Chapter 7 [ TRAPPED AGAIN ]

Ivanna

    "What?", I scream at Christian on the call. "They dumped my dress? Are you kidding me?"

I realise I'm in the classroom and everyone is looking at me since I yelled inside the classroom like an idiot.

    "I'm sorry", Christian mutters. "I didn't know they would do something like this", his voice shakes. 

    "Why are you being sorry? I had told you to leave hurriedly. It was my stupidity that I didn't change. Moreover, what kind of behaviour is this? How can they throw away my dress? They forced me to change, they have no right to do something like this", I am fuming in anger right now. Among my clothes, it was the expensive one. I usually choose that for any occasion. 

    "Hey, relax. Don't stress yourself, please. You can get a new one. I was actually thinking of gifting you something on your birthday", he beams, trying to distract me.

    "That's not a solution Chris. I want my answers. Why did they do that? I knew that lady would be doing something pathetic. She was so rude to me yesterday. Now she dumped my dress. I will bring my dress back and return this one", I mumble in anger.

   "Don't stretch it, Ivanna. Baby, you hardly get time for rest. Why do you wanna take another burden of going there?", he says in a concerned voice.

   "I'll be fine. And honestly, I can't tolerate that bloody gown in my home for 6 more days. I'll return it as soon as possible and get my answers if this is what they call courtesy", I bark.

   "Shall I accompany you?", he asks forcibly. I know he can't manage his schedule still, he asked me whether he should come with me or not"

   "No, I can manage"

   "Are you sure? I mean you didn't like that place. So…"

   "Yes. I'm sure. And you've already wasted half of your day by visiting there. Go back to your class", I tell him.

   "But do tell me if you need something ok? And go safely. I love you", he chuckles.

   "I love you too", I smile back 

I cut the call and get back to Ava.

   "Now what's wrong again?", she asks, closing her notebook.

   "I told you about last night no?"

   "Yeah. Are you still mad at the experience?", she raises her eyebrows.

   "That experience is being more bitter for me now. Can you believe that they dumped my dress?", I shrug.

   "What?", she exclaims.

   "Yes, I regret visiting there. However, because of Christian, I could breathe there at least"

   "That's a disrespectful act. You owe them a sorry", she mutters.

   "I do. And they owe me their dress. I'm going to return it today", I grumble.

After classes, I have 6 hours to start my night shift. I think I can manage to return from there before my shift starts if I sacrifice my afternoon nap. 

I finish my lunch after returning home and immediately pack the dress in a bag to leave for the firm. 

   "Where are you going now?", mom asks as she finds me wearing my sneakers. "Take some rest before leaving for the call centre"

   "No, mum. I have some work. I'll be returning home the next morning"

   "What? Now, what's the work? Can you tell me?"

   "It's something urgent", I hug her. "Eat and sleep well"

I rush out of the house as she starts giving me instructions; take care, don't keep starving.

It took me 2 hours to reach there as I went there by bus. Usually, travelling by local transports take huge time but I can't afford a cab twice a day.

And it's the place where I never wanted to come again. However, I came. I walk towards the cottage and see some guards near the huge door. I guess now I'm gonna have a problem. They are not gonna let me enter without permission. But surprisingly when I reach near the door both of the guards bow to me. I look at them being surprised.

    "I…I want to.. Meet the lady", I mumble. I don't know her name. 

    "Which lady madam?", one of them says, keeping his gaze down.  

    "That one, the middle-aged lady who has blonde hairs"

    "Aunt Martha", the second one says. "You'll get her inside"

I shake my head and enter inside. This hall-room looks different today. It's completely empty, keeping a reception at the corner. I heard that this firm remains closed on weekdays as most of the learners are students and they cannot manage to practice on working days.

While roaming there, my eyes catch the lady. She is mopping the floor. 

    "Excuse me!", I call her. She looks at me as her facial expressions change completely. She leaves the mop and wipes her hands with a towel before coming towards me.

    "Madam! You here?", she exclaims. I can't figure out why everyone is calling me 'madam' here. I didn't hear them calling anyone so formally except for Adavan.

