Chapter 2

RAZ'S POV

It was past seven in the evening when the car entered the mansion. 'ROY MANSION" were the words embedded in the middle of a huge peach-colored block with lily flowers embedded on either side.

As soon as I got down, two people came running, helped me with luggage, and followed me inside the mansion.

"Yeah, she is here" I heard a lady's voice when a lady opened the door. I couldn't see her face, she was standing with her back to mine with the phone in her hands.

While she was busy with a phone call I took the chance to look around. Beautiful paintings were hung around the wall. I am not a big admirer of interior designing but two wooden racks with books and movie cassettes from classics to award-winning collections were precisely arranged in chronological order. A white cozy couch was placed in the corner of the room with a coffee table and laptop. Moving to the other side collection of photos that includes my father, my mother, and two unknown ladies. A common face in all photos I recognized one of the unknown ladies whose daughter I am going to babysit. Lots of photos were taken during various periods of filmmaking sets. There were her marriage photos and a few of the baby's childhood photos. One particular picture caught my attention, all the ladies were dressed in white with my mom in the middle, her hair was decorated with flowers wearing my grandmother's tiara, my dad dressed in a tux and with a white shirt underneath his hairs gelled back and both holding each other with the wedding ring on both their hands. They must be very rejoiced when it was taken, both of the ladies with my mother dressed similarly as they are the bridesmaid with two handsome looking men behind them who I have no idea. Among all these photos the unknown face intrigued me, something about her made me feel that she wasn't lively. People go through dark phases this might be one of hers and at the same time, she didn't want to miss out on their ceremony. They must be close.

" Did you recognize them?" A voice sounded behind me.

"Yeah, my parents. They look young and so much in love" I chuckled.

"Well, they are one of the iconic couples of history" She smiled.

"Look at you Raz, you are grown so big. I held you after minutes of your birth. I was with your mother during your birth, your father was away shooting. We were so excited. You are the very first child in our gang, we all promised to be your godparents" She chuckled and continued.

"That was one hell of a decade" She laughed.

"Well, who is this lady?"I pointed to the other bridesmaid beside her.

"She.., she is one of our friends" She stammered. A pained feeling passed through her face.

We remained in awkward silence.

"Come in, I'll show you around and meet my daughter" She let me in.

The mansion was huge, with two swimming pools, a well-manicured garden with roses and lilies everywhere, and a sling swing hanging in the large red maple tree. Walls were either white or rose gold except for the baby's room which was pink with illustrations of day and night painted in the wall. She informed me about a library upstairs. Finally, she showed me the room I am going to stay in.

"So where is the baby?" it's time to face the devil.

" Yeah, let me bring her" She left me in the room. I took time to look around the room. Cozy and good.

Patience

Patience

"What if the baby kicks me?" I thought.

'Patience ' I sighed.

"Here we go Raza this is Ruhi, Ruhi, she is Raza" She brought the baby.

A little pink-cheeked,grey-eyed, curly-haired baby appeared wearing a warm pink night suit with clouds on it. She isn't a baby, she is a kid, around 4year old. That's easy. I smiled to myself.

"She is pretty tired now. She had dinner. She is half asleep. Meanwhile, you take time to make yourself comfortable." I nodded.

I don't have to change diapers.

I don't have to feed her with my hands.

I don't have to bathe her.

Finally, I can breathe.

No matter how much kids annoy me I just love them when they are in night suits.

I forwarded my hand to hold her.

Then there was the reality to my fantasies.

A slap on the cheek from a little girl brought back all my senses.

" Baby! No, Raz is like your sister. She is here to take care of you. " She laughed.

Why wouldn't she? I was the one who got slapped.

As expected she refused but Sarah made sure I get her in my arms without crying.

"I think we need time to be friends" I smiled nervously, she continues to be annoyed and slowly gave in and snuggled in my arms.

An unsure smile swept across her face soon replaced by worry.

"Don't worry Mrs. Patrick, I will take good care of her and I will cherish her as her, my sister. You can trust me and concentrate on your work" I squeezed her hands.

Before arriving here, I was angry at her for leaving a 3 and 1/2 yr girl alone with a 20-year-old teenager. But this seems odd, I feel like I knew her though I haven't met her before, she makes me feel beloved and belonging to her. She believes that I am a good and trustworthy person to take care of her child. Above all, I am a woman who is willing to help two talented women to pursue their dreams. I don't care if they succeed because they want to do it and they can. This step isn't going to be easy for both Mrs. Patrick and my mother. In fact, after seeing, Mrs. Patrick I wonder how she managed all these days as a single mother, it is indeed that nothing seems tough unless you began to manage your household.

When I looked back, she was holding back her tears and a sob leaves her mouth. I try to engulf her in a warm supportive hug. Holding me, she patted my head.

"Just call me Sarah, your mother used to call me so" She spoke after we stopped being emotional.

The flight was by 11:00 PM so she decided to leave now. She took Ruhi to bed. Kissing her forehead she took one of her photographs with Ruhi and walked out with me.

We walked back outside, Sarah informed the cook and cleaning maid.

She informed me that I can take Ruhi out to the nearby park with a maid's aid for an hour a day. She told me that she got a huge library placed upstairs and free access to the internet to surf time while Ruhi is asleep. She couldn't hold back her tears as she was explaining to me about little things and habits about Ruhi which I should know. She was feeling terrible to leave her with me. I spoke to her with few assuring words. Holding herself she bid us goodbye.

" It's okay Sarah, We will be fine, we will face time with you every day " She left with a final goodbye hug and a smile.

I woke up from sleep five minutes before my alarm. I had barely slept. New surroundings don't bring me a good sleep. I was thinking either about Abhir or Ruhi.

I could never take him out of my system. I needed the vacation to get over him, but I am worried about his state after such an incident.

I sighed in frustration.

Absence breeds fondness.

I went to Ruhi's room to find her sleeping peacefully guarded by soft pink pillows. Room walls were covered with posters of cinderella, frozen and obviously, barbie dolls arranged in a separate doll cupboard. These arrangements feel exactly like my old room.

I closed the door not to disturb her and when she wakes, she will whine and it will not end well. Only go knows how will she react when she wakes up and finds out that the new lady here is not a guest but she is the one her mom left to look after her.

I walked upstairs towards the library which Sarah mentioned to find a book. As soon as I opened the door I was welcomed with a tall and huge number of bookcases with glass doors every door designed with the same pattern of flowers. I passed through different cases that stood before an old brown chiffonier. It was antique. Letters were engraved horizontally on every door but half-broken, some broken completely leaving only marks. I got hold of the rusted handle to pull open but ended in vain. Years of shutdown made it difficult to open the chiffonier. I didn't give up. I tried several times as there was no change of its state, but I pulled it towards me. Deciding to let it go and find any other book, I gave it a last try and the chiffonier was dragged and a heard a squeal while I sensed something ran outside from behind.

I didn't scream but was terrified. Advancing slowly, I looked behind the chiffonier. With dust and spiders crawling on their webs, I found a three-layered shelf. The upper two were empty but the lower one had a bag and few clothes. I took the bag outside, dusting it off I placed it on the table and all the ants and cockroaches freaked me out. Rummaging through the bag I found some scarfs, caps, rings, empty medicine bottles, pens, and finally edge torn, dusted, damaged diary dating 19 years back.