Chapter 6: THEA
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Ruth felt a mixture of emotions like sadness, hurt, anger, helplessness and frustration. She couldn't understand why people with power behaved rudely with the helpless ones. Why people didn't care about others? She couldn't understand at all.
After she left Mr Cooper's tailoring shop, she was disappointed and worried. The amount Mr Cooper paid for the work that Ruth had done on the red dress was not enough to buy daily essentials. The landlord was asking for the rent of the room in which Ruth lived. She somehow managed to convince the man that after this work, she would pay the rent. But all her plans ruined when she didn't get the just pay for the hardship she had been through.
While lost in these thoughts, Ruth didn't notice a familiar face approaching her. Though her eyes were watching her surroundings, her mind was too occupied to notice anything.
" Ruth, hello! How are you?" The voice snapped Ruth from her thoughts.
She looked dumbfoundedly at the woman in front of her. It took a moment for her to recognise the face. As realisation dawned upon her, Ruth opened her mouth to greet the woman, who was only a year or two older than Ruth.
"Hello, Thea! S-sorry I didn't see you coming. I was... thinking about something." Ruth gave the woman a sheepish smile.
Thea reacted by giggling, portraying her best etiquettes that she had learned on the western side.
"Oh, It's fine! What are you doing here?" Thea asked in confusion as this was not a place to roam for a poor person like Ruth.
"I was here to submit the red dress." Ruth replied in a low voice, remembering the incident that made her feel insulted.
The woman was no one but the person who worked for Mr Cooper in his tailoring shop. "Oh, yes. It slipped from my mind. So, have you submitted it? Was Mr Cooper satisfied with your work? The man is hard to please."
Ruth replied while fidgeting with her fingers. "Yes. I have submitted it and Mr Cooper was satisfied with my work, I guess."
Thea observed Ruth for a moment and then said, "What's wrong? Did he scold you? Are you in any problem?" She asked genuinely.
She was friendly by nature. And as she was of similar age to Ruth, the ladies got well along. They couldn't be considered best friends, but they always had a nice conversation whenever they got a chance.
The woman's concern touched Ruth's heart and hence she told her the whole incidence that happened at the tailor shop between her and Mr Cooper. While reciting the incident, Ruth couldn't hide the tears that made her eyes glossy.
"Actually, I was expecting a good amount of money as you know the work needed an expertise of professional level. But he didn't pay me even half of that expected money." Ruth admitted sadly.
Thea's face softened after hearing Ruth's misery. She was aware of Ruth's financial and social condition. As she also came from a family of the Eastern side, she shared empathy with Ruth. She knew how much struggle these poor people had to do to get food on their plate.
"I am sorry to hear this, Ruth. I can understand how you might have felt. Facing such a humiliating situation must be hard for a woman like you with a gentle heart." Thea placed her hand on Ruth's shoulder in pity.
But the touch didn't do anything for Ruth to feel any better. It only made her more uncomfortable as Ruth hated this thing: Pity. That was what the world has ever given her. Pity. As if her poverty was her destiny and she was not able to change her stars. Pity made Ruth feel non-worthy and incapable. But she was determined to prove everyone wrong by showing them that she was worthy and very capable to change her life. One day!
"These tailors are all the same. Do you know how much profit Mr Cooper will get from that single work?" The woman asked.
Ruth had no idea of this 'business' as she never concerned herself with it. She only looked for her pay and nothing else.
She shook her head in denial but the woman's words had perked up her interest.
Thea told in a manner as if she was sharing the confidential secret of the royalty. "Mr Cooper will get at least ten times than what he has given you."
Listening to the profit the tailor shop owner would get, widened Ruth's eyes considerably. She never considered this calculation. Mr Cooper didn't do any work on the dress except he hired Ruth and gave her the clothing.
"That is too much, my friend!" Ruth exclaimed in shock while putting her hand on her mouth.
The woman wobbled her head. "Exactly! These men only use their contacts and show off the work which is done by poor seamstresses like us. We spend hours and hours working in dim light till our fingers bleed and what we get in return? Insults and a few pennies like a beggar!" She said with anger.
Ruth couldn't help but agree with her. She could sense the anger that rose in her.
"But your condition is better than me, Thea. You work in his shop and get more wages than me." Ruth said.
