The Dream

Part XI

A slight streak of light appeared in front of my eyes. I could hear few noises but couldn’t see anything, it’s too bright. I covered my eyes with my hand. Laughter of a young girl, “Daddy, catch me, I’m faster than you?”

“Ah, so you think I can’t catch you, just see.”

The voices seem so familiar. I slowly tried to see who were these people? They seem familiar. Oh!!! It’s me. It’s the playground where I used to go with dad when I was young. He used to run after me pretending that he cannot catch me. I would make him run through the entire playground.

“Wait Kathy, daddy would catch you soon.”

“No you can’t. See daddy I run so fast.”

I was running, looking behind at my dad. I didn’t realise that there was a stone in the way and I feel off. I started to cry. Dad came to me and picked me up. “Kathy are you ok?” he said while wiping off the dirt from my dress. “You are ok dear?” He asked again. “Daddy, it hurts.” I replied in tears showing him my elbow that was scratched. “Show me, ouch my Kathy is hurt. Let daddy cast a magic for you.” He wiped my tears and took out his handkerchief and dressed wound with that. “Here goes the spell.” He muttered some words and kissed my elbow. “And now when we would take it off tomorrow it would all go away.” He said smiling at me. “Really??” I asked. He took me in his arms and said “Really, but if you cry it won’t. So you won’t cry promise me.” He said. I made a pinky promise. “Kathy just remember one thing whenever you fall, dad’s magic spell will heal everything if you don’t cry and stand up again, Ok.” He caressed my hair and kissed my forehead. “Let’s go home now. Dad will carry you on shoulders today.”

And there we go happily. Dad, I miss your magic spell. And slowly everything became hazy again in front of my eyes. Again I could hear some voices this time it was somebody else. I slowly opened my eyes. It was Steve. He seemed much tensed. “Attorney Brown, are you ok? Can you see me?” He asked. “Attorney Brown can you hear me?”

“How can I not, if you are so loud.” I said jokingly and was trying to get up. “Don’t even think of moving.” Steve warned me and forcefully laid me back.  “Doctors said that you need to rest.” He said. “I’m ok Steve, Are you fine?” I asked. “I’m perfectly fine.” He said, trying to hide his hand. I got up and sat on the bed. “Show me your hand.” I insisted. “It’s nothing.” He tried to avoid. “Oh, doctor.” I exclaimed which made him turn back and I quickly grabbed his hand. His arm was bleeding. I slowly moved his t-shirt a little up, he had a deep cut. I remembered now that he saved me and when he dragged me out of the way of the truck, I fell with him. “Are you in your senses? See how bad it is?” I shouted. “It’s nothing.” He said casually. “Oh you are awake. Sir, now you can go for dressing. I would monitor her vitals.” She said to Steve. “Your boyfriend loves you a lot, in last 4 hours he didn’t leave your side. Not even for dressing.” She said smiling at me. Steve looked at me once,” I should get it dressed.” He said and went out hastily. He was embarrassed, I think so.

After 1 hour I was discharged, despite of Steve’s endless efforts to make me stay at the hospital.  “I’m not letting you stay alone today. If you don’t mind stay at my place.” Steve insisted. Frankly speaking I was too scared to stay alone still I refused. I got a cab and left first. When the cab dropped me at my door step, I stared the door for few seconds and was wondering would there by anything waiting for me inside. I was not able to muster up courage to open the door. “Can you open the door fast? It’s freezing here.” I heard a voice. I turned back and it was Steve standing across the road. He walked up to me.

“If you can’t stay at my place, doesn’t mean I can’t come and stay with you.” He said and smiled. “Hurry up, I don’t want to die because of cold.” I smiled back at him and opened the door. Everything was fine inside, I sighed with relief that he noticed. “Wait here let me get some warmer clothes for you.” I said and went inside to find my dad’s old clothes. I found a pair and took that for him. “Here.” I offered him the clothes. He looked at them with a strange expression. “I know it’s a bit odd but this is the only pair I found now.” I said. “It’s perfect, where is the washroom.” He replied. “In the right.” I said. “ I should change then.” He said and moved towards the washroom.

“Would you like some coffee?” I shouted from outside.

“Don’t trouble yourself.” He replied from the washroom.

I quickly checked in the fridge, I had few ingredients left for the stew, and a packet of bread and few eggs. I quickly took out the bread and kept them in the toaster. I kept a pan for frying the eggs on one and another for the stew. I was almost ready with everything, when Steve came out of the washroom. He quickly rushed to me and tried to snatch the pan from my hand. “What are you doing? I told you not to stress yourself.” He said.

“I am almost done. And how can I let my saviour sleep like this without offering any thing.” I replied and took back pan and flipped the egg. “ You just take a seat.” I pushed him towards the dining table. In two- three mins I finished everything and got everything on the table. “Let’s eat.” I said forwarding the stew and eggs towards him. I took my share from it and started to eat. Steve was staring at me for few seconds. “Why aren’t you eating?  I know the course is little weird but that’s all I have right now.” I said to him.

“No it’s perfect.” He said with his evergreen smile and started to eat. After eating Steve sat in the living room while I got coffee for us. “Here.” I forwarded the coffee mug to him. And sat on the sofa beside him.

“Did you know that person?” Steve asked.

“No, I haven’t seen him before.” I replied.

“Did you see his face? Because I couldn’t.” Steve said.

“No he carefully covered his face. But I’m certain about one thing.” I said.

“What?” Steve enquired. “He would come again. And if he is planning not to I would compel him to come.” I said looking in his eyes. I guess he sensed my emotions and stayed quiet. “He said if I intervene I would be like dad. It means he feels that I might intervene in whatever wrong they are doing because I’m attorney Brown’s daughter, which means my father was killed by them. So, no matter what I would find out what it is and stop them.” I said with conviction.  

“So, where should we start from?” Steve asked.

“I don’t know.” I said with disappointment. “Wait, he said my dad messed with them, so maybe we can look into his last cases. I know it would be difficult to get them, 8yr old cases, but…..” I was saying when Steve interrupted.

“Let’s start from there. Did he leave anything at home that we can start reviewing? Else I would ask one of my friend to search for them.” Steve said.

“Well, let’s check in the store room. After he left I kept all his belongings in store room.” I said and got up.

We checked everything in the store room but there was not a single paper from his work. We were disappointed and were about to move out, when Steve saw something under the rack. He took that out. It was the last present my dad gave me. “It’s a ballerina, if you open the box a beautiful ballerina would dance on the music.” I said seeing at the box. I took it from Steve’s hand and opened it. Memories of past floated in my eyes, everything was so clear as if it happened yesterday. I was filled with tears. Steve slowly caressed my shoulder and tried to console me. Remembering past was hurting. My arms went weak and I suddenly dropped my hands down while gripping the box tightly in my right hand, and suddenly something fell out of the box. Steve picked it up. “I think we got a start.” Said Steve.

....to be continued