Posted:
If you want to be PMed for further updates, please add: WalkingLife.PM to your buddy list.
Chapter 4 - Amelia
Chapter 4 - Amelia
Madhuri had brought through 2 new dresses for Geet to wear. They were very similar to the ones she was used to wearing - straight & long, down to the ankles with a simple modest neckline & long sleeves.
Changing into the dark grey one, Geet braided her thick hair into a plait & pulled on her boots.
She went downstairs, to be greeted by the delicious waft of baking bread.
Following the smell, she was led into the kitchen which was gigantic. Madhuri stood beside the oven, wiping her forehead as she took the bread out which had risen completely.
Geet cleared her throat nervously, & Madhuri turned around, smiling.
"Miss Geet. Please, be seated in the dining room. It's right next door."
She did as she was told & walked into the lavish dining room.
The table which was adorned with about 10 or so generous seats sat in the middle of the cream, light room. The sun shone through the huge window.
Geet was so busy in admiring the plain yet elegant room that the small tap of feet startled her.
She jumped in surprise when her eyes rested on a small girl, sat on the far chair of one side of the table as she played with a coin.
She had an olive complexion, with masses of black curly hair. She wore a black frilly dress too, & was tapping her feet against the leg of the table unconsciously.
Geet pulled the chair which was opposite the girl out, & she looked up at Geet, looking surprised.
Geet smiled & sat down.
The girl resumed her mindless spinning of the coin.
"I'm Geet."
Her statement was met with silence.
Madhuri arrived, carrying the bread in a large plate. Two servants followed, one of them with a tray of tea & teacups & the other with jam & marmalade.
"Do you want jam or marmalade with your bread?" Madhuri asked the girl as she sat at the head of the table, cutting a slice.
The girl pointed at the jam jar, & Madhuri proceeded to cut her a slice. She cut two slices for Geet, put them on a plate & pushed it towards her.
"Eat," Madhuri ordered. "You need some food down you. Spread whatever you like on the slices."
Geet was about to reach for the marmalade when the girl stuck the jam jar out to her.
"It's nicer," she said in her small, sweet voice. "The marmalade tastes sour."
Geet took the jam jar & spread it on, cautiously taking a bite. The girl was right; the jam was delightfully sweet.
"Isn't it nice?" the girl asked, a small smile on her face as she looked at Geet.
"Much nicer," Geet replied, smiling back.
"She's taken a liking to you," Madhuri said as she poured out the cups of tea. "I knew she would."
"What's your name?" Geet asked the little girl who was enjoying her breakfast.
"Amelia," she said after swallowing a bite.
"What a beautiful name. How old are you?"
"I'm-"
A sudden gust of wind blew into the dining room as the door was thrust open & in walked Maan, his head held high as he had a serious look on his face. Amelia dropped her bread & was about to get up when Madhuri held her hand & sat her back down, smiling reassuringly at her.
He sat at the far end of the table, away from everyone else. Geet looked at Amelia, about to initiate conversation when she noticed she had stopped eating & her gaze was fixed down.
Curious to her sudden behaviour, Geet looked at Madhuri questioningly who refused to acknowledge her look, in order to prevent anything being said in front of Maan, who had now been brought a newspaper & a separate cup of tea from one of the other servants.
"Would you like some tea, Amelia?" Geet asked suddenly, in an attempt to break the silence a little.
Maan looked up from his newspaper in the direction of the charming voice.
Miss Geet, she had been called by Madhuri, was now looking at Amelia with a soft expression on her face. He noticed that on her right wrist, she wore a black thread.
He decided to avert his gaze from her & concentrate on his newspaper, but found he no longer knew what he was reading as he was more interested in hearing what Geet had to say.
Amelia suddenly stood up & rushed out of the dining room. Madhuri called after her once but it was of no use; she had left.
"Is she always this reclusive?" Geet asked.
"I'm afraid so," Madhuri said quietly, shooting a glance at Maan across the far end of the table.
Changing into the dark grey one, Geet braided her thick hair into a plait & pulled on her boots.
She went downstairs, to be greeted by the delicious waft of baking bread.
Following the smell, she was led into the kitchen which was gigantic. Madhuri stood beside the oven, wiping her forehead as she took the bread out which had risen completely.
Geet cleared her throat nervously, & Madhuri turned around, smiling.
"Miss Geet. Please, be seated in the dining room. It's right next door."
She did as she was told & walked into the lavish dining room.
The table which was adorned with about 10 or so generous seats sat in the middle of the cream, light room. The sun shone through the huge window.
Geet was so busy in admiring the plain yet elegant room that the small tap of feet startled her.
She jumped in surprise when her eyes rested on a small girl, sat on the far chair of one side of the table as she played with a coin.
She had an olive complexion, with masses of black curly hair. She wore a black frilly dress too, & was tapping her feet against the leg of the table unconsciously.
Geet pulled the chair which was opposite the girl out, & she looked up at Geet, looking surprised.
Geet smiled & sat down.
