ANNHA DARLING

CHAPTER 1

WHEN I FIRST MET HER

"If my Annha wants anything, you can call me. If my Annha wants anything more, I'll always be there"

These were the words that she said to me just before her mouth pressed against mine. These were the words I shall always remember…

Its been a long time since I remembered her. I had a holiday today and I just felt sleeping. In my dreams I remembered things that I swore to forget a long time a ago. Its so surprising how much fast time goes, and you look back and you realize everything is changed, forever and there is nothing left but memories.

I am not going to go reveal my identity for my own selfish reasons, I am not going to go in-depth as to where this story happens, what year, where the location is or the characters. Any clues that would help anyone who reads to it identify these things will be omitted. Also I will use laziness as excuse of not explaining stuff in much detail.

Having said that let me say my story.

I was an Orphan who was lucky enough to be raised in a decent orphanage…

It was there I was taught to read and write. I finished my schooling during that time and wanted to get into a college. Since I knew I always wanted to get out of the orphanage, I took the blessings,packed my things and bid adieu to the place. Life however did not work exactly the way I planned. I tried to apply for colleges by getting coached for entrance exams, but after three months I realized how much difficult this stuff was. I could not go back to the orphanage as it was too humiliating so I decided to live in the streets.

I worked in a street gang, we were basically into smuggling and selling stuff-drugs included. Since I was able to earn some money I applied for a distant education course, so basically mornings I would attend classes and evening to night I would do the work. Life was doing well, I got an opportunity to do a sizable drug deal, I knew if police catches me I was going away for a long time, but the pay was really good. Somehow even after going against my gut feeling I did the deal, well I did receive the pay but one week later a major drug bust happened. I was lucky I immediately broke all the contacts with the gang as soon as I finished the job because I knew something will go wrong for any big happy moment of my life.

Well I had a good chunk of money, maybe to last for a year or so but now I need to lay really low. So I returned to orphanage hoping that I would fit there, they told me that it was not easy for them to take me back since I was in streets for some time (they had a hunch that I was doing something). But they told me that once a while the orphanage would receive requests from private individuals asking them if there are any orphans who would be willing to relocate to their place. They handed me a letter and asked if I was interested.

I read the request, well the owners were members of a semi know wealthy family or so, they wanted a boy about my age. Let me make it clear, it was not an adoption, I won't receive a penny of their money, nor will there be any legal contract. I can stay with them, rent, food, other expenses they will take care. I even will receive a cash sum monthly to meet my private expenses. I can take the time to finish my education. I thought it was a good deal. I will be able to save my money big time. Again anytime they want they can kick me out. So thus I accepted it.

Few Days Later

"So do you like the place?"

"Yes, it's very nice"

Well after a few days a car came, I packed my things and left off. It was raining outside so I couldn't really see where the car was going. But it took some time, maybe an hour or two to reach this place. It was more like a big castle like building strangely with a tiny gate. It had to be at least seven to ten times bigger than a decent house. I was soaked, I rang the bell, two elderly ladies (way elder, I think both of them are in their seventies and eighties greeted me) obviously they might be the owners of this place.

"So that's your story…umm what was your name again?" The first elderly women asked.

"You can call me Will"

I obviously hid all the details about me doing the street gang thing, the drug stuff and not going to college. I just said I couldn't find a job and thus decided to study more.

"You can call me Agnes and she is Martha." The second elderly women said.

"You might be wondering why we decided to bring you here?" Martha said.

"I could continue my education and I could do some work here maybe help you in some way" I said. The truth is I too didn't know why they would be so generous to me.

"Well you see there is someone we would like you to meet. We just want her to be happy. She has never had any true friend before. Back in the orphanage you had a pen pal named Alice right?"

"I had lots of pen pals, I think yes"

"Well, it was from your letters we found out your address and we both agreed you would be a good company for her?" Agnes said.

"I-I'm sorry I did not catch- I mean?"

I was not sure what they were telling, I had pen pals and I remembered the name Alice and at that time I was seriously into that, but I don't know what words I put to those letters that were so captivating.

