Devilish

By Gulshan

I didn’t realise that Sue was taking over me. What I thought was a friendly hand, was the grip of the devil trying to control me. She was dominating and suffocating. When I became aware of it, I wanted to get out of her grasp, but she wouldn’t let me go.

I was eight months pregnant; my husband was away on business when Sue and her friend came tovisit. As we were drinking juice, I was suddenly struck with an unbearable pain – my contractions had started. I lost all my strength and could not see properly, it was as if I were floating in the darkness, until a needle-like pain pierced my arm. I begged them to call an ambulance, but they did not take any notice of me.

I heard the baby’s cry, “my baby! give me my baby!” I pleaded. I lost consciousness and when I woke, I was told it was a stillbirth. I did not believe it; I know what I heard. Sue stole my baby.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris UK
• Release date: Feb 24, 2021
• ISBN: 9781664114418

Gulshan

Gulshan was born in Zanzibar and moved to Nairobi when she was twelve years old. When Gulshan was a teen, she began to write short stories and plays in Gujrati which were published in national newspapers and magazines. Gulshan immigrated to London at the end of 1968, where she went on to have two sons and five grandchildren. Gulshan has previously published two children’s stories — “SEA HORN” and “MYSTICAL JOURNEY.”

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Copyright © 2021 by Gulshan.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 02/24/2021

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Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 1

R ICHARD WAS AWAKENED by the horrific sound of thunder, which shook the whole building. The entire room lit up as if thousands of lights had been switched on. He trembled with fear as he got out of bed, sweating as if he had just had a shower. He fell down on the ground, rose again, and fell down again. He rolled as a ball to a dark corner of the room, where he put his head between his knees and cried for his mother to take him back into her womb, where he would be safe. He sobbed and sobbed and kept calling for his mother, saying, Mummy, Mummy, there is a bogeyman in my room.

He became conscious when he heard the sound of breaking glass. He rose up from the floor and ran towards the window. Looking at his window, he saw that it was intact. He switched on the bedroom light and returned to the window. He moved the heavy curtains aside and pressed his face to the glass to look out into the street, able to see that the whole city was covered with a layer of snow.

Again, he heard the breaking of glass. He opened the window, and the cold wind hit his face. He bent forward to see whose window had broken. There was a light on in Jennifer’s room. Her windows were open, swinging on their hinges, back and forth, smashing the glass against the wall. He closed the window and ran towards the door. Removing his dressing gown from the hook on the backside of his door, he put it on as he ran out of the room. He saw his mother enter her room and close the door behind her.

Without wasting any time, he ran towards his cousin’s room. He knocked on the door, but there was no reply. He opened the door and stepped into the room. A strong gust of cold wind hit him as he fought against it. He held his dressing gown tight around himself to get into the room, where he was astounded to find that Jennifer’s bed was against the wall, under the open window. Her body was covered with snow. He reached towards her on the bed and tried to wake her, but it was in vain; she was unconscious and as cold as ice. He pushed the bed away from the window and into the centre of the room. Quickly removed the duvet that was covering her, he threw it to the floor. He ran to the cupboard, where he seized a blanket, and returned to her. He covered her with the blanket as he picked her up and walked towards the door. The wind was so strong that he had to struggle to open the door against the gusts. It took him some time to get out of the room.

Richard took Jennifer to his room. He laid her in front of the radiator and switched on the central heating, setting it to the highest temperature to warm her up. Richard covered her with more blankets and then went into the bathroom to retrieve a hot-water bottle. He let the tap for the hot water run for a while. When the water was at its hottest temperature, he filled the bottle. He returned to Jennifer, placed the bottle at her feet, and tried again to wake her, but she wouldn’t stir.

He quietly walked out of the room and closed the door behind him. On passing Jennifer’s room, he closed the door and switched the hallway light on. Then he went downstairs. He ran through the kitchen and took the stairs to the basement, to the independent flat. He knocked on the door frantically. Nan, Nan, please open the door!

After Richard’s continuous banging on the door, a sleepy, angry voice shouted from inside, Who is there?

It’s Richey. Please open the door! Hearing his scared, pleading voice, Karen sat up in her bed for a minute, thinking she was dreaming. Again, she heard the pleading voice of Richard. She got up and made her way to the door. Once she opened the door, she saw the tearful, frightened face of Richard. Her first thoughts were of Jennifer.

What is wrong, son? she asked.

Nan, you have to come with me. Jenny is in a coma, he said. He ran to the bedroom, picked up Karen’s dressing gown, which was lying at the foot of her bed, and helped her into it. Nan, Jennifer is in a coma. She won’t wake up.

Richey, slow down. What happened?

Let’s go. We haven’t got time to waste. He grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the stairs, her old body struggling to keep up with him. As they were walking through the kitchen to the main house and ascending the stairs, Richard explained what had happened. Tears were running down his young face. Should I call for an ambulance? he asked.

Let me see her first, said Nan. They entered Richard’s room and closed the door. Karen walked over to Jennifer and sat down beside her. She put her hand on Jennifer’s forehead. Jennifer was still very cold, but because of Richard’s quick thinking, she was getting warm. Karen looked up at Richard. You have done a wonderful job, darling. God knows what would have happened if you had not been here and acted as quickly as you did.

Karen pulled back the blanket and discovered that Jennifer’s nightdress was completely soaked from the snow. Darling, I have to change her out of her wet things. Can I have a pair of your pyjamas? Then go downstairs and fetch a bottle of brandy and the Vicks. Richard’s eyes were fixed on Jennifer, who was lying helpless on the floor. He prayed silently that she would be all right.

