Chapter 2

It took me one week to convince them. Silly guys with silly reasons. I shook my head and glanced at my Rolex watch. "It's time to go," I told my mom and looked down at her. I'm feet higher than her where she stood like a shortcake not more than 5.6' but wearing a 3' heels made me look like the tallest person ever but I'm just 5.7'. "Bye Miss. Shortcake." I kissed her forehead, my dad used to call her 'shortcake' while he was alive. "Mom I'm not going to di.." She slapped her hand over my mouth and shook her head. "Don't." her voice was broken. I hugged her tightly and tried to blink back my tears. I feel bad for leaving Texas where I had been raised as an independent woman. I feel bad for leaving my home which my dad built for me and I feel bad for leaving my mom all alone by herself. I offered her to come with me but she wants to stay there with my dad's memories. "Don't eat late, don't skip your food." her hands cupped my face with so much passion and affection. She looks aged which I failed to notice earlier. An ugly wrinkle formed over my mom's forehead but still, she is beautiful. She has achieved a lot as a Mother and as a Wife. "I will." I gave her an assurance smile clutching her hands firmly. If I solve this puzzle I can able to find the misery behind my dad's death. So, I want to go now, there is no second thought. I pecked both of her cheeks once last time before calling my friends to leave. We all settled into the plane after two hours of finishing up all the formalities. You know what? These formalities are eating my nerve to hell. Does it make any sense? I don't think so. For me, It's a waste of time. Does it necessarily need to take two hours just for scanning the luggage and checking me thoroughly? I had almost wasted 365 hours here at the airport doing nothing but go along with their formalities. I let out a sigh of relief and glanced through the window; that seat gave me a beautiful view of the city from the air. Taking my dad's photo from my handbag, lingering a kiss on his forehead I brought the frame closer to my chest. "I love you, Dad." I whispered. It's not easy to accept the fact that he is no more with us, it is a bitter truth that my heart refuses to accept. "I will bring Justice to your death." I closed my eyes and drifted off into a peaceful slumber. * "Guys!! Will you please shut up? You are giving me a heavy headache." I complained the moment we stepped out of the airport. Early in the morning we landed in Chennai and had only a cup of coffee for our breakfast. We have been waiting for two more hours to get our luggage back and the sun rose already above our head at six in the morning to savour all our remaining energies. They are waffling and complaining about the heat like I'm the reason for this. "Reil, could you please make it fast, I can't wait even a bit." Natasha Valarie complained looking at her wristwatch. "Wait a minute, it will arrive anytime soon." I rolled my eyes. She is always this dramatic. She expected the head of the council to give her visit to the airport and fetch her to his mansion to have breakfast as a thanksgiving. Don't think me wrong you will get to know more about her in the upcoming days. "The cab has arrived, now drag your lazy ass from here." I slapped her butt and slipped inside the passenger seat. One by one everyone settled inside the car and I heard a chorus of breath that makes me chuckled inwardly but I masked my face as normal not wanting to get caught. I'm getting used to this climate but they are, Nah, no chance. They are like a newborn baby whose skin is so soft and sensitive even a warm breath burnt their skin. I glanced through the window admiring the view of Chennai city until we reach our destination. "You are going to stay here?" The taxi driver gave me a weird look as I'm voluntarily dragging myself into the dead. "Yeah." I gave him a brief answer and paid the money. "Reil, at least he could send a man to carry our luggage. I have no energy to carry all these." Chole eyed her luggage and breathed heavily. "Just ten minutes walking from here. Now hurry up." I rushed once the signal turned red though there is no need of any. The road is empty as hell and I could see a rare number of cab and the cab is none other than the one just dropped us a minute ago. We crossed the road and walked inside the narrow road that can fit one person. We lined up and followed one another where I'm the one leading from the beginning using the Google map. Walking to our cottage was very painful especially dragging the luggage through the unsteady road. Both sides of the road were covered with green grass and buildings are very rare to find. It somehow reminded me of we are in the ghost house. "Finally!" They dumped their bags and luggage on the floor and sat on the stairs once we reach our cottage. The place is engulfed with utter silence, no trace of any humans or birds at least an insect, that brought a bad feeling in the pitch of my stomach but I hide it in the back of my head.