Chapter 10
Mrs. Cole was already there when Tom entered into her office.
“Hope your day was spent well with your son. Mr. Tom Riddle.” She scoffed
Tom felt like 440 volt of current passed through him.
“You how did you know? “ Tom fumbled.
“You think I am an idiot or half blind as Martha that I won’t get resemblance of you two? Also the papers of your bag was a dead giveaway.” Mrs. Cole stared directly at him. Today she was not drunk. Her gaze was piercing Tom.
“You dared to check my paper?” Tom wanted to sound angry but he was too shocked to be angry.
“It was to be sure about my doubts. But whatever were you thinking seriously? That you will come to see your son and leave without anyone noticing? Why did you come anyway? The rich brats of your sort never care to look back after throwing away the poor girls after you are done playing with them. Did you come to see whether your past would create a problem in your life or not? Or you wanted to be free from guilt by spending a day with your son and getting gifts and foods for him? Let me tell you, things are not that easy.” Mrs. Cole said in a scornful voice.
Tom grimaced, like everyone even this matron was convinced that he had used Merope. How would he convince her it was other way around.
“Please Mrs. Cole don’t comment on what you don’t know.” Tom requested in a pleading tone hiding his contempt towards her.
“I only know this is not a hotel that you can come and go as you please. Wool’s have some rules one must abide.” And then her voice turned low. “Every mistake has its price, don’t you think Mr. Riddle?”
“Oh come on, a smart man like you shouldn’t pretend not to understand what I am talking about.” Mrs. Cole chuckled seeing Tom staring at her blankly. “A rich man as you can have pleasure anytime you want and, we the orphanages have to bear the result of your funs. Is it fair for you having all the fortune for yourself and sometimes throwing scraps to your mistakes like today?”
Tom gritted his teeth “spell it out. Just how much do you need?”
“You decide, just a how much valuation you do to cover a child’s existence, and then to shut someone’s mouth about him?” Mrs. Cole’s face turned cruel, “And how much more it cost to compensate last eight years?”
“Don’t pretend to me. Tom seemed to lose his cool. “You care a damn about the boy. All you want, me to pay for your alcohols for rest of your life.”
Mrs. Cole laughed sarcastically. “Mr. Riddle, you are in no position to accuse me. For last eight years it was me who is putting up with that problem child of yours and his antics. You should have thanked me for my kindness to not throw him on road even after the damage and traumas he caused to my orphanage and its members. While you were enjoying yourself. And now when you finally showed up you want to get rid of responsibilities so easily?
Tom fell silent. He couldn’t deny there was some truth in what Mrs. Cole was telling.
“Relax gentleman.” Mrs Cole’s voice turned gentle. “I am not making any unjustified demand. See our orphanage largely depends on donation money as govt. fund is limited. As per the rules we take the children that are truly orphan those parents are either dead or missing or unidentified. But when child’s parent are found we can’t keep them by rule, unless of course the parents pay us. So tell me Mr. Riddle, how my demand is wrong?”
Tom sighs. “You know our country is on the recovering stage from depression, I can’t give you a lump sum now. For now I can give you a check of forty thousand pounds. You will receive sixty thousand pounds more within two months. Is it okay for you?”
“For now it is. But don’t think I have no idea that net valuation of Riddle estate is in crores. One lakh pounds is too small to raise someone with Riddle surname.” Tom grasped to see the greedy smile of Mrs. Cole.
“Don’t worry, you will receive more next year.” Tom said in defeated voice.
“If you want to trick me, you know I don’t have to effort much. One look at your son and the truth will be wide open before your clients and society.” Mrs. Cole had excelled in art of blackmailing.
“Don’t worry, you don’t have to do anything. You will receive money in times.” Tom picked up his bag.
“One question Mr. Riddle.” Mrs. Cole’s voice changed into its normal tone. “What did you see in Merope? A skinny ugly peasant girl with two eyes looking two different direction, how come an attractive young noble as you thought of making her as wife even for temporarily”? Receiving no answer from Tom she continued. “Although she truly did love you, she didn’t want to live after you left him. Neither did she blame you for leaving her, rather she wanted her son to bear your looks along with the name. Fortunately her wish was heard by god. For his inherited looks the life might not be as difficult for the child.”
Tom had no words. He turned to leave and then took a turn again.
“Can you take care of Jack so that he doesn’t bother Tom again?”
There was something in his voice that Mrs. Cole’s sarcastic gesture towards him changed. It seemed to her perhaps this man was not among those typical rich brats who use women for pleasure only.
“I will try.” She nodded in an assuring tone.
As Tom put his exhausted body in the backseat of cab he looked at the building for last time. His heart filled with heaviness. Those dark expectant eyes of the boy that filled with disappointment at last was not putting his mind into rest. He asked the driver to drive faster. He wanted to reach in the comfort of home faster. He had to share everything with his parents.
“were you out of your mind for real?” Thomas Riddle almost shouted. “How could even that idea came in your head? His voice was filled with anger and disappointment. This son of him never brought anything but disappointment to him. At first he eloped with that hag leaving his fiancé, then came back to claim he was enchanted. Which ofcourse he didn’t believe. And now is claiming to find his son in orphanage and asking his suggestion to deal with a blackmailer? “Why the hell you didn’t leave the place at once?” what were you thinking to spend a whole day with that hag’s son?”
Tom stood with his head down. He expected this reaction from his father only. He himself was quite annoyed with his stupidity. But how would he explain the conflict between his head and heart. Probably if they could have seen the kid they would have understood his situation.
“How were you be so sure that the child was yours?” Mary Riddle interjected. “Merope could have lied.” Her voice was full of worry for her only son. She didn’t want her son to endure the trauma again from which he was still recovering.
“A dying person doesn’t lie mother, no matter how much wretched she was. Beside the child was a miniature version of me. Even a layman would figure it out.” Tom said desperately. He felt very alone even with his parents around.
“Enough of this. Let me deal with the problem myself. From now you stay out of this matter. Our attorney will take care of that matron. From now any discussion on that child will not be allowed in my house.” Thomas Riddle announced in his authoritative tone as he used with his subordinates.
“Also it’s a good thing that you got to know about that Gaunt girl’s demise. Now you are free from legal obligations to marry again. I will get a suitable bride from our society for you.” Said Thomas Riddle in a relieved voice. Finally his son can bring some happiness to his family.
Mary Riddle put a hand on her son’s shoulder.
“Don’t worry son, once you get married and have child of your own, you will forget about that witch and her kid in no time. As if it was a nightmare” She said in a comforting tone.
Tom left the place without saying anything. He mounted his horse and ran towards the open ground. He needed some fresh air. He was feeling very helpless, even his mother didn’t get him. He could’t ever think of marrying or having another child. No matter how strange his son was he couldn't forget him ever. He can’t forget the day spent with him. He couldn't forget the angelic smile when he gave him the word to visit again which he was not going to keep. He couldn’t forget Tom Marvolo Riddle despite all his fear and contempt. Because his son was different and unforgettable.