me as I was making my way to the house.
“Not again.” I sighed.
Auni loved the two of us having confrontations outside. I don’t know if it made her feel better or gave her satisfaction that people were always seeing me as evil. Knowing her, I knew she was deriving both from it.
“You should be at your husband’s grave, howling and asking him to make your present life easier and not trudging back to the house like a peacock.” She shouted through the small number of people still lingering at the cemetery.
“Auni, please let me be.” I pleaded weakly. “Please.”
“Oh, the witch is begging.” She shrilled.
“You have caused me to lose a son, and you are pretending you are innocent. I will shred you.” With a howl, Auni fell on me, and while tears streamed down her face, she tried to rip my clothes.
The bystanders held and dragged her off me while I stood up as honorably as I could and made my way to the house. I was cold, too cold to cry.
“Open the door!” I shrilled.
I had gone into my room immediately after I entered the house, arranged my other clothes that were littered in my room, and was about to leave when I found out that I’d been locked inside the room.
“Where do you want to go on the day your husband just got buried?” Auni asked from the other side of the door, and then she laughed.
“This is just the beginning.” S
he finished as her steps faded away. “
- Writer
