A MAZE OF GREED

Henry was an interesting companion. He was not only good with words, but Ruth also felt comfortable in his company. They had become friends after knowing more and more about each other.

He once showed Ruth his house and even invited her for a tea, but she politely declined his invitation as she found it bothersome for his family to attend a guest in the night.

Ruth's days turned busy and happening. Henry would pick her up at six-thirty in the morning and drop her back at nine-thirty in the night. Sometimes he or she had to wait for the other when they were stuck in some urgent work.

Ruth could not find time to look after her responsibilities regarding home and Mrs Payne. Although Mrs Payne never complained, Ruth felt guilty. She had given a thought about the facility of shifting to the servants quarters in 'the great manor'.

But she couldn't push the topic in front of Mrs Payne, for she knew that the lady would never agree to that. Daringly she once struck that conversation with her, and not after ten minutes into their conversation, did she realise how futile her effort was.

After that Ruth did not bring that topic again for the discussion.

One night Thea decided to celebrate Ruth's new job and appeared at her home with bags of apples for her mother's recipe of apple pie and shrimps. Ruth was yet to come home.

So Thea and Mrs Payne decided to prepare the dinner and give Ruth a little surprise. To their expectations, Ruth came home around ten o'clock in the night. She was surprised to see Thea at that time, and after seeing the delicious food on the platter, she jumped in joy to hug her best friend.

They enjoyed the dinner and spent hours while talking about random things. Ruth shared her experiences and what she liked and did not like in 'the great manor'.

Though Mrs Payne always reacted with a smile to everything Ruth told about the new chapter of her life, she could tell that the old woman's smile did not reach her eyes. Ruth always found uncertainty lingering behind those orbs.

That night after Mrs Payne slept, Ruth and Thea conversed the way they used to.

"Ruth, I do not like working in the shop anymore!" Thea complained.

"Why?"

"Because of you, idiot!" Thea's eyes widened by a fraction, and Ruth thought she even bit her tongue as if she had done some mistake.

"Sorry."

"For what?"

"For... nothing." Thea changed the subject abruptly.

Ruth had noticed some subtle changes in her best friend. Thea was the kind of person who liked to convey her love through verbal abuse- of course, nothing to be offended about- or making fun of the other person.

But since last some weeks, she had changed a little. She did the same with others, even with Rees but stopped acting that way with Ruth.

"So I was saying that I do not find working there interesting because now I do not have my best friend to gossip with." Thea pouted.

Ruth was always fond of how adorable her friend looked at such times. "Awww.... Thea baby miss me?!" She pinched her cheek while cooing sweetly.

"Shut up!" Thea swatted her hand, grumbling. "Be serious Ruth."

Ruth smiled. "Okay. But why are you worrying? After you get married with Rees, he can find some work for you in 'the great manor'. Then we can work there together."

"Yes... but I can not wait that day to come."

They were engrossed in their conversation and future plans that they got startled by Mrs Payne's coughing sound.

Mrs Payne was still under the influence of sleep. She only turned to her other side and went back to sleep after her cough died down.

Ruth's eyes widened in realisation. "It is my fault."

"What?" Thea asked in confusion.

"She is having this problem for more than a week now. I promised to bring her medicine but could not as I did not have money back then. And now that I have money, I do not have time to go to the market.

I have to go early in the morning, and by the time I came back home, the shops are closed. Sometimes I feel very guilty Thea."

Thea became serious. "Why are you saying that? Do not you like your new job?"

"It is not that. I am getting accustomed to this new change, and so far, I have nothing to complain about. But I am failing in taking care of Mrs Payne. She has to do all household chores by herself. I can not even prepare her dinner.

At the time when I should take care of her, she has to take care of me. This is not what she signed up for when she accepted me as her daughter."

Thea understood what her friend was saying and agreed to it.

"Why do not you ask her about living in the servants quarters. How long you will be able to sustain this way? Your life will be convenient if you live there."

"I know Thea. But how can I ask her to leave the place where she had spent years of her life with her husband? This place holds his memories. And I have no heart to ripped her away from it."

Both women fell in silence. Then Thea suggested something.

"Ruth please do not look sad. What if her one daughter can not find time. She has her other daughter to take care of her!"

Ruth looked at Thea gratefully. "Really?"

"Yes. I will take care of her and will visit her whenever I get a chance. I will bring her medicines and go to the market for shoppping. You do not need to worry about anything. Okay?"

"Oh, I love you so much Thea! You are the best!"

They both hugged each other and fell asleep after some time.

When everyone was lost in their dreamlands, Zoe woke up. She was sleeping beside Mrs Payne. She waited for making sure that they were not awake.

She rubbed her head on Mrs Payne's face. She stared at the old woman with love and respect in her heart for her. She then looked at Ruth.

Zoe did not know what she should think about the woman. She should not like her as she had stolen the man of her dreams. But did she really do that?

Ruth was not even aware of her own fate or the fact that the blue-eyed monster who scared the daylights out of her, was in fact madly obsessed with her.

Zoe cast another glance in Thea's way. Thinking for a minute, she padded towards the open window. After a last glance at the three women sleeping silently, Zoe jumped out of the window.

The next day Ruth woke up at her new time. She bathed and prepared breakfast. Mrs Payne woke up after some time.

As per her daily routine, Ruth poured milk in a bowl for Zoe and came out of the kitchen.

"Come on sweety. It is time for breakfa- Sweety?" Ruth did not find Zoe rubbing her back on the wall or waggling her tail in excitement at the sight of milk.

Ruth looked around the home. She even searched for her cat in the outside corridor but could not find her.

"Mrs Payne, do you know where this naughty creature is?"

"I do not know Ruth. I have not seen her since morning. She was sleeping beside me but when I woke up she was not there."

Ruth got worried hearing that. She slipped on her shoes to go search for her in the town when Thea stopped her.

"Ruth. Calm down. You are over reacting. She is a cat. She must be somehwere nearby. She will come back when she gets hungry."

Ruth shook her head. "No Thea. She never disappears like this. What if she is in the middle of fight between the street cats? She is this tiny fur of ball. I do not want her to get hurt. You know how worried I was when she was limping with a wounded leg."

"Ruth, I think Thea is right. Cats wander and disappear for a day or two with their group. She will come back on her own. And who knows if she finds a handsome male for her and decides to do the basket making with him?!" Mrs Payne winked suggestively.

Thea burst out laughing at that thought. She had not seen Zoe in her human form but had heard enough about her temper from Rees. She could not imagine how she would have reacted after hearing this comment from Mrs Payne.

Ruth was not convinced by their reasoning. But hoped that they were true. She left her home when Henry came to pick her up at six-thirty.

He was talking with her like usual, but Ruth could not concentrate on his words. Her mind was occupied by only one thing. Her little favourite creature was missing.

She kept searching the streets, in hope that she would see her cat running behind the wagon or playing with other cats in the area.. Alas! Her wish did not come true.