Richard walked to his closet, retrieved woollen pyjamas, and handed them to Karen. Without uttering a word, he turned and left the room. Then he went downstairs to his uncle’s study to pick up the bottle of brandy, moving onto the downstairs bathroom’s cabinet to retrieve the bottle of Vicks. When he returned to his room, Jennifer had been changed. Karen asked him to help her to get Jennifer onto the bed.

Do you have an electric blanket? she asked.

He replied, I do, but I don’t use it. He went back to the closet and brought out the electric blanket. He removed the bed sheet and placed the electric blanket on the mattress, then placed a clean sheet on top of it.

Karen saw the worried look on his face. Sweetheart, what is wrong? she asked.

Oh, I just remembered. Jennifer never goes to sleep without the electric blanket on when it is cold. She keeps it on the whole night. I told her many times that one day she would electrocute herself. It is a wonder she survived. Karen had a frightened look in her eyes as she got up to hug him.

Whatever the reason, she is still alive, which is the most important thing, Karen said. She may have forgotten to switch on the blanket.

Not Jenny, said Richard. I will go to her room and check.

Richey, the priority now is Jenny, Karen said. I need you here. Can you lift her and put her onto the bed? Richard did what Karen had asked. Karen poured a small amount of brandy into her palms and used it to massage Jenny’s chest and throat. She then turned Jennifer onto her tummy and rubbed her back. Jennifer was breathing heavily. Karen, seeing Richard’s anxious face, assured him, Don’t worry, she is going to be all right. She added, Richey, I need Jenny’s inhaler. Can you go and get it for me?

I have to go to her room to get it, he said. The idea of going back into Jenny’s room made him shiver, but he had no choice. He had to go into the ice-cold room. He left his room and soon returned with the inhaler, which he passed to Karen. Then he ran into the bathroom, turned on the hot-water tap, and placed his frozen hands under the water until they warmed up again.

The temperature in the room was getting too hot, but they tolerated it till Jenny was warm enough. Nan, don’t you think we should call for the doctor? Richard asked, looking at Karen. Jennifer is still not waking up.

Darling, you don’t want a poor old doctor to come out in this hazardous weather, she said lightly. Looking at him, she added, What’s wrong with me? Is Jennifer not in good hands? Don’t you trust my judgement? I was once a qualified midwife. Karen had thirty years’ nursing experience. She’d given up nursing to look after her husband. When he died, she was too old to return to nursing, so instead she became a nanny to Anna’s children.

Oh, Nan, you know I didn’t mean that, Richard said as he bent over and kissed her head. Jenny and I both trust you with our lives. There is no one in this world more precious to us than you.

I know, I know, don’t tell me that, Karen said playfully. Once you are married, you won’t even remember me.

Richard knelt down in front of her. With his eyes filling with tears, he said seriously, Never, ever say that, even as a joke. He took her hands in his. You are everything to us. Without you, we are lost.

Karen hugged him as she thought how unlucky his mother was, who should have had his love instead of its being showered on an outsider who was not a blood relation. Karen would go to any lengths to protect Jennifer and Richard. Because of them, she had been humiliated, mentally abused, and insulted by his mother. Many times, Karen had been tempted to leave, but the promise she had given to the dying Anna to look after the children no matter what happened, until they were old enough to stand on their own two feet, had kept her there. Many times, she decided to break her promise and leave this evil house, but she had no heart to leave the innocent children in the care of that wicked woman. Karen could have lived comfortably as she received a substantial sum of money from her husband’s life insurance. She also received pension for the thirty years of work she had done in the NHS. She did not need to depend on others as she had her own house, which she had rented out when she first moved into this house.

Nan, I am going to Jenny’s room to see if I can do something to block the windows, Richard said as he got up.

Karen said, Make sure you wrap yourself up properly. Put on a hat and gloves as the room will be very cold. I don’t want to end up looking after you as well.

Richard took his heavy coat out of the cupboard and then took his gloves and scarf out of the drawer. He laughed. Am I going to the room next door or to Alaska? he said as he left.

As he opened Jenny’s door, he was thrown back as the gusty wind took him by force. He held onto the door handle tightly with one hand and pushed himself into the room with the other. He closed the door behind him and looked at Jenny’s bed to see if the electric blanket was switched on. The blanket was on the bed, but when it had been moved under the window, the plug had been pulled out of the socket. Richard removed the blanket, which was soaking wet, and threw it onto the floor. He took some dry blankets out of the cupboard and used them to cover the broken windows. As he was leaving, he saw a small bottle on the bedside table, which he took with him to show to Nan. He walked downstairs and into the kitchen, where he made two large mugs of hot chocolate. Placing the mugs on a tray with a packet of biscuits to take upstairs, he heard the door open and close and knew it was his mother snooping around.

When Richard returned, holding the tray, Karen said, You read my mind, Richey. I was dying for a hot drink.

After visiting Jenny’s room, I need a hot drink too, he said as he placed the tray on the side table next to Karen, who was sitting on the bed. Richard looked at Jenny and asked, Nan, when is she going to wake up?

She is getting warm, but I don’t understand why she is not waking up, Karen said worriedly.

Nan, I found this in Jenny’s room, Richard said, handing Karen the small bottle.

Karen took the bottle and opened it. There was a tablet stuck at the bottom. She shook the bottle, and a pill fell out into her hand. Karen looked at Richard and asked, Why does Jenny need sleeping pills?

Nan, only Mum takes sleeping pills, he said as he took a sip of hot chocolate and then a bite of his biscuit.

