The Wait ( Part A )

Chapter 1.

I love to walk by the lake every evening . It makes my mind fresh and takes all the tension away from me. I recently got settled in this little town called ' Victoria castle' I know the name is bit fancy. Like you I was also bit surprised when I heard about this place cause I thought no such place ever existed but here it is and its beautiful.  

Its not related with Victorian era at all it's named after the wife of the first mayor of the town whose name was Victoria . Well it's not a big town and you will almost get country side ViVe's from this town.

I came as a permanent teacher at the only high school in the whole town. It has lakes , roads covered with trees , house with long yard for tea and long windows like you see in the old movies. Their is some broken buildings which I heard broke during the time of war. Which war that even they don't know. Forget written ,even oral history are not circulated from generations so how would I know about their war histories ? 

Since school didn't started yet after lunch everyday I go for exploring the town and their I saw her for the first time. On the way of the lake their is a broken mental asylum which is closed for years now, the iron gate is fully covered with red and yellow flower vines and near that gate their is a wooden bench under a cherry tree and their sits a lady who looks like she is in her forties. 

The thing that is mystery about her is no one really knows much about her. She lives in the far end of the town and every day near 2 O'clock she sits near the asylum gate with a book in her hand and stays their for three hours , nearly at 5 she leaves . She is not very social and keeps her distance from everyone from the town so people doesn't know much about her. It is rumored that her husband died in the war and since then she turned cold and distant. 

She wears long black gown just like ladies in old movies and sits up straight never bending , she wears gloves but the most beautiful thing about her is her hat. Its a black hat which surrounds her head with a netted veil attached with it which covers maximum part of her face but I beat she is having the most beautiful eyes in the universe. She reads book or just keep staring towards the asylum. It's a small town but still people are not that familiar with each other and I never saw anyone stop by to chat with her as if she is also part of the scene which was suppose to be their and the gossips of the town died slowly.

But today as I was passing by the asylum to go to the lake I saw her sitting with her book the tree is in full blossom and she is staring towards the asylum her hat is kept near her on the bench. Her fair skin is shinning in the sunshine but her eyes looks tired like she is done waiting for so long and can't do it anymore. She looks so sad , she looks like she wants something but for some reason she can't get it and has no other option than waiting. 

She all of a sudden turns towards me and I just froze in one place her eyes are cold her cheeks are pale but she has a little smile on her lips . Her diamond ear rings are shining like rainbows. She kept staring for good five minutes and it looks like she is trying to read my mind. As if she is trying to say she knows my secret the one I hide from the whole universe. As if she knows what I did and why I came in this village. I felt really uncomfortable . So I started to walk again and at that moment I heard.

" Maya long time no see" the voice is like little whisper in the ear but it chilled my bones . OK IS She talking to me ? Rubbish she never talks with anyone that's bullshit. Or maybe you are getting scared for nothing… those are rumors will you stop minding them ? But what if they are true ? Let's not take any chances and just leave. I started to walk again and I heard her whisper again.  

" Wouldn't you wish me good afternoon Maya ? " again the same voice. This time it contained a bit emotion which felt she got hurt by my behavior. So here I don't have any choice. How hard it can be she is just a human right.

As I turned slowly I saw her staring right into my eyes trying to reach my soul. Her smile broaden a little bit but her eyes remained cold. I wanted to reply but my tongue dried at that moment and their was a strange lump in my throat . Their was something in her which was terrifying. I tried to build my courage how can I get scared easily...after what I did I shouldn't be afraid of death itself , here I am afraid of an little lady. 

She wore her hat back and again told " I waited for so long for you Maya. " and that's it I got really scared and I ran towards my home without stopping. I ran like as if she was chasing me and would eat me if I got caught. So I ran like a horse, pushing everything on my way to my home. 

As I came home my maid Anna saw my shivering and nearly fainting condition and made tea for me. I sat on my front yard and started thinking what she wanted to tell me ? Why me? How she knows that I am Maya Sharma ? Did I did the right thing by running? what should I do ? with whom should I talk. God save me I am really confused. Should I talk with her tomorrow? What should I do?.

Chapter 2 

1 week later

School has finally started and I am super busy right now with school and its works. Its soo hot and my students are getting so bored and restless. Hope this gets over soon and I could let them out and get out myself.

" Finally its Friday that means no school for two days lord is really merciful isn't it Miss Maya ? " said John the most sporty boy of the class. He loves sports and the walls of the school are just like jail for him , open field and Lot's of sports equipment is more freedom to him then school books .

" Yes John lord is indeed merciful but you must complete the homework which I gave you to do . you known that basic education is required in very field so that no one can ever beat you in anything. " I said john with a smile he nodded with energy. "OK then we are done for today thank you class, see you on Monday." All stood together wished me good day and left.

