Your lie that night

Chapter 11

5 days were gone already and still, I never got to see him. Most of the time he used to be out for business propose and when he used to be on house, he always managed to sneak out from my sight. My life there was getting miserable day by day. All the girls from the servents section used to look at me as if I was some type of evil omen, I had no one to talk to, my night used to pass on crying and a day wandering here and there sneaking the eye of others.

That day I was cleaning the upper section of the library when suddenly the room filled with entropy. Other cleaning girls started running toward the entrance and I curious to see who was there climbed down the ladder from the door, I saw Shreyan, he was going toward his room with three books in his hand. I couldn't resist myself, after so much patience and desperation I got to see him finally. 'Shreyan… Shreyan, I shouted running toward him. Tears were running through my eyes out of happiness. but before I could reach him the other girls from my section caught me by my hair, some by my legs, and some by my clothes. I continuously tried to free myself shouting his name again and again but they didn't let me go.    

 'Please, please leave me its important for me to meet him. Please', I kept on crying but they held me firm until he was out of sight.

'Have you lost your mind?', shouted the same girl who grabbed my hair the other day clenching my arm, 'What did you think, you were going to do after meeting him?', I forcefully freed myself from her hands when all of them became my boundary standing around me

'What is your problem. You have crossed the limit. You called our young master by his name and even tried to talk to him. We should complain to the manager', said the other girl. There was nothing for me to say I lost the first chance of meeting him after working there for 6 days, there was nothing more painful than that. None of the words the girls were saying was reaching my ears I was dissolved into my own ocean of agony.

The mean girl caught me by my hand and forcefully pulled me with her. In no time I was at the manager office. I knew I was going to be thrown out of that house and the saddest part was I didn't even have the money to return my home. My all hard work and patience were going to be futile that day. when a familiar voice spoke to me, 'Bus girl?'

I looked ahead. In the chair where the manager was engraved with huge letters was sitting the man, the one who was next to me on the bus and had helped me throughout the way. I don't know what I was supposed to be embarrassed or happy but due to some reason, I was hoping if it wasn't him.

The mean girl was still holding me on my arm. The manager no the busman no Saurav stood up. His name was written on the flyer hanged on the wall. 'What is the matter?', he asked

'I am sorry to interrupt but manager this girl broke all of the rule assigned to the servants, the other day she was sneaking out for Young master's room, but today she crossed all the limit, she was calling him by his name and even tried to follow and talk to him'

Saurav looked at me, I couldn't look at his eyes, I knew it wasn't my mistake in fact my life was playing a dirty game with me but still, I couldn't meet eyes with him, I don't know if I was embarrassed or ashamed.

'It's my work to consider what is right? and What is wrong? leave that to me. Now you all can leave but you', he pointed toward me. I was crying bitterly when everyone left the room, 'hey, stop crying', he tried to console me but there was no ending to my tears.

He pulled a chair for me and made me sit there then kneeling down on the floor he held my hand and caress it gently, 'You are at safe place Katerina', he may have read the name written on my apron, 'You can share anything with me, before a manager I am the guy who shared the same bus with you, isn't it?', he chuckled trying to look at my eyes.

'I am sorry, I just..'

'I understand. Now tell me what happened' I didn't know what to respond to that question. Telling him the truth will dirt the reputation of Shreyan so it was never my option, telling him the lie I didn't want to do that. 'It was my mistake. I shouldn't had done that', I said after thinking for a long time.

'You aren't the type of girl to persuade?'

 'maybe I am. Maybe I was always like that. I am sorry you can punish me if you want, I agree that was my mistake'

'Should I punish you for real?', he asked seriously this time

'Yeah', I nodded yes this time staring my eyes at him. He turned around and poured something from the thermos into the cup

'Have coffee with me', said he suddenly handling me the cup

'But..'

'It's your punishment so endure and drink it', he chuckled sitting on his own chair. 'Thanks', I smiled back.

'You said you were here to meet your relative?', I was hoping that question won't arise but that happened anyway

'Yeah, I was but here I am', I smiled again hiding the pain in my eyes, 'I thought the one who enrolled me as a cleaner was manager', I tried to divert the topic

'He is my father, I kept him in my place when I was out of the city for some days.'

'So you work here?'

'Yes, my father was manager when Mr. Shah was of the young's master age and now I am here. This feels more like a home than my own home'

'I see', I tried to spread a smile. 'So for how long have you decided to work here?'

Even I wasn't sure for how long. 'Till I get my answers', I said

'You are mysterious Katherina. I have spent quality time with you but still, I know nothing'

'There is a saying Saurav. Heartbreak, poverty, love, pain makes a person mature ahead of their age. The same thing is happening to me.'

'I hope someday you will be comfortable enough with me to share your sorrows'

I looked at his smiling face, I smiled back and stood from the chair. 'I think I should go now, it's time to clean the kitchen'

'If other girls give you hard time directly come to me. Just think me as a ray of hope in your life, won't you?', I turned back to him, 'Thank you', I said with a smile and went ahead. The disappointment in those girls' face who forced me there were clearly seen, they were gossiping about me, they were cursing me but I went my way. Their gossip was nothing in comparison of the life I was surviving.

The head servants gathered us the afternoon according to her next day the event was going to be held there so we were asked to work more and decorate the respective area we were given. Our works were doubled and more servents were recruited to accelerate the decoration. The whole arrangement felt as if a big event was going to happen.

The big day came, and from the morning the black palace was filled with a number of guests. From the mayor of the district to a renowned businessman in the country all were there. The lights, the decorations, the aroma of flowers and even we were given a new apron, a better one. The morning meal that day was the best food I had ever had in my life and the stage was so decorated that it felt I was watching the throne ceremony of King.

After cleaning all my sections we servents were asked to take care of the guests. Providing them with water, juices and snacks was our jobs then. When I reached the second row distributing juices, I saw my brother, my very brother sitting there on the chair looking at the stage. Did he know I was there? the question arose, my first reflex was turning away from him, I kept on running away from him, no matter how many guests asked for water, how many guests asked for juice I ignored them all and kept on walking away.

'Are you out of your mind? You were supposed to serve guest not freak them out', shouted my section mates, 'Why I am even speaking to you', she pushed me from her way and went to the guests whom I ignored. What was happening? Why was he there? the question repeated again and again in my mind. Maybe it was the first time my brother was there. Despite being a very close friend to my brother, Shreyan always used to hide his friend zone from his dad. He didn't use to like his son going around with someone from middle-class family. So it was just Shreyan who used to visit us. He used to love the food my mom used to make. He used to treat my mom as his own as he never got to see his own. He has stepmother but she is just a mother by the name, she always used to envy him. The time he spent on our house on lockdown was also a secret, he had told his dad that he was living in a guest house. In that scenario Krish coming there, it was shocking.

I stood behind the guest section, the stage was blur still seen from there. There was fear to get busted by brother and still hope to see Shreyan. Soon the program started, flowers began to fall from above and along with it came the royal family. All the guests were shouting with surprise. we were looking at the broyal family, the king and the queen came in first and along with them, our princess Lila came behind. she was looking astonishing and so beautiful in her blue gown. It was that period of that time when King's rule was just abolished, with the rise of the republic Nepal. He was no more the ruler but still, he was the person whose photo was still on our currency. It was unbelievable, just unbelievable.

The three of them sat on their seats, and soon Mr. Jha, Misses Jha, and Shreyan entered the stage,  Shreyan looking extremely handsome in his coat and perfectly combed hair. I kept my hand on my belly, 'look he is your father, most handsome guy ever'.