Can’t hold my tears 2 Episode 16

CAN’T HOLD MY TEARS SEASON 2
EPISODE 16
 
 
Kelvin drove his car on a steady but fast pace, with a grim look on his face. He didn’t like the way things were going one bit. He had discarded the Lisa issue, thinking it was something minute, but with the way things were going, it seemed something higher than Lisa is at pla-y. Amara looked tense beside him and she had been murmuring nonst©p ever since she made the phone call.
“I feel so bad that I could even imagine Tina in such a demeaning way. She has been so good to me and does not deserve to be paid back this way” Amara said with her eyes fixed on the road.
“You saw her bag in your office, anyone would have done the same” Kelvin said grimly.
Amara turned to face him but he kept his eyes glued to the road. “But a good friend wouldn’t. Let’s face it, I am a bad friend, I have always been. Tina has been a spectacular friend and all I have done is snub her; now she has been sick and I am just finding out. I am horrible” she wailed.
Kelvin took his eyes off the road a bit to stare at her perplexed face, then looked back. “I guess a change is in order”
Amara swallowed audibly. “You agree that I am horrible?” She asked, hiding the slight bitterness she felt when he did not try to reas-sure her.
“I am not saying you are horrible, just that you might try changing your attitude towards people”
Amara turned her face to the road, gripping the edge of the chair with one hand. “Thank you very much” why can’t he just be nice?
Kelvin glanced at her stiff face. “Don’t take it that way Ara, you know you have changed towards everyone, it would be a relief to see the old you again” he smiled slightly, softening the brick form his face had taken for the past hour. “Although I think you are coming throu-gh”
Amara kept her eyes on the road ahead, gritting her teeth. The truth surely is bitter! Her br@in screamed at her.
Kelvin’s face turned grim again and he gr!pp£dthe steering ha-rder as he made a sharp turn. “Do you realise what this means Ara?” His voice was ha-rd as he spoke. “This is more than we think. If Tina has truly been in the hospital for days, someone must have put her bag in your office” he stated, then turned his head to gaze seriously at Amara’s frozen face. “Intentionally” he added finally.
Amara sighed and ran her f!ngersover her temples. “Oh, this is terrible and I am tired of thinking about it. It almost looks Let’s leave that, all I want now is to be sure Tina is alright” she said firmly and Kelvin nodded quietly, driving on. Amara laughed out, whether from humor or mirth, she couldn’t tell. “Frankly, it is amusing that someone thinks me so important as to go throu-gh all these stress to destroy my life”
Kelvin looked at her straight-faced. “I don’t find it amusing in the least. Whoever is doing this clearly does not like the clos£ness between you and Tina” he stated as a de-ep frown descended upon his face. “I would nee-d to question your secretary Ara”
“You would do no such thing Kelvin” Amara returned sharply. She was still having a ha-rd time processing this new insight but then, she had done enough by even suspecting Tina, she wouldn’t have Tega added to her list of suspects. “I won’t have you questioning her Kelvin, with the way you are going, you would have my entire staff questioned”
“If that’s what it takes” he blared the horn at the vehicle misbehaving in front of him.
“You are not a police officer Kelvin” Amara said exasperatedly.
“I am beginning to think we nee-d one” he returned stiffly, sighting the hospital ahead.
“No! I won’t have a parade of incompetent policemen bombarding my company. It would create a bad impression.”
“But if we got one who is discrete?” He said gently, his voice ba-rely above a whisper”
Amara frowned slightly, turning to look at him. His handsome face looked stressed, like he hadn’t had much sleep and she had the sudden urge to ru-b her palm against his day’s growth of beard, but she wisely kept her hands to herself. “You sound like you know one” she breathed.
His eyes turned speculative and much more unre-adable. He glanced at her as he eased into the parking lot of the hospital, searching for a parking space. “Your father is one”
Amara froze, turning pale, not even noticing as the car c@m£ to a final st©p in the parking lot of the hospital. My father! Surely, she hadn’t heard well. “Which father? I have no father”
Kelvin glanced at her with veiled eyes. “Why don’t we talk about this later?” He said instantly, pu-lling away his seatbelt. Amara blinked, winded for some seconds. She re-moved her belt and alighted the car with her head feeling hazy. Does it mean that he has been in contact with my father? She looked at Kelvin suspiciously, not knowing what to make of this piece of information. Seeing the hospital looming over her worked magic though, because the thought of Tina, hanging in the balance in there was enough to push aside all her immediate problems.
She rushed into the hospital, glancing at the many people in the waiting room. The nurses smiled at her brightly with recognition, but as Kelvin appeared behind her, their eyes wi-de-ned and she was pretty much forgotten as they stare and flir-ted with Kelvin. Kelvin did nothing to dissuade their advances, smiling charmingly at the ladies in a pla-yboy manner. Amara gritted her teeth in annoyance. This only served to stoke her anger further. Another reason to hate him! She said to herself. “I am here to see Tina” she snapped at the nurses, recapturing their attention slightly.
“Oh, you are here to see Miss Tina” one of them said, reluctantly taking her eyes off Kelvin.
