TWENTY NINE : GOODBYES & NEW BEGINNINGS

BEEP BEEP BEEP! 

I slowly lifted my lifeless face at the blaring sound and saw a car halted in front of me. Then, the headlights turned off and I sat up, and wiped the left over tears. 

At least, it didn't drive over me. Though I aren't sure if I was thankful for that fact. 

Victor stepped out of the car and I instantly felt relieved to see him. I took a few steps to sit up as I could feel my vision blurring with more tears. I was so tired… 

He maintained his distance, standing ten steps away from me and looking at me, as if piercing my soul, figuring out and evaluating. 

"Just give me a sec." I whispered, feeling the need to explain myself and it was something I might have never done before. He stayed impassive and waited for me, a thoughtful expression settled on his face. 

After taking a few deep breaths and not thinking about anything, I stood up shakily. "Get in the car." Victor said, opening the passenger side door for me. 

I quietly sat inside, mustering up a small thanks. I felt ashamed to even look at him in the eyes. "Sorry, your seat got dirty because of my dress." I apologized meekly. It was awkward for me would be an understatement. 

"No need for an apology." He smiled assuring me but it was hesitant and for the first time and I felt a wave of satisfaction wash over me. He looked back, making a U-turn, and speeding towards the city road. 

"I can never imagine a girl, who was talking so happily a few hours ago to end up like this… it's so heartbreaking. And shamefully, this is not the first time I have encountered this incident. " He said after a few minutes. 

"Same." I agreed.

 I let my thoughts scatter, wondering that I was so happy just a day ago. I thought this was going to be the best part of my life and here I was, being an emotional, lifeless, vulnerable species. A single man forced his way into my life and disheveled the entire symmetry of my being. I no longer felt that I was in power over myself when I cried three times in just a span of four days and that also not a few lone tears but an entire ocean of pain and frustration, the entire night. Crying wasn't really in my system till now; however hard I tried, I couldn't get myself to let my emotions flow and also run away from such conditions, it felt as if they were jammed. But now, it was like the dam which had been protecting the world was resisting the storm, now broke apart without a warning. Destroying everything which came at stake… 

"We are on the main road, where should I take you?"

I brooded over the question. Should I go back to the hotel and get my luggage or should I run away from here without it? Because staying here wasn't even a solution. 

I felt like I was just like my mother who ran away from my father's and my life. After all, the same blood runs in my body, as Theodore says… 

"I am not sure but —"

"You need to shit sure of whatever you think or do… there might be no coming back later." He warned. 

Oh he must have thought that I was going to go back to him. He knew half the things and it wasn't a surprise to hear him say that. 

I nodded before continuing, "We'll stop at my hotel, I'll grab my luggage if he…" I instantly felt a bitterness on my tongue but I continued shrugging back the thought, "you know who, isn't there and then I'll make it to the airport. And yeah… thank you for whatever you have done and if you are busy or have plans… then I can call a taxi." He had already done a lot—first taking a stand for me when I myself was unable to do it and now looking after my safety and essentials. He was a responsible person and a good friend. And moreover, he let me be myself. Not being my shoulder to cry on but my shielding shadow without showing it. These kinds of people are rare in this world and I was more than thankful to have met one. 

"So our destiny is hotel, which hotel sorry?"

"Zurich Delight."

"Great, hotel then the airport. Set." 

The rest of the car drive was silent. It was comfortable. I noted that he didn't give any stress to 'thank you's' and other formalities, ignoring them. He talked only about the necessary things now which were demanded by our situation. And he was straightforward too. 

"We are here, Zoya/ Aurellia." 

"I am sorry, I —"

"I understand. Now, go and check if he is here." He smiled, waving away my apologies with a flick of his hand and I managed a little smile from my side too. 

"Thanks—"

"Goooo."

Suppressing my chuckle, I got our and crossed my fingers hoping he wouldn't be there. I asked the receptionist and she informed me that he hasn't come yet. Sighing, I rushed to my room. 

Firstly, I stripped my clothing, dumped my blue dress in a paper bag then tossed it in my suitcase. Next thing I did was running to the bathroom and wiping my body with a wet towel and finally got into my regular jeans and a  comfy cotton top. Quickly I brushed my hair and threw everything in my bag, zipping it up. I dare not look at myself in the mirror. I might just start crying all over again at my appearance. And there were so many scratches on my neck, arms, legs that they were uncountable. But my injured hand didn't have any, by God's grace. 

Giving a last glance at my room, I made my way out. 

"He wasn't there?"

