A MAZE OF GREED

The remaining dinner at the Green's home went smoothly if you exclude Edwin's not so subtle gazes at Ruth and the palpable strain between Thea and Rees.

"So, Rees have you two decided the date of the wedding? How much more time you two love birds need?" Mr Green came to the point and then only the other people on the table realised the esoteric motto of this dinner.

Rees's hand stopped mid-air, for he was about to take another bite of his steak. The sudden chillness in the room might have been gone unnoticed by Mr and Mrs Green but the other four people could feel it in their bones.

Ruth gave a sympathetic look to Thea, who kept avoiding looking at anyone, finding the glass of wine more interesting than the conversation.

Seeing that both Rees and Thea were not ready to open their mouth, Mr Green said, "Rees, please don't get us wrong but we are parents of a girl. Everyone is aware of your relationship with her. You know how hurtful and badmouthed people can be."

After giving a glance at her husband she continued, "And taking more time is giving people an excuse to talk behind our backs. Are you understanding what we are trying to say, dear?"

Mrs Green's voice held concern and it made its appearance on her face after the silence that Rees provided them with.

Sensing the uneasiness, Ruth jumped into the conversation before things go wrong.

"They, actually, wanted to discuss the date but, you know, Thea is very busy these days at the shop and... and Rees also couldn't take out time from his busy schedule. His master must be very cruel for make him work every day that he couldn't get time for himself."

She glared at Edwin while saying the last part to which Edwin rosed his left eyebrow in surprise.

'Hmm... interesting!' A Cheshire grin came on his lips and Ruth wondered if he found this situation amusing in some way.

'Of course, other's pain is a means of amusement for him. He has done it twice before. He has hurt that maid after spending private moments with her and then this morning. This man is an incarnation of evil!'

Her anger bubbled inside her but she had to maintain her composure in front of Mr and Mrs Green because for them Edwin was Rees's childhood friend and not the sole heir of the O'Dell legacy.

Mr Green sensed something was not right. The man had not greyed his hair in sunlight. "Are you two sure? Is that so, Thea?"

Her husband's question made Mrs Green worried and she kept looking at Rees and Thea expectantly.

"Shouldn't you be asking them if they still want to get married or not, Mr Green?"

Every pair of an eye turned to Edwin who leaned into his chair with a calm face and the same grin was still present on his face.

Thea and Rees looked at him alarmed but Ruth... she was ready to tell him to not stuck his nose into the matter. If he could guess her thoughts like the other times then she wished him to do the same at that moment too.

To her surprise, he didn't look at her, instead rested his eyes on Mr and Mrs Green's confused faces.

"Wh-what do you mean?" Mrs Green mumbled.

Edwin leaned forward and rested both his hands on the table. "I know that I don't have a right to intrude in your family matter but Mr and Mrs Green, Rees is more than just a friend to me and I want to see him happy.

I understand your concern, Mrs Green. Being the parents of a young woman is not as easy as it seems. I am impressed that you let your daughter have the freedom of deciding for her life and gave her time to understand her future life partner.

But have you ever wondered if she has really understood him or not?"

His simple question made other's more confused. "We- we have, I think." Mrs Green said unsurely.

"How have you let her get him know more? And how much time you have given them?" Came Edwin's next question.

~"Master-"~

Rees was nervous about the unexpected twist in the conversation.

But before he could say more, Edwin cut him in the middle while keeping his eyes focused on Mr and Mrs Green.

~"Just trust me, Rees."~

That made Rees keep silent and be a mute spectator.

"We- we let them meet three, no, four times over the family dinners and I think they have met a few times without the elders around." Mrs Green answered.

"It's been three months, Edwin. How much time do they need? At our times we didn't have any say in such decisions. Neither we used to get time to know our partner. It was all decided by our families and elders.

We are being open-minded here and has accepted their request to allow them some time to know each other better. Then tell me where we went wrong?" Mr Green asked and everyone could sense the sudden change in his mood.

"Do you think a few meets are enough to understand a person?"

That left Mr and Mrs Green pondering.

"I know how it must have been at your times, Mr Green but the time has changed and so has the perception of the life of the young generation. There is a faint line between knowing a person and understanding a person, Mrs Green.

We know our neighbours, every little detail about them but does that mean we understand them that well too?

Marriage is not a hobby that we enjoy for a few days or months and when we find another one or get bored with it, we just slid it aside and get interested in the new one. Marriage is like a passion we keep giving our everything to, unremittingly and relentlessly."

"But-"

"Mrs Green, I know you have done more than many of the parents out there could do to give your daughter that freedom to decide but time is not what matters in this case. Sometimes a moment is enough to understand a person and on other an eternity is not enough." Edwin's eyes shifted towards Ruth for a moment and she felt something unfamiliar burning inside her.

"All I am trying to say is, they have just known each other till now but let them understand each other now. The world will talk because that is what it is good at. I am sure that you have raised your daughter better to understand what is right and wrong by her judgement.

She is a strong woman and needs a partner who will share the same enthusiasm and an optimistic outlook of life just like hers. I request you to not rush things and let them decide their pace. I am sure when they will be ready, you will be the first people to know."

The five people around Edwin were awestruck at his little speech. Rees had heard his master talk this long for the first time since he started working for him. Thea was mesmerised by his maturity. Mr and Mrs Green were looking at him as if he was some saint.

But Ruth looked at him sceptically trying to figure out what he said was something that he believed in or he just wanted to put Rees's strange behaviour under the rug.

Sensing the awkwardness lingering in the air, Edwin chuckled to brighten up the mood and commented, "By the way, I am the most excited one here for their wedding, because who doesn't like free delicious food and drinks for a whole night?"

Mr Green joined him so did Mrs Green.

"You are such a charming man, Edwin. You are handsome, smart and mature than most men of your age." Mr Green patted his arm while praising him.

He was happy that Edwin gave him another insight about the matter or he might have rushed the things against his daughter's will.

Thea silently nodded her head mouthing 'thank you' to Edwin. Her gesture was returned by him with a small smile.

Thea was grateful that she had such understanding parents and they agreed with Edwin. Rees was also relieved that things didn't go wrong. But then how could they go wrong when Edwin was there by his side?

~"Thank you very much, Master! I will never forget this in my lifetime!"~

This was the reason why he held a huge respect for Edwin. Edwin O'Dell was anything but a patient man. But the way he convinced Thea's parents and handled the situation without losing his cool was commendable. It was completely out of his league but he did it for Rees.

Between the lighter mood, everyone heard Mrs Green speak. "Edwin, I am sure that whoever woman will choose to hold your hand for a lifetime will be the luckiest one. You are the best man a woman could ask for!" She deliberately gave a meaningful look to him then to Ruth.