The falling seasons

Part 1

Haruni was watching the raindrop that was slowly sliding over the frosty glass, as the guest came out of her mother's 'Working room'. The Heavy rainfall outside the walls made the women check out the huge oak green wall-clock that was hung up on the wall of the Entrance hall.

"It would get dark if I wait any longer..." The women mumbled before turning towards Haruni.

"Haru, my love! Could you please fetch me an umbrella?"

Haruni remembered the words that the maid always said to her

'You should always be nice to the guests that come home. Mama will love you if you do so!'

Mama will love me if I am a good girl! Thought Haruni, before enthusiastically jumping off the couch that she was sitting on. She ran towards the other side of the room meanwhile the women eyed the place she was standing in. The hall was dark due to the monstrous clouds holding back the sun, but still, the neatly patterned sculptures on the walls were clearly visible.

Haruni came out with a blue umbrella in her hand, "Is this fine?" she asked as she tried to open the umbrella with a 'flap' sound in the way the maid usually did while she opened it for Haruni.

"It's more than enough!" Said the 'Guest' women as she gently took the umbrella off Haruni's hand.

Haru's dark grey eyes brightened when the women opened the door and opened the umbrella with a 'flap'. The maid came out of Haruni's mother's room and gazed the women with a forced smile.

"I can understand." Whispered the women before leaving the place and shutting the door behind her, taking away the light she had illuminated for a moment. The house fell silent with only splattering sound of the raindrops to be heard. Haru's playful eyes followed the maid who was busy in lighting up the candles and placing them on the tables that waited for adoration.

Haru waited for a perfect moment and when the maid missed her sight upon Haruni, she quickly went running into her mother's room. As usual, the room was dark with the curtains closed and only a candle lighting the table where her mother sat.

"Mama..." That was a whisper, but the voice that came back wasn't one

The candle was turned towards Haruni and her mother looked more restless than ever. Her brown hair strangled and even her beautiful face looked scary because of the darkness that surrounded the room.

"Haruni... You disgraceful child! Why did you come in even when I have always told you not to?"

That was more than what Haruni had expected. In the eleven years of her life, she had never quite properly spoken with her mother, because her mother valued her work more than her daughter. She was never allowed to visit her room and was only able to see her mother at the times of supper and then too, Haruni's mother wouldn't even try to look at her. Haruni would bring up topics of her school and her days, but there was nothing more than a nod she would get from her mother as a response.

Haru knew that she would get scolded if she would sneak into her mother's room. It would always happen, but today mama had called her a disgraceful child, but she didn't want to give up

"Mama you allow guests to see you, but why not me?"

The reply came in a stern tone

"Because you are not related to the work we do. And you are disturbing me Haruni, get out of here,"

Haruni's heart always sank when she heard the words 'get out' of her mother. Before leaving the room she managed to see her for one last time in her room, before supper. Her mother was sitting on the same chair she used to be always seated upon and had the same pen in her hand with a book wide open in front of her.

The maid came rushing in when she heard mistress's distressed voice. She saw Haru standing in front of the door with a sad little face. The golden glow of the candles surrounded them.

"Haru did you go in again?" The maid asked in a soft polite tone.

"Mama... Hates me..." Haruni went near the maid and sunk her head into the laps of the maid.

The maid felt the tears wetting her long skirt.

"Haru, your mama loves you more than anyone else. You are a good girl right?"

Haruni lifted her face up with a sniff. Her eyes portrayed the pain of the isolation she was suffering

"Yes... I even am nice to guests, then why does mama think me as a disgrace?"

"Because she has a lot of work to do, my darling."

"Is that more important than me?"

There was silence for a moment, and then the maid sighed

"No..."

"Then will she come to this time's homeroom meeting. If I..."

"If you?" The maid frowned

"If I get good marks?"

"hmmm... may... be..."

"Then I will do it!"

Haru went into her room running. It felt like she already had made her mind up to study. And it felt like no matter what happened, Haruni would take her mother out of her room and her work. But the maid sat in the same place. Thinking

But will my lady?

The maid sighed as the last droplets of rain trickled down the roof.