Supernatural: Chronicles of the Order 10
Chapter 13: To Make a Long Vacation Short...
(DISCLAIMER: No, I don't own Supernatural because it belongs to Eric Kripke and Warner Bros. So, enjoy the show! Rated M for graphic violence, adult content, and adult language.)
It had been a week since Tobin Brackenstall's arrest as he was sent away before the trial started. After all that has happened, we were busy juggling childcare while helping Jill adjust to life in the hive. Even the children were eager to check up on her as she was also starting her life as an adult Chonoid with her new family that lived near the harbor. Life here in El Anillo del Fuego had its challenges and adventures as we all pulled together as a family, for it was good for the time being. Still, we also had to deal with the correspondence with everyone as Dean returned to Skald Island with Marie-Therese and Yorvanar after their business was concluded. As for me, I was still doing fine, but I was also working to the point of exhaustion while I was hanging up some clothes that were fresh from the frontloader in the laundry room, for I was mainly seeing things that I never expected to see before.
"Sammy…"
It wasn't long until I saw Reiko naked as she was hanging up some clothes. Even though we haven't been intimate since I gave birth as I was also recovering from what I had almost a month ago. Still, I had to focus more on my family, but was sidetracked as I was wanting a piece of what was put in front of me, for I was about to become a very naughty boy when it came to my own temptation.
"Reiko…," I said as I stared at her. "What are you doing?"
"I just wanted to help you put up some laundry," she said as she walked towards me. "Maybe I'll help you put some clothes on the line…"
"I would love that…"
I was more than likely to be giving into the temptation of Reiko in front of me until I was startled by footsteps approaching. That was when I realized that I was seeing a hallucination of Reiko goading me into having a little fun with her at the wrong time until I turned around and walked towards the porch near the back door. Just as I was about to go inside, I was stopped by Reuben as he was concerned about my health, for he wasn't about to let me off the hook just yet.
"It appears that a certain six-foot-four tall someone has been neglecting his health again," he said.
"I've been occupied with mainly the chores, the childcare, and the occasional assistance," I said.
"Really? I've just came out of the hive in which one of the Chonoids saw you helping out with the cleanup of the underground bunker that has blended in with the Tashlin. She also says that you get too exhausted after clearing away some of the remains of the basilisk that Jill took out last week."
"Ch'Vrenn now knows of me because of my close ties to Jill, but she still wants help into cleaning up the mess that has been stagnant before the basilisk was released here."
"That's not the point, Sam. From what I gathered, you not only have to wrestle with the usual childcare and chores, but you also allow others to take a break that leaves you the last one to do so. As of now, you're going on a vacation to the city of Chithravai, which is mainly on Chatterjee land. They're mainly Quenya, but they love their waterfalls and lakes."
"I don't need it, Reuben. Besides, I can relax in the bath or play in the canal just to recharge."
"That's not relaxing; it's vegging out without warning. You should reconsider before saying anything more."
"I'll think about it…"
I went into the villa as I walked towards the bathing area and stripped off my clothes while I began to clean myself at the wash basin. Even though I was feeling the pinch of exhaustion, I wasn't about to be on vacation after all that has happened while taking care of the children. By the time I finished up, I went towards one of the bathtubs as I began to relax in it. With the warm water soothing me, I was calm, but alert as I would soon resume the fervent chaos that followed, for I had to remain steady while being trapped in the long and grueling furlough. Still, I couldn't get the image of Reiko out of my head with all of her nakedness as I was wanting to take her after carrying the precious cargo that was put into me, for I was dreaming of it for a while.
"Sammy…"
I noticed Reiko in the bathtub next to me as she was relaxing with her long silver hair down. The sight of her drove me wild with excitement until I heard footsteps coming into the bathing area. I had a gut feeling that Reuben would intrude on my privacy as I later noticed him entering while he was aware of what I was going through, for he was more than likely to be ushering me away from the villa and somewhere else.
"So, have you said yes to going on a week-long vacation?" he asked me.
"Sorry, but the answer is no," I answered. "I know that you want me to take one, but I have all the comfort that I need here."
