Ralph and Tessa
The morning sun was not as bright as it usually used to be. The weather was a bit bearable today. The white coloured mansion was standing at its glory- untouched and unmoved. There was an eerie silence around the big block of stones. The curtains had not been changed, since anyone can remember.
The garden was covering up with untouched and untended withering flowers and pots- which were once the quantum of solace for her.
The small narrow gravel path leading to the backyard of the mansion was covered with dust and mud. The backyard was holding the space for stray dogs and cats. The dense forest behind the mansion was home to many dark and vile animals, but there was no such fear of being eaten alive.
The thought of protection, safety and love was long destroyed.
Everything was gone, along with her.The warm and bearable rays of the morning sun shone on the left side window of the mansion. The dark and dull room had visible streaks of rays peeping from the tattered casement cloths.
The dark and unmoving figure lying on the same old bed, moved- after a tediously long amount of time.The bed had the same pink satin sheets, now dirty and losing its colour. The vanity table had layers of dust on it. There was a hair brush seated on it.
The hair brush which she used. The ottoman was dismantled till today. Everything was untouched and unmoved since that day. The dark figure moved his hand from his face and glanced to the window. The morning was beautiful. She would have loved it.
Perhaps, today would be the day of gardening. Of cleaning the narrow lane leading to the backyard. Perhaps, today would be the day of special food.
The day of baking a cake. Perhaps...
The barking of dogs, broke his train of thoughts and his eyes flashed with something inhuman. He had the most attainable hatred towards these nasty animals. He never wanted a pet. She wanted, a pet. A kitten maybe.
Growling like the real animal that he was, he woke up in one swift motion.The room felt strange, smelled strange. Looked strange. There was a sudden urge of light within him. He felt hopeless, helpless. There was no light. There was in truth not even an ounce of brightness in this big block of stone. Light was gone.
Along with her.
His desperation took the best of him. His feet moved on its own accord and landed right in front of the window. His hands gripped the casement cloth and the his looked down at it. He kept staring at the cloth. This was her most favourite curtain. She had purposely matched the curtains with the bed sheets and the tablecloths of their bedroom.
A ghost of a smile appeared on his dry and chapped lips, but it was soon wiped out the moment he had the remembrance of something. Something that has been the starting of all this. He pulled the tattered curtains down and let the light enter the room. His eyes closed from the impact of the sudden brightness. He retracted his hands from the window and covered his eyes.
Slowly and mournfully.
The barking of the dogs was now a distant noise. The birds were chirping cheerfully. Summer was in its adolescent right now, and the many were not able to bear the blazing heat of the sun. Today was a day, which could be called as a day of less heat. The evening would be cool. The unknown population of the earth was happy, maybe.Everyone must be busy in their own business.
They had their own life, their own problems, their own troubles to deal with. None would be bothered about this very white mansion, none would know what this mansion has witnessed. There was no essence of what had taken place in this innocent looking mansion.
He walked away from the window and slumped down on the single cushioned chair in the room. The brown oak door of the room was slightly open. He glanced at the door. The slight vacant space showed the darkness of the house. There was dread in the whole house. There was silence, yet it spoke how the whole house was empty of any amount of cheer.
How could one escape this, when one itself is responsible for this?
There was a time, in this mansion. A time when the whole mansion was jubilant and happy. Each and every room was covered with bright golden light. Days and nights were spend with good food and laughter. This was once a happy place.
Once...
Now the whole house was coming back to bite him.
Bite him for what he had done. For what he had ruined.
Six years back, Desmond Ralph, the owner of huge acres of plantations, had found the girl of his dreams. One of the worker’s daughter had caught his eyes. He started fascinating about her.
His black and white life was now filling with beautiful and bright colours. His fascination turned into love and soon they both tied the knot of pure love and bliss. The rude and arrogant Desmond Ralph, became a fun-loving and happy man. His lady, the beautiful and sweet Tessa had made this dull and lonesome mansion a warm and lively place to survive.
