Crimson Mists

09. Playing Catch in a River

"Man's experience in the world is to enable him get out of its whirlpool"___Swami Vivekananda.

Chikamharida's POV.

I paused. I'd been making a half turn and that seemed to have frightened her enough to be rash. Rubbing her forehead next to one of the trees behind us was Chilli. She was still in her sports bra and leggings and adding to her overall look was a guilty smile.

It wasn't funny that even my neighbour was stalking me; I thought it was only Maley. I looked at Adele who had hurriedly sat on the diary she was reading and was spearheading us with dagger eyes.

Now she had her grandmother's look, unlike her dad.

"How long have you been here?" I asked Chilli. "Were you following me?"

"Yeah, I'm sorry about that," she said, scratching her hair. "I was at the bridge when I saw you pass by, so I was trying to catch up with you."

"So you'd have been listening in if I hadn't made you give out your position?"

"It's not like that Harida," she said. "I definitely didn't plan to do that. I was just wondering where you were heading since no one really comes this far out of the estate by this time of the day."

"I see," I said, turning to Adele and then Chilli and wondering if the chef could pose a threat to her.

"Is she the one you're nannying?"

"Does the boss have any other child I don't know of?" I fired back.

"I see you've spoken about me to your friend," Adele said, cradling the diary to her stomach, in between a magazine as she approached us. "I'm Adele. Hope the topics are all good?"

"They are," Chilli said, looking at Adele in curiosity and confusion. "Sorry for intruding on your meeting. I didn't realize that this was one of those nanny and child bonding time."

"Thank you for realizing that your presence here changes alot of things," Adele said, staring at the stones underneath her feet as she spoke. Af if she could sense my shocked gaze, she raised her head so her eyes met mine.

"What?" She said, spreading her arms. "Am I not saying the truth. I'm still adjusting, trying to share this place with you and here she is, another person, another responsibility who knows my hiding spot."

Adele turned her back on us and started walking on the river bank till she was by the tree which had sprouted from the river bed. The she dug her feet in the water as if seeking transparent pebbles, not bothering to spare us another glance.

"You've got your handful," Chilli said, trying to smile. Her smile wasn't as beautiful as it used to be. The stretch of her lips looked stressed and her eyes that used to be doll like were now red rimmed and puffy. It was a look I could recognize in any place and time; I was well familiar with it.

"Have you been crying?" I asked, staring at her warily.

"No," she said, rubbing her eyes. "It is just that a bug got into my eye while I was on an errand."

"You can't lie to me Chilli. Any other lie but this I may believe. I'm sorry about bringing up Kandle. It wouldn't be upsetting you this way if I hadn't brought it up."

"It's no big deal," she said. "I'll have to face it now or later."

I caught Chilli's eyes staring at something behind me so I turned to catch a sight of what had her so engrossed. It turned out to be Adele taking of her shoes and walking deeper into the water.

"I'll speak with you later. Duty calls," I said. "And she hates company."

"She clearly does," Chilli said with a nod. "See you back home."