CHAPTER 18- THE HOUSE

"Mr Ravi Huxley the manager of TAIS company, I want to talk to you about this land"I said coldly. But aunty didn't say anything, she was just staring at me.

"Hello ma'am, sir is telling you something" Mr.Tushar said.

I noticed her eyes.They had turned moist.A tear trickled down her cheeks.

"Aunty, are you ok"I passed her my hankey.She wiped her eyes.

"Please leave us alone" I said.

Mr.Tushar and guards left the room. She slowly sat down on the sofa.

"You look better now"she said softly.

"Because now I don't live with a family where I get more taunts than food"

"So what family do you live with now" she asked me.

"lonely because I have no family"I said angrily.

"Jonas always used to tell me that I should treat you a little better, he used to say that you are also like my son.But I always taunted you and maybe that's why God is showing me this days"She started looking at a picture strapped to the wall,in that framed photo, uncle and Aunty were sitting on a garden. Robert, all of three years, was sat on his father's lap.I didn't know why I felt so overwhelmed.

"I did not come to listen to your nonsense.This land is very important for my company, we will give you the best price for this land."Aunty didn't say anything for a while then "If this land is so important for your company then you have to talk to the real owner of this land".

"Who?"

"Robert, he is the present owner of this house, I did not tell this to your man because I knew that Robert would sell this house to your company for the greed of money and would give me an edge to die on the road.He is neither attached to this house nor to me"she said in a very sad voice.

"I want his address" Then Alan, who was standing there listening to everyone, said that "He is now at Davin's house on his birthday party, I have seen him going there."

"On the same house where there is a lot of decoration outside"I said

"Yes" he said.

I started leaving the room that's when Aunty said that "Ravi please I beg do not let this house be sold if possible".I just nodded and left the room.I came outside and said to Mr. Tushar that "This madam is not the owner of this house."

"Then who is it?"

"Get in the car we're going to meet him" I said and I signalled the guards to follow me. We reached outside the house where many decoration lights were installed.

"He is here sir?"Mr.Tushar asked me.

" Ya, Let's go in"I said.

Our arrival went unnoticed amidst loud music and the chatter of people.High-class parties make me nervous.

A person came to me and asked me "You need a drink bro"His voice seemed to suggest that he had drunk a lot.He gestured towards a table, on which were beer, rum and coke.People were making their own drinks in plastic glasses.I looked around.Fifty boys, most of them wearing glasses and fancy T-shirts and jabbering about something, and only 12 girls who- given their best to decorate themselve.I got myself a rum and signalled one of

my guard to stop the music.The music stopped.

"Who stopped the music, What's happening?"The crowd shouted.

"I don't want to interfere in your party, I want to talk to Mr. Robert"I said loudly so everyone can hear me.Then the same man came in front of me who asked me about drinks, " bro, don't you like the drink"he said. I told my guards to take this man away.Seeing the guards with me, No one was even shouting. Then a man came towards me and said "Yes"His face was the same as before, only his beard had come.He was wearing a yellow suit.

"I am Ravi Huxley the manager of TAIS company,

"Can we talk in a quiet place"Even though the place was completely quiet.Everyone was listening to me except the man who was drunk.

" Come with us"I said to Robert "You can turn on the music after we leave" I said to the crowd.

Me, Mr. Tushar, Robert and the guards came out of the house.

"What are you doing here" Robert said.

"I have no interest in talking to people like you, but have to meet because of work.

Talk with manners Ravi" he said angrily.

"See now the dog will teach me the manners"I said with a smile.

" Ravi"he grabbed my collar.

"Leave my collar, brother, right now cause my guards don't like it" I said in a calm but firm tone.

He leaves my collar.Now he was staring at me angrily.

"It's impossible for you to bear that the boy whom I had given ends to graze in jail is standing in front of me with guards with him, right".

"What do you need from me?"

"The house"I said.

" What?"

"My company wants to buy your house"

"Why?"

"Keep your mouth shut until I am finished"

"You can't talk to me like this"

"Hold his hands" I said to my guards.They hold his hands.

"Leave me" he said loudly.

"Now listen to me quietly!"That's when the door of the house opened and a beautiful girl came out.

" Robert "she ran towards Robert.

" Leave him "she screamed .Then he looked at me.

" Ravi"Her voice startled me.But I just ignored her and said to Robert that "I will come here again, you think whether you want to sell the house or not, leave him".

Guards leaves him.

"Let's go"I said and we got into the car. A little ahead, I looked out the window of the car, Robert and Jenny were still standing there looking at the car.