"Lounging around in the bathing area and playing in the canal isn't a real vacation, Sam. Going somewhere nice is much better and I won't stop pestering you until you say yes."
"Look, I'm fine, okay? There's no need for you to worry about me in which I also have to correspond with Dean and Shigeru about the situation that's been escalating on Alecrast. As for everything else, I have to recover further after giving birth and even helping everyone around me."
"According to Reiko, you keep helping out with the workload while you also have to contend with helping out with the childcare. Anyway, I'll let you have your bath, but after this, I suggest that you go and take a vacation so you can recover without having a nervous breakdown in the process."
I saw Reuben leaving the bathing area as I continued to lounge around in the bathtub. When I later got out, I dried myself off as I put on come clean clothes and later put everything in the hamper before leaving. When I went towards my room, I crawled into my bed as I was simply exhausted from my chores. All I wanted to do was to fall asleep until I wake up later in the afternoon, for I was refusing to go on vacation when my family needed me the most at this time…
Later on in the noon time, Reuben was visiting the hive as he was making a bit of a house call in which he was also examining Ch'Vrenn, who was enduring her annual physical. Still, he was adamant into making me take a vacation, but his protestations were put on hold as he noticed his patient starting to cough the moment she grabbed a tissue and wiped her mouth. The sight of black blood alarmed her as she was scared out of her mind the moment she wanted to tell Reuben something, for she couldn't keep it in much longer.
"You have a slight inflammation in your lungs," he said as he put away his stethoscope.
"I was afraid of that," said Ch'Vrenn. "This malady I suffer from always has a way of returning despite the fact that I had to sacrifice parts of me to keep it at bay."
"According to what I heard from your fellow sisters-in-arms, you've been diagnosed with breast cancer in which you endured a double mastectomy to prevent the disease from spreading."
"Cancer isn't just a Terran's malady. It happens to all of us in which it can happen anywhere on the body. That was when I first laid my eggs to the time of nesting, but one small lump concerned me in the worst way imaginable."
"I also know that you may have beaten cancer once, but I can also tell that it's spread to your lungs in which you keep coughing up blood. Also, you will be taking a nebulizer to stabilize the symptoms in which it'll shrink the tumor. I would prefer chemotherapy, but Chonoids are highly sensitive to radiation."
"I don't give a damn about the radiation. All I want is to make sure that my sisters-in-arms are safe from harm."
"I see what you mean…"
Reuben was thinking about my own dilemma as he was still adamant into forcing me to go on a vacation against my wishes. Even though I was doing fine, he wasn't ready to throw in the towel so lightly as he refused to give up on his personal crusade. Still, he had to resume his work as he grabbed the tissue with black blood on it as he analyzed it carefully. He was shocked to see the results from his scanner as he felt concerned for Ch'Vrenn's health, for she was adamant till the bitter end.
"Your diagnosis isn't good," he said gravely.
"What are you talking about?" asked Ch'Vrenn.
"You're suffering from stage four lung cancer, which is a death sentence to anyone who suffers from it. I also know that you refuse any form of treatment imaginable in which you decide to go down with the ship instead of focusing on your health."
"I have so much to do, but I cannot jeopardize the health and welfare of the hive. Still, it took me a while to warm up to our newest sister, but I refuse to allow her to heal me with what she was blessed with. I also know that she will be poised to take over the hive when I depart to the Great Tree. I am not afraid of death, for I would rather choose my dignity over shame."
"You cannot live with such shame forever, Ch'Vrenn," said Jill as she entered into the hive.
It wasn't long until Jill decided to use her abilities to heal Ch'Vrenn as she didn't want her to fade away quietly. Even though she was a Nephilim, she wasn't about to let her new hive mother to suffer at the hands of her fate as she refused to let her die, for she couldn't let everyone living here go leaderless.
"You shouldn't have done that," said Ch'Vrenn.
"Our sisters-in-arms need you," said Jill. "I also need you because you cannot throw away your life or dignity so readily. Everyone can or be needed, no matter how dire the situation is."
