No interruptions.
No facial changes.
Just occasional clipped questions.
And then...
2 whole minutes–120 seconds of dead silence terrorizes the house. By now, Mike manages to conjure Sarah a cup of milk. Her index finger dents and glides around the rim of the cup in infinite circles, staring down into the white liquid; God’s best creation. Her mind is vacant. Not needing any response from Mike. Purging THE NIGHT from her system and not being judged for it is good enough, enlightening even.
Instead of the usual response from society such as ‘It’s your fault; You dress is too provocative; You seduced a man; You were too careless’– Mike didn’t rush to any conclusion. He let out a sigh and said “OK” and then pause again, searching for the correct word.
“OK! I know this is unusual for you, but a kiss is harmless. Plus, he didn’t take anything from you, did he?” he is an Italian hunk with a career in the medical field or in other words 'hot cake' in the dating market. Of course, it is harmless, even delightful for him
“Of course, he did!!!” Sarah's sharp eyes lock at Mike.
“He took away my freedom and comfort. Now every single large-sized man looks like him to me. I can’t spend a moment outdoor without worrying. And when I come back home, I am not comfortable here too. It’s like walking down hell’s thorn–path every single day” Sarah let out a slightly nervous chuckle
“What if his intention was to rape me and somehow or something abrupt that?” Mike nods with his eyes on the counter
“Even you look like him, although he might be a tad stronger and bigger than you” her fingers wiggle an inch away from his skin, measuring him.
“Hello mademoiselle, I am 6 feet 2 inches, 120kg of pure muscle. He is NOT stronger than me. He might have looked big for you because you are tiny” a flick land on her forehead. Sarah rubs her forehead with an irritable frown and scrunchy face.
Her insecurities were carefully stacked as a card tower on the marble tabletop. Now, it’s his burden. His eyes skit along with the table and ponder for a moment
“Alright... In that case, I need a place to rent. Would you mind renting me a room here?”
“What???NO” she slips down her chair with a screech across the floor.
“Fine, let me put it this way. Sweetheart, you have 2 options. 1– I stay here in another room or 2– I chain you up and drag you to my house where we can share a room. Your choice. I’m fine with both” his weight shifts to relax against the chair, hands across his chest. He is serious and his head–weight against her putty nature? Might as well save the fight.
“Alright” she answered with a mocking, down curl lips face. Still, it is acceptable to him and he goes on with his terms.
“Oh, I don’t stay at places without surveillance cameras,” he said calmly although his intention is to make sure she will be safe in the future, when he is not around.
“Already ordered two days ago” mumbling down at her feet with a long face. He is impressed that she thought, pushing through her fear.
“OK, it’s settled then. That would be $150 as consultation fees, thank you!” Mike stood up from his chair with hands thrust into his pocket.
Sarah looks up with wide eyes and a gaping smile. She shook her head “I’m not paying!!! You are a lousy psychiatrist”. Taken back, he stretch out one hand, points his index finger at Sarah, and with a calm eye
“I’m going to sue you, young lady”
“Yeah right!!! Get out” with a wave, he is dismissed.
They have been friends since 7 years old and understood each other pretty well. He needs to see in her eyes that she is going to be fine and she is now. He would definitely not leave without that surety.
He is a millionaire’s son who has this own duplex in the city center that represent his collection of likes, dislikes, and taste. The one that will facilitate him being himself or maybe even bringing in his lady friends for the night. Sarah is a grown woman with weird habits, such as leaving the bedroom door and bathroom door open when she is inhabiting it. Her taste is more cottage-like and he is more urban. Plus, his father might not be happy with him renting a ROOM in his friend’s house. Although she agreed reluctantly, an air of doubt circles her.
Oblivian of Sarah’s internal torment, Mike upheld his word and move in the very next day into a room next to Sarah’s. Since he is already here, his comfort is her priority, beginning with allocating the second biggest room in the house. Moreover, Sarah isn't confident enough that having a surveillance camera is 100% safety guaranteed. What’s the point of looking at the footage after a disaster? So, she took advantage of the situation and kept him as close as possible.
Each room comes with an attached bathroom. Mostly furnished with high-grade wood and neutral calming colors, walls accentuate with dark brown borders. Sarah’s and Mike’s room ends with front-facing balconies. A narrow hallway extends outside the rooms, about 4 feet in width. The wall opposite of their bedroom doors is filled with various wall clocks, one of Sarah’s obsessions, probably genetic inheritance of her father, who loved to collect antique watches. She refuges all his collection and adds some of her personal choices. He left behind a huge fortune for his single daughter, about 15 houses around the country. Her mom and Sarah are now living peacefully on the rental money they receive every month. If there is one thing Mike hates about the house, it will be this WALL OF CLOCKS. Why? Because if he is ever late, he gets 68 reminders, and big grandpa-stand-alone clock dings into his head right at the moment he steps out of the room.
