SUSAN’S AID

Chapter 1

Stepping out of The Kensington, she realised it was an unusually pleasant day. The sun blazed overhead, but Susan could still breathe the dewiness of the morning breeze. This part of London seemed as busy as always- streets packed with cars, double-decker buses, school buses bringing toddlers back home, and pedestrians darting across vehicles. 

Her tall and elegant figure, and the frills on her short thick hair with her sense of style, could be mistaken for an affluent and elite Londoner. As she strode on the stone-paved sidewalk past shops and kiosks in the corners, one could feel the rhythm in her feet, part of which was because of the recent success in one of her pro-bono cases and the rest attributed to the beautiful spring up in the air. The park near the busy intersection appeared brighter than any day and, her eyes glowed as she pictured the park: full of colours, with the rose garden later this season. Susan took a cab from the crossing and, suddenly, she got lost in the thought of the poor teenage girl. Meanwhile, the cab driver informed her curtly, “Ma’am, destination arrived.”

As she entered into her rundown apartment in Bexley, she could not stop thinking of that young girl, especially of her wretched condition. The case that she concluded this morning was of Melania, a coming-of-age girl with a bun in the oven. The father of this unborn baby was a 20 years-old spoilt brat who resided in one of those over-priced houses in one of the priciest parts of Greater London. It would be an understatement to call Teddy Smith “rich” with a billionaire elder-brother, who was a big-time real estate investor in the United Kingdom with various other side businesses.

 

Susan Tate never really got to know her mother as she had breathed her last while giving birth to Susan.

All she got was a caring and doting father who eventually jumped from the prom near the Littlehampton in West Sussex and gave his life. It had welled her beautiful emerald eyes up with tears as she had read the last letter written by his father when she was just 16. But this unfortunate incident could not break her indomitable spirit, and she went on to become a successful lawyer.

 

Chapter 2

 

“Hey, are you new here?” Teddy had inquired about seeing a new bartender at his regular den.

“Yes, why?” Melania had responded in her monotonous voice even without looking up.

“Don’t you just hate it when people try to use pick-up lines on you?”

“Well, I ignore these people.”

“Mind if I use some of them?”

“No.”

“I see you’ve got some tequila. Does that mean you wanna give me a shot?” Listening to this, Melania had lifted her head. Their eyes had met and, it had tugged a slight smile at her mouth corners.

Melania had met Teddy in a cocktail sports bar downtown; she worked there as a waitress to earn her living.

It was an instant connection, at least according to Melania, but for Teddy, she was this any other girl that he would have used to satisfy his fetish. 

But Teddy had to go the extra mile to get Melania into bed. This occasional dalliance continued for six months until it made Melania pregnant. 

“I have always wondered what it would be like to be pregnant. Now I know!”

“Wait; what?” Teddy had inquired as the news came as a complete shock.

Melania had never thought she wanted to have the baby, but she did, which came as a second dose of a shock to Teddy that evening.

Melania grew up as an orphan, and now when God had given her a chance to have her own family, she ought not to miss the boat.

 “Are you out of your mind, Mel?”

“You know what, after the prayer this Sunday, Revd. Andrews held my hands in his and whispered to my ears ‘Destroying human life is a grave sin and, I can see that you’re ready to be a mother.’ I can’t abort this child."

“You’re just nineteen for god’s sake.”                                                                                    

“I know. I don’t expect you to take care of the baby. I just wanted you to know about my decision.”

“What were you thinking? You’ll bear my child and, you think nobody would get to know about it? Don’t you know how respected my family is? Your one stupid action can ruin my family’s years-earned fame and reputation, you bitch!”

The conversation ended with stupid rants and malicious allegations. But Melania was quite adamant in her resolution and, Susan came to her rescue.

 

Chapter 3

 

Susan had met her in the municipal park where Melania was on one of her regular evening-strolls. And one day, Melania approached her. Teddy was pressurizing her to get an abortion, which was clearly against her will. It was evidently illegal, but the influence of Teddy’s family did not quit allow the law to take its course.

“They owned a hella lot of nursing homes and hospitals in Knightsbridge. This one time, he almost fooled me into taking pills and getting a termination done.”

“I don’t know what to do? But I certainly don’t want to give up.” Melania uttered in a soft yet steady voice.

 “Don’t you worry; we’ll work something out.”

And then they did work it out. Susan was knocked down with a feather when the case got resolved in just two meetings. It was an out-of-court-settlement with terms and conditions assigned. These arrangements called for a secrecy clause on the name of the biological father of the yet-to-be-born on Melania’s part. It also necessitated an assurance of “no-harm” to the mother and the child from the defendant. While closing the deal, Susan had no idea what awaited in her professional as well as personal life.