The girl resumed her mindless spinning of the coin.
"I'm Geet."
Her statement was met with silence.
Madhuri arrived, carrying the bread in a large plate. Two servants followed, one of them with a tray of tea & teacups & the other with jam & marmalade.
"Do you want jam or marmalade with your bread?" Madhuri asked the girl as she sat at the head of the table, cutting a slice.
The girl pointed at the jam jar, & Madhuri proceeded to cut her a slice. She cut two slices for Geet, put them on a plate & pushed it towards her.
"Eat," Madhuri ordered. "You need some food down you. Spread whatever you like on the slices."
Geet was about to reach for the marmalade when the girl stuck the jam jar out to her.
"It's nicer," she said in her small, sweet voice. "The marmalade tastes sour."
Geet took the jam jar & spread it on, cautiously taking a bite. The girl was right; the jam was delightfully sweet.
"Isn't it nice?" the girl asked, a small smile on her face as she looked at Geet.
"Much nicer," Geet replied, smiling back.
"She's taken a liking to you," Madhuri said as she poured out the cups of tea. "I knew she would."
"What's your name?" Geet asked the little girl who was enjoying her breakfast.
"Amelia," she said after swallowing a bite.
"What a beautiful name. How old are you?"
"I'm-"
A sudden gust of wind blew into the dining room as the door was thrust open & in walked Maan, his head held high as he had a serious look on his face. Amelia dropped her bread & was about to get up when Madhuri held her hand & sat her back down, smiling reassuringly at her.
He sat at the far end of the table, away from everyone else. Geet looked at Amelia, about to initiate conversation when she noticed she had stopped eating & her gaze was fixed down.
Curious to her sudden behaviour, Geet looked at Madhuri questioningly who refused to acknowledge her look, in order to prevent anything being said in front of Maan, who had now been brought a newspaper & a separate cup of tea from one of the other servants.
"Would you like some tea, Amelia?" Geet asked suddenly, in an attempt to break the silence a little.
Maan looked up from his newspaper in the direction of the charming voice.
Miss Geet, she had been called by Madhuri, was now looking at Amelia with a soft expression on her face. He noticed that on her right wrist, she wore a black thread.
He decided to avert his gaze from her & concentrate on his newspaper, but found he no longer knew what he was reading as he was more interested in hearing what Geet had to say.
Amelia suddenly stood up & rushed out of the dining room. Madhuri called after her once but it was of no use; she had left.
"Is she always this reclusive?" Geet asked.
"I'm afraid so," Madhuri said quietly, shooting a glance at Maan across the far end of the table.
________________________________
Geet walked up the staircase & was about to go into her room to retrieve a book when she was stopped by Amelia sat on the stairs, who was holding a small teddy bear in her hand.
"What happened at breakfast?" Geet asked.
"Do you like my teddy bear? He's called Sooty."
"He's adorable. But you must be hungry, you didn't finish off your bread."
"Sooty talks to me. No one else believes me when I say that, but you believe me, right Miss Geet?"
Geet smiled at her innocence. She noticed Amelia had greenish-blue eyes, which were wide & doe shaped.
"Yes, I believe you."
"Good!" Amelia ran off to the other side of the corridor, giggling.
"Amelia, don't run too fast!" Geet called as she hurried after her.
Maan was in his room, writing a letter to an associate when he heard the sound of laughter, & then her voice.
He stopped writing & got up, walking to his door but was distracted when he saw Geet from one of his windows which overlooked the corridor.
She was holding Amelia's hand as they both had their backs turned to him, looking out of one of the bay windows which had a view of the front garden. Amelia then let go of her hand, turned around & took both of her hands, insisting that she spun her around in a circle.
Complying her demands, he watched as Geet spun her around as she had asked, being careful not to go too fast in case she fell.
Amelia was laughing whole heartedly, but that wasn't what held his gaze captive. It was the smile which appeared on Geet's face, which lit up her every simplistic feature & was enough to take any man's breath away.
Then, they suddenly disappeared. Vexed with the fact that she had left his sight, he stepped out of his room & watched as Amelia led Geet downstairs, still holding her hand as she continued talking away.
________________________________
"What happened at breakfast?" Geet asked.
"Do you like my teddy bear? He's called Sooty."
"He's adorable. But you must be hungry, you didn't finish off your bread."
"Sooty talks to me. No one else believes me when I say that, but you believe me, right Miss Geet?"
Geet smiled at her innocence. She noticed Amelia had greenish-blue eyes, which were wide & doe shaped.
"Yes, I believe you."
"Good!" Amelia ran off to the other side of the corridor, giggling.
"Amelia, don't run too fast!" Geet called as she hurried after her.
Maan was in his room, writing a letter to an associate when he heard the sound of laughter, & then her voice.
He stopped writing & got up, walking to his door but was distracted when he saw Geet from one of his windows which overlooked the corridor.
She was holding Amelia's hand as they both had their backs turned to him, looking out of one of the bay windows which had a view of the front garden. Amelia then let go of her hand, turned around & took both of her hands, insisting that she spun her around in a circle.
