CHAPTER 16:

Juggling between her school, her projects, and then the baby she used to try to keep herself busy without any success to forget him.

What are you doing Zek? Are you getting the treatment? Do you miss me? Do you remember a girl who was almost invisible to people who were blessed with healthy eyes? Would you act the same way Zek? Once you would get back would you find a way to come back to me?

Before you come back I would make sure to earn enough money for both of us. Of course, if you would be healthy enough to earn a living for us, Zek. But right now I need to find a way. I have to find a way to return the money to Prince Noah.

But how? Even if I would get a pretty decent job I would never be able to pay back.

 She stood up and opened the cupboard. Zek’s jacket was still hanging there, the one he gave her on their first meeting. She took it out and tried sniffing it. His faint fragrance was still lying there.    

Clutching it to her chest she kissed it when Ivy called her, “Hazel?” and then the door of her room opened.

Hazel quickly put the jacket back.

“Yes, Iv.” But Ivy saw her grief-stricken face and just stood there quietly. Taking a deep breath Hazel sat on the bed feeling a little guilty.

“Hazel!” Ivy called her asking her silently to trust her. “I know I am not trustworthy enough …”

“No Iv…” She was looking for words. Then she decided to be partially honest to Ivy.

“I need money. Prince Noah deposited some amount …” Then she laughed wryly, “I mean not some amount but a whopping one! About in millions …”

She heard Ivy’s gasp, “Millions?”

She nodded sadly, “Yes. He assigned me a confidential task and expects me to carry out the rest of the half later. But I don’t think I can do it. Or let me rephrase it. I can do it but I don’t WANT to do it. The only solution is to return the amount. But …” 

“But?” Ivy looked at her questioningly.

“Iv. A big chunk of money got spent on hospital bills. And I don’t blame you.” She quickly clarified. “But Iv I need to do something for that lost chunk. At 16 nobody would be willing to employ me. And if they do … then it would be underpaid.”

 “Hmm” Now Ivy got it. There were creases on her forehead while thinking.

“I would have suggested you deliver homemade food but since your cooking … Ouch” she started laughing when Hazel hit her a pillow.

“Seriously Hazel. You are quite talented. You ace in your studies. So what you can do is …” Ivy was lightly tapping her forehead with her index finger.

“Let me think … Let me think … Oh! Wow! Why didn’t I think of this before?” Ivy’s face lit up.

“What?” Hazel frowned not understanding her excitement.

“You make shampoo for your hair!”

“Yes, I do. Grandma taught me. Why?”

“Start selling your shampoos!” Ivy squeezed her hand with excitement. Hazel stayed quiet weighing down the idea.

“But I never made them in bulk.” She was not convinced with the idea.

“I would help you.” Ivy was happy to volunteer.

“But it takes a lot of time to go and shopping.” Another excuse.

“I can easily manage with the shopping part for you Hazel.” Another solution.

“But you have got Chris.” One more excuse.

“Yes. Shaina can look after him for a while.” Shaina was their next-door neighbor.

“But Ivy! Who would buy my Vanilla shampoo?”

“Make different ones in different batches. Try Rosemary, Jasmine, honey, …”

“Stop stop stop! Stop Iv!” She laughed nervously. “Your excitement is infectious and your laughter is contagious.” She was rolling her eyes while laughing but suddenly stopped, “Still! Who would buy it? How would I sell it?”

“Stop it, Hazel. We will make it together. Purchase small bottles. We will distribute it for free initially. When people would like it they would order it.”

Hazel eyed her with curiosity. “You have an answer to everything I say. You won’t stop. Will you?”

“No, I won’t. Neither should you … Just think. We are doing business then someday who knows we get orders from royals as well. Queen might call us, asking us the reason for the king’s hair fall and ...”

“Ivy Stop!!!” They were laughing like crazy when they heard Chris wailing.

Ivy jumped on her feet and shouted before leaving the room, “Plan it soon Hazel! I am not letting it go.”

…

The next day when Ivy went to school her bag was full of small plastic bottles containing Rosemary shampoo.

She was feeling jittery and excited at the same time. She sat in the class half listening to the teacher when her teacher called her, “Ms. Callum?”

Tom who was sitting beside her poked her a little. She jumped up, “Yes Mr. Atkins!”

“You seem busy observing trees outside the class. Care to explain what you have observed so far?”

She looked around a little embarrassed to find several pairs of eyes on her.

“I am waiting Ms. Callum.”

“Umm. Mr. Atkins I never knew that we have Rosemary in our school. I just realized it.” She said with a smile. 

She could hear muffled laughter from her classmates. Noah who was sitting in front was also smirking but she was surprised to find her teacher smiling kindly at her.

“It’s better late than never, Ms. Hazel. And it’s never too late. Please keep observing them … But after my class.”

She nodded smiling to herself. When the class was over she cleared her throat and tried to speak “Excuse me.”

Tom standing nearby turned towards her, but she spoke again, this time louder, “Excuse me, everyone.”

At last, students who were busy collecting their books before leaving the class started looking at her with questioning eyes.

“What are you doing?” Lily hissed before looking at others giving them her brightest smile.

“Umm. I have got … shampoo. I mean … I made it. If you all can try … It’s made of Rosemary.” She shrugged. Her hands started shivering so she folded them at her back so that nobody would notice it.

“It’s free. Free of cost.”

She stayed there waiting for their response. They were standing like they have witnessed a ghost. Then somebody standing near her started laughing, and she was horrified to realize that it was Lily.  “Look who is talking. The one who is hairless herself!”

She was laughing crazily holding her tummy. Hazel’s smile vanished from her face. Thankfully others were not laughing this crazily but they were smiling and nodding at whatever Lily said.

“I would like to have two bottles, Hazel. One for me and one for my mom.” A hush fell on the class because the voice belonged to the great Prince Noah.”

Hazel tried to assess his face if he was jesting with her. But man, he was damn serious.

“I also want one for myself.” This was a courtier’s son, also a friend of Noah. The moment he said it all other boys and the girls of Noah’s groups, kids of courtiers started nodding and asking for the shampoo.

Hazel trying her best to push away her tears and started giving a bottle to each one of them. Observing the courtiers’ children the other fellows too started to ask for the bottle.

And she was not a brainless or ignorant girl, not to realize what Noah had done for her. That too intentionally. While distributing the bottles her eyes fell on Noah who was standing near the door frame, his arms folded on his chest with a gentle expression on his face.

When their eyes met she thanked him by bowing down her head a little to which he nodded slightly to acknowledge her thanks.

…

It was the last class of the day. The teacher was quite popular for being strict and boring. He did know that Hazel was a very bright student. But he could not compromise on someone not paying attention in his class, no matter how intelligent the student was.

He tried calling her but she seemed too busy in her thoughts.

Today she was very happy. She could not help but smile to herself. All her shampoo bottles got distributed in a jiffy. Thanks to Prince Noah.

Ivy. I just can’t wait to meet you and share the news. We did it, Ivy. We did it.

Just when she was busy in her thoughts she heard a familiar whistling sound. Like something slashing the air.

Zella. You should know this sound even if you are sleeping. You should know how to protect yourself, honey.    

Her hand automatically came up and caught something midair, near her face. The teacher had thrown demonstrative colored chalk in her direction to get her attention.

When she tilted her head she found several pairs of wide eyes looking at her in fascination with praise and admiration in them. Their mouths were hung open, including the teacher.

Except one.

Prince Noah James was not smiling but was looking at her with a thoughtful expression. Then a slow, knowing smile started spreading on his lips.