Karen was thoughtful as she drank her hot chocolate. She looked up at Richard, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, and said, She has taken pills. I wonder how many?

Richard looked at her, stunned. Nan, she never takes any kind of pills, not even when she has a headache, when I have to make her take a painkiller, he said as he wiped the sweat from his forehead; the room was now getting too hot. Can I turn down the heat?

Yes, said Karen, it is hot. She added, Richey, Jenny has taken sleeping pills. I would like to know how many. Do you think she tried to kill herself?

Richard was walking towards the radiator. As he bent down to adjust the thermostat, he thought about what Karen had just said. Straightening up, he said, No. No, Nan, I do not believe she would do such a thing. She is strong-minded and a fighter, having fought bad things before and survived them. He went and sat down on the bed. Last night she was in a good mood. I had never seen her looking so happy, chatting about a trainee lawyer working at Uncle’s firm.

She didn’t say anything to me, Karen said, feeling left out. Jenny never kept anything from her.

Richard laughed. Oh, Nan, Jenny and I never keep any secrets from you. She just met him. She went to return some books she had borrowed from Uncle and was introduced to this lawyer in training. He took her for a drink. Richard took the last sip of his hot chocolate and said, Last night she was complaining and worrying about Uncle as he didn’t phone home.

Karen looked at him, baffled. James did phone. Apparently, your mother didn’t give her the message that he was not coming home because most of the roads were closed due to the weather. He was staying in Bolton for the night.

What time did he call? he asked her.

I don’t remember the exact time as I go to bed at ten o’clock. It must have been before nine.

Richard bit his lip. He remembered Jenny had asked his mother twice after ten o’clock about her father, saying that she was worried about him. In front of their mother, Jenny had tried to ring her father, but his phone was dead. She even mentioned that she hoped he had enough sense to stay where he was and not try to drive home in this perilous weather.

Nan, Richard said, we both asked Mum about Uncle, and she told us that she had not heard from him. I was really angry at him. He paused, looked thoughtfully at Karen, then got up quickly and said, It must be Mum! Before Karen could say anything, Richard hurried towards the door and walked out of the room.

Karen wondered; Would Sue go so far as to hurt Jenny? She knew Sue was capable of it. Sue got thrills and excitement when she saw others suffering. It did not matter if she was hurting a close relative or a distant one, a friend or a foe, or a colleague or a complete stranger. She had no heart or conscience and never repented of her wrongdoing. Jennifer was obviously her next target; she would keep on tormenting her until she destroyed her as she had destroyed Jennifer’s mother.

Richard walked towards his mother’s room. With his foot, he kicked the door open. As it was not locked, it opened easily. Sue, asleep, was startled by the noise What the hell! she yelled angrily, but Richard cut her off midsentence.

He shouted at her, How many sleeping pills did you give to Jenny?

What are you talking about? Get out of my room! she screamed at him.

Richard roared, Are you going to tell me, or do I have to call the police?

Sue looked at him and saw the rage and hatred in his eyes. She answered, I don’t know what you are talking—

Richard picked up the telephone receiver and said, Are you going to tell me, or do you want to talk to the police?

She looked down and, after a brief hesitation, mumbled, Four.

How did you give them to her? he asked.

She stammered, She left her mug of hot chocolate on the kitchen table to call her father.

If you are lying, and if anything happens to Jenny, I will make sure that you suffer the consequences, he said. If you go near her again, I will forget who you are, he added, the anger rising in his voice.

I am your mother. Do I mean nothing to you? she said angrily as Richard was leaving. He stopped walking and turned to look at his mother. He smiled at her menacingly then shook his head and left the room without saying a word. Sue watched him and, in a fit of anger, threw an ashtray at the closed door.

Richard told Karen that four sleeping tablets had been put into Jenny’s drink. Karen said, Four tablets won’t harm her, but then we don’t know if your mother is telling the truth or not. She was worried about Jenny, afraid that one day Sue might really harm her. Richard, talk to Jenny and persuade her to stay on campus at university. I have tried, but she will not listen to me.

Nan, what makes you think she will listen to me if she has not listened to you? He walked towards the window and lifted the curtain to look outside. It was still snowing. The whole street looked like a sea of fluffy cotton wool. He turned, walked back to the bed, and sat down. She promised me that once I finish my A levels and get into university, she will leave home. He paused. But we do not want to leave you alone in this house.

You don’t have to worry about me. I can look after myself. But I also need a change of scenery, don’t you think? Karen said.

Panicked, Richard said, You are not thinking of leaving us?

Karen replied soothingly, No, darling, I am not going to leave you. But I do have a son and grandchildren of my own.

I am sorry, Nan. How selfish I sound. Richard looked over at Jenny. He saw her trying to push the duvet and blankets off with her feet. A smile flashed across his face. He said happily, Nan, she is waking up. He went to the other side of the bed, but Jennifer was still in a deep sleep.

She must be feeling warmer. Remove one of the duvets, and switch off the electric blanket, Karen said as she put a hand on Jennifer’s forehead. Jennifer looked better than she had before. She will not wake up for several hours, said Karen, looking around the room. It was beautiful, having been elegantly decorated by Anna, the previous occupant, who had experienced very little happiness and a great deal of pain in her short life. She had hoped for better days, but they never came. She died young. When Anna became ill, she needed a lot of space. James had moved into Richard’s room, and Richard had moved into the guest bedroom. He didn’t mind as long as his aunt was comfortable. He would have done anything to make her happy, even when he was a small child. After school, he used to spend his time with Anna. He was the one who looked after her. He slept on the couch at the weekends just to be near her. For him, Anna was not an aunt but his mother, and he was the son who had been stolen from her. After Anna died, James, feeling comfortable in Richard’s room, did not want to move back into the master bedroom. Richard asked if he could have the room, and James had said yes, knowing how much that room meant to Richard, who had been much closer to Anna than she had been to her own daughter.

