"Coffee?"

The voice made me look up, breaking my chain of thoughts. It was Ash, extending her right hand towards me, holding a cup of Coffee. I took it gladly, muttering thanks. We sat in comfortable silence, sipping on our drinks.

"So what have you decided?" Ash broke the ice.

"About what?" I asked enjoying the heavenly taste of coffee and she shook her head.

"About going back." She said slowly, waiting for my reaction.

I sat there in silence. Staring at my cup of coffee. Minutes passed and I didn't utter a single word. Ash knew that I hated talking on this topic. Yet she pressed on it. She wanted me to go back to them. Never.

After a few minutes of suffocating silence, Ash placed her hand on mine. "Rey.." she started.

"Don't 'Rey' me Ash. I'm not going back and that's final." I interjected her a bit harshly and banged my right palm on the table, gaining attention from the people around us and Ash flinched. I immediately regretted my actions and closed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose.

"Rey, It's okay chill. I'm just saying so that you don't regret your decision later," she said with a concerned look and I sighed sadly.

"Mind if I join?" Someone asked and I didn't have to look up to know who it was. That voice. I knew who it was. He smelled like trouble. The man was trouble himself. A shiver ran down my spine and I didn't want to look up. His presence was already suffocating.

"Yes." Ash snapped at him and sent murderous glares to him. They both despised each other to such an extent that if they were asked to kill any person on earth then undoubtedly they would come searching for each other. Ash was staring at him with such hatred that if looks could kill, he would've been dead by now.

"I'm not speaking to you. I came here to talk to Rey." he countered back. His fair face turning pink as he stared at her furiously.

I looked up at him. As always a disgusting smirk was plastered on his face as he saw me, which made me want to punch his oh-so-handsome face. Oh how much I despised this guy.

"Rey, I know you don't want to talk to me but trust me I only want to apologize." he started but I wasn't interested in his apology. I held up my palm to stop him.

"For the millionth time Austin, I don't want your fake apologies." I seethed in anger.

"Rey, I know you are mad at me but just listen to me once."

"Don't you get it? is it that hard to understand that she doesn't want to talk to you?" Ash hissed through gritted teeth. She stood abruptly and raised her fists, in an attempt to punch him.

"Hey, you little piece of shit! back off." Austin tried to push her.

Oh boy! I didn't know what took over me and the next thing I knew my right fist had landed a punch on his face. I, then, wiped my knuckles with the corner his 'Deadpool' t-shirt and he winced, shaking his head. Well, dada your teachings paid off.

"Don't you dare touch my friend with your dirty hands and If my name rolls over your filthy tongue ever again, I swear I'll rip it out of your mouth." I bellowed in anger at his face, my hands fisting his collar, while he stared at me with a horrified but not surprised expression. 

Just as I turned to leave, I heard his voice "You shouldn't have done that, baby." I could hear the smirk in his voice. He made my blood boil. I turned to punch him again but Ash stopped me and we walked towards the exit of the café.

***

It was 10 in the night and I was drying my hair after a long shower. Today was tiring and I was sick tired. I was lost in my thoughts when my phone beeped, indicating that there was a new message.

After tying my hair in a messy bun, I checked my phone. There was a blank message from a private number. I frowned looking at the number and I could feel my forehead cease with lines of worry and confusion.

A blank message? Who could it be? Could it be- No! My eyes widened.

It couldn't be her. They didn't know I was here. I had changed my country, my identity. There is no way they would find out. Sweat trickled down the back of my neck and I inhaled sharply. Even if the did find out, they wouldn't send me a blank message of all things. 

Maybe I was thinking too much. I needed to clear my mind. I needed to sleep. Yeah, that's better. A good night's sleep will help.

A few minutes later I was on my bed, tossing and turning for the hundredth time, yet sleep was nowhere near me. It was nothing new. I had spent umpteen sleepless nights causing my insomnia.  Sighing, I got up from the bed and went to the kitchen to make myself a cup of coffee.

I was in the kitchen, stirring the contents in my coffee mug when there was a knock on my door. I glanced at the clock on the wall. It was past midnight. Who could it be at this hour?

I peeped from my window and saw a silhouette. Strange.

I peeped through the eye of my door but there was no one. I slowly opened my door and came out of the house and looked around. There was not a single soul in sight. Who was it? Maybe I was hallucinating.

Just as I was about to close my door, my eyes fell on the small gift-wrapped box kept on the paved floor near the flower pot. Bending, I took and examined it. It was wrapped in a very beautiful gift wrapper. I saw my name written on the piece of paper attached to it and my eyes widened. I couldn't believe it.

No. This couldn't be. It couldn't be her.

I gripped the box in my hand. My hands were shivering and knees turned to jelly. My throat went dry and I feared another anxiety attack. Oh, God.

But no one knew my real name, except Ash, Ryan, and Austin.

I turned towards my house. As soon as I entered, I locked all the doors and windows. I searched for my phone and found it lying on my bed. With shaky hands, I picked my phone and dialled Ash's number. By now, I was breathing heavily and sweating profusely.

