Chapter 1: An amazing hour with a bald chimpanzee

Chapter 1: An amazing hour with a bald chimpanzee.

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The great grandfather clock was ticking patiently as my eyes roamed over the interior of this room for the nth time.

The word 'room' would be a understatement for this one.

The enormity of this office was as ridiculous as its number of expensive decoration.

Apart from the gigantic iron chandelier, there were large number of portraits, awards, medals and certificates. The floor was made of thick and polished wood covered with Iranian carpet.

There was a large Mahogany desk, in front of a gigantic painting of Christ. The person sitting behind it was a bald, chubby, old man who was currently scribbling his pen violently over some documents, occasionally throwing suspicious glances towards me, clearly annoyed by my presence.

I was observing him since my first day here, finding him amusing. His blunt nose, oily skin, giant belly, long hands and abnormal teeth settings made him an exceptional human. The more I watched him, more I found the awful similarities between him and a chimpanzee, both in physical appearance and mental condition. He was an interesting chimpanzee, but unfortunately, this chimpanzee was bald.

Satisfied by my fantabulastic imagination, I whistled only to be glared by the creature in front of me.

I huffed and adjusted my sitting position. Poor me, sitting here for the past half an hour and getting bored was the last thing in my mind for today. It was a pure torture for my exceptional brain by stopping it from creativity. I sighed and closed my eyes praying to get over with it.

After ten more agonizing long minutes, there was a loud knock on the wooden door, announcing someone's arrival. The old door squeaked as if protesting against the newcomer.

I turned my head sideway to welcome him or her, only to get stopped in track.

My father was standing there with his glorious personality specially curved with Siberian ice. I recked through my brain to remember, the last time he called me or acknowledged my existence, without any serious reason. What have I done this time to be cursed with such blessing?

The old man rushed to stand up and dropped a paper weight on the process.

I snorted without bothering to acknowledge the person standing behind me, finding the front one more interesting.

The old man started to babble,

"Welcome, welcome Mr. Miller, we are feeling privileged for your kind gesture to give us your precious time at a such short notice. Please honour us by taking a seat."

What a charmer!!!

Completely ignoring the heart warming speech, my father took a sit beside me with a straight face and spoke,

"I appreciate your concern, though I am interested to hear the reason behind this, which was too important to discuss over phone call."

The old man paled and cackled,

"Um, again I-I am sorry for disturbing your planned schedule but this is not a matter to discuss over phone regarding Ms. Miller's future."

I am touched. Tears of joy was shining on my eyelids. I misjudged this man for my entire life. While he was torturing me with daily detentions, he was only concerned about my future. I would never be able to pay for his generosity. Might God bless him.

My dad raised an eyebrow and replied,

"I believe that it was all solved after my yearly donation, Fr. Francis."

The old man aka Fr. Joseph Francis, the fifty-third principal of St. Xavier's Boarding Convent visibly flinched. It was as clear as the daylight that my beloved principal, the creature I despised most, this children abuser and money lover monkey was afraid of my father, and wanted to avoid a certain topic about 'donation'.

Beads of sweat had appeared on his shiny forehead when it was a foggy November day in Boston. He took the glass of water and gulped down half of its content, which was turning to ice by my father's freezing stare.

After gathering enough courage to face my father, he sighed,

"No matter what, I made sure that Ms. Miller's record stay clear all these years. But this time, I am afraid that I may not be able to do anything."

He glanced at my father and removed his eyes as fast as he could, as if it would give him frostbite. I felt for you old man. Nobody was born yet to stand against my father's arctic cold stare except me and his secretary.

Getting no response, he decided to continue,

"Last week, there was a report that Ms. Miller has dislocated a jaw, broken hand and fractured several ribs of her fellow three students in the hostel hallway."

Giving a sideway glance at me, he spoke,

" We tried to silence it but one of the student's parents lodged complain in school's adminstration panel. Panel required a enquiry and it came out that Ms. Miller started it."

He stopped and looked at my father, who was still waiting for him to finish his speech.

Averting his eyes from my father, Father Francis looked at me.

I was running thin on my patience already for his dramatic script and glared at him. He gulped and continued,

"Yesterday, they have come to a decision, and gave me the responsibility to announce it."

He stopped to breathe, but his eyes were anywhere but at us, finding the chandelier more interesting.

After casting a annoyed glance towards me, my father asked,

"And that is?"

Father Joseph closed his eyes, took a long breath and spoke too fast,

"Ms. Miller is expelled from St. Xavier's Boarding Convent for disobedience, ill-treatment towards classmates and breaking the peace in the campus."

Well, what I could say, I knew that I was too awsome for them.

Silence. Cold silence. Frizzing cold silence couriered from the center of the Antarctica.

I could see the thin frost forming on the shiny head of my principal.

Being afraid of frostbite, he was squirming under father's stare, who might be able to freeze a volcano.

When the time was also about to freeze. My father decided to speak,

"Well then, I have no problem with this."

Wait, what!!!!!

My father, the Samuel Miller, soul owner of the Miller Corporation, the greatest industrialist and businessman of the century who only valued his social impression, has no problem with this 'scandal'.

I was surprised. But, I could tell a 'but' was coming.

My father had morals, in his own twisted way.

"But..."

Ahhh.....there it is. I smirked and relaxed on the chair. This 'but' confirmed that I was staying.

"I want it to be a transfer."

Well, that was disappointing. I forgot that my father always came with a backup plan.

Fr. Francis chocked. His eyes went wide as a saucepan. I was amused to see his ability to provide different expression in this last fifteen minutes.

He shuttered,

"I don't know if I can..."

My father raised a finger, stopping him, he said coolly,

"My secretary will contact you about the banking transaction."

He roses from his seat, looked at his watch, and stated the,

"If that's all then, I am afraid that I have to leave, I have a flight to catch."

Principal hurried, " Yes sir, sure sir, Thank you sir for coming. Looking forward for your response, sir."

The number of 'sir's he was using clearly said, he was happy with the decision and going to do a happy dance on the table the second we leave. And, why not? He was able to kill two birds with one stone. First of all, finally, after all this years, he was getting rid of me, and he was going to paid for it. Knowing my father, he would get enough money to spent the summer in some beach in Bali, while drinking coconut water. Who wouldn't be happy in this position?

I rose from my seat and stretched in a such lady like manner, that would give a coronary to my etiquette mentor, Sister Maria.

I was about to open a door, when a certain creature called,

"Ms. Miller."

I smiled and turned to face my favourite chimpanzee,

"Yes, father?"

"It may be our last conversation, so, I want to wish you a good luck for your better future. You have such a wonderful parents, don't disappoint them."

Watching him putting enough effort to showcase concern, I gave him a bright smile which would put Miss Universe in shame and chirped,

"I am not planning on it."

He shook his head,

"Good. Now go, your father is waiting."

I opened the door, but remembering something, I turned,

"Oh father? I can assure you, it is not our last encounter."

This single and simple sentence was able to drain all the colour from his face.

Satisfied by the reaction, I continued,

"It would be rude for me, to not to appear in your nightmares."

I winked and left, willing to avoid a angry giant monkey.

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Hello loves,