We just chatted some basic stuff, like how is the weather. I told her about how difficult life was in the orphanage but I had hopes of happiness and some stuff like that. During that time I was high on philosophical things, always saying deep meaning stuff about love, life etc. Now the more I think about it the more I remembered this particular pen pal always expressing sadness in her letters and I would cheer her up by saying some make believe stuff.

"You see she is our baby, but she has been through a very rough time lately. At one point we almost lost her, during that time the only relief for us was that out of all the persons that she wrote you were the one who replied back to her. But then the letters stopped, we enquired and the orphanage said you left. We kept sending letters on regular basis hoping one day you will return and finally we were able to contact you" Martha said. I could sense sadness in her voice.

"I still don't know what I am supposed to-?" I said.

"Please think of this as a job, you said if there is some work you can do to make for our generosity right? Just be a good friend to our baby, she is so lonely and she can only connect with certain people. We both have hard time as she is sad and unhappy. We are also busy, due to our professions we cannot be with her all the time and even if we were, we are way to old understand what our baby feels she needs a person of her age.

She too is completing her studies but she is having a hard time lately. You will receive a monthly payment, we assure you all other expenses we will take care." Martha said in a kind manner.

I didn't exactly know what they were planning but I could sense a feeling of intense pain from their words. They are really generous and all they need is someone for Alice? I don't know. Maybe this person is really depressed or something and she needs a friend sort of a mentor maybe even a elderly big brother figure that she connect or something.

"Wouldn't you like to see her?"

"Yes, I was wondering where she was the whole time" I lied.

"Baby dear, look whom we finally found, your pen pal friend. Remember Will?" Agnes said. The door opened, a girl about seventeen or eighteen years old came. She was looking down. Perhaps she was very shy. As she approached me, I felt a very strange feeling coming towards me. She looked up and I saw her.

I still could not forget the feeling that I got when our eyes first met. She had beautiful black eyes, her face was cute, just like the girls of her age filled with bubbliness and cheerfulness. Her had long black hair that reached till her shoulders. She was shorter than me, perhaps I was a little long. She was wearing long skirt with a white top. She wore flat shoes. Overall she looked like a girly-girl in every shape and form.

Wow, I mean its not that I was pervert or something but I am a male and more over I am a teenage boy, I knew the first feeling that went through my head was lust and not love. But having lived in the streets, I had very very different notions about these things.

"Hai, you must be Alice, well its nice to see you finally" I said in an enthusiastic manner. She just looked at me and nodded. She was really shy. I extended my hand for a shake hand, very awkwardly she just grabbed two of my fingers. I could see she was very shy and embarrassed. Was this the first time her meeting someone of her own age in her house, also I am going to be staying there for some time. I wasn't sure of it.

After a quick meeting with her, I had a long chat with Agnes and Martha. Both of them agreed that me staying here would mean a lot to Alice. Also I could finish my studies here, and the monthly pay would be put in my bank account. It was a good offer. They told me that since their work or something requires them to travel and spend many days away from the home would it be okay.

At first I was like why on earth are they leaving me alone, I mean there might be persons in the house I had not met but still aren't the guardians or something and I was like a stranger. I mean when you have a girl in the house shouldn't there be an older male figure or something. I was not sure. Ofcourse there isn't anything to loot or rob from the house. But still.

So I accepted it. I took all my stuff ( although there was not much anyway, just a shoulder bag containing my laptop and mobile with certificates and a large trunk having my clothes, sheets and other items.)

They guided me towards my room. It was upstairs, you have to take the stairs to reach it and the room was not that huge but still much much better than what I had at orphanage. My room had a large bed, a good sized table with a office type chair. A good sized cupboard and a desktop computer, it was very slim, and I bet very expensive indeed. There was windows to keep the room ventilated, a surprisingly good sized toilet. Wow! And I get to live here rent free!

I unpacked myself and started make myself familiarize with the room. I gave myself a good bath and changed my clothes. After two or three hours I stepped outside the room. The house was big but it was also lonely type of houses. Apart from Agnes, Martha, Alice and of course me there was only one person. An older female, much older in her 50's or so. Agnes said she was the cook and a very peculiar person. She does not like to be disturbed and doesn't like to talk much. She just cooks and cleans. Another weirdo in the house. She introduced me to another person, he was a butler I think or maybe a general security cum assistant or something. He too was in his 40's or something. She said he has his own house a little far away and visits multiple times in this house. I can contact him if I wanted assistance. Again I was like there is something unfunny about this house. Its big, but its like I don't know silent or something.

