Ena's POV:

My night was dreadfully uncomfortable. I turned the air conditioner to 13°C in the middle of the night as I was all sweaty and in the morning I was stuttering with cold.

Mum called me again, telling me about the condition of my stepfather.

"I made soup for Him in the morning. He's getting weak,".

"No need to worry, mum. You shouldn't worry about Him so much. He's big, He can take care of Himself,".

She sighed.

"I'm sorry if you mind that"

"It's okay, dear. I'll call you later"

The cell phone beeped.

I sighed.

I'm allergic to Him and His name.

During school, we got the notice for our spring holidays.

"The cards are pretty"

Ivan agreed with me.

"What are you wearing guys?"

"I literally don't have any dress to wear at the party!"

"Me too," Ivan said.

"Wanna go shopping in the evening?" Elen asked us.

We nodded.

"So I'll pick you guys up at sharp six o'clock.

So we confirmed our plan. It was 11th of March that meant two days were left.

"I'll spend my holidays watching TV shows. What about you, Ivan?"

"I'll sleep," Ivan said it yawning.

"Agh! You sleepy head!"

We both giggled.

The evening was lively. First, we called Elen over, and then had some snacks together. We went together to the mall in Elen's car. We toured the mall twice, after which we filled our hands with shopping bags and my legs ached. Then we took the coffee from Starbucks.

We sat on benches that were placed inside the mall. I was drinking my coffee when my phone rang.

"Who's calling right now?" I said annoyed. I placed my cup on the table and saw that it was mum who was calling. I got up and motioned to Elen and Ivan that I'll be coming in a minute.

"Hello?"

"Ena?"

"Mum I'm a little busy right now. I'm out, can I call you when I get home?"

"...no...."

I frowned as she never refused like that. Then from her voice, I could make out that she was crying.

"Mum are you all right?"

She sniffed. She seemed ill or something.

"Your father passed away", she started crying in the middle of her sentence. She didn't even correct it to my stepfather. I was overjoyed, but I didn't have the right to express my happiness.

"I'm sorry," I said that, instead of in a gloomy voice.

"His funeral is tomorrow", she said taking pauses "I'll be waiting for you love"

She started crying hard. I felt sorry for Him hearing my mother's voice. But he gave me so much hatred and harsh treatment when mom wasn't around us that I didn't have a soft corner for Him now.

That sympathy came only for a few seconds and it vanished just as fast as it came.

"I'll come, mum"

"Guys grim news! I won't be here for the party"

"What the fudge!"

"Why the hell you won't be here?" Ivan asked me.

"Ummm... tomorrow is His funeral."

They understood what I meant when I said 'He'.

"But that's..."

"Ivan mum asked me, I couldn't refuse"

"I won't go to the party if you won't be here!"

"Ivan! You would go! Elen would be there to accompany you"

Elen smiled.

"I will leave early in the morning. I'll book my flight right now"

"Then when will you come back?"

"I don't know. Mom seemed really broken. I'll stay as long as she wants me to stay. Then I'll see."

Elen stayed for the night. In the morning I dressed up in my white T-shirt and blue jeans. I stuffed my bag with my clothes and my essentials, sandals, sneakers, my toothbrush, my comb, my gloss, and my glasses. It was cloudy and the sun rays came filtering through that cotton ball of clouds. My departure was full of goodbyes and complaints about why I won't be there for the party. I wanted to attend the party but couldn't.

I attended a funeral in the afternoon while Ivan and Elen made lively preparations for the party. They called me in the evening to show me the makeup stuff they bought for the party. They teased by showing that they were having a movie night. I felt superb to meet my mom after an entire year. The only obstruction between us had been Him this far.

She hugged me tight and slept with me at night. I could see her tear marks. She told me that His and her relation wasn't going well in the past few days.

"He was a little harsh on me," That's what she said.

I totally agreed with her.

In the morning I was sitting with my black shirt and pyjamas put on, my phone in my hand and getting amused by what I was watching.

".....see now I'm gonna pour myself a drink. Here you can have it too Elen..."

