I was shocked as the letter engulfed me into the deep ocean of despair. And put me in a situation where I was unable to move even an inch of my body. The info of that letter was not even able to make a single strand of my wife`s hair still. This expression of my wife made me suspicious. " Woah! I am shocked. You really are damn brave. You didn`t even blink an eye after hearing
" . " So, what else do you expect?" my wife replied casually. Her calmness made my heartbeat faster not with love but fear and suspicion. "I know a worm of suspicion has already entered your mind. So, just spit it out whatever`s there in that mind of yours" my wife asked directly.
Her question made the atmosphere more tense and vivid. May it can`t just be a coincidence for a renowned news channel to dig into a case which was closed many years ago.
More importantly, they could have just gathered the info and published it. But they are interested more in taking the interview of the person who was investigating it. My name was also never disclosed anywhere then how?
"If you are ready to tell me everything then, I don`t have any question. Just tell me everything". "I don`t have enough energy or desire to tell you everything in detail but I can tell you the important details" my wife replied.
But her reply was more like a gift which was wrapped into the foil of mystery and hesitation. I wanted to unwrap it but it wasn`t the correct time. This plan was not made up by my mind but was whispered by her eyes to my ears." Ok, my lady please go ahead " I replied to her.
"The important part is that there is a friend of mine whose husband works at THE HEADLINE HUB. From her I got to know that the channel was investigating about a long-closed case closed named THE DEAD MOUNTAIN. She told me that her husband is the one who`s in the job of digging it out. So, I just advised her that my husband knows a lot about it. That`s all".
"Is it this much only my lady? then may I have the honour to ask you a question" I asked. "Oh! come on go with it " she replied like a queen so that she could hide the resentment and grief which was engulfing her. " Then how did they get to know that I was the one who was investigating it?" her face which was surrounded with sorrow yet was smiling suddenly, changed.
She was shocked and scared. The smile which was stretched across on her face withdrew itself out and handed its work over to silence and despair. "What ?? how did they get to know that? Give me that letter" she asked and jumped off the sofa. "It`s here in my pocket" I replied to her with a smile.
She snatched that letter off my hand " How can you smile in such a tensed situation". " Am I the one who invited it " I asked mockingly." Oh! shut up I didn`t knew it would go this far" she replied furiously and started to read that letter.
Knock! Knock! " Oh God! another knock. Did you tell someone else also about it or is it a letter from any other news channel?". " Shut up! and open the gate it might be Leo with Noella". "Ooo you mean the root cause all problems" " how do you know that Noella`s husband works there?" my wife asked shockingly. "Just a guess may be right" I answered it with clenched eyelids and a bright smile. I escorted towards the door.
"Coming...." I opened the gate there was my tiger ready to leap on me and that chatterbox Noella Winsten. "Good evening, Mr. Anderson, I feel delighted after meeting you". "My apologises Mrs. Winsten, that my son was not able to keep you as delighted as me "."Oh, Mrs. Anderson you are always like this " in the middle of this my son jumped on me and instructed me to escort him to my wife.
" At first, we should see off Mrs. Winsten don`t you think my son". "Not right now Mr. Anderson, I have got something to discuss with Bella " Mrs. Winsten replied.
Then rushed towards my wife held her hands and dragged her in the room nearby. And closed the door so hurriedly and harshly that the sound of the door shut ringed in my ears. Me and my son had an eye contact and with a mutual understanding we decided to eavesdrop their chat. We were about to initiate this plan of ours then suddenly, the door opened.
Our feet stopped, my wife came out and said " I would cut off your ears if anyone of you dared to eavesdrop our chat" sweetly with a warning tone and dangerous smile. Again, we made an eye contact and mutual decided to diverge our ways towards the kitchen to cook and eat something eatable.
I went towards the fridge and took out some eggs, some stale rice of last night, some carrots, one capsicum, a plenty of peas, two tomatoes, and 2 peeled onions. I put the gas on fire put a frying pan on it. And then, sliced all those veggies. After some time, I spilled some mustard oil, flakes of cumin seeds, sliced chillies into the pan. " Daddy, that aroma has awakened the mouses in my tummy. Make it quickly" I patted his head and went back to my work.
