Ruby
What do you know about love? How will you know how it feels to be in love? How will you understand Cason's and Keya's pain? All these questions were roaming in my head.
I didn't know why, but the way Vexon asked those questions, it was as if he was spitting out the venom. His voice was filled with rage.
I might have hurt his feelings but he shouldn't have reacted in that way. There was no way I would agree to let my sister get married to a Mafia member.
I would have apologized only if he didn't throw back those questions at me. Low blow, Vexon. A very low blow.
But the sad thing was, he had a point. I knew nothing about love.
Every time I thought about this, I felt my heart getting heavy. I wanted it to rip it off my chest.
Did I ever say his love for me was stupid? How could he even think like that?
I respected his feelings from the bottom of my heart. In fact, I liked him, and maybe one day, I might understand the definition of love. But he didn't know that I liked him.
"Ruby, give this dress to Keya," Nadia said, bringing me out of my trance. She handed me a bag and smiled at me. I took it before giving a tight-lipped smile and got out of her room.
I went inside Keya's room. She was sitting on her bed, doing nothing. I approached her. "Here's your dress," I said and kept it in front of her. She glanced at me and then back at the dress. I stood there nervously.
I waited for her to say something, but she didn't utter a word. "Well, I better get going then," I announced after a few awkward minutes.
I turned around and was about to go, but Keya grabbed my hand. "Ruby..." she whimpered. My heart clenched at her sobbing. I turned back to face her, and she engulfed me in a hug. I patted her head. "I love Cason. I..." she sobbed. I waited for her to continue, which she did, "I don't want to marry someone else. I only want to marry him...Cason."
"Keya," I whispered. "Do you really love him so much?" I asked and she nodded. "Okay, I got to go." I freed myself from the hug and ran outside.
Vexon was taking a bath, so I went near the riverside alone to think for a while. I was strolling around the river, thinking of the situation we were in.
My intention was to save Keya from this marriage, but she said that she would only marry Cason and no one else.
She assured me that she truly loved him. But how can Cason assure the same thing? I stopped thinking when I saw someone standing near the other side of the river, looking at the fishes. A few strands of his dark brown hair was on his forehead. He looked as if he was grieving for something.
Should I go and talk to him? I think I should. It would clear my doubts.
I mustered enough courage and approached him. I tapped his shoulder. He flinched and looked at me. I gave a small smile. "What are you doing here, dude?"
I asked him, and instantly, his blue eyes were filled with tears. I was taken aback at this. I really didn't expect him��Cason Bevine to cry.
"Hey." I rubbed his shoulder. "Cason, you��" He hugged me before I could finish my sentence.
"Ruby, please do something. Please."
I felt my shoulder getting wet with his tears. His voice was cracked. Seeing him upset, it made me feel so sad.
"Everything will be okay," I said and broke the hug. I felt hot tears on my cheeks. Without waiting for a second, I ran away. I continued running until I stopped below the banyan tree.
I took a deep breath.
'How will you understand Cason's and Keya's pain?' Vexon's voice echoed in my mind.
You asked me this question, Vexon, and now, look at me. They were crying and seeing them cry, I was crying as well. Their agony felt like my own agony.
I wiped my tears and sighed.
Love couldn't come to the profession. What if Cason was in the Mafia? Couldn't the Mafia people fall in love? Didn't they deserve to be happy?
I thought for a while before coming to a conclusion. I knew what to do. I took out my phone from my pocket and texted Orson.
Come to the backyard garden with Cason within 5 mins. And don't forget your mean brother. ~ Ruby
I was about to lock my phone but it vibrated. It was a reply from Orson.
Wow, he is always on the phone.
I opened it.
Orson:
Aye, aye. Sissy. And I have your number. Chill. XD.
P. S. I keep the contacts of beautiful girls.
I rolled my eyes, not believing he was only sixteen. Anyways, I went inside to bring Keya out in the garden.
"Where are you taking me, Ruby?" Keya asked while I dragged her.
"To push you into the river, so that you can't get married to that Dun Dun guy tomorrow," I retorted.
"It's Dundi. And if you push me in the river, I can swim, you know? Unlike you, I know how to swim," she replied and I glared at her. We reached the backyard garden. The Bevine brothers were already there.
Orson jogged towards us. "Hey, Ruby. Look. I brought my other brother and my mean brother." He pointed to Cason and then at Vexon.
"Mean brother?" Vexon asked in confusion.
"That's what she wrote in the message," Orson replied.