Richard moved his things into the master bedroom. He didn’t want to change anything except to remove his aunt’s clothes and make-up. He wanted the room to remain as a shrine. His mother did not know that Richard had moved into the master bedroom and thought that James had gone back to his own room. A week later, when she found out that Richard now had that room, she threw Richard’s things out onto the landing when he was at school and moved herself into the master bedroom. When Richard came home, he was surprised to see all of his things outside on the landing and was confused as to who could have done such a thing. He went into the room and found his mother arranging all her things in there. And all the beautiful furniture had been replaced with his mother’s simple furniture. Now the previously elegant room looked to him like a beautiful bride in an old, torn, shapeless gown.

Sue turned and saw Richard staring at her in anger. This is my room! Get out! she shouted at him.

This is not your room. Uncle let me have it, and I want it back! he demanded. He could not bear to see the temple where he had worshipped wiped away by a person who had tormented his wonderful aunt, whom he had loved and worshipped like a goddess. What have you done with all the furniture?

Sue turned away from the cupboard, where she was arranging her clothes. That damn woman spoiled you. Now that she is gone, I am going to wipe her memory from this house and from your mind as if she never existed. From today forward, I do not want to hear her name from you, do you understand? She came closer to him and, without any warning, slapped him across the face. Flabbergasted, he stared at her. But she did not stop there. She kept on hitting him. She got hold of his shirt and forcefully pushed him out of the room. As he fell to the floor, crying, Karen and Jenny came up the stairs. Both of them ran over to him. Karen took him in her arms, cradling him.

What happened, darling? she said as she wiped away his tears.

Continuing to sob, he said, Look what Mum has done. She threw out all my things! He looked up at Karen with tearful eyes. Didn’t Uncle let me have this room?

Yes, he did give it to you. What has happened? she asked.

Mum says it is now her room. She has removed all the furniture and replaced it with her own.

Karen knew that if Sue wanted something, then nothing in the world was going to stop her from having it. It was useless to argue with her or to complain to James. Anna always used to say that when it came to James’s family, his parents, brothers, and sisters came first, whereas his wife came last, at the bottom of the heap. Anna believed that he would discard her if she were to make any demands of him.

Darling, you can have your mum’s room. It is nice and big. We will put all the furniture back in that room, Karen said as she rocked Richard in her arms. For Richard, it was not just a room; it was a way to be closer to the woman he had loved so much.

Nan, Mum never loved Aunt. Mum made her life miserable. Even when Aunt was on her deathbed, Mum tortured her. You know what? Mum told me that she wants to wipe out Aunt’s memory from this house and from our minds as if Aunt never existed.

Jennifer said, What? She said that? How she can say that? I know she hated Mum very much. She even pitted me against her and always tried to prevent me from being with her. But I didn’t realize she had so much hatred for Mum, Jennifer said as she sat next to Richard, leaning forward and kissing him on his head.

It is my room, and I want it back, he said, crying. Looking at Jennifer, he stubbornly added, I won’t move from here till I get my room back.

Suppose Dad wanted to move. You would have done the same with him, Jennifer argued. She loved Richard very much and could not bear to see him feeling miserable.

Not to Uncle. It was his room, and if he wanted it back, I figured I had no right to it. When I asked Uncle, he told me, ‘No one deserves this room more than you. You loved your aunt very much, and till her last days, you were the one who looked after her. I want you to have this room. Your aunt would like that,’ Richard said, looking at her. If Mum hated Aunty so much, then why does she want to be in her room? She is doing this to spite me, because I loved Aunty very much.

Jennifer ruffled his hair and said, Let me talk to Aunt. She won’t say no to me. Jennifer got up. Sue did love her. She’d always done a lot for her, but she’d neglected Richard. From the day he was born up to now, she hadn’t ever done anything for him. Anna was the one who had looked after him and loved him tremendously, as much as she loved Jennifer. Richard never received anything from his mother except physical and mental abuse.

Without knocking, Jennifer entered her mother’s room, which now had a new resident. As her eyes passed over the room, she was saddened to see that the once beautiful, stylish room had been changed into a picture of dereliction. Sue turned and saw Jennifer. Her eyes flashed with fury instead of the welcoming smile she always had for her. What do you want? Can’t I have some peace in this house? she shouted in rage.

Jennifer was shocked as she stared at her, wondering what had happened to the loving aunt who fulfilled all her wishes, treated her like a princess, and did everything to make her life pleasurable. Why had she suddenly changed? Aunty, why are you angry? Jennifer said meekly.

You all treated me like a slave because of that damn woman. Now that she is gone and I am in charge of this house, what I say goes—and that includes you, she said angrily. No one ever shouted at Jennifer; she was always loved by everyone and never got scolded. She was so frightened that she ran out of the room to where Karen and Richard were sitting on the floor. Looking at her frightened face, Karen stretched out her arms and embraced her.

Nan, why is she so angry at me? I haven’t said or done anything, Jennifer said, still confused. I thought she loved me. Why has she suddenly changed?