Then, put the rice into pan fried it along with it I fried some chicken legs mixed with spices. when both of them were ready I took them off the gas and put another pan on the gas and spilled some olive oil in it. Then, I cracked an egg and poured it into the pan when it started sizzling it`s aroma filled the room. I made three Japanese styled omelets. And then I prepared a soup by using soya sauce and vinegar along with sliced veggies and fried soya chunks. Everything was ready to be plated.
INSIDE THE ROOM DURING THIS TIME -:
(BOTH of them went towards the table where two chairs were placed on either side a round table having a vase of roses and some cookies above it. It was placed near a big window which was decorated climber plants which was open and cool breeze of air was coming inside through it making that room cool and calm. Both of them took their seats.)
"Now, spit what do you want to talk about" Bella asked. "Did your husband received a letter?" Noella asked." I don`t have idea of it " Bella replied." If don`t you know then may be the letter has not arrived yet. Ok then, listen to me carefully. A letter might arrive at your doorstep from THE HEADLINE HUB. And you have to compel your husband to give the interview that is requested in that letter".
" How am I supposed to convince him? He would never do that" Bella replied. "Well, that`s what you are supposed to think. Isn`t this why this work has been assigned to you? "." But he will never agree" she replied. She was terrified as she trapped in the shackles of helplessness and obsession.
"Well, we are not given any choice. It`s our one and only option. I beg you or else both of us will be ruined. My husband will lose his job too". " But I might lose my family " Bella replied sniffing, holding tears in her eyes.
" No, you won`t no one will get to know that it is your husband my husband said that they will keep his identity confidential". "And what about his voice won`t they recognise it? What about the place won`t they get to know where we are staying?" Bella asked. "No, everything would either be fake or hidden, and we will use voice changer so, that the voice won't be the same". " But it`s still dangerous ".
Mrs. Winsten became furious and stood up " I have said what I was supposed to say. Now the choice is all yours ". She went towards the door and opened it fiercely. (Bella switched her tense expression into happy and satisfied one. Both of them came out of the room)
"OH! your chatting is done look the dinner`s ready too". "My goodness! Mr. Anderson you can cook. The aroma is very pleasant makes me wanna have a bite. " Sure, why not? please have some I would love to have your reviews and remarks" I replied. " No, I won`t be able to do that as, I am getting late. I also need to prepare the dinner for tonight. BYY". " OH! that`s sad yet have safe journey" I escorted her to the door but from the back it felt like someone was digging a hole in my back.
" Mommy seems like daddy`s in love with Aunt Noella" "I think you are right baby" Bella replied. "What nonsense are you spouting you brat? Why would I fall in love with that chatterbox? I only have eyes from my wifey" " Ooo, really" Bella smiled and we had our dinner.
"Now go and wash the dishes my hubby" my wife said "As, my lady orders". Then I got busy in washing the dishes. Leo went to bed, and she was sitting on the sofa in the balcony.
"How am I supposed to convince him to go for that interview? Just by reading that letter a chill ran down his spines and if I ask him to go there it would be a great chaos. What should I do? What if he goes furious or grows suspicious. If he started investigating it, the truth will come out in no time. That would be bad news damn bad news. Should I tell him everything all by myself? What if I lose him again? If I lose him this time, I might lose him forever. Mom, please help me. I don`t want my family to fall apart like yours".
(All these thoughts were moving in Bella`s mind and then suddenly, the phone ringed. It made her feel a mini heart attack. When she checked it was an unknown number. Then, she picked it up.)
"Hello, who`s there? Hello?". "Honey, who is on the call? " I asked. "No one is replying. What kind of calls do even get? There is no one answering". "May be the internet is not coming. Let me see it".
(Clankkkkkkkkk! A noise of shattering came from Leo`s) "Mommy! Daddy!" Leo shouted. (Both of them ran hurriedly towards his room.)