Chapter 6: Unknown

Sarah.

"Good morning, Mr. Shultz." the middle-aged lady who opened the grand door of the mansion greeted Uncle Donald.

"Good morning, Pamela. We are here to meet Madam Raymond."

"Please wait, Mr. Shultz. I will tell her that you are here."

I saw the woman walk towards the stairs through the corner of my eyes. I had been looking down as Uncle Donald asked me to do.

"That's Pamela Helms, the chief housekeeper. You are going to work under her and try to be in her good books."

I looked up hearing his words. That's when I noticed the luxurious interior of the mansion. Every nook and corner spoke of luxury and how rich the Raymonds were. We were standing inside the mansion and yet it felt like we were outside. I don't belong here and yet I am here to start a new life. After about fifteen minutes, an elegantly dressed lady came down the stairs and walked inside. Soon Pamela came to us and asked to go inside. Uncle Donald walked and I followed him with a bowed head.

"Good morning, Madam Raymond. This is the girl I have been talking about. Sarah." Uncle Donald introduced me.

I wanted to raise my head but kept it low as he'd instructed.

"Donald, you know really well that we don't hire anyone less than professionals, especially in our kitchen. This is the first time I am breaking the tradition. I trust you Donald and I am appointing her just because you introduced her. I have tasted the dishes she prepared and they were tasty. Sarah, that's your name right?" Madam Raymond asked and I nodded.

"Next time when you prepare anything in this mansion, make sure it's not just tasty but delicious." She spoke with authority but her words were gentle and that gave me confidence. "Donald has already told me about your tragic life but still we have to confirm. So, remove your mask."

My heart stopped beating for a moment. I had to obey them. So I slowly removed the outer mask but still kept looking at the floor.

"Ahhh, wear your mask." I heard Madam Raymond say and I placed the mask back on my face.

It was a prosthetic stick-on mask in the shape of a burn mark that covered half of my face. I was frightened to see myself in the mirror when I tried the mask for the first time.

"Pamela, make sure that no one asks her to remove her mask. Tell the other maids to treat her with kindness. I don't want anyone to be harsh on her, including you. She has already gone through a lot at such a young age. She also has a son. So I think it would be better if you keep her schedule according to her son's school timing. Give her off on Sundays except when her service is required." Madam Raymond's words were like a snowfall in a desert for me.

"Sarah, there are rules you have to follow when you are working for the Raymonds. Pamila will give you all the instructions. You can join next month. Pamela, take her and show her the kitchen. Donald, come with me. Winston would like to have a word with you." Madam Raymond said.

I gave a little bow to Madam Raymond and followed Pamela.

On the way Pamela asked. "I know Madam Raymond has forbidden me from asking you anything about your face. But can you please explain what happened so that I can warn others from asking you unnecessary questions?"

I remembered what Uncle Donald said when she asked about the mask. It was the same thing he had told Madam Raymond.

"I am an acid attack survivor," I said in a voice barely audible. I don't like to lie and I felt really bad lying for the first time. I had never lied even in the case of Teddy. I never told anyone that Teddy was my son until the day I felt motherly affection for him. Uncle Donald always made assumptions and I used to stay silent as I didn't want to lie.

"Oh I am sorry. I am sure you would have been beautiful before the attack. The unburnt half of your face tells how beautiful you were. Is there any scope of regaining your face?" she asked again.

"The surgeries are expensive and there is no one to bear the expense," I replied after thinking for some time.

We had been walking through some doors and passages for some time and I feared that I would easily get lost if I was alone. Finally, when we entered the kitchen, I stood stupefied on the spot. The kitchen was double the size of Uncle Donald's entire apartment.

Six or seven people were working around preparing lunch.

"Attention, everyone, this is our new co-worker, Sarah. She will be the dessert maker starting next month." Pamela introduced me.

"That means Chef Charlie can take a breath of relief. They have got a new goat to slaughter." One of the maids said and others laughed, making me nervous.

