My Dream Marriage

“Neera, this happened many years ago even before you were born. It would only mean I am wicked just like them for sending you away for something you did not do. You are not going anywhere, this is like your home. This was surprising and shocking as well to know that your grandfather was my grandma’s acquaintance but everything happens for a reason. Whatever happened is in the past now so don’t dwell there so much,” he says making my eyes water.

“Thank you Aniston. You are such a wonderful and understanding man I have ever met. I think everyone around you feels the same. Sara must be so proud to have you as a brother.” I say and put away the photo album.

“Don’t mention it. What are those by the way?” He asks, referring to the camcorder and the small box lying beside my feet. “This here is a camcorder.” I stretch my hand to get it but any further I would burst from pressure. “Hey, why are you trying so hard when you could have just asked me to get it for you,” Aniston says and moves his body to pick the small box and the camcorder. “Where did you get this from?” He studies them and with the condition of the camcorder even though I had cleaned it, it still looks old and one might wonder what I am doing with such a thing. I may be considered a hoarder which I am not.

“The box is my father’s memorabilia and the other I picked from the old factory that day we were kidnapped.” I say, I hope I don’t sound like a fake archaeologist. “Oh I see, what does it contain?” I haven’t had time to check it. “I don’t know, I was planning to check it out.”

“Okay, let’s see if it’s still working.” He opens the memory section and retrieves a uSD card and shows it to me. “Seems it has some information in it.” He puts it back in and tries to switch it on but it doesn’t even blink. “Can we try another way?” I ask and he nods. “Of course. Let me bring my laptop and see if it can work there.” Why are we so serious in knowing what is contained in this cam? I hope we aren’t switching our careers in this manner and that I didn’t even care to hide these items from Aniston.

He comes back with his MacBook and sits back on the space beside me. He takes the uSD card and inserts it in an adapter and plugs it in the laptop. He switches it on without even bothering to hide his password from me. “Your password is supposed to be private, you know.” I say. “I trust you.” Oh, he didn’t just say that.

“That much huh?”

“I don’t think you are some FBI or some underworld mafia or a thief and also I can change it anytime.” He says not moving his eyes from the screen and I chuckle. He opens the drive and selects the specific file folder one we are supposed to be looking at. It opens further into two files, a video and an audio. “Do you think we should start with the video or audio?” He asks. “I think the audio is okay for a start, I don’t want to witness a murder first so audio first then video later. “Okay ma’am,” he says and clicks open the file.

***

Flashback, many years ago.

George Lawanson

“Jacob, what are you saying?” I ask as I sit on my chair listening to my driver. “Yes sir, I am sure of this. I overheard your father talking to his lawyers about transferring his entire business empire to Zara, your sister.” He says making me stand up abruptly from my chair that swivels before settling. “Jacob, when was this?”

“Two days ago when you asked me to take your father to the meeting when his car was at the mechanic. It wasn’t just another usual meeting but he was discussing the necessary procedures with his lawyers on how he is supposed to do that.” So my father wants that good-for-nothing stepsister to inherit what rightfully belong to me? Why would he do that? Am I an embicile or mad that he would give a complete outsider all his property? Am I not his son? “Where is he right now?” I need to see him right away. “He is at home, he wasn’t at the office today according to one of his security.”

“I need you to gather more information on this but do not let anyone else know about this. I will get to the root of this and I am going to my father. He has some explaining to do. Dismissed.”

After he closes the door I bang my hand on the table and push all the papers and every other item on the table barely missing the computer such that they scatter all over the floor. My secretary comes in panting and looks at the mess on the floor. “Is there any problem sir?” She asks. “No, and clean that up I am done for the day.” I say walking out of my office and she dares not ask me any question because she knows what kind of a person I am when I get angry.

I get in my car, not waiting for Jacob to drive me. I have to talk to this old man because it seems like age is catching up on him and he might just be making wrong decisions. I drive at full speed and get home faster just like I wanted and park the car right at the entrance of my father’s house. I hope he is here because if I don’t find him, I am going to explode with anger.

“Good afternoon sir, welcome,” the young lady servant greets me when I get in the house. “Martha, where is my father?” I am not in the mood for chitchat. “In his room upstairs,” she answers. I run up the stairs and open the door to my father’s bedroom without knocking and I find him looking at my dead mother’s picture.

“Dad, we need to talk,” I say. “Sit down,” he offers but I can’t bring myself to sit right now. “I am better like this.” “What is it son?” He asks. He better be prepared for my questions because I am boiling from inside.