Rude Awakening!

Laila walked fast through the streets; she couldn't wait to get home and rest. It was a long day, and she had spent most of the day standing and working hard. Her feet ached, and she thought, "I will have my bath and eat the dinner Sarita di has packed for me and go to sleep, for tomorrow is one more busy day."

Sarita was a kind woman, one of Laila's employers. Laila's last stop for the day was Sarita's house, and she would do all her household chores and rush back to the small dingy room, her home. Every evening after she finished her work at Sarita's place, Sarita would hand her a package that Laila knew would be her dinner.

Laila was grateful for Sarita's generosity; she did not have to go back home and cook. As Laila rushed through the street, she turned to the small gully towards her home, and her phone rang. Juggling the package in her hand, Laila dug into her bag to find her phone. When she did, she saw that her friend Rita was calling her. Knowing the trouble she was going through, she quickly answered the phone. 

Rita had recently married the love of her life only to realize later that she had fallen into a trap, for her husband was a drunkard and abuser. Laila listened to her friend as she controlled her tears and listened to her plight. Suddenly the phone went dead, and Laila couldn't hear anything, and she kept shouting, Hello, Rita, are you there?" But she could see here nothing.

"It must be the network, and I am outside my door. Let me get in, then I will call Rita back." Laila thought as she pulled out her keys from her bag. She had just entered the house when her phone rang again. "Ah! Hello Rita, Sorry the call got cut; I just got home; yeah, tell me—"

"Hello? is this Laila's number?" said a male voice. Stunned, Laila stopped in her tracks as she responded, "y-y-yes, who is this?"

The person on the phone responded by saying, I am Salil, calling from Ahai Travels. You had applied for a job—" "—yes," replied Laila with bated breath, "tell me."

Salil told Laila that she had been selected for the job she applied for and would have to prepare to leave soon. Salil also told her to stop by the office for some urgent work so that they could start the necessary processes for her early departure. 

This was what Laila very much wanted. "can I come now?" Not waiting for Salil to answer her, she asked, "are you open?" Salil said, "yes, we are until 8 pm." All her tediousness was gone in the wake of the prospects of going abroad on her first assignment. Laila asked, "I will be there in half an hour," She cut the call and rushed to get ready for her trip to the agency. Anticipating the call, Sarita had prepared a file for Laila, and she told her to take it if the agency called her and told her she was selected for the job. 

The agency was a good one, and they quickly tackled all the requirements, and soon Laila was on her way. Laila couldn't contain her childlike excitement as she began to take in all the new sights during her journey. She peered out from the aircraft, and she thought, "I am like a bird in the sky!"

Soon, her flight landed, and she was ushered to a waiting car and taken to her employers' home. She gasped as she saw the vehicle pass a beautiful mansion, and she was now curious to know whose house that was, but who would tell her. The car driver never spoke a word and didn't seem friendly.

The car soon stopped, and a lady in uniform waited for her. She was in charge of the housemaids, and she showed Laila to her room and assigned her the duties. Although she was a little difficult initially, Laila's sweet nature soon won the heart of the elderly woman, whose name was Seema.

Seema was happy with Laila's dedication and hard work, and when the Madam of the house was expecting a baby and asked for someone to help her with the baby, Seema happily suggested Laila, and soon, Laila started taking care of the little boy. The boy, Jordan, grew up in her care and even began to call her 'Mama." At first, Laila was frightened that the mother of the child would be offended by it, but her employer was a gracious woman. She just laughed and said, "that proves how comfortable my son is with you."

Jordan was a young man now, and he married his college sweetheart, but still, he continued to call Laila mama. By now, Laila had served the family for over twenty years. The family left everything of value in her care even when they went on their foreign tours, and Laila took care of everything. Laila returned home on her short breaks, but she would hurry back because she would miss the family she worked for.

All was well until one day, Jordan banged hard on her door. She was happy to see Jordan, but before she could say anything, he barged into the room and demanded, "tell me, where have you hidden it, or else I will kill you!" Laila was startled, "Son! what happened? What are you talking about," she asked. "My diamonds, you stole them; give them back, or you will never return to your homeland!" he yelled. He then dragged her by her hand, locked her in a dark room, and said, "stay here till you give me my diamonds."

Laila was stunned. In one moment, she fell from the status of a mother to a thief!. She sat on the ground where Jordan had thrown her and thought, "All these years he called me mother, but did he mean it from the heart?" as she wept bitterly.

Jordan was like a raging bull. He was back in her room again, and Jordon brought his parents along this time. He continued to humiliate Laila by calling her a thief. —"

Laila pleaded to his mother, "Madam, you know me for years, you know I couldn't steal anything, I am not a thief—" But Jordan interrupted her yelling at her, "—but you are and a very smart one too. I checked your room and I couldn't find it, and then he grabbed her arm as he shouted in her face, "tell me where you have hidden it or else see what I will do to you!" His fingers dug into her flesh, and it hurt Laila, and she said, "Son—" But Jordan did not let her speak, for her let out a string of abuses and said, "I am not your son, your thief!"

Jordan was a diamond merchant, and he had some prized diamonds with him, but he had misplaced them and conveniently blamed Laila thinking that she had stolen them.

Laila was left in the darkroom for days; no one came to rescue her from her employer's torture. They were the only ones who would come to see her, but every time they arrived, it was to torture, abuse, and swear at her. But after almost a month, she heard Jordan call out to her like he did before the ordeal. He was soon by her side, the same old Jordon who cared for her and whom she loved. 

"Mama, I am so sorry. I doubted you; I found it; I had looked everywhere, and I couldn't find it, but today when my wife checked her locker, she found it there. I don't know how it got there. I'm so sorry, Mama. Come, let's go to your room." Laila was too shocked to say anything. Jordan led her, and she walked in a trance.

When they reached her room, Laila noticed that all her things were thrown about and thoroughly searched her room. Jordan was apologetic as he said, "Mama, I was upset; I'm so sorry. I will get someone to set everything right." Laila just held up her hand in disagreement and bent over and began to clean the place. "Mama, wait, don't do that—" "Jordan, please leave me alone. I have work to do." Laila said, "and please arrange a ticket to go to my homeland as I am too old to work. I would like to retire."

Jordan and his parents tried to convince her, but Laila said, "I believed you when you told me I am your family. your Mama" Jordan rushed to her side, saying, "you are." Laila looked at Jordan and asked, " What happens when you lose something of value? Will you doubt me again and put me in the darkroom?"

Jordan was ashamed, and he did not know what to say. But Laila continued, "Thanks for telling me who I really am to you, and now let me go."

My Thoughts

Laila had given her all to take care of Jordan, and she considered him her son. Jordan called her 'Mama,' but did he mean it. If he did, why didn't she suspect his birth mother or wife? Why did he doubt Laila?"

Liked this story? Read another one 'Shattered Dreams'.