Chapter 3 When Words Fail

I slowly walk into the cabin. In front of me, Mr. Neil is sitting on his large chair, leaning back comfortably while looking at me. I stop there for a moment shocked, stunned.

His eyes they are a deep shade of green. And some of his facial features suddenly remind me of Ria. Seeing this, my heart starts pounding hard. I’m unable to say anything. For a brief moment, the pain of that night, those old memories, suddenly resurface in my mind. My throat tightens.

Mr. Neil keeps watching me closely. Then, in his heavy and authoritative voice, he says, “If you’ve only come to stand here, you can stand outside as well.”

Hearing his voice, I immediately come back to my senses. I quickly wipe my tears and step closer to his table, lowering my head, “S-sir… I needed an advance… some money,” I say in a trembling voice.

He looks at me once then scans me from head to toe. There is no emotion in his eyes only coldness and strictness.

In his firm voice, he asks, “What work do you do here?”

I get nervous, “Sir… I work in marketing management,” I reply softly.

He slightly raises his eyebrows and says, “Even after working in marketing, don’t you know that money is paid after the work is done?”

I quickly say, “Yes sir, I know but I really needed it urgently.”

Without any hesitation, he replies, “So what do you want me to do? This is not my problem. When it’s your salary time, take your salary. I don’t give advances.”

My throat tightens even more. Gathering some courage, I say, “But sir...”

He cuts me off, “You may go.”

That’s it. Saying only this, he turns his attention back to the files. I stand there for a few seconds, then walk out of the cabin with my head lowered. As soon as I step outside, I wipe my tears again and silently walk toward the lift.

Standing inside the lift, my mind starts spinning. I had come with so much hope and everything is over. The lift reaches the ground floor. I step out.

The moment I come out of the lift, Ria suddenly runs toward me and hugs my legs tightly. Just then, Sia asks, “What happened? Did it work?”

I look at her and try to smile, but I can only shake my head in no.

Holding Ria’s hand, I return to my desk and get busy with my work. But my heart isn’t in it at all. Deep inside, I’m extremely tense.

I had come today with full planning, believing I would get the advance… but today itself the boss had changed, And that one change has shattered all my hopes.

Slowly, evening begins to fall. As soon as my work at the office ends, I stand up from my chair. I pick up my bag, hold Ria’s tiny hand in mine, and walk out of the office. My steps are unusually slow today, because both my heart and mind are filled with tension. I don’t have any money, and that thought keeps eating me up from inside.

Ria walks beside me with complete innocence. Sometimes she walks playfully, sometimes she makes little tap-tap sounds with her tiny shoes and feels happy on her own. At times, she starts playing with the buttons of her frock, as if she has no worries in the world. Her innocent actions lighten my sorrow a little, but the tension still walks along with me.

After some time, we reach in front of our house. I move my bag aside, unlock the door, and step inside holding Ria’s hand. The moment she enters the house, she quickly picks up her tiny toys and starts playing with them. Her laughter echoes through the house. I close the main gate behind us and walk into the room with tired steps.

I freshen up quickly, change my clothes, and come back to the hall. I go into the kitchen, warm some milk, and pour it into Ria’s bottle. Then I return to the living area. Little Ria is still busy with her toys sometimes dropping them, sometimes picking them up and laughing to herself.

I sit down on the sofa and say lovingly, “Ria, come here, baby drink your milk quickly and then go to sleep.”

Ria looks at the bottle of milk and immediately makes a displeased face. In her cute, broken voice she says, “No… L-Lia d-don’t w-want m-milk.”

Hearing her words makes my heart ache. She comes closer to me, makes a sweet little face, and says, “W-want y-yum y-yum c-cake.”

I lift her into my arms, hold her close to my chest, and say gently, “Yes, my child, Mumma will definitely give you yum-yum cake. Right now, Mumma doesn’t have money, but as soon as I do, I’ll buy you lots of cakes and chocolates.”

Ria nods her little head in agreement and starts drinking the milk. Slowly, her eyelids grow heavy, and she falls asleep while resting against my chest. I try to smile while looking at her, but my eyes turn moist.

Holding her in my arms, I walk into the kitchen and open the fridge. There is nothing inside just a little milk left. My eyes fill with tears. I place the milk back in the fridge, saving it only for Ria.

Then I carry her to the room, gently lay her on the bed, and lie down beside her. I close my eyes, but a silent tear slips out. Somewhere in the middle of the night.

One of my hands rests gently on little Ria’s chest. She is already asleep. For a long moment, I keep looking at her innocent, cute face. I lean down and place a soft kiss on her. Sometime in the deep hours of the night, sleep finally takes over me, and I don’t even realize when I drift off.

TO BE COUNTINUE...!!!

What will I do now? Will I be able to get the money I need?