Elen and Ivan video called me. They looked really dashing. The arrangements were delicate as flowers were put everywhere. There were lilacs and rosemary and sunflowers and bell flowers and periwinkles and roses and all the other sorts. The food looked wonderful. I could see a virtual video of the party, which satisfied me a little.

Mom ordered lunch, and we ate it together. Then she talked about that I should go back and complete my studies. And that she would be okay here alone. Although she was depressed she cheered me the best she could. We went shopping the day after the party.

"Mum, give me these bags. I'll hold them for you"

"Thanks, dear"

She handed me over the bags she was carrying. A man hit me abruptly just at that moment.

"Can't you watch where you are going?"

He wasn't a man he was around my age I guess, maybe sixteen-year-old. He helped me pick up the bags, "I'm so sorry, I was in a hurry. I have a flight to catch"

He hurriedly walked past us and hit another woman. I sighed.

Senseless people!

"You shouldn't have said that. Poor boy, he was getting late for his flight"

"Ma they don't get that in their minds if you don't tell them!"

Mum took great care of me and told me things deep in her heart and things outside like what her neighbour is planting nowadays and also some things related to my stepdad. In the evening Ivan video called me again.

"Anything new?"

"The party was fun. I wish you had been there."

"And Elen and I watched a movie last night"

"Good"

"And yeah. Someone bought the house next door."

"The house in which that cat lived?"

"Not only that cat, but people also lived in it Ena!"

I took a sigh of relief.

"I hated that cat. Thank Goodness those people left the house"

"The unknown people were shifting their furniture in the afternoon. I passed my time watching them taking those things in"

"I'll be coming tomorrow"

"Oh Wow! That sounds like a piece of pleasant news."

"Actually mum wanted it that I should go"

"Hmmm Hmmm"

I departed for Pinegrove at eight a.m sharp. Ivan was so glad to see me.

"Elen had been busy with her mom so she couldn't come"

"That's ok"

Ivan drove to our house.

The moment we took a turn in our street, a car overtook us. The car had a blue colour and a sporty look and a top speed too. It sped up even more and placed the breaks in front of the gate of our neighbouring house.

"What the heck," me and Ivan were both jaws dropped.

Ivan smiled and said, "Wow"

"That's what you have to say, Ivan?"

"But see, the car is so breezy"

"So what? The person should apologise to us. There could have been an accident!"

"And that car is gonna be in our neighbouring house. Isn't it just amazing?"

"Are you even listening to me, Ivan?"

"Did you say something?"

I frowned, and she smiled. As soon as the car stopped a guy came out of it about sixteen years of age.

"Wait", I said.

"What?"

My mouth fell open.

I quickly got out of the car and started walking towards him.

"What happened?"

Ivan caught up with me.

"This is the same person," I replied.

"Which?"

"That person," I pointed towards the guy who seemed to be our new neighbour "He was there when mum and I went shopping. He pushed and didn't even apologise properly. Now I'm getting sure he is mentally ill and have no manners".

"Leave it Ena dear" Ivan was jogging to catch up with my quick pace and at the last pulled me in our house and held me tight.

"Let me go Ivan", I was struggling to break free from her grip on my arm.

"No baby, come on in" and she closed the door behind.

"I would have taught him a lesson by now"

" 'would' this word clearly tells that you would have taught him a lesson only if you went there. But you didn't!"

Her lips hinted a hidden smile.

"I think my holidays are getting ruined"

"Think positive. Be positive. Haven't you heard it Ena dear?"

I made a face and went inside my room.

My night... :

Night means sleeping for me. And sleeping means dreaming to me. And dreaming is a nightmare for me. That means life isn't easy for me.

Wow, it has rhyme and rhythm!

It was almost the same dream I had the previous night. The only change was the dress up and the wordings:

He wore dark blue, a colour that matched His eyes and Mine.

This time he held me back closely. His voice echoed in my ears. He was whispering:

'Even if you ignore me,

I will make space for you'

To Be Continued...

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So my second chapter is out too. Hope you guys like it and give feedback on it in the comments. Thank you for all the people who supported me.
Love you guys,
Regards,