A joyous occasion was around the corner. My eldest sister was about to get married and Mother brought me to the jewellery store to buy her a diamond necklace. We had been there for at least two hours and till now, Mother had not made her final selection.
“I think we will get this one. No, no, no. Maybe that one,” she muttered in frustration.
The lady promoter with very thick make up flashed her saccharine smile and suggested, “Madam, maybe you should buy both. One to wear in the day and the other at the dinner. I'm sure I will try to get you the best price.”
Being a bargain hunter by nature, Mother's eyes sparkled in delight. It was a bargain she could not resist. “Alright! I will take two.”
She paid with her credit card. Just as she was about to make her way out, two dark figures bolted into the store like ninjas. Both wore helmets with balaclavas, brandishing their long, silvery parangs.
“Get back in!” one of them ordered as he shoved us in. His malicious eyes gave me the creeps and made my skin tingle.
Panic-stricken, Mother and I huddled in a corner together with other customers. Our mouths were agape in horror and no one dared to breathe a word. The dark-skinned robber then bellowed, “Surrender all your valuables and dump them in these bags NOW!” His voice reverberated through the air.
There were three sales promoters on duty. All of them were shaking like a leaf, quivering in trepidation. Trays and trays of glinting gold and sparkling diamond accessories were poured into the bags. The robbers' eyes widened in awe as it was their moment of jubilation. Excitement bubbled inside them as they gazed at the alluring gems. For a fleeting moment, they seemed to be hypnotised as if in a trance.
Seizing this golden opportunity, I crept towards the store entrance, trying to avoid being noticed. My heart was pounding so fast that it felt like it was going jump out. I was getting very close to the entrance. The hostages and Mother were signalling me to hurry up and escape.
All of a sudden, the fair-skinned robber saw me and boomed, “Where do you think you are going!?” My face turned ashen white. The robber quickly dashed towards me swiftly, swallowing the distance between us. I took to my heels and fled like the wind.
I dashed to a nearby awaiting car and knocked furiously on the window. A man shot me a curious look. In between my breaths, I related what had happened. Alarmed, the man followed me to the robbery scene. Near the entrance, he suddenly pushed me in and yelled, “Hurry up, you stupid! A child has escaped and you are still so slow. Luckily, he bumped into me!”
“I think we will get this one. No, no, no. Maybe that one,” she muttered in frustration.
The lady promoter with very thick make up flashed her saccharine smile and suggested, “Madam, maybe you should buy both. One to wear in the day and the other at the dinner. I'm sure I will try to get you the best price.”
Being a bargain hunter by nature, Mother's eyes sparkled in delight. It was a bargain she could not resist. “Alright! I will take two.”
She paid with her credit card. Just as she was about to make her way out, two dark figures bolted into the store like ninjas. Both wore helmets with balaclavas, brandishing their long, silvery parangs.
“Get back in!” one of them ordered as he shoved us in. His malicious eyes gave me the creeps and made my skin tingle.
Panic-stricken, Mother and I huddled in a corner together with other customers. Our mouths were agape in horror and no one dared to breathe a word. The dark-skinned robber then bellowed, “Surrender all your valuables and dump them in these bags NOW!” His voice reverberated through the air.
There were three sales promoters on duty. All of them were shaking like a leaf, quivering in trepidation. Trays and trays of glinting gold and sparkling diamond accessories were poured into the bags. The robbers' eyes widened in awe as it was their moment of jubilation. Excitement bubbled inside them as they gazed at the alluring gems. For a fleeting moment, they seemed to be hypnotised as if in a trance.
Seizing this golden opportunity, I crept towards the store entrance, trying to avoid being noticed. My heart was pounding so fast that it felt like it was going jump out. I was getting very close to the entrance. The hostages and Mother were signalling me to hurry up and escape.
All of a sudden, the fair-skinned robber saw me and boomed, “Where do you think you are going!?” My face turned ashen white. The robber quickly dashed towards me swiftly, swallowing the distance between us. I took to my heels and fled like the wind.
I dashed to a nearby awaiting car and knocked furiously on the window. A man shot me a curious look. In between my breaths, I related what had happened. Alarmed, the man followed me to the robbery scene. Near the entrance, he suddenly pushed me in and yelled, “Hurry up, you stupid! A child has escaped and you are still so slow. Luckily, he bumped into me!”
Oh no! I realised that this man was in cahoots with the duo. My fate was sealed. In villainous rage, the trio rained down heavy punches and kicks on me mercilessly as if I were a rag doll even though I was only a little child. Tears fell non-stop like a gushing tap. My mother pleaded piteously for mercy but it was in vain.
Soon, the last of all the jewellery vanished into the humongous sacks. The robbers took to their heels and fled. I lay there, breathing laboriously. Life was seeping out of me. As Mother crawled towards me, she cradled me in the nook of her arm. Fat tears fell down her porcelain cheeks. “Mom, I'm sorry. I don't think I can attend the wedding. I love you. Tell Sister I love her too.” I breathed my last.
Soon, the last of all the jewellery vanished into the humongous sacks. The robbers took to their heels and fled. I lay there, breathing laboriously. Life was seeping out of me. As Mother crawled towards me, she cradled me in the nook of her arm. Fat tears fell down her porcelain cheeks. “Mom, I'm sorry. I don't think I can attend the wedding. I love you. Tell Sister I love her too.” I breathed my last.
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