"She's right," said Reuben. "Jill has learned a lot from the family who raised her in which she's coming to her own terms to care for her new hive. Family is more than just blood or relationships, it's about being there for one another and that is the cornerstone of how it is."
Ch'Vrenn began to shed tears of joy as she was grateful that Jill was there. She was happy to have a renewed purpose as she didn't want to let down her other sisters-in-arms. Still, Jill was wanting to know about my own situation as she saw Reuben getting ready to leave, for she had to find out before things got escalated.
"Reuben, wait," she said. "I wanted to know how Sam's doing?"
"He's fine, but still too stubborn to take it easy and go on a vacation," he said.
"When I first knew of him, he was mainly exhausted in which he wanted to help us take care of everything after he stopped Project Amaterasu four years ago, but Reiko stopped him and later scolded him for his behavior. I'm humbled to be around his family, for they taught me so much. I was even taught how to cook in which both Sam and Reiko gave me the basics. Still…, Sam cares too much about us in which he also worries about us. I just hope that he doesn't overwork himself with what he's used to. Even Reiko wants him to not do too much."
Reuben had a plan forming as he wasn't about to give up on his efforts to get me to go and have my vacation. He wasn't going down without a fight as he also had a plan in mind in order to get me to change my mind. There was a reason why he was forcing me to take a vacation in which he wasn't about to let me be stuck in my rut. He wasn't going down quietly as he was more than likely to be wanting a favor, for he couldn't let me be exhausted for far too long…
I later woke up as I was more than likely to be resuming my chores and childcare around the villa. Getting up, I noticed that I wasn't in the villa as I found myself in a very decorative room. Where am I? How did I get here? What I didn't expect was that I noticed the scenery in which I saw the festivities with a parade that had elephants trumpeting while slowly walking in the street. It was something new as I also noticed that Minara was here while still being heavy with child like always. Even though he was incognito, he wasn't about to let me get away for too long as I was trapped in a room that I didn't know of, for it was far different than the one in the villa. I never wanted to be on this vacation as I refused to go along with it in which I had so much to do instead of shirking everything to have comfort, for it was a waste of my time and effort on my part.
"There's no need for you to be leaving, Sam," he said as he sat down in the rocking chair. "Reuben told me everything in which I had to be called just to whisk you away from the overwork you had while taking care of everyone."
"What is this place?" I asked.
"You're in the homestead of the Chatterjee Clan in which it's also the second home of Matriarch Yavanna, who lives at the Singer House on Cordell Island. She comes and visits her children from time to time in which she's also there to spend time with her grandchildren."
"I never asked for a vacation, okay? Reuben can't just be jumping the gun by asking any angel or Nephilim to whisk me away against my wishes, but he's on the same level as Kazuo by overstepping his boundaries just to put me in some random place for no reason. Why can't he have a vacation just to be with his family for once or does he have any at all?"
"Reuben does have vacations, but that doesn't mean that he's not on call all the time. Even though you gave birth nearly a month ago, your body still has to recover after what you went through. As for me, I'm still stuck with what I have in which I also have to appease the Brotherhood of Lions and all their stifling lectures on Claudius. Therefore, I have to check in, so I suggest that you stop worrying too much. And another thing, stop sulking and start living."
I was left in my room as Minara left without a trace in which I was stuck in a room I didn't want to be in. I had chores to do as I wanted to return home as soon as possible. I had duties to uphold while tending to the younger children as I also wanted to get back to El Anillo del Fuego before things got out of hand. I didn't waste any time as I fled my room and ventured out into the hallway in which I had to go downstairs and leave to the next ferry. When I went towards the main hall, I noticed Yavanna coming as she was accompanying a Quenya Elf who was dressed in a turban and regal garb complete with a red dot on his forehead. I was ready to get past them as I had to make a break for it just to get back to the villa. Just as I was about to do so, I was caught in the act as I saw a young Chonoid staring at me in which she was also accompanied by Carly and Kanna, for they were in on the setup I was put into.
"The Serpent Slayer told you that you need to stay put," she said. "Besides, you can't just do things on your own while being burnt out, that's what Granny Ch'Vrenn said."
