Chapter 8: chapter 8

“Everytime I look at Rue, I think of you.” ~ Uncle Royce.That day I had a surprise awaiting for me. I was excited as uncle had told me it would be different. It was my birthday 5th of May. Since childhood uncle always wished me the next day. He would however tell me his secret today, that what he did on the day of my birthday wo these years. Uncle came to my room and I looked at him. He said baby dress up and come. I was ready, I just put on my lipstick and walked behind him. He told me to sit inside the car and I sat with him. It was a long journey, in the mid way adrenaline rushed in my body as I knew we had come too far. I swallowed my own split, uncle knew I was worried, he said Ruella just one hour more. I was surprised... I asked him again, “Uncle Ruella? I... I am Rue.” He replied “Oh sorry Rue.” I thought he had a new aunt now and her name was Ruella, and now he was taking me to meet her . I sat quietly not intending to speak anything. I looked at the trees, green leaves, some buildings and fields. I didn't want to speak to him. Uncle thought I was tired, so he stopped at a road side small tea stall. The tea was well prepared and it had a refreshing flavor in it. I looked at uncle and he smiled at me. “How much more time uncle?,” I asked. “Half an hour more,” he said. My excitement was increasing. The flavour of the tea was still lingering in my mouth. Finally we reached, it was an old church covered with green moss a faint white paint was visible. It was locked but the lock was clean. Adjacent to the church there was a graveyard. The graveyard entrance looked a bit weird. There was a large wasp colony attached to it and nobody seemed to be bothered by that. Uncle told me that the priest incharge there was very old and inactive so the conditions were like that. There were plants creeping out from the walls and the weeds had grown voraciously on every nook and corner of the yard. Uncle held me by my hand, he looked into my eyes and said. “Rue baby your birthday is someone's death day. I don't know how to tell you this. Baby I don't want to think this but you did remind me of her, even without you reminding I didn't forget her.”  Tears trickled down from his eyes. I had seen him crying for the first time. He looked weak, there wasn't any choice but to let him continue what he was saying. “Rue it is Ruella who you remind me of. She was just like you, babe. You looked like her.” I didn't interrupt him I felt like telugu movies rebirth and all I wasn't up for a joke or something but I kept listening. Like whom did I look? Was that girl dead? All questions rose in my head. Everything didn't seem to make sense to me. While I was busy thinking things. He took my left hand in his right and took me inside the yard. It was tough to walk in as the graveyard was convered with grass. I tried my best only one grave clean and intact as ever was standing there. It was engraved : Ruella Rebello Born 02/02/1976Died 05/05/2002There was a photo of the unknown lady who looked exactly like me. The photo printed on the tile looked like yesterday. One thing I had failed to notice was that my birthday and her death day coincided. Uncle made me realize that. I didn't know the reason. I was confused how can I look so similar to a dead woman who I didn't even know. Was I a cloan ? Or did uncle genetically engineer me while I was in mom's womb ... Oh! oh! I couldn't stop thinking. He knew I was confused. I didn't speak a word. I was standing still. Suddenly a snake came across and went. But but but I also looked like mom may be we have many look a likes. I laughed and told uncle that my face would be common. Uncle knew I wouldn't know about her because there was a dark secret to that. He kept a bouquet of white flowers on the grave. ‘These were her favorite, and so are yours bae.’ I again stood thinking of rebirth. “ I am hungry uncle.” I claimed, he came closer to me but resisted I didn't want to kiss near somebody's grave. Who I don't know but I feel was his lover. “ I am sorry but I don't want to lose you again. I already lost you because of my career. Years ago. ” I almost thought that the old man had gone insane and he was spoiling my day. I screamed at him, “You silly man first of all I came here and now you blabber this. Tell me what is it.” He calmly took me outside the graveyard, and took me to the car. “Sorry Ruey but the fact she died was me. It's my fault." Uncle exclaimed with tears in his eyes. Without thinking anything I screamed, “means are you a murderer?” He said, ‘No dear. I am not.” Uncle continued, “She died... ” and there came the priest interrupting us. We didn't have choice but to go with him to his cabin. I was having a doubt whether he had Alzheimer's disease.  Oh no I forgot about my silly thinking process. We went to his cabin. There he was narrating stories about stars and fireflies I liked it. He told us about the times he worked and in middle of such a good discussion mom called me. I cancelled her call and switched off my phone. An hour later mom called uncle crying that I was missing. Uncle assured her that I was with him. She was furious with both of us.