CHAPTER 4 - MISS LEILA

Miss Leila greeted her parents with a smile.

"Hello there!! Mr and Mrs. S--"

"We don't really like to be called by our surname dear", her mom cut off. "Why don't you have a seat while I make you a cup of hot tea."

"Oh, no, no! Please don't worry about me! It's quite alright!!", Miss Leila said hesitatingly.

"I insist", her mother said smiling softly.

"Alright then, I'll have the tea, but without sugar please."

Her mom nodded and went to the kitchen.

Her dad sat opposite Miss Leila.

"So, what brings you here today??? Has she been causing trouble in school??"

"No, no, not at all!! In fact she is the best in her grade. But she doesn't really communicate with others... I wonder if she has any problems... Has she ever said anything to you about it...??"

Miss Leila was genuinely concerned.

"Naive. Really naive", the child thought. She looked at Miss Leila closely, observing her.

Miss Leila found the child looking at her and smiled. The child turned away. She looked around the apartment. It was squeakly clean. Almost a bit too clean. But there was an unsettling feeling in the atmosphere. She could feel it.

"They must take good care of their apartment. It's very clean. But why does it feel something is not right...??", Miss Leila thought.

Her mom had by now made the tea. She put the mug in front of Miss Leila and sat beside her dad.

"So, tell me Miss, how does our child behave in school??", her mom asked.

"She is an exceptional kid. She is also the top of her grade. I was just telling your husband what a great child she is!!! She must have great parents!!!"

The child glanced at her parents. They were... laughing... no... smiling... dangerously...

Miss Leila continued ,"She only has one little problem, I'll say. She doesn't really communicate with others. Is she like this at home too or..."

"She didn't utter a single word this morning except informing about your visit today. That was like 1 sentence, around 5 words", her mom said cutting off Miss Leila.

Miss Leila looked at the child. The child was purposefully avoiding her eyes.

She said ,"Has she always been like this...??"

"I don't think so...", it was said by her dad this time. "She almost stopped talking after...If I am not wrong..., her grandmother's death. Tell her about it Deora"

Deora glanced at Miss Leila and quickly looked down.

Miss Leila sensed the tension in the air and said, "You have a beautiful name, Deora"

Deora nodded and suddenly blurted out,"It means 'Tears' in Irish." She looked at Miss Leila's quizzical look and said, "My name"

Miss Leila burst or laughing.

"You are very serious about it, aren't you?? Your name I mean", Miss Leila laughed.

The child nodded.

Miss Leila now said, "Alright then, Deora doesn't really cause troubles in school but it would have been better if she could communicate with others."

She looked at her parents.

"You will guide her, won't you... Talk with her regularly. That's what I ask"

Her parents smiled sweetly... bitterly ...

Miss Leila finished her tea and got up.

"Alright, I think I should really leave now"

Her parents nodded again.

Miss Leila greeted her parents and then waved her goodbye.

"Goodbye, Deora. Have a great weekend!!"

Deora didn't reply.

Miss Leila left. Her mom picked up the mug and washed it.

Deora noticed that Miss Leila had left her phone on the table.

"Ma'am left her phone. I'll return it to her"

Before her parents could say anything or stop her, she picked up the phone and ran out.

Miss Leila had covered quite some distance when she realised that she had left her phone. She turned around to go back and found Deora running towards her.

"You...left...your...phone...", She said panting.

"Alright, alright!! Breathe Deora, just breathe!!", she was surprised.

She breathed heavily, and after a few moments regained her composure. She handed the phone to Miss Leila.

"Thanks, Deora"

There was an awkward silence between the two them them.

Then Deora said ,"Alright then, I'll leave now."

She turned around to leave, but Miss Leila stopped her.

"Listen Deora, if you have any problems which you are afraid to share with your parents, you can try telling me alright? I'll always listen to you. Even if I can't give a solution, I'll listen to you; cause sometimes being a good listener can solve a lot of problems..."

Deora stopped in her tracks and looked at Miss Leila. She was smiling.

Sweetly...

Her smile was genuine and sincere. Deora could feel that.

She stared at Miss Leila for a few moments.

Miss Leila thought that the child won't give a reply but unexpectedly she did.

Deora gave a short nod and headed towards her home. After a few steps she stopped, turned around and waved Miss Leila goodbye. Then she ran away.

Miss Leila was astound and surprised.

She smiled to her and thought ,"She smiled... That was a first time I saw her smile. She is really sweet when she smiles."

She said aloud ,"Goodbye Deora!!! Keep smiling!!!"

Deora was out of her earshot but something has changed about her. Her perception about Miss Leila had changed drastically today.

"She is naive...", She thought. "But I like her".

She smiled to herself unknowingly.

.

.

.

She ran home. When she reached home, she found her parents sitting on the sofa, hands crossed.

Deora's face fell. She could feel another storm coming.

"So, Deora...we need to talk", her dad said.

He was all serious.

And...

Her mom had that same old dangerous smirk on her face...

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AUTHOR'S WORDS :-

______________________

HELLO EVERYONE!!!

I am your author JADE RABBIT!!!

Nice meeting all those lovely souls who had spared their time to like, subscribe and comment!!! U HAVE MY LOVE!!❤️❤️❤️

So today, I'm gonna clarify about a question which has been puzzling my readers for quite some time. I have got quite a few comments about "Is the story real…??"

Now let me tell you that this story has a completely FICTIONAL SET-UP.

This must clear your minds and put you in ease, right?

But, let me give you guys some food for thought...

Just because this is a fictional set-up, does it mean that instances like this doesn't happen?? Do we know about each and every thing which is going on in each and every corner of the world…???

Time to ponder guys...

Put on your thinking caps and write about your thoughts in the comment section...

Annd don't forget to support this young and aspiring writer!!!☺️☺️

THANK YOU!!!

That's all for today's author's words.🤗

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