Vexon looked at me and arched an eyebrow, but I avoided him. Cason and Keya instantly held their hands, making me admire the couple.
"Okay. So now, we have to make an escape plan," I started speaking.
"An escape plan?" Vexon asked, but I avoided him. I waited for someone else to ask a question.
"Why?" Keya inquired, to which I decided to answer.
"Because we have to elope. I mean, look. My earlier plan was to threaten my aunt and stop this marriage. But as Keya said to me that she wouldn't marry anyone else but Cason, I guess we have to escape. Cause no one living in Naogaon would agree to this proposal," I explained.
"I never knew you would agree to this. Seriously? An escape plan?" Vexon questioned in disbelief. I avoided him once again and looked at the Cason and Keya. They were smiling at each other. They looked so happy.
"Gem," Vexon called me, but I just glared at him. He groaned. "Fine. What's the plan?"
I grinned as I let out, "It is very simple. We will run away before the wedding."
After I explained the entire plan for a few minutes, Vexon objected, "No way in hell! Mom would kill all of us."
"Leave that to Ruby, bro," Orson said to him. "She always convinces mom and everyone. She has that weird power."
"But-" Cason interrupted him.
"Please, Vexon. Just do this for us."
Sighing, Vexon agreed, making all of us happy, "Fine, I would need Keya's passport."
"I'll give it to you," Keya said to him.
"All done then." I clapped my hands in excitement. "Now things are getting pretty exciting. I'm so happy for you guys!" I squealed and hugged the couple. "Let's go and get Keya's passport." I grabbed Keya's hand and we were about to go.
"And mine too," an annoying high pitched tone was heard. We all looked behind with widening eyes, to find Nafeesa standing there before she swayed her hips and walked towards us.
"What do you want?" I couldn't help but ask.
She chuckled. "What an awesome plan, Ruby! Just make a slight change. Add Nafeesa too."
"No way in hell!" I hollered, my face held pure terror.
"Why would we do that?" Orson asked, glaring at her.
"Because if you don't, I will reveal it to my mom. Then Rest in peace, Keya. You know what she would do to you." She glared at Keya, making Keya hug Cason, getting scared at the threat.
I stood in front of her. "Look here, Nafeesa," I said in a stern tone. "I don't give a shit if you say everything to your mom. You know that very well."
She feigned a sigh. "Oh Ruby, my dear sister! You don't know what a bitch I am, do you?"
I smirked and said, "I know it very well. Just get the hell outta here."
"Fine." Nafeesa started to walk away, but Keya ran past her and stopped her.
"Please don't tell aunt. Nafeesa, I will do what you want. Just don't tell her," she wiped her tears and begged, folding her hands in front of Nafeesa.
"God," I mumbled and ran towards them. "Keya, what are you saying?" I asked her and she mumbled a, please. I groaned. "Fine, Nafeesa. What do you want?"
She twitched her lips and then spoke, "Very well then. My demand is short and simple. Take me to Canada with you guys. That's it."
I gawked at her. "No way in he��" Vexon interrupted me.
"Give me your and Keya's passport. That's it," he cut the conversation short and went away with Cason and Orson, but I didn't miss the glance he spared at me.
Why did Vexon agree? Was he on his periods?
"Vexon is not only handsome but also smart," Nafeesa murmured and patted my shoulder. "Let's go, Keya. We have to grab our passports."
They went away as well, leaving me alone in the garden. I looked at the sun, which was about to set soon. After all, it was evening. So instead of going inside, I sat on a small bench in the garden.
"Why did Vexon agree to that condition? That brute Satan!" I grumbled under my breath. I just started liking him and he was pushing himself to the hate meter again. Why was he like that?
He didn't even apologize for hurting me. I rectified my mistakes, but why didn't he do that yet? I wouldn't talk to him.
I looked at the sky. The sun had started setting. This was something I loved to watch��the sunset. The whole orange sky went to a shade of red. My eyes glinted at its beauty, which I watched quietly until someone cleared his throat. I flinched and looked at my left side, only to find Vexon watching me.
I rolled my eyes and got up, wanting to go back to the house before he started speaking. I didn't want to talk to him. I was about to walk away, but Vexon tugged my wrist and pulled me backward in his arms. "Angry, aren't we?" he whispered in my ear in his husky tone and wrapped his arms around my waist. He rested his chin on my shoulder, sending shivers to my spine.
I tried to wriggle out of his grip, but it was so strong that it made it harder for me to move. "I'm sorry," he mumbled in my ear, his deep breath fanning my earlobe. "I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have said that," he apologized in such a cute way that my anger almost vanished away.
