All Chapters of Striding Spirits: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

A public announcement to all inhabitants and citizens: "Mr. Brown passed away last night, and his funeral service will be held at 2 P.M." The words barely noticed by Vicky at first; he took it casually and walked to the house to teach, but when he heard the announcement again, he was taken aback. "How could this be? How could this be?" he repeated, stunned and disbelieving.Vicky walked towards the gathering, his curiosity piqued by the news he had just heard. "Was it really Mr. Brown whose funeral was announced?" he asked, his voice laced with disbelief. His mind reeled as he struggled to comprehend the news, and he couldn't help but feel appalled. The revelation was too much to take in, and he found himself grappling helplessly to come to terms with it.The entire scene unfolded something else before his eyes like a vivid flashback with heartfelt voices. Just a few days ago, Vicky's face had gone slack, and he stumbled backwards as if the ground had been yanked out from under his fee

As Julia's life quite slowly drained from her eyes, turning them motionless and blank, she gave Vicky a faint glance and a longer one as she was suggesting him to take care of her baby, lingering look at the baby in her arms, her little girl, before her gaze fell out. Vicky, holding her waist in his lab, tried to console her, reassuring her that everything would be fine and smooth and that the fiat aid was on its way to take her to emergency room....Ten Year AgoJulia and Vicky had been inseparable best intimate friends during their studies at the Art and Science Communal College in Glasgow, where they reasoned natural sciences together with all devotion and future dreams in their fifth semester, nearly ten years ago, unbeknownst about their fate. However, their friendship was put to the test and ultimately cut short when Julia's stepfather arranged for her to marry his cousin, a wealthy car dealership owner in the West Indies, near the coastal line. It was feared that this sudden t

Vicky's passion for nature inspired him to continually explore and express his creativity through drawing and writing. As he delved deeper into the natural world, he gained a deeper understanding of its complexities and realities.With his wooden box of Marie's vibrant colour tubes and an array of brushes in various sizes, he revelled in the familiar ritual of creating art. But it was the pungent aroma of Turpentine oil that brought him the most joy, its distinctive scent always transporting him to a state of serenity and inspiration.The box contained some pieces of cloth and thumb pins. It was tightly with a flexible sling on the carrier of his cycle. As he used to set off early to select a spot near the bank of the river that was ten to fifteen miles away from his home.Upon reaching the riverbank at about 10 am, Vicky was struck by the vast expanse of water stretching out before him, its source tracing back to the distant snow-capped mountains.The rising sun, now a burning orange-

Ophelia finally found a new job at Master's Builder construction company, and she could be happier to leave Andrew's Skyline Agency behind. However, her aunt was furious when she found out about Ophelia's resignation and moving elsewhere. Little did Ophelia know, her new boss, Mrs. Brown Dick, had her agenda. Mrs Dick planned to use Ophelia as a pawn to secure government tenders, exploiting her innocence and charm.Unbeknownst to Ophelia, Mrs Dick was setting her up for a challenging situation. She arranged a champagne party at her home, inviting the influential Alpha builders for a night of revelry. The party's true purpose remained hidden, but it seemed to be linked to Ophelia's virtue. As the day of the party approached, Ophelia remained oblivious to the danger lurking ahead, enjoying her new work environment and the sense of freedom that came with it. Mrs Dick's intentions were far from pure, and Ophelia was about to face another test of her resilience and determination. Would s

"Time whisks by, clarity flees, and indecision reigns. The future remains a secret, until the moment of truth.""Time's Secret"Vicky was jolted back to the present by Ophelia's call.With Vicky's approval, Ophelia's hesitation vanished. She felt a sense of trust, knowing that Vicky had vouched for Mark.However, Vicky's attempts to get Mark's attention earlier had gone unnoticed, despite having mentioned his connection to Mark before. Mark, it seemed, was not one to be swayed by superficial connections or physical appearances. He was genuine and kind, making Ophelia feel at ease in her new surroundings.'Love and large-hearted added together always leave always marks too deep to remove.' As Mark smoothly navigated their professional relationship, Ophelia found herself growing more comfortable around him. Her initial reservations about Mark began to fade, replaced by a sense of gratitude and curiosity.She started to see Mark in a new light, appreciating his gentle nature and sincere