3 The unbelievable words.

I ask what's was in the painting, who was that child, and how my mom was fit and slim during her pregnancy. She didn't respond,  she sobbed and slept. I realized that I blasted out a very big mystery which was painful for my granny. I was sad, I went on the deck to refresh myself.

 No one was there, I could see a lantern glowing from the upper room. It was Alfred, who was painting. I couldn't see what he was painting, but it could be understood that he was painting with a deep focus.

It was very cold on the deck, so, I went downstairs and slept. I thought the whole night, who was that child? and why my granny was angry, am I adopted, but how? My face was similar to my mom's and even the behavior. What was beyond the painting?

The next day, my granny woke up me, " Good morning darling,  get up. Breakfast is ready ",

She was back in her mood.

" Good morning! ", I yawned and went to the bathroom. I refresh myself and went back to eat my breakfast. She was acting like nothing had happened last night. I decided not to talk about it again. After we ate our breakfast, she saw me a painting of a negroid  baby girl.

" Here, do you know who she is? ", she asked.

I looked carefully, but I have never seen a black negroid baby, " No, I haven't ", I said

" Yeah I know because a butterfly can't see its beautiful wings ", she said.

" What do you mean granny ? ", I was surprised.

" Sorry sweetheart. We have kept a secret which we never told you nor to anyone but only our family knows about it. We never reveal this secret to anyone in fear we will lose you ", 

" Please tell me the truth granny ", I begged

She cried and then started to smile and rubbed her tears, " The truth is in the painting that you saw last night. I had a grandson, which was your elder brother. He was 4 years old. I paint my family, I also added myself later.  We were on the way to the USA, we were almost about to enter the ship. Then a group of robbers started to fire and kill civilians that were in the port. In that incident... your brother was killed but finally, British troops came and arrested the robbers. Many people were killed, around 600. Your mom was crying and then someone started to pull her skirts, it was a baby girl crying, her mom was killed, lying near the baby. Your mom adopted that baby, but as the baby was totally different from us, we were in fear that the baby will understand that she was adopted and will leave us. An American scientist who was our neighbor had discovered a way to change the DNA and genes, and it was successful and the baby turn into a white caucasian baby. The baby was looked as real as if it was a real daughter of your mom. During that experiment, a lot of money was burned and the neighbor had also charged for living. It cost so much that we were removed from the rich class. Unfortunately, the scientist died in the American revolutionary war when he return to America in 1780. His discovery couldn't survive. That baby girl was this and this was you... ", she cried.

I was surprised, my mom and dad spend such a huge amount of money so that I would stay with them and they turn into poor from the rich class, and now I am leaving them. I am a selfish person? I judge them before I know them. I cried.

" And what's about the marriage, why did they force me to marry him, if they want me to stay with them ", I asked after rubbing my tears.

" I don't know the reason I definitely agree they are taking a wrong decision. Once your mom had told her that she would only let her marry a man who will stay with them, in your house. I think this could also be a reason. I support you for this turn of your life, just because I wanted your talent to be known by the world. I don't think you will be allowed to paint after marrying him, you will hardly get time to do your passion, I wanted you to be a famous painter before you marry. Your fiancé doesn't like painting. ", she wept.

 I cried and hugged, " Let's  return to our homeland  ",

" But what about your dreams? ", she asked

" I don't want my dreams, their sacrifice will always be greater than my passion ", I cried.

" Ok, but at least stay with me till we reach the USA ", she requested.

" What do you mean granny? won't  you return home.",

" No, dear! ",

" But why ? ", I asked

" I had already spent my whole life taking care of my family, I had never been able to follow my passion. I want to spend the rest of my life with my childhood friend ", she sniffed and smiled.

" Who is your childhood friend? ",

" Painting ", She answered.

" But I can't leave you! ", I cried.

" Oh don't ruin your life for an old lady, after a few years anyway I will leave this world ", she croaked and shakes my hair.

Then someone knocked on the door.

" It might be the portrait customer ",  my granny said and went to open the door. I washed my face and tapped on it with soft towels.

" Oh you, gentleman, come in ", my granny said and gave him a chair.

