All the women sat down again.
Gilly started,"Billy did not know yet, if he was in love with Clare. He just had started to care for her and liked her presence. He had made bold to let her know his feelings by the way he had given her his gift. He was not sure if she felt the same towards him. She was about five years younger than him.
They met occasionally, usually in Harold's room. Clare sat quietly while Billy talked with the old man. He asked and received advice, tips and many references from Harold to pursue his ideas and dreams. Harold took them apart to analyse, criticize and offer his opinions and listen deeply to Billy. Billy valued them very much. Their trio seemed like a small happy family to him.
In a few years, Billy left his hometown to go West. He occasionally talked to Harold over the phone when Karl and Dolly were not home. He visited Harold and Clare whenever he was in town, visiting his family. He missed Harold and Clare a lot. Everytime he visited after a long break, it seemed she had grown up significantly, there were always features as he remembered, enough to make her recognizable, but always enough to surprise. Harold, on the other hand seemed almost exactly the same, only slightly slower.
One day, Billy's company was bought over by a group of rich investors for a staggering amount and they retained him to head and run it, offering him a very attractive salary and perks. Almost overnight, he had become very wealthy, beyond his dreams. He was almost a billionaire, atleast on paper. He went home to visit and break the news to his family. He stopped by Harold's place on the way.
Normally, he would never go up to the door and knock, he would always wait for the time when Harold would come out for a walk or a stroll with Clare in her wheelchair. She would often do exercises in the small front yard or go to visit a physical therapy group run by Ken. Ken had been a very strong, physically fit athlete and mountaineer before he was confined to a wheelchair by an accident. He had pulled himself up from seemingly impossible odds to not only become active again, but enough to motivate and help others. He was employed by a company for his fitness and motivational skills. He had worked with Clare. He knew a bit about every person who he worked with.
This day, Billy went and knocked on the front door. A very cross looking Dolly opened the door.
'What do you want?" she demanded clearly upset, angry already and more so at being interrupted.
"Hello! Is Harold around? I would like to meet him, I tried calling ahead and no one picked up the phone," said Billy politely and calmly.
"Look, I have enough on my hands without the situation with Harold. He is not well. He is in the bath with the helpers. Come back later," Dolly replied starting to shut the door in his face.
"Please, just a minute! What happened to him?" asked Billy.
"Look, I don't have time to waste chatting with you. He is not well. He is an old man. What do you expect? Come later. I am busy now," Dolly firmly shut the door even before Billy could ask what time would be convenient for him to visit again.
Billy retreated, surprised and concerned for Harold. He went home and told his parents the news of his success. They were surprised and elated at his success. His parents however had the sense and wisdom not to all pile on him financially or upset their regular life too much.
"I suppose riches that come this suddenly can go away as suddenly too. We don't want to count on that too much. We are proud of you son, but I would be proud of you even if you came back without these. You will always have a home here and we will share what he have," said his father. His mother nodded. Billy was struck at their stoic, simple values and ethics.
They just spread the word that he had got a good job and did not tell everyone, not even his siblings all the details of his wealth. "Not yet," said his mother. Everyone was happy for him and they celebrated in a restrained fashion.
Later that evening, Billy went to Harold's house and knocked on the door again. He had waited to see if Harold would appear outside during his walking time. He had not. Karl answered the door this time.
"Yes? What do you want?" he asked gruffly, brushing some crumbs from his mouth, obviously in the middle of eating something.
"Good evening. I am sorry to disturb you. I heard Harold is not well. Can I see him, please?" Billy asked in a polite tone.
"Dolly!! Its that boy again. Should we let him in?" yelled Karl turning towards the kitchen.
"Darn that nuisance!! Let's get it over with. Ask him to go over quietly from the side door," Dolly shouted back.
"Wipe your feet, come in this way and over there. We are in the middle of dinner. Harold's in his room, at the very end, across from the loo," said Karl, pointing towards the hall leading to Harold's room.
Billy walked in, stood for a second and turned, he briefly caught sight of Clare sitting in the dining room. Karl and Dolly apparently had visitors for dinner. She looked at him from a distance. Her eyes still seeking him out. She looked like an angel to him.
"Over that way, not this way!" Karl admonished Billy as if he was trying to gatecrash the dinner.
Billy walked down the dimly lit hall towards Harold's room. He knocked on the door.
A weak voice said,"Come on in."
Billy walked in and shut the door behind him.
Harold was lying reclined in bed, propped up in pillows. He looked weak and haggard. He was obviously ill.
"Hello Billy! Good to see you!" Harold smiled, waving his hand in the air.
"Harold, I am happy to see you, though not like this? What happened?" Billy's voice cracked. He was normally not given to emotions. This was the first time he had shown his feelings to Harold.
There was a chair at the foot of Harold's bed that Billy pulled up and sat next to him.