“Yes, I was told she was admitted here a few days back” Amara stated.
The nurse sobered. “Yes, the drugs she had been taken bec@m£ noneffective, due to her wors£ned situation” Amara’s heart beat ra-pidly, as she looked horrified at the nurse. She ba-rely noticed as Kelvin circled her w@!st with his arm and drew her closer to the reas-suring heat of his b©dy. So Tina had been hiding this! Amara remembered the time Tina had been taken over by a persistent cough in her office. She had thought then that Tina was hiding something even when she said she was OK, but the bad friend in her hadn’t been able to investigate further.
“We would be glad if you’d take us to her” Kelvin murmured, still holding Amara by the w@!st. The nurses surely noticed the gesture with obvious disappointments but Amara was past caring.
The nurse nodded and left the back of the counter, bring the remaining p@rt of her short go-wn to view. “plea-se follow me” she murmured. Amara and Kelvin walked briskly behind her and Amara’s heart pounded wildly as she thought about Tina.
“You can take your arm off my w@!st now, your spectators are no longer in sight” she snapped at Kelvin.
Instead of complying, Kelvin’s arm seemed to grow firmer. “Your neighbour was right, you are jealous” he said with satisfied amusement obvious in his voice.
So that is what she had whispered! Amara wiggled, trying to break free. “You flatter yourself. I see no reason why I should be jealous; especially not now” she said, increasing her steps.
Kelvin leaned over and placed a firm k!sson her forehead, ti-ght£ñing his arm around her w@!st. “She would be fine” Kelvin whispered reas-suringly.
Amara forgot her misplaced anger towards him and turned worried eyes on him. “Are you sure?” She only nee-ded that reas-surance from him. “It is not common malaria Kelvin, this involves kidney! I don’t want Tina to-”
“Hushhh” Kelvin whispered, silencing Amara. “Nothing would happen to her, she would be fine”
Amara hung onto that reas-surance, involuntarily drawing closer to Kelvin. The nurse leading them suddenly turned towards a door and, without warning, opened it. Amara stood frozen at the doorway, too scared to go in. She had avoided serious emotions which might bring tears to her eyes for so long but she felt strongly that going in would definitely change that. She couldn’t start crying now, not when she should be reas-suring Tina. Kelvin pu-ll-ed her ti-ghter against his side and she raised her agitated eyes to his, which was bright with worry. “Come on” he called gently with a small squee-ze. She nodded vigorously and took in a de-ep breath as Kelvin pushed the door wi-der. Amara noticed a frail form on the be-d, dressed in a shabby white shapeless go-wn. The nurse stood by her, smiling softly and a girl who looked almost like a teenager despite her mature b©dy sat by the be-d, looking tired. The urge to cry almost overwhelmed Amara as Tina turned her head and their eyes met. “Tina” she whispered shakily.
Tina had never looked so weak and lean, almost like she had been ill for years. Her cheeks showed more bones than flesh and her eyes seemed to have retreated further into their sockets. “Ohhhh Tina” Amara m0@n ed, took Tina’s head carefully in her arms and ran k!sses over her face.
“Oh, Amara, don’t tell me you are a lesbian” Tina joked weakly, managing a small smile. Amara on the other hand couldn’t find anything worth smiling about.
“I am sorry Tina, I should have been here, I should have been with you throu-ghout. Oh my God Tina! Why didn’t you ever tell me” she rushed. As Tina made to talk, Amara silenced her. “No, don’t say anything” she sobered. “I wouldn’t tell me, if I were you. I am a bad friend”
“Shhhhh… Don’t say that! You are not, you were going throu-gh a phase-”
“No” Amara cut in. “Don’t make excuses for me Tina for God’s sake, I know I have been behaving stupidly. Been b!owing my misfortunes way out of proportion, not even taking time to appreciate the good things those misfortunes brou-ght my way.” Her eyes watered. “I should be the one here, taking care of you”
Tina smiled. “I never wanted anyone to find out. I was diagnosed several months back with Kidney failure and I have been on drugs ever since, but instead of the drugs improving my condition, I was getting worse.” She swallowed slightly, managing a weak smile. “I was admitted three days ago” she said. She moved her hand until she was able capture Amara own, fear crept to her face for the first time. “Would I be fine? I am really scared Amara” she murmured shakily.
Amara hastily sat beside her on the be-d, squee-zing her palm ti-ghter. “You would be fine Tina, just fine” said f0rç£fully, with more as-surance than she actually felt. “Kelvin said you would and everything he says always happens” she said, reas-suring both herself and Tina.
Tina raised her eyes, seeing Kelvin for the first time. Her eyes wi-de-ned slightly, then her face took on a mischievous smile. “I was wondering who inspired the changes in you; I guess I have found the culprit” she raised her brow, looking from Amara to Kelvin.
Kelvin swept her a slight bow, with a smile enough to lift anyone’s spirit. “Kelvin to the rescue anytime, any day” he murmured.
Amara scowled at him. “Is this the time to joke around? What changes are you both talking about? I am the same person”
“Thanks to your knight in shining armor” Tina grinned weakly.
