EMBRACE OF MISTS by Sowmya Latha (important of reading books .TXT) 📕

do I know Emi?” but his laugh did not reach his eyes. I saw the momentary pain and I decided never to ask about it again. Instead I asked Bianca one day.

“Bia”

“What is it?”

“Can I ask you something?”I took my breath.

“Go ahead”

“Why is that you people behave strange about Jacob?” I did not get an immediate reply.

“Is he behaving strange or us, Emi?”

“What? He behaves strange? I don’t think…” but Bianca cut me in the middle.

“It’s because he talks to you. He does even bother to look at any of us” after a second she continued, “He stopped everything after… well… do you like him Emi?”

“Yes” I replied. She laughed.

“You blush dear. Anyways I hope everything goes along well.” She then hugged me. A strange gesture but sweet.

I curled onto my bed in my nightdress. It was cold and I pulled my blanket over my head. I thought about what Bianca hid from telling me. What did Jacob stop? After what? Why hadn’t he told much about him? Is he a murderer or something? Why does he look strange to others but not to me? But I was clear of one thing. Jacob talks only to me which means he likes me. Maybe he feels the same way, I feel for him? The thought was pleasant. I closed my eyes for a good sleep.

 

CAROLINA

June 1996, Bern

I heard a commotion, screams everywhere. People were running all corners. There was a tensed atmosphere. I dropped my papers and walked over to see what the cause was. Mr. Smith had died. No, murdered. I shuddered. What had I done? Five minutes before I had led the man into the room myself. And now he was dead. Was I too involved in the murder? Someone shouted my name.

“I saw Carolina taking Mr. Smith into that room. She closed the door behind her. After five minutes she came out of the room looking guilty. I noticed everything.” Someone was making his own story. Why didn’t he mention that he saw a knife in my hand dripping with Mr. Smith’s blood?

“She murdered him!! It was she!!” another voice called.

“How could she kill such an innocent man? How cold hearted?” said another.

Stop it! I wanted to shout at them. But the police had taken me under arrest. The whole town chewed my name. I had become popular in a single day. Here I was in the police custody. I was going to be put on trial and sent to jail. Who will take care of my poor mother? How would she be if she comes to know about this? My mind told silently that she would have known by now. I was the culprit of the horrible murder in the town. Why me? I didn’t do anything wrong. How someone could lay a trap for Mr. Smith including me it? Not someone. It was he. That fellow who looked like a film actor. Hatred flowed through me. I am not a murderer right now, but I’ll soon become one killing him. Who was he? Why did he kill Mr. Smith? Too late. I would never know the answer. I have my trial tomorrow. What if they hang me? Die for no mistake of mine? Holy Christ. Tomorrow was my end and I could not close my eyes throughout the night.

The ill day dawned. I felt tired and my body lacked energy. I had not eaten anything since yesterday morning. I waited for the police to take me to the court. Two police women asked me to follow them. I could not speak anything. I felt dumb. Outside the room I saw my mother.

“Lina!!”

“Mom!!” I ran to her, fell on my knees and cried. “Believe me mom. I dint do anything. I dint do it.”

“Hush child. I know. And everybody here knows that.” I was confused. What was she saying? I looked at her and around her. People were smiling at me. The church Father spoke, “Lina, it was an accident that you were involved in this murder. The children in the church told us what had happened. They swore before everyone that they saw a man coming out of the room after Smith was murdered. A few ladies too agreed with them.”

My mother smiled and said, “Yes dear. The people and police believed them and left you free. Let’s go home” and she touched my hand.

Was this real? Was I not going to be hanged? But one thing was real. I was disgraced. People had seen my face as the murderer. I decided to shift my place. I could not possibly continue my life in Bern. I got to take my mother and leave the country. Probably I’ll go to New York where no one knows me. Personally I had another reason too. What if the murderer comes back to kill his only evidence, that’s me. I don’t mind dying but my mother would not bear it. She looked ten years older in two days. I have to go to a safe place. I told my mom and started packing our things. There is no time to waste. I booked the tickets to New York; perhaps no one would mind me shifting into this populated city. I was ready to go.

