Havana, ooh na-na (ay)
Half of my heart is in Havana, ooh-na-na (ay, ay)
“Hazel… Can you come downstairs just for a minute….?” Dad shouted.
I was in my study-room, lay back on my bed with closed door. And my ears were covered with my newly purchased Bluetooth headphone—which was delivered in afternoon when I was in college. Camila Cabello’s latest Hit song ‘Havana’ was bombarding on my eardrum with full on volume. ‘Damn…!! What a sound quality is…!’ I thought being more happier to have the quality headphone. My body was also in full mood of dancing with its flawless rhymes. In such state, how could’ve possibly Dad’s shouts reach to my eardrums?
He took me back to East Atlanta, na-na-na
Oh, but my heart is in Havana (ay)
“Laadooo…” Moms yelled. “Your dad wants you to come downstairs… come on!” – Again didn’t hear a word. But after few minutes song stopped as I received phone call from Dad…
“Oh Shit…!” I cursed myself, “…Dad must have been shouting from downstairs. As I realized, I quickly put the headphone aside and stormed to the downstairs shouting, “Coming Dad…”
As I arrived in hall room, Mom’s expression seemed a bit upset, “What were you doing Laado…? You know how many times we shouted…?”
I shrugged, “But I was just checking my headphones how its sounds… What was it, Dad…?”
“Hazel beta, just for tonight you have to go at Mr. Dubey Uncle’s house for babysitting.” Dad said.
“What…?? For babysitting…??! Seriously…!!” I narrowed my eyes and laughed with instant denial, “NO Way…”
“Laado…” as Mom was about to say further; I cut her off, “Please Mom… I can’t go there at someone’s house as a babysitter for entire night. Nope! Never gonna happen! And I have to study all night. Okay?”
“Listen, Laado!” Mom’s voice sound sadder, She paused and continued, ”Mr. Dubey Uncle’s younger sister had a terrible car accident this evening. He said that, she is in very serious condition.”
My eyes widen as I heard the news. I muttered under my breath ‘Oh God…!’
“Yes… beta,” Dad took over the situation, “…She is in ICU. Mr. Dubey uncle and his wife had to go there, so they went immediately as they received the news. They just called and requested to us at first as we are close to his family. It’s our responsibility to help them in such an emergency situation, Hazel beta… Just for tonight. And you don’t have to stay there entire night. At 2 AM Babita aunty (Mr. Dubey’s wife) will return home because of school-going kids.” He paused and said, “…And I know you don’t like their elder boy, but he’s grown up now. He won’t bother you. Please beta, will you go?”
My lips sewed to say ‘No’. Even though I tried to find an escape-way or excuses not go there… As I thought of their elder kid, naturally hate build up inside me. He loves to play violent video games. Without video game if he’d come here, then he would surely bring the wild storm with him. Never let anyone to breath peacefully. Our place had no video game available so, I had no other choice to deny. Dad had also night-shift and Mom had to take care of my 87 years old granny at night. I felt unfortunate that moment not to have any siblings. I went through all these possibilities in few seconds but couldn’t find any excuse. I twitched my lip to the right and reluctantly I had to say, “Okay then… I’ll go.”
“That’s my Sweet Laado…!” with motherly smile Mom stepped towards me and hugged with forehead kiss. “You always been fond of kids, isn’t it?”
I smiled and asked, “But Mom, right now who is with them at their house…?”
“I guess, House maid and cook must be there till 8 PM…” Dad said, “Before It get too dark, I think you should be there in an hour. Put on your night dress on and get ready with whatever you want to take it with you.”
“Okay Dad. I’ll take my books with there…” I said and went upstairs. I grabbed my nightwear from the cupboard, put on grey pajama and light-pink silk top with short sleeves. I gathered my untied hairs and tied into high ponytail with a blue ribbon. I grabbed my specks box, some books and also headphone in the bag. I looked myself in the mirror and smiled to my reflection.
Mr. and Mrs. Dubey’s had three adorable kids. Two younger kids were cute and roly-poly. One was 6 year-old and another was just 2 year old—who could barely even speak. Third one was 12 years old. As I thought of him, suddenly few years back memories flashed in my mind.
At first sight he was indeed quite innocent looking boy, but was he really? I can’t even say his name without crushing my jaws with hatred… His name was Dushyant. 12 years old monster’s behaviors had started giving glimpses of how he will become when he’ll grow up. His parents were very decent people, but don’t know how evil DNA formed in his genes?!
