"HOME"

Chapter 1

"Welcome home" Mr.Khan announced,grinning.

"Home"-a word so sweet to the ears. Sweeter to those who never had the pleasure of having it. For someone like me, who lived in years of utter despair, being in a place like home was a foretaste of heaven. Being this far away from the withering looks of the headmaster and even more far away from the austere of the central hall was a big relief.But little did i know the relief will be so short-lived. Being someone, who spent nearly 12 years amidst the hostile halls of an orphan age, i knew i had arrived at a better place.I was finally going to know what it felt like to be home.

"This..is..amazing" I stammered, startled by the beauty of the mansion. I have never seen anything quite so enchanting in my 13 years of life.

"Make yourself comfortable ,dear. This is your home now. Would you like me to show you to your room?"

"Yes" I managed to say, meekly enough.I would be lying if i said i wasn't feeling a bit disquieted. Don't get me wrong, I was truly grateful to have been adopted by these amiable people; But a part of me was still highly confused about the sudden change of my state of living.I came from a place where it was held as a fact that rich people are ignorant.Out of all the comely children in the orphan age,why pick me?Now that I think of it,was it a surprise that i had been so lucky?

The room-to be more precise, MY room-was enormous. My heart lurched, only by the mere sight of it.It took quite an effort to not squeal in delight. I didn't want my new parents to be think of me as ungracious.

"This is yours, Karim." Mrs.Khan said, a smile playing on her lips. "I'll tell the butler to unpack your luggage,and settle them here.He will see to your needs,child." She added,before giving my hair a motherly stroke and making her out through the door.I sucked in my breath,as my gaze contrived from the posh wall hangings to the marble floor of the exquisite room."My home" I muttered,letting the thrill sink in.

The first day wasn't half so disheartening as i thought it would be.My new parents-Tarun Khan and Milly Khan-did not stifle a laugh or throw daunting glances when I spoke( i would sooner say "stutter") about my previous life during dinner.They were so polite and accepting.They listened fervently to my life story and asked mutiple questions.I felt important and recognized,something i never thought i will feel.Life,at that instant,seemed like a flawless painting.But the brushes that swayed across the paper,were not half as clean as the painting itself.

Nights appeared to be the hardest.Alluring as it was,I was not accustomed to sleeping in a room of my own.Back at the orphan age,my sore back met nothing but the hard unsavory steel bed at night.I was used to that.I was also used to the constant invasion of my privacy.So I was bewildered, whenever Mrs.Khan knocked on the bedroom door,asking for permission to come in.

Since sleep made no notion to arrive,I slipped out of bed and meandered around my bedchamber. My hands trailed down the length of the books arrayed in the bookshelf across the bed.If there is one thing I was thankful about,it was my reading skills.While a lot of orphans were reluctant to educate themselves,I had enough wits to realize my future required my literacy.I was not an expert in reading and writing,but i had tried my best.When you grow up in an orphan age ran by the goverment, a good education wasn't a certainty.

After deciding for a while,I picked out a book for myself."Where The Truth Lies" it said.Judging from the look of it,i knew it would take the life out of me to read this.Like i said,I wasn't an expert in reading.I loath the words i could scarcely utter.I was skimming the book-flipping random pages-when i caught the flicker of it.A paper.A folded paper.I squinted incredulously.What was that?

I found my hands undoing the folds of the paper.Scrambled on the paper were the ominous words:

"To the person who is reading this,

They will take me.Take me away and trade me.I know their secrets.Their dirty little secrets.I hope this the police who is reading this.I'm one of the many children who they are selling tomorrow morning.I'm lost and scared.The Khans are nothing like they seem.They were supposed to be my foster parents.My parents died month ago.They promised me a new home.I don't know what will happen to me-"

"Karim" A voice called out from behind.I almost screeched. The book hit the ground with a thud.

"Sorry,I did not mean to scare you,dear.Why are you up so late?" Mrs.Khan asked from the doorway.She sensed my agitation.

For a moment,i went completely blank.I locked my fist around the paper.

"Uhh..i couldn't sleep." I mumbled.

"Is everything alright?Are you cold?Should i turn on the heater?"

"N..No.Everything is fine.I'm just not used to sleeping in a room of my own." I answered,wearily.

She gave a light chuckle."Sweet child,soon there will be a lot of things that are only yours.'

I let a smile brush on my lips.

Soon she left.I sat on the bed,to put my fluttering heart at ease.What just happened?My palm was drenched in sweat,as a result of clutching the paper so tight.Only after i heard the last of Mrs.Khan's footsteps,did i dare to push,the ajar, door close.The hinges of the door groaned, to my dismal.I hope she doesn't come back.I opened my fist once again, revealing the paper.I continued.

" -,I don't know if i will live long.I'm so scared.Mr.Khan called the dealers today.They have him my description.I overheard.I heard him say my name.But i got caught.The Khans know am i no witless wimp.They know i know about their doings.They trade children by associating with some foreign board.I am not the first.And oh! I'm Ananna.Ananna Chowdhury.That's my name! I go to Oakheart School.I used to live in Rajpul,1/7 street.The first house to the left of the lane. If you are the next victim of theirs,please try to report about me to the police.They will do the same to you.I beg you.I cannot.."

I flipped the page,looking for the rest of the sentence.It wasn't there.That was it.That was the letter.A queer kind of dread made its way to my heart.I felt my stomach churning.Maybe she meant to write more,but Mrs.Khan walked in.Just like she did tonight.A million of anticipation swirled my mind.I felt myself shuddering.Was I in a..trap?Will i be traded..or..killed?Is Ananna alive? what happened to her?Why did she not finish the letter?Is this some kind of sick jest?

I blankly looked at the window,sheerly petrified.A gust of wind found its way in,wavering strands of my hair.Suddenly,not deliberately, a thought crept its way to my mind.I squirted towards the windows;thrust open its doors and peered down.It was a tall building.A jump from here would mean a certain death.What was I even thinking?