Hello..Hello..Hello..?

I don’t usually receive or entertain calls from unknown numbers, but that fateful day I did, when I got that call. I usually have no patience when it comes to unknown calls, but the familiar voice made me stop for a moment and hear him out.

He called out my name and I immediately identified the voice which I was hearing after 20 years. There were multiple thoughts running over my mind,” Would mom want me to talk to him? Would she hate me if she got to know I spoke to him? What does he even have to say to me now? How did he get my number? He is sick? Or dying? Does he need any financial help? Does he even recognize my voice”?

“Hello... hello... hello? Can you hear me, Leesa?”

“Hello... yes I can hear you. Who is this speaking?”, I enquired, just for the sake of it.

“Dear, this is your...umm…ahh…Ummm …your father... Don’t you recognize my voice?”

“umm... sorry, I don’t recognize who is this and I don’t recognize your voice either, stop pretending and acting like you are my father”, I pretended it was a hoax call.

“Ohh... I do recognize your voice. It is still the same, only a little sharper than before”, he responded.

“But I don’t recognize any voice,” I shouted, “please stop these games and hoax calls, don’t pretend to be something you are not else I will report it to the police right away, just like I did 20 years ago!”, and I hung up before hearing another word.

Should I give mom a call and tell her about what just happened? Would she freak out?

I wouldn’t want to meet him. I haven’t seen him for over 2 decades and don’t want to bring in any feelings yet. Let me speak to Paul.

“Dear, I need to talk to you,” I squeaked softly as I walked into his home office.

“Honey I am busy, is it something urgent? or can we talk after my meeting?”, he was quick to respond.

“Yeah, nothing’s urgent, you carry on. Will speak to you during lunch. I anyways have lot of work to finish myself as well”, I brushed it off

“Thanks honey, could you please close the door behind you?” he requested and went back to putting his headphones over his ears.

I gently shut the door and walked back to my home office set up. Tried checking mails and getting into work mode but it didn’t help.

So, I went to the kitchen to grab myself a cup of coffee.

I looked out of the window and saw 2 little kids playing with their dad in their backyard. It rekindled my early childhood memories. I recalled how he used to take me shopping and never say NO to anything I ever wanted. I was even allowed to take money from his wallet whenever I needed, and he never questioned me and neither did I ever betray him. Whilst I was lost in this thought, I suddenly caught notice of a young little girl at window silt, weeping, and she looked really scared.

Peeping into someone’s window was not what I would teach my kids, but I could not help but fix my eyes on her. And as I watched, I saw a shabby man approaching her and to my dismay, he started to hit her. I was taken off guard and before I could get my senses together, I saw a lady who looked pale and weak, put herself in between them both and it was then all hell broke loose. The shabby man started to hit her with something that seemed like a dumbbell.

Multiple feelings and thoughts started to run into my head, I was struck numb and simply had to do something about it. While I was staring at that window, I was at the same time trying to figure out my way to their house.

I grabbed my coat and mask, rushed out in a jiffy. “Should I call the cops? Or first, ensure the lady and her kid are safe? Would she like it if I interfere? Or find my action intrusive?” There were so many thoughts running over my head.

And before I knew, I was there at their doorstep, I was about to ring the bell and again “thud” there was this loud noise from inside.

I panicked and started ringing the doorbell as hard as I could. And suddenly there was pin-drop silence inside. It made me panic even more. “Has he killed them? Oh no!” my thoughts went wild.

I started banging the entry door and violently ringing the doorbell.

And suddenly to my surprise, the pale and weak lady opened the door. There was a mask on her face, not to protect herself from the coronavirus that I might possibly infect her with, but rather cover her bruises.

I immediately asked her, “are you doing ok?”, and she responded,” yeah am fine, just a bit of cold ad stuff, need to perhaps get myself tested for the virus”.

“No, you are not ok, I saw what was just happening from your window,” I shouted.

Her eyes opened wide and I could see it getting quickly filled with water, disregards to how hard she tried to control them. And just then the drunk and shabby man came from behind the door and charged at me, “what do you want? You are breaking lockdown protocols; do you want me to call the police?”

“oh yeah. sure do! I am eagerly waiting for the police to arrive,“ I responded.

He had no remorse or guilt in his eyes.

When I looked into his drowsy eyes, it reminded me of the eyes of my father! This man looked confident and determined to continue his evil actioned if left off the leash. It scared the child in me, and I suddenly felt very vulnerable.

Just then I heard a familiar voice from behind.

“Honey, I have called the cops, they should be here any moment, you don’t worry”, called out Paul.

I felt safe and myself again. I couldn’t help my tears and turned back and hugged him tightly.

We both waited at their door until police arrived and ensured the lady and her child were safe.

I handed her a paper with my cell phone number on it, and told her, “, “Miss, this is my number, please do call me in case you need any help or support, I will connect with my attorney and ask him to assist you with all you need.”

She couldn’t stop her tears rolling and each tear that flowed down her cheek was a thank you note.

I patted her back, asked her to go inside and take some rest.

She smiled and went back in with her little daughter.

And then we started walking back.

“let’s take a detour via the garden,” suggested my husband

“Sure,” I was pleased with the offer.

“So, what were you about to tell me this morning while I was busy with my calls?”

“umm…,” I stammered.

“Your father called?” he enquired

I was taken off guard, “how on earth did you know?” I enquired.

“I think I overheard your conversation while I was walking down from the kitchen lobby after filling my water bottle,“ he was quick to explain.

“What should I do? Should I call him?”, I meekly asked

“Do you want to?” He questioned.

“No,“ I responded without a second thought.

“Then don’t, simple”, And he kissed me on my forehead as we entered home.

“Ok!”