GO, DIE & COME BACK

CHAPTER 24: CHANGE OF PLANS

The next day, Sir Oswald was standing in the graveyard, before his wife's grave. He brought the same flowers he had brought two weeks ago. He laid the bouquet beside her epitaph and prayed for her peace. He closed his eyes and was reminded of that incident, which happened two weeks ago at the same place where he was standing right then.

*  *  *

He didn't bring any flowers, then. He was on his knees and weeping terribly. "Oh no, Susan. No, I don't think I can save our child." He was talking to his wife's grave. A small grave was dug beside his wife's grave that was meant for his daughter, Nancy. That little pearl was hospitalized. She was going through lung cancer. Oswald was unable to afford the high expenses of her treatment. He had asked Lynda for money he could borrow, but she refused as their businesses were not going well. Lynda always used to blame Oswald for any losses in their businesses. She was least concerned about what situation that old man was going through. He was crying on his wife's grave, talking to her. "I'm helpless, my love. I can't do anything for our child. She is coming to you very soon. I was unable to take good care of her. I hope you'll look after her much better than me."

Just then, he heard a call from behind. "Sir Oswald?" Podrick said. He turned and was unable to see the figure as his eyes were filled with tears. Podrick approached him. Nina was with him. "Who are you?" Oswald asked.

"We know about you. About that situation you are going through." Oswald looked at him with confusion. He switched his glance to Nina, who was sitting silently in the wheelchair.

"Why have you brought Lady Nina here?"

"To help you." Podrick replied placidly.

"What?"

"We know that Lady Lynda has turned her back on you. You have no money for your daughter's operation. We are ready to help you, but on one condition."

"What condition, and first of all, who are 'we'?" Podrick's words drifted him muddied.

"Me and Lady Nina."

"Stop fooling me! She knows nothing." He pointed at her.

"She knows... though a little bit, but she does. She knows Matt killed her son, Nick. I know that Lynda killed my love." Then Podrick told him the entire past of both families, which Oswald was unaware of.

"How can I trust you?" Oswald asked.

Podrick went to Nina and said, "Tell him, what happened to Nick?"

"Nick who?" She stared blankly at Podrick's face.

Podrick stayed quiet. "Your son, Nick." He said it in a whisper. He held her hands. She tried to think hard. "Nick...Nick...my son." She said this and gripped Podrick's wrists. The grip was getting tighter, and she began crying. "My son, Nick." She sobbed. "Matt killed him." Oswald couldn't believe the sight before his eyes. Podrick turned to him. "It took her ample time to know all this. She wants to give justice to her son. Do you know when she was reminded of her son? After a day, he died. It is God's destiny that He reminded her of all that. He will never do injustice to His children." Oswald had no words to say. He was staring at helpless Nina. Podrick continued, "I'm ready to help you if you help us."

"How can you help me?"

"We provide you with enough money so that your daughter can be cured as soon as possible. Lady Nina can understand the pain of a child. She had lost two kids of her own."

Oswald's eyes were filled with tears. "You can really save my Nancy!" He exclaimed. Podrick nodded.

"Look, I can do anything for my girl."