Being a tree-hugger, Sarah loves gardening and naturally, she would like to wake up into a forest of plants. The balcony houses a line of tropical plants and ferns. A brown swing chair suspends at a corner where she could enjoy her coffee or read a book peacefully. With the addition of bird feeders, the small garden invites lots of feathery friends on regular basis. Not restricted to the balcony, her gravitation towards plants is obvious throughout the house and especially, in her bathroom; a living wall masterpiece. The roof of her bathroom is tempered glass with the furthest end being roofless. The walls beneath the roofless portion harbor a row of living walls with a few feet clearance in the center for her large jet-type shower head. When it rains, it patters on the bathroom floors directly. Being on the second floor, she wasn’t too concerned about privacy. Ferns, calatheas, and mosses thrive in her bathroom with a bird of paradise anchored on the floor in one corner, enviously staring at her naked beauty on daily basis. In a way, having a living, breathing companion makes her less anxious during the nights.
The other friends remain oblivion of her confession to Mike. He is indeed professional although his fees are overdue. Jessica boils with jealousy. Just like Mike, she is also their childhood friend and very attached to Sarah. Well, to be frank, she is actually 3 years senior in the friendship department to Mike since he left the country to resume his studies while Jessica and Sarah stuck together through college as well. Obviously, she too wants to move into Sarah’s house but had to wait until her current tenancy agreement expires, for she had paid the whole rental upfront. Still, Sarah had a feeling that Jessica is going to crash at her place quite often. Sooner, a tenancy agreement was signed between Michelle Ricci and Sarah Patel
Cooking is not Sarah’s forte but when she does, her dishes are exceptional and uniquely tangible– of course, Indian flavor. Hence, the following Saturday after Mike’s shift dedicated at home, with Sarah’s cooking, a carton of beer, and some snacks. The plan is to eat like a pig, go to the balcony, have beer all night before passing out. Perfect!!!
Sarah despises drinking or smoking. Not due to her culture, but due to her own virtue. The idea of losing self-awareness because of a fizzy drink down her throat doesn’t sit well with her and so, she doesn’t spend a dime on this indulgence and certainly has no related health concerns. The downside is, she is the driver on Saturday nights and responsible for hauling the entire group to their car. Compared to her friends, she is definitely more mature and opinionated.
The 4 friends froze just a foot across the threshold of Sarah's room. This is the first time they are entering her completed room since she moved in. Native arts from different countries she visited fills the white canvas expanding to their left; from beautiful native American women painted into 3 portions, wooden carvings, shell artworks, woven abstract fabric, mandalas, the calm half face of a buddha, and even signature toys – anything that could remind the country except for the dreadful fridge magnets. It just adds that bit of magic to the contemporary theme of the room. Simple furniture scatter around the room with white bedsheets, a small table by her bedside, and a white cushioned sofa bed against the opposite wall of her bed. It wouldn’t be Sarah’s room if there is no overgrown plants with some aerial roots running around the floor. Despite all the different spikes of interest across the room, it is neatly organized and clean that it actually works.
Walking across her bed, she opened the glass door to the balcony, letting in a fresh breeze of lemon scent, courtesy of lemon cypress framing the balcony corners. Leaning at the edge of the glass balcony, their eyes fish far, as if they are the king and queens of the world. Being the thinnest of them all, Laura won the fight of who gets the swing chair by sitting on Robert’s lap. The rest of the gang crashes on the floor with some extra-large pillows Sarah brought out. With no need to go home, this Saturday night lasts pretty long and they all fell asleep on the balcony. Mike, Jessica, and Sarah were the order they laid down. In the mid of the night, unforgiving chilly dewdrops woke them up. One by one, they reshuffle themselves to bed and sofa inside the room. Mike and Sarah were mercilessly left outside.
One of Sarah's nightmares decides to strike again tonight. She starts to mumble and toss and moan and turn, restless for hours when finally, she manages to stir Mike. Barely lucid, he scoots to Sarah and pulls her closer. His chin rests on her head and in a low, hoarse voice “Shuu…Go to sleep”.
As if been waiting for instruction, Sarah automatically calms down. The warmth of Mike’s chest swaddles her, as she buries her face deeper and deeper into his embrace and snoozes off like a baby for the rest of the night.