"So, Jill sent me here…," I said.
"It wasn't by choice, Sam," said Kanna. "Reuben also didn't want you to be overworking in which Reiko also said it could end up curdling what you have for the newborns."
"That's right," said Carly. "You do so much for us, so I suggest that you take a break."
"I'll try, fusspot."
For the record, by means of escaping ended up being interrupted as I had no other choice but to stay in the Chatterjee Clan homestead for a week. Even the girls were adamant into keeping me there, the small Chonoid who accompanied them was mainly the same age as Sona as she was simply looking at the details of the architecture all over the main house. It wasn't long until I later noticed Yavanna coming towards us as she never expected me to be here, for this was a surprise that I didn't see coming.
"Sam!" she said as she rushed towards me. "What are you doing here? I thought that you were lounging around on Trujillo land." She sees me without the heavy load I was carrying as she never expected me to give birth so soon. "You must've had them, didn't you?"
"They came early, but my raw power accelerated the birth after I saved Drusus from a deadly houseplant. I feel lighter, but that doesn't mean that I can shirk my duties as master of my family and the villa I'm at while Skald Island is cleaned up."
"You must be Sam Winchester," said the Quenya Elf as he was shaking my hand. "My mother told me about how your wife shot an arrow into the moon in order to weaken and kill the Maladendrum, which we're all thankful for."
"Reiko is one of a kind, but she should take this vacation instead of me."
"There you are!"
I noticed Reiko appearing out of nowhere as she was looking for Carly and Kanna in which they were staring at the interior of the house. I was grateful to see her, but I had a gut feeling that I would be left behind due to the vacation restriction that I had. Still, I was happy to see her, but she was also not too happy for the girls to be out and about while they had to have their lunch and dinner back at the villa, for she was eager to take them back before the day was over.
"You shouldn't be leaving like that to the bullet trains that are near Trujillo land without telling me," she said. "It's also best that you let Sammy rest after helping us with the childcare and household chores."
"We're sorry," said Kanna.
"It's okay, but we should also have Sammy take his time on his vacation. Besides, he shouldn't be overworking himself too much or else it'll curdle the milk he has."
"Sorry, Mr. Sam," said Carly as she stared at me.
"I'll stay here for a bit, but after that, I'll be coming back to the villa."
"Oh, no you don't," said Reiko as she was blocking me. "You're staying put for a week in which it's best to avoid a breakdown. You should try new things, for you also matter the most."
I saw Reiko leave with the girls as I noticed the small chonoid tagging along with them with a mango in her hands. When I saw them off, I was alone as I didn't want to do anything other than stay in my room and wake up in back in the villa. I didn't want to be on this vacation. I never asked for this. All I knew was that Reuben was the mastermind in putting me here in the first place in which I was getting more uncomfortable. Still, I went outside as I was making my way to the gate the moment I reached it. What I didn't expect was that there were trollies and bridges near a lake as I felt trapped in this hellscape that Reuben tossed me into. All I saw were pull-carts being pulled by oxen complete with elephants coming and going as I had to take a chance in returning to El Anillo del Fuego, only to find it to be a bust. I also noticed several gondolas sailing in the lake as they were carrying people in and out of the city that the Chatterjee Clan homestead was in. I found myself in the city of Chithravai as it was known to many tourist as the jewel of the great lake. I didn't want anything to do with this farce of a vacation as I couldn't take it. Just as I was about to have a breakdown, I saw the Quenya Elf from earlier as he had a tray of food in his hands in which he wanted to cheer me up, for he didn't want me to feel depressed all the live long.
"Being here in our homestead isn't all that bad, Sam," he said.
"I didn't want to be on this vacation," I said as I was starting to feel disappointed.
"By the way, my name is Hrithik Chatterjee and you already know my mom and little brother who come and go while being at the Singer House on Cordell Island. Also, you should try some samosas. They're really good."
I was offered one of the samosas as I tasted what was in it. The filling of chicken and potatoes were more palatable as they were a relief to my stressed woes. By the time I finished it, I was more than likely to be going back towards the homestead as I was surrounded by some of the people who came and went. Just as I was about to go back into the main house, I noticed it to be blocked by an ox as it was mostly laying there, for I had to go around it due to how sacred it and its bovine brethren were.