"Yes. But you know how everything is getting expensive nowadays. Especially when the country is in wars with other counties and colonies. It indirectly affects the prices of acommodities in here." The woman answered.
"Yes. You are right. By this rate, people like us would not be able to survive after some time." Ruth said after sighing.
Thea's eyes gleamed with happiness as she spoke. "But now my days are going to get better."
Ruth gave her a confused look when she didn't understand what the woman was trying to say. "What do you mean?"
The woman's cheeks tinged with pink colour as she blushed. "I have found my suitor. And he has asked my parents for my hand in marriage. Both of our families have agreed. And soon we are going to get married." She squealed in excitement.
Ruth looked surprised yet happy to hear this. "That is a very good news, dear! Who is this lucky gentleman, if I may know?"
"He is a soldier in the service of the O'Dell family. He gets a considerable amount of remuneration. He told me that I don't have to work after the marriage. Finally, I will get the freedom out of the clutches of this life in poverty." The woman said dreamily.
"That-that is great! I am very happy for you! May God bestow you with more happiness. Congratulations!" Ruth took the woman's hands in hers and patted affectionately.
"Thank you, Ruth. Oh, we lost the track of time while talking. I should get going or Mr Cooper would roast me alive. See you around!" Thea remembered that she had to go to the tailor shop.
"Yes. Yes. Bye!" After bidding Thea her farewell, Ruth again started to walk in her house's direction.
Ruth was a kind-hearted person and always got happy in other's happiness. But this time she felt a pang of little jealousy in her heart as the woman told her about her soon to be wedding and how she had found a man who was willing to take care of her.
Ruth never had anyone to be called her close ones or loved ones except her mother, who died when she was thirteen. She never had any close friends as she was always busy working and battling every day of her life that brought new troubles for her. Her experiences taught her to always put her guards up and not trust people easily as the smiling faces were always deceiving. People didn't concern unless they want something in return from you. And being an orphaned girl was a vulnerable target for the evil vultures.
Ruth felt an emptiness in her heart that there was no one to care for her or love her. There was no one to share her responsibilities and tell her that she didn't need to worry about anything.
She ran her tongue over her chapped lips as her eyes teared up again. The weight of the money that she held in her hands started to feel very heavy as it carried the humiliation and misery that Ruth faced.
She didn't know what destiny had up her sleeves for her but one hope was there in her heart. A hope that there might be someone destined for Ruth, who would be her life partner and her better half.. One day she would find her happiness like others. One day!
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Ruth felt a mixture of emotions like sadness, hurt, anger, helplessness and frustration. She couldn't understand why people with power behaved rudely with the helpless ones. Why people didn't care about others? She couldn't understand at all.
After she left Mr Cooper's tailoring shop, she was disappointed and worried. The amount Mr Cooper paid for the work that Ruth had done on the red dress was not enough to buy daily essentials. The landlord was asking for the rent of the room in which Ruth lived. She somehow managed to convince the man that after this work, she would pay the rent. But all her plans ruined when she didn't get the just pay for the hardship she had been through.
While lost in these thoughts, Ruth didn't notice a familiar face approaching her. Though her eyes were watching her surroundings, her mind was too occupied to notice anything.
" Ruth, hello! How are you?" The voice snapped Ruth from her thoughts.
She looked dumbfoundedly at the woman in front of her. It took a moment for her to recognise the face. As realisation dawned upon her, Ruth opened her mouth to greet the woman, who was only a year or two older than Ruth.
"Hello, Thea! S-sorry I didn't see you coming. I was... thinking about something." Ruth gave the woman a sheepish smile.
Thea reacted by giggling, portraying her best etiquettes that she had learned on the western side.
"Oh, It's fine! What are you doing here?" Thea asked in confusion as this was not a place to roam for a poor person like Ruth.
"I was here to submit the red dress." Ruth replied in a low voice, remembering the incident that made her feel insulted.
The woman was no one but the person who worked for Mr Cooper in his tailoring shop. "Oh, yes. It slipped from my mind. So, have you submitted it? Was Mr Cooper satisfied with your work? The man is hard to please."
Ruth replied while fidgeting with her fingers. "Yes. I have submitted it and Mr Cooper was satisfied with my work, I guess."
Thea observed Ruth for a moment and then said, "What's wrong? Did he scold you? Are you in any problem?" She asked genuinely.
