Robin Blue School was an international school in Love Valley. Marilyn was in her mid-fifties, and one of the most loved teachers of this school located in the scenic hill station. Her colleagues and students respected her. Principal Harry often relied on her for cultural activities.
Marilyn was delighted when Anupama and Anjali joined the school as teachers. She was excited to work with their former students who had beautiful memories of their teenage years with her. Things were good until the management planned a surprise dinner for teachers.
“I have to go home. My daughter is alone,” Marilyn said politely.
Anjali was happy to hear that Marilyn had a daughter.
But later, Anupama revealed something strange.“Nobody has ever seen Marilyn’s daughter.”
Anjali began thinking about her teenage years. She was studying at James Sir’s Tutorial. He made her Maths and Science theories easy. Marilyn was his wife, an English teacher. They had a beautiful Golden Retriever, named Merlin.James and Marilyn affectionately called her “Golden Girl.”
One evening after school Anjali finally asked, “Madam, where is James Sir?”
“He is in Nigeria,” Marilyn replied.
A few months passed and Anjali announced that she was leaving the school. She was getting married. She invited Marilyn personally,“Madam, please come to my wedding with your daughter.”
Marilyn attended the wedding alone.
Anjali gently asked, “Where is your daughter?”
“I couldn’t bring her,” Marilyn replied, coldly.
Anjali left the school. Anupama didn’t enjoy working with Marilyn.
Marilyn wrote dramas, and Anupama often had to stay back for rehearsals. Her jealousy reached its peak when Principal Harry continued to support Marilyn.Following an argument, Anupama quit the job. She developed some kind of hatred and her obsession with James Sir in the teenage days reflected in a way to find out more about him.
James was not on social media, but Anupama traced his details through an educational publishing house in Mumbai. James remembered Anupama as a brilliant student and was happy to receive her email. They decided to have a video call but before that Anupama decided to become an unofficial detective. She spoke casually to Marilyn’s neighbour who said that Marilyn stayed alone.
Anupama became even more curious. She was deeply interested in psychology and began wondering whether Marilyn had imagined having a daughter. Her investigation tightened when her former colleague Pushpa said that Marilyn’s daughter went to a coaching class, so she must be a school going girl and Rama, another colleague mentioned that her baby was just 10 months old. She finally decided to call James.
They spoke over several video calls like old friends. James revealed that he and Marilyn had differences of opinion, and even after ten years of marriage, Marilyn always felt she was superior. Eventually, they had simply become two people living separate lives.
Anupama found the conversation interesting.
“Sir, how old is your daughter?”
“Daughter? Which daughter? We don’t have children,” James answered with a frowny smile, as if she had told him a joke.
“Marilyn teacher has a daughter,” Anupama said a bit angrily and disconnected the call.
James tried to call her back but he was blocked by Anupama.
James had two pegs of whiskey. He abused Marilyn in his mind but could not call her due to his ego.
Their marriage was almost broken after their pet dog’s death. Marilyn had lost interest in life while James wanted to move forward with his own plans. He enrolled in a course, quit teaching and prepared for examinations that he hoped would take him abroad. James finally got an opportunity to work in Nigeria, Marilyn asked him not to leave. James misunderstood her words and took them as another sign that she did not want to support his ambitions.
He sold their flat, gave Marilyn half the money and told her to leave the house.
He left for Nigeria. Marilyn moved to Love Valley and began teaching. With two former colleagues who were struggling to find jobs, she started a coaching-class business. While she taught at school, her friends managed the coaching centre. Her daughter stayed in the coaching classes when Marilyn was away.
*******
A ting-tong broke the calm of a Sunday morning at Marilyn’s home.Aaron introduced himself as a scientist in town on research, casually dropping Principal Harry’s name as reference. Marilyn warmly invited him in for tea, unaware that Aaron’s real mission was to untangle the rumors Anupama had fueled all the way back to James.
An excited bark echoed from the next room, interrupting further conversation. A gorgeous Golden Retriever sniffed Aaron’s hand before curling up by Marilyn’s feet. “Meet Mimi, she is my daughter,” Marilyn said with a smile. Aaron was excited to conclude a mystery. He pulled out his phone and clicked a photo of Marilyn and Mimi for James. His next mission was tracking Anupama and introducing her to his roommate Vicky, a struggling scriptwriter desperate for fresh plots. Someone with an imagination that crazy shouldn’t be wasting it on cheap gossip; it belonged to a writer’s room.