"Damn it, Geraldine, you're blocking the way again!" yelled Hrithik as he was wanting to move the ox away from the doorway. "I don't care if you're sacred or not! It's bad that you have to be treated as sacred, but blocking the door?!"
"Hrithik, don't do that," said Yavanna cautiously. "It's forbidden on your father's land to move a sacred bovine unless you want to face the wrath of the gods for doing so."
"But Geraldine needs to be moved so that we can get in and out, not have her blocking the front."
MOOOO!
We saw the stubborn bovine leave the doorway as she was on her way towards one of the feeding stations. When we noticed her chowing down on some alfalfa in one of the feeding troughs, we were relieved as she was finally getting her lunch. Even though the minor situation was resolved, there was no solace for me as I wanted to go home back to the villa. Still, I had to suck it up as I had no choice but to deal with what got put in front of me. I was starting to feel depressed as I didn't want to fall behind of my chores the moment I decided to go for a walk outside the homestead and into the base of the city. To my surprise, there were merchants that were selling their food and wares as I didn't have any change to buy anything with. Still, I was not about to myself be trapped for too long as I saw a ferry boat approaching to the dock. I was ready to go towards it as I couldn't take being around the city in which I was ready to get on board. I was home free as I was ready to make a jump for it, for I couldn't shirk my duties at home. Just as I was about to get on board, I froze as I was torn between having fun and shirking my responsibilities at the villa as I had to choose quickly, for I had to get home and stay away from the fun.
"Stop sulking and start living."
Minara's words rang in my head as I didn't want to adhere to them. I had everyone to take care of. I had the quadruplets to watch over. I never asked for this vacation as I was ready to take the plunge, for I wanted to get back home. When I got on board the ferry, I saw it to be going back to El Anillo del Fuego as I was glad to be away from the city. Just as the ferry was about to leave, I saw Yavanna sprinting out towards it as she noticed it stopping quickly due to the captain rushing towards the restrooms, for she wanted me to stay a little longer against my wishes.
"Sam, what are you doing?!" she cried as she saw me on the ferry.
"I'm going home," I said. "This vacation is a farce and Reuben ended up pushing my buttons too much!"
"It isn't a farce if you continue to guard yourself on survival mode all the time."
"I don't have any change or a decent set of clothes here. Still, I won't be swayed by anything other than going home."
"Really? Do you think that Reuben's the only lynchpin in keeping you here for a week after overworking yourself?" I look at Yavanna as I stepped out of the ferry. "I also knew about you caring for your family in which it led to you neglecting your health again. There are others who can help you with all the chores in the villa on Trujillo land. It doesn't hurt to have a little fun from time to time because you'll feel better once you get back. Besides, you can't let everything crumble beneath your feet nor let the sun go down on your anger. Come on; let's go back to the homestead. You can't just spend your vacation as a vegetable forever."
I reluctantly agreed as I followed Yavanna and returned to the main house in the Chatterjee Clan homestead. When we went back inside, I was devastated that my exit was thwarted at the last minute as I went back towards my room. All I wanted was to lay in bed as I didn't want anything to do with everything other than to do my work. That was how it is for me. There was no getting around it as I also decided to stay out of everyone's way for now. The sound of elephants trumpeting with the loud Bollywood music was something of a common staple here in Chithravai, but I ended up ignoring it as I mainly went to sleep, for I refused to enjoy this farce of a wasteful vacation...
Later on in the evening, I woke up to the sound of fireworks popping as I got out of bed and looked out the window. The festivities I saw were a festive delight as I also didn't want to do anything for the rest of the day. I was truly missing out on a good thing as I also decided to go back to my bed. This kind of fun will never be for me as I had so much work that was needed. All I wanted was to go back to the villa so that I wouldn't be put under the microscope. What I didn't expect was that I heard the sound of babies crying the moment I got out of bed and went out into the hall. The sound was getting louder as I rushed to one of the broom closets to find a basket with blankets in it. When I delved further, I saw my little ones in a bloody mess until I woke up in a cold sweat. It was a nightmare that I had as I couldn't overstay my welcome, for I had to leave before getting caught. By the time I left the main house, I was out in the open as I went towards the night ferry and began to leave the bustling city behind.
