She Had It All, page 2
Everything must stop.
Meanwhile, Mary passed the barbequed potatoes to Sarah and asked her to finish it soon before it gets cold. Sarah was hungry as she had not eaten anything since she had arrived at the farm. While she got busy eating, Petros just whispered into Kian’s ears.
Petros:
What is wrong with you? Why do you want us to stop? Why don’t you let us finish this for the last time?
Kian (holding Petros’ hand and whispering):
Tonight, we need to have a meeting, all of us. Once Sarah goes to sleep, we all should gather here to clarify something! (Then he looked at Sarah and asked her calmly) How is the taste? Would you like to have some more?
Sarah (shaking her head and speaking with her mouth stuffed): Thank you, I am full!
Petros:
Is it as tasty as the ones Patrick used to make for you?
Sarah:
Patrick never barbequed any potatoes for me, the only thing I remember is that he was good at making things with clay. (She turned toward Paul) The last time I had berries here was the time when both of us climbed the old tree at the end of the farm and ate as much as we could, all our faces were so red that our mothers thought we had gotten into some street fight!
Paul (looking surprised):
I do remember the berries story!
Sarah (continuing):
It was the same day that you and Patrick had a big fight. You had punched and bruised his face. That day, whoever asked him what happened, the answer was that he fell into a pothole and hurt his face.
Paul suddenly remembered the whole thing.
Paul:
I don’t remember why or what we were fighting about, but he was a very powerful boy, strong and healthy. God bless his soul!
As soon as Sarah heard the last bit, she stood up and questioned furiously.
Sarah:
What? Bless his soul? Uh…um… I don’t understand! What do you mean? Please tell me!
Pearl (hesitating a bit):
Patrick, Patrick, our brother, he is no longer with us.
Sarah imagined Patrick’s body in front of her eyes, lying motionless on the ground. She could not control her balance and fell unconscious on the ground. Everyone ran to pick her up, no one knew what had happened.
Kian:
Poor girl, she didn’t even know that our brother Patrick killed himself because of her. He killed himself without even knowing that she was unaware of his feelings. All of us were so judgmental. We were planning to bring death upon someone who was not even involved in any of these conspiracies.
It took Sarah a few minutes to come back to normal, she just looked at Kian.
Sarah:
So that boy who was in love with me was Patrick? He killed himself…because of me? But how could this happen? I was just ten!
How could I be the cause of such a tragedy in someone’s life?
These questions were forever going to haunt her.
Sarah started crying loudly and kept repeating to herself.
Sarah:
I have killed Patrick. Please tell me this is just a dream and you all are playing a dirty prank with me. Please tell me nothing has happened to Patrick!
(She was sobbing in her palms.) Pearl was crying too, she held Sarah in her arms.
Pearl:
My dear, whatever you heard is true. After you rejected him, he killed himself.
Kian stood up and helped Sarah to stand.
Kian:
Come on, let’s go. It is getting cold.
Everyone walked alongside Sarah and nobody spoke a word. Tonight, after ten long years, they relived the day Patrick had died. Everybody was battling their emotions of anger and hurt, but they didn’t want Sarah to witness any of that.
Kian wanted to take her to the grand house but she refused and insisted on going to the cottage instead. He decided to make her some hot chocolate to cheer her up. He was mad at Paul and Pearl for breaking the news so suddenly; they could have kept their mouth shut till he had briefed everyone in the meeting he called for.
While Kian was giving the hot chocolate to Sarah, he shamefully wondered how his family thought of murdering her and taking revenge for their brother’s death. A sudden guilt overcame him and he dropped the chocolate milk on the ground.
Sarah (shocked):
Kian, what happened? Are you okay, cousin?
Kian answered that he is fine. He rushed out to make her another piping hot cocoa.
Sarah (taking the mug):
Why did you not inform me before anyone else did it? I did not even know he was your brother as I never saw him live with your family. I was under the impression that he was a son of the farmer, and your father was supporting his family. Only now I have realized that all of you hold me responsible for Patrick’s death. It is breaking my heart. Tomorrow, I will leave this farm and go to one of the hotels nearby until the will is ready. The lawyer can give me a call once my share of land is transferred lawfully under my name, and then I will leave this place forever. (Sarah couldn’t control herself anymore, she begged Kian) Before I leave this farm forever, I want one thing from you, tell me the truth. Please, do not let me leave like this.
Kian gave her the tissue box and asked her to calm down. He wanted her to finish her hot milk and then tell her everything that she ought to know.
Chapter 3
The Backstory
Sarah needs to know the truth. It is her right. She was disappointed that her cousins thought it was her fault, but inquisitive to reach the depths of her past.
