Awkward Gratitude: A Silent Thanks?

I reached out to Indali, trying to console her. I could see that she was in a state of shock and pain. I wanted to help her, but I didn't know what to do. I could feel her trembling in my arms and I could see the fear in her eyes. It was clear that she was scared of Aniket's mom and didn't want to go back to her house. I decided to walk her home, hoping that it would make her feel better.

As we walked together, I could see that she was not in a state to talk. She just held onto my arms tightly, as if seeking comfort and assurance. I tried to start a conversation with her, but I had no idea what to say. I didn't want to bring up the incident and make her relive the trauma. So, I remained quiet and just walked beside her, hoping that my presence would provide some solace to her.

We reached her house, and I could see that she was hesitant to go inside. She continued to gaze at her house, as if she didn't want to enter it. I could understand her feelings, as her house didn't look like a happy place. A big house with two floors, but when you looked at it, it seemed like nobody lived there. The house looked really old, with paint that had faded, pots of flowers that had died, and barely any grass in the front. The feeling around the house was kind of sad and not welcoming. The house wasn't necessarily good or bad, but there was something about it that made me feel uneasy.The air around the house felt like it hadn't been taken care of, as if the house had been forgotten by time. Even though it had two floors, it didn't look as grand as it probably used to be. Instead, it seemed like a place of loneliness.

I looked at her and could see the sadness and pain in her eyes. I wanted to say something to make her feel better, but I was at a loss for words. I didn't know what to say to comfort her. I could feel her pain and I wished I could take it all away.

I could see that she was not ready to walk inside, so I walked up to her door and rang the doorbell.

After a few seconds, the door creaked open and a wrinkled old lady appeared, her face completely covered in wrinkles as if it was melting. Her eyes were white and it sent shivers down my spine. The way she stood, bent over and twisted, made things even scarier. It seemed like the weight of all the heavy things she had done in her life was on her back. She was shocked to see me with Indali, and I was scared when I looked at her for the first time.

"You are from the neighbor", she said in a scary, old voice, as if a demon was speaking. I was so scared that I forgot about the question she asked, and then she looked at Indali and asked me another question.

"Did she bully you", her words sent a chill down my spine.

"No, no, no," the words came out of my mouth as a reflex.

"I helped her", I continued, trying to ease the tension.

She checked me and then walked inside the house.

"Come in", she suddenly said, and I didn't know if I was supposed to walk inside. My father had warned me about Indali's family, so I was hesitant. But Indali walked in, and I had no other option but to follow her.

As I entered the room, I was immediately hit by a cloud of dust that seemed to choke me. I started to cough uncontrollably, struggling to catch my breath. Indali ran towards me, concern etched on her face, but she didn't say a word. She just stood there, looking at me with worried eyes. I took a long, deep breath and tried to compose myself. But as I looked around the room, my eyes started to water.The room was a complete mess. The furniture was scattered around, some pieces broken and others barely standing. The curtains were torn and hanging haphazardly from the windows. The floor was covered in a thick layer of dust, making it difficult to even walk. It seemed like no one had been here in a long time. At the corner of the room, I noticed a small kitchen area. The sink was full of dirty dishes and the countertops were covered in grime. It was clear that this place had not been cleaned or maintained in a while. I couldn't help but wonder how anyone could live in such conditions.As I made my way further into the room, I noticed that the stairs leading up to the second floor were broken and unstable. It looked like if anyone tried to walk on them, they would surely break their leg. The walls were peeling and the paint was chipped, giving the room a rundown and neglected appearance.The window glass was broken, allowing the cold breeze to seep in and adding to the eerie atmosphere of the room. It almost felt like a haunted house, with its dilapidated state and lack of care.

Indali's grandma then told me to sit down, and I hesitantly took a seat. She offered , some water, and as I sipped it, I could see that the water was not clean. But I didn't want to be rude, so I drank it anyway.

I looked at Indali, sitting on an old, squeaky chair across from me. Her cheek looked a bit swollen from someone slapping her but her grandma didn't seem to care .

Indali smiled at me, but it seemed a bit weird this time. She whispered, "Thank you."

It was the first time I heard her say anything. The room felt tense, and her thank-you hung in the air, showing a mix of feelings in the moment.

After I finished drinking my water, I heard someone coming towards the house. I turned around and saw a person wearing a brown checkered shirt and gray pants. But what really caught my attention was the look on their face. I couldn't help but stare at their face. Their eyebrows were pulled down, making shadows over their eyes, which looked intense and upset. Sweat was dripping down their face.