"Please talk to me." I didn't even open my lip, as I kept staring at the moon. "Gem," he murmured.
"Ruby, dear!" my aunt hollered from the house. Her high pitched voice was audible here as well. I tried to wriggle out of his grip and this time, it worked. Leaving him behind, I ran inside the house.
___
"The wedding is tomorrow. Y'all better sleep now," my aunt ordered after we all finished our dinner. "I hope your dresses are ready. The wedding will come tomorrow with a bunch of guests. They are so good. They are paying for everything. So better respect them, okay?" My aunt especially looked at me while talking.
I rolled my eyes.
"Goodnight, all," she wished and went away to sleep with Nadia.
"Gem, I��" I cut him off.
"I'm so sleepy. Let's go Keya and Nafeesa," I said and went inside our room.
Nafeesa locked the door. "I gave them the passports," she informed me.
"Good. Did both of you finished packing?" I asked them, and they nodded.
"Can you tell me about the other Bevines?" Keya asked me and I nodded.
The three of us plopped on the bed as I started speaking, "Mom is very hideous but lovely. She is very understanding. It reminds me, I have to call her. Anyways, you all know about Kendrik? I believe my mom told you."
Nafeesa and Keya hummed in response.
"There is Kace. He's a very nice person. But his wife, Newana��she's rude. Oh and there's one more thing which I believe you guys, who are excited to go and live in the Bevine mansion, have to know. But I can't say that. You have to wait." I couldn't tell them about the Mafia yet. "And��" I kept talking until I heard soft snores. I looked at them only to find that they had already fallen asleep. They were so tired.
I pulled the blanket on them.
I guess it was time to call Vanera. I looked at my phone. I had a message from Vexon.
Vexon?:
We need to have a talk. I'm so sorry for saying absurd things to you. You know, I love you. We will talk after all shit is cleared.
I looked at the message and smiled. It was just a simple text. But why did his 'I love you' make my heart beat faster?
I didn't reply to the text and looked for Vanera's number. I dialed her number and she picked it up after a few seconds. "Hey, Ruby, my beautiful daughter-in-law. When are you coming back?"
"Tomorrow," I replied, talking slowly.
"Is the wedding finished?"
"Nope. Mom... there's something I want to say," I hesitated.
She urged me, "Go ahead, dear." I took a deep breath and started explaining everything to her.
___
"Ruby, you better get up or I'm going to marry your hot husband!" Nafeesa's voice echoed through the bedroom. I groaned and opened my eyes. I looked at the clock.
It was 10 a.m.
"Finally." Nafeesa heaved a sigh.
"What's wrong?" I asked, groggily.
She glared at me."The wedding is at 3 pm!" she hollered.
I grumbled, "Oh my! Stop yelling."
"Get up." She started pulling me.
"No." I tried to stick to the bed, but she succeeded in pulling me. No matter how much we bickered, in the end, we were sisters. "You are the worst," I complained, to which she smirked.
"Tell me something I don't know."
I shook my head with a sigh and went to freshen up. After freshening up and eating my breakfast, I checked my phone while sitting in the dining room.
Vexon? :
I know you're still asleep and I don't want to wake you up with a call. So I'm leaving a message. I and Orson, we are going to the visa office now. It might take an hour or two. Hand the luggage to the guards. Once we come, just run away. I love you.
I smiled seeing his text.
"Ruby!" I flinched at my aunt's tone. "What are you smiling at? Go and get ready. The Dundis will be here soon."
"Okay," I told her and ran towards the bedroom. Keya and Nafeesa were getting ready there. I closed the door and took out my dress.
"Keep your luggage in the backyard. The guards will pick it up," I said to them. "And as soon as Vexon and Orson return, we are going to run away," I repeated the plan and they hummed in response.
"I can't believe we are doing this!" Keya squealed in excitement.
I slapped her head, and muttered, "Just for you, dummy."
___
"The Dundis are here!" my aunt screamed in excitement.
I and Nafeesa, we were standing near the gate to welcome them. Keya was inside the house.
I wore a light blue sleeveless gown and did my light make up. My hair was tied into a fishtail braid. Meanwhile, Nafeesa wore a yellow off-shoulder gown. I did her makeup, which was way better than her usual cake faced makeup. She tied her hair into a bun.
We heard a lot of noise from the outside as the groom's procession entered our territory. Weddings in Bangladesh were different than weddings in Canada.
Sparing one last glance at Nafeesa, I let out, "Let's welcome the Dun Duns."
