What is all this happening? Why is all this even happening? What am I missing? I was again locked behind the bars of confusion, hesitation and helplessness. I felt as if the floor below my feet vanished. I didn`t knew what to do next. Could it be that Leo was lying or maybe he was either confused or manipulated?
At this moment of life, I was only left with some assumptions which were able to do nothing. They were just twisting and tightening all the knots which were formed in my mind. I felt that I was stuck. I was lost within myself in a deserted place.
My mind and heart were not working in coordination. My mind advised me to keep an eye on Bella and warned me from trusting her blindly in future. She is up to something that is for neither of us.
But my heart was revolting this thought of mine. As my heart was sure that Bella would never do something that would be harmful for family.
Deep down my mind also agreed with this belief my heart. Yet this situation, these circumstances left all three of us helpless. And compelled us to make amendment to this thought of ours.
At the end, I decided to look into it again the next morning. I put that Tuberose in a book kept it on the bookshelf which was there few inches beside that table on left side. And went to back to the bed.
Just a few minutes after lying beside Leo I felt asleep as I was tired both mentally and physically.
Later when I opened my eyes it was already morning. My wife and son were already gone. The house silent. As silent as the moment before the truth comes out. I came off the bed went towards the bathroom to freshen up.
When I came out of the bathroom the first thing which grabbed my attention was that book kept in that bookshelf waiting for someone to open it. So, I decided to be the one.
As soon as I opened it, I was shocked the only evidence I had. The base of all suspicions- Tuberose was missing.
I flipped the whole book, shook it up and down but nothing came out. It felt as if that flower was devoured by that book.
At first, I thought it might have fallen somewhere in the room.
So, I checked each and every corner of my room behind the curtains, below the table, beside the drawer kept beside our bed. But at end the end all I was able to find was failure and frustration.
I got so furious that I kicked the chair which was beside table, and it crashed down the ground. The silence after its crash was louder than the sound of its crash.
Suddenly, I heard a knock on the main gate. "Again, a knock" I exclaimed with anger. I rushed towards door. When I opened the door, I got know it was Leo. He was standing holding lots of grocery items. " Daddy come on! hold them fast" Leo appealed.
I took those things and went towards the kitchen to arrange them in their respective places.
Leo followed me and sat on the dining table. Just in front of me and kept staring me.
" What is it? Spill the beans " I asked as it was a gesture, he used to give me when there was something going on in his mind.
" Daddy how did you get that I have got something to say?" Leo asked. " Because I am your daddy" I replied.
"Now tell me". "Daddy when you left me there on the table near the stage. I saw an uncle at first, I thought he was you. But when he turned, he wasn't you". "So, what`s so special about it?" I asked.
"Daddy he was wearing exactly same shirt as yours and he was tall just like you" Leo replied.
" So, why are you telling me this?". "Because at that moment I thought that moment both of you want get rid of me" Leo replied and made an emotional face.
"What! puff. hahahah... why did you think so?" I asked Leo. "Because whenever one of you left for any work the other one left me alone" Leo replied sobbing. "But when did mommy left you alone".
Till that time Bella came at the doorstep and shouted, " Who did this to my Stella? "
After hearing this a chill ran down our spines as we were the ones who were guilty. " Go and complete your assignment as your school will reopen shortly. I will take care of this matter". After hearing this he jumped off the table and rushed towards his room. And I went towards the gate.
" What happened honey?". " Both of you did this right I am not going to spare you both this time" she said and took the watering can lying near us. She picked it up and pointed it towards like a weapon.
Then, the chase began. She was after me like warrior waving her weapon- a bit different from other. " Please forgive me honey. Next time I won`t let that happen" I appealed to my wife.
After hearing this my wife stood still. Other than the strands of her hair every body part froze. " Hahahaha.... Next time, I won`t let that happen. Aren`t these the same words you used last time. No, actually last 10 times and you want me to believe these words. Do you think I am that dumb?" my wife said with an evil smile.
"It was just a plant. You will do this to me just because of that plant" I asked. "That`s what you think but for me they were like my children. I nurtured them so that they can bloom but none of you let this happen. At first my Lily, then Petunia, Orchid...." My wife replied. "We didn`t do intentionally and wait! you made a list" I asked. "Oh! well yeah, I did" she replied with a gesture like a psychopath.
Suddenly, a car arrived at our main gate. The door opened and a pion from my office came out. "Why did you come didn`t I tell today is my day off?".
Generally, my Office sends a car to pick me up. As I am one of the nine gems of my workspace. "No, sir I didn`t forget it. Yet I am here to pick you up because there`s an emergency" he replied. " What happened?" I asked. "Sir, you will get to know once you get there ".
I glanced at my wife. Till this time, she dropped the can and was looking at me nervously. I rushed towards the house to get ready for my office. Within a few minutes I got ready went int the car. When I settled down inside the driver started the car and we went towards the office.
As soon as I reached the office, the atmosphere there was already tensed. " Sir, you are invited to the meeting where the board of director have assembled" that pion told me. I rushed towards that cabin.
When I reached the doorstep, I realised that other than me everyone was there. I pushed the gate open, each eyeball there rolled and locked onto me. As if there was something that they wanted to whisper through those eyes. Yet I was unable to understand.
I went towards my sit and as soon as I was about to take my seat, I heard a voice. "Don`t you think you should take the permission of the host of this meeting before taking your seat?".
I looked up to see whose voice was that. There, I noticed that the voice was coming from a person sitting on the chair of Chairperson. But that chair was facing the glass instead of us. So, I was not able to see the face.
"Sorry sir, I didn`t get what you mean? And may I have the honour to hear your introduction" I replied.
"Sure, but at first I would like to educate you a bit" that man replied. And suddenly, that chair turned 360 degrees. The chair creaked, revealing that stranger still I was not able to see his face.
He was wearing a mask- a black one with a golden pattern on it of dragon on it. His left ear lobe was pierced in which he was wearing diamond stud- a small earring worn by men. Some of his hair strands were also dyed golden.
May be an another chrysophilist- the one who loves golden colour. Yet he was tall and had a good physique.
"What type of education?" I asked. "May be about manners, ethics and more importantly about punctuality. I guess, as you are 15 mins late" he replied. "Sir, it happened because of traffic" that pion said intervening the meeting.
"Oh! so, you mean to say that we don`t suffer due to traffic" that man asked. Not a single word jumped off the tongue of anyone. Everyone was quiet. "But sir, it was Aiden sir`s day off" that pion replied. "So, what? Should I award him for coming to the meeting? As today was his day off, yet he showed up" that man shouted " Aren`t you one of the nine gems Mr. Aiden? So, you might be knowing that position comes with a great responsibility. And responsibility doesn`t get off your shoulder when you have a day off".
" Sorry sir for being late and not taking your permission to sit". "Yeah, that is the thing. Always respect your seniors and more importantly, when that senior is your Boss".
What! my boss. When did all this happen?