"Don't listen to them. Just do your best. If you weren't the best, Madam Raymond wouldn't have chosen you." Pamila assured me.

"Why is she wearing a mask?" the guy named Chef Charlie asked.

"Madam Raymond has given clear instructions that no one will ask her about the mask or to remove it. If anyone is seen doing that you will be punished." Pamila threatened.

I thought for some time and then slowly removed the mask. It would be better if everyone knew what was under the mask. It will help to lessen the speculations and rumors. When I heard the gasps and ahh voices, I put back the mask.

"She is an acid attack survivor. This will be the first and last time she'll be removing her mask." Pamela warned and turned to me.

"I will tell Bella to help you in this kitchen." Pamela said and turned to the others.

"Where is Bella?"

"She is in the vegetable garden plucking the vegetables to make salad." One of the maids answered.

"Let's go to the garden then."

Pamela walked towards the door at the other end of the kitchen. She opened the door to an open area where there were few chairs and tables neatly arranged as if a dining area.

"This is where we, the servants, have our meals. One of the perks of being a maid at the Raymond mansion is that we get nice meals. We get to eat the same dishes that are made for the Raymond family. But only after every member of the family has eaten. Sometimes it gets really late, especially at night. I hope you don't have to experience that as you will be leaving according to your son's school timing. By the way, how old is your son?"

"He turned three a few days back."

"So he is going to play school. Then I think your timing will be up to 3 o'clock." Pamela said.

"I can stay till five if you want. The school has given me 3 times. I won't be able to keep him until 7 in the evening as he is still small." I said.

"We can fix your timings as 8:00 to 3:00. On the days when we need your service for more time, you can definitely call the school and tell them to keep your son until 5:00 or 7:00." Pamila said kindly.

"That would be great," I replied with a smile but she didn't return the smile.

"That's the small vegetable garden we have in the backyard. Vegetables needed in the mansion are grown here. We get the vegetables to take home in turns and also the leftovers. Did you get your cottage?" Pamela asked.

"Not yet, uncle Donald did say that I will get one and can move in today itself." I replied.

"How do you know Mr. Shultz?"

"He was my savior when I came to this city. He gave me and my son shelter." I answered.

"So you were living with him for the past 3 years. Then why didn't we ever see you?" she asked suspiciously.

"No, we lived away from the city. He sent me to his family house in the countryside. I used to bake cakes and cookies and supply them to the bakery there." I replied truthfully.

We had reached the garden and I could see a girl of my age in a maid's uniform plucking up something. She heard the footsteps and turned. She had a basket in one hand and a bell pepper in the other. She was a black girl with thick curly hair and cute little eyes. She was beautiful in her own way.

"Hello, Pam, who is the girl with you?"

She had a beautiful chirpy voice that would just make anyone hearing it smile.

"This is Sarah, our new dessert maker. I want you to help her until she gets familiar." Pamela said and left us.

"Hello Sarah, I am Bella Huggo. Nice to meet you?"

She came to me carrying the basket filled with vegetables and extended her hand. I took it and smiled. That was when I remembered that Bella couldn't see my smile.

"Would you mind if I ask why you are wearing this mask?" Bella asked hesitantly. I removed the mask and showed my face and to my surprise, Bella extended her hand to touch my face. I took a step back nervously.

"I am sorry, I didn't intend to frighten you. Does it still hurt?"

"No, it doesn't. Don't you want to know what happened?" I asked before I could stop myself.

"Everyone has a story. Mostly they are painful. I believe in spreading happiness and not sadness. Why hurt you again and again asking you the same question you are probably fed up with? Now let's get back to the kitchen. It's my turn to make the salad. By the way, have you joined already?" Bella asked.

"No, I will join from the first of next month," I said, fixing my mask back.

"Hmmm. That's just two more days."

"Yeah, I need the time to settle down in the new house." I replied.

