Fire tune

Abstract Tragedy Others

4.3  

Fire tune

Abstract Tragedy Others

A Silent Canary

A Silent Canary

5 mins
222


"The world is an open paper. The people play the role. The mind narrates and bends the truth the way it likes...!"


"Why is the main door open Charlotte?"

"Jack came to visit Anna this evening, Harry," said Charlotte and started to chop the onions, abruptly. 


Charlotte and Jack have been married for 6 years. They are blessed with three years old child Anna. Anna can't speak. At the age of fourteen months, an evil disease took the power of her speech and left her with perpetual silence. The couple has tried many times to bring back her voice, failed! 


"Jack? Your friend. The one I've never come across." 

"And I haven't come across Jessie. You know what Harry, Anna's disease didn't take her speech, it took our happiness with it too. I remember, that ill-fated night. I called you several times, you were busy; had extra work that night. Perhaps, it was Jessie and not yours..."

"Charlotte stop. Even if I had reached early that night, we still couldn't have cured Anna. It was on her fate."


Charlotte couldn't take it anymore, tears welled from deep inside and coursed down her cheeks. Within no time, moans escaped her lips through the suppressed sound of hiccups.

Harry was cynical. He looked at her weeping wife and passed her to change himself into something comfortable.


During their supper, the house was unearthly silent. The one who couldn't speak was Anna but amongst the three it was her, attempting to break the awkward stillness. She broke the last piece of pie and halved served to her parents. They both looked at her and finally smiled.

Harry took Anna upstairs and started narrating her a bedtime story.

"So, let's see what is waiting for us", said Harry. It would be nearly impossible to overstate the bond Harry and his daughter used to share. Moreover, his playful nature towards Anna made her stifled life easier.

"Daddy will dress as a knight for your birthday this time. excited Anna?"

Anna giggled with excitement. He made her sleep and went to Charlotte.


"I have something to talk about"

"I don't"

"I wasn't really asking you. Charlotte, this is important. You need to hear this."

"Are you leaving me and Anna"

"I believe, not"

"And I don't believe you"

"I want to meet Jack. Look, I don't have a problem with you being friends with him. My only concern is you. I mean I never saw him. You know your weaknesses"


"My weakness? What about you? I haven't seen Jessie either. You say she works with you. It's been years since we are married and I haven't seen her in any of your office luncheons and occasions" exclaimed Charlotte.


"You were diagnosed with Paracosm in your childhood, you are likely to simply imagine Jack, you have nothing to define his existence"


"I was treated and certified as a normal human too. You know Harry, pain is terrific. The pain that we couldn't turn it into a successful marriage. The pain and guilt are deep-rooted in your heart that you failed to reach at the time that night. I can see your pain beneath your words and soul drowning in these blames. The body gives up but the mind holds it back. Jessie can be your state of mind as well. Your alter ego, trying to comfort and console you. Trying to yell in your mind, that you had nothing in your hand"! said Charlotte and went to make herself a drink.


"This is not true. Don't try to turn the table. It's not me, its you, it has always been you. A failed mother, a failed wife" 


"Well, 'the truth may be stretched thin, but it never breaks, and it always surfaces above all lies. As oil floats in the water'. You were narrating Anna this line, a few minutes back right. I hope the words reached your ears too."


Charlotte took her glass and went to sleep. Harry sat back on the couch. His muscles tensed up. His nails were bitten into the skin. He was sure Jack doesn't exist. He believes there's no man of such name in Charlotte's school. So he decided to cut a knife and check on her school the next morning.


"Come, baby. Mom has prepared a chilled tub for you" Charlotte took Anna on her lap and placed her in the bath-tub. She opened the tap until the tub gets high enough for her to enjoy the bath. Harry was watching them. He first smiled and then frowned.


Charlotte realized they were running out of eggs. So she swiftly went to the near grocery.

In the meantime, Jessie came to visit Harry.

"I'm so glad that you came. I want you to meet my wife. She has gone for the grocery and will be back soon. It is so much needed for you to meet her" said Jack and went to bring her a cup of coffee.


Anna could hear her father talking when she realized the water was hitting her jaw. Her hands were small enough to make a way and turn the tap off. The water shook her little system as she plunged beneath the surface. Her heart started to race and her chest tightened as the cold fist of her understanding squeezed the breath out of her. She kicked her legs as fast as she can and parted the water with strokes of her arm, in vain. Within no time her eyes went a blur, she couldn't feel her body anymore and drowned in nothingness. It's all black now......!


"You are insane, Charlotte. You are an irresponsible crack piece of a joke in my life. How could you do this? What if Anna had drowned, because of you, sick head."


Anna was sitting beside them, wet, scared, and shivering.


"You were home Harry. I knew you would have managed if something happened. And it's not like I left her with no one" defended Charlotte.


"It wasn't me. It was from Jessie. I went to make her coffee when she heard an odd sound from the washroom."

"Jessie? She came to our place. Where's she?"

"Of course she left the house. She was equally traumatized as I am. I don't care what you feel like, you are going with me to a therapist this evening"


By the time, Charlotte was convinced that she was sick. Living in a world of fools, tricking her own self. The truth was stretched real thin but has finally managed to surface all lies. She was going to agree with Harry when Anna came up with a note written,


"Thank you daddy" and hugged her father...!


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