Karen knew that from now on Jennifer would receive no affection from Sue. Before it was just pretence, to hurt Anna. Jennifer was young and didn’t understand that her aunt had been using her to hurt her mother. But it didn’t hurt Anna. She knew what game Sue was playing but said nothing about it. She tolerated it because Jennifer was happy, doing a lot of things with Sue which Anna had no time or energy for. Karen had no heart to tell Jennifer from now on not to expect any more warmth from her aunt. All those years Sue had showered Jennifer with kindness just to take her away from her mother, but now that her mother was gone, Sue did not need Jennifer any more.

After much persuasion, Richard went back to his old room, but he went on a hunger strike. He didn’t eat anything. The next day he went to school without breakfast. Karen and Jennifer did everything they could think of to change his mind, but he would not budge. Jennifer was so frightened of her aunt that she wouldn’t go near her. Karen was the one who told Sue that Richard had not eaten for the last couple of days. She didn’t care. She said, If he chooses to die, then let him die.

Jennifer, who loved her cousin very much, was devastated. She pleaded with Richey and her aunt, but neither of them would budge an inch. Jennifer could not understand what it was about that room. What was it that had caused her aunt to prefer to see her son die than to give up whatever was in the room?

James was away on a business trip and was expected back on Sunday. He was the only person who could do something about the situation. Karen had no way of contacting him as he was travelling.

On Thursday, a call came in from James. Karen told him what had been happening in his absence. She warned him that if he did not come back, then there would another funeral in the family.

Jennifer was worried about Richard; she had just lost her mother and didn’t want to see another death in the family. Richard had become very fragile, had lost a lot of weight, and was finding it very hard to get up. The last two days he hadn’t gone to school. He slept all the time. Jennifer, unable to bear any more, went to see her aunt and accused her of not caring for her son but only for herself. Sue got angry and attacked Jennifer like a raging bull. The cleaner, who was dusting in the corridor, ran to Karen to tell her that Sue was beating Jennifer mercilessly. Karen ran upstairs and went straight into Sue’s room. She saw Jennifer on the floor. Sue was kicking her. Karen pushed Sue away from Jennifer and slapped her very hard. Sue was startled. You hit me? How dare you! You … you, who is a servant, has the guts to touch me?!

If you ever touch the children again, I will report you to the police, Karen said slowly as her voice rose in anger. She held out her hand to Jennifer to help her up, gripping her hand tight. The children are in my custody. If I ever see you coming near them again, I will lodge a complaint against you. She looked at Jennifer and said, Darling, let’s go.

Not both children. Richard is my son. You are not going to dictate to me how I treat my son.

There is nothing in you one could call motherly. You are nothing but a butcher. Sue, I am warning you, if you ever hit either of these children again, I will call the police.

Jennifer put both her arms around Karen and cried. It was the first time someone had ever hit her. Her parents never had lifted a finger to her or shouted at her. She couldn’t understand why her aunt, who loved her very much, had changed so drastically. Her mother died only two weeks ago. She needed her aunt more than ever. But now she was not the same person she had once known. Jennifer was too young to understand her aunt’s cunning behaviour. She was an innocent tool which Sue had used to torture Anna. But now that Anna was gone, Sue’s task was finished. Having no more need for Jennifer, she had tossed her out as a useless object. Jennifer hadn’t lost only her mother; at the same time, she also lost her aunt.

Karen hadn’t mentioned to anyone that James was coming home tonight. She waited for him downstairs in the lounge. As soon as he arrived, Karen angrily accused him of neglecting Jennifer and leaving her to the mercy of his evil sister. She told him about Richard and the beating Jennifer had received from Sue, and if he was not going to interfere, then there would be another death in the family. James could not believe that Richard hadn’t eaten for the whole week. He told Karen to prepare a light meal for him.

When Karen came with a bowl of chicken soup and a cheese sandwich, James was already talking to Richard. He promised Richard that he would get his room back. He gently tried to feed him, but Richard, unable to digest any food, spit it back up. James phoned his family doctor, who was also his best friend. The doctor came to see Richard and gave him medicine to take before each meal. Once the doctor had left, James went to his old room. Without knocking, he entered. Karen, followed him, waited outside in the corridor. Sue was sitting on the bed, reading a book. She looked up, agitated, and was surprised to see her brother. You were supposed to return on Sunday. Anyway, welcome home. You must be hungry, she said sweetly. Have you eaten? Can I cook something for you?

Your son is dying and you want to cook for me? he shouted at her and took her by her hand, dragged her off the bed onto the floor, hauled her outside the room, and threw her on the floor.

Sue was astounded and shocked. She yelled at her brother, What the hell?! You—

Shut up! he shouted back at her. What are you trying to do, spoil my reputation? I haven’t come this far just for you to humiliate me and destroy me. He paused for a moment. Seeing the fury and revulsion in Karen’s eyes, he realized that what he said was only in his favour as if Richard meant nothing to him. This room is more important to you than your son.

Sue stared at him with a gaping mouth, unable to believe what was happening. You are insulting me in front of a servant?

Shut up! he said angrily.

He was interrupted by Jennifer as she came out of her room into the passage. What is wrong, Nan? She ran towards Karen and was shocked to see her aunt on the floor and her father, whom she hardly saw nowadays. She asked, Daddy, what are you doing here?

I do live here, he said lightly. Looking at her, he was stunned to see that her eyes were black, her lips were swollen, and there were bruises all over her face. For a moment, he just stared at her, unable to believe what he was seeing. Karen had told him, but he hadn’t believed her. He bent down and pulled Sue by her hair. How dare you?! How dare you abuse my child? If you ever touch Jennifer again, I will throw you out of my house and out of my life. He paused to breathe. You live in my house, you eat my food, and you have the guts to hit my daughter?