The sun rises above the muted city. A gentle graze on the outer shell of her ears stirs Sarah in her cozy conch– like a feather softly caressing her ears. It is indeed a feather, though. Swatting it off with her hands, she snoozes back to sleep. Not even a minute, the naughty feather begin harassing her cheeks and she shooed at it one more time. Blackhole swirl to suck her in again when the feather decides to go to her forehead, caressing down to then her nose and finally her soft pink lips. The annoying itch made her purse slightly. She stirs gently, gaining consciousness into a dusky morning. The first thing she met was the (oh so damn) handsome face of Mike with messy hair and a gentle smile.
“Morning sweetheart….” His voice, a bit hoarse.
A reflexive smile adorns her face “Morning…” part of that ‘morning’ went missing in her throat and starts to doze off again before a tug fell under her neck. She frowns slightly and snaps open her eyes.
“Can you please release me from your prison? I have to go to the bathroom” His hand stuck under her neck.
Her eyes widen and she jolts up to a sitting position, placing both her hand on her chest to fist her T-shirt neckline, pulling it up. With another gentle smile, Mike stood up and left. Sarah sit there cross feet, confused, trying to figure out what had happened. Her previous concern about living with men is, apparently, valid.
Mike’s attempts to connect with Sarah have been dreadful ever since ‘the morning’. Avoidance is evident between them. Her constant diversion from him and narrow attention to Jessica and Laura drove Mike up the wall. Confrontation. That's what he needs. But even for that, he needs to pinpoint her alone, without the other 3 and that too, seems impossible since she runs off to work early before Mike. His touch, scent, and warmth send a shudder down her spine every time the memory resurfaces. Sure, they are best friends since 7– they had mud-wrestled– they had jumped over the school compound– she had helped him to get his feelings across to another girl, like a bloody postwoman– he had even helped her unbuckle her bra once. But it is different now. He is a full-grown, tall, masculine man, who reminds her of her attacker. Returning home from work, he caught her sitting on the living room’s sofa. One foot tuck under the other that has rose up, heels on the couch edge, her face next to
Cold, breezy Monday morning, redefining Monday blues when Laura’s red car stops at Sarah’s house. Mike and Sarah were loitering around the front porch, just about to leave for work, with Sarah holding on to Mike’s arm, hopping to pull her heels on. Laura slides out of her car, readily rolling her eyes. The 2 have become practically inseparable now since they are living under one roof. Inseparable, as in no space for another woman, for example, Laura, and that surely is a good source of frustration. They didn’t even notice her arrival, busy talking about one of Sarah’s weird customers, the bubbly mouth Gary. “Hi, you two” Laura hooked their attention towards her. “Laura!!! Haven’t you gone to work?” Sarah queries with a little surprise. “I am, right after this. I must talk to you
The week passed by in a blink and it’s time for them to depart. Even though she had put on a great show, she got to admit– Sarah was already missing them. The thought of staying alone in the house on weekends till they return was revoking and so, she resorts to staying with her mother for 3 days, hence packed accordingly and was ready to leave –not before she sends off the rest of the pack to their retreat. Mike took over the wheels and gave her a cold glance while Laura and Jessica were saying their heart-melting–goodbyes. He then darted to the road and steered the car forward without even a bye and frankly, she didn’t mind. The sure thing is he will be with the others during the weekend and she was definite that the others will find a way to enlighten his mood. Sarah dismissed with a smile and a head shake and carried o
After hours of nerve-wracking drive, they finally arrived and a step out of the car to a completely different axis, greeted by a piercing chilly swirl of air. Humidity surging through their nasal way till it hits the high note on the brain and cricket chirps in the ambiance of a rain forest. With no exaggeration, they were in the middle of a forest. The effort to make each visitor’s stay comfortable and non-primitive are obvious, with a valet boy running towards them, bowing, and taking over their car. The pack paced into the resort, awe-struck, scanning the whole entire space. The lobby walls were primarily built with tempered glasses, giving a clear vision of the surrounding forest. Smell of fresh roses engulfs visitors. Everywhere they turn, the light was dim to soothe aching eyeballs. Nothing too sparkly or colorful can be found hanging or laying around
The wedding... Brimming enthusiasm from their relatives and friends engulfed Sarah and her mother. Indian wedding is a celebration of a lifetime, where parents and bridegroom will spend tons of money to get it perfect, coming up with new schemes and ideas to outdo the previous wedding. Non-stop dancing, alcohol, a variety of extravagant food, sweets, and flowers are just a few musts on the list. Scheduled to begin a week before the actual wedding date itself, leaving little rest for the bride and groom that at their wedding night, they would prefer sleeping rather than boning. Not to mention the unmarried eligible creatures roaming like helpless sacrifices around the event. Inquiries after inquiries followed by advice and solutions, ending with the presentation of possible suitors are inevitable– there will always b
The confined space in the Convertible BMW has never been this suffocating. Sarah was still upset with Mike’s impulsive behavior as she gave him the silent treatment, looking outside her window, still hugging herself across her chest. Mike couldn’t help stealing glances at Sarah, again and again. Every time he turns to look, the car slipped off-road a bit and Sarah will flinch before glaring at him, only to be winked at. “Ok, STOP THE CAR!!!” the 5th slip was her last straw. “What? Do you want to walk back to the wedding? Hitchhike?” Mike was serious but Sarah stuck out her tongue with a mocking face “You going to kill me driving half asleep. I had enough sleep in the afternoon. I will drive. Stop!!!” stern little puppy she was.
