Chapter Eleven

' My eyes caught a murky sight of the surroundings. I was in backwoods. " I think I've lost my path." I said.
I heard, Someone is shouting out my name, " Who may do this?" It came again. I've to listen to it attentively. I carefully catch it again. I've heard him before. It's my husband. "Guru, I'm here. Where are you? " I cried out.
" Finally, I found you. " it came from behind me. I zagged to see him.
" Guru. " I said with joy. I ran to him and hugged him tightly.
" Where have you been? I've found you everywhere. You should tell me. " he demanded.
" I don't know, I was sleeping. You scold me. How did I come here? " I replied with confusion.
"Doesn't matter. Now you are here, with me. Nobody can take you away from me. " he said and kissed me.
First I let him. Why am I kissing him? It stuck in my mind. Abrupt, all went black. I was alone again. It was looking like I was watching myself. " How can I watch me? Am I dreaming again? " I questioned myself. I felt my hands wet, I looked at them. it was crimson red color, " What is this? How did it come into my hands?" I spoke loud in horror.
Abruptly, It started to disappear. I jerkily wake up from my sleep. My heart was hammering. I was breathing rapidly. " It was a dream, it was a dream. " I told me.
I tried to recall it. it was a nightmare. There is a secret about me. My momma is the only witness of it. Mostly, My dreams come true, it works as I can go in my future and see what will happen, or it gives me hints of the future. It works on it's own. This dream, Something bad is going to happen. I need to talk to momma. Neither me nor momma know how it happens. I steady my breath and picked up my phone. I dialed momma's number. I ran my gaze in the room. but I freezed. Guru was sitting on the couch and working on his lappy.
I disconnected the call immediately. He didn't notice me yet. Deep down I knew, he had felt me awake, now pretending. Whatever happened last night, I'm not talking to him. My phone started to vibrate. I will talk to momma later, Alone. I ignored it.
Stepping out of the bed, I paced toward the bathroom.
"Good morning. " He said. It startled me.
I didn't reply to him and rushed to the bathroom. I locked it, cause I don't want him inside. I saw my reflection in the mirror. My eyes were swollen and my nose was looking crimson. I brushed my teeth and took a long bathe. I was staring at myself in the mirror. Did I make the wrong choice? Did I choose prison instead of liberty? My big secret is, I can predict, by nightmares and dreams. Momma says, "it is God's gift. " I never believed in God. It feels sometimes Momma is hiding some secrets. I can merely guess, crap! Why is it so difficult? I really need momma now. But I can't visit with such a face. My eyes are looking swollen. I don't wanna share with her, last night's incident.
" Guru must go." I whispered.I rolled up myself in a blue towel, it reminded me of Guru's eyes. I unlocked the door and stepped out of it. Guru was talking on the phone, on my phone.
" Here she is! " He gave me my phone. He didn't run his gaze on my body. It surprised me. But it also showed, I've picked the right decision.
" Your mom. " he said.
" Hi, momma How are you? " I asked, pretending to be happy.
I thought about using another language. But no use, Guru knows both Hindi and Punjabi. I was lost in my thoughts. Momma was repeating my name. I can't tell while he is here. I must give her a hint.
" I'm fine, momma. I had a dream last night. I'm missing you, so I thought. I should call you, your schedule changes everyday. You will be busy, so I disconnected it." I told her in a single breath.
I hope, She will understand it, on the mention of dreams and she did.
" O. . . If you are with someone, disconnect it. Call me later. " she said.
My momma is witty. Nobody can defeat her when it's about mind games. She is a combination of brain and beauty.
" Okay momma, call you later. bye. " I said and disconnected it.
Guru was watching me the whole time. I forgot, I am in a towel. It covered my whole body, except shoulders and legs. I opened my cupboard for a dress.
" Good morning. " he said again.
I picked a blue dress and walked away from it. He grasped my wrist and turned me to face him. He ran his hand in my hair and then touched my face with his hand and cupped my cheek. His second hand was resting on my lower back. I could feel heat from his hands against my skin. My stomach was flipping and skin was tingling under his touch. He bent down, close to me. I could feel his breath on my skin. It numbs my brain. I was gawking at him. He was so close. He bent more, touching his lips mine. He kissed me softly. I tried to pull back. But he didn't allow me. He deepened it. One minute later, he broke the kiss. We both were struggling for breaths, " You didn't answer. " he asked with a smile.
I tried to stabilize my breathing, " Good morning. " I gasped. My body was on fire.
He brought his lips against my forehead, kissed my forehead, " Get dressed, we're going out. " he said.
I started " last night.... " he put his finger on my lips, " Shh" he silenced me and went out of the room, closing it behind.
My eyes were widened. I could still feel him against my lips. I shook my head, " Kiss is also part of his contract." I told myself and killed the butterflies in my stomach.
I was combining my hair. My mind was worried about the rest of the dream. He was kissing me in my dream. This has turned into reality. What about the rest of it? I watched my hands again, I don't wanna remember that. Guru disappeared in the dream. Is it mean.... Is he leaving me.? It was confusing. I could feel some evil going to happen. " Oh My God! help me. I don't wanna part from Guru. Last night, it was my fault. I should not go without informing him. I feel good with him." I could hear my own voice cracking.
