Tk tk tktktk tk tk... Azal was pulled out of her deep thoughts, by the sound of typewriters clicking and words forming pieces of news. It was an old press ran by her maternal grand father, but was now under her grandmother's name.
"Do you need something to drink?" An old woman sat beside her on the old wooden bench with a cup of coffee in her hand. She was very old but refused to make a bed her only home and had the rebillious trait much similar to Azal's.
After all she was her grandmother. She was running her husband's press with her grand daughter. They were the only blood left of the family, no one beside them but each other.
"Kya hua he Azal? You're very gloomy today, does the rain still disturb you?" She said, as she handed her the cup of coffee and retrieved her own from the table near the bench.
*Translation: What is wrong Azal?*
"Nani, I had a dream. About that morning. All the blood..." Azal held the cup close to her body, with both hands wrapped around it.
Like wishing to remember the warmth from her parents body, when they used to hug her. A warmth that was alarmingly lacking from them the morning they were found dead, in their own blood.
"Beta, bhool jao. Kab tak apni zindagi ese hold pe rakho gi? All I've seen you do is look for the murderer day after day, year after year. You're living for the dead Azal. Please, for once, live for yourself."
*Translation: Forget about it, child. For how long will you keep your own life at hold?*
Azal looked at her Nani and sighed, leaning back on her side and put her head on her shoulder.
"You're right, Nani. I'm trying, I'll do as you say." She closed her eyes while sipping the warm coffee. She loved tea before, but it stopped working to calm her nerves a long time ago.
"You'll truly do as I say?"Nani Ammi asked Azal.
"Who is it this time?" Azal asked, exhaustion clear in her eyes. The conversation had gone this path so many times, she was aware what came next. It was another proposition to marry, she was sure.
"He's one of my friends' son, he's very good looking and an attorney..." Nani continued, trying to make it appealing for Azal.
"Nani I have you with me! Why are you so set on getting me married? I can bearly take care of myself, much less a man." Azal complained.
"He will take care of you. Beta it's about time, infact way past time for you to let someone else have your back. Let someone ease your burdens and take care of you Azal. Please."
"But I can not afford a man in my life. Don't do this injustice to someone's son." She said hardly, making Nani sigh in helplessness.
"What about when I'm not here anymore?" Nani said slowly, after a moment of silence.
"Trust me you're not going anywhere. You're healthier than me. And you know me, I can take care of myself. I don't wish to marry, ever. Unless someone comes, and makes a mess of this." She said taping at her heart.
"Someone who will be so dear to me that my own bones defy me, someone I will wish to choose over the sunny fields and the sea. Only then will I marry." She said, giving her a cheeky smile.
Nani Ammi stretched her arm and held her cheek in her wrinkly, soft hand. Her eyes were shining with laughter while looking down at her granddaughter.
"Sometimes I get the glimps of the old you, the romantic teenager I lost after that morning." Her old eyes became sad at the end.
How can I live happily knowing the killer is walking around peacefully, after butchering my parents so mercilessly. Azal thought to herself and stood up after taking the last sip.
YOU ARE READING
Charming An Enemy
Romance"This is the last time, this is the last time, for granny, I have to do it." She did something wrong, but it was the last time, she needed the money for her grandmother's treatment. And the worst that could happen, did happen. She got caught, red ha...