A soft knock on the door throbbed Mike to wake up. He opened the door a few inches, just enough for a peep and Laura was standing on the other end with the most adorable smile. Her face fell flat with eyes searching through Mike’s appearance–Messy hair, swollen face, barely open eyes, and shirtless well-defined body. “Mike, you are still asleep? Get ready. We are going to be late for breakfast. Chop chop!!!” she has always been the edgy, neat, and organized one, chasing all the other 4 towards ‘betterment’. Mike couldn’t muster the energy to open his mouth and reply to her or frankly, even her image is still blurry to him. Hovering between planets, he gave her just a thumbs up. Closing the slit opening shut, he wobbled around to find Sarah still sleeping, buried overhead into the white cotton quilt. &nbs
Dusky morning light painted the room with an amber, honey flavor. Mike stirred out of sleep and immediately his brain began searching for Sarah. She was still next to him but wide awake like an owl. Flipped on her stomach and quilt capped over her head with her eyes fixated at the window will full-blown fascination. “Sarah, what are– “Mike couldn’t finish his words as Sarah pressed a finger over his lips in a rush and pointed over the headboard. “Look” she whispered and Mike mimicked her position, laying low and turned to look. It was a buck outside their window, feasting on some low shrubs, accompanied by some naughty squirrels jumping around. Mike took a long-inhaled air, much-needed oxygen replenishing. Such a majestic animal, dappled with royalty even when they are bowed at
Robert and Mike came back to the hospital by 11 am. They had recollected themselves, taken a hot shower which helped calm their nerves a lot, and packed some clothes for the girls and themselves as they will not be staying in the house for a while. Investigations will soon take place and they don’t want to mess up with the evidence. Mike took the black box with him, though. He couldn’t leave it behind to the police officers, the only memory of his child. The advancing hour didn’t consulate a thing. “Jessica's heart rate has stabilized but we plan to keep her under anesthesia for at least a week. A patient recovering from rape usually will have traumatic effects when they wake up. We don’t want her to move a lot and risk tearing her stitches. But…” that was the most dreadful ‘BUT’ they had ever heard “Sarah…” the doctor sighed out “Her blood pressure is still unstable…and… she had slipped into a coma…we
It took a solid 6 hours for the surgery and the sun mists across the horizon when the doctor finally came out. She looks weak herself as she stood in front of Mike and blows empty her lungs. “We did our best to treat their wound. Surgeries for Jessica is over but Sarah would need another and immediately.” She observed each of the people’s faces in front of her. “I’m sorry to say, she needs a D&C immediately” the doctor thrust her hands into her coat pocket. “D&C??? Why?” The term D&C or Dilation and Curettage is nothing new to him– a procedure used to remove tissue from the uterus but he is baffled of why Sarah would need one. “Her pregnancy didn’t make it. We lost the baby’s heartbeat and it is already detaching from the mother’s womb” Santha snapped open her m
Mike switched off his car, eyeing the house carefully. Pitch dark, something unusual for the girls. “What happens to the lights?” Mike “They are probably sleeping on the sofa” Robert shrugged off Mike’s doubt. Regardless, Mike climbed down the car and went straight to the door while Robert shook his head and went to the booth, unloading their luggage. “ROBERT!!!” not even a minute after, his scream draw blood to shrink in his vein and he rushed into the house. Everything in a mess, the whole house thrashed. There, Mike kneeled down to the sides of a lifeless woman, thudding his palms violently against her chest. Robert's heart leaped to his mouth as he flashed across the hall. He plopped on his kneel next to Jessica and started untying her hand from the dining table. Mike is pumping her chest with force, exhaling sharp at each push but Jessica she remains motionless,
Sarah slowly blinked open her eye. The flesh prying pain on her spine yields back a 3-Dimensional world under her feet. A sort of electrical tickle ringed over her ears and cold touched her skin, sending a shiver to radiate through her body. Profuse sweat covered her face and it chilled once she regained her consciousness. Her breathing constricted at the disabling pain. She forced her eye to regain their visual and regret it the minute they did. Jessica squirmed in front of her. Her hands are tied to the dining table leg as she laid flat on her stomach, partially dressed. Her skirt is missing, exposing her to brutally in the form of a man, standing behind her, thrusting his erect manhood through her butt hole. Her scream was muffled due to the cloth tape sealing her lips. Sarah gasped sh