I am sorry. She made me angry, Sue said slowly. Turning to Jennifer, she said gently, I’m sorry, darling. Forgive me. You know how much I love you. Yesterday you were very rude.

Stop it. Damn you! I know you. If you don’t get what you want, you destroy it, James said angrily as he slapped Sue hard.

Jennifer ran towards her father, crying, Daddy, please don’t hit her. It was my fault. She held him by his hand.

James let Sue fell to the floor as he hugged Jennifer. If I find out that you’ve lifted a finger towards Jenny or Richey, I will throw you out into the street. That is my promise to you, he said angrily, looking at her. I won’t stop there. I will get a court order stating that you are an incompetent mother and will apply for guardianship of Richey. He paused, Go! Go! Get out of my sight before I kill you.

Quickly Sue tried to rise, but she lost her balance and tumbled down at Karen’s feet. As she slowly rose again, her eyes met Karen’s. For a second Sue just stared at her, full of hatred and loathing towards her, but in return, Karen just stared at her without any expression. As Sue was returning to her room, James said, I am giving you an hour to pack your things and to get your furniture out of this room and replace it with the furniture you threw out.

Sue, hesitating, said meekly, I can’t bring the furniture in by myself. Someone has to help me.

When you removed the furniture, did you ask us? This is your problem to sort out. I gave this room to Richey. No one deserves it more than he does, James said. Jenny has seen the doctor? he asked Karen as he kissed Jennifer on her head.

No. What explanation could I give it to the doctor without dishonouring your family? Karen said sarcastically.

James looked at her in anger, nonetheless he knew Karen would not disgrace him—but his sister would. Karen was surprised by the outcome. It was unusual for James to take any harsh steps towards his sister. She never remembered him ever uttering a single word against her. He must have known that his sister was tormenting his wife, but he never stopped her, always saying he did not want to get involved. But today, it was not his wife but his daughter, whom he loved very much. At last, he had found his voice. In Karen’s eyes, both James and Sue were self-centred, manipulative, and devious creatures with sweet tongues that could charm even the Devil to follow them. But compared to Sue, James was an angel.

The next day, Richard was moved back into his room.

Richard was baffled to see tears on Karen’s gentle face. Nan, what is wrong? Why are you crying? He sat in front of her on the bed and put his long arm around her. With his other hand, he wiped away her tears.

No. It’s nothing, she replied as she put her hand into her unruly grey hair, which was falling onto her forehead, to push it back.

He bent forward and kissed her on her cheek. Nan, what is wrong? Please tell me, he said, staring at her lovingly. He loved her very much and worshipped the ground she walked on. When his aunt Anna died, if it hadn’t been for Karen, he would have been ruined. But Karen’s love and devotion saved him.

A long-lost memory came back to haunt me, she replied. Turning to look at his worried face, she took his face in her hands and kissed him on his forehead. You went through hell to get this room.

A smile flashed on his young face as he said, laughing, But in the end I got it. That’s what’s important.

No, child, your life is more important than these four walls, Karen said. I still don’t understand why a ten-year-old would want a grown-up’s room. You should have a room full of posters of your idols, but still, after seven years, your room is the same as the day Anna died.

Richard moved the hand which he had laid on Karen’s shoulder. He bent forward to pick up a mug, which he handed to her. Nan, I didn’t want Mum to have this room because she wanted to remove every memory of Aunty from this house as if Aunty never existed. She destroyed the photos of Aunt with me and Jennifer, he said, his eyes clouded with sadness. I was young, but I knew what she was doing to her. Still, it was not Mum I blamed. I blamed Uncle. He knew what was happening, but he never stopped his sister. Another thing I don’t understand: Aunt wasn’t a fool, and she knew what was happening, but still she let Mum stay here instead of kicking her out of this house. Many times, I wondered what kind of hold Mum had on Aunt. He took a sip from his mug and added woefully, Aunt’s death was Uncle’s loss. I wonder if he knows what he lost.

He knows, but he won’t admit it, Richey. He likes to convince others and himself that he is right and never wrong and that he has never done an injustice to anybody, Karen said.

Nan, now it is not a question of his wife who is dead and gone. Why can’t he open his eyes and see what his sister is doing to his only child? Richey said angrily. What happened tonight is Mum’s doing. He sighed. Thank God I woke up because of the lightning and thunder. I was so frightened.

Richey, are you still frightened of lightning? Karen asked, staggered.

He felt embarrassed to admit it. He lowered his eyes as he said, Nan, I don’t understand why, when it is a stormy night, I have nightmare, but once I am awake I am all right.

Darling, why have you never told me? Did Anna know about this?

Yes. Whenever there was thunder, she came to my room and stayed with me. Mum used to get angry, but Aunt wouldn’t leave me till I had calmed down and had gone back to sleep. A few times she took me to her room, where I slept on the sofa, Richard said.

Didn’t your uncle mind?

Once he said something, then Aunt retorted, ‘Why don’t you ask your sister to look after her son? Then I won’t have to do her job,’ Richard said. Nan, did something happen when I was young?

Karen was thoughtful. She looked at Richard and said, Yes, darling. When you were only two years old, you were in your room on a night when a gusty wind was blowing furiously and it was raining heavily. Once the lightning started flashing outside your window, you got frightened and started crying. Your mother wouldn’t pick you up and wouldn’t allow anyone to get near you. I thought you would come out of it, Karen told him as she swallowed the last drop of her drink. She felt guilty as she went on. Honey, I wish I’d known that you were still suffering. Richey, you have to see a psychiatrist, or else you will suffer your whole life.