 

Chapter 4

 

She ran her eyes through the morning gazette for the last time before resuming her household chores. Since the day she had accepted Melania as her client, Susan had received blank calls and, she was pretty sure that these were mere verbal intimidation from John Smith’s office. She had never dealt with such a powerful magnate; but, this did not deter her from seeking this lawsuit.  Therefore, this early closure of the case was out of the blue.

While she was busy with her household chores, the doorbell rang. She wiped her hands on an apron of sacking and went for the door. There was nothing but a letter waiting at her entrance when she got there. The message was an explicit warning for Susan to withdraw her support for Melania.

“You think we’re playing some game? My patience isn’t limitless. I can destroy your career if I want! Don’t get into this mess and leave that girl on her own.”

There was no point in reporting this felony or contacting the police, as she was quite sure that this was all done by Teddy’s elder brother. Although he did have the comportment of a young and successful man, he never seemed this wicked. She never hated John, not even after he screwed everything up eight years ago.

So, she decided to call Teddy’s counsel and inform him about the entire incident and apprise them to refrain from any such future behaviour.

“My client has nothing to do with the letter. I think there is some confusion, and if you remember, we just settled the litigation this morning.” The defendant’s counsel notified her.

 

 

Chapter 5

 

 

The next week was less eventful, with almost no phone calls and absolutely no letters. It was a regular Friday; she got home a little early.

The weather outdoors was undeniably pleasant. So, Susan decided to get out and take the air. She went to the park as she expected Mel to be there. But Melania had not come for the stroll. She got to know from the other people there that she hadn’t visited the park since the last week.

It struck Susan to silence. She decided to go to her quarters and have a check on her. When she reached Mel’s derelict dwelling, her roommate informed that Susan had not returned home since the last Sunday.

“You were her barrister. I thought she would be with you. So I did not inquire about it further.”

An uncomfortable premonition of fear pervaded her senses. Susan realised that Melania’s life is in danger.

She immediately took a cab to John Smith’s office.

As she entered that high-rise office building, her eyes met with the young woman seated behind the mahogany desk. She seemed polite and helpful but, still, Susan could sense the air of a serious corporate receptionist.

 

“I want to meet Mr. John Smith.” Her eyes filled resentfully and, her voice tense.

“Do you have an appointment?” the receptionist asked in a highly professional tone.

“No. But it is very urgent. Somebody’s life is on risk.”

“You can’t meet him without an appointment.” She replied crisply, with a mien of hesitation.

“To hell with your appointment. I’m going to meet him anyway.”

“You can’t---”

“Which floor is it?”

“I’m not bound to tell you.”

“Now listen to me. I’m a lawyer, and your boss in all probability had kidnapped a young and innocent pregnant girl. Now, if you don’t tell me the floor number, then I swear by God, everybody working in this office would get convicted for abetting the assailant, including you.”

“48th floor. But---”

Without waiting for her to end, Susan started walking towards the elevator. She dialled 49 into the elevator panel and that shot her right up to the floor in a few seconds. It was a fully furnished chamber, and she noticed a few people sitting in the waiting room. John Smith was probably busy in some meeting. But Susan did not have the time to wait and dashed into a wide corridor. At the end of the passage, she noticed a wooden door with “John Smith, CEO & MD” written on it. She was not in the mood to obey the corporate courtesy, and therefore, barged into his office.

He was on some call, probably the receptionist notified him before, about her unexpected arrival.

“So, how may I help you?” John inquired. He did not seem surprised at all.

“How can you stoop so low? What did you do to Melania? I could not believe that you’re the same person whom I had loved once!”

“Whoa, what? You were the one who never called me back, remember?”

“You can’t fool me this time, mister! Where is Melania? She hasn’t been home since Sunday.”

“I don’t know. I thought the case was over.”

“Not when you guys have kidnapped her.”

 

“Sue, I know how much you care for her. I would never do anything that might hurt you or anyone close to you. But that girl is a gold digger. She wants to ruin our family name.”

“Oh my God, so you are no different from those egotists and conceited personalities who are too privileged to be indifferent to people deprived of even their necessities. And don’t again dare to call me Sue.”

“I’m not like that, you know---”

“Even I thought so. But clearly, I was wrong.”

“Listen to me; I’m quite aware of my responsibilities. But that girl is a cheat. She threatened my brother with false allegations of forced abortions. I did not take any further legal steps just because you were the defending lawyer. There may be nothing between us anymore, but I still respect you.”

“Wish I could say that for you. But anyway, those allegations were true.”