She was friendly by nature. And as she was of similar age to Ruth, the ladies got well along. They couldn't be considered best friends, but they always had a nice conversation whenever they got a chance.
The woman's concern touched Ruth's heart and hence she told her the whole incidence that happened at the tailor shop between her and Mr Cooper. While reciting the incident, Ruth couldn't hide the tears that made her eyes glossy.
"Actually, I was expecting a good amount of money as you know the work needed an expertise of professional level. But he didn't pay me even half of that expected money." Ruth admitted sadly.
Thea's face softened after hearing Ruth's misery. She was aware of Ruth's financial and social condition. As she also came from a family of the Eastern side, she shared empathy with Ruth. She knew how much struggle these poor people had to do to get food on their plate.
"I am sorry to hear this, Ruth. I can understand how you might have felt. Facing such a humiliating situation must be hard for a woman like you with a gentle heart." Thea placed her hand on Ruth's shoulder in pity.
But the touch didn't do anything for Ruth to feel any better. It only made her more uncomfortable as Ruth hated this thing: Pity. That was what the world has ever given her. Pity. As if her poverty was her destiny and she was not able to change her stars. Pity made Ruth feel non-worthy and incapable. But she was determined to prove everyone wrong by showing them that she was worthy and very capable to change her life. One day!
"These tailors are all the same. Do you know how much profit Mr Cooper will get from that single work?" The woman asked.
Ruth had no idea of this 'business' as she never concerned herself with it. She only looked for her pay and nothing else.
She shook her head in denial but the woman's words had perked up her interest.
Thea told in a manner as if she was sharing the confidential secret of the royalty. "Mr Cooper will get at least ten times than what he has given you."
Listening to the profit the tailor shop owner would get, widened Ruth's eyes considerably. She never considered this calculation. Mr Cooper didn't do any work on the dress except he hired Ruth and gave her the clothing.
"That is too much, my friend!" Ruth exclaimed in shock while putting her hand on her mouth.
The woman wobbled her head. "Exactly! These men only use their contacts and show off the work which is done by poor seamstresses like us. We spend hours and hours working in dim light till our fingers bleed and what we get in return? Insults and a few pennies like a beggar!" She said with anger.
Ruth couldn't help but agree with her. She could sense the anger that rose in her.
"But your condition is better than me, Thea. You work in his shop and get more wages than me." Ruth said.
"Yes. But you know how everything is getting expensive nowadays. Especially when the country is in wars with other counties and colonies. It indirectly affects the prices of acommodities in here." The woman answered.
"Yes. You are right. By this rate, people like us would not be able to survive after some time." Ruth said after sighing.
Thea's eyes gleamed with happiness as she spoke. "But now my days are going to get better."
Ruth gave her a confused look when she didn't understand what the woman was trying to say. "What do you mean?"
The woman's cheeks tinged with pink colour as she blushed. "I have found my suitor. And he has asked my parents for my hand in marriage. Both of our families have agreed. And soon we are going to get married." She squealed in excitement.
Ruth looked surprised yet happy to hear this. "That is a very good news, dear! Who is this lucky gentleman, if I may know?"
"He is a soldier in the service of the O'Dell family. He gets a considerable amount of remuneration. He told me that I don't have to work after the marriage. Finally, I will get the freedom out of the clutches of this life in poverty." The woman said dreamily.
"That-that is great! I am very happy for you! May God bestow you with more happiness. Congratulations!" Ruth took the woman's hands in hers and patted affectionately.
"Thank you, Ruth. Oh, we lost the track of time while talking. I should get going or Mr Cooper would roast me alive. See you around!" Thea remembered that she had to go to the tailor shop.
"Yes. Yes. Bye!" After bidding Thea her farewell, Ruth again started to walk in her house's direction.
Ruth was a kind-hearted person and always got happy in other's happiness. But this time she felt a pang of little jealousy in her heart as the woman told her about her soon to be wedding and how she had found a man who was willing to take care of her.
Ruth never had anyone to be called her close ones or loved ones except her mother, who died when she was thirteen. She never had any close friends as she was always busy working and battling every day of her life that brought new troubles for her. Her experiences taught her to always put her guards up and not trust people easily as the smiling faces were always deceiving. People didn't concern unless they want something in return from you. And being an orphaned girl was a vulnerable target for the evil vultures.
