CHAPTER 4: HAPPY FAMILY

John and Rosy fled from their old house, haunted by the harrowing memories of Rosy's assault. With heavy hearts, they searched for a new home but found no respite. John, determined to provide shelter for his wife at her before settling in her village. Managed to secure a small, rundown house away from the village for a few days. As they settled into their temporary house, Rosy's soul remained horrified. Each passing day seemed to deepen the darkness that enveloped her. John, worried to see her pathetic face, racked his brain for ways to bring light back into their lives. The cold night enveloped them in its icy grip, their small shelter offering little relief from the biting chill. At 2:16 in the midnight, rain fell softly to the east, the cool breeze whispering through the quiet surroundings. Each raindrop echoed in the plastic box outside, amplifying the sensation of someone banging on the door in Rosy's dream. Footsteps sounds are becoming larger and larger. 

As thunder rumbled in the distance, Rosy's scream shattered the tranquillity, sending a jolt of fear through John as he worked on his files. Rushing to her side with a glass of water, he tried to soothe her nerves.

"It's just thunder, honey," John reassured her, his voice calm despite the underlying tension. "Calm down hon, there's no need to panic. It's only the heavy rain outside."

But Rosy's fear lingered, her trembling voice betraying her unease. "John, could you please check what's causing that sound? It's like someone's banging on our door. It's bringing back memories of that scary day."

With a gentle nod, John rose to investigate, determined to ease his wife's fears. As he disposed of the noisy plastic box, the once unsettling sound faded into silence. Returning to Rosy's side, he offered her his comforting presence, a beacon of warmth in the midst of the storm. Next day evening, as they sat by the flickering candlelight, Rosy's eyes lit up with a glimmer of hope. "John, I heard there's a festival in our village tomorrow," she said softly, her voice touched with a spark of curiosity.

John looked at her, surprised by the sudden enthusiasm. "Yes, there is," he replied, a hint of wonder in his tone. "Do you want to go?"

Rosy nodded, her face lifts straight with eye balls turning to the left corner, keeping a joyful smile playing on her lips. "I think it might do us good to be among people, to feel the warmth of community again."

"Okay then, let's go" John prepared to leave.

Its 5:45 PM. With determination, they got ready for the festival, feeling both burdened by past pain yet hopeful for a fresh start. John carries his beloved pet Max, guided Rosy to their car, beginning their journey towards hoped-for peace. 

"John...?" Rosy's voice quivered with fear and anxiety.

 "Yes, honey?" John responded, curious.

 "Do you think we can have a child again?" Her words dripped with sorrow. 

John, sensing her pain, gently held her hand. "Sweetheart, I know it's hard to accept we might not have our own child, but we can still be parents. Many kids need families. Let's adopt and give them the love they deserve." 

Rosy smiled with happiness at John's response. It was 30 min journey from where the they accommodate. As they were talking, they enter the village square, Rosy's eyes widened at the sight of colourful decorations and lively music. People gathered enjoying every moment. John who noticed that the strange things for the first time he visited were quite changed. His mind blowing with crackers flying into the sky turning into beautiful painting. In that crowd, John decides to park the car outside. One thing john noticed is that, village which was fully empty, now filled with lot of families. As they move through crowd, they encountered the head of the village, an elderly woman who carried a cane in her hand known for her wisdom and kindness. Rosy's heart fluttered with anticipation as she approached her granny, drawn to the aura of strength that surrounded the village elder.

"Good evening, dear," the elder greeted them, her voice gentle yet commanding. "I see you've come to join our festivities. Welcome."

Rosy smiled gratefully, feeling a sense of belonging wash over her.

 "Thank you," she replied, her voice tinged with emotion.

 "It's been a difficult time for us, but being here, surrounded by the spirit of celebration, brings a glimmer of hope."

The village elder nodded understandingly, her eyes reflecting years of experience and empathy.

 "Life has a way of testing us, dear," she said, her voice carrying the weight of wisdom. "But it is in the darkest moments that we find the strength to rise again."

As the night wore on, John and Rosy immersed themselves in the joyous festivities, their hearts lighter than they had been in weeks. In the midst of laughter and music, they found comfort in the hug of their community, and in the promise of a tomorrow filled with hope.

During the festival, Rosy forgot all about her troubles. It was June 27th, and the streets were filled with noise from crackers and smoke hung heavy in the air. Kids lined up eagerly at the ice cream cart, their parents buying them treats. But not far away, near the loud bursts of crackers, two small kids a boy and a girl sat on the ground, looking hungry and scared. John noticed the kids and felt curious and sympathetic. He approached them, but they moved away nervously. 

"Hey kids, where are you going?" John asked, surprised by their reaction.

There was no reply. It was clear they weren't enjoying the festival like others. So, he took them to the ice cream shop and bought them treats. The elder boy, Jade, seemed happy, but the younger one, Emily, remained withdrawn.