Everything was perfect for almost two year, but the real trouble started when Mr Ralph’s jealousy took control over his senses.
The society which they lived in had many lecherous mouths. There were many who spoke their hearts needs. The beautiful and pure Tessa was becoming the object of want and need for many men. Desmond was doing what he felt was right. Keeping his lovely wife away from all those who needed to be away from her. His restrictions increased. He anger too. Tessa was not allowed to have a single conversation with anyone, especially any male.
She was trying her best to stay happy and sane in the environment created for her. She loved him dearly and only wanted to stay with him. She was a human after all. She was slowly losing her sanity.
His possessive attitude was gripping her like a vice and she was not able to escape from it.She had many a times tried to talk with him about this. She had tried establishing trust and comfort in their relationship, but the brute had just made up his mind. The man that he had sworn not to become, was surpassing his personality.
He was changing, in a not acceptable way.
Tessa felt caged.
She wanted to be free again. To be able to spend her days in the plantation again. She wanted to tend the garden again.
Her father had never put any restriction upon her, and she had always been like wind. She could glide any way she wanted. Her husband was the man of steel. No one had the audacity to overrule his statement and truthfully she was more than scared of him now. Love was taking form of fear, she was scared of falling out of love for him, and that was the exact thing, that was happening.
Finally, after completing three years in this marriage, Tessa decided she had had enough. She didn’t want to leave, but she couldn’t stay too. He was just a controlling monster.
One morning she decided to sneak out of the back door of the kitchen and run away somewhere. Desmond would be furious, but she didn’t want to think about that.
Shivering like a leaf, she unlocked the door, and step out in the light. The afternoon was really quiet. She walked some feet away from the mansion and suddenly turned back. Her eyes were brimmed with tears and then she did something, she didn’t believed she would do. She returned back. Back to the cage.Her mind and heart were contemplating, but she knew she couldn’t leave. This was her house and the man in this house was just in need of some love. She stayed.
The biggest mistake of her life.
Two months later, Tessa found out she was pregnant. She was more than just happy. Her heart fluttered with new hope. She knew this would make her husband change back to the man, she fell in love with.
Humming happily, she climbed up the stairs and proceeded to the bed room. There he was standing in front of the window touching the pink satin curtain. She smiled while looking at the curtains. The bed sheets were pink too.
Sensing another presence, Desmond turned around. The look on his face made the blood run cold in Tessa’s body. Something was wrong. She could sense this.
She froze at her place, unable to move. The man moved like a predator and fling any object that came in his way. Tessa gasped with fear. He was nearing her, but she couldn’t move.
Finally when she came back to her senses, she stepped back and dashed through the brown oak door. His voice roared in the house, but the fear of something bad happening with her and the baby, kept her legs moving.
She reached the stair case and glanced back at him. He was just some feet away from her. She gave him a pleading look, not knowing what her mistake was.
His anger knew no bounds when a random plantation worker just happened to slip him an information.
Miss Tessa had sneaked out of the mansion about two months ago.
This was something very cruel. How could she try to leave?
Desmond was not thinking properly. He was angry that his wife just decided to go against him. Whatever he did was just for her safety.
She needed to understand that, but yet she didn’t. Not letting her talk he pounced at her. And just like that Tessa was thrown down the stair case. Tumbling like an object, she landed on the last step. Still and unmoving.
Like a phase- Desmond realised what had happened. Rushing down the steps he was just met with the body of someone who was once his life. There was blood on her head, and the lower part of her dress was drenched with red thick blood.
The news spread like fire.
A man had murdered his wife and unborn child.
Desmond realised what he had done. But it was way too late. He had unknowingly killed his wife and his unborn child.
Coming back to the present, he was still sitting in the same position.
Glancing at the empty darkness of the house.It had been thirty-four months.
He was just breathing, because he did not had the courage to kill himself. He was a coward, wallowing in self pity and in some manner victimizing himself and justifying his crime.
He was breathing, and was just there. Nothing more nothing less.
****
Hope you like it.
I had written this five years ago.
Naiela
