"HOME"

Chapter 2

I woke up to the bleating sound of a electronic device.Slowly I lifted my heavy eyelids.Last night seemed almost like a dream.A surreal dream.I glanced around to find the source of the sound.A vacuum cleaner emerged from one corner of the bed,so did a man.I grimaced.But soon i realized,it was just one of the servants.He did not spare me a look,so i tossed around in the bed.Thoughts from last night still unsettled my nerves.I was so lost.I was not like i didn't believe the girl.It was just that I did not want to.I finally have parents.I was finally going to discover the life of a normal teenager.But that dream shattered,as my eyes scanned the menacing words,the previous night.Wistfully,I went to bed at last.Praying for sleep to dim my senses and hoping to deal with the situation the next morning.

The next morning came ,but a solution did not come with it.I needed to know the truth,harsh as it was.I was not going to trade my life for a few days of luxury in this mansion.

With the charm she possessed-the graceful words and the humble smile-no one would have guessed the true nature of Mrs.Khan.At breakfast,the Khans acted as if I was one of their own.Despite myself,I almost forgot about the letter.Mr.Khan seemed like the father every boy would yearn to have.He was so approachable. He made sure i did not feel entitled to act polite,or so I thought.How very wrong I was.

It was only when our breakfast was abruptly intervened by the bulter,did the incident of last night struck my mind.

"Sir,they are here." The bulter said,his face impassive.

Mr.Khan nodded and turned to face me. "I have some work to deal with.I'll see you at lunch."

I nodded.

"Who is here?" I asked Mrs.Khan once Mr.Khan left the table.

"People from your father's office" She replied,keeping the smile plastered on her face.

A sense of joy ignited inside me,at the sound "your father".I have never known a father until now.But I did not let that cloud my true purpose.

"Uh Mrs.Khan,what does Mr.Kh..father do for a living?"

It might have been only my imagination,but i think i saw a flash of hesitance in her eyes.It was gone in the blink of an eye though.

"He is involved in a shipping business.He makes sure importation and exportation of cargo is done properly."

"Oh" was all I would mutter.So was Ananna a cargo to them?I dare not ask.

The rest of the day went by pretty quickly.It was all still a dream.The nightmare was yet to knock on the door.By evening,the heat seemed to be soaring up inside the mansion.I was not used to being indoors for this long,the mansion had truly spellbounded me.I do not usually let a day go by,without feeling the glimmering rays of the sun on my face.Therefore,i headed towards the main door.

It was no ordinary door.It was one of those doors which looked like a ten feet tall mouse hole,people see in cartoons.I tried wrenching it open.It felt as heavy as it looked.By the third try,I was panting intently. As I was gasping for air,I felt a hand on my shoulders.I almost jumped.I turned my head.It was the bulter.

He stared at me sterning with his coal-black eyes,but did not say a word.His furrowed,forming a vicious crease in the skin between his brows.

When the silence became too disturbing,I spoke up.

"I want to go out.Could you open the door?"

He moved his head side to side,Is that a no?

" i can't go? I just want to get some fresh air." I said,a bit irritated now.

"What is going on?" A voice called from behind the bulter.Mrs.Khan.

"I was just asking if i could go outside.I feel like staying under the sun for a while" I said,when she came into view.

"Halim,you go do your work." She said,dismissing him.He went briskly,still bearing the grim expression.

She turned to me,and said "I'm sorry about that.I told him to make sure you don't go outside.The weather forecast says there will a heavy storm.Best you stay away from the lightening."

Last night it was pouring rain,true,but it was quite sunny outside today.But speaking in defiance to my new mother was not something i had the will to do.Though a hint of skepticism slipped inside my mind.

"Oka-y"

"Come on,i made you hot chocolate." Mrs.Khan said,almost giddily.Now,when i look back,i wonder whether there should have been a book named "Deception:A step by step guide by Mrs.Khan".