“Who said I am lying? I’m not. I was sleeping and just woke up,” Mary lied, hugging Priya tighter.
She wanted to take it all in, to feel everything, as if it were the real Priya, not the one she had been hallucinating about.
She had been struggling to sleep, and when she did force herself, all she kept having were delusions of Priya being there. She could hear her voice, and it was suffocating.
“If your meeting is done, maybe we should go inside, sit, and talk,” Priyank, who had kept his mouth shut until now, finally decided to speak.
Feeling agitated because they hadn’t even acknowledged his presence, and the kids were giving him glares with their small eyes.
They didn’t know he could pull their eyeballs out if he wanted; it would be better if they didn’t behave out of line.
He entertained the thought, finding it amusing, but suppressed it. He had promised Priya he wouldn’t harm anyone, and he never went back on his word.
Priya sighed hearing his words , she broke the hug.”Let’s go inside”
Mary’s expression softened, concern evident in her eyes. “ofcourse”
Priya forced a smile as Mary held her hand and started walking, as she walked inside the orphanage, with Priyank following her.
Feeling Mary’s grip tighten around her, Priya could sense her desperation. She knew Mary was struggling, but she didn’t want to push her further.
‘I missed everything so much,’ Priya mumbled to herself, casting a glance at Priyank. She could feel his eyes on them, his presence looming over them like a dark cloud.
As they entered the living room. Mary and Priya sat down on the couch while Priyank settled into a chair opposite them.
“So, how are you, old lady?” Priyank asked, his tone bordering on sarcasm.
Mary remained silent, her eyes shifting between Priya and Priyank.
She didn’t know how to respond. Priyank’s question felt more like a veiled threat than genuine concern. It was clear he didn’t care for her, and she certainly didn’t care for him either.
“I asked something?” Priyank repeated, his tone more insistent this time.
“I’m fine, thanks for asking,” Mary replied politely, masking her true feelings.
In the past, she would have felt furious in his presence, but now she felt resigned. Priya was in his hands, and she had to accept that she was going to live with him. She couldn’t afford to make things difficult for Priya, no matter how much she wanted to.
Mary’s response seemed to irk Priyank, though he tried to maintain a calm demeanour.
“You don’t look good though,” Priyank’s words were laced with a subtle threat.
Mary forced a smile, not wanting to escalate the situation. “Everything’s fine, Priyank. Just a bit tired, that’s all.”
Priya watched the exchange, her heart sinking with each passing moment. She knew Priyank’s true nature, and she could see the tension brewing between him and Mary.
“I’ll make some tea, let’s go Mother” Priya suggested, hoping to diffuse the situation.
Priyank glanced at Priya, feeling a sense of satisfaction knowing she would make tea for him. It would be the first time he would have something made by her hands, and he couldn’t bring himself to refuse, despite his inner resistance.
Then he looked back at Mary before finally nodding. “Fine, but don’t take too long,” he warned.
Mary and Priya both stood up and walked toward the kitchen. As soon as they entered inside, Priya turned to Mary, concern etched on her face.
“Are you okay, Mary?” Priya asked.
Mary forced a reassuring smile. “I’m fine, Priya. Don’t worry about me.”
Priya studied Mary’s expression, sensing her discomfort. “You don’t seem fine. Are you sure everything’s okay?”
Mary hesitated for a moment before nodding. “I’m just tired, Priya. It’s been a long day.”
Priya wasn’t convinced, but she didn’t push further. Instead, she began preparing the tea, trying to focus on the task at hand.
As they worked in silence, Priya couldn’t shake off the feeling of unease. She knew Mary was hiding something, and she feared what Priyank might do if he sensed any hint of rebellion.
After a few minutes, the tea was ready, and Priya poured it into cups, handing one to Mary.
“Thank you, Priya,” Mary said, her voice soft.
Priya smiled, but her mind was racing with worry. She knew they were running out of time.
“Mother, you seem so sad. Did Priyank do something to make you throw me out?” Priya’s voice was tinged with hope, longing for reassurance that it wasn’t Mary who had made the decision but Priyank who had forced her.
This was their last meeting, and Priya didn’t want it tainted with bad memories. She couldn’t talk about running away, but she could seek the truth.
Mary looked at Priya with sad eyes, unsure of how to respond. Of course, it couldn’t have been her who pushed Priya out; it was Priyank who had forced her hand.
But she hesitated, unsure if she should reveal the truth.
“I’m already so hurt, Mother. Please don’t lie. You always say liars are bad, and I know my mother could never be bad,” Priya pleaded, desperation shining in her eyes.
Mary sighed, her heart heavy with guilt. “Priya, I…” She trailed off, struggling to find the right words.
Priya’s eyes filled with tears, her disappointment palpable. “Please, Mother, I need to know the truth. I can’t bear to think you pushed me.”
Mary’s resolve wavered as she saw the pain in Priya’s eyes. “I didn’t want to, Priya,” she finally confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. “Priyank… he threatened me. He said he would hurt you, hurt the children if I didn’t comply.”
Priya’s heart sank as the truth hit her. She had suspected as much, but hearing it confirmed only deepened her anguish.
Tears welled up in Mary’s eyes as she reached out to comfort her daughter. “I’m so sorry, Priya. I never wanted any of this to happen.”
“It’s me who should be hurt because of everything, and here you are crying like a kid,” Priya jokes, her own eyes teary. She didn’t want to see her mother cry. She never wanted to see tears in her mother’s eyes; that always made her feel happy and at peace.
“I know, I hurt you a lot. I can never forgive myself for that.”