" Thank you aunty ", he said

" Oh granny is better than aunty ", she smirked. We all laughed.

I gathered my material and was ready to paint.

" Are you ready? ", I asked.

" Always ", he smirked and I began to paint again.

" Honey, I am going to play some cards with my friends, take care of the room ",

" Ok "

" Honey, is this your nickname? ", he asked

" Yeah, some sort of... but I have no permanent nickname there are many names, like... ",

" Like sweety, sweetheart right ", he said

" How did you know? ",

" Through your face ",

" But how? ",

" Because your face is sweet so, obviously your heart will be sweet ", he said

" Oh, I am not a foolish girl. Those names are common, so you know that ",

He chuckled. 

" Oh don't move ", I said

" Ok, sorry ",

It was noon and finally, I completed.

" Yay! I finally ate the elephant... I have completed ",

" Let me see... Woah, I look sexy in the painting ", the man exclaimed.

"Any way you look sexy in real life too ", I smirked.

" Really ", he beamed.

" Of course, didn't you see your face in the mirror ",

" I think my eyesight is wrong... Anyway, how much would it cost? ",

" This is my first portrait, so I will not take money from you. It's was a free service but instead of money I want you to take care of my first portrait ",

" Thank you but I can't take it for free. At least please accept my gift ", He said

" What gift? ",

" There's a surprise for you, would you please come to my room, please ", he requested.

I agree because he seems like a good man and I trusted him since yesterday. He was friendly, I liked him.

" Ok, sure ",

" Thank you ", he said and we both went to his room before he open the door, he request, " Please close your eyes ",

" Ok ",

I could hear the sound of opening the door, I was excited.

" Please move your step ",

" Ok ",

" One, two, three ", you may open your eye ", he said.

I open my eyes, I was surprised. There was a beautiful and very realistic full-body portrait of me and the decoration near the painting just amazed me.

" It means you were painting me, last night on such a freezing night ",

" How did you know I was painting, were you looking at me ",

" I saw you painting last night, through this window ", I point to the window.

" Anna, I want to say something ",

" Yes ",

" I will say to you later ", he giggled and he said, " Do you have spare time to hang out with me? ",

" I think, I am free but I doubt do you have spare time? ",

" It's Sunday, I don't work on Sunday and Saturday, and anyway I am on my vacation ", he said

" Oh, good ", we went out of the room.

" Are you a painter or a businessman? ", I asked.

" Do I look like a businessman? ", he chuckled.

" Obviously, the coats and all those staffs... Sorry I don't know the names I am poor in fashion  ", I laughed

"  Actually, my father is a businessman, he wanted me to manage his business after his dead. But my inner soul want to paint and I just love to paint, but my dad doesn't want me to be a painter, he says that doesn't suit my rank, but I know every work is important but I don't want to disobey my dad, so during the long business voyage, I use to paint, these moments are really special for me ".

I was impressed by his words." Never give up ", I cheered.

" But how could you memorize my face in only 2 days ", I asked.

" Actually, I have been following you for almost 2 weeks since you were on your journey to Scotland. No I wasn't just following you just so that I could know about you but I was also on my journey to Scotland. I again met you at the port. Yeah, I started to follow you when I again meet you at this ship an,d I started to paint that portrait. It took me a week ", his face turns red.

" Why were you following me? I mean what was special in me, I am not even that beautiful ", I asked.

" Ahh… leave the topic. it's not that important", he closed the topic

We hang out the whole day, we ate lunch in the ship's canteen.

It was evening, we both were watching the sunset.

" Well I think I should need to leave now ", I said

" Wait a minute ", he stammered

" Yes ", I whispered.

" It's now or never, I want to sleep peacefully tonight. I want to say something which is kind of weird, but what to do it's not my work ",

" Sorry, I couldn't get what you are saying ",

" I love you, please let me be a part of your life ", he knelt down and propose to me.

I would definitely agree if I wasn't engaged, for the first time a stranger had impressed me, but taking such a decision in a second would be an foolish idea.

" Well, I think you will need to sleep in thoughts tonight too", I whispered and I ran away.