The new arrived fresh morning took me to the yellow woods situated behind my house. As I approached "What for today's meal Jack?" asked Kate to me.
"It's my onus to get you a meal Kate. Don't you worry" I said.
Kate was not known much to me. At the age of 28, she was put into prison for a sort of stealing a little amount of money from the donation box of a cafeteria. But gloomily, she was even blamed for some other thefts too. She couldn't help herself, nor did anyone else as she was an orphan girl.
Now, it had been 6 years of Kate living in prison. She was there given rubbish to eat and was even treated brutally. But, the previous night, she had escaped and come near my house for help. I knew the myth that Kate was claimed to have stolen things from house to house. So, I confessed to help her.
Actually, her duration of punishment was for only three years, but just because of the same mistake that is escaping, prolonged her duration in the prison. Keeping her in my house would had been jeopardize for her, so for me. So, I found keeping her in the long yellow woods better.
"If I'm not rude enough, will you let me know the reason for the theft from the donation?" I asked Kate.
"After passing of my parents in a mishap, I got the responsibilities of my house and of my little sibling 'Nick' I wasn't too educated to get a job, just passed a few classes then halted to proceed further due to lack of currency. The calendar kept on turning ahead and poverty increased rapidly. We had nothing to eat once. So, I went to make money from the donation box, but ultimately was caught and claimed for some other thefts too and sent to prison. When I escaped, I found my Nick dead due to starvation. (She began mewling) O Lord! Rest his soul in peace," she cried, "may God give him space in heaven."
Kate was totally overwhelmed. I couldn't say a word for a while.
Then I took her stealthily to my house to platter her breakfast. Suddenly, I heard my sister's voice. I was afraid. Usually till 8 everyone leaves for his/her office baring my maid. But why was my sister yet at home? I began pondering and snatching my head.
If Merry, my sister would come to know, she might inform the cops about Kate. And it was all because of her greed. The cops had printed in newspaper, Kate as a wanted lady; rewarding a hefty-sum to the person who so ever would find and lend her to them.
But.... but I failed to hide Kate from Merry.
"Jack! Isn't she Kate? The wanted lady!" asked Merry.
"Yeah! Sis..." I replied hesitatingly.
"Why has she come here?"
Merry to Kate: Are you now gonna pinch something from our house?
Kate dropped her eyes towards the earth.
Merry to me: Come on Jack, Let's inform the cops before she does anything to us. Hurry up! In this way I'll get the reward and we'll even save our house. Isn't it?"
"Oh! Come on Merry. Have you lost your mind? Hold on! You just hold on! Kate is not a culprit. And you...." I said in rage.
"Not a culprit? Jack, what has happened to you? Is it your pity for Kate? Anyways it's not our job to negotiate whether she is a culprit or not! We are just gonna lend her to the cops. If not you. So, I will. At least for the reward" murmured Merry.
"I never thought a lady wouldn't have humanity within her. Are you born just for money? How materialistic you are!" I said.
"Money is my life Jack! And who doesn't like to count hell lot of currency?" said Merry as usual.
She was so horrifying that writing about her this moment got so terrified for me. She was so stubborn that it took me a lot of time to make her understand. Finally, she swept all the information about Kate, under the carpet. At the end of the conversation, Kate decided to immigrate to Italy and re start her life there making a spouse for herself.
"I apologies Kate. Kindly forgive me," said Merry.
"O! Don't mind Merry. All thanks to Jack," said Kate turning towards me. "Indeed, you've helped a lot. Now I'll settle in Italy with my spouse, starting a new good business."
Then she hugged both of us, after she received an envelope from me, which contained some currency for her help. And, at the same night, she left for Italy through the yellow woods via cargo loaded ship.
"Good deed you did Jack. No matter if you'll even inform the family members," said Merry to me.
I grinned.
YOU ARE READING
Elevation of Life
PoetryElevation of Life is a debut book of Anurag Anand, a teenage author who is a national and continent record holder by 'India Book of Records' and 'Asia Book of Records' respectively for 'writing four forms of writing (poetry, fiction, sonnet, skit) i...