I am teaching here for almost 3 months now. Students are really less in this school. 15 students in class 10 , 12 in class 11 and only 6 students are there in class 12 . I teach them the Art's part . Class 12 is known as the most unruly class of the school. Other 4 teaches and even the principal are fed up of them but I find them quite interesting. Young talent bubbling in bottle trying to burst out .

As the school is in a remote town and children's are really less in this town. In the whole school we have twenty teachers who teaches from kindergarten to high schooler's. I by now know most of my colleagues and their habits by heart. We are trying to make the lives of the students bit easier with all the limited technology we have here. The school itself is not in a good condition. It use to be a court room of late lord serious snappy bong pong ( I known its bit wearied name for a lord but who am I to judge ? ) .

Well the school building is not in a good condition ,some have bats living in them ( I wonder are they vampires ? Nope they are not. But the school surely gives you vibes that its school for vampires) , some rooms are covered with spider webs ( Aaah! they give me nightmares ) , some shows how wonderful the sky is with giant holes on the roof ,very few rooms are in a state which are used as classroom and staffroom. No we don't get students from other city or country, all the students are from this town only so funds which are raised for the renovations are really less. And salaries well let's not talk about that I mean I have a maid and good food on my plate and can buy a new dress in every four months ….its a pretty good salary.

Now students of my class are six , class twelve arts student whom I teach English, History and sociology , as the teachers are less we 3 teachers teach them but my other 2 colleagues don't like them as they are very naughty and often creates such situations which irritates them but I love my students they are so creative. My colleagues don't understand that this young people are beyond explaining and ordering now it's time to understand them . Let me describe them for you.

John he is so good in sports and has won many medals but doesn't like study that much , loves to spend maximum time on field . He has fine sun tanned skin and brown eyes. He wishes to be international baseball player. He loves to play baseball with his brother who owns a little shop.

Daisy is a cute and shy girl of my class. Her eyes are blue and she has blonde hair with blue butterfly ribbon on. she loves gardening and knows a lot about trees and flowers she wants to be a botanist , she has more plants seeds in her bag then school books . And you will always find a encyclopedia of flowers with her. School is a torture for her . poor girl just wants to spend her time in her grandma's garden taking care of her roses and her daises.

Rebel is exactly opposite of daisy she is a confident and strong girl. She has beautiful black eyes and flaming red hairs that goes well with her fair skin. She loves to study and trust me she is better than any girl of her age she wants to be a journalist and she even writes article for the local newspaper. I came to know a lot about the local history from her and people who stays here.

Booker is my fourth student and his name matches his nature very much. He is such a book worm. you can say he is a living encyclopedia. He has golden hair and chubby cheeks with green eyes. He is the dreamer of the class . He wishes to be a writer . so he is always physically present in class but not mentally. He is not super social and loves to spend most of his time in library.

Hunter is my fifth student and he loves animals and wants to be an explorer like you see in discovery channels. He knows a lot about animals and their behavior. He is tall boy in the class with black hairs and golden eyes . He has many pets at home and he hates coming school leaving them alone . June is my sixth student . she is the beauty of the class. Her skin is fair , with long black hairs and her violet eyes are something to look at . she loves to dance . she has performed on many local functions. She just wants to get back to her house and practice her dance . she doesn't like to attended school very much. Like I said they all are very creative but they all hates school. It took me sometime to make them my friend but now we all are good and I hope this is going to be the best batch of the year. They not only will be educated but also will be best human begin . I have high hopes from them. They are the future of the society not a joke.

I stayed back for some work in the school and when I came out everyone has already left for home . so I closed the door of my class and headed out . As I came out of the building I saw her again standing near the gate. I almost forgot about the lady who sits near the gate of asylum but today here she is standing in front of my school gate. What is she doing here ? Is she following me ? Why am I all alone ? God help. Be brave don't let her see you are scared of her.

" Hello. I think our first meeting was bit wearied so let me introduce myself I am Elizabeth . V. Hills . Nice to meet you Maya Sharma . " she said in a sweet voice. She is in a black gown and wearing a tilted hat .

" How you known my name ? " I asked her with a almost shaky voice. Girl come on she is a human not a ghost. Why are you terrified ? She laughed and told " I wasn't talking with you.... I mean it was you only but I though you are my best friend Maya Singh and when you didn't replied I knew you were scared...so I joked a bit. I know the ongoing rumor about me so I joked a little....hope you don't mind. " she said and right now I want to die.

" I hope I didn't scared you much . My neighbor's daughter told me you are Maya as well. Well , I can't stop my curiosity so I must ask You thought I was a ghost didn't you ?" She asked and now I want a giant bat to come down and take me with it.

" NO ...no mam ….." I tried to lie but her expression said she is not buying it so I told the truth. " sorry I am new here and got little confused. Please don't mind...I was indeed scared a little. " I confessed to her and she laughed and told " That's okay. " oh ! She is so sweet.

