-20-Mother-in-law's questions.
"Things that exist but you can't see, People thinking about you and smiling. The parent's affection for you. A lovely future is written in stars."
...
"She is both hellfire and holy water. The flavor you taste depends on how you treat her." [Christian]
.......
'Aham.' You guys can continue, I will come back. Milly said. Trying to close the door again.
'Eh. You old woman. You interrupted them.' Her subconscious voice rang in her brain.
'But it's not my fault,' Early in the morning, she had decided to cook a special porridge for him to recover fast. While her husband had shown his displeasure over the idea. He even managed to puncture all tires of the cars they had in the garage to stop her.
She would have already taught him a lesson if she was not in a hurry. To manage time and reach there as fast as she could. She had to take a taxi to reach the hospital. Even the taxi driver had raised a brow at her. The way she was carrying four tiffins was funny.
By the time she arrived, it was 10 she was at the correct time. It was just that they woke up late.
'Spoiler of Romance.'
'Aye. They weren't kissing. That I spoiled it.' She rolled her eyes and taunted back and forth to her subconscious, mumbling.
Riley's cheeks flushed red.
"No. Mom, we were not doing anything Romantic. I was helping him to drink water. So come in mom."
"Ah. Okay." Taking deep breaths, to calm her heartbeat Milly slowly opened the door and sat down. It was like she had run through hills when in reality she had just run through the corridor of the hospital.
'Ah, I'm getting old.'
'Stupid old woman.' That voice again. Milly was annoyed with her mind's voice.
"Good Morning Mom."
"Morning Ril-boo."
She hugged her mother and kissed her cheek. Already done with pleasantries, she moved her face towards Beggar.
She wanted to ask about Beggar's condition. But she didn't know how to address him. Hesitating for a while, she finally spoke.
"Hello, Mr. Beggar. I mean. Sorry, what's your name?"
"Hello, Mrs. Brown. Don't be sorry. People always call me that so it doesn't hurt. My name is Mendicant." Christian answered nervously.
"Oh. Hello Mr. Mendicant. How are you now?"
"I. I am fine. I guess."
Seeing the condition he was in, head covered in gauze, neck in a brace, face full of wounds, hand, and leg in a cast. Another hand fully covered by a long strip of bandage. If not for his voice, she might have assumed him to be in a comma. Yet he still had the strength to smile at her.
"Thank you Mendicant for saving my daughter. I don't think I will ever be able to repay your favor."
"Don't say Thank you, Mrs. Brown. It's my duty as her husband. To keep her away from any harm."
"And By the way, I have prepared a special porridge for you. It will nourish you with all the blood loss you suffered."
"Mrs. Brown you didn't need to do this"
"It was needed, Mendicant. In our family, we have a tradition to thank people by actions not just words."
"Thank you for it, Mrs. Brown. I will finish it soon."
"Don't mention it. Come to Riley help him to drink it right away."
Riley sat near the bed again, holding a glass and mouthwash for him to gargle. When he finished, she Then cleaned his face with a towel that she had soaked in warm water. Cleaning his face slowly and gently.
"How old are you Mendicant?"
"I'm 26."
"That's good. Riley is 25."
"Where are your parents?"
"They are in heaven." He answered back nonchalantly.
"Oh. I'm sorry." It didn't matter to him now, seven years had passed he sometimes does feel sad. But it wasn't like he needed to show any emotions.
"It's okay."
"Any sibling?"
"Yes. A sister."
"Where is she? What does she do?"
"She lives in a village. She is a farmer."
Done with cleaning his face, she kept a towel and mouthwash aside.
"Would you like to have some porridge, Mindy?"
"Yes, honey." Christian had changed the endearing word to honey purposely so that her mother can assume they are close.
"Okay."
She opened the Brown colored tiffin which was insulated from inside and because of it the porridge was still very much warm. The smell was delicious. She had loved her mother's handmade porridge since childhood. Milly Brown was an expert in making nutritious dieting food. There was magic in her hands.
"Oh. Okay. Are you religious?"
"A little."
"Why do you love her?"
"Sometimes you can't explain what you see in a person. Maybe It's just the way Riley takes me to a place no one else can. Mrs. Brown, Riley is the most graceful chaos I have ever seen. Yet she is aware of her value. She is the personification of my heart chakra"
Holding the spoon in front of his mouth, Riley blushed hearing his answer but still blew some air on it to cool it a little.
"Oh, what do you do for a living?"
Gulping a mouth full of porridge-like soup he only uttered a single word " I."
"I mean aside from begging."
"Mom Please. Don't ask these things now. He is still injured."
Christian pressed his lips together, The moment her mother had walked in he knew she was trouble. The woman was dressed in a black coat with a black dress underneath. It seemed she was here for a funeral. The vibe that was emerging from her body was cold and intimidating but aside from that, she proved him otherwise. The woman was not as cold as she appeared. But She had changed from a lady to a lioness pretty quickly.
"I sing sometimes."
Glancing at Riley who was silent the whole time they were interacting with each other he muttered. Smiling lightly.
"I sing sometimes."
"I was thinking, how about we employ you in a nice position in our office. It wouldn't look nice If Riley Brown's husband is a beggar. What do you say, Mendicant?"
"No Mrs. Brown. I already got a job. Riley is my lucky charm."
Milly raised a brow at that.
"What kind of job you got? We can offer you a better one."
"Sorry to disappoint you, Mrs. Brown, it would be wrong for me to have something that I don't deserve. I love Riley but it doesn't mean I want all the benefits that come from being her husband. And about the job it's."
"It's?"
Christian's mind going haywire, with the possibility of choosing a job that will satisfy them and not doubt him.
Eyes softly closed, he said with much difficulty like he could not speak any more word than the one he uttered,
"A singer in a club Shona." His lying skills were truly magical. Wow, even the club was his. No one will doubt him. It was truly great to be a billionaire.
"I." Milly Brown was speechless, she might have liked the way he protected Riley and his self-respect but still choosing a club job over a 9 to 5 respectable job. Either he was an idiot or a scammer.
Riley on the other was silently listening to their bickerings, she knew her mother will probably ask about his whole life. She would have helped him if only she was perfect herself. If she tried again, her mother might burst all her frustration on her. She could feel the tiredness on the beggar's face probably answering all the questions amidst having the porridge.
Seeing his condition, her mother changed the topic.
"How's it?"
"It's truly delicious. I never had drunk a porridge that's not delicious. Thank you, Mrs. Brown."
"Don't say Thank you, dear. It was my small appreciation of what you have done for my daughter."