In the past few days, Angelina has started visiting Sam's quite often mainly for two reasons- one, Sam is her stress buster and two, for the sake of dinner made by Pete. She has started low-key worshipping him for his cooking skills.
After all the hard work she has to do at the site during the day, she barely saved herself any energy for cooking dinner at night. And this was a regular scenerio. So, she often ended up ordering unhealthy take outs or eating instant noodles. But now that she had developed a thick face and became a regular consumer of Pete's cooking, her body cells were really thankful to him. Finally, they were getting all the nourishment they deserved.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!" Angelina heard Sam screaming as soon as she entered the apartment. Both Pete and Angelina ran towards Sam's room. Pete reached faster and opened the door. Angelina couldn't control her speed and collided with Pete's muscular back.
It took her a few seconds to step back. She was utterly embarrassed, but then remembered why they originally rushed.
Sam abruptly hugged him. "I got selected" her voice was cracking, "I can't believe I got selected."
Pete was so proud of his baby sister. His eyes were glistening with moisture. He always had faith on her. He knew she could fulfill her dreams. He kissed on the top of her head and said "You did well, momma will be so proud of you!".
Angelina handed a box of tissues to the emotional sibling duo. Sam smiled awkwardly releasing her brother from her hug, "you know, I am not really a cry baby. Don't tease me in future for this. I warn you." She said to Angelina feeling embarrassed.
"Sam. It's ok to cry."
************************************
Angelina was missing her mom, even more after watching the bond Sam and Pete share as siblings, as a family. Her and Sam's situation was quiet alike, they both had only one family member to rely on, to love, to care for.
"Maa, how are you?"
"You finally got time to call me! Angelina, are you crying? What's wrong? Did something bad happen at work? Are you sick?"
The more Mrs. Ray got worried, the more she felt guilty. Guilty of neglecting feelings of her mom, neglecting the importance of communication. She felt as if she had failed as a daughter. She felt struck by a lightning as realisation dawned upon her. All these time, she had been over-working for a fake reason. She always thought she was working so hard because she wanted to provide for everything that her mother deserved. But in reality, she was doing everything for herself. She kept immersing herself in work because she desperately wanted to not think about her past horrible experiences.
Was it really so hard for her to keep in touch with her mother ? Or atleast call her once a day just to know how she was doing?
"Stop worrying so much
I was just.. missing you." she replied as calmly as she could manage at that point.
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Fifteen years ago
Angelina was alone at her house trying to complete her school project, when the bell rang. She got excited at the thought of her mother returning. She ran towards the door and opened it. But, it was not her mother. It was a sales person.
"Do you want home-made chocolate cookies?" He took out two jars filled with them grinning from ear to ear.
He looked horrendous. Dirty teeth, a big round beer belly and scar across the face- he had it all.
Angelina had this gut feeling, this guy was up to no good. So she was about to close the door, when the cookie person asked her to fetch him a glass of water. Her mom had always taught her to never refuse a thirsty person wanting water. Thinking of this, she went in keeping the door open.
She heard the door close behind her. She turned back. The guy was inside the room. She could practically hear her heart-beats 'lub dub.. lub dub.. lub dub'
Her instinct told her she was in danger.
Before she could scream, the man closed her mouth with his hand, while lifting her up against his chest with the other. She was struggling with all the strength her little body could gather, and her desperate screams for helps were muffled.
"Shhhh." The guy whispered in her ears, "Stop screaming and I won't hurt you"
She started sobbing, "will you kill me?"
"Why would I? Only bad guys kill people. I am a good guy. Don't be afraid, don't scream."
Angelina stopped struggling. He put her down and started unbuckling his belt.....
************************************
She had developed a PTSD towards physical intimacy due to this inhuman incident that she went through as a nine year old.
She didn't have courage to share the incident with anyone. Infact, she didn't know how to explain it. Something in her told her what happened with her was bad. But, as matter of fact, that innocent child didn't even realise how bad it was.
She would often get nightmares. She would see herself begging, begging for sparing her, begging to not put that disgusting thing again in her mouth. Begging to let her go.
Now she realises what had actually happened with her, but she still didn't
have the courage to open up about it.
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YOU ARE READING
The extra-ordinary life
Romantik[Temporarily discontinued] A very wise man once said, "The loneliest moment in someone's life is when they are watching their whole world fall apart, and all they can do is stare blankly." Let's confess.. We all have been through this at some point...