We talked some more she wanted me to home tutor her daughter as she is sick and can't come school. I agreed and will start from tomorrow. She gave me her address and gracefully walked away. See it was that simple which I have complicated. I should stop watching ghost stories or I will be crazy . But why she sits near the asylum. Well I just have to find out myself. 

Chapter 3 

Stop " I shouted and woke up from my dream. I saw the same dream for sixth time now. Its such a horrible dream. I am still shaking. Why I see this particular dream everyday? .

I saw one man he was shouting " Aidez moi ......aides moi......laisse moi partir ......Je ne suis pas folle ( help me...help me. Let me go .I am not mad . )" he was shouting on his top voice. His eyes contain fear as three white coat doctor were trying to drag him inside the mental asylum. The doctors faces were hazy and the face of the man is covered with bandage only his eyes are visible. He kept repeating the same lines. One young girl full in black sobbing heavily as a big man whose face I never saw was dragging her back towards his car. 

She was struggling to get herself free from him but he didn't let her go. He puts her in the car and then pushes the car down the hill. While the car goes down I see small hands trying to break the glass and him laughing really hard. Before the car crashes I wake up. Why I see it I don't know but I see it for a month now. Who is that man ? Who is that lady ? Why he wants to kill them ? Is there any child in the car ? Why was that man being dragged so mercilessly ? Oh I am so confused. 

Well now as I am awake I should get ready for the day. Its only five in the morning. The sun didn't rise properly on the sky , its bit dark and foggy . The birds are Chippering in the tree tops. Its just a dream land for me. I made a cup of tea for me and sat by the window to enjoy the morning.

Its really quite and peaceful not like the morning I use to face few years ago. Those days were terrifying. Days when I was Hennah Sylvester. I was working in Misses gingers house and her house was hell in the morning. She was having ginger hair , butter eyes and a nasty mouth. Her husband was a grumpy fellow who never liked anything and use to shout all day. She was having five kids and still expecting another one. That was the noisiest house ever. 

FLASH BACK

" Hennah where is my morning tea ?" Shouted Mrs. ginger.

" Hennah is my bathing water ready ? " shouted Mr. ginger.

" Hennah where is my breakfast ? " shouted Edwin ginger , the first son of Mr. ginger who is always in rush.

" Hennah where is my lunch ….hurry up. Where is my salad ? …..And why is my lunch box still empty ? Mom Hennah is spoiled just for you ." shouted Lizzy ginger second ginger who is in college.

" Hennah where is my face mask? …why is my bag not packed ? …omg she is so slow . " shouted Emily Ginger , third ginger who is in class 12 . she is a spoiled brat . 

Only 2 people working in the kitchen me and Mr. Bob. He does the heavy work and I cook , clean , pack bags , walk the dog and care for the little baby. 

Pots boiling, tea getting ready , lunch boxes getting packed , face packs getting ready all the morning rush. I took the tray and handed Mrs. ginger her tea , set the breakfast table With bread , jam , ham ,omelets , boiled eggs , fresh salads , boiled peas , orange juice and coffee ( and no the table is not set for giants its for ginger family ) .

Then came a terrible howl . well the dog is not in the pain the fourth ginger of the house is hauling ..I mean crying.

" That bi**h ( no he doesn't get scolding for swearing ) didn't do my homework.... how will I go school ? She didn't write my assignment too and didn't help me wear my dress and most horrible thing …she didn't tie my shoe laces I had to do it on my own " shouted Albert ginger yes I do all the stuff's for him . That big spoiled pig of the family. 

" My poor baby . you take the day off. What a terrible morning for my sweetheart. " said Mrs. Ginger. I feel like to slap him in the face.

" Hennah go feed the baby " said Mrs. ginger. Yes the fifth Ginner . The little girl whom I love like anything. I saw her from infancy and now a year old . Her name is angel. Her little head filled with blond hair and blue eyes always relaxes me. She was the only comfort of my life. And maybe I am too selfish...… But they deserved it. 

End of flash back

" Maya mam your breakfast is ready. " said my maid . I smiled and nodded . I have to go Madam Elizabeth's house for tutoring her daughter. 

After breakfast I headed out to go villa 24 . Its really far from my recent house. Its a really old house with rusty gate ,old fashion design, and a pretty garden . As I walked near the door it opened and came out Mrs. Elizabeth. " I was waiting for you come inside. Never mind my maids are usually off duty on Saturday and Sunday. I was standing near the window waiting for you. " how sweet....nearly gave me a heart attack. 

She lead me inside her house. Big house with really old fashion interior. " My daughter is suffering from xeroderma pigmentosum . so she can't go out of the villa in the sun. Please help her. Poor child. She loves to study but her diseases is a huge problem in her way. " well I don't know much about the disease but yeah let's see. " Its my job to help students earn a good education. So don't worry. " I said with a smile. 

