Chapter 5 I will read you a story

Two bright eyes widened as they caught her sight.

" Oh! I finally found someone. I was asked to come inside. But I have been waiting for almost an hour and nobody came to tell me anything. I tried going out from the door I had come in, but it was locked already. No matter how much I tried I couldn't open it. So I was wondering here and there trying to look for somebody. This place is awfully big but there was no soul in sight. Thank God I finally found someone. " She paused for awhile and then looked at Susan and ran upto her, " But Madam, why are you still sleeping at this time of the day? Are you sick? Are you hurt? " She then brought her mouth close to Susan's ear and said, " Did they beat you up? I know how they treat their maids. "

This made Susan laugh out loud. It had been years since she actually laughed heartily. She was so out of practice that just a few seconds and she was chocking with laughter.

" Here, here. Have some water. " The girl helped Susan take a few sips to calm her throat down.

"Thank you. Thank you. Are you here for the interview, " Susan asked.

"Yes , " She replied. " Ummmm, should I help you to sit up? " She asked innocently after looking at her.

Susan smiled and replied, " This body doesn't work below the throat. I wouldn't be able to sit up even if you helped me. "

" Oh! Paralyzed? I see. " The girl tried to understand. " I have seen a friend who was paralyzed below the hips after falling from the balcony. "She recounted, " The doctors at my orphanage had said nothing could be done for her. But she was able to walk again with clutches when a good family adopted her. She was taken on a plane to a place very very far from here. The doctors there worked magic and she could get back on her feet. " she continued her tale after a pause, " But she said it took a lot of money. In this world there is nothing that money can't get you. My friend was lucky she had rich, caring parents. I understand it might not be the same for you. " The girl paused for awhile as if thinking of something. She then came close to Susan's face and said, " You might not have rich parents but now you have me. Let me support you on my back. You will feel good if you sat for awhile. Aha! I will even read you a good story." She smiled as if too amused at her own suggestion. There were books arranged on the shelves at Susan's bedside. They had been her companions through life. Even though she couldn't read them anymore, she didn't want to part with them. So she insisted on keeping them with her, instead of the study.

"Which one would you like to hear? " The girl asked.

" That one to your right, " Susan said.

The girl brought. She then helped Susan sit up and lean against her. She held the book in such a position that both Susan and herself could see the pages.

"Aahhmm! " She cleared her throat and began reading. But it was no ordinary book. It was one of Susan's favorite classics. The girl stopped and paused at almost every letter and word.

" Let me read it for you." Susan said kindly as she noticed the girl struggling to carry on. Susan understood her difficulty in reading as she came from a very humble background. She had just mentioned orphanage, which meant she might not even have had a proper academic training. But Susan admired her courage. She didn't give up. Susan admired her straight forwardness. But what touched her most was the girl's thoughtfulness. It had been long since anybody actually addressed Susan's desires. Everybody treated her as their responsibility, their duties. None treated her like an equal human except for this girl. Not even her sons.

She was the wife of Mr. Richards and Peter's mother.

As Susan began reading the story aloud, the girl looked on with interest. The two were so engrossed in their session that none noticed the door slowly open.

Peter and Dusty peeked from behind it. Peter's eyes were welling up at his mother's voice reading the story aloud. It instantly took him back to his childhood when she used to read him to bed. Peter quietly listened as a few drops fell on his shirt.

"That.Thats the new one. What is she doing inside. I will get her... " Dusty was about to barge in to get Teresa out. But Peter held his hand and put a finger on his lips.

"Sssshhh! Look at mother. She is glowing. I haven't seen her like this for ages. Let it be. We will deal with the girl later. Let's not disturb right now. " Peter closed the door behind him and pulled Dusty away by the hands.

Peter always seemed like he hated life. Like he was missing a part of him. Nothing satisfied him.

This compassion for another unacquainted human being came to him after quite a long time.

He once used to be cheerful and lively.

Pessimism was now his life style.

He did not like to be told around by the norms of his own society.

A society of hypocrisy and joke.