"Yes, Mr Miller, I'll pay my bills in a week." came her sleepy voice. She answered the phone without checking the caller ID again. She was talking in her sleep. Ugh! Sighing, I disconnected the call.

It wasn't Ash. Then who was it?

Ryan was out of the country. It was not him for sure.

Could it be Austin? No. I know him enough to tell that he wasn't the kind to pull such lame pranks.

Sitting on my bed, I unwrapped the wrapper off the box. I opened it and much to my disappointment, the box was empty.

What was going on?

First, a blank message and now an empty gift box.

Something's wrong. Very wrong.

***

The next few weeks passed in a blur. Happy Smiles had exams and an annual function followed. I was so busy that I didn't get the time to ponder over the creepy incident.

I didn't tell Ash about it. I know she'll freak out. She has a lot on her plate already and I don't want to give her more stress. Besides, it wasn't a big deal.

"Where are you lost, Rey?" Evan's voice snapped me out of my chain of thoughts. "I've been calling your name for so long." he said, snapping his fingers on my face, exaggerating 'long' a bit too much.

Smiling at him, I ruffled his silky hair. " What is it, Evan?" I asked cupping his rose-tinted cheeks that resembled strawberries.

"Sister Margaret is asking for you, come fast." with that he ran off making me smile at the silly boy's antics.

Packing my stuff and zipping my back, I walked in the direction of Sister Margaret's office.

I knocked and entered.

I stood beside Sister Jenny and Ash who were sitting on the chairs adjacent to Sister Margaret's table, already there, waiting for me with the few other teachers and non-teaching staff members.

"Good evening, Sister Margaret." I greeted, seeing the woman nod with a smile.

"Good evening, Miss. Rey. We were waiting for you. Please have a seat." she ushered nodding at the chair opposite to her table.

"So, we are assembled here to discuss the upcoming fundraising event which will be held the coming Saturday. I want all of you to participate in the event." everyone in the room nodded in affirmative as the woman spoke in an authoritative voice.

Sister Margaret was the principal of Happy Smiles for the past four years. She was an old nun in her sixties. She had chocolaty skin with an oval-shaped face which said that the woman can not be taken for granted. She had a big heart but she appeared like a strict village headmaster.

"This year, we are expecting just one chief guest in the event and I want Mr. Jason Walters and Miss. Rey to invite the chief guest by visiting him personally at his workplace. Whilst the others will handle all the arrangements and help their respective class children in their works." Sister spoke in an air of finality.

"Any questions?" she asked.

"No, Sister Margaret." we all replied in unison and she dismissed us for the day.

***

I was paired up with Jason. Jason Walters. A very down-to-earth person with a jolly nature. He always made us laugh at his weird and silly jokes. He started working at Happy smiles after his wife, Ruby's death, two years ago, A year later than me.

No matter how much he made us laugh, he was always in pain. It was visible in his eyes that he missed Ruby. His eyes always held that pain. His deep blue eyes were filled with so much pain that one could easily figure out his misery. The pain of losing someone you loved dearly. It was like we both shared the same pain but didn't know how to comfort each other.

I was rummaging through my handbag and almost threw the stuff, in order to find my ID of Happy Smiles but for the life of me, I couldn't find it.

"Woah! woman, why are you throwing stuff at this poor soul?" Jason shrieked in a feminine voice holding my water bottle, mobile phone, ball pen, pepper spray and the other stuff I threw at him.

I looked at him from where I was standing and saw him, fully dressed formally in a green checkered button-down shirt and brown chinos, looking at me with widened eyes and his left palm dramatically placed on his mouth with a fake gasp. I shook my head, smiling and continued with my work.

"Yes, I got it!" I exclaimed feeling extremely victorious like I just found a thousand years old map of a hidden booty and Jason gave me a deadpanned look like I had lost my senses.

"Rey, are you okay?" he asked with uncertainty, taking slow steps towards me like I was a madwoman and would lunge on him any second. 

"Chill, Jason. I was searching for my ID and now I've found it! so, let's go." as soon as the words left my mouth, I saw relief wash over the man's face.

"I really thought you had lost your mind" we were in the cab when Jason spoke.

"Oh I would've lost it if I hadn't found my ID," I said with a long sigh seeing him smile at my words.

A few minutes later, we were standing in front of the  'DAVIS EMPIRE'.

Ethan Davis was our chief guest for the fundraising event. He was also the one sending donations to the Orphanage since its establishment. However, his sons, Henry Davis and Charles Davis didn't like it. Rumours were that the brothers were associated with the underground Mafias which was not approved by their father. I took a long breath. This is it.

We went to the reception and showed our ID cards to the receptionist, saying that we had an appointment with Ethan Davis, the boss himself. After a security verification, we were allowed to meet Ethan Davis.

The security guards lead us to the private elevator.

Okay.

Only the boss and his highly reputed business partners were allowed to use the elevator. Then why us?

"I like the special treatment," Jason whispered to me while entering the elevator.  "But what if, that old hag wants to kidnap and kill us? His sons have connections with the underground you know." Jason spoke, with his hands on his face and a fake frightened look on his face. I narrowed my eyes at him and gave him an incredulous look that said 'seriously, bro?'

