STUCK IN TIME

(XLII) Book 1: Chapter 34- Deadlock

Asher's POV

"I loved you as my own son." He says as he takes out his gun. I am not scared at this point. Wrong choices lead you to wrong fate, possibly to wrong death. And the choice that my fourteen year old self had made was after all a choice. Now I have the courage to make it right. I might die but atleast I will die with a satisfied conscience that I never wronged anyone and didn't lie to save my ass, that I didn't die a coward but I was brave enough to speak the truth even though I knew it could have severe consequences.

Just when I think he will kill me he throws the gun at me.

"I will give you two options." uncle says.

"Number one: Kill me for trusting you. Number two: Honour my trust by being an heir to me."

Tears pour down my eyes. He really did think of me as his son. I did love him tpo all along but today his respect has increased. All I want to do is hug him tight and tell him I am sorry. "Uncle you know I cant do either of it." I speak remorsefully and he shouts, "THEN WHAT CAN YOU DO?"

"You cant marry my daughter, I said okay I understand. You cant celebrate your father's revenge. I understand. You dont need to recover your money from him. I understand. You cant work with me. I DONT UNDERSTAND. You kill all of my desires but you cant kill me, I DONT UNDERSTAND!"

I just keep looking down with guilt rising up, "Uncle I do love you but please dont force me for something I can't do."

Uncle sighs and I can see his hands shivering a bit. "You can go Asher," he says calmly, "but I have decided your punishment, hear your sentence before leaving and know that I am very serious about it. If you decide to leave me then your only fair punishment is that you leave me for yourself only. Which means if I saw you ever near that girl Ayana..." he pauses and then finishes quickly as if its a small thing to say, "I will kill her."

"Uncle I- I love her!" I exclaim almost in tears again.

"I love you too son. But you see love doesn't mean you stay together forever. So your sentence is pronounced, You leave Ayana and you leave not only the money that I am offering you but also what your mother spends on you. Make yourself up. Earn your living. You want to leave me and my business, I respect your choice. But what I cant tolerate is that you leave for someone else. If it is really the illegality of the work which drives you to leave and not that girl then prove it."

"Uncle you are being unfair to me. No father does that to his son. You call yourself my father but you are robbing me of everything just because I deny your gracious gift."

"You see I am merciful. So ill do you a favour and not make it a life sentence, It Will end. Your Punishment will last just as long as I last. After my death you are free to meet your girl or inherit your mom's fortune. Now each day you will either plotting to kill me but you are too good for that so perhaps you will spend it praying for the death of the person who loved you like his own son. I will then see where your morality stand when each time you miss her or run out of money you will pray that I die or maybe at one point you get so much disturbed that you will come running here to kill me. I will wait."

I am so stuck in his words. What's wrong with him! He wasn't like that. But I know one thing about him. That he does what he says. So these are not plain threats. If I take financial support from mom, God! I am sure he will hit her business. If I go to meet my kitten, I am sure he will- he will do as he says. If I kill him all problems will be solved! Damn! What a deadlock! What did I do to deserve this, I wish I could at least know that. "Uncle stop this. Whats wrong with you. You are just angry. I beg you think about it." I implore but I know its useless.

"I will give you two days to think about your decision. If you consider changing that I will consider changing mine."

He really is a psycopath, he will let me shoot him but he wont let me leave him on my terms. He is willing to let me go but that too on his terms!

*****************

Staring at the ceiling of my bedroom, half in tears but trying to keep my voice normal, I speak, "I wan't to earn myself mom. It's the last few month and I have applied in universities. But I will be looking for scholarship and earn my living. I need to stand up on my feet." I tell mom through the phone.

"What's wrong with you baby. Did I offend you. Do you not like the man I am going to marry. Or do you not like the idea of marriage for me. Just tell me we can talk it out." Mom says again freaking out. I'm trying to make her understand but she won't.

"No mom its not about you. I really am very happy about you. Nothing has ever made me happier than your decision to remarry. I know you are very strong and I know you have chosen a man after so many years because you weren't anymore capable of trusting anyone. So you have trusted a person after almost seventeen years of divorce. I am really happy that you are settling." I tell her.

"Is it then Hyder?"

"No mom its completely my decision. Infact I had been thinking about it for a very long time but I wasn't sure thats why I never said... And another thing mom, please don't freak out but I am moving too. In next few days I will move to a new place. I have rented an apartment its a great place. You will love it." I finish and there is a long pause and I hear a sob. "Mom please don't cry."

"Asher I built my business later but bought this palace like mansion so that you never feel that we lost anything. So that you never have to worry about making a better living. So that you can marry and raise your family in the same house too. So that I can grow old and sit in that balcony watching my grandchildren play. Not so that you have to live in a rented apartment! Or some cheap dorm! And this whole house is left for phantoms to vain!" She screams.

"Mom please don't make it difficult for me. I supported your decisons please support one decision of mine."

"And how would you pay rent? You are not even a high school graduate yet. You have lost your mind. I am coming back to fix it. I am coming just by the evening. I don't care what you want. You will listen to what I will say." She hangs up as I hear her sob. And I break down too.

I know I will somehow convince mom. And there is no restriction on meeting mom so I can visit her call her talk to her anytime I want. I just cant take her money in any form. But with kitten there is a bigger problem. I cant even see her! I can make a living but how can can I live without a heart.

After an hour of thinking wheather I should go see her one last time or should I leave without saying a word, I decide to finally see her. Hold her hand one last time to find some courage and look in those beautiful eyes and keep that memory locked in my eyes.

......