MICHAEL

July 1996, New York

I returned back to New York. I rushed to tell the happy news to Jared and others. I walked into the room and saw Jared, Alvin and Jacob sitting. There was a tension in everyone’s face. As soon as Jared saw me, he plunged onto me shouting, “What have you done you duffer?” I was taken aback, surprised. “What?” I asked him. Jared should congratulate me. Not yell at me. I looked at the other two faces. They too had a disapproving look. Something has gone wrong. Jared got up and came near me. “You dare to ask what? Look at this.” He threw a newspaper cutting. The column of news had Mr. Smith’s murder as flash news. That’s my victory and what was wrong in that? I continued reading. The girl, Carolina Thomas was arrested as guilty. I was shocked. I felt pity for her. But why does Jared feel pity for her? He didn’t know her. She would be hanged and we would be out of trouble. Good news. Why does Jared shout? The answer was in another newspaper cutting. I read the news that Carolina was freed and was out of guilt. It was also stated that the police were searching the real culprit and it was mentioned that this girl, Carolina Thomas would identify the murderer for the police. Damn. My cheeks burned hot. What had I done? Left an eye witness just because she was beautiful? Oh Mike how stupid could you be?

I could not look into Jared’s eyes. I hung my head down searching for words to apologise. “I am sorry Jared. I really did stupid.” He looked at me with his eyes filled with fire. “Kill her” he said. I looked up at him. “I will” I said. No emotions now. She is dangerous to us. I have to take another trip to Bern and I booked my tickets.

Once I reached Bern, I searched for her in the church, her workplace and then finally her home. The girl was gone. She had shifted her place to hide away from me. Oh why did I leave her alive? I promised myself that I would kill her soon. After searching in vain, I returned to New York. I could not eat or sleep, letting her walk alive. I spent hours thinking of ways to kill her. The day when I lay my hands on her neck and strangle her to death. It was at that time Jared came in with the boys.

“This is important, Mike. We can’t trust the girl and the police are very clever. They know that Smith was going to witness against us. So let’s get split. After a few months we will meet here. Jacob alone can stay here to continue his schooling. Alvin and you can move somewhere south and I’ll better go to San Francisco. My old aunt’s house is there for me and I will stay there. We will meet here exactly in December for Christmas. Do you think it is fine for you Mike?” Jared said. I nodded. There was nothing else to do. I am not going to find her and so I can at least save my friends and myself. We enjoyed the little farewell party we had for ourselves. We drank to our full and fell flat.

The next morning, we hugged each other good bye and left out to our hideaways. Jacob can be here with no problem. We were never going to meet until Christmas. With a heavy heart we departed. It was all for one girl, Carolina Thomas.

MELINDA

 

July 1996, San Francisco

Today is Thursday. Tomorrow is the day scheduled to exhibit my painting.

‘Angel, I am nervous.’

‘Why?’

‘How will people interpret our art?’

‘Don’t worry. We have done our best’ Angel comforted me. We had our breakfast and left for buying groceries. The fridge was running out of it and maybe a few canned foods would serve us well. We went out to the nearby shop but it started to rain heavily. Lucky, that I had brought my umbrella along with me. I opened my purse to see a few saved dollars. I could not see clearly through the rain and I regretted for coming out to shop in that dreadful weather. Suddenly I dashed onto a man and I missed my balance. He caught me just in time.

“Careful miss” he said to me.

“Er,sorry…” I could not see his face but I tried to look at him. He was tall and that was all I could make out. It was at that time the sickening wind blew my umbrella away from my hands with a mighty force. I tried to run behind it but it was already gone. Then I realized a hand was catching me from running behind it. “It’s a waste to run behind it.” He then pulled me under his umbrella. I shrugged from his hold but it was firm.

“Excuse me” I said and tried to lift his hand off me. He held me even more firmly. “Don’t behave stupid. Let’s get away from here” saying that he dragged me along with him to a bus stop. My dress was dripping wet and I got a chance to look at his face. He was tall, tight chinned and a muscular man. His eyes told nothing and he looked very rough. He would be nice looking if he smiled but his mouth was tightly closed. His eyes were on me. I felt, for a second softness peeped into his eyes and the next second it was all gone.

‘Angel?’

‘Hmmm?’

‘Why do you keep mumb? What is your opinion of this man?’I asked her.

‘I think he is a superman, Mel.’ She instantly replied. ‘Oh shut up. He is ordinary man. Don’t go deep into him. Nothing interests me about him.’

‘You are wrong’ she said. I was irritated.

‘Fine, keep your mouth closed.’ I replied to her and turned to the man. “Hey I have to go now. Thanks for pulling and pushing me under this bus stop.” I dint wait for his reply. I walked away straight towards home not caring about the rain. There was no one on the road to see my stupid act.

‘You disgraced him’ Angel confronted with me.

‘Oh you just shut up!!’ I was not in the mood to argue with her. Angel became silent. I went home and dried myself. I lost interest in eating so I gulped down some cream milk and went to bed.

The next morning seemed bright and fresh. I dropped into my jeans and casual top and my sneakers. I wrapped my painting in a lace cloth and took it to the Grand Emporium Art Exhibition. I thought of hiring a taxi but decided to go