    "Yes. I had to come here to return this", I shoot her a glare while giving her the bag.

    "This?"

    "The dress which I wore last night. I know the courtesy to protect other's property"

    "I'm sorry about your dress madam", she bows. "I mistakenly threw it away"

    "How can it be a mistake? I mean.. Why couldn't you notice that big dress?", I shrug in frustration.

    "I'm sorry about that madam. But I can't do anything. And…", she returns me the bag. "You don't need to return this. It's yours" 

Wait! What? Mine? I can't consider this pathetic dress to be mine. And why would I take a dress from someone whom I barely know? 

   "Excuse me? Why will I keep this? It's not mine. Moreover, I hate this colour and its structure. It's too much revealing. You don't need to give me this dress in compensation of dumping mine", I mutter.

   "Please, madam. Keep it. If you return this, I may lose my job", she says, lowering her eyes. 

What? What? What? Why is everyone around this place so weird? Why will she lose her job if I return this? It doesn't make a sense at all.

   "Why?", I raise my eyebrow.

   "Please ma'am. Keep it", she doesn't answer my question and keep requesting. I know she's not gonna take this. But I'm not gonna carry this with me again. I don't want my time getting wasted.

   "Fine", I sigh. "Can I get some water?"

   "Sure, madam"

She heads to the kitchen as I roll my eyes to find the dressing room. I don't know why I'm feeling like something is fishy here. Why she would throw my dress away? Maybe, she misplaced it. I should check out the dressing room and while coming back I can leave this one.

I immediately make my way to the dressing room. It took me 40 seconds to reach there. As soon as I enter inside, I get shocked. How's this possible? It's empty. This whole room is empty, there's not even single furniture. How's that possible? I come out of the room with a lot of confusion and stop! No! I look around. Where am I? I forgot the direction. This firm is so huge that every lane, every turn looks the same. I don't remember from which direction I came inside. 

Jesus! I can't deal with this now. I gather some courage and take the left turn, not being sure whether I am on right track or not. I walked for 30 seconds. This row of rooms isn't ending. I walk for more 20 seconds as I discover an exit point. Will it take me outside? If it does, I should run away. Forget the dress, I don't want to be stuck in this horrible cottage. Without thinking for a moment, I walked out through the door which brings me into another residence. My jaw drops, discovering the massive residence which is not less than a palace. I have never imagined that a door at the corner will bring me in such an enormous residence. But where will I go now? Where's the exit? Should I go back? But I will be more confused. I can just pray to see someone who can lead me to the exit. The building has 4 big floors. My head starts spinning when I look up. I curse my luck again. I'm getting late for my shift. 

I keep walking with the hope to see someone. But I find no one even after walking for a minute. Christian has never told me that this cottage has a residence behind it. Maybe he has no idea about it too. Meanwhile, I stop near a room. Its door was half-open. Is there someone? From the half-open door, I peep inside I can see the AC, it's turned on. That means there's someone.

    "Excuse me? Is there someone?", I mumble In a low voice but get no answer.

    "I'm stuck here. I need some help"

No reply. It's freaking me out. I swear! Once I get out of here, I'll be never coming back to this weird place. Now, I need to dump the formalities. I push the door and open it. My eyes weren't ready for the treat. It's beyond my imagination. So beautiful! I discover the room full of musical instruments, placed beautifully in specific places. These instruments weaken me every time. It was my dream to be a musician but I couldn't make it. That's why I always wanted Christian to be a successful musician. At least, I'll get some instruments in my home if I become a musician's wife. I forget why I came here. I keep exploring the beauty of the room and all on a sudden my gaze stops at something. I look at the bed in disbelief. My top and palazzo are laying on this bed. How did these come here?

I immediately took them from the bed.

    "Who permitted you to come into my room?", a heavy husky voice hits my ears. I can't be mistaken to recognise his voice. It's Adavan. It's his room. I shiver in nervousness and turn to him. His horrific face flashes in front of my eyes as I nervously look away.