The Meeting On Friday

Shining Flower

The Meeting On Friday

Chapter One

I'm about to close the lid to my water bottle when I feel it. It's happening again.

I know it's happening but it has to stop. Not now. Not in public. Although there aren't many people around since it's still five a.m.

The streets of Mumbai are quiet, perfect for my daily run.

I feel a sting on my left cheek and suck in a frightened breath.

No, no, no, no, no.

It can't. It's been five years. Couldn't it happen after six years? Couldn't it have happened last year when it'd been four years? Not five. Please not five.

Now my right cheek stings.

Both my cheeks.

My arms.

Forehead.

Thighs.

Belly.

I double over, screaming.

I'm next to Kali's bakery, where I'd stopped to get my daily dose of caffeine. I catch his attention because the door opens and I feel hands grip my shoulders.

I'm now on my knees. I'm still screaming.

Kali's jerk away from my shoulders.

He's seen it.

No.

I'm no longer screaming.

But someone else is. Kali is screaming.

No.

I'm smiling.

I don't want to but I am. Everything goes black. There's no one around. They won't find him. They won't find ME.

No.

.... .... ....

Someone is holding Crystal. She won't stop screaming. She can't watch it anymore.

"Make it stop!" She cries.

"Remain still, Crystal!" Bua's stern voice comes.

Crystal instantly stills her movements.

She continues to cry, though.

"Please don't tell Poppa," she whimpers with her eyes closed. She can't look at Bua.

"Shut it!" Bua hisses then continues rubbing the wet cloth over her stinging body.

"He'll hurt her," Crystal continues. Bua grips Crystal's hair and yanks her head back.

"She's dead!" She snarls quietly.

Crystal opens her eyes and comes eyes to eye with Bua's emerald green eye. The other eye socket is empty. She refuses to cover it.

"She isn't dead," she whispers, surprised that her voice is steady.

"I still feel her pain. You won't hide Eva's pain through me forever."

Bua backhands her causing her to fall against the steel headboard.

"Don't say her name."

"Eva," Crystal's voice came as a whisper. Like a question, testing the waters, seeing how far she could provoke Bua. And provoke her, she did.

Bua's eye twitched.

She held back a gag.

"Eva," she tried again.

"Stop," Bua hisses yanking her hair even harder.

"Eva. Eva! Eva! Eva! Eva! Eva! E - Ahhh!!” Crystal shrieked when Bua began bashing her head against the headboard.

"Momma!" She screamed in agony.

The door to her bedroom flew open and Rose, her eldest sister rushed in, looking beautiful and graceful as always in a red cashmere gown with her dark and thick hair pulled up in a tight bun. Her shining crown with red roses stones embedded on it sat firmly on her head.

Rose wrenched Bua's hands away from Crystal before striking her hard across the cheek causing Bua to stumble and land to the wooden floor on back.

"What atrocity is this?!" Rose bellowed.

Crystal curled herself up into a trembling ball in the corner of the bed.

"Crystal. Baby, are you alright?" Rose asked in concern, she tried reaching out to her but Crystal shrinked further away from her.

"Don't touch me. You're also on their side.

Rose released an exasperated yet ladylike sigh then turned her attention to Bua.

"Get out and don't ever return to this room or this side of the palace." Rose said calmly to Bua.

Bua was already scrambling to her feet.

"But I must - "

"That's an order! Out!" Rose declared sternly. Rose turned to Crystal. Her face contorted into one of sorrow.

"Why do you keep doing this, Crystie?" She asked in a pained voice.

Crystal scoffed.

"You're horrible, Rose. And you know it. Leave my room, please." She said glaring at her.

"Crystie -"

"Don't! If you really cared about me - if you really cared about ANYONE - you would have let Momma out. Now leave!"

At her words, Rose lowered her head and began walking towards the door.

"I knew it," Crystal hissed, stopping Rose on her tracks. Rose didn't turn around,t hough. Crystal shot daggers at her back.

"The moment I mention Momma, you walk away. You're selfish. You're just like them."

"Not everything is at seems, Crystal. Saathi, you, Moon, Eva, Tiger, Ivy, Don, me Momma and Poppa will be doomed by Eva's return. It's not all about you," Rose said softly. She opened the door, walked out and left her in more confused than she was before.

What was she talking about?! What could Eva possibly do to Herman Chesne?