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Acquaintances met, Friendships built, Enemies made... Part 1
Back to: Chapter 2:- When Two Forces Collide Continued. Next: Acquaintances Met, Friendships Built, Enemies Made... Part 2
In this one big adventure called life, we meet thousands of people each day. Some are connected to us inadvertently through family ties, others we make part of our lives, and there are still some others who we would love to see relocate to a different continent, yet we are incapable of doing anything about it, simply because fate has led them to be a part of your lives…

These relationships do not remain static. Many a times, positions are swapped; our priorities change, our values shift and our importance to each of these people alter with time. Those people who once held centre stage become people we hardly want to look at, and sometimes, the worst of enemies can become the best of friends…

Relationships are complex, difficult and always, ALWAYS intertwined. But what happens when you are new to a small, homely, beautiful little valley town, hoping to make the perfect life for yourself, yet you find that the people around you hate you for no rhyme or reason, simply for what you do and love?

Find out along with our newest family; The Altos discover IN Sunset Valley how…..



ACQUAINTANCES ARE MET, FRIENDSHIPS BUILT, AND ENEMIES ARE MADE…..


Newton Alto and his son smiled and watched as his wife, Leshandra walked around the house, assessing it critically from every possible angle… He knew when his wife was bought and he was happy; for he really did love the little house, and he hoped that she would too. He wanted to move in with all haste; he had already begun building up plans for his business in Sunset Valley….

Suddenly, Leshandra turned around to face her husband and son. ‘Boys,’ she said with a neutral expression on her face. ‘I’ve decided….’ The pair held their breath, waiting for her to pass her verdict…. A smile lit up her features. ‘Newton, when do we move in?’


Nick whooped while his parents hugged each other. ‘I knew you’d love it,’ whispered Newton to Leshandra. Together, they turned to look at Nick and smiled at his enthusiasm. ‘We’ll move within the week,’ said Newton. ‘This is a new stage in our lives, a new phase, and I know we’ll do it together, as a family.’

‘Also,’ said the ever practical Leshandra, ‘We can open our own business here. Sunset’s resurfaced booming economy is just the place for us.’ Newton smiled at his wife’s enthusiasm. ‘Yes, my dear, but let’s get our house first!’


Gretle was, as usual, sitting on her couch, wondering what other small, insignificant task she could perform around the house to pass her time. Once her little daughter, Frida had fallen asleep for her afternoon siesta, she was left bored and irritable, as her thoughts quickly moved to the fact that she had nothing to do in this quaint little town at all, apart from ceaselessly cleaning everything in sight....

‘I need therapy,’ she thought to herself. ‘Or, better yet, maybe some ketchup…’ As she sat talking to herself, the bell rang, ceasing her babbling.

She rose, irritated. ‘It’s probably another one of those annoying sales-people, advertising for some cheap, two-bit company,’ she thought to herself. ‘Landgraab Industries holds Sunset Valley in it’s grasp; why can’t these people stop trying?’ With a sigh, she rose from the couch and walked across the elaborately decorated hallway to the door.


Gretle opened the door and recognized the woman standing before her as Mrs. Prudence Crumplebottom, the recently widowed mother of two daughters. She didn’t know much about them, apart from the little snippets Victor had mentioned here and there; adjectives like ‘class’, ‘prestige’ and most importantly, ‘rich’ resounded in her head.

‘Hello, Mrs. Crumplebottom,’ said Gretle cautiously, wondering what on earth this lady she barely knew wanted with her. Her first thought was that she wanted to meet Victor, perhaps to discuss some issue with her new house. ‘Is everything alright? Are you looking for my husband?’


Prudence laughed her high, shrill laugh and smiled winningly at Gretle. ‘Not at all, Gretle….May I call you Gretle, if that’s fine with you? We’re all neighbors now, after all, formalities are well beyond us, don’t you think?’ ‘Erm, yes....Mrs- I mean, Prudence. Would you like to come in?, stuttered Gretle. ‘That would be wonderful, thank you. The weather’s quite intolerable these days.’ She flashed her smile once again as they crossed the threshold together.


‘Oh my….’ Said Prudence as she entered the living room, quickly masking her grimace of envy with a smile of pleasure. ‘What a wonderful little mansion you have here.’ ‘Little is quite an understatement,’ she thought to herself. ‘It’s a damned mansion-maze! But I must appear to have seen bigger and better.’ Gretle flushed with pride, quite oblivious to her new guest’s thought process and happily said, ‘Yes,’ we’re quite proud of it. It’s the largest estate in town.’


‘I noticed,’ said Prudence sarcastically. Gretle failed to note the bitterness in her voice as she led her to the living room. As they both took their seats, she turned and looked at her visitor, politely waiting for her to begin a conversation, and more importantly, to explain why she was here.

Prudence said, ‘Well, Gretle, I’m sure you’re wondering what brought me here in the first place. You see, we both know that this town has nothing for house-wives like you and I to do. So I thought, why not acquaint myself with people around town, make friends….and I felt that you, like me, probably had nothing to do in the afternoons. So why not spend time together, talking, laughing, living, a little mature, sensible conversation just between us women? What do you think?’


