I am sitting on a bench in the park watching Harry playing cricket with his friends. He plays so ardently, so attentively as if his life depends on it. He loves cricket so much that according to him this game relieves his pain and eases his nerves.
Abruptly, something hits my mind and I shudder.
Oh, no! How it even vanished from my mind? I have to see Ms. Jane today. I have been so engrossed in watching this game that I totally forgot about the world for a little while.
I have to leave now and also, I have to discuss that championship thing with her.
I raise up from the bench, stretch my arms and then elevate my foot in the air to take the step. As I take a step, I stumble badly but fortunately gain my body balance. I look down and realize that laces of my shoes got untied somehow.
I sit again and tie the laces of my tattered shoes. You see, not enough money to buy a new pair.
When I am done, I set off for Ms. Jane's place but before I exit the park, I hear a familiar voice.
"Strawberry!" Harry shouts from behind and I turn to look a t him.
He runs towards me.
"Where are you going?" He asks, out of breath.
"Take a long shower when you get home. Too much sweat smell." I flap my hand in front of my nose.
He rolls his eyes. "It's a sportsman's sweat, you know. Oh, you'll never know 'cause you are not that good in sports."
I decide to drop this topic. If we start to argue, it will take days to end.
"Whatever, I am going to Ms. Jane's place."
"Good and please don't ask her to withdraw your name again. You are going to Auckland and that's FINAL!" He states, sternly.
I told him about the championship and going back to the city but after some cognition his reply ran counter to my views. To my surprise, he asked me to go there, to fight and to win and much much more.
"Okay." I say, not sure of even my own decision.
"Do you want me to go with you?"
"No, no. I will go myself. You go on with your game." I flash him a genuine smile.
"Good but be careful and be home before dinner."He glances at his wrist watch.
"Okay, mommy." I smirk and continue my journey.
Lost in my own thoughts, I head towards Ms. Jane's house. As I go past the coffee shop, turn around the corner and enter the street where Ms. Jane lives, my eyes catch a glimpse of two boys, heading towards a parked car on the left side of the street and their faces are towards me. They are talking to each other and then burst out laughing the next second.
The guy on the left side is dressed in grey t-shirt and black jeans while the guy on the right is wearing a light lavender t-shirt underneath, above it is a brown leather jacket and he is wearing denim jeans. The eyes of the left guy are covered with black glasses.
I ignore them first but when my eyes finally jam on their faces, I am quick in identifying them and I freeze at the spot. My face turns pale and their sight drags my jaw down.
Zach Johnson and Eric peter!
What on Earth they are doing here?
It seems like their sight has sucked out all the air from my lungs and I can't breath properly.
What are they doing together?
My body begins to tremble, half from fear and half from anger. I want to run away but I also want to chop their heads off. I am paralyzed by witnessing them both together.
How freely they are laughing after shattering my life into infinite pieces!
I want to jog up to them, particularly Zach and ask just once, why he did this to me? Why he drowned me in the pools of sorrows? What have I done to deserve this kind of punishment?
I clench my fists so hard that my nails dig deep into my palms and they hurt. I stare at them for a while but as soon as they near to the car, that is a few steps away from me, I turn and run fast as I can and hide behind one of the nearest houses, hoping that they have not noticed me.
I slide down against the wall and bring my knees to chest. I am such a coward that I ran away. I place my head on my knees and circle both arms around them.
My cheeks get wet from the tears cascading down. This is so painful.
They both are friends. This is the fact that crushes my heart, this is the fact that has made me lose faith in other humans.
I stay there for some minutes and then get up, dusting off my shirt.
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" I am glad that you've come." Ms. Jane sits next to me on the couch.
Her house is so elegant. My eyes have been getting wider and wider since the moment I walked in. The lounge I am sitting in so majestic that it seems as if a king lives here. There is a big, golden chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Walls are painted golden and the sofa set is in light brownish shade in contrast to the rest of the room .
"Your house is so beautiful." I remark.
"Thank you." She flashes me a smile and then her brown eyes begin to scan me. She gives me a specific "Psychiatric" look.
I cringe.
"Why you don't want to go to Auckland?" She asks, plainly.
I gulp hard and look at her. "Because I hate that place."
"What?" She chuckles. "Because you hate that place, you don't want to go there?"
I fold my lips inward and pops them out.
"Lisa, you are not good at lying."She leans back in the couch and deviates her head to me.
I am feeling so uncomfortable right now because she is trying to push me back in the past. My throat is completely dried. I can't face her.
I try to change the topic.
"Why didn't you come yesterday?" I question, still looking away.
"I will tell you later, for sure." She gnashes her teeth and inhales deeply as if trying to stay calm.
Why does she seem so irritated by my question?
"Lisa, you can't skip the topic." She sits straight and makes me face her.
I don't say anything. Right now, I am chaotic because of the mini adventure a few moments ago when I saw their faces.
"Tell me, what happened in Auckland?" She takes my hand in hers.
I knew it, I knew it. She will ask me one day. She will ask me the reason for my suffering. I knew it but this is so hard for me.
I hang my head low.
Her question is stingy.
"I know something's wrong because every time I mention Auckland or the name of your former school, you cringe. I can see it in your eyes, the way you fight inside." She massages the back of my hands with her thumbs, gently. And no doubt, I am feeling quiet at home.
"Let's talk about it and set everything straight. Throw up, Lisa. It will make you feel better."
Tears exaggerate in my eyes as my past gets in shape in my mind. I press my lips together and Ms. Jane rubs my back, softly.
Uncontrollable emotions are rising inside me but I try to speak up anyway.
"If I-I go back there, I will get a-arrested." I shut my eyes tight but tears break down the barrier and flow, they flow like a raged river.
She wipes my tears and cups my face. "What? What are you saying?"
I nod hard.
"He snatched everything away from me. He gave me this-this scar." I place my index finger on my award.
I don't realize I am sobbing hard until Ms. Jane wraps me into a hug.
"Shh. Calm down. Don't stress yourself like this."
"I want to destroy him like the way he did. I want him to suffer the same pain." I shriek. My chest hurts because of the magnitude with which I am wailing.
She runs her fingers through my hair. "No Lisa, don't cry. You are a brave girl. Tell me from the beginning. How did it happen?" She rubs my back again and then breaks the hug.
I wipe some stray tears and then look at her.
She gives me an encouraging smile. I clench my fists and split my lips to start off.
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Author's Note
I wrote this chapter two times! And it turned out to be like this.
Hope you like it. The next few chapters will be from the past of Lisa.
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Stay blessed :-)
~Mahvash