"Don't worry, I won't neglect your needs," I said as I was leaving for Trujillo land.
I didn't want to shirk my duties as the vision of the quadruplets dead in a basket was a wake-up call that had me cut my vacation short. I was ready to be home as I would soon be on my way back to El Anillo del Fuego as planned. When the ferry entered into the river, I was enjoying my ride home as I was going back to the villa as planned. By the time I was in reach of Trujillo land, I got off the ferry as I was walking on the trail towards the village in which I was almost in the home stretch. When I finally reached El Anillo del Fuego, I was more than likely to be going back to the villa as I went through the back and into the nursery to see the quadruplets still alive and asleep. I didn't want to shirk my duties again as I didn't care about vacation. All I cared about is protecting my family as I refused to leave the nursery for a short while. When bedtime rolled around, I made my way to my room as I noticed Minara standing in front of me. He wasn't having it as he wanted to chew me out for leaving the Chatterjee Clan homestead, for he was more than likely to be taking me back there against my wishes.
"I'm not too happy with you," he said as he was standing there holding a cane to balance on.
"I won't be on this vacation right now!" I yelled. "My duties with the household come first."
"Really?! Are your household duties more important than your own mental health?!"
"Get out of my way." I was ready to lose it as I wanted to go to my room. "I can't just sit on my ass on the live long while I have the little ones to think of! I can't abandon the babies again…"
"Nothing bad will happen to them because Reuben noticed them to be thriving. As for your own predicament, you should—"
"—Stop sulking and start living? I already tried that and it was a bust. Yes, I missed out because I'd rather stay out of the way than watch fireworks. The short vacation that is forced upon me is nothing but a waste of time for me. Nothing good will come of it because I won't bend the knee to such frivolity when everyone comes first before me. Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to bed because tomorrow will be the same with the household chores and childcare."
I walked past Minara as I went towards my room. When I crawled in my bed, I saw Reiko sound asleep as I didn't want to leave her side. I also had so much work to do as I didn't want to be on vacation, for my family needed me more than anything right now…
The next morning, I woke up as I rolled over to what I thought was Reiko, only to see an inflatable dinosaur next to me. It was at that moment that I found myself in the same room where I ended up in yesterday. I was back at the Chatterjee Clan homestead as I was starting to get irritated with what was going on in which I didn't want to be on this wasteful vacation. There was no going around it this time as I heard the door open up to see Reuben coming into the room in which he was disappointed in what happened last night, for he refused to let me off the hook for leaving and not enjoying myself a little longer.
"It's back to square one, isn't it?" I said as I was starting to get angry.
"Minara told me everything, Sam," said Reuben. "He said that you called your vacation a waste of your time. You're lucky that he didn't blab to Dean about this in which he had the gall to bring you here back to Chithravai so you can be pampered instead of suffering from a breakdown."
"Then have him take me back home! Last night's vacation is a waste! I won't be suckered into enjoying things because of the fact that I'll be taking the ferry back to the villa and neither one of you can't stop me! And no, I don't want to be pampered! I would rather die of an overdose than be lazy all the live long! 'Start sulking and start living,' Minara says. 'It doesn't hurt to have a little fun from time to time,' Yavanna says. And no, I had my chance, but that ship has sailed! I'll stay for another day, but not too long, for I'll spend it in my room than be drowning in wasteful entertainment!"
"You should take Minara's words to heart when he tells you to stop sulking and start living. And no, you can't go back to the villa right now in which you need to spend your days feeling pampered instead of being angry all the time. In the end of this debacle, I suggest that you pull your head out of your ass and start focusing on your mental health. If not, then I will tell Dean and he'll surely kick your ass in real time!"