"Just getting old and other little stuff. I'll tell you later, but first you tell me how you are doing Billy? How are things at your company?" asked Harold, pre-empting Billy's eagerness to know about his condition.
Billy told him about his company being bought out and the job. Harold was obviously delighted and happy. It showed on his face and seemed to brighten up the whole room.
"I'll tell you something, Billy. They got a better deal than you. You know that, don't you?" said Harold,"Don't get me wrong Billy, I am happy for your achievements and for you now. It makes sense for you to take it now. But keep in mind, you are worth more and I hope one day, you will be making such deals for yourself."
Billy was struck by the consistent, calm thinking and goodwill of Harold towards him. It was true. The richer person in the transaction still got a better deal, even after making someone else very rich. He put away this gem in his mind for future reference and use.
'Tell me about your health, Harold," asked Billy.
Harold was very ill, terminally so and the doctors did not give him much time left - a few months more. He was not able to move around and do much even for himself. Several of his organs were failing. He was getting some carer assistance from a government program for taking his bath, medication etc. Harold was very calm and stoic about the whole thing. He seemed to be prepared for the inevitable with as much grace and dignity that he could muster.
There was a soft knock on the door.
It was Clare. She came carrying some tea and a piece of dessert in a little tray on her lap. Apparently, one of the guests had politely inquired of Karl if the 'other guest of Harold' would also like some tea or dessert.
Karl and Dolly had a sheepish look and to save them further embarrassment, quick thinking Clare, had spoken up,"I was about to take some tea over as Dad suggested."
For once, Dolly and Karl were thankful for her and they quickly went along with it.
"Don't forget to take a piece of cake too," suggested Dolly.
Billy was struck at how Clare looked now, sitting in her wheel chair. She looked healthy, had long beautiful hair like a waterfall, she had filled out nicely and shapely as far as he could see.
There is a beauty and glow in youth that the youth alone are not conscious of themselves, but subconsciously react to.
Billy caught his breath. Clare too looked at his dapper, strong figure with wisps of neatly trimmed hair on his lips and chin, with a thick mane on the head neatly groomed. He too cut a handsome figure.
"How are you Clare? It's nice to see you." said in a tone that surprised himself. Harold and Clare too could not mistake it.
"I'm doing well, Billy. How have you been?" Clare looked at him directly in the eyes for a second or two and then suddenly blushed deeply, she lowered her eyes with a flustered look, saying,"Here. Take the cake and tea."
There was nowhere to keep the tray. There was a side table with Harold's glasses and cups of water and medication. They looked around.
Then Clare said,"It's okay. I will sit here. You have this quickly and I will take it back with me."
It was good that neither Karl nor Dolly had any idea of the feelings between Billy and Clare. They wondered why she did not drop off the tea and come back, but figured she must be waiting for Billy to finish and bring the tray back. It was good, they felt.
Well, the love of Billy and Clare, grew right in front of Harold's eyes. He could sense something, but kept quiet about it.
Harold told Clare that Billy had landed a very good job out West and that he would probably be very busy in the future.
"Congratulations, Billy. I am very happy for you. Will we see you even less now?," she asked with as much cheer as she could muster despite the thought of seeing him even less frequently than now.
For a moment, Billy paused as if to answer her. Then he said,"That piece of cake looks very good. And I could use the cup of tea."
He turned his chair to sit next to her. She extended the tea cup to him. He took it in his hands.
"How do I eat the cake?" he asked, smiling mischievously.
Clare cut off a piece and scooped it with a fork and extended it to him. He set the tea cup on the tray and took the extended fork. It was getting clumsy. Harold started to smile.
"Billy, how about you keep the tea with you and Clare, just feed him pieces with the fork," Harold was ever the practical problem solver.
Clare and Billy both turned a deep pink. Billy suddenly laughed, picked up the tea cup and sat with his mouth open.
"Go on, I am an old man. I have seen worse," said Harold. Billy wondered how Harold seemed to know his and Clare's feelings even before themselves. It was later that he learned that Clare had gone through a lot of flak and harassment from Karl and Dolly upon their discovering Billy's Christmas gift to her. She had never given away Billy's name and they had assumed it to be from someone else. She had put up with taunts and terrible allegations stoically. Once, when she was alone with Harold, he had asked her about it. She said she it was Billy who had given her the gift. She had protected him so that he could continue to come and see Harold as well.
Billy ate as quickly as he could, yet tried to savour every moment as much as he could. It was then that he was sure, he was utterly in love with Clare.
Soon she left with the empty plate and cup in her tray. Billy too, decided to leave soon. He said 'Goodnight' to Harold, promising to come and see him the next day."
Billy walked home, deep in thought.Thoughts were flowing rapidly through his mind. He wanted to go home and sort them out and come back with a clear plan of action."
Copyright (c) Kannan Narayanamurthy 2016
All rights reserved
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