Strings Attached

~Chapter 10~

I know it rattles me when I realize that I certainly am at the losing end here. Heck! Worthy or not, he even snatched my only parent from me. How can I not blow up about that?

And memories of my broken childhood come flashing in front of my eyes: "Get off my trampoline, Rich. I want to lie on it." Why should I let him sit on my trampoline? It was mine and mine alone!! He never shared any of his remote-controlled cars, or any of his toys, with me! Besides, my mum had it set up for me to jump on when I was little. I would never share it with him.

"No, I won't. I want to jump on it too. You can have my Iron Man if you like," he offered carelessly. A peace offering. A toy he'd almost chewed off, in order to get rid of the habit of biting his nails. He didn't need it anymore, it was clear.

"No, your Iron Man is twisted. I want your remote-controlled Carrera." "Oh no! I can't give you that." He shook his head vigorously, his eyes flashing. "Either that, or get out of my trampoline." Anger was swimming in my eyes now. "Who said this was yours? It's mine too."

The declaration made me mad with rage. Dad had married Rebecca Brooks almost a year ago, and I despised her with my heart. She was nothing like my mother. She was pretentious and cruel. She always found excuses for dad to scold me. I refused to gel with the woman and the boy she brought with him.

"My mum set it up for me, it's mine only. Now get off it before I throw you myself." I was twelve, to be thirteen in a few days, I could certainly throw him off, with some effort. "You can't throw me! I'll call mommy if you do," Richard said, his lips quivered, ready to burst into sobs. "Oh, I can. And if you don't get off right now, I will."

Richard was defiant and pampered sullen. He refused to budge. So, when the fiery red fire in my eyes grew hot, I charged at him, sending him flying into the fence. For a second, nothing moved and I stood stock still, realizing with a fear of what I had done, and it shook me to the core. And then the loud wails came.

"What a wicked boy you have, Hasan!" Rebecca shouted at dad, teary-eyed, rocking her son back and forth in her arms. "He almost killed my child!" Richard had got a large bump on the forehead and a gash that ran up his left arm.

I stood some way away from them like a culprit of a heinous crime, watching the exchange and waiting for the blows to begin. Dad was shaking with barely suppressed fury, ready to lunge at me, but he tried to calm himself before speaking to his wife. "I know, love. He needs to be taught manners. Don't worry, I'll punish him severely for what he's done." Dad shot daggers at me, murdering me with his glare.

"Either you show him his place, or I'll leave... forever." "No darling, just calm down, okay? I know how to deal with him," dad reassured her hurriedly. I wished her to go away forever. "He won't come out of his room for a week. I promise you Rich will be as good as new when we take him to the doctor's for a dressing. Just let me finish with him."

"Come here, you harami!! I'll show you what happens when you hit someone in this household. Ungrateful wretch!" And he took me by my hairs, beating me uninterruptedly for the largest part of an hour and then shut me into the darkness of my room. I protested but then fed-up, I fell asleep. I never got supper or dinner that night. Rebecca watched the door like a hawk, and Molly was never able to sneak past.