I didn't say another word as I was ready to leave the main house of the Chatterjee Clan homestead. When I got out of my room, I noticed Hrithik dressed in his regal clothing as he was ready to see me here for today's breakfast. I was still feeling depressed as I wanted to go back to my room and not do anything else for the day. Still, I was trapped in this hellscape as I was more than likely to be wanting to leave again, for I wasn't hungry nor ready to have fun in the city in the lake.
"Good morning, Sam," said Hrithik as he was happy that I was up. "We're having methi thepia and rava uttapam for breakfast. You should try some."
I didn't answer him as I felt like wanting to cry.
"Mom's been working her butt off in the kitchen in which she'll soon be heading back to Cordell Island after this. She's busy, but she also cares about everyone here just as much as the people who live on Cordell Island. Anyway, breakfast will be ready soon. You ought to try out the breakfast, Sam."
"Of course he'll try it," said Reuben. "Besides, he should stop sulking and start living."
I never said anything more as I walked towards the dining room where breakfast was being prepared. I didn't want to eat anything as I wanted to go back to the villa. I also felt embarrassed at my own behavior as I was ready to leave the dining room, but was stopped by Reuben in which he wasn't letting me out of his sight. When I sat down at the dining room table, I saw the food in front of me as I noticed it to be a little more rustic than the Mediterranean cooking that Minara made. When I saw it being dished out, I wasn't hungry as I only had water to drink. I wasn't worthy of wanting food until I saw Reuben grab one of the methi thepia and put it onto my plate, for he wasn't having it when it came to me refusing to eat.
"You need to eat, Sam," he said to me.
I gently pushed the plate away as I was starting to shed tears.
"Aren't you hungry at all?" asked Hrithik as he was concerned about my well-being. "It would be a shame to miss out on good food."
I shook my head as I was ready to leave the dining room. The anger and shame that I had was more than enough to go back to my room until Reuben stopped me. He wasn't about to let me go until I had a bite to eat. I was deadlocked by Reuben's stare as I had no other choice but to take a bite of the food on my plate. The taste of the methi thepia was good enough to keep my stomach quiet as I finished it while drinking my water. When I left the dining room, I was more than likely to be going back to my room as I made it, only to lay back down on the bed. I didn't want to do anything fun as I wanted to go back home later on today. I was also fearing the worst outcome imaginable as I was saying the same words in my head instead of Minara's advice, for this was my own torment in my room.
"Everything is my fault…"
Those words kept going on repeat in my head as I continued to sulk in my bed and not come out of my room for the rest of the day. I didn't do anything fun for today as I just wanted to fall asleep and never wake up. I was shedding more tears as I was hearing the laughter of everyone outside complete with the sound of elephants trumpeting in the streets. There was no point of me enjoying this farce of a vacation now as I refused to get out of my bed. All I did was lay there as I continued to hear the sound of Bollywood music blaring from outside complete with the laughter of everyone outside going about their daily business. Sadly, that ship has sailed as I wanted to just fade away from the embarrassment I had, for this vacation wasn't working out for me.
"Don't bother getting anything brought to you on a silver platter, you worthless little freak! You're only here because you were just an accident waiting to happen!"
I heard Sylvanus' harsh words echoing in my head as I continued to cover myself in my bed. All I wanted was to have it all end as I didn't want to have fun too much, for it wasn't worth my time. I was simply drowning in the sheets and blankets until I heard the door burst open in which I noticed Yavanna entering into the room. She wasn't about to let me sulk in bed as she yanked the blankets off of me in which she wasn't about to let me feel depressed for the rest of the day, for I was about to be in for a rude awakening.
"Come on, you can't just spend the day in bed," she said. "There's so much that you haven't discovered yet."
I got up as I was on my feet. When I left the room, I was in the main hall as I was seeing everyone going about their business. I didn't want to intrude on anything as I saw Reuben at the entrance. He was concerned about me as he watched me leave outside to where I didn't participate in visiting the businesses or mingle with the friendly crowd, for I just wanted to fade away.
"Where are you going?" he asked me.
"Everything is my fault…," I said as I had tears in my eyes. "I'm only here because I'm just an accident waiting to happen… And no, I'm not getting anything served on a silver platter today..."