Gretle was, to say the least, elated. Finally, a chance to do something other than clean and consider ketchup, a chance to do something other than walk through hallways filled with the dusty frames of her husband’s ancestors glaring down at her and old statues depicting various mythical beasts and figurines of the Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Greece who remained untouched by time.

‘I absolutely love the idea,’ she said, smiling. ‘I’m so glad you stopped by today, Prudence. You’ve given me something to look forward to, come the weekend.’ Gretle walked Prudence to the main door. ‘You don’t have to thank me, Gretle,’ Prudence replied as she crossed the threshold once more. ‘I’m sure there’s a LOT that I’ll owe you in the end, too. Goodbye for now, see you in a couple of days!’ ‘Goodbye, Prudence!,’ said Gretle as she closed the door behind her.


Nancy Landgraab blinked back the tears from her eyes as the fight between her mother and she kept repeating itself in her head like a stuck record. She didn’t know how things had gotten so awful between them; she didn’t understand how it was all falling apart and how she could do nothing to put things back together again.


Her attention was diverted as she heard voices whispering close to her. As she looked up, she saw two girls from her class giggling, pointing and glancing towards her. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what they were talking about.

Nancy heard a mixture of phrases such as, ‘Landgraab girl,’ ‘troubled,’ and ‘insane’ thrown in at random. She held her head in her hands as she tried to block the sniggering teens and their mutters out. ‘It’s all so wrong,’ she thought to herself. ‘I wish we had never even moved…’

Things had undoubtedly taken a worse turn in Nancy’s life after moving to Sunset Valley. She had no friends here, mainly because of her mother’s status in society. A mixture of jealousy and fear kept everyone away from the daughter of the illustrious Queenie Landgraab. It had reached a point where Nancy had begun to think that it was her fault and something was wrong with her, and she would never fit in to society.

The bell rang and the two girls scrambled to get their bags. As they stalked past Nancy, they once again laughed at her openly before walking through the sleek wooden doors of Beaufort Academy.


Nancy suddenly made up her mind. She was tired of playing by the rules, tired of sitting around being the good girl. She decided that today, she wasn’t going to go home, mainly because she didn’t want to look at her mother anymore, she didn’t want to have to bite her lip while her father rambled on diplomatically, trying to patch things up between them both…

It’s time for a change,’ she thought. ‘They pushed me around and screwed my life up when I played by their rules…let’s see how they handle it while I do what I want…’ She’d always wanted to get stoned. She knew that now was her time, now was when she’d show them all what she was made of….

Tears seeped out of the corners of her eyes. She knew that the path she was taking would lead to her destruction, but it was worth it. What did she have left to live for, anyway?


It was Nick Alto’s first day at college, and he was running late as he rushed up the graveled path to the grand, ornately decorated entrance o Beaufort Academy. He was a bundle of emotions and nervous energy; wondering who his friends would be, if he would fit in and what changes he’d have to adapt to when he heard it.

Just as he was passing the fountain, he heard something that plucked at the very strings of his heart; a broken cry that was dismal but beautiful in the same beat; he felt the immediate need to comfort the soul of the person the voice belonged to. Something in the sound drew him ever closer. And though his stride slowed his heart beat faster as he reached the fountain, and that’s when he set eyes on her.


His first instinct was to reach up to her and hold her in his arms. She was, in all aspects, the most beautiful and exquisite thing he’d ever seen before. He gazed with longing as the light danced across her pale, slender fingers and the tear-streaked face. Her eyes, though brimming with tears, were the colour of almond and honey, and he felt desire well up in him as he noticed her full, luscious, pouting lips.

Something changed in Nick Alto then, on his first day at college. He knew, without a shred of doubt that today, he had passed from being a gangly adolescent into a full grown man.


She finally felt his gaze lingering on her, and she looked up at him with a start, and they looked at each other for awhile before he stumbled forward towards her. ‘What’s wrong?,’ he asked her gently, prodding hopefully, hoping she’d confide in him, for a minute, forgetting that they were complete strangers.


As he reached out towards her, she shrank back. ‘I’m fine,’ she half snapped, half gasped, choking back tears. ‘Nothing’s wrong, really…’ ‘You’re crying,’ he said quietly. ‘It’s fine ,really, I….’ She suddenly broke down mid sentence and he waited for her to gain control of herself before he said anything again. ‘You’re fine, huh?,’ he said, smiling. She laughed, a little then, a watery chuckle, and he couldn’t help noticing how wonderful the sound was again.


‘It’s my mother…we had a fight…..To tell the truth, we fight all the time; it’s become like part of my day now.’ ‘It happens, Hun. You both still love each other the same way at the end of the day, right?’ She nodded. ‘See? There we go. Parents are crazy, but so are we all, so what the heck.’ She laughed again. ‘What’s your name? I haven’t seen you around, you’re new here, aren’t you?,’ she asked him.


‘Nick. Nick Alto. And yes, we are, we just moved in three days ago. I’m guessing your Queenie Landgraab’s daughter, right?’ ‘How did you know?!,’ she asked, immediately taken aback. ‘Well, her posters are all over town, she’s famous, in case you didn’t notice. Also, you look exactly like her,’ he laughed, but stopped quickly when he saw a small frown mar her features.