Sitting with them on a nearby rock, John asked, "What's your name?"

One of them replied between licks of his ice cream, "I'm Jade," then pointing to other, he added, "She's Emily. She can't talk."

John's heart sank. "Where are your parents? Are they buying something?" he asked gently.

Jade's sad face told the story. "We don't have parents," he said. "My grandma said they went to save the village."

"Save the village?" John reverted with curiosity sitting on his face

"Yes, every time when a goat runs into village, we hear the bell on its neck. Its mouth will be red. Then, our granny drags a black bag from her hand and walks to the forest with goat and then a flame of fire will be rising to sky" and with little excitement "Our parents walk along with them to save the village by burning one tree in the forest." 

John realized they were orphaned. Some story has been created to make these kids forget their parents. But yet he couldn't ignore them. He decided to take them with him.

Meanwhile, Rosy sat with her grandma, discussing serious matters. "I hope everything is going well. I should have acted sooner. I could have burnt many trees soon and set ourselves free," her grandma said solemnly.

"I know you're fighting for the us. I'm afraid of what will happen if we lose you," Rosy admitted, her voice tinged with fear. "I will try to end this soon; I want our family to be one again?"

"It's not so easy my dear, still there are many trees left over." grandma replied helplessly. "You be careful, don't rush for anything, we cannot expect the consequences."

Just then, John walked in with the kids, holding their hands. Rosy, curious, stood up and approached them. "John, who are these kids?" she asked.

Granny stood there shockingly. 

With a sense of accomplishment, John replied, "Rosy, you have been asking children, now we are not alone, I found ourselves a family." 

John and Rosy looked at Jade and Emily with eyes filled with compassion. They had always wanted children of their own, and now fate had brought these two orphaned boys into their lives.

"Rosy, what do you think?" John's voice trembled with emotion as he looked at her, seeking her opinion. "Shall we adopt them?"

Rosy nodded, her heart swelling with love for the two kids. "Yes, John. Let's give them a home and a happy family."

As Rosy hugged Jade and Emily, she felt a rush of memories about her parents. The warmth of their small bodies against hers reminded her of the comforting hugs she once shared with her mom and dad, memories that were dear to her heart. Holding Jade and Emily close, she silently vowed to love and care for them just like her parents did for her. In that moment, she found strength and comfort, ready to start this new journey with her adopted children.

John noticed a softness in her embrace, a familiarity that spoke volumes.

"Your hug says it all, Rosy," he remarked, his voice filled with warmth. "It reminds me of the love you hold for them, just like your parents held for you."

Rosy's eyes glistened with tears as she held them close. "Yes, John," she whispered, "it's a feeling I'll never forget, a feeling I want to share with Jade and Emily."

With the elder woman's permission, they proceeded to officially adopt Jade and Emily into their family, their hearts overflowing with love and anticipation for the journey ahead. 

"Thes kids are so special for us. Without these we would have not been here. These children may not have parents, but they have so much love to give, they have a purpose to live." she said. "Jade is full of energy and curiosity, while Emily may not speak, but her heart is kind and gentle. Together, they will bring light into your lives."

John and Rosy felt a wave of happiness wash over them. They knew their lives were about to change forever.

As they prepared to leave, John mentioned the need for a bigger house. Their current home was small and cozy, but it wouldn't be enough for their growing family. 

John turned to Granny, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Granny," he began, "we've been thinking about getting a bigger house for all of us. Somewhere with more space for Jade and Emily to play and grow.?"

"I have a suggestion," she said. "There's a house a little way out of the village. It's bigger and more suitable for a family. If there is no objection, then you can live there." While suggesting gently "Once a very good family lived there, -Rosy smiles-now its alone. I will be so great to see a happy family again in that house" Granny declares her suggestion

John and Rosy exchanged excited glances. The thought of a new home filled them with anticipation.

"Thank you," John said gratefully. "We'll take a look at it right away."

With the elder woman's blessing, they set off to explore their potential new home. The boys chattered excitedly as they walked, their laughter echoing through the village.

The new house was everything they had hoped for and more. It was spacious and bright, with plenty of room for Jade and Emily to play and grow.

"We'll take it," John said decisively, his heart pounding with excitement.

Rosy nodded, her eyes shining with happiness. "It's perfect."

They returned to their old house, filled with a sense of anticipation. Packing up their belongings felt like the beginning of a new chapter in their lives.

As they loaded their possessions into boxes, memories flooded back to them. They had shared so much struggle for few days in this small house, but now it was time to make new memories in their new home.

The boys helped eagerly; their excitement contagious. They imagined all the adventures they would have in their new surroundings. With one last look around, they closed the door behind them and set off towards their new beginning.

As they walked towards their new home, the sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the horizon. John and Rosy knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, they would face them together, as a family. And with Jade and Emily by their side, they are hoping for their future to look brighter than ever before.

†††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††