I explored the house a little bit. There is a huge library in house, I don't mean to brag but I looked like a college library, tons of tons of books racked up in three or four sectioned shelves. Also there were many shelves, like something out of a movie, huge clean but old shelves with old books, like a maze its easy to get lost or something. There was a living area with a fire place like English movies. The kitchen was not that big but it was surprisingly how should I put it filled with top quality electronics, like double door fridge with ice cube generator outside, induction panel, a big microwave and I think electric kettle or coffee maker something. I hoped there was a tv, but no no tv but the house had excellent internet, some of the best free wifi with no security password! I mean anyone can just plug and download anything!. There was a large aquarium in the middle, an aquarium built into a stone shelf or something.

I met Agnes and Martha. Their rooms were downstairs, the room was already opened, never the less I knocked on the door.

"Ah Will, we were just talking about you" Agnes said.

"Come inside, don't just that stand there!" Martha said.

I quietly stepped inside the room. It was a quite a large room with double beds. It looked like a couples master bedroom. There were laptops on the table. It looked like a room cum how should I say the desk of a top officer of a company filled with files, papers, and professional stuff. Like someone is working and sleeping there.

"We were just talking how much our baby would get along, since you are here" Agnes said pinching the cheek. It was only then I noticed that the girl I saw earlier was there, well she was resting her face on Agnes lap.

"I don't want you to go-" she said. I could see her eyes were watery. Her face was somewhat buried in the cloth but I could see her red puffy eyes. Agnes stroked her hair and petted her cheeks.

"Its all right dear, it will be short, you wont even know, within a few days time you will see" Agnes said to her slowly. Although I felt for her, it seemed impossible that anything would soothe her pains. They were going and nothing is going to change that.

"Alice look, Wills here, aren't you going to say hi to him" Martha said in hopes of changing the subject. Well she didn't listen and buried her face in Agnes lap. I felt sorry for her, it felt that she was a lot attached to Agnes and Martha.

A Car arrived some time late, I helped to get their luggage on it. It wasn't that much, so I though they were going for a few days or maybe a week at max. I waved them good bye. The driver didn't close the gate so I went to close it. The gate is a little far from the house. So when I walked back it gave me some time to think back.

" You want a smoke Will?"

"No, thanks I don't-"

"Are you sure?"

"Listen Will, I know you are very curious about what you should do. Let us tell you about what you should not do"

"Umm…okay"

"We don't want you to, how should I put it, ask a lot of questions. What we do? Who we are? Whats our relationship between Alice, who runs this house, how we manage stuff, where we go etc? To just put it in plain words, we don't want any snooping from you, asking questions to anyone, especially to our baby."

"…I…..Yes of course, I didn't I mean I wouldn't want any of that."

"Just be a good friend to our baby, as you can see she is very lonely and very sensitive, we believe you could cheer her up, get her off that condition, but we don't want you to delve more towards it."

"Yes, of course, It's the least I could do, I mean you have been such generous to me, allowing me to stay, giving me a monthly pay, I would never want to know anything, Ill just be what you said, a good friend to Alice. I won't ask her or any person about anything, its none of my concern right."

"One last thing Will"

"Yes"

"Please don't make our baby cry…."

I kept on thinking. Why do these people don't want me to know about them. Do they know about my past, the drug smuggling, my street life, the gangs that I used to hang out with. Even the name that I use Will is just something I use as street name. It could be, but then if they knew my past, why would they risk it. Its not like I am going to rob the house, its expensive but still. Perhaps the only thing I can smuggle out of this house might be the books, several of them looked really expensive. But still why such a doubt on me?

