Extortioner

Chapter 7: Blight Rain and Consequences

Selene was devastated ~

Selene plays with Elena in the afternoon, when Rosalie returns from the market. The doorbell rings with a thudding noise.

A beat of heart skips in Selene as the thudding continues louder ringing her ears.

Selene carries Elena in her arms and approaches the door. She sees Rosalie has been drenched in blight rain and standing like a stone with a bag of groceries.

Selene gets the grocery bag from Rosalie and leaves it on the table. Rosalie looks weird with red coloured eyes, a hardened body and chilled hands. Selene gets a towel and blanket to wrap around her.

Selene asks...What happened Mom....? There comes no reply from Rosalie. Selene carries Elena to check on Rosalie.

Rosalie keeps banging her head in the wall. Selene feels afraid to go near her, but she manages to make her sit comfortably and serves her water.

Rosalie drops the water down and drags Selene's leg. Rosalie tries to attack Selene with a knife.

Selene rescues herself by blocking with both hands. Sweat droplets fall from her forehead in fear.

Selene feels black frozen blood oozing out her arms. Selen heart thuds like anything, she carries Elena along with the car keys, handbag, mobile, crystal bracelet and leaves the home.

On the way, she stops by a medical shop to cover her wound with bandages. The rain had stopped already. She takes her ATM cards and withdraws 30,000 bucks.

She visits D-Mart to get biscuits, toned milk, diapers, fruits, bread, cheese, jam, potato chips, water bottles, sanitisers, napkins, towel, and few clothes to change for her and Elena.

The flash news goes on the television of D-Mart stating to stay safe and quarantine oneself from infected persons.

People drenched in the blight rain are infected with paranormal effects and hallucinations harming themselves and others.

Reporters tell... there has few infected cases in hospitals and they find no cure in patients. The only solution is to stay safe and quarantine for your loved ones.

Selene purchases an umbrella, raincoat, plastic gloves, masks, face shields, salt, rock salts, Himalayan salts, herbs like rosemary, thyme, oregano, lemongrass, seeds of plants, various crystals and essential oil kits.

Selene has no other way but to keep her daughter safe. She gets covered and protects Elena as she drives. She gets no idea on where to stop her journey. She keeps on driving until she could find a protective place.

Selene switches on the radio news and listens. The reporter says... "certain regions of Mumbai are affected due to the blight rain". People are safe in Lonavala hills due to the good environmental conditions...

Selene switches on the GPS location of the car. It shows 210 km away and 5 hours of travel time.

Few infected people walk on the streets harming each other and killing themselves. Police keeps a wide check on infected people and drop them to quarantines or in hospitals.

Selene calls Kane to inform him about the situation. He does not pick up the call. Selene calls her dad and explains the situation. Meantime, she drops a message to Kane about the scenario in brief.

A ride to Lonavala ~

Selene drives to Lonavala hill station surrounded by caves, waterfalls, lakes and lush greeneries. The place is said as " The City of caves". It gives a serene feel to the soul.

Selene is served with delicious vada pav (fried potato dumpling in bun) with green chillis and chutneys in the Golden Vada pav.

Selene satiates her hunger pangs at Golden Vada pav. It is the famous food destination of Lonavala. She feeds Elena with a soft pav (similar to bun or bread) and toned milk to keep her tummy full.

The evening gets darker as they reach Misty Meadows. The resort gives a serene feeling with excellent food and an exotic stay.

Lonavala Misty Meadows are located next to Tata Lake offering a luxury spectacular view with exceptional service. It offers rejuvenation and has a modern facility.

The food of Misty meadows activates the taste buds with senses and yumminess. Me and Elena book a private suite in the Misty Meadows. We dip our legs in the ice-cold waters of the pool.

Kane calls back saying he is stuck up in the office due to the consequences of Blight Rain. His father has admitted Rosalie to the Bhaktivedanta hospital and she is kept quarantined for some days. Yet they have not found any cure for hallucinations and paranormal effects.

Selene uses her witchcraft to make a cure for the side effects caused by Blight rain. She isolates "Rauvolfia serpentine" species from the dried root of the plants and formulates a mouth spray.

Selene returns to Mumbai from Lonavala. She helps an infected person by spraying the Rauvolfia serpentine into their mouth. The person slowly recovers from hallucinations and dizziness.