Mike and Robert had been planning the proposal behind Sarah’s back. Just a week away from the proposal date. From their anniversary, the day she confessed her feelings with a drop of tear, legs wrapped around his waist. “What meeting??? I didn’t know we had anything scheduled” Sarah vented out her frustration, sitting on the bed with her arms across her chest. “It's a last-minute thing and we have to go, baby…Please...” Mike, busy laying out his clothes in his luggage. “I understand that, but why can’t I follow you? I will be really good girl, pleaseeeee….” Her palms joined in prayer with a sad face and puppy eyes for added effect. Mike let out a quick sigh and pulled her to his chest. His finger now caressing her cheeks. “You have been very weak lately, aren’t you? Always looking pale and you feel dizzy quite often, ever since the 4G project took off. You can only rest on weekends. I don’t want you to get more worn out than you already are.” He place
Returning to work diverts Sarah and having a little bit more extensive socialization has done well for Sarah. She slowly regained momentum and propel ahead in these 2 months. On the contrary, Mike seems to have difficulties focusing on his work ever since Sarah came back. The added curve and extra glow on her cheeks demand another glance– another touch or kiss, perhaps, ever so often. The whole office floor emptied for lunch except for Sarah. Numbers blurred her mind and she lost track of time. After making some corrections, she heads to the copier room. Mike, who had just come back from his clinic, noticed the whole floor subjected to pin-drop silence except for the shuffle from the copier room. He peeped in to find Sarah, singing a song in a funny, squeaky voice while the machine in front of her whirled
As a consequence of the unnerving event, Sarah was ‘forced’ to stay at her mother's house for a week. Not exactly the serene getaway doctors prescribe since the other 3 kept calling her every hour of the day. Mother’s constant love and home-cooked food made her recover mentally and physically. “You look a bit chubby!!!” those were the first word uttered by Jessica when she walked into Santha’s house, being bluntly real as she usually is, leaving Sarah to scoff. Mike followed behind Jessica and instantly leaned closer to her ears for a whisper “Making you a little bit curvier and sexier as hell, baby” “Miss you too Mike” she rolled her eyes at Mike as he hugged her by her neck and dented her cheeks with his impact called kissed. Robert is next in line and hugged Sarah, lifting her off the floor a few inches “Get your hands off my girl” Mike slapped Roberts hand playfully, to which he just chuckled “He is a bit insecure” Robert winked at Sarah
Every human has a good side and a hidden bad side. They carry their baggage to their grave. So did Mike. He gave his word to Dr. Ajay under solid ground and his evil side surfaced as he took revenge for the prank or precisely, harassing phone call she received earlier. Rewind a few hours ago, when he set motion to his fury. A small room with dingy single bed portraits nothing but melancholy and lonely. The hallway leading to the room shadowed by a dying light bulb, making it difficult to see anything around midnight. There lays a man, who once was glorious, rich, and handsome as well as drooling material among girls– Suman Mehtra. Unfortunately for him, Mike’s traced the landline number from Sarah’s phone to central jail, where he is serving time now, exactly 4 months and another 2 to go. Consequences– a few cel
Lifeless and unconscious, just like the water body at the foot of an iceberg tip, Sarah laid there in her bed. No protest. No nightmares. “Her blood pressure dropped drastically. I have given an injection to stabilize her. She may have trouble balancing herself in the morning, so someone please be by her side. I would highly advise to bring her to the hospital once she is better” Dr.Nora gave a word of caution as she prepared to leave. However, a wide frame crossed her path, blocking her from taking a step further out of the room. The crease fallen face with threading veins up his neck made her sigh. Dr.Nora had a feeling that she won’t be able to leave without comforting him. The old lady with middle-of-the-night under-eye bag gently smile as she cupped his face with a palm “Don’t worry Mike, she is fine. Just need some rest, ok?”. Her words don’t seem to affect the ex