It was obvious they wanted a caretaker, friend, maybe a mentor or teacher, and a general male in the house all rolled into one from me. But still why are they such secretive, it's not like they intend to adopt me, also from their talks it seems like Alice is not related to them by blood, even if she was what controversial thing would that be, I am not going to tell every person I met about it. I don't know my head kept spinning. I decided, all right I have my courses, complete it, apply for jobs, get a good monthly savings and go out. I was basically paid to complete my courses, free food, internet and yes of course be a friend to Alice.

It was raining a little, as I slowly made towards the house. The cook and the butler may have gone but one person was still standing there. Alice. She was still teary.

"Hey, you will catch cold if you stand like this" I said. Even though I was the one who was dripping wet.

She didn't respond but looked at me. Her teary eyes were a little hard to watch. It was obvious she was very upset about them going like this.

"You wanna go inside?"

She just shook her head, indicating she does not want to. I asked her if she wants to be alone, she just shook her head again. So I just sat on the steps with her. Both of us were enjoying the rain. This was the time where I got a good look at her. She wasn't that noticing. Her black hair just moved with the wind, tiny water droplets just resting on the hair. I looked at her hands, they were beautiful with that long girly nails, I always liked that in girls, how well they have their nails. She had a cute face, or maybe pretty could be the word. It was like innocence and kindness. I don't know, I am sure I have seen sexy girls before but never a girly girl before.

Some time had passed. I gently touched her hair covering her face. She had leaned on my shoulders and looked very sad. I just placed my hand over her to assist her. She was crying, I wasn't sure what to do so I just let her let the sadness out. I gently patted her. Mind you I was still a total stranger, its not like we spoke lengths and breadths in order to have such connection. But I guess the pain of having your loved ones away was universal.

A lot of time passed, it was still raining but very less. It was getting dark. I thought I must wake her up. She clearly had dozed off, and I was just rewinding the past, seeing in the large screen in my mind. I needed to wake her up but I somehow did not like that, well the truth was I was just enjoying the nice feeling of a girl having snuggled up to me, not a feeling you get when you live in the streets.

As much I wished not to, it was time, it was dark. I tried to push her a little hoping it would wake her up, nope. I just prodded on her cheek with my finger multiple times, nope. I even pulled her hair just for the fun. Finally I just shook her, that did the trick. She woke up, seemingly kind of dazed off. She had a little saliva dripping going on from one side of her mouth. She quickly wiped it. I helped her get up.

We both went inside. I walked her off to her room, which was upstairs. It was then during that time I got a chance to talk to her.

"You kinda seem really upset with your grannies leaving?"

"Yes, I miss them so much. I do not get to spend much time with them."

"Well, they will be back before you know it." I tried to cheer her up.

"So you are going to stay here?"

"Yeah, I have some studies to finish, plus you also get to have a company right?"

"I have wrote to you so many times, there was no reply."

"Yeah, the thing was I moved from the orphanage, and since I did not tell them clearly were I was going, they couldn't contact me. Only when I came back they told me."

Finally we reached the above floor.

"I guess Ill see you tomorrow then." I said in cheerful manner. The truth was I still was not sure how I was going to be a friend for her and that other stuff they mentioned. She does seemed like a nice girl, a bit over sensitive but that's more than acceptable for girls this age, it has its own charm. If it was a guy we could have had a lot more to talk about, like guy stuff. But still I need to connect to her.

I smiled at her as she stood. I was hoping to get a good night's rest, so I waited for her to leave like a gentleman.

"If my Annha wants anything, you can call me. If my Annha wants anything more, I'll always be there".

I only heard those words because the next thing I knew my eyes were directly touching hers. I felt warmth spreading all over my lips. I took me a moment to realize that she pressed her mouth against mine. I couldn't even react, but felt her lips mashing against mine. I don't know how much time passed, when she removed her lips a saliva strand attached between our lips. She kissed me again and took off running towards her room.

I just stood there like a moron, or buffoon wondering what happened. What on earth did I do? I didn't even charm her, I am not that dashing like a teenage pop idol or a model. I genuinely didn't know as I made back to my room. I just laid on the bed wondering what happened. Friend, teacher, mentor, within one day she threw all that out of the window, am I to be her…..Lover?

Too many questions and way too many answers. It was too much for one day. So I just closed my eyes.

To be continued….