As we reached there, I noticed that someone was already waiting there for me. "Hello sir, I am Richard Menon from The Headline Hub. If you are not busy, I would like to have a minute with you" that man said with bright smile and hand extend towards me for a handshake.
I denied him and told him to get lost. As I had no interest in listening his nonsense and any desire to waste that valuable time which I wanted to enjoy with my family.
(On his way back Richard a small piece of paper to Bella when Aiden was busy settling Leo in the car.)
"Come on honey, let's go. we don`t have time to waste". She sat in the car but when I turned and saw her, she seemed a bit tensed. " You are ok, right" I asked her. " Yeah! I am all good. Let`s go" she replied wearing a mask hiding her stress. But I didn`t investigated any further and did as I was instructed.
As soon as we arrived my son jumped off the car and stood amazed near the entry gate. My wife ran after him to catch and in this mean time I accelerated my car towards the parking lot. After I reached there. I noticed that it was overcrowded and decided to park the car in the mall parking just beside that parking. It was also filled but not overcrowded as parking there was not free of cost, but I had plenty of cash with me.
After parking my car, I paid the fees. And escorted towards the fair but on my way back I noticed someone`s back. And I was shocked after realising that it was Bella, on opposite roadside. She was talking to someone standing in front of a flower shop, but I was not able to see that person whom she was talking to. As he or she was standing right in front of her.
More shockingly, I noticed that Leo was not with her. I froze on the footpath unable to move trying to figure out what she was talking. But her voice was low and that stranger was not even moving a bit so, that I could notice his posture. From this far I could only predict that he had broad shoulders and was wearing a black long overcoat above.
I decided to rush towards her but as soon as I took my first step. Suddenly, my phone ringed it was Bella`s but she was standing right in front of and was not even moving her finger.
I picked up that call it was Leo on the other side " Daddy, where are you we are waiting for you in cafeteria". "Is mommy there with you?" I asked. " No, she is standing in the queue of collecting food we ordered some". " Can you see her?" I asked " Let me check. Umm... yah! I can see her". "What! are you sure Leo?" I asked him shockingly "Yes, it is Mumma. Now come back fast ok".
After hearing this I was confused, my heart was throbbing and when I looked back, there was no one. I ran as fast as I could towards that fair and that damned cafeteria. But an old woman came in my way, just before the main gate of fair and I was about to dash into her, but I stopped. Yet she fell on the ground " sorry young man I was not to see able to see you coming. As my vision has started becoming blurry, with my growing age and I dropped it somewhere here. Help me in finding it". " Ok, I will find it" I replied to her and got engaged in finding her glasses.
After a while I found it lying beside a cycle on the footpath a feet away from her. "Oh! you found it, thank you. Now hand it over to me" I handed the glasses and rushed to towards the cafeteria.
When I reached the cafeteria, my eyeballs started moving frantically in search of my son and wife without even wasting a single minute. My eyes finally found them. They were having Hamburger and were taking sip of milkshake and the drinks they ordered without me. And Leo was right; Bella was sitting just beside him.
May be that was just an illusion or maybe she was someone else. So, I decided to shrug the thought of her being there, off. "Oh! thank God you are here. I thought it would take you an year to park the car and come back" my wife said mockingly. "Yeah! the parking was very overcrowded ". Then we had our meal and prepared the sequence of rides we were about to take.
After deciding it all we rushed towards the rides. We played lots of games like gun shooting, ring throw, goldfish catch, etc. We had a lot of fun but all this time Bella was a bit stressed. We decided to take a break sat on the table near the stage and coincidentally the chief guest The Mayor of our city arrived. "I think it`s time to give a break to the break" "Right daddy but I need to use the washroom. It`s an emergency". " Ok, let`s go " I took my son to the restroom.
10 minutes later-
"Leo, are you done?". "Yes, daddy let`s go" I lifted him up to the sink slab both of us washed our hands. And moved towards the exit but I suddenly realised that I left my handkerchief in the washroom. So, I put Leo on the entrance of washroom and went back to take my hanky. After a while I returned and went towards the stage. But Bella was not on the table. So, I put Leo on the table and ran in search of Bella.
After a while my search was completed as I found her. Again, she talking to someone who was not visible. This time I was determined not to miss that person. But for this there was no need for me to come in light just a bit changes in my angle can help me see that person`s face.
Finally, I saw the face and unexpectedly it was again that chatterbox Noella. "Why? Why is she here? I need to run away before she finds out that I am also here" and turned back to vanish like salt in water.
"Oh! Mr. Anderson where are you going? Please allow me to greet you " and I am caught everything`s over. "Coming Mrs. Weinstein" I replied " why were you hiding there" my wife asked. "Just finding out whether you had any secret lover or not?" I replied. "And what did you find out?" a counter question.
But I decided to answer it smartly. "I am the most handsome Man in the world". "Yes, indeed you are Mr. Anderson" that chatterbox responded. "And how?" my wife asked
" Because with you are not able to find any other". "OH! Mr. Aiden you are very flirty" again that chatter. Don`t know why she is so shy I didn`t even say a word to her. Still look at her words, expression and posture. My wife was hardly able to control her laughter due to that her face became pink. Pink like the plums I was eating in my dream which created an urge to kiss her, inside me. But thanks to that chatter box it was not possible for that time being.
And suddenly Jr. Weinstein came running and dashed into me. "Oh! baby be careful you might hurt Mr. Anderson. Now, come on say sorry to him" Noella ordered " but mummy". " I told you to apologise so apologise right now " she shouted at him." Sorry Mr. Aiden. I didn't do it purposely" . Of course he did that purposely as he never liked me because I am the only one whom Noella makes her son apologise. Otherwise, she is very proud of her son and never admits his mistake.
Bang! " What's that sound? Is that a gunshot?" first time in her life Noella was right it was a gunshot and that sound came from stage's side.
Both of us rushed towards the stage door as Leo was still there. When we reached there I found Leo right under the table on which I left him. We saw that the Mayor was shot. I took Leo in my grasp and ran towards the exit with Bella.
On the entrance of fair, I realised that the car was far ahead, so I gave Leo to Bella. And ran away to get the car. I finally reached it and drove it to them.
While they were sitting, I noticed a stranger with broad shoulder and long black coat similar to the earlier one but this time, I noticed something else also. A scar there was a long scar on his neck which seemed familiar. But I didn't have enough time to think about it. So, after my family settled in the car. I pushed the accelerator and rushed away from that place, but that scar's picture was still roaming in my mind.