The Happy Lights in your Window

Chapter 1

KAIZER MARIS A.K.A KAS - AGE 14

A public garden in the suburbs. He sits watching the scene before him with typical adolescent indifference. Nothing helps you mature faster than being a poor kid from the slums.
He sketches line figures on his small notebook. An obese woman is taking a walk. She passes him by, gasping for breath yet miraculously managing to speak without a pause in a loud voice on her cell phone. Nothing more pleasing to some ears than the sound of one's own voice.

A couple of kids his age are goofing around on the grass with badminton rackets. He stares at their shoes feeling the warm air on his feet with worn out slippers. He quickly turns around remembering why he is here in the first place. To watch his younger sister Kaya while she plays.

She keeps pulling up her baggy pants as she watches the kids on the jungle gym. She seems reluctant and fearful. She looks back at him hesitantly needing assurance. He gives her an encouraging nod and she smiles and runs forward to climb the jungle gym. As he watches, a middle-aged woman supervising a child comes forward obstructively in front of Kaya and gives her a threatening look. She obviously does not want this disheveled child near the well-dressed kids and wants to shoo her away like an unwanted street animal. Kaya jumps back almost immediately.

He gets up angrily and rushes to his sister. The evils of the class system prevails even in the public garden. "Go back and play "he tells her firmly. "I will stand beside you". Kaya clutches his hand and stops him. "Let's come early tomorrow ", she says sweetly "The sun will still be very hot, and the kids won't be out then. I can play a lot then."

He takes a deep breath trying to calm himself. His little Kaya has managed to hold on to her childhood cheerfully at age seven. He gives her a wry smile as he tugs her along. They walk in comfortable silence to their shanty in the vast slum that stretches across the other side of the road. Kaya already knows at her tender age already that her strange big brother does not talk much. His warm hand in hers gives her all the comfort she needs.

They are both surprised to see their mother at home. She communicates primarily with expressions and gestures. Dainty and elegant in a cotton print washed out dress, she is still a young woman at thirty-five years old. Kaizer notices that she has been looking weary and older recently. Her hard life seems to have accelerated time on her face. "I have to work late today ". She says with a smile. All her smiles are reserved just for him and Kaya. He has hardly even seen his mother smile at anyone else ever.

"There is a dinner party for Master Zander's 21st birthday today. so, there is lots to be done. Kas, can you come over at around 10 pm.? By then, most of eating would be done and the kitchen staff can give me some leftovers." "That was so much talking Ma ", Kaya giggles. Her Ma and big brother usually interact in just gestures and monosyllables. Kaisers watches Kaya squeal in delight as their Ma tickles her.

The picture before him is more beautiful than any masterpiece painting in the best of museums. He feels love and possessiveness as he watches the two people he loves most in the world. Maybe that's why billionaires keep paintings of the masters hidden in their villas for their eyes in only. The jealousy of sharing a scene which belongs to you alone.

Kaya is still prancing around at the thought of some good food. "Send some cake Mama" she yells, hugging Ma. "Don't be too hopeful, I will try" says Ma in a mock stern voice. She hugs Kas also and hurries out. Kas comes out of their small shanty room and watches her as she walks out of their small lane. Across the main busy road are three bungalows. The bungalows are called Pine, Spruce and Fir and are all owned by Ma's boss lady. Ma 's bosses live in the Pine.

The three bungalows, so beautiful and strong somehow remind him of the classic childhood story. The three pigs and their houses. The bungalows had stood across open land and the Shanty has come up in the last ten years. It's an eyesore and a source of much anger and bitterness for families who live in "The Pen" as he calls them. The Pine is the largest bungalow with three floors and a sprawling garden and a huge support staff.

He goes back home and does his homework and helps Kaya do hers. He then takes her to the neighbors. They own a tv and he sees a couple of kids already sitting there watching cartoons He settles her among the other kids. It's their daily evening routine. He sometimes watches tv programs with them. He notices it's almost ten. "Aunty, I have to go to meet Ma. Can you keep Kaya here till the. Sorry to trouble you so late." The neighbor lady gives him a kindly nod.

He strolls out and walks across the Road. He stands outside the Pine. The floors are lit up with bright lights. The other two bungalows are dark and brooding. All the residents must be here at the party, he guesses. He gazes at the windows, watching the lights wink at him teasingly, invitingly. He knows better. There is no welcome waiting for him here. He slips through the open gate of the yard and walks up to the house.

The security guard nods at him and he quickly goes to the back of the bungalow. There is a servant's entrance there. He stands patiently outside, not knocking on the door. It's a long wait. He removes his slippers and walks in the yard. The feel of wet grass on his feet is cool and soothing in the warm summer night.

He doesn't stroll far though, his eyes fixed on the servant's entrance door. His Ma will have to sneak out the leftovers bag to him quickly. Classical music and carefully timed laughter filters out from the big house. Two essential requirements of a high society party. It's like a well-rehearsed play. Perfect acting, good looking actors.

He has been pretty much listening to these sounds all his life....from the outside. It doesn't interest him at all. He much prefers watching and listening to the traffic outside on the main road. The city traffic carries the life of the city. He has grown up on it. The irritable men shouting and honking. trying to reach home, desperation of worried families in the sirens of the ambulances, the bikes who have their own traffic rules and the hurrying pedestrians who riskily navigating the busy chaotic roads.

Sudden running steps across the yard stop Kas's flow of thoughts. Its Zander and his friends. The other guys move out towards the gates while Zander lazily strolls past him. Zander's movements are always calm and relaxed. He has never seen Zander run or hurry. ever. Zander suddenly notices Kas and comes and stops before Kas.