MELINOE

Va via

I slowed down my steps when I found mom and dad downstairs, unveiling the packed things. I badly wanted to tell them about what just happened but what I heard then, resisted me. I heard dad say, "Hope Nadiya doesn't create any trouble here now, such a serene place it is."

I chose to keep the incident to myself and not *trouble* my family anymore. I didn't want to disturb their celebration of our new home.

Mom smiled at me with concern, "So, you found your new room Nadiya?'' "That one, next to the terrace," I pointed towards the room I was too curious to explore. Mom added, ''We all can stay on the first floor Nadiya, the rooms are spacious and close." "I'll be fine up there, closer to the terrace," I said and came outside looking for Noah. He was barely visible, covered by all the boxes while unloading the carriage that had our T.V., mirror, showpieces, and some of mom's favorite crockery. Reason why he needed to be extra cautious. I tried to help. In return, he spoiled my hairdo and ran inside.

"Noaaahh!! Stop!" I followed, with all the packed boxes in hand. All started moving and arranging the things in place. I went up, to MY ROOM. There was enough light now in the house from all the windows and the terrace. Dad was over the phone, talking and walking around the terrace in his all-time favorite blue printed shirt and light brown trousers. I went inside the room.

There was nothing inside, just a vintage mirror and few crumbled pieces of paper on the floor. I gathered them and kept outside the room, to throw them when I go downstairs. There was a wall cupboard. I opened it to find nothing inside, except for a pendant tangled in a silver chain at the right corner of the second shelf from top.

I felt a hand on my shoulder and that freaked me out. I dropped the pendant and turned back in a haste to find Noah gazing blankly around the room. I smirked, "WHAT?" Noah said, "You take the room beside Mom & Dad's, I need to breathe in this terrace-breeze dude." My expressions made it clear to Noah that I am not going to give away this room anyway. He made a face and left me alone.

I went down, got all my paintings and posters and hanged them on the grey walls of my new room. I went inside the attached washroom that was already cleaned up and was big as well. The door looked old. I tried the door and it seemed alright. I closed myself in, washed my face and hands slowly under the ice-cold water lost in myself.

I came out. What I got to see next got me in a frenzy of anxiety and I went crazy. All my favorite posters and paintings were torn irrecoverably. Above the mirror, on the wall, it was written "Va via" in black.

I rushed downstairs fully prepared to yell straight at Noah. But to my surprise, he was helping mom place the T.V. at the right place on the wall and indulged into some serious discussion with dad about how he'll head to his college from here every day. I realized that wasn't Noah at all.

I swiped open my phone and googled what 'va via' meant. It read "Go Away!"