The Never Happened

CHAPTER 8: Home

It's like I am back to square one. Though I had a pretty good start but all of that has just brought me to a dead end now. I don't know where to go, whom to ask or where to search. I don't know whom to trust. If Jim could hide this from me then anyone can. But after my meeting with Jim, I don't think that he could have done something like this. Or is it too soon to judge?

Since that meeting I haven't talked to Rachel either. Not like I am very busy, it's just that I don't know what 'this' is anymore. I really want to talk to her but I don't think I should. As it is, she hasn't tried to contact me since then. Not like I have either, but it just confirms that she doesn't want to talk to me.

My mom has also been acting a little weird these days, like really weird! Today when I went down for breakfast, she gave me a really expensive suit and told me to get dressed. When I asked her why she just ignored and told me to hurry up. Now I'm stuck with her plans. Though I was very young but I remember last time when she did this, I had to spend six ours with her so called 'friends' who didn't leave me alone for a second. They pulled my cheeks so hard that day that I'm astonished that they are still in place. I can't even say no to her because then she starts behaving extremely sweet and sad at the same time to manipulate me. Anyway what has my mom got planned for me this time. Hope it is good or else god save my cheeks!

So I got dressed up and was climbing down the stairs towards the hall. As I walked down my mom came into sight. Well there was someone else too, a girl was sitting on the sofa with her back faced at me. She seemed to be wearing a black coat, camouflaging with her pin straight, black hair.

"Hey sorry Ansel dear! I will have to bail as I've just got news about some clients coming a day early from London. I am really sorry I will have to go," my mother said making me gape at her. But then she said something which suddenly made everything very clear. She walked towards me, held my hand and pulled me near the sofa. Now I was face to face with the girl. She was really pretty, but the situation just didn't seem right. I turned my gaze back to my mother who tried to cover up, "But until I come back you can spend time with her-"she said pointing towards to slightly puzzled lady and gave her widest smile, "-she, Ansel, is my colleague's daughter, Sandra Bishop."

I bent forward and extended my hand as a manly gesture but then it struck me, my mom was trying to set me up with someone! Suddenly this became very embarrassing. I didn't want to meet girls for god's sake!

I said abruptly, "sorry Sandra I need a minute with my mother." She nodded, kind of relieved.

I led my mother to a corner so that Sandra couldn't hear us. I was pretty sure that my mother could make out till now that I had understood.

"Mom! What was that?"

"What was what?"

"Ohh please mom! Don't act all innocent. I know what you are trying to do. You are trying to set me up with her, aren't you?"

"No, it's just a coincidence that she came over."

"Uh-huh?" I looked at her accusingly.

"Okay fine! I tried to set you up with her but that was just because you were so dull and depressed all these days. I was afraid that you might come to take aid of drugs," as she said this her eyes became teary.

"What? Drugs!" I started laughing so loudly that even Sandra turned around to make sure if everything was all right. I straightened myself and gave her an assuring look.

"Mom seriously! You don't need to do this. I know I was not fine but you couldn't have expected me to be in my best mood these days. You know that the circumstances were even worse than the worst case scenarios I had ever imagined. But I will get better, in fact I already am with Rache-" I gave an unexpected pause, "-In short, I am going to be fine mom. You don't need to get so hassled. And I promise you if I take drugs I will definitely invite you over," I chucked and my mom gave me a loving slap on the shoulder.