16 THE MOONLIGHT

I was preparing dinner while Rick was busy in his computer doing something and my princess was finishing her homework in her room. While dinner was cooking I took out all groceries that we had bought and started to arrange them at their respective places. After completing my cooking and arranging I went straight to Rick.

“Can you water plants...?” I asked him standing at the door.

“Hmm...? I’m busy.” He said still busy in his computer. “They will not die if didn’t get water for one day.” He added.

I rolled my eyes on him and head upstairs to her. She was closing her books and making her bag.

“hey.” I said taking her in my arms.

“I finished my homework mommy.” She said kissing me on my cheek.

“Good girl.” I said creasing her cheeks.

I sat her beside me on her bed taking her hands in mine.

“Can you show me your drawing book...? I want to see how good you are doing these days.” I said to her.

“Sure mommy.” She giggled running toward her school bag. “I have made new drawings. Let me show you.” I smiled at her. She opened her school bag and took out a large book. She put it in my lap and pulled a small chair to sit across me. I opened the book. But she took it from my hands and shows me her drawing.

“Wow. You are getting good at this.” I praise her as she gives a proud look to me. “Where is that portrait of yours that you have made...with red dress...?” I asked her flipping pages if the book.

“Last week I had an argument with Samuel. And he tore it from my book and threw in bin.”’ She said pouting with her big puppy eyes.

“Oh. Why don’t you tell me before dear?” I asked her closing the book. “Did he hurt you...?” I inquired.

“No mommy. You know I’m a strong girl just like wonder women.” She said swiftly standing up from her chair and taking her toy sword from her play area and swinging it in air. I laughed at her and pulled her toward me and tickled her. She tries to escape from me as I kissed her on her forehead.

“Do you know who is having that drawing...?” I asked her in a funny manner.

“Maybe garbage man.” She said looking at me.

“What...?” I was blank with her answer.

“Yes. As he threw that in dustbin then it should be with garbage man who pick garbage from school.” She said pulling book from bed and packing it in her school bag.

“Smart girl.” I said with a faint smile.

“She made a v sign at me. “Mommy I’m hungry.” She said looking at me.

“Let’s go then dinner is ready.” I said getting up from her bed.

“Ya.” She yelled running out of her room.

“Careful girl.” I said following her.

When we reach to the dining area Rick was already sitting there with his blunt, expressionless face. She sat next to her father and tells him about her homework. I sat everything on the table and sat across them after serving. We all ate with a little talk with our girl. After we finish our dinner Rick stood up and went straight to bedroom.

“Rick.” I yelled but he didn’t answer. I looked at my princess she was still eating. I took dishes to the sink and started cleaning. She finished her supper and took her dished to me.

“Oh. I can take them.” I said taking dished from her hands.

“She looked at me and said “I’m a grown up girl now mommy. I can help you.”

“Wow. Grown up. Hmm. Surely you are.” I said smiling at her comment. She nodded proudly crossing her arms on her chest. I laughed at her action. She gave me a bright eye to eye smile.

“What can I do for you mommy?” she asked me.

“Do you really want to help me sweetie...?” I asked her looking at her. She nodded in a yes. “Okay. Can you sit there at the table for sometime so that I can finish cleaning here, I don’t like to be alone...?” she just moved toward the table and hopped on the chair. I can’t help but smile at her. It took me half hour to clean. Throughout the cleaning she asked me several questions and answered her.

“Okay. Now it’s time for bed.” I said patting her head. She nodded getting off the chair and moving upstairs holding my fingers.

“Go brush your teeth and then you will be going to bed. She went to bathroom while I made her bed. After few moments she came out showing me her teeth.

“Eeee...look mommy they are white as snow.” She said still showing me her small dentitions.

“Ha-ha...” I laughed at her cupping her face in my hands. “Snow!” I took her in her bed.

“Yes mommy.” She said lying in her bed as I cover her with her blanket adjusting the temperature of air conditioner.

“Good night mommy.” She said pecking me on my cheek.

“Good night my girl.” I said with a smile.

I get out of her room dimming the light of her room and came down stairs. I checked the front door if it was locked or not. It was locked. Then I head toward bedroom. Rick was already sleeping. It was so strange that he was asleep so early. He never sleeps before ten and it was only nine thirty. I let out a sigh and shuffled to bathroom. I took a quick shower and came out quickly. I took my medicine and applied moisturiser on my body. I look at Rick through the mirror of dressing table. His eyes were closed and lips were parted a little. I got up and move to the bed. I put off the light of the room and rested my head on the pillow. I closed my eyes in order to gain some sleep. But dark thoughts keep on intruding my mind and taking away my peace. Finally I got up from the bed. I looked at the glass window that was toward garden. I was able to see the moon. Some moonlight was passing through the glass of the window and was spreading on the floor of room giving a milky touch. I got up and moved toward window. I looked at the moon. It was looking still.

I get out of the room and went to kitchen and drink some water. Then I head toward the living room and pulled the drawer of the table. I put my hand inside and took out the paper bag with that drawing. I looked at that for a moment and moved outside to the garden. I sat on the chair and put the paper bag on the table. The garden was filled with melancholic moonlight.

Again I looked at the moon. It was still like before. Suddenly I felt my eyes getting warm. A tear rolled down my cheek and landed on my hand on my lap. I looked at that tear drop. For some moments I remain still. Then I wiped my tears and took the paper bag in my hands. I take out the drawing at looked at it. The three side of the paper were plain in cut but one side was still ruffled as if somebody has torn that in a hurry. It has impressions of crumbled folding on this like someone was angry when he or she took hands over it. The colour of paper was not so clear but it was stained and rugged at places. The colour of the drawing was also faded as if it was not in a good condition. I looked at the drawing of that little girl on that paper. She was wearing red dress with white shoes, black hairs tied in a ponytail. She was holding a yellow flower probably lily in one hand and a small cute little purse in her other hand as if she was ready to go out. She was smiling eye to eye with her snow white smile and black round eyes. After having a good look at that paper drawing I put it on table and hold the paper bag in other hand. I flipped it several times to fine a name or address on it but there was nothing. I put the paper bag back on the table leaning back in the chair. Again I looked at moon.

“Why are you so still...?” I asked moon as if it will reply.

“Are you sad...?” again I questioned. “What should I do...?” and I looked away from the moon closing my eyes. I remain as it is for moments and asked again “do you know about what she has done to me and others...?”

“What? No.” I answered myself on behalf of the moon.

“Don’t you want to know...?” I said looking back at moon.