C19

Three days have passed. Nandini was ready for school as it was the parents' teacher meeting. But the kids felt no enthusiasm for school.

While Nandini prepared breakfast for the kids, Phoebe and herself. Phoebe had already dressed kids for school and asked her to accompany them for breakfast. “P. I am in hurry please I have to reach school on time.”Nandini uttered

“No way N. You will not be late , because I will be dropping you and kids.”

"P , I have to attend Eddy and Faith’s PTM first then I will be going for my own class. I shall be at home early with kids. You can reward me by picking me up from school.”

Nandini was blabbering, Phoebe rolled his eyes , stepped closer to her and put his finger on her lips making her stop talking. Suddenly the door was opened and Falcon and Aspan entered the room.

The look of disgust roamed on Falcon's face but he hid it before anyone could notice that. He murmured

Serva!

(Servant!)

Nandini opened her mouth and bit Phoebe’s finger. Phoebe shrieked looking at his finger “ You Cat that’s why I said to have breakfast. Due to your empty stomach you became dangerous.” Phoebe was horrified.

Nandini smirked and poked her tongue. Aspan smiled at her child-like acts. Falcon was observing the whole matter keenly. Something caught his eyes her glowing naive features that disgust him to the core:

bellezza seducente provando a che cattura l'attenzione del diavolo

(Enticing beauty trying to captivating devil's attention)

Aspan asked Nandini “Did you take your medicine Rapunzel? You need to complete the full course of your medication.” Nandini nodded at him and showed him empty blisters. Aspan blew out a puff and winked at her.

"Good Girl" and gave her an appreciative nod.

Phoebe was on the television for business news but mistakenly the news channel switched. There were news headlines displaying three days back “why don’t they leave the news buddy. For the last three days they have been playing the same news .”

Phoebe looked around “I am telling you I can’t watch such news in front of N. She is very sensitive. You remembered the moment she watched this news on the hotel television screen. She puked and was anxious the whole day.“ Aspan studied Falcon’s features which were deadpanned.

FAlcone who was listening to all this said “this is common nowadays. Massacre was not a big deal. People must obey their Capo and his Power. The mafia is the real government . They provided them security, information and what not but these officials are blood suckers.”

Phoebe irked Falcon's statement “Very convenient! This is not true. Law and order needed to maintain the city in check. The Mafia just uses people for their benefits. There would be a time when the mafia bowed down in front of the government. They should know their limits.”

Falcone tilted his head impressively “ Whatever it is the fact is The Capo is strong. We must know Law only protects them but Capo rules them by hook and crook,” Falcon said smoothly.

Phoebe gave a lopsided grin “ Why are you favoring him? You know he had cut the limbs of the dead bodies brutally, how pathetic! Bloody Psycho he is? The whole building was blood bathed." Phoebe articulates with disgust. Aspan looked at Falcon with a horrified look.

Falcone would never appreciate the ways Phoebe insulted Capo. Aspan gave a pleasing nod to Falcone which was positively reverted by Falcone. His jaw clenched and fist tightened to make his knuckles pale.

"By the way, what occupation do you have? I mean we have been together for the last four days and still we don’t know each other?” Phoebe questioned.

FAlcone gave a brief look to Phoebe and thought

If I gave you my introduction you may pee in pants, fucker. But thanks to your stars I am on holiday otherwise my gun would talk instead of me.

Phoebe scrutinized FAlcone , something in him gave off bad vibes . Aspan was stunned hearing the conversation between Falcon and Phoebe. Falcone smirked and uttered

Slaughter ……killing

Phoebe asked “Pardon?” Aspan eyes widened and looked at Falcone.

“I mean I have a slaughterhouse, a big chain to provide fresh meat, fishes and pork in the country and export the same” Falcone smiled fakely and Aspan took a breath of relief.

This is the longest chat Eldy did with someone.

Nadini who came with kids and holding her bag was shocked to see Falcon alongwith Aspan. SHe watched the news of the Massacre on the TV and switched it off angrily.

“P how many times I have to tell you, not to watch such news, it makes me nauseated.”

Aspan came to Nandini and held the kids “ Let’s go Rapunzel” . He made a sign language with Phoebe. Phoebe reciprocated it with the same gesture.

“Bye Nanny” Falcon stood and whispered to Aspan. Aspan stared angrily at Falcon who just shrugged off.

Nandini went to Edwin's classroom and greeted his teacher “Good Morning Mrs. Shawn.” She smiled widely.

A woman of early forties looked at Nandini and replied with a smile “ Good Morning Ms. Marcello, you are getting beautiful everyday," Nandini Laughed at her antics.

“I am nowhere near your beauty Mrs. Shawn.” Nandini replied .

She attended the PTM of kids and revived nothing but praises for the kids. Nandini felt proud. She came out of the class room and looked at the sky “Mom Dad,They are as genius as you wanted them to be," a lone tear slipped from her eyes.

Phoebe and Aspan were preparing and decorating for Edwin's birthday at home . While doing this, he had decorated the room with different types of ribbons,banners ,confetti and balloons to surprise him at night.

Nandini was assigned to bring the cake and other eatables for kids at night, so they were just doing decoration. Aspan asked Phoebe to keep the poppers with the cake when Edwin cut the cake, and asked not to forget about the candles. Nandini was also coming early to bake the cake.

Nandini came out after finishing the parents' meeting of her students and saw a bunch of children standing near the ground. She went there and was very surprised to see the atmosphere there.

Two children were fighting with each other. When Nandini went closer, she saw that Edwin was Fighting with a twelve year old boy.

