Short Story – Chained to Shadows Part 4
Days melded into weeks. He got habituated to seeing her. While mostly she kept out of his way, whenever she sat down in the living room, working with her threads, he found a certain solace in her company. He told himself it was the memory of Sonya binding them together. But he knew it also had a lot to do with the meaning he had seen in her eyes. The look that said she knew how he felt. How could that be? It was such an absurd feeling that the moment it came he brushed it away. But he had to admit he was glad his Mumbai flat in a high rise building wasn’t empty when he came home.
Amber’s uncle, who hadn’t been able to pay his respects to Sonya, came to visit them.
‘Amber looks much better these days.’ He said as he sat with Victor in the balcony facing the sea one evening. ‘I can’t tell you how pleased that makes me. She’s been so withdrawn and shy. It used to worry me. I tried to tell Bhaiya and bhabhi that they were doting so much on Sonya, it was affecting Amber. They had no time for my advice.’ He fell silent.
Victor prodded him, ‘She is quiet, not shy.’
‘But she had become so used to remaining in the background. Siblings are often compared. It’s inevitable. And all the time she came out unfavorably. And it wasn’t her fault at all.’ His voice dropped. ‘It was because of those scars.’
‘She said she doesn’t care about them.’ Victor said, remembering. ‘Sonya really loved her. That was her one condition when we got married. She refused to be parted from Amber.’
‘At least Sonya had brains enough to feel grateful. Her parents didn’t even have that sense. Amber risked her life rescuing Sonya. Don’t you know? No, you don’t.’ he observed, seeing Victor’s expression, ‘They were children then. Sonya was caught in a shed when they were visiting a farm. The dry hay got kindled. Maybe kids doing some antics. Amber was quite small then maybe eight or ten. She broke the window glass, reached through it and God knows how got her sister out. Sonya never forgot how she saved her. She refused to even go to college without her. That much I know.’
Victor was silent, stunned. Assimilating the feat of a little girl whose strength surpassed even that of some adults. He could readily believe she had done it. The golden eyes flashed with that indomitable spirit. Her parents hadn’t known what a pearl they had. But Sonya…he could respect her more, knowing that she had tried to repay Amber for saving her life.
And he…how utterly blind he had been…Like Amber’s parents he had refused to see what was before him.
‘I – ‘ the words were difficult to get out. ‘Chachaji, I can’t say how sorry I am. Initially after Sonya’s death, I blamed her for it. I said if it hadn’t been for her Sonya would never have gone on the trip…’
Uncle patted his shoulder, ‘In grief we sometimes say awful things, son. But you’ve been taking care of her. I see a peace around her and she’s glowing. Even the scars seem faded against the pink in her face.’ His eyes misted, ‘Just make sure she is happy. She’s seen so much, she deserves it.’
‘She does.’ It was torn out of a blocked throat.
Yes, she deserved so much more than what life had given her. Someone better than him.
Victor felt his heartbeat speed up as the wanting to fulfill the older man’s words pounded inside him. It was followed by a gut clenching fear. She had refuted the man who didn’t see past her scars. How could he be the one she would allow in her life?
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Filed under: Book Enthuse, Free Read
