NOTE: I have written this version after receiving many emails from readers. They were unhappy about the distraction of ethnic dialect in "Shanu's Wedding". This is same story with different names and no dialect problem. I did not think that putting translation in parenthesis would be the best solution. I will try to do the same with "Back Home for Good". I have tried to keep each posting relatively shorter [i do not believe in one page postings]. Will like to know if my efforts are appreciated.
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All during the school education, each year Kathleen would have the pleasant surprise of her father's visit once or twice for the next four years. Once she reached college his surprise visits stopped or rather Kathleen waited but understood when her father never approached her.
Kathleen felt a stab of pain as she relived the restrain both she and her father exercised. All changed when the dark tragedy struck the family sixteen years ago. Kathleen's mother was fighting a losing battle with cervical cancer but looked quite well. Her father never showed but his daughters knew that he was mad and angry as he saw his loving wife, Reema, die slowly and he could not do anything to change that. Both girls were married and busy raising their children, failed to grasp the deep concealed grief their father was battling with.
Kathleen's mother passed away during sleep without any outward deterioration. When the whole family was trying to reach to Ken's house another tragedy struck. Nathaniel and his father lost their wives. Ken lost his one daughter in addition to his already deceased wife and the dark cloud seems to have chosen this family with a vengeance.
Kathleen unsurprisingly took control, no sooner she reached her father's house. She insisted that her father in law, Michael should look after the funeral of his wife and daughter in law. Nathaniel would look after his daughter, Heather, in hospital.
She insisted that Benjamin took the kids back to house soon after the funeral of his mother. The twins were seven, nearly eight and Sharleen was en route to be five soon.
She stayed with her father who for first time in his life, appeared to think he was beaten. Kathleen knew that outward control was hiding a tornado of grief inside. Kathleen had herself cried to stupour, but now going to be strong for her family and for the man who made her what she was.
The physical aspect of life settled down in next month or so. Heather came out of hospital with an amputation. She had some other minor cuts, which had healed well.
Kathleen was impressed at the maturity that all children showed.
The worst ones to recover were the men. Kathleen became even closer to all in particular with Melissa. She, even at tender age of ten, took control as a woman of the house at 'Shelter'
Even after three months Kathleen never found any signs that her father had accepted the reality. She was rung everyday by the housekeeper in charge who seemed to think he was fine but Kathleen knew her father was not. She was very reliant on Rosaline, her chief housekeeper, who had become something of a confidant as well. Rosaline insisted that she should go to her father as she can look after Benjamin and kids.
Benjamin agreed and insisted that she should go to stay until her father was fine or force him to come to live with them.
Kathleen arrived and was received by her father who hugged her with sterile affection. Kathleen was wearing a light spring yellow long dress with a darker shade of sleeved shawl. She realised it was subconscious choice she had made. Her father talked as if he was hundred years old. Kathleen wanted to hug him and cry but knew that would not make any difference. She had failed to notice the loud signals that his daughter inadvertently sent out by choosing a dress of his favourite colour.
Kathleen chose a course of action while she was driven home from airport. She gave all the help who worked inside the house a paid month off. One of the servants with no specific role would come and go to clean and tie loose ends.
Her father excused himself formally and locked himself in his study.
Kathleen cooked the evening meal after a shower. She knocked on the door of her father's study. He was sitting with an open book; a near empty bottle of scotch said the rest. He smiled at his daughter and made similar conversation as if he had forgotten what he and Kathleen shared.
Kathleen gently asked him to join her for dinner. He did and ate little. He again excused himself even before Kathleen appeared to have finished and went to his bedroom. Kathleen sat on the dining room with her head bowed. She needed rescuing but the man who could do that was in need of saving himself.
Kathleen sat there until it was ten. She some how knew what she had to do. She walked towards her parents' bedroom. She felt as if the room was still vibrant from the sounds that she made during those wonderful four days.
Kathleen saw her father lying in bed fully clothed a full glass of scotch was on the side table; his eyes were half closed.
Kathleen started to undress her father, no easy feat given his massive frame. She eventually managed to remove his shirt and trousers. She removed his socks. He lay there with only his boxers breathing heavily, smelling strongly of scotch. Kathleen hesitated for a moment and then pulled her father's boxers off exposing his monstrous cock looking massive even when flaccid.
Kathleen felt her father had not bothered to shower. For the first time she did not smell his cologne. She could smell old sweat on him. Though that was unlike her father to be less than impeccable, his sweaty body perversely turned her on.