Kian:
Almost ten years have passed since this incident, and the day this happened, I was not on the farm and whatever I know is what has been told to me by my family, especially my mother. She told me Patrick hung himself in the workshop. He had a photograph of you crumpled in his left hand and a note in his right hand that read “I DO NOT WANT THIS LIFE WITHOUT SARAH.” Patrick was our step-brother, our father’s illegitimate child from another woman. After she secretly gave birth to Patrick, she was scared of how society would judge her and what consequences she would have to face, she abandoned her child and ran away. A few months later, they found her dead body near the river. In the initial years, my father did not want to bring Patrick home and asked one of the housemaids to take care of him, but when Patrick turned five years old, he introduced him to the family and expected Mother to take care of him. Mom did not want to accept him, but she didn’t have any other choice. She took him in, but when he was growing up, he started distancing himself from us…
He chose to stay separately in the workshop and wanted to be treated as any other house servant. Our dad loved Patrick more than any of his legitimate children and wanted Patrick to be included in all family meetings and decisions. We envied the love he received from our father. I never wanted anything negative for him. After all, he was our brother and was very lonely. His world changed when you entered our lives. You played with him, showed interest in his company, paid attention to his conversations… you were so little but you seemed to enjoy his presence. He got used to it. According to what I know from my mother, after Uncle joined the military and went missing, my father suggested to Aunt Nayomi to get you and Patrick married. He made that decision as he was the legal guardian, but Aunty rejected his proposal without giving it a thought and asked him to stop paying all monthly expenditure. Next day, she took you away from all of us. Did your mother ever tell you any of this? Did she mention Patrick’s name?
Sarah:
No. Never. Every time I asked her about your family, she changed the topic. After she passed away last year, my aunt too refused to tell me anything. Till date, I was under the impression that my maternal family wanted me to have a good life in the city, not a backward one living on the farm.
Kian:
Better for you to sleep now. You are too tired. We will continue tomorrow.
As Kian switched off the lights, Sarah kept thinking that she needed to get out of the farm first thing in the morning.
Chapter 4
The Next Day
The recent events have changed the way Sarah looks at family. She is yet to witness a lot of love and hate from people she knows and doesn’t know.
The whole night Kian was restless thinking about the events of the evening and developed a headache. He thought he should go to the cottage to check on Sarah. As he was about to climb the stairs, he heard a shrill voice.
The Voice:
Why are you late? Everybody is waiting for you.
The voice was so loud and discomforting that it startled Sarah and woke her up from deep slumber.
Kian:
I had a guest. She slept late last night and she is still sleeping upstairs.
Please speak in a lower volume so that we do not wake her up.
The Lady:
Yes, I have heard the witch has returned to the farm. This time which one of you is her scapegoat? Who does she want to kill and destroy? I am sure since she has started her relationship with you closely; you are next! Please do not let that demon manipulate you, do not forget what she has done to your family.
Sarah came down and stood by a window without making any noise. Kian was fixing the front door that was squeaking, while that woman was standing next to him. Kian spotted Sarah at the edge of the stairs.
Kian:
Did the noise wake you up?
She looked at the stranger before turning to Kian.
Sarah:
You should have warned me that your friends are so jobless and noisy.
The woman heard Sarah’s comment and came forward.
The Lady:
First of all, you are jobless. Second, you are the old bat who caused Patrick’s death. After all these years, you have come back to get your share and leave? I know how people like you should be treated.
Sarah (sitting on the sofa):
Please let me know how I should be treated, madam?
Kian was alarmed and tried to diffuse the tension.
Kian (exclaiming): Stop it, Kate, please!
Unfortunately, Sarah did look like a witch at that moment. Her long hair was all tangled and she had puffy eyes because of all the crying from last night. She had forgotten to take her makeup off so she looked terrible at that moment.
Kian politely asked her to go and freshen up. Sarah stood up to go to the washroom and heard Kate.
Kate:
One day you will get your karma, one day you will receive what you deserve.
Sarah (whispering to herself in the washroom mirror):
I should not have gotten myself into that argument. I could have ignored her.
She came out and found that Kian and Kate were not around, hence decided to shower, but she did not have any spare clothes. On checking Kian’s cupboard, she found one of his sports pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Without waiting for his approval, Sarah borrowed them. She washed her clothes, took a hot bath, and wanted to dry her clothes as the would see her in men’s clothing and mock her. Swiftly, she put her garments to dry, combed and braided her hair, and hurried back into her room.
Sarah was hungry and found some buns and a kettle to make some tea. While waiting for the water to boil, she kept going back to Kate’s last sentence – “One day you will get your karma.”
Karma for something which she had not done? How could a ten-year- old girl get karma?
It was mid-noon; the sun was shining bright right on top. Sarah picked her clothes from the balcony, mopped the entire cottage as a gesture of gratitude towards Kian, and changed into her clothes. As decided the previous night, Sarah was still affirmative on leaving, but bidding goodbye to everyone was going to be difficult. After locking the main door of the cottage, she checked if Kian was around to hand him the keys. Upon seeing the workshop door slightly open, she called his name.
Kian:
Sarah? Come in, I am alone here.
