"Ahhhhh We all are late!" a scream I was not expecting, drifted to my ear. "Wake up! Everyone wake up! It's 7:20. Wake up!" I still was in my slumber where I was just waiting for the scream to diffuse from all the energy. "Ahhhhhhh" another scream really woke me up
"Why the hell are you all screaming?" I said yawning, searching for the mobile I had kept above my head. "Nora, its 7:20 morning. I have to go to my classes, moms are not at home. Breakfast has to be prepared and congrats you are going to drop all of us." I heard 'B' saying all this.
Then the alarm bell in my brain started ringing. "Oh shit." my curse woke up the two sleepyheads. "Nora, cursing is bad." the cute voice of 'G' entered my ears, when I saw her, she was rubbing her eye with her right hand holding her pink mini which 'C' had given on her 3rd birthday.
"Ok sorry, now we all need to be a team. 'A' wake up all girls. 'G' baby brush, take a bath then I will pack your breakfast in your box. As you have missed your school bus you will eat when I drive you. Pass this instruction to 'D', 'E', 'F' when you meet them."
I thought I cannot handle all this so I called the only person "Nadia, my sweet, pretty best friend, I need your tiny help." She groaned hearing my voice. Nice, even her sleep is being destroyed. "yeah.." I knew she will sleep again, so I called her landlord and passed the message.
RIP Nora, you are going to die in the hands of Nadia. I went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast which I think sandwich will do? I opened the fridge and started cutting vegetables. By the time I completed everyone was almost ready.
"Nora, I had called my friend she is going to pick me don't worry about us." 'A' told hurridly taking sandwichs in a box. "Hey Nora, I have called my friend who will come to pick me please ask her to wait for 5 minutes." 'B' said a brush in her hand with foam all over her mouth.
Gross! 'B' will never change. At the same time, I received a call from the hospital. "Hello, Dr. Lenora speaking," I said as I kept my phone between my ear and shoulder buttering the bread. "Sorry for the short notice Dr. Lenora, but you are required to be here by 9:00 am as a doctor took an emergency leave today." I wanted to curse so badly at the speaker but chose to say yes.
When I kept my phone down, I just wanted to shout and relieve my frustration. Today is really a bad day. I regretted saying that I would manage everything to aunties. My cell rang again and I received without seeing.
"Hello, Lenora, Good morning!" Ray wished me as I was about to wish him "Nora!, Lizard!" I made a crying face running to the bathroom where 'D' was screaming her lungs out.
"Coming! coming!" I took the nearby walking stick to temporarily throw or make the lizard vanish out of 'D' sight.
"Where the hell did you keep my bio book? Did I keep it? You tell, where did you keep my Tennis racket?" It was clearly a battle between 'E' and 'F'. I went inside to room to scold them when I saw the whole room was upside down as if a tornado entered the room.
'E' was pulling 'F's hairs and 'F' was hitting 'E's head. With a lot of difficulties, I separated 'E' and 'F' asking them to be fast as we didn't have much time.
When I was about to sit on the floor my doorbell rang. I ran to open it thinking Nadia can help me with sandwiches but was shocked when Ray and Nadia stood before me glaring at each other.
I was still staring at them. What was the reason for this world-ending glaring competition? When 'H's wails were heard, I quickly took the milk I had prepared for her so that I can clean her 4-5 teeth and feed her.
By the time I came with 'H' gurgling to herself who was playing with my hair, Ray had laid the food which appeared as take-outs on the table. Nadia was eating the sandwich and was reading one of the newspapers which were lying in the living room.
"I asked for help not invited you for breakfast!" I said as I folded the newspaper giving a small smile to Ray. I was in my pajama pants with a loose T-shirt along with a roughly tied hair bun. When I was continuing with the buttering of bread I could feel eyes of Ray.
"You lazy ass what are you staring at Nora! go and help 'G' in packing her backpack!" Nadia is always Nadia. She doesn't even care if the president of America is here she will assign him any work.
"Good night, I am sleeping," Nadia said as everyone was ready to depart. Without even listening to further instruction Nadia slept on the couch. I quickly took my handbag and stethoscope with me for the hospital as Ray assured me that will take all girls to their respective destination.
By the time I reached home, I was half asleep. The operation was successful but the patient was kept in ICU for further observation. When I opened the door a laughing 'H' laid on her stomach with Ray doing funny faces greeted me.
My heart melted as Ray did some funny thing and 'H' laughed banging her chubby hands on carpet. Then Ray took a colorful ball throwing it to 'H' who clutched it directly putting it inside her mouth. I shook my head and headed to thank Ray.
"Thank you so much, Ray, I don't know-how would have I managed without you." I said lifting 'H' from the ground and removing that awfully colorful ball from her mouth. 'H' didn't like that, I took the ball from her so, she was totally swaying at the direction of the ball making small cries.
"It's completely alright, did you appoint any cook? If you want I can help you." I really wanted to deny him for all this trouble, but even I had commitments and he was the best in such things so, I nodded with a smile.
"I am sorry because of me you had to take a day off from your office." I said as I saw 'H's water bottle was empty and decided to fill it.
"I told you it is completely alright and now 'H' and I are best friends. Right 'H'?" As Ray asked 'H' in baby voice who answered in her own language.
Ray was really helpful this morning. He had arranged an 8 seater car for the kids to go for school and has been taking care of 'H' as Nadia was called for some appointments in hospital. He had a lot of questions seeing me so busy to the point where breathing was difficult so, he let it go.
"So are you free this evening?" Ray's question made me guilty. Every time he asked for a date either there was some difficulty or I was busy. "I am really sorry Ray I need to help 'E' and 'F' in their Bio homework, 'C' has a project so I need to bring some materials for that, I have promised 'D' that I will edit her new article which she writes in medium....."
I was about to continue when Ray showed his palm. "I didn't know you were so busy! I thought you were busy in hospital but now you act as a manager in the home as well." His voice hinted admiration for me.
"Anyway can you make yourself free this Saturday? There is a charity ball and will you be my date?" he asked scratching his right part of the head. I looked at his arms which flexed showing his delicious muscle. Ok, I definitely need to go to church.
I think I was staring too much so I gulped clearing my throat "Ok, but I don't know much about these charity events" I said as I didn't want to embarrass myself and him.