The Happy Lights in your Window

Chapter 19

Kas

A week later, his Ma has been medically declared to be in a coma and all they can do is wait. Ash has been bearing all the expenses without a murmur. Ryan Bernard has dropped all cordial demeanor and has been approaching Kas aggressively wherever possible. In front of the hospital, on the streets, in the hospital cafeteria. The man is everywhere.

Kas watches as Ryan Bernard approaches him yet again. He looks haggard, his eyes bloodshot as he stands, hands in his trouser pockets before Kas. "Kas, she needs a big hospital in the city. You are still so young and very emotional right now. Let me take care of your Ma, please". Kas stares at him "Why are you doing this? Why do you care about my Ma so much"? Ryan Bernard looks at him wearily. "Let's talk".

As Kas cringes at the dreaded words, Ash who has been keenly observing the exchange takes Kas aside and tells him urgently "Do you think he will acknowledge you as his son? The man's loaded! Are you sure you want to keep up the animosity? A reconciliation with a long lost super rich dad really can't hurt you, you know? Use logic, you nutjob!"

Kas turns to Ryan Bernard agitatedly" What do you want to talk about? What is your relationship with my mother? Why are you so interested in what happens to her? I remember you approaching her in the street even when I was a child? Who are you to us?" As he lets out his flurry of questions, Ryan Bernard stands watching him impassively. "Are you my biological father"? Kas blurts out. Finally, the façade breaks and Ryan Bernard looks at him shocked. He recovers quickly and says "No, No! Son, you've got it wrong!". As soon as he has said it, Ryan Bernard, appalled at his choice of words, quickly corrects himself" I mean, Kas, you are absolutely mistaken. Now that I think of it, I can understand why you thought that way".

A few minutes later, Kas and Ryan Bernard are sitting across each other in the cafeteria while an obviously curious Ash watches them both eagerly. Ryan Bernard looks broodingly into his coffee for what seems like endless seconds, takes a deep breath and looks at Kas. "I am going to tell you our story, no words minced. Coming to the point, I lost my parents while still in university and was struggling financially. I started tutoring and that's how I met Agnes. She had enrolled at one of the classes where I taught in the evenings. She was so sweet and naïve. She was just incredible. I went out of my way to seduce her". 

He pauses as Kas stiffens. "Hear me out, please. Your grandparents were simple rural folk. Agnes was born to them very late in life and had been raised as a very sheltered child. She was much younger and so lovely; she just took my breath away. She did not stand a chance against a slick city boy like me. Within no time, we were dating. I was possessive and jealous. I hated t even if other guys so much as looked at her. Soon, I emotionally manipulated her into me becoming her entire world."

He stops speaking, abruptly drinks up his remaining now cold coffee. Kas is watching him with mixed feelings. Dread for the rest of the story to come and respect for the man for so bluntly laying his past before him. "And then...?? Ash adds, not wanting any silent breaks now. "I still remember, one of your mother's classmates, gifting her a chocolate box on Valentine's Day. I thrashed him in front of your scared mother in the alley behind the classes building. She kept crying for me to stop." He stops again, his voice breaking. Kas watches him unable to speak. Even Ash is uncharacteristically quiet.

"When we left, I made her feel as though she was responsible for my outburst. I was a narcissistic bastard who kept emotionally manipulating a young innocent girl. After that she kept her distance from everyone. She stopped going out with her friends and all her free time was spent only with me. She dressed how I wanted and ate the food I preferred. The only line she would not cross is sleeping with me before marriage. She was a deeply religious girl and had values that was ingrained in her by her old orthodox parents. In fact, that was one of her biggest charms. I loved how refreshingly different she was from the other girls I knew. "