I continued to take a walk further as I didn't want to get involved too much. I saw some of the bystanders going about their business as I didn't want to intrude on anything. Even though some of them wanted me to try something, I ended up refusing because I didn't have anything to spend. Still, I was waiting for the ferry to come along as I didn't want to be here anymore. When I got towards the dock, I was wanting to go home as I noticed some of the bystanders blocking my path. I didn't want to deal with anything today as I saw the ferry approaching. By the time I got reached it, I was ready to get back to the villa until I turned around and saw Reuben running towards me. That was when he caught up to me and pinned me down to prevent me from leaving, for he refused to let me go away prematurely.
"Let go of me!" I yelled as I struggled to get free. "I don't want to be here anymore!"
"You're not going anywhere until the week is up!" yelled Reuben as he refused to budge.
"I don't like being here, okay?!"
"And have you bogged down with household chores and helping everyone all over the place? It's not working! Find another outlet instead of leaving."
"I don't want to have fun! I want to go home! There's nothing for me to do here anyway!"
"There are plenty of things to do here, Sam! There are a lot of things to try instead of staying in bed for the rest of your days. You shouldn't be wasting your vacation days. You should also have the ways and means to create your fun and not let anything hold you back."
"Are you telling me to ignore my responsibilities for the rest of my vacation week?"
"It's better than having a nervous breakdown."
"I've had enough of this!"
I broke free of Reuben's grip as I later felt a squeezing feeling in my chest. I was starting to suffer from an anxiety attack as I was also hyperventilating from the stress to the point of fainting. Reuben never saw this coming as I collapsed onto the ground in which the stress was too much for me, for I didn't want to go on this farce of a vacation to begin with…
I woke up in a hospital room as I was not in fine fettle after my failed escape attempt. Sitting up, I was feeling the pinch of what happened to me as I felt my body aching after that anxiety attack. It was too much for me as I was desperate to go home and not enjoy my vacation. All I heard in my head was the negativity as I also had no other choice but to cut my vacation short the moment I checked out, for I didn't want to overstay my welcome here on Chatterjee land. When I was about to curl up in my bed, I heard the door open as I saw Reuben still adamant while checking up on me. He was aware of my stress and anxiety as I also wanted to get back to the villa and resume my duties with everyone there, for he couldn't let me sulk in bed for too long.
"You nearly died after that last anxiety attack," he said to me.
"So, I ruined my own vacation," I said as I sulked in bed. "It's not worth it anyway, so it's best that I return to the villa before everything hits the fan."
"It's not worth it if you don't enjoy life to the fullest. Therefore, the ferry you tried to get onto was also bound for Stauber territory, which was in the wrong direction. As for your vacation, it's now extended to ten days instead of the initial week and try not to spend it sulking in bed."
It wasn't long until I saw a group of people bursting into the room as they were bringing out a plethora of gift certificates and handed them to me. When I saw them leaving, I was left with what was sent to me as I saw the coupons for possible spas and restaurants just to fill the time in which I was ready to throw them away until Reuben stopped me. He wasn't about to let me fall under the cracks with the stress as he didn't want me to feel more depressed than normal, for he wasn't letting me go without having fun after all.
"I never asked for this," I said as I looked at the gift certificates that were given to me.
"It's better than spending the rest of your vacation days being a vegetable," said Reuben. "As soon as you leave the hospital and back to the Chatterjee Clan's homestead, you'll be staying put over there in which there's a lot of things to do."
"I'll think about it…"
"You'll do more than just think about it. You should also heed Minara's advice in which it is a serious matter indeed. You should also do the right thing to enjoy everything on your vacation, not waste it. You should also stop sulking and start living. It's the most you can do, right?"
I saw Reuben leave the room as I was left with the gift certificates in my hands. Still, I was trapped in my hellscape of a vacation as I was trying hard not to let the stress get to me, for I had to deal with it nonetheless. I had to make an effort as I was mainly on survival mode here in Chithravai, for I also had to deal with the rest of my vacation days on the sly...
To be continued...