I have been thinking about it, Richard said. You and Jenny always insisted that I go on school trips, and I refused. I was worried that if I had a nightmare, then I would be a laughing stock to my schoolmates.

Richey, it is not healthy for you to keep this room as a monument.

For a second he just stared at Karen, trying to figure out what she was talking about. This is not a monument, Nan. I love this room the way it is furnished. When I was young and Mum was not around, I spent a lot of time here with Aunt; she always welcomed me and put her work aside to play with me. Here I was loved and comforted by her. This room gives me peace and sanity. Even now, after seven years, I still feel her presence, he said, his voice breaking. I don’t know why, but I still love her very much. To me she is still alive. He paused for a moment. Nan, you know, just before she died, she couldn’t even walk and was in pain, but she dragged herself to my room when everybody was sleeping to see if I was covered properly and if I’d eaten. Many times, Mum sent me to bed without food. Aunt would take me downstairs and make something for me to eat. I insisted that she should be in bed, but she wouldn’t take no for an answer. He looked straight into Karen’s eyes. With tears in his eyes, he said, Nan, how can I forget the person who was not my mother but who treated me as her own son, when the one who is my mother has never given me anything but pain.

Anna loved you as much as she loved Jenny.

It was still snowing heavily. A sudden gust of wind shook the house. The wind was blowing more furiously than before. The worst part was the trees, making such a racket that they were more atrocious than the wind. Nan, what happened tonight, is it Mum’s doing? he asked. It was more like a statement than a question.

She just stared at him thoughtfully as she leaned forward to hug him, but his six-foot frame was too tall for her to reach. Instead, Richard bent down, kissed her on her head, and asked her again, Nan, why does Mum want to kill Jenny?

Richey, I would like you to persuade Jenny to live on campus, Karen said, ignoring his question.

You also think that Mum wants her dead, he said as anger flashed on his face. Nan, don’t worry about Jennifer. I will protect her with my life.

Richey, your mother is evil. She is after Jennifer, and she won’t rest till she destroys her. You cannot guard her twenty-four hours a day. Tonight, she was lucky that you were awake, but what would have happened if you were not?

Richard said nothing.

Richey, this summer we should go away to Sydney, Karen said. Smiling coyly, she added, At least your mother’s mind would rest not seeing us around.

Mum did everything she could to get you kicked out of this house, he said gloomily. You also suffered a lot because of us.

Sue went to war with Karen after she found out that Karen had told James about her. She wanted Karen out of the house. Sue’s behaviour changed towards the children. She began to sit with them to help with their school homework and taking them out to see a movie or go to a theme park. Suddenly the evil Sue had become an angel. There was nothing she wouldn’t do for the children. Especially when James was around, she went to extra lengths to praise the children.

Sue was working as a school nurse, so when the school was closed, she also had a holiday. Most of these holidays, she’d take the children out and spend a lot of money on them. James was happy that at last there was harmony and peace in the house. Everybody was trapped in Sue’s web except Karen. Sue was using the same method she’d used when Anna was alive to take Jennifer away from her.

Karen and the children were out shopping. James was home alone. Sue took the opportunity to talk to her brother. She made tea for him and took it into his study, where he was reading some documents related to his business. She handed him the tea and sat down in the empty chair in front of him to talk to him about the children. She asked that since the children no longer needed a nanny, why waste money on a nanny? At the same time, the flat could be rented out to bring some money into the house. James told her that Karen took no wages. Sue could not believe someone would work for free. James had never told her that the house was in Anna’s name as she had worked in a bank and had gotten the mortgage with very low interest. In her will, Anna mentioned that Karen was to stay to look after the children. If she was forced to leave, or if she decided to go, then the house should be sold and the proceeds equally divided among James, Jennifer, Richard, and Karen. If Karen stayed till the children were twenty-one or older, then James would be the sole owner of the house.

Sue erupted like a volcano. She wanted James to go to court over it, but he said that he had neither the money nor the time to fight the will. James had been surprised and shocked once he’d read the will, which Anna’s lawyer had given to him after she died. James took no objections to the will and understood why Anna had included Karen in it. It was a kind of blackmail. No one could force Karen to leave the house, and that way the children would be safer in her care than in the care of Sue or James.

Sue tried every trick in the book to make Karen leave on her own, but she did not succeed. Every opportunity she got, she insulted Karen and abused her mentally, but Karen, being her equal, took no notice of her. One thing Karen knew was that James wanted her to look after the children. Indirectly, he made sure she would stay with them. James had even told Sue that if Karen were to leave, then he would have to sell the house, with any profit being divided among the four of them, but she didn’t care that her brother would lose a lot of money—as long as she would have Richard’s inheritance.

Richard and Jennifer went through life with both laughter and tears. When Anna was alive, Sue made Richard’s life unbearable. And then she turned on Jennifer, trying everything she could to destroy her. She hated her without any reason. Jennifer never gave her any reason to be annoyed. Most of the time Jennifer stayed away from her. Sometimes, even when something was not her fault, she apologized for it because she didn’t want any trouble between Richard and his mother.

When James was around, Sue was kind and loving and could not stop praising Jennifer. But once his back was turned, her attitude changed, becoming vicious and spiteful. Many times, Richard had rows with his mother because of Jennifer. When Anna died, he was only ten years old, but suddenly he matured very fast, growing taller than other boys his age. He was only eleven when he saw his mother was hitting Jennifer, he ran towards them, pushed his mother to the ground, and said angrily, If you ever touch Jennifer again, then will I make your life a living hell.

Sue saw the rage and loathing in his eyes. She got up and was going to attack him, but he was holding her arm so tight that she could not even move. Try it, Sue, and I’ll show you who is in command.

