Memories under the Cherry Blossom Tree

Ch-6 Lion thrown out..

5 years ago...

The Rojnapat family had once again got together for their annual meet up and Singto was again dragged along with the rest...

He was starting to hate these gatherings specially when he had to put up with that annoying Namtarn... She was fifteen now, P'kit was 19 and away at college..Singto was 13, youngest of the three...and yet Namtarn felt threatened by him...

Kat won't be coming as she was out on a school trip this time and P'Kit would arrive later as he had missed his flight and had to get a later one..

Singto was feeling like a fish out of water with the other cousins and had taken to isolating himself and taking walks on his own around the estate..He didn't want to hear the sly teasing going on among the cousins about him being a free loader..

P'Kit going abroad had taken away half his happiness already...he just pretended in front of papa Jack and mom tat he was happy..

Infact he was burying himself in his art and studies so much tat he was topping his class in all subjects including horrid math...

He was on his solitary walk once again thinking of the time he had spent with his faen P'Kit, a shy smile dancing on his lips as he remembered his P's simple kisses...his pleasant thoughts broken suddenly by someone calling out to him...

Turning around he saw Namtarn approaching..he really didn't want to talk to her,but how could he escape without being rude??so he just greeted her politely...

"Sawadee khrap P'.. to wat do i owe the pleasure?"

"It's no pleasure to me N'Sing..infact ur the bane of my existence " she spit out not trying to hide her hatred...

Singto was shocked..she had never openly insulted him before..he felt a dread creep through him, a sense of foreboding tat something bad was about to happen..so he just kept quiet...

"Do you think P'Kit likes u Singto??he never will..look at u, a brat from the slum,picked up out of pity by my uncle..and this is how u repay their kindness?"

"Papa jack and mom never treated me tat way,P'...anyways who told u P'Kit likes me??even if he does i think its entirely his decision " Singto replied calmly hiding his frustration and anger...

"I am warning u Sing..leave the Rojnapat family before P'Kit arrives.if not u ll regret ever being alive" she said and stormed off..

"Drama queen " Singto whispered and watched her retreating back with amusement in his eyes..he had nothing to loose anyway..

His P'Kit would be arriving the next day...he smiled to himself as he continued his walk..dreaming of the time he will spend with him..he didn't think Namtarn could do anything bad, innocent at heart that he was,Singto didn't know the levels to which ppl would stoop to get wat they want..

Had he known he would have left then and there...

Singto woke up the next day to his door being banged loudly..he woke up and opened the door only to find a huge crowd of ppl infront..and Namtarn right in front wearing a triumphant smile with an 'I warned u but u ignored it' look...

Oh oh! something s not right,..he respectfully greeted the elders in front of his room and invited everyone in and stood politely waiting for someone to tell him wat happened..

Papa Jack was looking troubled and mom was glaring at uncle Philip and Aunt Rhea.."Are u going to ask him or shall I Jack?" Uncle Philip finally demanded..

Papa Jack just shook his head in silence..

Uncle Philip lost his patience and huffed..
Singto thought it was strange and asked " ask me wat papa??"

"Sing, Namtarn here said u gave her this yesterday in the garden. Did u give it to her?" He asked holding up a small packet of white powder..

I had never seen tat in my entire life and so shook my head in the negative...

"But u met my daughter in the garden?"

"Yes, Uncle but I never gave her anything."

"We can easily prove tat ." He said "search his bags.," he told his assistant..
Singto didn't protest, he had nothing to hide anyways..

"Found this in the boy 's luggage sir" the assistant came back after 10 mins holding up a transparent cover,bigger in size contains a similar white powder..

"Aha..so now who do u believe Jack?" Shouted uncle Philip triumphantly..

"Papa that s not mine.."Singto now understood wat was happening and he had tears in his eyes..how could he prove he was innocent..

"Wat do you want me to do Philip?"
Jack Rojnapat asked his brother in law..

"There is no place in the family for a drug pusher Jack..throw him out" he said..

Nymm was about to lash back but Jack pulled her back..she sat down fuming..

Singto understood papa couldn't openly fight his brother in law without breaking the family, understanding the situation he finally said, "I ll leave papa..thank you for being kind to me..but I don't want u to fight with ur family for my sake.."he folded his hands and waiied his adopted parents..

With tat he turned and walked out not taking anything with him,except the clothes he wore. Tears ran down his cheeks blurring his sight but he just kept walking..after about an hour he found himself in front of a bus stop and just sat on one of the seats and cried loudly..

It was an empty road so no one was there in the bus stop..so he could cry to his heart's content..and tat s where Wave found him an hour later..

Wave stopped his car and got down..then he walked upto Singto and pulled him in a tight hug..without a word he pulled him to the car opened the door and pushed him in..and drove to his home...

Once they reached Wave's home, Singto was taken inside and an explanation demanded for wat happened...

Singto told him the truth..about wat Namtarn had threatened and how he was accused falsely and papa Jack's dilemma to choose between his adopted son and own brother in law..

"Why didn't u call me?"

"I left my phone in the room" Kong replied in a small voice..

" Ur papa had me rush after u saying I was fired and tat i should look after u hence.."

Singto frowned, "So I made u loose ur job too??" I am a jinx to everyone I love he thought crying harder...

"Hey calm down..I was going to quit anyway.. so will u stay with me Sing? Let me take care of u?"

Singto wanted to refuse but he needed someone now to dull his heart ache so he accepted..

From then on he had created this total new identity for himself as if it was his Armour..