Nance came into the room, " Ma'am, Sir wants to have breakfast with you. " Nance broke my thoughts.
" Nance, I'm sorry. I shouldn't lock you in the bathroom. I'm really very sorry. " I said to him and waited for her answer. I was feeling guilty. For my entertainment I put her I'm trouble. He must have scolded her like hell, for not doing her duty.
She smiled, " You don't need to apologize ma'am. I have no ill-will for you. I'm glad you are part of Mr. Browne's life. He really adores and cares for you. " she said.
" Wow.... really!" I winced.
" Can you do me a favor, please?" I asked.
" Yes, sure ma'am. " she responded.
" You don't like my name. I'm totally okay with that. But please don't say me ma'am. I didn't ever allow my students to say me ma'am. " I requested.
"I will try, but can't assure it, when the boss is around. " she said.
I gave her both my thumbs up. I walked along Nance down stairs. There was Nyle on the dining table. Guru was attending his phone call. I sat on the chair, with no noise. I wasn't sure, Nyle will talk to me now!
" Good morning, Shael. " he said with a smile.
I smiled back, " Good morning, bro. " I said. I was relieved as he wasn't judging me whatever happened yesterday.
"Ouchhh.... " he pretended as someone had stabbed him and he was badly in pain.
It perplexed me, " Did I say anything wrong? " I asked.
" Yea!!! you are the first girl in my life, who's using brother for me. There are more beautiful words than brother, like baby, love, darling, sweet heart etcetera, Why brother? " he winked at me.
I wanted to snap, ' because I'm. Your brother's wife. ' I didn't find it intelligent as Guru was a few steps away from me. I didn't glance at him as it would remind me what happened in the room. Nyle was embarrassing me. I don't know what to say. Before I could reply to him. Guru came and strongly punched him on his shoulder.
I could say, it was actual ouch now, " Don't you dare, She is mine. " he snapped.
His 'mine' word stunned me.
" Bro, I was kidding. I know, what is she to you? Ouch! Bro, it's hurting. " he uttered in pain.
" If it was someone else, I would allow you. She ain't used to such manic. Don't do such shit to her. You are supposed to protect her, no such teasing." he said in his warning tone.
" Fine..... " he made a face but smiled instantly.
He was lucky to have a brother like Nyle. I saw my brother after years and got him busy with his work. Nyle's phone rang. "It is mom's video call bro. She wants to talk to both of us. " he said.
"I don't want to reveal my marriage to her. " he said to Nyle.
Guru saunters toward me and caresses my cheek, " We'll be back. You start your breakfast. " he said slowly.
I gave him my genuine smile and started to dig in my food. I was ravenous. I didn't eat last night. I was astounded at his behavior. Was he guilty over his harshness on the last day. Of course! And he thought his kiss would fade away the fear he made me feel on the last day. My body shivers again thinking about it.
I finished my breakfast. None of them showed himself.
' Nance was too busy on her phone. Nobody calls me, huh. I don't have any friends. I'm alone. ' I thought. It felt bad.
" You devastated my life and herself enjoying the luxury." someone said.
I turned and saw Sammie, standing in the center of the Hall. Her appearance drew a smile on my face. I ran to hug her, then stop myself when I remembered her betrayal. I backed my steps immediately. She was looking horrible. There was tangle in her hair, as it hadn't combed. Her eyes were swollen. There was a mark on her arms, as someone had beaten her up.
I closed the distance between us. She had betrayed me, but I never thought anything bad for her. I still wanted to see her glad with her husband, " What happened to you. Who gave you these marks? " I asked her with concern.
She pushed me away from her with her both hands. There was a gun in her one hand.
" What are you doing with this gun? You will hurt someone. " I asked.
She laughed like a crazy person.
"Yes, I'm hurting, but not me. I'm hurting you, love. " She pointed the gun at me.
" Are you crazy? " I didn't show my fear.
She started to cry, " you ruined everything, Gaurav left me because of you, Your husband expelled him and made sure, he could not get a job anywhere. You are the reason, you brat, I will kill you. " she said with hatred and grimaced.
Before I could say her a single letter, make her understand anything. She pulled the trigger of the gun. I felt sharp pressure in my arm and shoulder from the impact of the bullet, as it hit me. Spasm of pain started to spread. I touched it, it brought crimson red blood on my hand, same as I saw in my dream. My ears, I couldn't hear anything except thrumming. "Sammie.." I tried to speak. The searing pain in my arm caught up to me and I sunk to my knees. It felt like someone was stabbing into my left bicep and shoulder. I sank back, letting the pain overwhelm me. Nance came around me, was saying something, I couldn't get it. I couldn't stand the pain anymore, I tried to stand up with the help of Nance, I was stumbling. Someone held me, I hardly raised my eyes to see, I can feel him as always. When he comes close to me. " Guru. " I tried to say. My breath came out through my lips and felt the tension in my guts, I wanted to scream cause of pain. I let out the moan. It was getting blurry. Pain became unbearable and worse. I blinked, but it was still blurry. It's getting dark. It felt like, I'm back in my dream. Then it went dark, as someone switched off the lights.