Sarah came in and saw Kian wearing an apron, working behind one of those clay machines.
Sarah:
Hi, I was leaving and wanted to pass you the key.
Kian:
Were you about to leave without saying goodbye?
Sarah:
No, I did come to meet you before I left. I just didn’t want to disturb you thinking you would be with that lady I met in the morning.
Kian:
I have no clue why she got herself involved. My apologies.
Sarah:
Who is she? I don’t even know her name but she was so angry with me.
Kian (switches clay machine off):
Kate is a woman who loves gossip. She likes to add fuel to the fire.
Sarah:
But, again, who is she?
Kian:
She is my fiancée and we are going to get married soon. She was just jealous that I spent time with you and let you stay in the cottage for the night.
Sarah (smiles begrudgingly):
Sorry, I didn’t know she was your fiancée, otherwise I would not have argued with her.
Kian:
Why not? You defended yourself, and you did the right thing. I am happy you didn’t choose to be silent.
Sarah:
I don’t want my presence to cause any problem between you two, I apologize if I let her feel that way.
Kian:
I don’t care if she is upset or not, she was the one who started something which didn’t have anything to do with her, so she should accept the circumstances. Are you going to the grand house?
Sarah:
Yes, I need to pick up my handbag and my sunglasses. I have to wish everyone goodbye as well.
Kian:
Do you want to leave? The process might take a little while longer, are you sure you want to stay at a hotel till it is done?
Sarah:
First, let me go and visit the lawyer. I will request him to give me a tentative time this might be over. If he confirms it will be extended, I will give you the power of attorney, and head to the city.
Kian washed his hands, dried them, locked the workshop shutter, and joined Sarah to accompany her to the grand house.
Sarah:
If it was not because of my handbag, I would never go to the grand house. I want to get out of the farm as soon as possible.
Kian:
Cannot believe we made you feel so pathetic that you wanted to escape without a goodbye.
Sarah:
I don’t have any negative feelings against anyone. I am tired and scared of being judged for what I have not done.
Kian:
I do apologize from Kate’s side, and I will assure you this won’t happen again. Please don’t punish yourself because of what others say. I will move out and you can stay in the cottage all by yourself. This is a small town and people will observe that you are living in a hotel. Our standing in society might be affected.
Sarah:
I understand. I will go to the family lawyer first and decide only after I have spoken with him.
Sarah ran into the grand house and grabbed her luggage. No one was around at the grand house, so she happily sprinted out and noticed Kian waiting in his car.
Kian:
Do you know the address of the advocate’s house?
Sarah:
No, and I am yet to take his appointment.
Kian:
He is our family lawyer; we do not have to book his slots. I will take you to his office, and later drop you wherever you ask me to.
Sarah:
I am praying that Kate won’t see us together right now. I am fearful of what she might accuse me of.
Kian:
If only Kate had an inkling of how afraid you are, she would feel powerful. I promise no one will come to know that I gave you a ride. You are a strong person, I was not expecting you to defend yourself, especially in front of her judgment! Also, before I forget, you looked so pretty in my clothes.
Sarah (flushed with embarrassment):
Oh no! I was hoping that no one had seen me in that attire. I am sorry I borrowed your clothes without permission. Where did you see me?
Were you in the cottage?
Kian:
No, I was just walking to the workshop and I saw you on the balcony combing your dark beautiful hair and using the wind as your hairdryer! I just stood there for a second and gave all the rights to Patrick to fall in love with you, even if you both were so young. I don’t know why he could not wait longer for you. If you both would have met now, my family could have properly asked for your hand in marriage to Patrick.
Sarah:
If I plan to stay, will you take me to his grave?
Kian:
I will surely do that. Now, tell me what is your plan, what do you want to do with the money you inherit?
Sarah:
Honestly, I don’t have any plan at all. But I genuinely hope no one intends to sell the farm.
Kian:
You are not planning to sell the farm, at all? All of us were thinking that due to your sad memories associated with the farm, you would want to sell the farm. We had decided to buy your share of the land if you planned to sell it.
Sarah:
I don’t have any good memories of the farm, but this farm has been passed to us from generation to generation. Our fathers grew up here and now you all are living in it. I do not have the heart to sell it at all!
Kian:
So, if you don’t want to sell it, you need to live with us.
Sarah:
Are you kidding me? You know how everyone hates me and still, you want me to stay on the farm?
Kian:
That’s not true. It was a huge confusion! We should do something else which you can benefit from as well.
They reached the law house, parked their car nearby, and took the stairs to their lawyer’s office.
Kian:
If you plan to stay, I will give you the cottage and you can live there happily.
Upon reaching the lawyer’s cubicle, Kian started telling him about his plan to give the cottage to Sarah and let her stay on the farm as well.
The Lawyer (addressing Sarah):
Be sure that Kian is a real gentleman, so you can count on him.
Sarah couldn’t look directly into Kian’s eyes anymore and put her head down.
