13.
Dealing with Grief alone can worsen your pain.

There was absolute silence. Hearts were beating only because a voice spoke. Maybe it would rather be interpreted as an unprepared tension. The feeling of nervousness was felt. The atmosphere was so choked that the human beings around could barely breathe. Maybe Tacha almost lost her breath.

The tension was like a local drum, hit by a wooden drumming stick one after the other. Tacha could feel it. She could hear the sound of her heart beat which she concluded as the sound tension gives to anyone.

Gradually, she felt suffocated where she stood.

Tacha's underlying fear was that this woman was powerful, this woman hated her for all the reasons known to her alone. She could change her son's heart towards her.

And that could happen in a twinkle of an eye!

What's not to be bothered about this? 

Her daughter needs her father.

And if that was going to ever happen, she wanted to be part of her daughter's life. 

“Hi.” Kate dissolved the heavy fog in the air. She was obviously confused by the little girl next to Tacha. Her eyes stared intensely at the little one. For almost forever. But her curious face fell with sudden affection at the beautiful familiar smile that compelled her breathlessly. She smiled just like her brother. Her eyes are just like her brother's. She didn't need to say any more. Kate stared at the replica of her brother with an amused look. She concluded this was her brother's child.

But how?

Kate tried to remain perfectly still. She had lot of questions. She knew half of the story. She was present on that faithful day. She initially thought Tacha lost the baby. Anyone could see it was either pregnancy or something else. As she thought, she was already pregnant that very day. A smile appeared on her lips. Her brother wouldn't have to blame himself again.

Kate' stares were authentic.

Her stares were comforting, loving, surprised and happy. All at the same time.

Warmth spread over her skin. It was perfect! Meeting a child of her brother. Her heart screamed happily for having a niece she could spoil, but her eyes were full of absolute wonder still. 

Few minutes had passed.

No one responded to the question that seemed to have died down. But after Kate was done, the atmosphere was stirring again. 

Mrs Brown looked upset.

She wasn't happy, seeing the lady who made her son believe he was better off with her than anyone else.

The same woman who had turned her son against her. The same woman who destroyed her son's relationship that could have ended in marriage. Whether or not Lola was obsessed with her son, she felt Tacha came and scattered Nathan's future. 

Her dream was for her sons to marry from a wealthy family like them. To her, it was a way to secure their future.

Nathan had everything he ever wanted. A woman shouldn't be the last thing he found so difficult to have. And it didn't look like that until she came into the picture. How Nathan met Tacha was stressing her out. Till now, she never knew. But she noticed they didn't meet at the house. The connection was seen the moment they met that night.

For someone who never liked women from a background like Tacha, to become interested in her had been Mrs. Brown's major concern. She couldn't grasp how the whole thing happened to her son who seemed to be so full of pride to be with just anyone.

How could she want such a woman around her son again?

How could she entertain her presence?

Nathan's Mum was not hiding her displeasure with her eyes. They moved together to make Tacha uncomfortable.

She had been happy they separated for good. But suddenly seeing Tacha didn't seem good to her.

“Shouldn’t I know why she is here?” Her tone had a hint of curiosity and anger. Especially at her son's doorstep. “And will you not get away from there!” Mrs Brown yelled at Kate but shifted to get a good look at the child Tacha was holding.

 Mrs. Brown came even closer.

She felt she was having issues seeing well because she had left her glasses at home.

So, she came even more closer.

Nathan's Mum stood in shock. She was frozen up to her mouth.

Her mouth gaped open for seconds.

Her face turned pale. She had witnessed a child who looked exactly like her son.

Does this mean Nathan knew and hid it from her for years?

As if an electric current had passed through her veins, Nathan's Mum was left stunned when she was face to face with Anna. She looked at Tacha. Hurriedly turning to Anthony for answers. 

Every mouth was shut!

Tacha was insanely quiet. Her heart pounded. She was shivering inside, locking up her body not to reveal how she was feeling. The only way out to survive the tension choking her breath was to turn back and leave. She was not ready to face the stunned woman.

She needed to leave the environment. 

And when Tacha took her first step behind…

Mrs. Brown yelled. “Whose child is that or have you suddenly turned dea–”

Mrs. Brown was once again staring dumb!

There was an attack, leaving not only Mrs Brown but everyone in shock.

“For all the reasons that have made you to be so hostile against me is not my business, ma'am!” Tacha's outburst was like a sudden gunshot in the air, and with boldness, everyone never knew she possessed.

Tacha turned fully, looking straight at Nathan's Mum. “I am never going to allow you to speak to me in such a manner again! And not in the presence of my child. I would like you to respect that because you wouldn't like your grandchild to have this impression about how you dislike seeing me. She's just meeting you for the first time and this is how you treat us!”

Mrs Brown muttered an involuntary gasp! She lost her composure. Almost falling to the hard ground. Money wouldn't have been her problem if she broke her spinal cord, but the pain attached to it has a name called unbearable. Not even an animal would want to be in one. Instead, Mrs. Brown's face went pale to horror. She opened her mouth but no word came out. 

Tacha looked like she wasn't done yet, but she bit her voice lower, trying her best not to sound angry. And yes, she wasn't speaking from a place of anger anymore. “I never asked your son to chase me. I never asked your son to take me back into his life. Maybe I should let you know I ended this whole thing since my life was at stake. Do you even care?  It doesn't make any sense to you to check up on me after I almost bled to death! Right in your presence! What am I even saying, me being alive means me being with your son and it doesn't make any sense to you!”

It seemed Tacha was yelling, and the place of calmness seemed to have a bit of anger in it, diverting Tacha's words in a very furious way. With a bit of displeasure, pain, hurt and grief.

“I lost count of how many times I rolled and any woman could see the way I was bleeding had more to it. If I were your child, would you have watched me roll to death? But I mean nothing to you even when I was carrying your son's child!” 

The place of calmness seemed to be making Tacha shed tears. Giving her no room to wipe them off. A rush of anger seemed to have taken over her completely. And regardless, she continued.

“Do you rather not want me dead with the child? Do you rather not want me out than hold down your beloved son with a child? And I have one hundred and one per cent confirmed you have raised him just like you. To have so much pride, talk down on people and now that he is learning on his own, you just want to frustrate all he had ever desired and his efforts!" Tacha wiped the tear that managed to slip down. 

Her voice was calm again. "If what bothers you is seeing your son and me together, those days are long gone. So, with all due respect, Ma'am, I was with your son, not your slave. So, I demand you will address me with polite words henceforth." 

And when Tacha was done, the silence that enveloped the whole place...this time, was intense!

Mrs Brown seemed to have lost her voice a very long time. She took a step behind.

Also, Kate was startled.

Anthony stepped forward and cleared his throat. “Mum, I'm driving you back-"

"Tacha!" The yell from Nathan's Mum got everyone panicked.

Everyone was yet to recover from hearing Nathan's Mum called Tacha by her name. When the little girl fell into her hands.

      _________________________________

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