The Past Connection

knowing that grandpa is safe sound and healthy. Left him to sleep in peace and started my way to exit the forest but it's already night time without protective herbal medicine leaving the forest in night is too risky so turned my footsteps and walked towards the hideout cabin which is really a strong structure and it's built by grandfather alone on his early days, sometimes I wonder how strong is he? because to build a strong and more spacious holiday cabin like the one am walking towards and it was built with wood it is not possible to build a cabin like this in these days and that too with single person.

Finally I found the cabin and went inside to search for a small round box which contains herbal liquid mixture for protection from snakes and other animals. while searching around for the box, I stumbled upon something like book upon close looking it's a bunch of album of different people maybe from his early working days. I started to gothrough the photos and came across a photo of person who to Gramps and me is our family friend Geetha granny in her early days was posing with 2 other women in that photo. I took a snapshot of the photo with the phone and later I ask mom about these people, maybe mom can explain to me about this photo that's when I realised for what purpose I stepped into the place and again started searching for the herbal box and found it lying on the floor next to the album bunch with a old crumbled note with curiously I took and straighten the crumbled old note which contains a message " WHEN SHE TURN 24, YOU WILL HAVE TO COME AND LIVE WITH ME. MY NIECE WILL VISIT YOU THERE WHEN WE MET FOR THE LAST TIME THAT YEAR. WHEN THE TIME COMES SHE WILL HELP YOU FOR YOUR SAFE PASSAGE and signed with some symbol under that MY LOVE I'LL BE WAITING FOR YOU ON THAT ROCK LAST WE MET AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT DAY TO COME.

oh my god it's an old note for sure but what did it means "when she turn 24 you will have to come and live with me" . whom it's refers and who written this message for whom and why it's crumbled near the album did it have something to do with grandfather with the thoughts am pondering my cousin Madhuri called to check on me weather am safe or not. yes am safe with grandfather " ok I lied but they can't know about this cabin so I'd to" and told her about everything that happened here except "the crumbled note", also asked her to come and pick me, immediately she refused to come instead she told me that her brother Babu will be coming to pick me from there and I have to leave from there only when her brother come and call me. ok dear I follow your steps, then ok honey make sure to call me when reach safe; ok you got me Madhu dear. I take it as tit for tat " I hate calling honey same way she hates when someone call her dear". After talked with my cousin on phone. I put the note in my hodded shirt pocket then applied the herbal liquid and started to leave the cabin that's when I realised it's too dark to go outside, so again I fumbled for torch that's when I found another note " THE ONE WHO BEHIND THIS IS ONE PERSON AND NOT THOSE TWO TRAITORS. NOT EVERYONE WHO CARED FOR YOU IS NOT YOUR TRUE FRIENDS. THERE IS A TRAITOR AMONG THEM US "BEWARE SIDDHARTH BEWARE". I WON'T BE WITH YOU ALL THE TIME. WHEN SHE'S NEARING HER 24th BIRTHDAY I'LL BE THE FIRST THAT SHE TAKE OUT" right now am really confused about the notes. Am clear about one thing my grandfather is also somehow connected with this, but what I need to know is that it already happened or its going to happen.

did he wants me to know about it?

is that why he put it in the open? purposely

again I zoomed out think about the notes and came to present when I felt someone is staring me for some time by standing at the door, with caution I moved slowly to get the torch light to attack the stranger.

The stranger behind me he sensed my hostile movement when I tried to reach for the torch "you don't need that to take a control over me cous. Just a French kiss is enough to flatten me".

"I know that idiot, is this how you treat your sister" scolded cousin brother Babu with scowl and feared face. He's such a tease since our childhood

a thought struck me

"wait a minute

how did you know about this cabin?

it's a known place only for me apart from grandpa for past 8 years"

" no your my cousin and I have every right to marry you and to your question last month when you came here I followed you" he replied corny.

Marriage my ȧss brother.

stop calling me brother and whatcha your language THANU darling

I punched him hard on his midsection and then kicked his knee then asked who's the darling now ahole

he stumbled and fell with pained expression, I think I kicked and punched him hard than it supposed to be and felt sorry for that but He didn't see that unexpected attack coming from me

I chased him " hey wait for me idiot, you know that am feared of dark".

he stopped after few steps but not for me because he doesn't want to be the target in the house when they found that he purposely left me behind so he waited for me to meet him there

I spot him waiting for me, near the place where I met grandpa few minutes back

still angry honey

"don't sweet talk with me am doing this for my own and not for you jerk and don't speak to me until we reach the home got that. Did you think me of that cheap you pervert.

hey am not pervert I defended

I didn't expect this from you Thenmozhi.

I angered and ready to give a good beating to him but I just glared him because if the dark situation

what oh you don't like calling that real name right. You know what hereafter am going to call you Thenmozhi only if you get irritated doesn't matter me."

'ahh I played with you cous just like the way you played with me, still angry on your sweet little girl" with cute eyes I tried to please him but it didn't work because am not good at these expressions

he glared at me " I told you to shut that damn mouth till we reach home" then started walking after 30 minutes we reach outside and he took me home in his bike.

after a boring 40 minutes ride we reached home.

