Life of Problems

chapter 23

Present mam, Joe said jokingly to Jiya. As Jiya promised she will tell the story to Joe today so he has rushed here after school and Jiya was reading a book as usual. She looked up annoyedly, 'what do you want?'
'Hey! If you forget now then I will jump in that river,'Joe said pointing the river beside the tent.' Ah.. 'Jiya was going to say something but he again said,' let me tell you, I don't know swimming.'
Jiya chuckled.' Do you think that you could swim in that river if you knew swimming? Seeing it's current, l don't think so.'
Cut it off. You must keep your promise.
Jiya sighed. Tell me, putting the books aside she said, what do you wanna know?
'What happened 8 years ago? What was cause of your PTSD? Why Jwel calls you a devil?'
'Alright. Then listen without interrupting me.'
                                                                                 Jiya's Story
I noticed from my childhood that our parents didn't have any attraction for us. I maybe Jwel also used to wonder why? An idea came to my mind when I was 8. There was an old maid in our house, Mathilda aunty. I asked her if she knew but she tried to escape my question first. After much requesting she said,
Jwel and I were adopted children, they adopted us from a government orphanage. My mother gave birth of babies two times after their marriage but the childs both died after some days. Doctor said that for some physical complications mom weren't able to give birth to healthy babies. Jiya took a break.
Then? Joe asked eagerly.
My mom started suffering from depression when see saw that the issue created distance between dad and her. My grandmother suggested them to adopt child and they adopted us. We were 1 years old then, l don't know who my biological parents are.
Maybe mom couldn't accept us as her own, she didn't recovered completely, wasn't sincere to us.
Though, we had everything but not our parents love. Dad used to stay out of home most of the time. Not only us, it felt like he didn't cared for mom as well what made her condition worse.
Days passed like that. Jwel and I were very close, we used to help each other in every works. A lot of maids were there but weren't enough to feel our loneliness so we used to try by ourselves.
At that moment Jiya could see astonishment in Joe's face clearly. Jwel and you.. Joe exclaimed. Don't interrupt, Jiya said annoyedly.
It was a PTM in our school that day so mom had to go with us. After that meeting, Jwel went to Biology club, l hadn't anything else to do so I returned with her.
Mom parked the car and rushed in. It was usual, she never waited for me whenever I traveled with her. I was reading in the way, so it took a while to pack things in. Before l could get down mom rushed out and got in the car, her cheeks were all wet. She was crying her heart out and started to drive the car at a great speed. I don't think she even noticed that I was also in the car. I felt like the car was flying, l shouted, ' mom, stop the car, mom!'
She didn't. Looked like she didn't even heard me. I was desperately trying to stop the car, my head wasn't working properly and then I made the biggest mistake of my life. I covered mom's eyes thinking that it will make her stop but a damn accident happened.
The car fell downn the slope beside road, mom was spot dead and I was fatally injured. I spent three months at hospital. From my description, to police it was an accident but to my family was a murder!
So.. Jwel calls you devil cause...
Right. Cause l killed my mom. My stress disease was also from this trauma but it became permanent. Maybe, for not taking the medicines perfectly. Anything else?
What happened after that?
You know that, we were sent here. Dad married another woman, Jwel started hating me and then things are going like that.
Do you think yourself guilty for that?
I don't know. Yeah, but l shouldn't have covered her eyes. Jiya sighed.
From your story, it's clear that you were much more important to Jwel than your mom, then how come he became like this? Joe asked.
Maybe, his problem is not with the death of mom but the person closest to him is a murderer. He is so emotional from his childhood.
Thanks for letting me know your secret, Joe said politely. Honestly, l also think it was just an accident, what could happen with Jwel also.
Jiya started at Joe silently.
An strange feeling for Jiya was in his heart, maybe that's what they call sympathy.