“He is not MY knight” Amara returned frowning.
Kelvin t©uçhed his heart, bending over dramatically. “I am wounded.”
Tina looked like she might laugh but settled for grinning. The light mood seemed to be working, Amara noticed as she saw Tina’s bright face. She looked less weary. “Have you eaten?” She asked Tina.
Before Tina could form a response, the girl beside the be-d, who Amara presumed was the Aisha that picked her call earlier, spoke up. “I have been asking her to eat all day but she has completely refused” she looked both angry and worried.
Amara’s face turned serious. “Well, that is not happening while I am here.” She looked at Tina squarely. “What would you eat?” Tina hesitated. “Don’t even think of saying nothing”
Tina rolled her eyes. “Oh, now I wish you never c@m£” she murmured.
“It is too late for that wish woman, I would get you rice” Amara made to stand up.
“I would get it instead. I am sure you ladies might want to have a little time to chat without me hovering over you.” Kelvin said, then smiled at Aisha. “You surely deserve the same treat”.
Tina nodded gratefully. “Yes, she must be hungry. She has been glued to my side all throu-gh, she is a darling” she smiled gratefully at her staff.
The thought of food brou-ght an obvious glow to the girl’s face. “I would go with you sir” she said bouncing up, then looked at her boss. “You would be OK Miss Tina?” She asked, concerned.
“Absolutely” Kelvin answered instead. “Your boss isn’t going anywhere, she would be bouncing out of here in a few days” he said so convincingly that everyone, including Tina found themselves believing it.
Kelvin dropped a small k!sson Tina’s head, and gave her a small smile. “You’ll be fine”. Tina smiled back and nodded. Kelvin turned to Amara and stunned her by k!ss!ngher directly on thel-ips. “I’ll be back” he whispered.
Amara was too stunned to answer and she blinked, watching Kelvin exit the room with Aisha following briskly. She could tell that her face was bright with embarras-sment, but she couldn’t help the thri-ll that went throu-gh her. She felt like a bride at the altar, being k!$$£d in front of people. She f0rç£fully brou-ght her eyes back to Tina’s to find her grinning. “You love him”
“What?” Amara squealed in exclamation. “Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t love him”
Tina grinned wi-der. “You can’t hide it. It is so obvious. See this glow in your eyes, I have never seen it; not even with Alex”
“Oh no, plea-se don’t mention Alex, I might fall ill as well.” She said frowning, then sobered. “How do you feel Tina?”
Tina grimaced. “Do you really want an answer to that?” She asked, swallowing slightly. “I hate being in hospitals, it smells like cra-p” she smiled drily.
Amara managed a small smile. “If I had continued with my dream of being a doctor, I would be treating you now”
“No. You would kill me fas-ter than my decaying kidney because you would cry all over me instead of treating me” Tina said, smiling.
Amara frowned at her. “I am not longer a cry cry baby”
Tina raised her hand and traced a we-t path on Amara’s cheek. “Of course not” she said with a smile.
Amara sighed and gr!pp£dTina’s hand. “You must be strong Tina, I can’t lose you” Tina lowered her eyes. “Look at me” Tina raised her eyes. “We would pu-ll throu-gh this. Together! I promise” she said strongly. Tina nodded.
“I am glad you are here Amara” she whispered.
“I would always be by your side Tina, always.”
********************
Kelvin paid for the meal and Aisha gr@bb£d the nylons. His phone rang and he took it out of his pocket. He stared at the name on his screen for some seconds, before answering. “Hello sir” he said a bit quietly.
“Hi Kelvin, I have her” the voice spoke gently.
“Great! That is very good, although, there are new developments”
There was a brief silence on the other end. “What is wrong?”
“Amara’s company was broken into, it does not look like a burglary. The whole place was a complete mess when I got there and even though she insists otherwise, I know there would have been some major damages. I am not sure if Lisa is responsible for this but I am sure someone inside her company is aiding whoever this is. No locks were broken”
“Can I… come over to see the situation of things myself?” He asked.
Kelvin shook his head as if talking to a visible person as Aisha walked ahead of him into the hospital. “That wouldn’t be a good idea, Amara totally freaked out when I suggested that we inform you. I don’t think it is the right time”
Mr Sinja breathed into the phone and cleared his throat. “OK, I un-derstand. I would interrogate Lisa to see if she has anything to do with this. I really hope she does, because if not, it means, we are dealing with someone else.”
Before Mr Sinja hung up, Kelvin quic-kly said. “I didn’t tell you something yesterday” he said, his voice dropping to ba-rely a whisper.
“I am listening”
Kelvin took a de-ep breath. “Alex went to see Amara yesterday”
“What did he want again?” Mr Sinja’s voice was ha-rd now.
“A reconciliation, I guess. But she told me that he said something. That… they are not siblings”
Silence followed his declaration. “That cannot be!” Mr Sinja said later.
Kelvin sighed and ran his free f!ngersover his hair. “My thoughts also.” He sighed again. “I have to go now, I would call later to get your feedback”
“plea-se take care of my girl”
Kelvin swallowed. “I am doing my best”
 
 
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