Cous may I talk to you for a minute

what now wanna hit me again and say you just played with me

ahhh holding grudge is not you style cus what I wanna know is "how did grandpa let you use his hideout"

it's none of your business

come on cus still angry with me for the attack, but he didn't answer me and went inside the house and see my mom " Meena aunty here's your Princess safe and sound" thank you Babu

mom enquired him that where did he found me he just told her by flat lie that am waiting outside the forest area and hide the actual truth that I sighed atleast am safe for now and started to think about how to make them to convince them about leaving art city with gramps tomorrow.

" maybe you can ask Geetha aunty about these people she will tell you"

then the invitable question came

tomorrow will father come to home right? baby

I tried to change the topic by asking her

Moma how are you still beautiful even in this age could you tell me your secret

Thenmozhi what the two of did this time

nothing moma

moma sighed "sometimes you forgot that Am the one who raised you also you forgot that, I know very well about the ONE who raised me so spill it already" she warned in a stern voice

mother you too sharp for you age again what's your secret

I know she smelled it

so with soft voice "promise me that you won't shout and will allow me to do what am going to do say ok mother"

so I ȧssume that two of you did planned something big? ok go ahead and enlighten me

Mother, grandfather planned for a visit to an old friend of him outside our town and am gonna accompany him.

what

"he promised me to tell the full story of the legend" when I accompanied him for the trip he plans tomorrow.

MEENA

VISIT AN OLD FRIEND it's strike me hard and I heard it from someone hmm... yes from mother when she's in her deathbed I was the last person she spoke and not even anyone especially father relaying the Past

5 years back

mom what your saying I can't understand

don't interrupt me Meena just allow Tina to accompany you father when he said he's going to meet an old friend that all

why Tina mother why

you want to know why your father took special attention to Tina because she's chosen for something to do for his work I hope it's will be going to fine with her.

"when the time comes you will understand" with these last words she died

Tina shook mom mom are you ok. that's when I came to present

with sad face and almost tear started in my eyes but I control it infront of her "ok Tina you can go with him and be a good and responsible girl also take of your self and grandpa"

she's suprised to hear that am allowed her just like taht to travel with father then hugged me for a minute and left to her room to pack her clothes for 3 months

I am just staring the space where Tina was sitting few minutes ago and started to broken my husband Raj who is standing there whole time and listening to our conversation came and hugged me " Raj the time has come just like mom said father made Tina decides to accompany him on her own am going to loose him. Raj I want to see one last time before he leaves us once for all and when the time comes, I don't know how Tina going to manage it she's too close to him" I cried till I passed out when I woke up in my bed Tina's gone

next day I arrived an hour early to airport in art city waiting for her grandfather to arrive

before I leave the house I knocked on parents room but no response so I sticked a note on the door for them to know that I left to meet grandfather earlier than I planned to go to airport with them I hope they understand me

sharp 0900 hrs he arrived with light travel bag, gramps what's this?

your packed light for 3 months trip.

silly girl you will understand when you reach there.

gramps did you booked for me also because am not able to get ticket on the short notice Also I don't know where we are going

it's ok

just follow me to the security check area.

what you want me to "just follow you" to the security check without a ticket?

grandpa don't trick like I tricked you, he didn't respond me and walk towards the security check area

arrr... always acting wired. he heard what I grunt, without turning back he asked

"what am I looking wired to you and you saying this 2nd time from yesterday, if you can't then leave".

huh

gramps you too mean to me,

Da.. girl you need to have patience while traveling with an elder.

how can I be patient without knowing how am going to be in board with you and not having a air ticket.

Just follow me you will understand

am following you but don't tirck me ok.

Both of us passed the security check clearence and guided to our hanger by a person, when we reached the hanger

I said WTF loud in suprised when I saw the sperate jet waiting for us with a middle aged man. he approached and greet us

ah Mr. sphere you have finally arrived,

with open hands he welcomed

Mr sphere, madam didn't tell me about your company; old habits die hard is fit phrase for you.

Alex don't jump into any conclusion she is my granddaughter Tina and Tina this is my friend Alex

he's here to accompany us to ensure our safe trip.

Bless my soul how lucky am to be able to live and see the 2nd generation of Mr sphere.

my young lady am Alex one of your grandfather's old friend.

hello Mr Alex am Tina and my Grandpa name is Siddharth not Mr sphere,

may I know why you address him as Mr sphere?.

OMG your eyes

what my eyes

don't change the subject Mr Alex

Mr sphere how come both your daughter and granddaughter has the same eyes as your wife.

ahh... really did you see my grandma

do really my mom and me have the same eyes as my grandma. wow

he snorted at us and bark

both of you stop chatting and doing awe face and take me to capital city

after enter the private jet he specifically instructed to me that , I should not disturb his sleep for next 2 hours

then can I trouble you for the story or atleast a intro about it after 2 hrs gramps.

No you can't because we will in capital city that time