A little girl wearing a white frock came in, she has violet eyes and golden doll like hairs all curled up nicely in a pony tail. Elizabeth introduced her with me. Her name is Rosy , when she headed about me her eyes lit up like see saw something outstanding. She came to me and told " you are my teacher. You came from outside town. How is it ? Where is it ? Did you have many friends? " something tells me I will have a wonderful time here. 

Chapter 4 

Lovely now we can take a little break. " rosy looks tired. So I gave the poor girl sometimes to rest and recover herself. I am teaching her for a week now. Sweet girl always curious about everything. I feel so sorry sometimes that she can't go out and play in the field like other children's and live a Happy life. 

" Maya please join me for a cup of tea. " Elizabeth brought the tea tray with lots of snacks. She placed the tray on the table and sweetly asked " How much sugar you refer dear ? " the tray looks nice. We often sit and talk . she is a lively woman but still I don't know why she sits near the asylum everyday. 

" Two spoons of sugar please. " I said . she handed me my tea. Her manner, her talking, her way of living always makes me think that she is from Victorian era. So elegant, so ladylike, so sweet. 

" I am really glad that you took the trouble of coming here everyday and teach Rosy. I must say that little thing is so happy to finally have someone with whom she can talk so openly. " she said with a smile. 

" That's my work Elizabeth. You don't ever have to thank me for this. " she doesn't like any other name. She just prefers Elizabeth. So I call her that. 

" Maya you said you once worked on Mrs. gingers house but dear why you worked as maid when you have such good education?" No one has ever asked me that question. I think once I mentioned about my life style but never thought she will remember it so perfectly. But this is a part of life which I like to hide from others , too raw wound to share with others I tell you. 

" Jobs were really less and I needed to earn money to support my sisters education. So I took the first job I got in my sight. " I told her trying to keep my voice straight but I am really not comfortable talking about this topic. I get really nervous , and the way she talks she scares the day light of my soul every time. 

"What happened to the gingers after you left the job ? Are you still in contact with them ? " she asked while taking a graceful sip of her tea. She doesn't know but I really hate this topic but I can't run away from it forever can I ? Its really hard to keep myself calm while talking about those gingers. 

" After I left the house I heard from news that all the gingers except Mr. and Mrs. ginger died in a terrible fire accident. News says that the curtains of the house caught fire from the candle burning nearby and burned down the whole place. All ginger children's were in the house... they somehow got locked inside and they never came out. " I told her with much difficulty but I did it. she looks horrified by the news. 

" Oo poor Mr. and Mrs. ginger lost six kids in the fire. That must be terrifying.... Pray tell me what happened to her ?" Her voice contained sympathy for Mrs. ginger . And I hate it when someone shows sympathy to her but that's okay she doesn't know about her. 

" No the sixth one was not born yet . I heard that after she lost her family, she came to know that Mr. Ginger has cheated on her and got arrested for his illegal business. People also say that Mrs. gingers sixth child was dead. The child never saw the light of the day. Unable to withstand so much misery she lost her sense and presently admitted in a mental asylum. " I told her and what an irony even she sits in front of mental asylum everyday. But that doesn't matter , the only thing that matters in my story right now is that's how ginger family came to an end. 

" Oo what a tragic end of a family. Poor woman too much pain she has to bear. " said Elizabeth with tears in her long dark eyes. Really that was a tragic end.....a ending that I saw with my eyes. That ended Hennah Sylvester forever.... that fire burned down ginger family has also burned down my Hannah Sylvester with it. A character which was build for that house and got burned down with that house … Why that's a long story. 

I changed the subject and we talked for half an hour. We talked about fashion , we talked about music and about many more things , I love this little talks between us. When I got ready to come back home and like everyday she came near the door to see me off .

" Hennah... I mean Maya you are very brave if I were in your place I couldn't have done what you did...Jhanvi got justice. Her Soul will be in peace. And when Angel ginger with little Alvin will come to visit you don't forget to present them to me. I would love to see them." She said with a grin and then went inside without a word. 

I stood frozen on the door for five minutes. How does she knows ? I secret that I hide from the world. The secret which I bored alone in my heart... Which was meant to be in the dark how it came in the light of the day? How ?

With that thought I walked towards my home lost in my thoughts. Elizabeth has unlocked a big secret of my life , something which I closed in my hearts diary. But she has pulled my secret in the wide day light and I am not comfortable with it. 

I went in my room closed the door and pulled my covered with shaken hand I pulled my meds bottle and pooped some medicines in my mouth to stop the shaking. I took a big therapy and that can't fail me now. 

I sat still for sometimes and than the shaking stopped. ' Hennah Sylvester' she will be buried she shouldn't take over me again. I can't deal with her again...not again. 

 

- Ongoing -