... M... Mother

"Can I ask something to you dad?" asked Stephen.

"Yes dear you can. Don't hesitate, see me just like your friend only" Daniel replied.

"Hmm." Stephen's heart was beating faster than ever. "The thing is that, when I was about to open the door of the living room I heard something you and muma talking about me very seriously, but when I asked you both is there something wrong, you told everything is fine" Stephen said "Papa, I am not trying to force you to tell me but I think that you both are worried about something which is related to me and I think if I will also know it I can help" he finished.

"Stephen I have reached office, shall I call you later?" Daniel lied . More fifteen minutes were left to reach office.

"Ok papa" said Stephen but his mind was not accepting it. He found it more suspicious.

"Then see you later" said Daniel and hung up the phone before Stephen could tell or ask something, which he is worried of a lot.

Stephen sat on the stool which was kept in a corner of the terrace. He didn't even realise that while talking on phone he reached terrace. Several questions were raising in his mind - 'What is papa hiding from us?' 'Did he really reach the office or Did he lie to me, to hung up the phone?' 'Should I tell this Kane and Felix' 'How would they react to it?'

"Stephen!" called Kane who reached on the terrace.

Stephen was still lost in his mind 'I think I should leave it. No. How can I leave it, after all it is related to me'

"Steephheeennnn!!!!" called Kane louder.

Stephen had come back from his mind this time.

"What happened Stephen?" asked Kane "I damn sure you are not alright".

"No, nothing" Stephen lied.

"I know you are not telling it by your heart" said Kane.

Stephen could not reply.

"We were searching for you everywhere. Why did you come here?" asked Kane.

"I don't know how I reached here. I think while talking on phone I randomly walked and came here" answered Stephen.

"Oh yaa, by the way why did papa call you" Kane asked.

"Ahh! Finally you are here." claimed Felix "Nemo come back, he is here".

"Yaa.... Okay" came Nemo's voice from downstairs.

"Where have you been?" asked Felix.

"He was there..." Nemo reached upstairs "...on the terrace" said Kane.

"On the terrace?" said Nemo with astonishment

"Leave all those things" said Felix "tell us why did papa call you" he asked.

"He called to tell us that, muma is going to London today evening" said Stephen.

"Today??" confirmed Kane.

"Yes today. The flight ✈️ is at five. We all have to go with muma to the airport, as papa is not coming home" said Stephen.

"Then won't papa come to see her off ?" asked Felix.

"He said he would come directly to the airport. It seems that papa has got some urgent work" said Stephen.

"Hmm." Kane and Felix nod their heads.

"We should be leaving at half past three" informed Stephen.

"Okay" they said.

They all went to the living room and made themselves comfortable.

They were watching a movie🍿.

"Stephen can you please pass me the glass of water" asked Nemo.

Stephen didn't respond. He was again lost in his mind.

"Stephen!!! Are you listening????" screamed Nemo.

"Yeah! Yeah! Here you take" Stephen passed the popcorn.

"Do you know what I asked for?" asked Nemo.

"Yaa. Popcorn." answered Stephen.

"Noo.. I asked for the glass of water" corrected Nemo.

"Ohh 😮" said Stephen.

He felt like all the eyes in the room were on him. He didn't even dare to change his position, because he was sure that if he would, he will meet with someone's eyes.

Nemo switched off the Television.

"Kane, now I also agree with you" said Nemo.

"What do you agree?" asked Stephen "And why did you switch the TV off ?"

"I am only going to switch the TV on after you tell us what is troubling you" said Nemo.

"Nothing is troubling me. Don't you know I trouble everyone" said Stephen with a smile on his face.

But no one other than Stephen smiled.

"It wasn't funny at all. Shut up and tell us what is your problem" demanded Kane.

"There is no problem. I am repeating it since we came here" said Stephen in a bit angry😡 tone.

"We are asking it again and again because you are not telling the truth" shouted Kane at Stephen.

"Guys low down your voice. I know how to make out what is troubling him" said Nemo.

"How??" asked Felix.

"I am going to tell a word and you should tell a word that strikes your mind at that moment after you hear the word. No matter what the word is." said Nemo.

"No way. What stupid game is this? I am not playing it" said Stephen.

"Ok then it proves that you are hiding something from us" said Felix.

"No, I am not" replied Stephen.

"Then prove it by playing it" said Kane.

"Fine" said Stephen half-heartedly.

"Okay then game begins" said Nemo.

"Road" said Nemo.

"Bike" replied Stephen.

"Luck".

"F*ck".

Nemo made a weird expression.

"Shoe"

"Sock"

"Father"

".....M..Mother" replied Stephen.

"Okay then the reports are here" said Nemo.

"What ?" asked Kane.

"When I said Father he hesitated for a second" said Nemo.

"So??" asked Stephen.

"You have some trouble related to your father. Right?" asked Nemo.

"Absolutely not" replied Stephen but now he was under pressure as he was so close to be caught. "The game doesn't tell anything. It's a stupid game".

"Listen to the doctor child" said Nemo.

"Yeah yeah sure. The frod doctor" commented Stephen.

"Actually he is right, what problem does he have related to papa which we don't know" said Felix.

"See!!" said Stephen.

"Alright, I am doctor frod. Okay?"

"Okay." said Stephen "Guys let's get going then, we have to go to airport right?" said Stephen because he didn't want make things even worse.

"Yeah.." said Kane and Felix.

"Nemo then bye. Call you later" said Stephen.

"Bye👋".

"Bye".

"Bye."

All of them left.

Inside Nemo's room.

Nemo thinking - 'Stephen I am not yet convinced with your lies. Let me see how far you will go'.

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To be continued.....

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