In a quiet voice, I said, "Dad."

I knew I wasn't supposed to be there; my dad had warned me. But I didn't listen.

However, now that I saw my dad's face, I regretted my decision.

He looked so mad, and I knew that I was in for a lecture. But he wasn't alone. Aniket's mom, Ms. Anitha Bhattachariya, was with him. She looked at me and smirked, making me feel even more uneasy. I braced myself for whatever was about to happen.

As they both stood in front of me, I could feel the tension rising. My dad's face was still red, and his jaw was tightly clenched. I could see that he was struggling to keep his cool. Ms. Anitha, on the other hand, seemed to be enjoying the situation.

Suddenly, my dad stormed into the room, looking angrier than I had ever seen him before. He ignored everyone and walked straight towards me. I could feel the tension in the room. I stood up, ready to hear what he had to say. But before I could even utter a word, he slapped me. It was the first time he had ever laid a hand on me, and I was shaken to my core.I could feel tears welling up in my eyes as I looked at him in disbelief. I couldn't believe that my own father had just hit me. My cheek stung, and I couldn't feel it. It felt like my heart had been broken into a million pieces. I looked around, and everyone was staring at us in shock.

Indali ran towards me and looked at my cheeks. She was crying too, but I didn't want to know why at that moment. I was too overwhelmed by the fact that my dad had just hit me.My dad's grip on my hand was so tight that it hurt. I looked at his expression, and it was a mix of anger and regret. I could see that he felt bad for what he had done, but he didn't say anything. I could see the guilt in his eyes, and it made me feel even more heartbroken.Just then, Aniket's mother, who was also in the room, stepped in.

She gently touched my dad's shoulder and said, "He's just a child; he has the right to make mistakes. Maybe he learned something today".

Her words hit me hard. But what hurt me the most was when she looked at me with a smile and patted my hair, saying, "Now he's old enough to understand that what elders say is always right".

I couldn't bring myself to look at her or anyone else in the room. In those moments, I hated her. My hands were trembling, and I was trying hard to control my emotions. Even when I breathed, I could feel the sensation of my dad's slap on my cheek.

"Why, I told you to stay away from this family, and here you are, drinking from their glass. When did you become such a rebel", my dad scolded, disappointment clear in his voice.

I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach because I knew he was right. I shouldn't have ignored his advice and put myself in a risky situation.

"And you lied. You made up a story that your best friend hurt this... girl," he said, looking at Indali like she wasn't human. I was too busy crying to respond. I could feel my heart pounding, and I wished I could turn back time.

I glanced at Indali's grandma, who was calmly doing dishes in the kitchen as if the argument in the living room didn't bother her. It left me wondering why she seemed so unfazed. Did she not care about what was happening, or had she seen such situations before.

Indali, on the other hand, looked worried as she stole glances at me. She knew I was in trouble, and I could see the guilt in her eyes. Before I could even say sorry, her grandma suddenly started laughing strangely, as if she was possessed. Her laughter echoed in the room, making me feel uneasy.

"Wherever she goes, destruction follows," she declared, looking at the ceiling as if talking to someone unseen. Her words sent shivers down my spine, and fear gripped me.

"What did I do wrong that you sent her to me, huh", she said, directing her words at someone we couldn't see. Ms. Anitha looked scared, and my dad just stared at Indali's grandma, unsure of what to say or do.

Indali kept looking at me, ignoring everyone else in the room. I felt torn between looking at my dad, who was clearly upset with me, and Indali, who wouldn't break eye contact. It was a moment of confusion and fear.

"It's in her blood. She's here to disgrace our family," she laughed until she caught her breath. Her laughter was unsettling, and I couldn't help but hold onto my dad's hand tightly. He noticed my fear and picked me up, holding me tightly in his embrace. His comforting presence momentarily made me forget about the argument and the fact that he had hit me earlier.

As I rested my head on his shoulder, I wished for everything to be okay. But my peace was short-lived as Indali suddenly ran upstairs, leaving the tension in the room hanging.

"Rot in hell," her grandma shouted suddenly, her voice filled with anger and disgust. I could feel the atmosphere in the room grow heavier, and I could see fear in my dad's eyes as he looked at her.

"All will rot in hell... with me," she said quietly but ominously, sending more shivers down my spine. It was a moment filled with confusion, fear, and uncertainty.

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