Prey of a Predator

Chapter 21

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Okay done. I wiped sweat from my head as I finally tied the woods in the rope. Today I came with maa to help her in collecting the woods as the woods in home were over.

I woke up early hearing to some arguments between Avni and maa. With their conversation, I came to know that maa was asking Avni to come to the forest with her. But she refused saying that she has to go to one of her friend's house as she called her and secondly, she was scared of the forest and there living animals. After I had enough of their constant argues, I went between them and said to maa that let Avni go where she wants to and I will go with her. Avni happily agreed with me and maa took a sigh and agreed. So I went to wash up and change my clothes.

And so, here I am. But my god, why is sun so bright today? Why is it everytime I decide to step out, it always either raining or so hot in the morning?

Anyways, right now I am in a shade of a tree which is big enough to protect us from the bright sunrays. Maa was taking out lunch which we brought for ourselves and before she could serve me, I took the tiffin and the plates and served her first and then me. Then we ate the lunch and went to wash our hands.

After washing my hands, I told maa to rest in the shade while I will go collect more dried branches from the forest. She first hesitated but when I assured her of my safety, she agreed. I kept the already tied woods near maa and then went inside the forest and started looking for more branches of the dried up trees.

After 20 minutes

Finally, these much should be enough. I tied them up, picked the bundle and started to walk towards the tree where maa was. I was near there, I shouted maa but she didn't respond. I thought that maybe she has fallen asleep that's why she isn't responding. I reached the tree and said,"Maa tum phir se so gayin-tu-tum."( Mother you slept again-yo-you).

The sight before me was just like a nightmare which I didn't want to be true. Henry was standing there in his pride and when I entered, he looked at me, smirking. Meanwhile, maa was standing near the tree and she looked hella scared in front of him and when she saw me, her face paled. I don't know why he is here but I clearly didn't get any good feeling about this.

I threw the branches' bundle on the ground, took my veil and ran towards maa. I stood near her and the moment I was near her, she shoved me behind her and told me not to speak. I nodded my head and glared at him.

What does he want now? Was that conversation not enough for him? Was is he so persistence in claiming me? And why my heart didn't give me any prior notice of him as it always does? I don't have anytime thinking about that now. What is more important is that I have keep maa safe, anyhow from him.

Maa took two steps forward and bowed in front of him and asked him if she did anything wrong. To which he replied as no. Then maa again asked him shuttering that why is he here. He again replied rather rudely,"Isn't this land under my care? So shouldn't I keep an eye on what's mine (while looking at Inaaya) and what's under my care, I should know how it's doing under some else's care so that I can do better than that."(In Hindi)

Maa bowed down more and apologised for asking this question. He took steps towards maa and stood at a decent distance from her and told her to raise her head. I was completely helpless here as maa forbid me to do anything and the situation is getting out of hand.

Henry then strided towards me and maa also looked towards us. He stood beside me, looked at me while smirking and said,"You are making this poor girl work with you too. How heartless you are! You should marry her off with a good man, don't you think so? If you want, I can find a good man for her or better yet I can marry her. What do you say? It's not good for her to work in this sunlight and you too so why not let her get married?"

This man. I swear I will kill him someday if I get a chance. How dare he said that to maa. 'Find a good man to marry me or better yet marry me' no mister, I swear, I will jump off a cliff before tying the rest of my life with you. But how helpless I am, I can't even do anything in this situation because maa's safety is in my hands. And maa, even though she is not my own mother, she is willing to sacrificing her life for me. I will not let that happen. Maa has Avni and baba to take care of, I can't make their life miserable because of me.

Tears were rolling down from my eyes when I looked at maa and saw that she was also looking helpless. I, without thinking, ran towards maa and stood behind her. Henry's eyes were fixed on me and when I hid myself behind maa, he looked angry but in a second, he hid his anger and again came to his smug expression. He pridely took his long steps towards me and wishpered in my ears,"Well I hope you understand sooner because the more you delay, the more this family of yours will suffer, my love."

After hearing this, now I completely broke down but I tried my best not to let him sense my frightened self. I started shaking lightly and just then a loud thunder was heard. Henry looked at the sky and then said to maa,"Better take her inside, she is shaking from the cold breeze." And started to walk off to God knows where.

After Henry left, maa grabbed my shoulder and assured me that everything will be fine and hugged me and that was it. I completely broke down in her arms and started crying like a small child, while she was patting my back.

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