Chapter 4
1458 Words
26th June 1995,
I left America on 25th June, by afternoon and reached Leh on 26th June, at seven in the evening. I took a cab from the airport and went to the 'WA Royal' Hotel. I didn't want to stay in Walton's hotel, I didn't want to see his face. He created a misunderstanding between Ryan and me. He was the reason behind our breakup. I reached the hotel, paid the money to the driver and went inside. Well, the hotel was huge and beautiful. It was surely a 5-star hotel.
I went to the reception, where I saw Abram talking to a man.
"Hey, Abram," I waived my hands. He came and hugged me tightly, "Sophie, we were waiting for you," he replied pecking my forehead. Abram considered me as his sister since childhood.
"Hey Sophie, how are you?" The man with Abram said smiling. He was tall, had a masculine body, with tattoos on his neck.
"Sophie, I am sure you didn't recognize him, he's Walton's elder brother Andrew," Abram said.
"Oh, okay," I replied smiling faintly and that Andrew was looking at me intensely. Such a big bastard he is, just like his brother.
"Abram, where is Amber and everyone?" I asked.
"The girls are gossiping and irritating the boys in the room '206', " Abram replied. I thanked him and took my bag and was about to go to the room when Andrew held my hand.
I looked at him glaringly, and he left my hand instantly.
"I am sorry, I just wanted to say that the porters will take your luggage to the room, " he replied looking at me lustily. I felt like punching him on his not so handsome face.
"Ya sweetheart, the porters shall drop your luggage to the room, let's go, " Abram said and we went to room number 206, where I saw the girls gossiping and laughing while the boys were busy in some serious conversation.
When Amber saw me at the door she came rushing and hugged me tightly almost choking me.
"How are you, babe?" She asked.
"I am good, how are you'll?" I asked smiling.
"We all are good," A man replied coming near me.
"You forgot me? Walton!" He replied smiling.
"Oh, hi, " I replied faking a smile.
"Oh come on baby, stop being so formal, " Walton replied and drew me in a hug.
He pecked me on my cheeks and I felt disgusted. I uttered angrily, "Dare you to touch me again!"
Everyone started looking at me with a serious face.
"Oh, babe still holding grudges with me?" Walton said tracing his finger on my face and I pushed his hand away, and left the hotel room.
Amber, Abram and Xavier came running after me.
"Sophie, Sophie stop, " Amber called me out.
"Guys I am going back to the US again, " I told angrily.
"Sophie, are you gone nuts? You traveled for 24-28 hours to come to Leh to meet Ryan and you're going back without meeting him?" Amber asked.
"I hate that Walton. He is a big rascal! Didn't you see Amber, how he pecked my cheeks?" I asked angrily.
"That's normal Sophie!" Amber said.
"It would be fine with you, but I don't like him touching me," I yelled at her.
"Sophie, Sophie" Terence came running.
"What happened?" I asked.
"I spoke to Walton and he is apologizing for his mistake. Please don't go," Terence pleaded.
"Yes Sophie, we are spending time together after ten years," Xavier said.
"Fine, we are leaving for Ladakh right now. I don't want to stay in his hotel," I told and they agreed.
We all took our luggage and sat in a minibus, and left for Ladakh. I was annoyed as Walton and his elder brother were also accompanying us, and they were drinking alcohol. I pushed away all the thoughts and a smile crept on my face. Damn, I would meet Ryan after ten years.
I noticed Amber looking outside the window and her eyes were teary.
I held her hands and she hugged me, and cried like a kid.
"Amber baby it's okay, it was not your fault that was just an accident," Abram told.
"Exactly Amber, just chill and enjoy this trip, " Walton said.
Amber nodded and wiped off her tears. Indeed that day was the unluckiest day. We all had a fight with each other and we left from Ladakh at night. Amber was driving the car and she hit a man with her car as it was night, and we couldn't see anything clearly.
I told everyone that we should help that man, and take him to the nearby hospital, but all were scared and thus we had to leave the man there and run away.
It took an hour for us to reach Machado Villa. The main gate was closed so Abram got down from the minibus and opened the gate for it to enter. It seemed that the place was deserted for years, as it was dusty with cobwebs and darkness all around. The driver turned on the headlight of the bus.
Xavier paid the driver, and we got down from the bus taking our bags along. The bus left from there.
"Guys why is there darkness all around?" Amanda asked.
"No idea, it seems that no one has stayed here for years," Terence replied.
"Who are you'll?" came a sharp voice. We turned behind and saw an old man with a lantern in his hand. He looked so creepy as he had covered his entire face with a shawl, and there was a scar near his right eye.
"Sir, we are Ryan Machado's childhood friends. Do you know where are they?" Terence asked politely.
"The entire Machado family disappeared ten years back, and since that day no one has come to this villa, " the old man replied.
"Sir, who are you and do you know where did they go?" Amber asked.
"I'm one of the faithful servants of Mr. Machado. I live in that cottage, " the old man said pointing towards an old, small shabby cottage.
"Guys, what's the use of waiting here? Let's leave, " Walton said.
"Walton it's ten in the night, " Amber said.
"So?" Walton asked raising his 'brows.
"If you'll want, you'll stay here, " the old man replied.
"Here?" Amanda asked looking at the villa which was covered in dust and cobwebs.
"Give me an hour, I'll tidy up the rooms. Till then you can sit in my cottage, " the old man replied.
" You want us to stay in that small cottage of yours? Eeww, it's better to leave, " Walton said.
"Walton, could you please shut your mouth?" I asked angrily.
"Exactly Walton, that man is trying to help us, " Amber told.
"What is the use of staying back here? The old man has said that the entire Machado family has disappeared, so what will we do here?" Andrew said.
"Andrew, Walton, what's your problem both of you? If you don't want to stay here than you can leave," I told angrily.
"Sir, could you please tidy up the rooms?" Terence asked politely.
"Sure," The old man replied and went inside the villa.
"This man is so weird," Walton said.
"At least he's weird, not a rascal," I replied looking at Walton and Andrew angrily.
We all were waiting outside the villa and talking when Andrew said, "Someone is there, on the terrace."
We all looked up at the terrace, but we didn't see anyone.
"Man, you need specs," Abram said and we all burst out laughing.
"Abram, trust me I saw a girl's shadow, on the terrace," Andrew said.
"Bro, are you okay? You're dreaming about girls everywhere?" Xavier asked laughing.
"I have cleaned the entire house," we heard the old man's voice. We looked around us, but we weren't able to see him.
"Guys he is there," Amanda replied pointing up towards the terrace.
"Is there a girl with you?" Andrew asked the old man.
He is surely drunk a lot, he's talking like a senseless person, I thought.
"What are you asking man?" Xavier asked laughing.
"Xavier, believe me, I saw a girl's shadow," Andrew said.
"Where did that old man, disappear?" Walton asked looking at the terrace.
"I am here," we heard his voice from behind and we were startled for a few seconds. We turned back and saw him standing with a lantern in his hand.
"Thank you so much, Sir," Terence said and he left without even replying.
"He is so weird," Amber said.
"Come let's go inside," Terence said and we nodded. We took our bags and went inside the villa.
- Writer
