1945, My Love Story (Unedited & Raw Version)

Phase III: A Lesson From Major Brown

Mother suddenly started coughing vigorously while talking to me, I was sitting on her bed next to her. I panicked because no one was there except me. Bhavani had not come yet.

She was getting better. But then, she was worse sometimes.

"Mother!" I held her & started massaging her hands. "Are you okay?"

"Y-yes son, don't worry...ahem...I will be fine." She told me with her rough & hoarse voice.

"You need rest, mother. We have talked too much today." I shifted to cover her bodice with the duet.

"No. Please don't go. I like talking to you, honey & I like listening to you. It makes me feel better." She said looking into my eyes.

"That's not true, I keep talking rubbish." I lowered my head feeling embarrassed.

"No, dear! Your voice is like a sweet lullaby to me & your words are like delicious caramel. Your soul is such a kind one & your heart is like pure melting gold..." She kept on talking & I chuckled every-time she compared me with those  things.

"Mother, you will be the worst writer ever!" I commented & we both laughed.

But soon, it stopped as I heard a strict cold voice echoed in the room addressing my name in a formal manner. "Edwin Brown!!" We both turned to see who it was and I got shocked to see father standing there in his uniform with a furious glare. He never had addressed me using my full name. The way he was looking at me gave me the idea that something was not right.

I stood up blinking nervously, "Y-yes, father."

"Where were you yesterday evening?" He asked like he was investigating something or it seemed like he already knew the answer & he was just asking me to confirm. His question made me silent.

What should I say to him?

"Son, your father has asked something, he is waiting for an answer!" Mother alerted me with a concerned tone.

"Where did you go during the dusk hours?" He demanded again ignoring mother. He was looking straight into my eyes.

Lowering down my gaze from him, I finally answered. "I went to the m-market, father!"

"And...?" He waited for me to continue.

"T-to buy some gifts." I replied.

"Oh well, for who may I ask?" He sounded anxious.

"For...for Bhavani & his family!" I told the truth and mother gasped.

There was a short silence in the room.

"And I assume that you also gave him some money, am I correct?" He asked to confirm & I just nodded shyly without looking at him.

"What?" Mother jerked her head to glare at me in shock as I could see her from the corner of my eyes.

"And why did you show him this much of overwhelming kindness?" Father inquired further & I gulped.

"B-because he needed some money!" I replied.

"He must have asked you for it then?" He interrogated & I shook my head in response. "Then, how did you know that he needed money?"

"I didn't know. I heard him asking you for money in your room while I was walking through the corridor." I replied with true words.

He inhaled deeply controlling his anger & he criticised showing his wide eyes. "If I am not wrong-hearing someone's private conversation is considered as a bad manner; isn't for you? Why did you imagine that there will be any exception for you regarding this?"