Turfey town, a town where poverty reigns. as Alex drove the car through the town, Gerald looked out the window with round eyes.

"I've never seen such a poor condition in my entire life. How do the people manage to live here?" He said.

"Did you notice the house numbered 34?" Alex asked.

"No. Not yet." Gerald answered.

"Hey wait!" Mandy exclaimed.

"What happened?" Alex asked.

"The house number 36 is in front. Then, where's the number 34?" Mandy said.

"Let's drive back. Maybe we missed it." Alex said.

Alex drove the car slowly so that they can observe the houses. Suddenly Gerald shouted, telling him to stop.

"I think it's that one." He said.

Far away from the car, they could see a house. The house looked abandoned.

"Are you sure?" Alex asked.

"No, but I think we should check." Gerald said.

"Okay then." Alex replied.

He parked the car in front of the house and the 3 got down.

"There's no doorbell." Gerald said.

"Then knock." Alex answered.

Gerald knocked but no one opened. He knocked again and this time the door opened by itself.
Just then, a girl came out through the door and hit Gerald with a broom.

"So, you want to rob my house huh?" She shouted.

Mandy and Alex separated Gerald from her.
The girl was violent.
An old woman came out the house and quickly apologised.

"Miranda, go back to your room right now." She shouted at her.

"I'm really sorry gentlemen. My daughter is just always careful. I apologise on her behalf." The woman said.

"No no it's okay. I understand." Mandy answered.

"Are you Mrs Lotus?" Alex asked.

"Yes. But who are you?" The woman asked.

"I'm Alex and...." Alex was trying to introduce himself but Mrs Lotus did not let him to complete his sentence.

"Oh my God!" She shouted. "You finally came. Please, come in. Oh God. I'm so happy. Miranda! ..... Miranda! Get drinks for our guests. Come gentlemen. Please have a seat." She went on.

"Wait. Wait. Do you know me?" Alex said.

"Of course." Mrs Lotus answered.

"But I came here for the first time." Alex said.

"Yes but my daughter told me about you." She replied.

"Miranda knows me?" Alex asked surprisingly.

"No! I meant my second daughter, Emily." Mrs Lotus said.

"You have a second daughter??" Alez asked, puzzled.

"Oh no need to hide it now little monster. I know everything." Mrs Lotus said.

"What?" Mandy intervened.

"Oh man. Emily! Look who is here." She shouted.

"Coming mom!" A voice prevailed from the backside of the house.

Suddenly, Gerald stood up from his seat.

"What happened son?" Mrs Lotus asked.

"No..not..nothing." Gerald answered.

In the meantime, Miranda kept a tray on the table and served them juice. When she served Gerald, the latter refused.

"Oh hahahaha...now I got it. You're afraid of Miranda. You stood up because you saw her coming." Mrs Lotus laughed.

"I'm really sorry." Miranda apologised.

"It's alright." Gerald said.

"Okay forget all of this. Miranda. That's Alex." Mrs Lotus said.

"Alex? You mean.... Emily's?" Miranda answered.

"Wait a second. What's going on? Who's Emily?" Mandy asked.

"Emily... The one whom your son wants to marry." She explained.

"My son wants to marry your daughter?" Mandy asked.

"Yes. Alex. You came to ask Emily for marriage, isn't it?" Mrs Lotus turned to Alex.

The 3 were shocked.

"What? No!" Alex shouted. "I don't even know her."

In the meantime, a girl wearing a long blue dress appeared.

"What happened mom? Why do both of you look tensed?..... Who are these people?" The girl asked.

"This is my second daughter, Emily." Mrs Lotus said in a low voice.

"Hi." Emily greeted with a smile.

"Hello, I'm Mandy. This is Gerald and this, Alex." Mandy said.

"Actually, I thought  he is your fiancé. That's why....." Mrs Lotus said but Emily became angry.

"Mom! How could you. It's been 2 years. Please leave the hope that he'll come back. I know he won't. Stop it now!" Emily shouted and left the spot.

"I'm sorry." Alex said.

"No. No. It's not your fault. It was just a misunderstanding. I should apologise." Mrs Lotus said.

Everyone stayed silent in the house for a few minutes. Then, Mandy decided to get to the point.

"Actually, Mrs Lotus, we're here to talk about your husband." Mandy said.

On hearing Mandy's words, Mrs Lotus's eyes filled with tears.

"I'm sorry. I don't know what happened between you and your husband, but he sent us to fetch you." Mandy said.

Just as Mandy ended his sentence, the glass in Miranda's hand fell down.

"Dad... Dad...is...alive... Is he..... alive?" Miranda asked with a trembling voice.

"What do you mean? Of course he is alive." Gerald said.

"But.......all these years....we thought..he ...he was dead...." Miranda said as she burst into tears.

Her mother broke down too.

"Mom!..... Dad is alive mom!" Miranda said as she hugged her mother tightly.

"Please.....please take us to him. I want to see him with my own eyes. Please!" Mrs Lotus pleaded.

"So get ready Mrs Lotus. You are soon going to meet your husband." Mandy said as he got up from his seat.

"I'll inform Emily." Miranda said as she rushed in the room of her sister.

*****

After the 2 ladies got ready, they left in the car. Mrs Lotus and her daughters seemed very happy. Gerald wondered what would happen to their emotions when they would find out the evil acts of Ricky.......