"Great, I really needed someone of my age here. The rest of them are just interested in making trouble for me and now you will be their new prey. But don't worry you will have my back and of course you can always go to Pam. She is strict but very reliable. Since you are appointed as a dessert maker, I hope you won't have to do other chores." Bella said.

As soon as I entered the kitchen with Bella, Pamela came looking for me.

"Mr. Shultz is waiting for you."

I hurried behind Pamela and soon I saw Uncle Donald waiting for me. With him was a handsome man probably in his late twenties. As I approached them, the man turned around and our eyes met for a few seconds. My blue ones gave me the best moment of the day. I couldn't tear my eyes away from that handsome face. The green eyes that stared at me felt as if speaking to me. I lowered my gaze as I heard Uncle Donald's voice.

"Sarah, let's go dear."

"Young master, I would like to take your leave. I will be back soon with all the necessary details."

I passed by the man whom Uncle Donald just called young master and an unknown sensation passed through my whole body. It felt as if we had some connection. I never felt attracted to any man. But now my heart throbbed as if it would jump out of my chest. I literally ran behind Uncle Donald as if I wanted to run away from the force that was pulling me toward the young master.

As soon as I left with Uncle Donald, I could hear the young master calling Pamela and asking. "Who is that girl and why was she wearing a mask?"

"Young master, she is our new dessert maker. She will be joining by next month. She is an acid attack survivor and has a half-burnt face. That's why she was wearing a mask." I vaguely heard Pamila's reply.

In the car, I tried to compose myself before removing the mask.

"Uncle Donald, who was the man you were talking to?"

"He is Milano Raymond, the only son of Winston and Alice Raymond. Alice Raymond is the same woman we met and we all call her Madam Raymond." Uncle Donald explained.

"It's such a big house and only three people live there!" I exclaimed.

"Actually four of the Raymond family members live there, along with Winston, Alice, and Milano Raymond. Their mother, I mean young master's grandmother Elizabeth Raymond lives with them. She is not here right now. She went to visit her daughter. She will be back soon. She is an old sweet lady." Uncle Donald gave me a detailed description of the Raymond family.

"I showed my face to the other workers there. Actually they wanted to know why I was wearing a mask. I thought it would stop them asking about my mask." I told him.

"That was a clever move. Now they won't bother you. Just be good and get in their good books. For now, let's just think about your new house. Madam Raymond gave me the chance to choose the cottage for you. So, I am going to take you to your cottage. It's one near the road that goes through the Raymond property. It will be convenient for Teddy to take his school bus from there. This cottage is one with fencing. So it will be safe for you and Teddy. Just take care that you don't go in front of anyone without a mask. It takes five minutes in a car but it will take about twenty minutes to walk. I think you would be able to manage it. I will come on your first day and we can walk to the mansion together. I will also introduce you to the guards and other workers here. We have reached your destination."

Uncle Donald stopped the car in front of a nice and small cottage with wooden fencing and a gate. I looked around and asked.

"Uncle Donald, you said that the cottages here are in the middle of big plots and we have to take care of the plot. But there is just a small area inside the fence."

"Well, I told you, I chose this mansion for you. I didn't want you to struggle to maintain the surrounding plots. There are workers to take care of the land outside the fence. You don't have to worry because they do it during the daytime and not on Sundays." he explained.

The cottage was simple yet beautiful and well-maintained. It was fully furnished along with the kitchen utensils and appliances. We just have to store the kitchen with groceries.

"You just keep your bags in the room and we can go and purchase essential items you will need here."

I went with Uncle Donald and purchased everything I needed. It took us almost two hours to make the purchase and another hour to arrange the house. By three we went to pick Teddy up from school. We arranged the bus to pick up Teddy from the next day and Uncle Donald gave them the location of our cottage. I took the contact number of the school so that I would be able to tell them to keep Teddy late on the days I'd have to work extra hours.

All through the drive, Teddy kept telling us about the school and how much he liked the teachers. I could see the tiredness in his eyes and I was happy to see how excited and happy my son is.