Complying her demands, he watched as Geet spun her around as she had asked, being careful not to go too fast in case she fell.
Amelia was laughing whole heartedly, but that wasn't what held his gaze captive. It was the smile which appeared on Geet's face, which lit up her every simplistic feature & was enough to take any man's breath away.
Then, they suddenly disappeared. Vexed with the fact that she had left his sight, he stepped out of his room & watched as Amelia led Geet downstairs, still holding her hand as she continued talking away.
________________________________
"How long has Amelia been like this?"
Geet stood beside Madhuri as she cooked the evening meal.
"Ever since she was 4 years old."
"Is there anything that might trigger it?"
"Trigger what exactly?"
"Her sudden reclusiveness, like I witnessed at breakfast this morning."
Madhuri's hand stiffened over the wooden spoon. "Miss Geet, I would really rather prefer if you did not bring this up."
"But-"
"It's just part of her behaviour. She is a mentally challenged child. I do not mean to be rude, dear, but I must get on with preparing the meal."
Geet took that as her cue to leave. She walked down the corridor & into the entrance hall, making her way outside for some fresh air.
"We all have a past."
The sudden cold breath on her neck made Geet stop in her tracks & turn to face Maan, who towered before her, his head cocked to the side as he looked at her with a vacant expression on his face.
"I'm sorry?"
"You have a past. I can see it in your eyes."
Geet suddenly felt uncomfortable & looked down, gulping loudly. How much did he know about her?
"There is nothing to be afraid of. I am not intending to expose your cobwebs. Rather, I find you quite intriguing."
She was floored, then surprised, then annoyed.
"I do not understand what you are trying to say, sir, so I think it's best if I resume my work and-"
"I am not finished. Perhaps you did not hear me when I said I find you intriguing."
"I heard perfectly clearly."
"And?"
"Well, I do not know what you expect my reaction to be."
Geet thought she saw a ghost of a smile on Maan's face. "Let me assure you, in due time, you will come to know what I expect of your reactions."
He turned on his heel & walked away, his long jacket flowing with him in his confident & composed walk. Geet was simply left staring at his retreating figure, feeling thoroughly confused.
Geet stood beside Madhuri as she cooked the evening meal.
"Ever since she was 4 years old."
"Is there anything that might trigger it?"
"Trigger what exactly?"
"Her sudden reclusiveness, like I witnessed at breakfast this morning."
Madhuri's hand stiffened over the wooden spoon. "Miss Geet, I would really rather prefer if you did not bring this up."
"But-"
"It's just part of her behaviour. She is a mentally challenged child. I do not mean to be rude, dear, but I must get on with preparing the meal."
Geet took that as her cue to leave. She walked down the corridor & into the entrance hall, making her way outside for some fresh air.
"We all have a past."
The sudden cold breath on her neck made Geet stop in her tracks & turn to face Maan, who towered before her, his head cocked to the side as he looked at her with a vacant expression on his face.
"I'm sorry?"
"You have a past. I can see it in your eyes."
Geet suddenly felt uncomfortable & looked down, gulping loudly. How much did he know about her?
"There is nothing to be afraid of. I am not intending to expose your cobwebs. Rather, I find you quite intriguing."
She was floored, then surprised, then annoyed.
"I do not understand what you are trying to say, sir, so I think it's best if I resume my work and-"
"I am not finished. Perhaps you did not hear me when I said I find you intriguing."
"I heard perfectly clearly."
"And?"
"Well, I do not know what you expect my reaction to be."
Geet thought she saw a ghost of a smile on Maan's face. "Let me assure you, in due time, you will come to know what I expect of your reactions."
He turned on his heel & walked away, his long jacket flowing with him in his confident & composed walk. Geet was simply left staring at his retreating figure, feeling thoroughly confused.
________________________________
Precap: "They know each other well. Very well."
________________________________
A special shoutout to geetmaan.123 who sent me a pm saying how much she loved the fanfic. That was very sweet of you, thankyou.
I really don't know what to make of that chapter.
I know I included a lot about Amelia but I needed to build her character up in this, she's an important part of the fanfic.
Please do comment & let me know what you think. Lamba comments would be lovely.
My updates will be less frequent because I'm going back to college as of Monday & also have driving lessons too. So bear with me, I will try to update once a week if I can.
The like button is your friend, he would very much like it if you pressed him.
A special shoutout to geetmaan.123 who sent me a pm saying how much she loved the fanfic. That was very sweet of you, thankyou.
I really don't know what to make of that chapter.
I know I included a lot about Amelia but I needed to build her character up in this, she's an important part of the fanfic.
Please do comment & let me know what you think. Lamba comments would be lovely.
My updates will be less frequent because I'm going back to college as of Monday & also have driving lessons too. So bear with me, I will try to update once a week if I can.
The like button is your friend, he would very much like it if you pressed him.
Cricket
Real Estate
Cryptocurrency
Financial markets and global economy
Book Talk
193