Edwin was a very calm and understanding child. He was against fighting anyone. On seeing Nandini, Edwin got scared and stopped. But the other child slapped Edwin hard on seeing him calm and his cheek turned red with tears in the eyes of Edwin. He looked at Nandini and started crying, hiding his face in her waist. By then a peon came there and asked both the children to come to the principal's office.

SHe left Faith under Mrs Shawn's care and taking Edwin with her, Nandini immediately reached the principal's office and saw that the parents of the other child, Harry, were also there. They were present in the school because of the parents' meeting. On seeing Edwin, both of those parents stared at him angrily. Nandini immediately hid Edwin behind her. The father of that child suddenly started shouting at Edwin and Nandini.

"What kind of children and teachers do you keep in school? We send our children here to learn good values ​​and not fight with goons. Nandini saw Edwin was terrified with something and said in a stern tone to the father of that child, "My son also studies in this school, till date he has not received a single complaint. He is just a seven year old kid while your son is senior in his age and class. I am teaching the children in this school ''. The mother of that child spat, '"see principal sir, how is she giving encouragement to her child by being a teacher. If Edwin is the son of this school teacher he can do anything! See how my child has been bruised," her mother said with fake tears.

The principal pacified both sides and the twelve year old Harry and asked the whole matter. The child said;

"We were talking to our friends. Edwin was sitting on the ground bench with his sibling. Everyone was talking about their parents, so we jokingly asked Edwin who came to your PTM. Only then was my companion child said that his mother, Ms. Marcello, always comes to his PTM. We asked about his father, then Edwin said that he does not have a father and the child who does not have a father, those children are of dirty blood. At this he punched me on the nose. Outside our house there is an orange and children of dirty blood live there."

The whole room was filled with silence after hearing Harry's words. Edwin's eyes turned red with tears. His words were echoing throughout the room. Nandini was shocked to hear all this. She never thought that his son was tolerating all this. But it was not the child's fault in this but his parents. SHE LOATHED THEM MENTALLY to give awful upbringing to their child

"O Lord, that is, no one knows the name of the father of this child or it has so many fathers that the mother forgot to mention the name. The poor child is suffering the punishment of his mother's misdeeds." Herry's mother taunted.

Nandini who was calm till now said "Instead of making your child learn the right thing, you are encouraging him!"

"So can you tell why his father did not attend PTM?" Seeing and listening to the whole matter, principal said,

"You should first teach your child how to talk to small children." Principal turned to Harry, "Secondly, if you or your parents want to know the name of the father of the child, then come to me. At this time you have to come to me."

" I am not saying anything but in future if anything like this happens or if you point fingers at my staff, then I will take strict action against you. Or you are free to ask for a school leaving certificate. Now you can go with your child. Have a nice day " He dismissed

Nandini looked at the principal with a grateful look but the principal said " There is no need for Ms. Marcelo. I did what anyone would do at my place . In my school it is very important to obey and follow the rules defined by School Management but Edwin dear don't repeat such nuisance again I might be not able to save that time. Ms. Marcello takes care of him. . Please pay attention to Edwin . ''

Nandini came out with Edwin and took faith in her arms. While going outside of the school gate Harry's parents encountered her.

His father came near her and said "whatever happened in the principal's room is not over yet. I will teach you a lesson." Saying that she was scared to death would be an understatement. A memory of the past flashed in her mind. Her fingers tightened the hold of kids.

Before she could say anything the man was yanked away, Nandini saw Aspan there with Phoebe. She was sure that they heard whatever that man said. Phoebe hollered his collar " How dare you threaten my N?”

“Oh that little bitch having an affair too, not one ….there are two. This cunning fox shamed the teaching profession” HARRY'S mother said venomously.

Nandini was sickened by the low thinking of the people. She held Phoebe’s hand and asked “what are you doing here P? I was just coming home.” she tried to scoop him away from that couple. Phoebe looked angry and glanced at the kids to cool down himself. He went to Edwin and inspected his face “ What happened to my Handsome Man?”

Edwin bowed his head, todayIt revealed to her how the other kids were treating him. Now she would be tense again . If he didn’t have fought with Harry everything would have been smoothed. He was feeling guilty for tensing his mother.

Phoebe understood the tension on Edwin’s face. He made the kids sit in the back side and opened the door of Passenger seat door for Nandini. He started driving and messaged Aspan that he would be late as he came with Nandini to Park. After sometime he found the kids asleep. He took the car to a park’s parking lot.

Phoebe looked at Nandini and blurted “This is not the end, N,you better have answers. look at me and answer ''Why didn’t you answer him …..you are not a coward.!”

Nandini gulped and took him to the car along with the kids ''I don’t want any revenge and avenge the game. My parents were cold murdered. I can't lose my children, P. I got to know what kind of stress my baby Eddy is going through. “ She sobbed with a sore throat '' oday I failed as a parent too, I failed to be a mother for my kids.” she cried hysterically.

“Let it out N, I know you are the bravest girl in the world. What happens if you are a little fat and have a blown out nose. But please spare my t-shirt. “ She laughed and slapped his chest playfully. “Please go home, we need to prepare for Eddy’s birthday."

Phone kissed her hair and side hugged her tightly. "I love you, N. I will not leave you alone! not again," phoebe said, making Nandini hug him.

They were lost in their world of comfort unaware of the fact that a pair of charcoal black eyes were pouring holes in their paradise. ''you asked for hell now to be ready to burn. I will make your life hell ……..you called for the devil and he is now ready to burn you with his own hands.''

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