His grip was so strong that it left a mark on her arm. Stunned, she just stared at him. Here he was a child, but he had the strength of a young man. Even Jennifer was dazed, unable to believe what she’d seen. From that day on, Richard never again addressed Sue as Mother and she lost all control over him. Anyone else in Jennifer’s place would have run away from home, or killed herself, or ended up in a mental hospital, but the love and support of Richard and Karen had made her an independent-minded and strong-willed person. Even amid all the heartache, she turned out to be kind, generous, witty, and very loving. She changed into a very beautiful tall girl with dark brown hair, twinkling brown eyes, high cheekbones, and full, heart-shaped lips.

Richard, thinking for a moment, suddenly asked, Nan, Aunty left one-fourth a share of this house to you. Why? He paused, then a smile flashed on his boyish face. Because of the condition she put in her will that you have to stay and that no one can throw you out of this house. She knew that once she died, Mum would force you to leave. Aunt wanted you to stay to look after Jenny, isn’t it?

Not only Jenny, but you too, Richey. She loved you very much. That’s why she left you the same amount as she left for Jenny. She was your mum. She stopped herself abruptly and changed the subject. Your aunt was not a fool. She was a clever woman, but she never wasted words convincing others that she was not a fool or a weak person.

To me, she was more than an aunt, Richard said proudly, added, Nan, when Aunt and I were alone, she wanted me to call her Mummy. She was my mum.

This revelation did not surprise her.

Jennifer made a sound and whispered. From his spot with Karen on the sofa, Richard ran towards her. Jennifer looked at them. Half asleep, she murmured, Why are you not in bed? She turned her back to them. Switch the light off. I’m sleepy. Please go.

Richard roared with laughter. He lowered himself, kissed her on her head, and said, Welcome back.

Jennifer turned back, astounded, looking at the two faces she adored very much. Looking puzzled, she asked, What do you mean, ‘welcome back’? I haven’t been away. What are you two doing in my room? And why are you grinning like spoiled children? Her eyes went around the room. She asked in a confused voice, What am I doing in your room?

It is a long story. Go to sleep, honey, Karen said as she sat down on the bed and stroked her hair. I’m tired. So is Richey. We’ll talk in the morning.

Anyway, I am sleepy, Goodnight, Jennifer said. Too drowsy to argue with them, she turned over on her tummy, pulled the duvet up over her head, and went to sleep. Richard stared at her with a gaping mouth. A minute ago, she was wide awake, and the next moment she was snoring.

Nan, how does she do it? If she wants to go to sleep, it is just like switching a machine off and she drifts away into dreamworld.

Karen laughed but said nothing. She removed one of the duvets from Jenny, handed it to Richard, and said, Go to sleep. Goodnight, honey. Sweet dreams. She lay down beside Jennifer.

Richard pulled a pillow from underneath the head of Jennifer, who had two, and gazed at his beautiful cousin with admiration and love as he blew her a kiss and whispered, Goodnight Sis. God bless you. He walked towards the sofa. Once he had settled down on the sofa, Karen switched off the light which was next to the side table.

Chapter 2

J ENNIFER WOKE UP. As she turned, she was surprised to see that Karen was sleeping next to her. Looking around, she was astonished to find that she was in Richard’s room. She brought herself up and sat on the bed, trying to think why she had ended up in Richey’s room. How come I am here? Why is Nan here? She remembered that she and Richard had watched the late-night movie downstairs in the lounge. Afterwards she’d gone into the kitchen and made herself a chocolate drink. She took the drink upstairs, drank it, and went to sleep. She had no answers to her questions. Only they can tell me, she said to herself. Without making noise, she got out of bed and was shocked to see that she was wearing Richard’s pyjamas. She thought something terrible had happened and she had no recollection of it. She bent and rolled up the pyjama bottoms a few times as they were too long for her. She opened the door, exited the room, and gently closed the door behind her without making any noise. She walked towards her room. As she opened her bedroom door, a cold wind blew her backwards. For a moment she just stood next to the door, wondering why her room had turned into the South Pole. She was hesitant to go into the room, but after a few moments, she decided to brave the icy wind. After stepping in, she ran towards the cupboard. She opened the cupboard and removed a pair of jeans, a woollen pullover, and a pair of underwear. She hurriedly ran to the bathroom. After taking a hot bath, she put on her clothes in the bathroom. Once she emerged from the bathroom, she ran speedily towards the door. She went downstairs, strolled into the kitchen, and switched on the kettle to make tea. She placed three mugs on a tray, made some pancakes, and poured maple syrup, which Richard liked, on his and her pancakes. For Karen’s, she sprinkled them with sugar and lemon juice. Also, she made toast and spread butter and jam on it. She put three teabags in the teapot, poured hot water in it, covered it with a tea cosy, and took it upstairs into Richard’s room. She placed it on the writing table, where pushed the curtain one side and said loudly, Children, it is time to go to school. You are already late.

Richard threw the duvet to one side, got up, and rubbed his eyes. He gazed at the blank wall. Then, turning his gaze, he saw Jennifer with a big smile. He burst into laughter. College is closed, he said fondly. How are you, sweetie? He got up and approached her. She was standing near the window.

Why are you asking about my health? What is wrong with me? she asked as she coughed and wiped her nose.

Nothing, he said, smiling, as he hugged her and kissed her on her forehead.

They looked out into the street. It was still snowing. Richey, why was I sleeping here? she asked, confused.

When Karen, who was also awake, saw Jennifer, a smile flashed on her old sweet face as she said lovingly, "How are you