'I’m not just Queenie Landgraab’s daughter you know,’ she said sharply. ‘There’s more to me than that. And my name’s Nancy Landgraab.’ ‘I’m sorry,’ he said quickly. I didn’t mean it that way…’ She sighed. ‘I know you didn’t. It’s alright, forget about it. Listen, let’s get to class, the bell went like 10 minutes ago.’

She picked up her rucksack and was about to head towards the double doors when she saw him hesitating. ‘What’s wrong?,’ she laughed, looking at him fumbling. ‘Well?,’ she said, raising an eyebrow, smiling at the same time. ‘Say it already, Nick, it looks like you’re choking on a fly!’


‘Would you… I mean are you? Errm, what I mean is…. What are you doing Saturday night?,’ he finished lamely, as his cheeks stung while he blushed. ‘Oh!,’ she said and to his relief, her skin flushed scarlet, too. He noted her high pallor and the line of her nape as the colour rose from her neck, and he felt the newly discovered thud-thud of first desire.

‘Nothing. Why?,’ she replied with a small smile. ‘Well, I was thinking, maybe…now that a couple of restaurants are open…. And since I’m new to this place; would you go out with me? To dinner, I mean?’ He held his breath, waiting for her response. ‘I’d love to,’ she said quickly with a smile. Though he was whooping from the inside, he contained himself and said, ‘Sounds great. I’ll pick you up at 7?’ She nodded and her smile grew wider as she said, ‘Now come on, let’s get to class. We’re late as it is.’


As she turned, and walked, leading the way, Nick did a quick victory dance before jogging along to catch up with her. Something told him that this was just the beginning of something new, something beautiful, and wherever it was headed, he knew he was going to love it.

Nancy felt the same way too… She didn’t feel the need to get drunk anymore. She felt that maybe there was something left for her to live for, after all…


Chester Landgraab sat at the center table in the deserted restaurant with a newspaper propped up against his salt shaker. He had taken refuge in the newly opened bistro because he was tired of the two women in his life squabbling with each other over every topic under the Sun. He needed some time alone, to withdraw, to be by himself, before he went insane.


So engrossed was he in his thoughts that he barely glanced up when the waitress strolled up to him and set his breakfast on the table. ‘Thank you,’ he muttered distractedly, not moving his eyes from the newspaper in his hands.
As she walked away, Bessie Clavell hit the legs of his chair. She gasped, and as she was about to fall to the floor, Chester, reflexes still sharp, jumped up and caught her before she collapsed.


‘Are you alright?,’ panted Chester, still stimulated by his adrenalin rush. ‘I’m fine, Mr. Landgraab, really, thank you….’ As they both righted themselves, Chester realized how close she was pressed to him just seconds ago, and he noticed the strong curves and sharp features of the very attractive woman. ‘Sit down for a second; you’re out of breath that was quite a shock there.’ ‘I’m alright, sir, please,’ she said. Chester waved aside her protests and forced her to take a seat opposite him.


Once she had drunk some water and had regained her colour and composure, he asked, ‘Are you sure you’re fine, Ms…?’ ‘Mrs… Mrs. Bessie Clavell, sir.’ She made a small moue of distaste as the words tumbled out of her mouth. ‘Oh, alright then,’ he said. ‘How long have you been married, you look...far too young for marriage.’

Rather than take offense, as he was afraid she might, she laughed, albeit very bitterly. ‘Four months and counting. We were…rather quick about it. We knew each other since college together and things just happened….’ ‘Too fast?’ Chester finished her sentence and nodded sympathetically when she put her head down.


It suddenly dawned on Bessie that she was sitting in a chair beside the husband of the most influential woman in town, talking about her marriage. It was too much for her. She rose abruptly, and surprisingly, he pushed his seat back and got up with her, too. ‘I’m sorry, I’ve spent too much time here already, and I have a job to do…’ ‘What, serve an empty restaurant?,’ laughed Chester.


She couldn’t help it; she found herself drawn in by him so easily; she chuckled reluctantly and stood beside him. ‘We’ve got to meet up some time once again,’ he mentioned casually. ‘Sir!,’ she exclaimed loudly. ‘Chester, please,’ he cut in, smiling at her, amused at her indignation.

‘Chester,’ she went on hurriedly, ‘We’re married. Both of us…’ ‘Now you’re thinking too much,’ he replied. ‘We would just happen to be at the same place at the same time, having dinner, and since we’ve already met each other before, we decide to sit together. Now, you tell me, how is that so wrong?’

When she didn’t reply he winked and continued, ‘I’ve got to leave now, but you take care of yourself, Bessie. I’ll see you around sometime.’ With that, he waved at her and walked out, leaving her with a mingled look of frustration and amusement on her face.

Click Next: Acquaintances Met, Friendships Built, Enemies Made... Part 2 to continue...

 
Back to: Chapter 2:- When Two Forces Collide Continued. Next: Acquaintances Met, Friendships Built, Enemies Made... Part 2
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