Page 20 of Reckless Hate

“Oh good. I heard Neela is the dean now.” There was a condescending laugh. “She was a boring, uptight thing. I hope she didn’t kill all the joy of the student life at the university.”

Samantha could sense the derision in her mother’s voice towards Neelima Raj. Although she didn’t personally know much about the dean, she admired her achievements.

“She is listed as one of the most powerful educators in the world, Ma.”

Her mother laughed. “How boring. Poor Neela. Husbandless and childless. I guess that’s why she took up such a boring job.”

Even the women who had husbands or children aspired to reach the level of what Neelima Raj had achieved. Samantha didn’t want to argue with her mother. Even if her mother weren’t drunk, she wouldn’t understand.

“I’ll talk to you later, Ma.”

“Okay. Call me if you want help with anything.”

“I will.” Samantha doubted if her mother could help her with anything.

Her mother put the phone aside on a table. Samantha was just about to cut the call to call back again when someone picked it up. She expected to see Maria’s face, but her stomach twisted sickly when she saw her stepfather.

He was in the slightly wrinkled previous night’s clothes as well. “Hi, Samantha,” he said with a smile.

Samantha didn’t reply.

“I miss you,” he said in a low whisper. “I mean your mother and I miss you.”

Samantha clenched her hand into a fist but didn’t let anything show on her face.

“You look quite radiant. Looks like college life in India suits you.”

To anyone else listening to the conversation, it would sound like he was a concerned stepfather. But Samantha could feel his sleaze oozing out.

“Send me pictures soon,” he said with a look on his face that made her want to kick his teeth in. “I want to see you wearing your college uniform.” His smile got sleazier. “And don’t get into trouble with the boys. Be a good daddy’s girl.”

That’s when Maria intervened. She took back her phone, claiming she needed to make an urgent call. The call ended.

Five minutes later, her phone rang again. She knew her stepfather must have left the nursery room.

“Sorry, Miss Samantha,” the kindly nanny said. “MonsieurVohra just took the phone before I could stop him.”

“It’s okay, Maria.” Maria knew how creepy her stepfather was.

Samantha spoke to Maria briefly and then bidding goodbye to Sohan, she ended the call.

She closed her eyes as feelings of disgust filled her mind. Each time she saw or spoke to her stepfather, she always felt that way. She recalled a particular conversation they which had been the lowest of the low.

“You know Sohan looks so much like you and me,” her stepfather said. “Almost as though… we both made sweet love and created him. What do you think?”

Samantha was at the dining table with her stepfather and Sohan. Her mother hadn’t woken up yet. At her stepfather statement, she didn’t react or show anything on her face. She had trained her mind not to.

“He looks like my mother,” she replied calmly.

But her stepfather continued his sleazy talk as always. “Yes, of course. But I want more of such beautiful children. Your mother doesn’t want to spoil her figure. Whereas you are younger… and hotter… and sexier.”

There was a smile on his face when he lowered his eyes to her chest.

She got up from her chair and picked up Sohan. “You should talk to my mother. Excuse me.” Before he could say anything, she walked away with her stepbrother.

She dropped Sohan in his playroom and went to her bedroom and locked it. And then, she went straight to the bathroom and threw up violently.

Her body shuddered, and silent tears rolled down her eyes. She wiped them away, knowing they were of no use. Her mother won’t believe her as always.

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