Battle Against Sphinx

Chapter - Sixteen

Miles

I didn’t seem to get any sleep . I finally found my sister. After almost ten years I’ve found her and I can’t contain my happiness. I pace around in the room making sure not to make noise or disturb them. I had made soo many plans. Like I would go to the foster care center and ask them for the details of Mili , search for her , for the people who adopted her and then chase her until I find her. I even had dreams about this moment. About the whole process. But I never expected to find her like this. When all of us were trapped. I mean I never expected myself to get trapped so I guess that was obvious of me.

I neared the beds and saw the beautiful face of my sister sleeping. I still remember I used to watch her sleep when we were young. Those were the only times she used to be quiet . Otherwise she always used to find ways to irritate me. I miss those times. Suddenly I saw her move. She made a face in her sleep. I felt like maybe she was having a nightmare. I didn’t want to disturb her or the others so I kept quiet. She suddenly woke up and grasped for air.

“Mili, Julia ? Are you fine ?” I asked her . She looked at me and then looked around her . Maybe she was taking time to reason herself. “You fine?” I asked her again and she nodded. “Yes, just a nightmare” she said and I sighed. I offered her a glass of water which she gulped down immediately.

I took her by hand and walked with her. We walked silently for a while and then she started speaking. “I’ve been having that nightmare since years but never realized it wasn’t just a nightmare but the reality we committed to.” I understood what she was talking about. “Let’s just change the topic, sister blister.” I said and she chuckled. It was her nickname which I had kept unable to tolerate her pranks.

“I remember that. You had kept that name when I had told mom that you broke the vase whereas I was the one who broke it.” She said shyly. “Ah! Finally my sis admits it.” I said and gave a fake relief. She laughed again.

“And I really can’t believe that you still trust your instincts and go about all the nonsense you used to say when we were young. All about travelling, solo that too. And soul searching.”

“Yup and they aren’t nonsense by the way.” “ They are” she said and I was not in the mood to go back to the old bickering we used to do so I just hummed. “You remember the falls mom used to take us to near our home ?” “Ya, and I also remember the way you used to squeal in excitement every single time.” “ Yes. They were such good memories. Even though dad wasn’t around much it didn’t matter. We knew that he was working hard for us. By the way what happened to him ? Any idea ? I just remember the fact that he was completely absent for a few days and mom was going mad.

She just said that he’ll come back later but that she didn’t know when. And then she ….. she ……” she couldn’t continue it. “Not now Mili”. Mili only knew the fact about what happened to mom but she never knew about dad. Mom asked me not to tell her. Even though I knew it now and it has been so many years I still didn’t have the courage to break my little sister’s heart. Not just after few hours of us reconnecting.

“Not now Mili, we are talking about good times” I said and side hugged her as she wiped her tears .

“I know I know . I’m sorry. I met you now. I want to meet them too. Have a happy family again” she said and I hummed again knowing that it would never happen. “Have you visited mom since that day she left for grandma’s ?” “Only once but that day she didn’t want to see me. So technically no” I said .

I didn’t realize that we started walking in the corridor until something hit my foot. I bent down and took it in my hand. It was a small ring. Mili tugged me down a bit and I bent again to show her the ring. “Looks familiar” she said and I nodded. It was true. This looked familiar.

I have seen this on someone’s finger. Their ring finger. But whom? I couldn’t remember that. By the sight ahead I knew the sun was rising now so I turned and tugged onto Mili and pulled her back to the room .