Jason raised his hands in surrender, "Just joking," he said. This man and his silly jokes made me cringe sometimes. God help me. 

"It wasn't funny, Jason." I shook my head at him.

The elevator came to a halt. 'Sixteenth floor', the robotic voice spoke and the doors of the elevator opened.

There stood a beautiful woman, probably in her twenties, holding a notepad in her hand, near the elevator we just came from. 'Bertha' her badge read.

"Good morning, Mr. Walters." she greeted Jason with a handshake.

"Good morning, Miss. Rey." She wore a knee-length red coloured dress and her hair was tied in a perfect bun. Not a single strand falling out. She wore a small red hat on her head, her dark red coated lips split into a pearly white smile as she greeted me with a warm handshake.

"I'm Bertha, Mr. Ethan Davis's personal assistant." introducing herself, she walked us to the office.

"Please wait a minute," she said and entered the office with a knock.

"So beautiful," Jason spoke dreamily.

"more than Ruby?" I said.

"Ah, my Ruby was the most beautiful woman. But I find Bertha pretty." Jason spoke and I nudged him with my elbow. He chuckled but I didn't fail to notice the pain and longing in his eyes. I smiled at him.

"You both can meet him now," Bertha spoke as she returned.

We both nodded and entered the office.

An old man, in his fifties, was sitting on a chair, his elbows resting on the wide glass table in front of him. His palms clasped together and his chin resting on them. Every feature of the man screamed dominance. His grey hair brushed backwards, speaking about his experience. His dark charcoal eyes held a hard look as if they had been the witness of a destruction. The wrinkles on his fair face hid his handsome youth. The man had surely won a thousand hearts at his time.

Seeing us, his dark eyes lit up, the hardness in them replaced with joy. The man stood up as we greeted him.

"Hello, young man." he greeted Jason with a handshake.

"Hello, beautiful lady." he greeted me. I extended my hand for a handshake but was taken aback when the old man hugged me and patted my head.

Jason and I exchanged looks, the look on his face clearly stating that even he wasn't expecting this.

Sensing our uneasiness, Ethan Davis cleared his throat, gaining our attention.

"Please have a seat." he nodded at the chairs opposite to his table.

Once we were seated, Jason began, "Mr Davis, we are from-" but the old man raised his palm and Jason stopped mid-sentence.

"I know you both are from Happy Smiles Orphanage." the man began. "The founder of the orphanage and I were business partners. I've been donating as much as I can to the orphanage since it's establishment." He ended.

"That's so nice of you Mr. Davis. Thank you so much for the donations." I thanked him. The man nodded, smiling genuinely. 

"And we will be honoured if you would give us your time and attend the Fundraising event this Saturday at our orphanage. The children will be so happy." I added.

"I wasn't able to attend the fundraising event from the past few years, but this time I'll surely come." the man said in a low voice as if remembering the reason for him not attending the event for the past few years.

***

I was sitting on my bed, thinking about a lot that happened in the past month. The blank message, the empty gift box with my name on it and the meeting with Ethan Davis.

Ethan Davis.

He knew me. 

The way he hugged me and patted my head. He knew it was me.

I bent down and pulled the box that was beneath my bed. I unlocked it and took out all the things, that lay in the box.

The map, the photographs, Baba's diary, Dada's goggles, and his shirt.

I took Baba's diary and flipped through the pages. The black ink narrating his life. I traced my fingers on the beautifully written words. A single tear escaped my eye and fell on the yellowish paper. I slowly closed the diary and placed it back in the box.

Then I took Dada's goggles. Dada's favourite goggles. He never let me wear those. He used to keep them in his locker because she had gifted them to him. Unknowingly, a smile crept on my lips. I wore his goggles and burst into tears.

I quickly composed myself. I was not weak. I was not supposed to cry. I have to fight.

I removed Dada's goggles and placed them next to Baba's diary.

I took his shirt and brought it to my chest, hugging it closely. After all these years, it still smelled of him. I closed my eyes, hugging the shirt. Yet again unknowingly, tears escaped my eyes.

Dark grey eyes
Handsome face
Dishevelled hair
Ironed white shirt
Delicious smelling cologne

That night's scene started playing in my head. Again. That horrible night. The night my world stilled.

I opened my eyes and folded the shirt neatly before placing it back in the box.

I took the photographs and scanned them.

The photos of Baba, Dada and him.

I looked closely at Baba's pictures.

then at Dada's pictures.

then at his pictures.

It was the millionth time I was looking at those pictures but couldn't find any clue.

I felt like I was losing the battle even before I started fighting.

No. I won't give up. Dada always taught me to fight back and never give up. I can't let him down.

I have to fight. Doesn't matter if I didn't know how to fight.

I have to fight. Doesn't matter if I was wounded.

I have to fight. Doesn't matter if I was armed or not.

I have to fight this battle. Alone.

For Baba.

For Dada.

For him.

I have to fight.

******
How was the chapter?

Why do you think Rey is mad at this Austin guy?

And who do you think is Austin?

What about the blank message?

What do you think? Who sent Rey the empty gift box?

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