Chapter 3

Jasmine 

"How is your shop going on?" Dad asks , looking up at me from eating his breakfast as I slide another susie rolled in bread crumps in his plate as dad's phone rings loudly on the table , kept beside his plate and my eyes falls on the caller name.

It's William calling.!

I smile seeing his call because ever since dad threw me out , William was angry with dad and now I guess they are also making up .

William even said that he will smack dad on head when they start talking again since William was not really talking to dad after he threw me out of our home .

My smile morphs in slight confusion as dad silences the phone and shrugs his shoulders , implying that he'd answer later as he looks up at me and makes a motion from his hand onto his face - letting me know that in making breakfast I have dusted my face with flour and I pat my face where he suggested and smile.

I feel my face heating and heart pounding with the warmth of his behavior as I say "nice , everyday we get a little increase in number of customers , every day I try to make something new". I smile as he nods , morning sun rays making his face glow in golden shade and i turn to leave as he adds "I won't need more , if you're done with kitchen , then sit , I'll leave in ten minutes for work" 

I bite my lips feel hope squirming in my heart - maybe dad is trying to accept me once again after all , i nod as his phone rings again!

Its William again and dad avoids his call again! 

He does takes calls while eating so why not today?

He looks at me and gestures to sit and I nod again.

Well , I knew he won't take more Susie,  next I was going to make for myself but since dad is asking me to sit and he'd leave in minutes - I make a mind to make breakfast for myself after he leaves as I pull a chair and sit.

It feels as though after ages dad has asked me to sit near him.

He munches on his susie as he makes a mmm sound and I beam as he smiles and adds "When are you graduating?" He asks and it takes me a moment to process his words before I speak 

"In six months" 

As soon as I speak William calls again ! And dad makes no move to take the call...

"Dad It seems like something important"

I say and he nods and I see stress forming on his forehead as he puts the spoon down and adds "William called me earlier too , says no shop work today , from tomorrow you can go" 

He says and my eyebrows scrunches but I manage my expression .

Why didn't William call me directly?

And why he's avoiding William's call now? Is it because I'm infront of him and he doesn't want to talk in front of me? I'm no harm , am I?

"Okay-" I start but then William is calling again .

What is so important that it can't wait ten minutes ? He's calling continuously and dad is avoiding continuously even though they are friends from school life , William was disappointed with dad for throwing me out so maybe he's scolding dad ? Is he being too harsh with dad?

And dad is avoiding because he doesn't want me to know?

What else could be the reason ? Practically none that I could think of.

Dad silences the phone again and rubs his forehead

"I'm leaving , see you in the evening, take umm care" He says and my face tips towards him in time he pushes the chair back and stands , wiping his mouth with napkin.

Take umm care... as though he had to avoid his instinct to say something as bare minimum as take care...

He turns around and walks out in rush and I sigh.

He said he had ten minutes before he left but he is leaving before ten minutes and it's sunday,  I thought maybe today he'd properly say sorry for throwing me out of the house since he never actually apologized,  he just ordered me to come home and by the habit of obeying him from years , I agreed and silently waited since then for him to apologize but he's busy... 

I swallow the lump of hurt in my throat and stand up as I see his wallet left on table.

Oh lord! 

This is why I can't keep grudges with my old men , they are aging and they need my love and support and care .

I let go of my quarells of why dad didn't talk in front of me and why he looked tensed or how he never apologized and shake my head.

Like always dad forgot something of his on the table , he never leaves without forgetting something .

I smile and silently forgive my one and only family left and take the wallet and rush out.

"Dad - wait" 

I pace up my feet even though getting my periods in the morning makes sure that my legs burns as I run , I see dad in distance and call out to stop him "Dad , you're leaving without your wallet-"

"Don't call like a fucking maniac! I will use her as my trump card but not to my biggest enemy !it will be my defeat!" 

As I reach the lawn door , I hear dad on phone and freeze.

What?

Dad has enemies? 

Is he in some trouble? What is he saying?

Do I go and give him the wallet and wait for him to hang the call and then ask him?

Yes...

As I'm about to step forward, he speaks something that plasters my feet on floor "Well ! All you need to get is -She gets thrown in sexual enslavement if Alrick doesn't likes her and doesn't agrees to buy , we get money and we attack The Kings ! But not directly! We are not stupid to attack Mafia's like them directly!" 

My feet as though burns in the floor as I try to understand what he's saying.

Sexual enslavement...

Alrick...

Buy what?

I have never heard the term 'sexual enslavement' before but the horror that coats my heart at the mention of it ensures my legs stays statuesque as he adds "I know how to cash her! It all happens within a month!"

What is he talking about ? What will happen in a month ?

The 'her' in his sentences , why is it chilling my bones ?

My hands grips the curtain that is softly flowing , sickness sits heavy in my stomach as my instincts panics and whispers horrors 

"I have a plan ! We shoot two birds with one stone and slide out of war in a way that our names doesn't even come in light! Her's does!" 

What is he saying?

He's talking in a way I've never heard him before...

Is it William? 

What war? Does dad need my help or support?

