Caught In the Fog..

Bella need not go for petty works anymore.. They were already rich and she was given all her time to write her stories.. Even though the attitude of her family did not change even a tinge towards her, she was no more asked to do any of the housework.. She was always left free, but it had started to hurt her even more. There was complete isolation. They were ready to give Bella a beautiful new room but she insisted on staying in her old storeroom and nobody questioned her why.

Bella had just woken up from a long night sleep. It was still early morning and she noticed Dona was still in bed and her snoring was audible even in the storeroom. Dona had finished her school and she was staying at home lazily all day. Annie had decided to send her to medical school and make her a doctor but Dona was always interested in dance and music. She was throwing a tantrum at joining an Art school and the whole house was in dead silence for the past few days over this dispute..

Bella washed her face and went to the hall. There he saw her Aunt and Uncle were seriously discussing something.. She could clearly read her lips since they were so close. They never minded Bella around since they always thought she couldn't hear anything, they just considered she was not existing..

" I wish to buy our old house, Jacob, now that we have money." Bella could clearly make out lip movements of her aunt.

" You don't understand Annie, it's not our house anymore. We have sold it and probably it would be a factory or resort by now.. it was such a beautiful place. If you want we can buy a new house and shift off from this old house." Jacob seemed tired after repeating the same thing over and again to his wife. Annie seemed to be adamant and persisted to continue, "Still we could try. Those walls might have scribblings that we left out when we were kids.. The cool breeze and the rose garden, I wish I could go back Jacob, to that time."

"Drop out this crazy idea, Annie, its not possible. The person who bought it himself is in no need to sell it. It was you yourself who wanted to sell that house, just bury off those old memories, Annie. You will only hurt yourself recollecting those.."

Jacob opened the door and set out for his morning walk. He feared that the ageing and stress had really changed his Annie a lot.. She was not strong anymore and she demanded everything like a child.. He looked crossed and sad at the same time and paced extremely wide steps for a stroll..

Bella realised her Aunt might be talking about their old home. She was too little when they shifted and she don't remember anything about their old home at all. She had seen her aunt say it once that the house was passed on to her Aunt and her mother when their parents passed away at a young age. They had grown up together in a big house where a distant relative visited them occasionally to take care of them. 'She might be really attached to that house.' Bella thought.

Bella was not used to sitting home doing nothing. She rushed to the kitchen to prepare the breakfast. Even though her Aunt did not ask her to do anything nowadays, Bella was so accustomed to work. After her kitchen work, she simply set out for a walk.. It was fogging out heavily and was really dark outside.

Bella never knew about a weather broadcast as she couldn't hear a radio, hence she was unaware of the warning that the weather was going to get worst in the afternoon. She was never used to having the breakfast and walked out of the house into the road. She felt it strange that it was pitch black even at this late morning and rubbed her hands together since it was chilling outside.

She found Aunt Susy trying to lift the heavy load into her truck. She was a poor old lady who worked hard to earn her bread. Though they never conversed, the old lady had found a strange bond with this girl even at their first meet. The girl was ready to do any job at that time for even a little money and was a helping hand to the old lady. Recently the girl had stopped coming and Susy was having a really hard time all alone.

Bella rushed to Susy and aided a hand at lifting the load. Susy smiled to thank her. She knew that the young girl don't like to talk and preferred to do her work silently. So she quickly loaded up her truck full with the help of Bella. Susy went inside her store and packed up a meal. She handed it over to Bella and asked her to eat. She placed a few crushed old notes into Bella's hands and told her to rush home as the climate was going to get really bad. The old lady rushed in to clean her store. Few customers were coming and she was the only one there to handle. Bella looked at the notes. She was in no need of money since her book got published but she did not have anything in her hand right now to offer the old lady either. She placed the money inside the old torn out purse that the lady had left on the counter. It was empty and Bella felt that the poor old lady was rich at heart.

Bella resumed her walk.. The darkness was increasing and there was no sign of sun rise.. She wondered whether the old lady was right about the bad weather. She decided to go back home. The time was already afternoon. She felt the thick fog blurring her eyesight. She could barely see the road she was crossing.

She suddenly saw a bright light flashing upon her eyes, it was a car headlight. It was too late before she could turn around. With a loud thud, she fell on the ground. She could feel something hot dripping down from her forehead. She placed her hands on her head to feel the wetness and was shocked to see it drenched in fresh thick blood. Her vision was getting blurred. She saw a tall, young man coming out of the car and rushing to her. He lifted her effortlessly and hurried towards the door. Her head was stuck close to his chest. She could feel his heart pounding heavily. She felt it so peaceful cuddling onto his arms, he seemed too familiar and warm. She gently closed her eyes. She could feel someone shaking her vigorously, she was feeling piercing pain over her head and she wanted to scream out aloud but she felt calm inside unaware of the physical pain. She was once again into that beautiful dream… She could see her father and mother lying on that beautiful garden.. There were rose petals all around them and there were plants creeping and rounding the huge tree which was providing them shade. They looked beautiful holding hands,

" I want our Bella to become a doctor." Juliet whispered in Lawrence's ears caressing her baby bump.. Lawrence placed his hand beneath hers..

" I think she heard you.." winked Lawrence feeling the baby kick..