“No way! My brother may be a little childish, but he is a man of character, just like me. That girl, Melania, just wanted the money. She had threatened my brother to drag him to court on those false charges if he did not give him the money. We handed her the money the night before the case was closed.”

“Are you serious? Do you believe everything that your brother says? Did you personally give her the money?”

“No, but my brother did.”

 “Melania was with me that whole day.”

“What?” John was having a hard time digesting this fresh piece of information thrown at him. He immediately dialled a number on his cell and asked for his brother. His brother was not at home and had left his cell phone there.”

Susan realised that restlessness had taken over his composure. Meanwhile, John dialled another number. He now called Teddy’s chauffeur and asked him about Teddy. His chauffeur, though a little hesitant at first, informed him that Teddy was at their firm’s abandoned warehouse downtown.

 

Chapter 6

 

“Now!” He roared, and Susan followed him just like those college days, when Susan like an ardent follower, accompanied John on his many adventurous missions and solicitous charities. They rode his BMW and ordered the chauffeur to take them to the company’s old warehouse. Terror had held John like a vice-grip.

When they reached there, they saw Ted’s car in the backyard. Without further wasting any time, they steadily climbed the stairs.

“I think I can hear something,” Susan mentioned cautiously.

“I guess; the sound is coming from the second floor.”

 Susan and John were right. When they got there, they saw that Melania was on a chair with her hands tied at its back while Teddy and his friends surrounded her. John kept staring at his brother in disbelief. John was about to go ballistic. He would have thrashed his brother by now, but Susan stopped her.

“Let the law take its course, John.” Saying this, Susan called at 999 and explained the situation. Susan now seemed rather calm despite the challenge before them. However, she also felt that John should have a one-to-one conversation with his brother before the final knockout.

“There’s still some time for the officers to arrive. I think we should go inside. Trust me, John; it will be fine.”

They entered the room where Teddy had captivated Melania. Her beautiful face was blotchy and swollen from crying.

“Ted.” John’s disdainful voice spoke to Teddy Smith. Ted’s expression was now that of sheer terror. He realised that his plan was over.

 “You here?”

“Why? Am I a fly in the ointment?”

“Bro, I think you have misjudged the entire situation. This bird of yours has tricked you into it.”

 “I don’t trust you anymore.”

Before Susan could find a tool to untie the ropes, they heard chaos outside the building. Within a matter of a few moments, two policemen barged in. Seeing this, Teddy and his friends panicked, and before Susan could understand, a cold knife touched her throat.

“What are you doing? Leave her!” John shouted.

“This stupid woman got me into trouble. If it jeopardises my life, hers should get ruined as well.”

“Leave her. You are not a criminal. It is just adding up the felonies against you.” Suddenly gunshots and sirens were heard. Two more officers had entered the scene. The noise of the bullets was so sudden that Ted lost his grip, and Susan used this opportunity to take control of the situation. A fist to his stomach and then his jaw made him lose his grip on the knife. In the meantime, the police had arrested the rest of Teddy’s accomplice. A third fist to the jaw tipped the man almost head over heels. One officer untied Melania. Susan gave her a tight hug and reassured her she was safe.

 

John withstood his brother getting arrested. He had never felt this helpless in his life. Susan put her hand on his shoulder and gave a soft squeeze. John could not control himself anymore. He hugged her tightly and wept his heart out.

“John, you need to be strong.” Susan tried to console her.

“I don’t know how I am going to confess this to my parents!”

“I know you will. You will, John.”

Chapter 7

 

Six months later, Melania delivered her first child, a baby boy in Bexley's public hospital. Susan was with her the entire time she was in labour. Susan had also called up John to inform him about the new-born. He showed up in a limousine as soon as he received the news. But there were two bouquets in his hand instead of one. Susan was curious to know for whom the second bouquet was, but she kept it to herself.

After John had met Melania, given her the bouquet, and conveyed her best wishes, he went up to Susan. She was resting in the waiting area. Her eyes glowed up as she stared John walking up to him.

“I know this is not the right place to say or do what I’m planning to.”

“Okay!”

“There was nothing between me and Natasha. I did not sleep with her that day. I had tried calling you after that, but you never answered.”

“I think I can trust you on that. The man who did not step back abide by the law even though his brother was at the target, I can never disbelief him.”

“That was easy!”

“Not that easy without you.”

“I know. I missed you. And I love you. I love all of you with all my heart. I had loved you since the day I had met you. And if you would let me, I’d like to tell you how much I love you every day from now on.”

“I think I would like that very much. I love you too.” And their love came back in a full big-circle.