MELINOE

Suspicious

Chapter – 10
It was again time to dine together, but without Nads. We were all disturbed, ‘cause she is not interacting with any of us and not eating anything. The matter had grown a lot serious now. While forking in the chopsuey to mouth, I was thinking about her lighted up face as I proposed of changing rooms. How she hugged me tight and smiled with joy. After that, I left for shower while she was still on my bed. I didn’t take more than 15mins, but by then she had left. When I went up with two of my baggages, her door was locked from inside and she didn’t respond to my repeated addressal. Assuming she slept off, I came down. But ever since, she’ll reply with a big NO from inside the room to almost everything we ask or say. Barely she came out. Even if she did, she’ld roam around the lawn or sit at a corner in the hall or terrace. If any of us tried to initiate any sort of conversation, either she’d leave or tell us to leave her alone. We pleaded her to convey her problems, our bad she did not. What could be the probable reason for such a behavior we have seen never before!? We all finished our dinner in a toxic silence. “Good night guys!” I wished Mom & Dad and went to my room. I kept switching the night lamp on and off, off and on, thinking whether we failed as a family, as my sister had been going through such a tough time without letting us into it. I asked last night whether we can change the rooms, to which she had said no. All these thoughts encouraged the sleep deprived me to find out what is wrong with Nads.
I took my phone and went up to her room. ‘Was about to knock but stopped myself and sat outside the door instead. I opened the terrace door that was just next to her room, and sat at her doorstep waiting. 2:34AM, showed my phone when some random banging of windows’ sound disturbed my undecided sleep. I stood up immediately and started to fidget with Nadiya’s door knob without any patience. I didn’t find heavy winds through the open terrace-door that was just next. The continuous banging of windows was intimidating enough! I didn’t retire from my eager efforts to open her room, and all of a sudden the door shut open! I rushed in and turned the room lights on to see whether Nadiya is fine. Alas! She is nowhere! The restroom is empty as well! Where the hell is she, I could feel myself sweating all over and a cold feeling in my stomach. The window was open, I tried to look out and.. Nadiya! She was running through the desolate fields in complete darkness alone! I ran down through the steps, went outside home and didn’t pause for a second before I could find her. With my flashlight on, I tried to keep safe steps on the grasses. The night was cold.
There she is! “Naa..” I didn’t call. From behind a tree, I directed my flashlight on her. She stopped. I hid. My feet trembled. She turned to the Church beside, that had an orphanage attached. Then I got to see someone coming near her. It was Nikki! Long hair and tiny stature, far in the darkness, ensured me that it was her. I could see them talking to each other. I just hoped I am not living in a nightmare. I tried to go nearer, and hid behind an old damaged truck that was tad bit closer to the Church. Nadiya now hid behind a bare tall tree, as Nikki knocked the door of a small house with flickering golden light and a small wooden door, just next to the Church. A man came out. It looked more like he and Nikki were arguing over something. Probably Nikki was crying, because her hand movements were all I could read. The man then nodded and went in. Nadiya came out, and maybe Nikki was narrating her conversation with the man to Nadiya. And then, Nadiya started to run again. Towards home. I followed. She was faster than normal. I have never seen her run that way before! I lost her.
I stopped and ran my eyes around in the empty darkness. Couldn’t find her. I ran home. Upstairs. Her damn door was closed! I got little cautious and tried to turn the door knob open quietly. It opened at one go. I went in. Nadiya was sleeping on bed. Absolutely calm as she usually does.. I looked at her face. She looked so deprived of the care that she needed. Empathy and guilt overfilled me.
I came to my room. I have to help out my sister. I promised myself.
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Hereby we put a hold to our story for few months. Stay tuned to know what Melinoe has in stock for you and what is up with Nadiya. Thanks for all the love. Keep patience. See y'all soon.