ANAGRAM

ANAGRAM chapter 2

Rip is on cloud nine. His happiness is tinged with amusement. Maida, who's behind him, wrings her hands as she repeatedly bites her fingernails. her lips are pressed, and one can tell the amount of thoughts racing in her mind. Rip turns to face her. He puts his thick, muscular hands on her shoulders as his eyes flicker with impatience, betraying the genuine concern he was trying to portray.

" Maida look...I know that things didn't go as per your wish, and I also understand how you feel about all this... I also didn't want it to be this way, Maida, trust me, but what could i have done? your parents are like my own and I couldn't say no... I know you don't trust me in..."

"( covers his mouth) don't ever say that Rip," she cuts in, then takes a step back.

" Rip, you are the one person I trust in this . planet! I know the world can plot evil against me, but not you! I don't know why I always act so insecure.. you know what, just let it go, please don't mind me, " she concludes, regretting her past behaviour. Rip seems so relieved.

" (moves closer) Oh Maida... you don't know how you have just revived me... (snaps) aaah this calls for a celebration!" he says excitedly.

Maida is confused but ends up cheering up.

" I agree. Let's watch a movie!" she jots in.

" Oh, come on! that's quite old! let's go out and just chill. " he cunningly offers.

" Wow, that's even better. Just wait here, I'll go freshen up, ok?" she says excitedly as she runs upstairs.

Rip confirms her departure, and then makes a call. He seems to be giving careful instructions. Immediately after the call, he receives another one. He smiles broadly upon seeing the name of the incoming caller.

" You didn't even allow me to think of you for a minute mother in law" he teases.

" Hey, don't count your chicks before they hatch, " warns the woman on the phone.

"come on mother in law!(chuckles) you don't know how much i am yearning for things to happen...I can't wait..."

" Enough!.. Don't celebrate too soon Rip...You have not yet reached the finish line, so be very careful, the race has just begun!...Anyway I just called to confirm how things are going." she adds.

" I thought you were clever enough to recognise it from the way I am speaking mother-in-law! ...what do you think huh? ( chuckles) The rat is slowly falling into the pit! It seems like even the Heavens is on our side too Mother in law! Things are not as tough as I pictured them to be! ( spots Maida) Ok bye I'll call you later(disconnects)"

Maida walks down dressed to kill accordingto him. He can't take his eyes off her. He seems mesmerised. His eyes slowly roam, savoring every detail of her body. He is captivated by the shape of her bossom, especially because her dress has exposed a bit of her chest, as if she deliberately left it open to entice him. Her lips have caught the light like a drop of morning dew and their soft sheen drawing his attention. The gloss added a touch of allure, as if each word she speaks might carry a hint of sweetness. He bites his lower lip, as if he is sizing her up, given a chance he would devour every inch of her.

"How do I look?"she asks as she walks past him and that has only made the air more intense.

"Jeez you are killing me!"

"What!" she interrupts suddenly in shock.

"(clears throat) I mean...You look good as usual Maida, Never bother to ask me because I will always say you look stunning and I ..."

"(chuckles) Rip, you know what let's just go...otherwise all this will take forever (walks out) she says, chuckling.

Meanwhile, two women in their 40s are sitting in the living room of another house. They seem to chitchat over their cups of tea.

" By the way, was that Rip on the Phone?" asks one of them.

" Yes, of course," confirms the other.

" Melanie, I hope the two of you are not scheming anything," she says, her voice wavering with sincerity.

"( shocked) what did I just hear now ! since when Talia?" she enquires curiously.

" It's not what you think, Melanie... I am just making sure you and my son are on the right path."

" (claps) wow Talia! unbelievable! Your son, huh? so now you are even calling him your son, I see!" she mutters unimpressed.

" Melanie, why are you behaving this way? In as much as Rip is my stepson, I don't want any harm to come to him. I don't want his heart broken by Maida! yes, this is what we both want, but Melanie Rip should not be harmed in the process. He has been so good to me, and he always treated me like his own mother!"

"That's because he doesn't know you are his stepmother, Talia! Do you think he will be so loving towards you if he were to find out the truth now? look Talia... we have come this far, so please don't spoil our entire plan by letting your emotions get the better of you, " Melanie concludes firmly.

" And by the way, do you think Maida has any feelings for Rip? I don't know why I have this premonition, a gut feeling that things might not turn out as we have planned!" Talia confesses with concern.

"(side eye) Seriously? Talia is that really you? clearly, you are the prophetess of doom! I have never come across such a pessimist in my life!" Melanie expresses in annoyance, as she gets up from her seat.

Rip and Maida are now strolling on the pavement. The two are hardly saying anything. Rip keeps peering into Maida's figure that's being displayed by her fitting dress. After minutes of walking They come across a mini supermarket. They cross the road and both enter and then later come out with ice cream at hands.

"You are unbelievable Rip, why did we come all the way here just for ice cream!" she says jokingly.

