Retribution.

PROLOGUE

It was very dark and cold in my room. I wanted my mom badly, so I threw back the quilt covering me, and walked towards her room. I went to the door of my room, opened it and stepped out. I could hear voices from my mom's room. I suddenly felt very lonely and afraid. Wondering to myself who could be with my mom? It was only mom and I in the house. Fear gripped me, chilling my heart. I stretched my hand to turn the door handle, when suddenly I heard my mom moaning. Afraid for her safety, I peeped through the keyhole.

I was shell-shocked to see my mom lying sprawled naked on her bed, while the man who was also totally naked bent over her; a cry escaped my lip, unaware that I had opened the door. I was transfixed at the threshold of the room, rooted to the spot, unaware that I had wet my mom's bedroom carpet. They were oblivion of my presence. I stepped back, my eyes concentrating on the man, taking in all his features, his color and his stature.

I went back to my room to be surrounded by the darkness that few minutes ago had threatened me. I slept on the mattresses covering myself with the quilt.

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I

Rita was bustling around the dining table, with last minute arrangement for the party. She went through the list, just to confirm that she had invited George's friends, all of them. She ticked her checklist of all the pending items that needed to be taken care off.

She went to the kitchen to have a word with the cook. As she stepped in, the cook, who was toiling over the gas, turned and nodded, acknowledging her presence.

"Everything under control Missus Rita."

Rita just nodded her head and headed upstairs to check on George. She ascended the step so royally, as if she was a direct descendant from the monarch. She reached his door and paused for minute, slipping on her most beguiling smile, she entered, greeting him merrily.

"Happy Birthday sweetheart."

Her husband was lying on the few pillows that were plopped to make him sit inclined on it. His face was waxen and tired. He smiled at his beautiful wife, blessing his lucky star. He looked at the regal figure dominating the room, straightening a few objects around and arranging fresh flowers in a vase. His room always had a fresh bloom of flowers from the day he got married to Rita. She took such good care of him. He was surprised as to why this beautiful woman had pursued him and married him. It certainly wasn't for his money, that he was for sure. When she had learned on their 3rd wedding anniversary that he had bequeathed his estate entirely to her, she had made him change his will.

Now it was willed to an orphanage.

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II

George actually wasn't very enthusiastic about the party, he felt weak and tired. Obviously what else can be expected of a 75 years old? Yes it was his 75th birthday; hence the lavish party for him, organized by Rita. He glanced at the mirror, noting every single detail on his wrinkled face, he thought he looked a little ashen. The soup Rita had made him drink compulsorily was not great help at all.

He thought of mentioning it to Rita that the soup tasted different today. She would admonish the cook; she was very efficient the way she handled the servants.

He descended the great staircase, making his way to the living room, to be greeted effusively by his friends. He smiled, Rita had managed to invite all his friends, and they were all there, old and withered like him. The only difference was his wife.....he had a 26years beautiful and charming woman by his side. He knew that his friend envied him. They always did, he was always a Casanova, and hence they were surprised when he eventually married Rita……his first marriage. They felt Rita married him for his money. How wrong they all were!

His friend shook him from his reverie when they commented that he looked great as ever. They would be surprised if they knew how queasy and tired he felt.

Smiling he ushered them to the dining room. When everybody seated at their respective place, the maids entered with the soup. Too late he realized that he had not warned Rita about the soup. Anyway, he put the soupspoon in the soup, all the while keeping the conversation running with his friends on both his side, and tentatively sipping the soup.

A look of utter surprise sprung in his eyes, when he realized there was nothing wrong with the taste. He looked across the table at Rita, who was watching him intently with a cynical smile on her face. He was taken aback by the smug look, which flitted across her exquisite face and he clutched his chest wondering why he saw Sharon instead? Gasping for the last time he knew why?

Rita was the first to be besides her husband. Tears welling in her eyes she ordered around, asking them to call the doctor.

Stunned by the unexpected turn of event, they all were immobilized. Rita was in charge of the situation. They thought she was one cool lady.She handled the situation deftly.

After an interval there was the doorbell, somebody guided the doctor in the dining room. He looked around to where the patient was, immediately made is way to the place where George was lying with his head on Rita's lap.

What seemed like eternity! The doctor shook his head and looked at Rita.

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III

They had tried to pin it on his wife, deducing she must have killed him. The police had send the body for the autopsy, but the verdict was that he died of massive cardiac arrest. When his will revealed that his entire estate was donated to the orphanage, they had to change their line of reasoning. They had questioned the servants and the friends; nobody could find any fault with her behavior. In fact everybody said that she had made him one happy man.

They had checked on all the angles to be sure. But the doctor's report disclosed that he passed away because his heart gave way. Checking his age and medical history, the death wasn't quite a shock really.

The police wanted to be sure not to leave anything to chance. So they had to keep a check on the grieving widow, they put a tail on her. They weren't surprised to find that they could not stick any charges on her. She had gone back to her mother's house, not venturing out much, just lived there in that old big house all alone.

They finally closed the case, stating the death was from massive cardiac arrest.

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EPILOGUE

It was again very cold and dark in my room. I threw the quilt away from my body, remembering the particular night 19 years ago, when I awoke frightened and went to my mom's bedroom to find George making love to her. I had transfixed his image in my mind. I hated him and I was disgusted with my mother. I had lost my father just a month back and hated the idea of any man in his bedroom. I decided to KILL the man who ravaged my father's memory that day.

I knew I had to grow up to take my revenge, which I did.

The police thought they were very smart. I knew I had to do this methodically. It was easy to hook George and marry him. He fell for me hook-line-sinker. Gaining his trust was a child's play. I had plenty of money so I had no qualms when I suggested calmly that he donate it to the orphanage. He bought it because he thought I was from the same orphanage. He already had history of mild heart attack. I had to play on his psychology a little. I gave him a bowl of soup, which I flavored with more herbs. It played on his psyche very well; he found the soup tasting different.

When he tasted the soup at the dining room, he was convinced that I had poisoned him and he collapsed of heart attack. I resemble my mother a lot, I took the advantage of the light and dyed my hair light brown like hers, so when he looked up after sipping his soup and realized who I was……....rest is history. Oh! Sweet Revenge.

I went to sleep, covering myself with the quilt, waiting for the darkness to engulf me ones again.

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