31 31. Unveiled-II

I was in the class, listening to the lecture with my heavy eyelids, ready to shut at any moment. My mind got attentive when the lecturer mentioned my name.

"Miss. Troustkey." She said.

"Yes." I stood at attention.

Did she notice my sleepy head?

"Go to the principals' office."

"But why?" I asked.

She handed me a little piece of paper on which my name was written with the signature of the principal. I took the paper and went out of the class. Standing in the corridor, I was confused, whether the office was on the left or the right.

I should pay more attention to the directions.

I randomly turned right and reached a room, not the principals' office. Walking back, I went to the left and knocked on the principals' office. He told me to come in and then asked to go to the opposite side where someone came to meet me.

Ah! I went to the right place at first.

I again came back to the room thinking who might it be. Knocked on the door and entered. I was surprised to see him. He came to my university. But why? What does he want now after what he did?

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"I came to talk." He replied.

"I don't want to talk about anything. I know everything about you, brother told me."

"No, you don't." He said. "You only know that he knows." And supplied.

"But-" He cuts me off.

"Levy, just listen to me once." He said calmly and asked me to sit.

I don't know what he wanted to say, after leaving us, betraying mother, what does he want now.

"What you want?" I directly asked him, without turning the conversation anywhere.

"I want my family back." He replied in the same manner.

"The one you left behind."

"I never left behind anyone."

"You did! And you betrayed mother." I don't know whether I should say this, after all, I am the result of that betrayal.

"I was forced to marry her."

"So, I am unwanted." My voice was stern and cold. My own words were hurting me.

"No, stop talking rubbish and listen." He said in a fatherly manner.

I always wished to know about my father but never thought my wish would be granted. I learned one thing by this, you'll get the things you want but unexpectedly.

I don't know what to say anymore. So, I kept my mouth shut and let him speak. Noticing my silence, he began his side of the story.

"You know now that I left you when I brought you from that academy." He said.

I nodded. I wanted to say you left me before that years back in the academy, but choose to be quiet.

"I didn't go because your mother asked me to leave." He continued.

I looked at him questioningly.

He took a deep breath and said. "I left you all, for your own safety."

"Safety from whom?" I can't be quiet anymore.

"From the family of Margaret."

"I don't understand."

"Do you know what my occupation is?" He asked.

"No, I don't. I got aware of your existence yesterday, how can I know your occupation? Why do you even bring that?"

My head is hurting now, lack of sleep and now this.

"That does matter Levy, I am a lawyer."

"So?"

"Listen carefully, what I am going to tell you. It happened a long time ago when you weren't born."

This was scaring me as if he was telling a horror story. I gulped hard and gave him an affirmative nod, that shows I am listening.

"There was a case I was fighting against some people, those people were the brothers of Margaret. They were the guilty ones. After many trials, they lost the case and one of the brothers was sentenced to 9 years in prison."

What he's saying is completely different from what brother told. He said it was a long time ago, was brother born or not? Should I ask or let him continue?

"Levy." His voice brought my attention back. "Are you listening?"

"Yes." Why do am I even listening to him, what if he's just making up a story? I just wanted everything back to normal.

I massaged my forehead a little, then resumed my attention towards him.

"After the case, they began to threaten me, one or the other day they would ask me to turn the tables and let their brother free. Somehow, they acquired information about me. Admund was hardly three during that time. One day they took Admund from school.

I searched him for hours, when I was about to complain, they called me and said he was with them. I rushed to their house to take my son back, thankfully they didn't hurt him. They kept him in a fine room. Warning me what else they could do, they gave him back."

"Why didn't you complain about them?"

"I did."

"Then?"

"Yet they didn't stop threatening me, they were used to such complaints."

"Who were those people? Were they some kind of Mafia or what?"

"You can say that." He said.

"But you won against them once, so wasn't it easy to register the complaint."

"That case was different, they were engaged in many cases."

"After that? What happened?" I don't know why, but I was eager to know more.

"I took him home and asked, whether they hurt him or something. He told me they didn't do any harm, he was kept in a room with a lady, who was nice to him. I didn't tell Clara about this."

