Chapter 8 {Enjoyment}

On another side .

Alisha walked back to her orphanage, her steps heavy with the weight of the night's events. After a 30-minute walk, she arrived at the familiar gates.

Mary, the caretaker, rushed to Alisha, enveloping her in a warm embrace. "Where were you all night, Alisha? You have no idea how worried I was."

Alisha held Mary tightly, tears welling in her eyes. She couldn't find words to explain the turmoil inside her.

Mary gently led Alisha to the sofa, where she lay down with her head on Mary's lap. Mary tenderly stroked her cheeks, urging her to share what had happened.

Alisha recounted the entire ordeal, leaving Mary in disbelief. "He killed Lucky?"

"Who ?"Mary gasped in shock.

"A guy whose house I was in the whole night ", Alisha while crying explained the whole situation.

Alisha continued to cry, and Mary comforted her. "Don't worry, dear. God will make him pay for his sins. You need not fear."

"Mother, he killed Lucky, and I saw it happen, "Alisha whispered.

Mary reassured her, saying, "But your dress is stained with his blood. Why be so kind to someone who treats you this way?"

Alisha replied, "Mother, you taught me to show kindness, no matter how others treat me. We mustn't descend to their level."

Mary kissed Alisha's forehead and said, "Now, go change your clothes and rest. You won't be going to college today."

"I must, mother," Alisha persisted.

Mary sighed and relented, "Alright, go get ready. I'll prepare something for you to eat. You haven't had a proper meal yet."

Alisha nodded and headed to her room. As she entered the bathroom, she thought, "God, because of that man, I have to bathe twice a day, first at his house and now here."

After completing her morning routine and changing into fresh clothes, Alisha returned to Mary, who served her favorite pancakes. Alisha devoured them hungrily, making playful faces as she ate.

Mary couldn't help but laugh and remarked, "No one's going to steal your food, Alisha."

"I'm just really hungry, mother. By the way, where are the other children?,"Alisha replied with a mouthful.

"They're on an annual outing with our orphanage team," Mary explained.

"Why didn't they take me, mother?," Alisha questioned.

"Because you're not a child anymore, Alisha," Mary clarified.

"You called me a child, and now you're saying I'm not?," Alisha playfully argued.

Mary chuckled and said, "Alright, you're going to be late for college, my dear. Go now."

Alisha took the last bite of her pancake, stood up, and left for college. Mother silently prayed, "God, please protect my child. She is too pure for this world. That man is dangerous for her. He is the poison that will taint her purity and rob her of her innocence."

In college, Alisha attended her classes. After some time, she went to the canteen and ordered a burger. She sat down to eat, thinking, "God, this food is amazing. I never want to eat anything other than burgers in my life."

"Hi, my name is Shan," A boy approached and said

Alisha looked at him and asked, "Did I ask you your name? Why are you telling me? It's not the right way to introduce yourself to a stranger."

Shan widened his eyes, thinking, "Oh God, she's so innocent. I came to propose to her, and she's incredibly innocent."

Shan replied, "Hey, Miss talkative, I'm going."

Alisha retorted, "Hey, stop it. Why do you say 'stop your train'? I'm not driving a train; I'm eating a burger."

Shan didn't reply and left.

Alisha thought while eating, "Such manly people can't even behave maturely. How can they directly say their name to a stranger? So naive. But I helped him; he won't do that again. I'm smart."

After finishing her burger, Alisha attended her remaining classes. When she returned to the orphanage, she was shocked to see the children who had gone on the trip without her. She exclaimed, "Oh God, you all went without me on the trip!"

All the children from the orphanage rushed toward her, hugging her tightly and saying, "We missed you, Alisha."

Alisha replied, hugging them back, "Oh, I really missed you all too. And now, I'm going to make waffles for you. How do you like that idea?"

Mother Mary interrupted, "No, Alisha, you need rest."

Alisha insisted, "Mother Mary, you all are more important than anything, and making something for you all gives me energy."

The children chimed in, "Alisha wants food fast!"

Mother Mary sighed and thought, "This orphanage may be small, but it's our heaven."

Alisha went to the kitchen and started cooking. The children gathered around her, playfully tickling her. They all laughed and began throwing flour at each other while singing, "Yeah, yeah, we want food. We don't want anything else, just food."

Alisha sang along, "Oh, oh, this is our home. You all want waffles, but what can I do now? Mother is going to scold us all."

Mother Mary entered the kitchen, seeing the mess, and exclaimed, "What on earth have you all done?"

The children and Alisha surrounded Mother Mary, dancing in a circle and singing, "Oh, oh, we're sorry, rum Pam po. You're the Hitler of this home, rum Pam po. Don't worry, rum Pam po, we'll run before you make us read and do chores, rum Pam po." Then they all ran outside.

Mother Mary sighed and thought, "They're all a handful. How can they just run like this? They even call me Hitler."

Alisha and the children gathered outside, and it was already nighttime. They shouted, "Let's eat ice cream!" Covered in flour, they left to enjoy their ice cream.

After finishing their ice cream, they returned to the orphanage. Mother Mary said, "Rum Pam pooh, now the cat has caught the mouse. Rum Pam po, who's going to save them? Oh, rum Pam po."

All the children and Alisha knelt and said, "Mother Mary, we're sorry."

"Okay, now go and bathe and sleep," Mother Mary replied.