" This supermarket has the best ice cream Maida, and I know there is nothing you love as much as ice-cream...just see how much you are enjoying (both laugh as they cross the road)."

Just as they were crossing, a giant trailer almost runs over Maida. luckily, Rip grabs her hand, pulling her to himself, and both end up falling aside the road, Rip on top of Maida. He then pulls away, to check how she's doing.

"Are you ok?( helping her up,)" he asks with concern.

" Yea, I am fine (standing) thanks" she replies.

" thank goodness...I wonder what that crazy driver was thinking " he complains.

As they walk, Rip notices that Maida is limping.

" oh no, Maida, you are surely not ok( spots her elbow) you're bleeding Maida and...you...you are barely walking...come(carries her)"

Maida is left agape. She looks at Rip who's carrying her, with admiration. passers by kept an eye on them.

" where did I get such a friend oh Lord...who does these things nowadays? Dear Lord, you have to give Rip the best partner ever" Maida exclaims silently.

Rip is also in thoughts.

" I am sorry Maida, all this is done by me...what do I do?, I can't help it, Maida! I can't tell you how badly I need you close to me! I also need you to fall in love with me because... we will soon Get married! ( Flashback)"

Rip remembers how he made the call before they left the house and how he planned to get Maida hit so that he saves her and turns out to be the hero hence winning her trust.

They reach the house and Rip is tending to Maida's wounds. She's in great pain when the antiseptic touches her wound, she keeps flinching and gritting her teeth. Rip sees that and blows the wound to relieve the pain. In the process, their eyes meet and hold. Rip slowly moves his head up towards hers, as his warm hands wander about her thighs and beyond, sending chills down her spine, making her release a soft, slow, breathless sigh, as her head also bends towards his. She suddenly feels the warmth of his breath on her lips and her heart begins to race. He brushes her lips hesitantly at first before deepening into more passionate embrace, making them breathless, and just then Maida pushes him away.

it turns out Rip is just hallucinating. Maida wonders what could be going on in his mind.

" are you ok?" she enquires genuinely.

"( surprised) yea.. yea, definitely...(to himself) what the heck was that! this chick will drive me nuts!

(to her) I will get juice for you" he says as he walks to the kitchen.

Rip seems worried. He fills a glass with juice and takes it to Maida. Maida receives it but before she can take a sip, she notices his hand. Rip is injured. she's shocked.

" Rip you are hurt too!" she shouts, as she puts the glass onto the table and grabbing his hand.

"No Maida! that's nothing compared to what you have!" He replies calmly.

" just shut up ok...( grabs the first aid kit next to her) give me that hand" she orders.

Rip looks at her as she dresses his would. He smiles slyly.

"(V.O) I know you Love me Maida! Now I am certained about it( smiles)"

Maida is done dressing the wound. she stands up and Rip immediately follows to help her up.

"careful!" he encourages .

" it's been a long day Rip I think I should go sleep upstairs I'm very tired!", she says calmly.

"That's ok Maida, let me take you, then I'll come make dinner for us!" he offers.

Both walk upstairs and he supports Maida by holding her hand. he later comes back and sits on the sofa. He keeps echoing Maida's words when she saw his wound. He lays on his back satisfied. Maida is lost in thoughts in the room. She pulls out a picture under her pillow and begins to admire it. she seems so concerned about something. Just then she hears a knock and hides the picture under the pillow, then slowlygets up. At the door is Rip.

" Uuhhmm...may I?" he requests politely and she nods. He sits on the bed next to her.

"What happened Rip, why have you come here?" she asks with a heavy voice and he replies with a side eye that makes her rethink her words.

" No I mean, like...uuhmm...like are you ok?" she stutters.

"Maida I think it's not a good idea for you to sleep alone... ( she's shocked) I mean what if you need something, I need to be near you...I mean just incase, you know..."

" Rip, Rip...my hands and legs are not broken you see...please don't worry , as it is you are just a walk away right, I can always call you..."

"No Maida, I'm afraid I won't be able to hear you call, besides, it's just an ordinary sleeping Maida, come on, I will sleep on the mat don't worry, I won't share the bed with you.."

"Rip, it's not about sharing the bed...We can share the bed you know, i trust you! But I am safe and sound as long as you are here! so there's no need..."

" Maida...I insist, please don't say no, please, I just want to have a peaceful night besides you (She raises a brow)..I mean I won't have to keep waking up to come check on you... so I will just be here, if not I will sleep outside your door!"

"Rip...Why are you so adamant...fine, come sleep here then, but I will be the one to sleep on the mat!"

" What! No No No Maida, I will sleep on the mat, You can't sleep on the mat at this state!"

"Rip you are now overreacting you know, I am not pregnant am I, so I will comfortably sleep on the mat"

The two continue to argue about who will sleep on the bed or the mat, untill Maida suggests that the two sleep on one bed.

" Are you sure about this?" he confirms even though it's to his pleasure and she nods in acceptance.