"Was that lady my mother?" I asked.

"Yes."

How did he end up marrying her? I am still confused. Does brother know how she looks? Or who she was? Why do things have to be so confusing? Ending my questions I continued to listen to him.

"After a week or so, they again called me. I went to their house, they asked me to marry their sister."

"What? They know that you're already married."

"She was a cripple lady. After spending time with Admund she told them to stop threatening me. They found me a fine man for their sister. Because of her physical condition, it was hard to find one."

"What was your answer?" I asked.

"My answer was no."

This was painful, knowing something like this about your mother. "Then?"

"When I returned home in the evening, I found a man sitting in my house. It was a clear warning from them. After having a fake talk with me he left. When I asked Clara, why did she allow him in? She told, he refers to himself as my friend."

"Did he cause any harm?"

"No."

"Why didn't you moved to some other place?"

"I couldn't have done that because of my work, I was signed to serve the court."

He continued.

"Let's get to the end. I told them I couldn't marry her. I already have a wife, but they kept their actions going, either they would arrive at Admund's school or sometimes at my home. I planned to send my family away. I knew they'll be aware of my plans. So, I made complete protection until we reached the airport. But they kidnapped Admund form the airport."

Crap! How can someone do that?

"Then?"

"Well aware of the kidnappers, I directly went to their house. They said they won't return Admund until I signed the marriage papers as this was the last chance for them. And I did." He sighed heavily at the last sentence and waited for me to say anything.

I don't know what to say now. I don't know whether this story is true or not because it doesn't seem true to me. Brother told, he was ten when father left, then what happened between these 3-10 years. I opened my mouth to ask but closed it when he spoke again.

"Your mother was nothing like her brothers, she apologized me many times for their behavior."

"Why did she agree if she was sorry for it," I asked.

"They didn't listen to her."

Whose brothers do such things?

"You look exactly like her, though you got my hair." He forced a smile looking at me.

"Did you ever love her?" I asked, looking down at my fingers. I shouldn't have asked this.

"I did, though it took time for me to see her real self instead of an unwanted partner."

There was silence after that, either he was lost in his thoughts or didn't have any more words to say.

"Why did you leave back then?" I broke the silence.

"Margaret died a year after giving you birth. I didn't know how to raise you alone. I never told Clara about you. So, I decided to let you raise in the academy, they agree to take care of you. I use to visit you but, never met you."

"Her brothers got aware of her death and they blamed me for that. They searched for you, thinking that I may hurt you too. I couldn't hand you in their hands, so I brought you home, to the only person I can trust. She refused to hear any explanation, but she accepted you. Blaming a 6 year was not the right thing to do."

"After forcing her to marry you, they don't have any right to care for her," I said.

"No matter how bad a man is he'll always care for his family."

He said then continued.

"I left before they could find me. During these years Clara established many companies, she was passionate about business from the start. Leaving you people was the safest choice I could make. When I returned, it was too late, she died and Admund didn't accept me." There was a hint of sadness in his voice.

I don't know how to believe this. As if reading my mind, he asked.

"Do you believe in what I said?"

"It's hard to believe," I said frankly.

"I know."

Now I don't have a single word to say. I don't know, whether brother will accept him after hearing this. He told father tried to talk to him 'unsuccessfully' which means he didn't listen to him. What should I do now? Will he listen to me? I need time to think. I can not come up with any conclusion yet.

I looked up at him, he was looking at me. I stood up. "I need time, can I go back to class?" I asked.

"Wait." Averting his gaze, he took a paper and pen. After writing something on it, he handed me the paper with his contact number. "Let me know when you're ready to talk again."

Giving a curt nod, I took the paper and turned to leave. But before I could leave, I was stupefied by his action when he pulled me into a hug. My eyes widened and heartbeats abnormally.

"Wh-"

"I am sorry and thank you," He said, cutting me off.

I stayed there, engulfed in his hug. I already took him as my father. No, I should let brother know first. Pulling my form away, I wiped my teary eyes and quickly left the room.

••••••••••••

Everything is revealed completely here. :)

H.LOCKHART.