Iviyana

"I apologize for my daughter's behavior,Mrs.Attawood." Papa said again to the solemn neighbor who was glaring at her daughter and me in turns.

"No,Mister.It is not your place to plead forgiveness." Mrs.Attawood said sternly.As if on cue,the vile thing started sobbing,crying those crocodile tears.Blaming me for the incident.I am really sick of this .If only Papa hadn't stopped me.I would have...

Papa turned to me with furious eyes."I am sorry, Maisie." I let the words out my clenched teeth and bowed my head quickly,not letting Papa see the hate burning in them or the revenge I was already contemplating for the bitch who was still acting.

"Oh stop with your act, missy. You too are equally responsible.Don't forget I am your mother and I know you better than that.So,stop it right now." Mrs.Attawood scolded the vile thing.

Demurely she straightened and smiled my way."I-I am s-sorry too,Yana. You know I don't like to fight with you.Please let's be friends.Okay."The sweet coated lies flowed out of her mouth smoothly.I was well aware of the bitterness behind them.I snickered earning  light smack on my head from Papa. Mrs.Attawood gasped ,not liking Papa's light reprimand.I rubbed the back of my head with my hand. Nothing new there as well.At-least she was not blindsided by her daughter's true nature like Papa was.

He didn't listen to a single thing I said.All my explanations fell on deaf ears.

Papa had broken us apart,already berating me.She had started crying and then Papa had turned even more angry since I couldn't act and leak tears from my eyes like she could .She had feigned light headed-ness and what not.Papa had then taken us to Mrs.Attawood house.Oh no, commanded me to help her to the house with him on our tail.I had to actually help her inside and make her sit. Mrs.Attawood was not surprised when she saw us.It wasn't unusual for her to see Maisie and me like this.She had faced this similar situation over the past years more often than not.Nothing shocked her anymore.Everyone in the village knew about the feud between Maisie and me.I won't blame her if she didn't even blink her eye on our fights anymore.It was that common.

It was only the presence of Papa that had complicated the matters ,even she agreed on this.As was evident from the worry lines I could make out  on her forehead.Worry for not her daughter but me.She had tried deflating the situation by her greetings and pleasantries to Papa .Can anyone really dissuade Papa from what he set out to do.? But still she tried.And that was enough for me.

Ah.!How I loved that woman.

"No,Mrs.Attawood. It's not Maisie's fault.It is mine and I take full responsibility for that.I didn't raise her right." Papa said despondently.

"Papa..."I interfered,disturbed.My heart heavy.I didn't want him to apologize. I didn't want his head down because of me.My proud Papa didn't deserve this.I didn't want to be the reason for his humiliation.A failure.

"You will not speak another word,Iviyana." He stated harshly.Bowing his head to take leave from Mrs.Attawood,he pulled me along with him.My eyes landed on the cause of this and my blood roared as I saw blatant glee on her face.The smile stretching her cheeks unbeknownst to Papa's eyes.Papa dragged me by my hand to our home,none too gently I must say .I followed, trying to keep up with his angry steps.

"Its not her fault alone."I could hear Mrs.Attawood's voice from behind me."Mister,please listen..."

Reaching our door,Papa stepped aside to let me enter first.I stepped inside meekly and turned towards him,my head down,not yet ready to face Papa's wrath.

Papa too came inside behind me and shut the door with a bang.I flinched.

I didn't move and neither did Papa.I could feel his eyes on me.Still I didn't lift my eyes.We stayed like this.The silence killing me.

I cannot be like this.I have to tell him.Yes he will be angry but it would be better than the silent treatment he is giving me.Anger was much much better.Determined, I looked up at him and opened my mouth to give my explanation.

"Papa.It wasn't like that.That vile bit...I mean Maisie ."I rephrased as Papa cocked his brow at me."She started it first.I was going my own way when she came and tripped me.Can you believe it.She dared trip me.And that's not all.I would have forgiven her but then she had to go and crush the flowers I spent all morning collecting.But even that didn't deter me much.It was when she insulted me,that was when I lost it."My annoyance with that pesky creature showing itself."You won't believe what she said to me.She called me boyish and asked me when i'll stop growing.How dare she?"I could feel myself getting angrier by each second as I relayed today's happening to Papa."If only you had come a little later.I would have shown her.Today would have been her last fu..."

"That's it.I am going to Mrs.Hebrow's house and taking up her offer of that boy she was telling me about."Papa cut me in-between and very calmly expressed his feeling on the same.

"What..?"I sputtered indignantly,surprised."What did you say.?Where are you going..?"

"You heard me.Now prepare for tomorrow. I'll ask Mrs.hebrow if the boy can come and you can talk to him and we can finalize things."Papa was busily disposing off the luggage he had carried over.Many wrapped bundles fell on the table.

"Papa wait..w-what are you saying.?What boy..?" I asked following him as he pranced  around the small kitchen disposing off the eatables and carrying on to the living room again.

Pausing he turned to me."Did you already forget it,My dear daughter.I told you what I'll do if any such event occurred again." he said sternly.

My brows furrowed, thinking hard.My eyes widened as I realized what he was talking about.

Papa saw the realization on my face and smiled sweetly."Yes,daughter mine.Marriage."

I shook my head in horror."Papa how can you do this.I have just turned eighteen.And you want to marry me off.Just because .."

"I don't want to hear it ,Iviyana. I have let this go on for long.It is time I finally put a stop it." Papa was decided.I could feel it.

Using my final arsenal,I acted without giving it other thought.I hid my face behind my hands and brokenly whispered "But Papa,I have behaved myself.You can go and ask the others.And today happened because of her.Nothing was my fault." I sobbed for the effect.

After a few dimes just when I started to feel antsy Papa finally spoke"Okay. Let's say I believe you for today." I sighed in relief.He bought it.My relief was short lived.

My ears perked up at his next words "What about the broken hand of Mr.Westbrook's boy?Or may be you can tell me why Mrs.Sandra was glaring at me?Or better yet why is  Mr.Tillie asking me to pay for his shed's door.?You must be having some rational explanation for all of it, right.?"

My hands fell down from my face,irked at the behavior of the village folks."What.?How dare they blame me for all of that. Mr.Westbrook's son called me jack's beanstalk.I had to teach him a lesson so that he didn't forget and speak that vile creature's words again.Mrs.Sandra didn't like the fact that I told the truth about her husband's wandering ways to Mrs.Hebrow in front of an audience.As if that will stop him .Hah.! And Mr.Tillie...that son of a..."

Papa cleared his throat and I stopped ,finally realizing my mistake.Gulping I continued in a  milder tone.."As I was saying Papa...It's all a big misunderstanding.I am telling you.They are framing me for something I had no.."

"Lets stop while we are ahead ,Yana. "  I huffed but Papa was not having any of it. "I mean it Yana. When I come back ,you better be ready.You will behave yourself.You will not embarrass me again.And if you don't obey me this time around,I'll sever all relations with you.Do you hear me.?"

I gasped.Papa was serious.After delivering that final blow,he went out the same door we had just come in a few dimes ago.

Oh Lord.!

What am I supposed to do now.?I moved to the chair and fell heavily on it. For the first time all day,I was afraid.This time Papa will not let it go.I could feel it.Tears of desperation and anger filled my eyes.What to do?How to make Papa stop?

The door opened again.My eyes tracked the movement. My only friend and confidant came barging in ,stopping at seeing my desolate condition.

"Penny.." I cried out rushing to hug my friend."Help me."