Reasons

Chapter 3

The morning was as lovely as ever. The crisp cold of winter dawn had carved blankets of ice on the once proud trees. The small opening in the sky through which the sun used to peek through was not to be seen. Darkness of winter and the light of dawn had merged to the point to which one can see the trees rustling by the wind. But it all seemed somewhat different, perhaps only to Volhosha. He slowly put the big old leather bag down on the floor and looked around. There was no one in the station and there was still time for the train to arrive. He may have been a little too early. Convinced that Zovan will not be coming this early, he sat there, on the wooden bench. He looked around one more time and slowly opened the bag. After searching for a bit, he found it, a folded sheet of paper, a letter perhaps without an envelope. He looked around again and with a quick hurry, began to unfold it.

'Dear Volhosha,

I hope this letter finds you soon enough. I only wonder how much you must have grown. How much i wish to see you now. I suppose when you're reading this, you're far away from your father, don't share it with your father. it is only for you, only for you my dear. Oh how much I love you.

You may not tell this to your father, but i want to ask you a favor. Write to me if you will. I will send you a sum, a fairly large one. You need to deliver it to Mrs. Hankisher. I will write you the address if you are willing to do it for me.

How shameful of me to ask you of such a favor. But I have no time nor the energy, and this donation is of little importance to me. I hope you will look into it.

Do write to me.

Your mother,
Rihol.'

He folded the piece of paper and slowly and carefully put it back into the secret hidden pocket inside the bag. He then pulled the bag closer to him, lifted it and placed it beside him placing his arm on it. He wondered why his mother wanted him to deliver it. He wondered if his mother was always like this. She had good education and a job when she met his father Varselov. After marrying him, she couldn't stay there for long and asked Varselov his consent for her to go back to work. Varselov tried to keep her with him but had to let her go due to her stubborn nature. This never caused Varselov to not love her. She would take leave for years to stay with Varselov and Volhosha and would leave unexpectedly.

By this time, the station was a quarter full. People were walking here and there and talking. Most of them had big bags and long overcoats.

"How sad you're sitting here alone," Said someone from behind. He turned to see Zovan with a large bag, barely being able to lift it and trying to stand firm. His smile betrayed the weight he was bearing.

"Do you know when the train arrives?" Volhosha asked raising himself from the bench and adjusting his sleeves.

"8 O'clock if i don't remember it wrongly," Zovan replied.

They both waited there for sometime and while they did, they discussed about how they were going to get to the apartment after they've reached the city. Volhosha told him that they were not renting an apartment, but living in the university dorm and that his father had already arranged a man to take them to the campus.