"Oh no ! I have a plan ! We will do it in a way that the masterplan blame falls on her so even if everything fails , Zander king and his father will be logically forced to grab her throat ! We will do it but it won't be our hands! It will be her innocent hands! We will make it happen with her hands , in her name before we sell her off! It's a win win for us from either ways"

My face bobs and instincts shivers , my instincts speaks something that I can't understand as he adds "I don't let my enemy win in any condition! We just need to be careful because I know his tricks , not his son's tricks , the boys seems like they have made great name in underworld and in whole city ! And amongst his sons Zander king is my only worry! That boy seems unpredictable and untouchable and actually dangerous!" 

Underworld...

Zander king... who are these people?

What is my father upto... since when my father started talking about such things?

"Two birds dies with one shot ! Just prepare the paper of debt clearance between Richard Brandt and Walse King"

He pauses for a moment as my heart beat echoes in my ears as I hold the wall for support , suddenly feeling weak in knees.

We are family so why everything I'm hearing is practically foreign and gibberish to me?

"I hinted him on paying the debts this way myself but I won't! I won't just pay off the debt with my only asset left when I could earn more by selling her off! I will ruin The Kings ! Their debt under my fucking foot" 

Selling her off?

Her...

Dad... what is he saying ? 

About whom...

"The fuck? Zander king? His son?" 

Zander king... 

Why is my heart thudding at this name? As though some part of me knows this name... 

The name sits heavy in my heart as dad walks back and fourth in stress and then hisses "What did Alrick say? We will make him see her ! Enemy's enemy is supposed friend , after all"

Alrick... who will he make this man see ? And why? 

Why is he using 'her'...

Who is dad's enemy ?

Why is dad talking like a man I never knew?

"We are ! Setting it on fire in time I will sign off the debt clearance papers"

Fire...?

Dad speaks and coughs before sliding his hand in his pocket as he adds 

"Yes ! With this we could earn their attention any time we like but up until now we didn't require their attention ! We will require all the king's attention the moment I sign because we need their attention away from their family mansion for a moment! All the main pillars of mafia family focuses on me and that is the exact moment , I throw my dice"

What is he speaking?

What's happening? 

"Woah! You couldn't do one thing as I say ! Meet me in office!" 

He says in a raged hiss and runs his hand on his head , muttering something to himself as shakes his head and walks out.

And I don't find voice in my throat to speak out.

My heart is not ready to accept what I heard.

My soul is not ready to accept what my instinct is screaming .

I stumble backwards and suck in a breathe. 

No! 

He must have been talking about something else and my mind interpreted something entirely else.

I . Am.  Wrong.! 

I stumble a step more back and gasp as I step on something thick and padded.

His wallet.

When did it fall from my hand ?

I bend and pick it up with heavy and questions filled heart and walk back towards the dining table and sit and stare at the empty house.

It has been ten long years since ma passed away from cancer and since then I am waiting for this house to echo with our family love and laughter again but all it ever echoed with was my wails and whimpers and dad's rage .

Ever since ma passed , dad changed.

Over night he changed .

He once said that I was a bad omen witch who swallowed his love as soon as she birthed me... I was a little kid when he screamed this at me...

Every day she stepped a step forward towards her end , every treatment and diagnosis extended her life a little but never cured her cancer.

Over years her cancer worsened and we watched her skin turning unhealthy yellow from healthy pink , we helplessly watched her eyes losing hope , we helplessly watched her eyes losing happiness , we watched her stopping to live before she died and then one mid night she left us both forever.

 The last evening she had with us , she took me in her arms , made me sit in her lap and rested her chin on my head and spoke "your dad will be both , your mother and your father , take good care of him , love him , promise me you will never leave him and you will always be so strong ?" 

I remember I nodded a yes with heart beating with the pace of marathon because I could see life leaving her eyes and my tiny innocent heart somehow knew that she is leaving and she will never return .

Just like she never returned .

I loved dad just like I promised ma but dad...

The scars of belt , rod , sticks , hunters on my body speaks even if I don't...

I took care of him with everything I could but the cracks in my bones from physical violence speaks for how he has taken care of me.

After ma died , he stared at her lifeless body whole night with similar lifeless body and emotionless eyes as I weeped holding her,  all night and then the night transformed into morning and he stood,  I thought he'd hug me but my ten years old heart was scarred when he grabbed my arms harshly - leaving red scars on my stick thin arm and glared at me , hissing "You ! You swallowed my wife! Fucking curse!"

I shiver and wipe my tears at the memory of years ago and stare at his wallet.

Do I check it?

No... it's wrong to check someone's wallet without their knowledge...

I won't do it...

But..

What is dad doing?

Who was he talking about?

Was it William ?

They are friends from years and their talk or friendship never froze me like today .

I don't want to think what my instinct is screaming. 

No!

I'm overthinking and thinking wrong!

William is my professor! My friend ! And a father when my father is not a father to me! He's spend his saving in opening our shop! 

It's a disrespect to him to think it all! 

And just because my father reacted wrong way after ma died and he couldn't overcome the trauma of losing her and has hurted me ever since doesn't mean he'd do such thing to his one and only family left! 

Just because he has anger issues doesn't mean he is a monster! 

I suck in a deep breathe and silence my screaming instincts 

"Calm down , you're thinking too much"

Calm down! 

Just calm down little pie..

I murmur to myself and press my hand on my hyperventilating heart and rub my chest to calm myself and decide to make myself breakfast , take shower and read a book to calm myself. 

From tomorrow we have one week holiday at college for teacher's reshuffling so I will give full time to shop for a week and just like that my routine from today to upcoming sunday is settled.