I stole a glance from outside the glowing red sun while opening the windows and reached out to turn off the night lights in my room. My eyes travel in the room to see whether my dearest husband was there or not. Tiger wasn’t there in the room. He was already gone. I grinned and jumped out of bed. I went to the washroom and gazed at my face. Good enough. I ran to the basin brushed my teeth, took the shower, and got myself ready all in black. Black happened to be my favorite color. It had been more than a month since I had been hiding things from Tiger and others and going for a job that way. It meant it had been a month since I worked at the NAIMIE’S BURBANK. Also, Joseph and I had been working together under the same roof for a month. Ah! I felt lucky to share my workspace with my childhood friend. Well, for the last few weeks, I had been quite busy as usual. My eyes were red and there were dark circles under them. It was my starting days of job – things were quite hectic though exc

Christiana's point of view Ough! I got off work exactly at 6 p.m. and returned home as soon as possible. I blared the loud music to hear nothing from outside and figure out things. Huh! All in vain. My hands were still shaking whilst having dinner. I was sitting in my thoughts. Though it had been more than a couple of hours since I had come from the office. I cannot tell why I was shaking. Was it the fear of not arranging the money or because of having the dinner hurriedly? Or was it my job? With the constant work traffic at the workplace and my issues, it was rare that I could find peace. I longed for peace that day more than any other day before. I barely got any time to figure out things that happened in recent days. I was already dealing with my contract marriage and job then. Moreover, a major part of me was dormant. But God had to test my patience more. There were only a few days left in my hands. I had to arrange the money anyhow to get my brother's bail. I wanted him o

It was almost 11:30 in the morning. I approached the bus stand took the bus and reached BURBANK’S CAFÉ on time. Yes! Alivia and I were to reach the café by noon. Alivia had already warned me to be on the time. So, I decided to be there early. When it came to both of us, we probably had different definitions for what it meant to reach at the time. But that day was different. I glanced at my wristwatch, it was around ten minutes left until noon. After waiting for a while finally, I called Alivia.“Hello! Where are you?”“On my way to the café. Will be there by noon.”“It is already noon.”“Oh! shoot. Don’t tell me you are already at the café.”“Hahaha! Yes, I am there.” I grinned.“Ah! No… how come?” She sighed. “Anyways, I’ll be there in five minutes.” She continued.“Huh!” I took a deep breath. She was to be there in a few minutes. The whole night I had been thinking about how to put my things before her. Again, the same awkwardness and fear were occupying my mind. I knew what to do

Christiana’s point of viewCreak. Creak. Creak.I could hear heavy walking steps approaching towards my room. The walking steps weren’t familiar. I was a little taken aback.“Is it of Tiger? I doubt.”Ring. Ring. Ring.The doorbell rang, and the fear took everything in me. I was standing a few inches away from the door. I got up and went to see whoever was on the other side of the door.Holy Jesus!Tiger, yes, it was Tiger.Oh! Shit.I came back opening the door.Fluttered!He fluttered his lashes and opened his eyes again and again. Tiger literally blinked his eyes more than five times to confirm the view in front of him. He wasn’t able to avert his eyes from me.“Am I looking like a clown?” I tittered whilst mirroring myself. His gaze made me doubt myself.“No… in fact you are….” He muttered. Squinted! He squinted his eyes whilst having my view from top to bottom. His mouth fell wide open in awe as he was awestruck by the frame in front of him.When he came inside the room, I had fr

Christiana’s point of viewDamn! I melted there. “Is he so nice?” I mumbled. “Are you okay?” He said to me again while looking to and fro and, into my eyes without blinking as he assesses the pain inside me. My shoulders began to shake, my heart started racing, and hurt-filled tears rolled down my eyes to my cheeks. “No, I am a little in shock,” I replied holding myself.“Why, what happened?” He spoke very softly looking at me with utmost affection and concern. He squeezed every emotion within me “You are so concerned…. You are, Tiger. You…” The realization of what happened was more special than what he did.“Umm… Well, I… Actually… How to say.” I could feel his awkwardness.“I was……” Tiger stumbled over his words as a vocal mirror of his thoughts. Solicitude. I could see in his eyes. He experienced me, though he showed it differently.Abruptly. Tiger wrapped his arm around my shoulder – not that tight but he did.I felt his arms and hands go around my frame and he picked me up gent