"No," I exhaled, being exhausted of lifting the luggage and dumping it in the backseat. And also the front seat was clean of all the dirt which I previously bought with my soaked dress. I mentally thanked him again. 

Victor helped me till the entrance of the airport, dragging my suitcase for me. I gripped the handle of the suitcase and began to walk. Why did I feel like I was missing something? 

I turned around quickly to find him staring at me with a knowing lopsided grin. He knew I'd turn back! 

Smiling lazily, I forwarded my hand for a goodbye handshake. Swatting it away, he pulled me into his chest with total authority and right. I stayed there, relishing the foreign yet soothing contact. Human contact. 

"Goodbye," I mumbled into his shoulder in a sad tone. 

"Don't say goodbye, say till we meet again." With that, he patted my back twice like an old friend and pulled away. 

I chuckled slowly and nodded. "Till we meet again." I parroted. 

"And I'll be calling you to my marriage, Zoya. Even though you didn't but -" 

"Hey! We didn't even know each other back then." I sharply interrupted. 

"Call me to your second marriage because with this current douche you'll not be happy."

"I'll… consider your words." I finally said to keep his heart. 

"Meet you soon." 

And I walked away without a second glance, leaving all the negativity behind but taking with me a bag full of experience, truth that not every human is bad, lessons and also a promise to stop being a puppet in anybody's hands. 

And finally, to get my shit together. 

***

I stepped out of my father's house in the outskirts of NYC and the blazing sun's rays hit my face. I was wearing a black turtleneck shirt with a grey blazer - pants set. My hair was pulled in a high ponytail. 

You might be having a lot of questions… 

After arriving in Manhattan, New York, I took shelter in my parent's old house, so that no one could have a clue of where I was. I was well aware of the fact that Theodore must be hyperventilating and eating his nails till the skin but only if I cared… 

Not after his unethical animalistic behavior. 

So I stayed here for two days, retrieving the keys from the old lady who lived next to us. She prepared supper for me and we chatted in the evening. She was around sixty and when I was young she used to make apple pie for me every Christmas because my mom didn't know the recipe. And also, she was extremely bad at cooking and I think I  inherited that from her. It used to be my dad who used to cook if he could manage by learning from cooking shows or we used to order from outside, mostly. 

Waving my hand towards Evelyn, my neighbor, I slip into the cab. The driver after enquiring about the address, pulled into the gravel road towards my destination-Raymond Enterprise & Holdings.

These two days of separation from my normal, tasteless life had been fruitful. It gave me ample time to brood on what I had to do further and also settle everything in my mind. The first day was more emotional than thoughtful. Stepping into the house I left after a day of my father's demise to get rid of all the memories and start all over again, brought bitter - sweet memories to me. The ultimate point of breakdown was when I entered my room… 

Everything was still in place, blanketed and preserved. My bed, desk, curtains, wardrobe and also some old and tarnished clothes. It was like I was snapped into the arena and brought back to where I had left seven years ago. But then Evelyn brought food and we talked, things started making sense but the air of nostalgia settled the air, engulfing me into it. I wasn't complaining though...

But, now when I was on the busy streets of NYC, I felt the energy surging through my veins and I recalled all the plans I weaved back in the cottage. 

If he was going to make my life a living hell then I wasn't gonna comply and be his puppet. Now, I have a plan, a mission to counter attack his agenda and make sure it backfired on him. The end result I wanted was him to surrender. 

So the things which ran in my mind were ;

Number one, I would run away and maybe fly off to Africa or the Bahamas or anywhere. But when I was searching on Google for my take off, the thought of an NGO hit me. I could certainly not let my life's hardworking go in vain. So this plan flattered. 

Second plan was to react the way he did to me, mirror him after all poison beats poison, right? Despite the fact that it sounded very tempting, I realized the fact that darkness cannot drive out darkness only light could. And also I cannot lose my mind in the midst of his plans. I needed to be strategic but not stupid. He'd raise his voice, I'd copy him but at the end of the day I would be the one who was homeless and an emotional wreck. He had everything and nothing could affect him. 

But maybe love could… 

And my third and final plan was to come out of my comfort zone and try to be an amiable, delightful wife who listened to everything her husband said to her. This idea seemed out of place and unreasonable that I was sure he'd suspect it...

And here I was, five minutes away from his office but I didn't have a single clue what I was going to do.

***

There is something grotesque in having my own evils save my life

***

So what Is Aurellia gonna do?

Any suggestions?

And I want to take a second to thank everyone who stuck around and supported this book. This is the first book I'd be completing and it's going to cross over fifty chapters for sure.

Sincere regards

Havanah