She thinks the mouth spray works for the people infected with Blight rain. Soon she arrives at Bhaktivedanta hospital to check Rosalie and uses the mouth spray to recover her.

The doctors say it's a medical miracle seeing Rosalie's recovery. Selene gives them the formulations of the mouth spray to help other infected people.

The hospital appreciates Selene for her efforts and research on overcoming the complications of Blight rain.

Kane thanks Selene to help his mom to recover from paranormal activities. Selene says you are welcome !!!

Selene's cure works like a miracle to people. They praise Selene for her good deeds. Thus the consequences that happened due to the blight rain comes to an end...

Selene feels happy yet some void fills in her. She closes her eyes to fill the wonderful moments she ever had with Kane.

Everything returns to normal after the blight rain. But she couldn't observe any changes from her in-laws side.

Selene feels happy to cook in the morning, have a hot shower and catch her early trains to reach the office.

Selene has a journey of almost an hour in train and buses to reach her office. Every day she could watch those cats at the entrance of her office.

Neha likes cats as she says, cats have some special connection with humans. Selene googles to find out the good effects of cats on humans. The first thing she can see is " Cats are good for the health as they have calming effects on their owners". Cats could lower the blood pressure and having the risk of a heart attack.

Cats are adorable also loyal, curious and independent. When Selene finds the best sides of the cat, she impeccably loves Cat.

Selene loves to see those fluffy cats nibbling fish biscuits with their cute cat furry and bubbled eyes.

Selene has the Sunday offs and Friday office as she is a Catholic, Neha gives her the exception. Others work during Sunday and have Friday offs.

Han and Sid accompany Selene to the nearby canteen to have coffee, vada pav, Dahi vada and chocolates in their break time.

Most times Selene pay for them as well. They gossip about the work, movies, and have fun while filling the stomach.

One morning Selene could see ladies in masks and gloves. She wonders what's happening on the earth?... In the evening news, she gets to know about the Covid outbreak in India.

When everything goes at a smooth pace, there must be something to happen in Selene's life to change her destiny. The Covid-19 breaks out in India, her jolly days goes to stall.

Home quarantines, work from home, looking after her daughter, cooking ..all together eat her health and brains.

It has been more than a while where Kane and Selene have been happy together. Selene missed Kane so much but no signs of interest from him.

Is it that men are attracted only the first year of the marriage and don't bother about looking out for their wives. Selene feels dejected.

Now a U-turn takes place when Neha gives Selene a half salary and more work, right from morning 9 am to 7 pm. Selene works hard, she has to make time of 5 minutes to have lunch. On the downside, Elena disturbing her every single minute seeking mom's attention.

Due to the Covid-19 lockdown, Selene's life feel miserable. She gets more suicidal calls from google ads to schedule their appointment for therapy.

Selene has to speak with at least 15 people per day and bring paid clients to her boss. The stress level of Selene gets more tolerant. She hardly makes time to talk with her mom.

Rosalie returns to t*****e Selene. She pours down all her anger by beating and humiliating her. Kane silently watch the suffering of Selene, yet he minds his own business. He feels her as a helpless woman.

Kane tells Selene ...You are a beggar...!! This statement affects her a lot. Kane has his food with his family not even considering Selene. But Selene feeds her daughter and takes good care of her, although she manages to have her food one time per day.

The struggles and pain Selene faces is intolerable. She feels one day her cries could be heard by God.

Due to 13 days of continuous work, Selene feels drained. She finally relieves that it's Friday and her day off. But Neha demands Selene to work on that day too without any leave for the past 13 days.

Selene refreshes and picks up calls to schedule their appointment. She receives 20 google leads and manages to call 17 leads with 5 being paid clients and others for free 30 minutes counselling along with inner child healing meditation.

Neha calls Selene and shouts like anything. Neha... you are so incapable of doing work...what to expect from you..?

Selene feels terrible with the deeply hurt sword words of Neha. Although Neha know Selene works hard and is wiser than her colleagues. Neha treated her very rudely.

Selene cries for two hours continuously and her inner voice says it's enough you can quite now. So Selene pings Neha to tell her she is not healthy and wants to rest for a while. Selene.."thank you for everything you taught me...my spirit is willing but my flesh is tired. I quit now".

Neha thinks it was her mistake to treat Selene that way and calls her the next day. But Selene doesn't attend her call.