Let me tell you about the incident I had with him in his room when Mr. and Mrs. Dubey had invited our family to their newly purchased old mansion. I was there, seeing every room, furniture, big mirrors, ancient like old marble design and everything that captured my attention. I must admit that, their old mansion was seemingly quite beautiful. Later I heard from Dad that, they had bought it in very cheap deal. As I was ambling through each room humming, I saw huge mirror while passing near the dressing room. I had seen such a huge mirror only in Movies, not in real.
My eyes lit up and legs excitedly started walking towards there like an invisible spirit had magnetized me. I stood in front of the mirror. God…! It was so clean. Not a single dot or scratch on it. As I was observing the mirror I noticed something peculiar. On the top right side of it, there was a small blood-running drop coming from the slit. Blood seemed fresh. I narrowed my eyes and curiously walked near there. As I was going to touch it, ‘Bhauuuu…!!!’ sudden loud yell banged in my ears. I shocked to my head to toe. My heart literally skipped a beat like I had a heart attack. I was petrified from the core of my existence. His devilish giggle echoed in the room, “I scared you… I scared you…” he joyously kept jumping, “…Look at your face how it gotten dead! You are so chicken hearted!”
I was gasping to catch my breath. I got furious on his behavior, “It’s not funny to scare someone like this…!” My eyes welled up with tears but I tried to hide it. With moist tone I said, “I will complaint to your Mom and Dad right away…! They’ll punish you.” I wiped the sweat on my forehead. My heart was still pounding like a marathon runner. As I was about to walk out, He pleaded with puppy face, “Please…”
“Why please…? Now you scared…?” I raised eyebrow in fury.
He didn’t answer, instead he said keeping his head lowered in guilty, “I will not do it from now on…”
My heart melted seeing him cringed in guilt. I knelt to him and asked dearly, “You promise you will never do that…?”
He nodded.
As I was in conversation with him, I got a phone call from my boyfriend, Durjoy. His smiling photo was flashing on the screen with Red and Green button. As I received the call, pretending to be being innocent-devil snatched my phone! As he was about to ran out from the room, I quickly grabbed him by his collar and dragged him back. I crushed my jaws, “You aren’t worthy of apology! Give me back my phone or I’ll call your Mom-Dad just in one shout…! Give it back!!”
“NO…” His facial expression turned shockingly displeased, “NOO…” as he started speaking in husky voice, I instantly taken aback in shock! He wasn’t he. Something in him was changed. He walked toward me in his husky hoarse voice, “I WANNA PLAY GAME…” I was terrified. As I walked backward, I heard something was shaking behind me. I dared to look behind and I saw the mirror was trembling like earthquake was happening. Seeing him in completely different persona was soul shattering experience to me.
I gathered my guts and screamed, “Dushyant, STOP IT…!!” And suddenly his facial expression turned normal. When I demanded to get my iPhone back with furious expression, that little monster thrown it off of the window! My heart jumped up to my throat. Mouth and eyeballs got shockingly wide open. He verbally abused me by saying ‘You bitch! Get out of my room!’ I couldn’t believe on my eyes and ears what he had just said from his little mouth. Anger was boiling inside me but couldn’t do anything but cry. Later on, I told everything to Mrs. Dubey aunty and made him to say sorry.
I don’t know what had happened to him in few seconds. Was it possession of an evil spirit or his new mischievous tricks to scare the shit out of me? I have no clue. After then, I haven’t talked to him much. It still hurts me to remember that he verbally abused me and threw my iPhone. I tried to forget this incident as his childish stubborn behaviors, but that weirdly scary looking face and hoarse voice is still as fresh as like it happen today.
‘God…! I am going in that mansion after a year.’ I said to myself. I was more terrified. ‘You don’t need to go in that room, Okay Hazel. Just calm down. Don’t think too much. You just have to stay there till 2 AM that’s it! Then you’ll be back at home. Right here in your bed. You are a strong and sturdy woman! Go Girl…!’ as I said to myself, I stood up and smiled to my reflection.
“Laado…!! You ready?” Mom shouted.
“Yeah Mom… just coming…” I slide my iPhone in my pajama pocket, took my Active’s key and went downstairs carrying bag on shoulder.
***
To be continued in next part…
