Chapter-12
Texas
I look for it everywhere, not found anywhere. I hold my head with my hands and tears roll down on cheeks. I am finished. Maybe it is at home. No, I never open my bag at home. I am having another bag for home. This purse is used for office only. Then, I remember yesterday I opened my purse to purchase some chocolates and flowers for Hannah’s father. Maybe I left it in that store. No, I don’t think so. Then where? Shall I call Hannah if I left keys at her place? But I didn’t open the purse in her home. Maybe I don’t remember, I must give her a call. I call her phone is ringing. Common on! Hannah, where are you darling? Please pick up this is a question of life and death for me. Hello! Hannah, yes Nora baby. Dear, yesterday I forgot some keys they are of sliver colour with keychain of my name with alphabet ‘N’. Did you find it there? I don’t think so. But hold on let me check in my room and my father’s room where you had gone. She put my call on hold. Oh God! Please help me. Only a miracle can save me. After two minutes, hello! Nora, I find one key. Its colour is faded sliver with keychain of ‘N’ alphabet. Yes, it is the one. Oh God! you are great. Please Hannah can you come to my office to give it to me. They are so important. I am coming. She put down the phone. I smile and thank God. May be when I opened my bag for chocolates and cookies it might have fallen. Now it’s time to check Victor’s account and clear all his dues. I will meet him as my friend’s husband and this thought made me irritated. However, a friend should be happy for her friend. This is the first rule of friendship.
After an hour Hannah comes to my office and she was pleased to see that I have cabin of my own and the reputation that I earned in the office. I order a cup of coffee for her but she refused as she was in hurry to attend bakery business meeting. She gave me the keys. Thanks! darling you saved my life because my boss was asking for it. Anytime. She replied her servant kept it in her room as they thought it to be hers. I again thanked and hugged her. If you want to meet a victor then go that side. No, I have a meeting with my co-partner as he is leaving today, and I can meet him anytime as he is going to join my dad’s business. Great! I am happy for you. I know. Bye and she leaves. I open the locker and handover that file to my boss and Victor’s last cheque with deduction of dues. At lunchbreak he gives party to all his colleagues and his friends Frank, Stella, Margarette, Lily and he invited me too. I join his party because I thought of improving my relationship with him because in near future, we will be encountering each other for many reasons now. All of us give him warm farewell. Our boss also congratulated him for future and he promises to invite all of us to his wedding.
Victor’s life is going to be super cool. He will marry Hannah and will become the boss of an established company. What else he wants. God has given him more than he deserves. He seems to be lucky; Margarette says in my ear. He is very lucky I even reply in a same way. In the evening Mr. Ethan calls him in his office and gives his last cheque and clear all his dues. I hear him arguing with Mr. Ethan in my office as my cabin was beside his office. Mr. Ethan this is unfair you are not paying me well though I worked in this company for last four years. Victor earlier accounts department never deducted a penny from your salary and you enjoyed every benefit of company at your will. Now company follows the rules to which you are objecting. Who is now interested in my account after so many years? Victor asks. You know that we have good and competent staff and they are doing their work with honesty. Mr Ethan proudly tells him and I understand that he was pointing towards me. Mr. Ethan I know who has done all this but all I can say, ‘just go to hell, to hell with your company and everyone’. Oh Gosh! he is shouting. Keep your tone low and get out shouts Ethan. I take this company on my ass. He shouts again and leaves the office.
Finally, storm passed. People don’t realise their own mistakes and bark for nothing. Around 6.pm I leave the office and go to visit my aunt. I check my cell phone in cab not many messages were there. I look outside the car and sees the road quite calm and controlled. We did not find any traffic on the road and in sometime I reached my aunt’s home. Aunt hugs me tightly. Nora, I was waiting for you. Why didn’t you bring Brownie with you? He is at Grace’s home. Next time, I will bring him.
At the time of dinner, we talk about many things like my work, friends and I talk about my neighbours too. That woman must be having an affair and she was afraid to tell this to her son. Now she is enjoying with him. Yes! maybe but she cannot do this to her son who cares a lot about her when I met him. He is really sad for his mother. Do you like him? No. I say. Don’t lie my darling your eyes are telling a different story. No aunt, we just met and most probably he is not coming back from Scotland. My heart says that you will have a great love story says aunt. I am more careful after Byron. Forget that asshole! You deserve the best and kisses me and I hug her back. Darling, I don’t have much time. What are you saying? Please don’t panic. My liver is badly damage and I was in hospital for few weeks and now they ask me to go home because no hope left. I dumbstruck look at my aunt and my eyes in tears. This is not true you are not going anywhere; I hug her like a child. Nora, listen carefully I have lived long as expected. My liver started damaging at very young age but still God has given me a long life. She says with tears in her eyes. I hold her tightly and says that you have to live for me. I will try my baby. But I have things to tell you. This flower shop belongs to you. After me this home, shop and my money will be yours. Please aunt, don’t talk like this. It’s truth and you have to accept it. She wipes her eyes and my tears. I know acceptance make things better but still I am not used to it.