Ruth felt an emptiness in her heart that there was no one to care for her or love her. There was no one to share her responsibilities and tell her that she didn't need to worry about anything.
She ran her tongue over her chapped lips as her eyes teared up again. The weight of the money that she held in her hands started to feel very heavy as it carried the humiliation and misery that Ruth faced.
She didn't know what destiny had up her sleeves for her but one hope was there in her heart. A hope that there might be someone destined for Ruth, who would be her life partner and her better half.. One day she would find her happiness like others. One day!
Ruth felt a mixture of emotions like sadness, hurt, anger, helplessness and frustration. She couldn't understand why people with power behaved rudely with the helpless ones. Why people didn't care about others? She couldn't understand at all. After she left Mr Cooper's tailoring shop, she was disappointed and worried. The amount Mr Cooper paid for the work that Ruth had done on the red dress was not enough to buy daily essentials. The landlord was asking for the rent of the room in which Ruth lived. She somehow managed to convince the man that after this work, she would pay the rent. But all her plans ruined when she didn't get the just pay for the hardship she had been through. While lost in these thoughts, Ruth didn't notice a familiar face approaching her. Though her eyes were watching her surroundings, her mind was too occupied to notice anything. " Ruth, hello! How are you?" The voice snapped Ruth from her thoughts. She looked dumbfoundedly at the woman in front of her. It took a moment for her to recognise the face. As realisation dawned upon her, Ruth opened her mouth to greet the woman, who was only a year or two older than Ruth. "Hello, Thea! S-sorry I didn't see you coming. I was... thinking about something." Ruth gave the woman a sheepish smile. Thea reacted by giggling, portraying her best etiquettes that she had learned on the western side. "Oh, It's fine! What are you doing here?" Thea asked in confusion as this was not a place to roam for a poor person like Ruth. "I was here to submit the red dress." Ruth replied in a low voice, remembering the incident that made her feel insulted. The woman was no one but the person who worked for Mr Cooper in his tailoring shop. "Oh, yes. It slipped from my mind. So, have you submitted it? Was Mr Cooper satisfied with your work? The man is hard to please." Ruth replied while fidgeting with her fingers. "Yes. I have submitted it and Mr Cooper was satisfied with my work, I guess." Thea observed Ruth for a moment and then said, "What's wrong? Did he scold you? Are you in any problem?" She asked genuinely. She was friendly by nature. And as she was of similar age to Ruth, the ladies got well along. They couldn't be considered best friends, but they always had a nice conversation whenever they got a chance. The woman's concern touched Ruth's heart and hence she told her the whole incidence that happened at the tailor shop between her and Mr Cooper. While reciting the incident, Ruth couldn't hide the tears that made her eyes glossy. "Actually, I was expecting a good amount of money as you know the work needed an expertise of professional level. But he didn't pay me even half of that expected money." Ruth admitted sadly. Thea's face softened after hearing Ruth's misery. She was aware of Ruth's financial and social condition. As she also came from a family of the Eastern side, she shared empathy with Ruth. She knew how much struggle these poor people had to do to get food on their plate. "I am sorry to hear this, Ruth. I can understand how you might have felt. Facing such a humiliating situation must be hard for a woman like you with a gentle heart." Thea placed her hand on Ruth's shoulder in pity. But the touch didn't do anything for Ruth to feel any better. It only made her more uncomfortable as Ruth hated this thing: Pity. That was what the world has ever given her. Pity. As if her poverty was her destiny and she was not able to change her stars. Pity made Ruth feel non-worthy and incapable. But she was determined to prove everyone wrong by showing them that she was worthy and very capable to change her life. One day! "These tailors are all the same. Do you know how much profit Mr Cooper will get from that single work?" The woman asked. Ruth had no idea of this 'business' as she never concerned herself with it. She only looked for her pay and nothing else. She shook her head in denial but the woman's words had perked up her interest. Thea told in a manner as if she was sharing the confidential secret of the royalty. "Mr Cooper will get at least ten times than what he has given you." Listening to the profit the tailor shop owner would get, widened Ruth's eyes considerably. She never considered this calculation. Mr Cooper didn't do any work on the dress except he hired Ruth and gave her the clothing. "That is too much, my friend!" Ruth exclaimed in shock while putting her hand on her mouth. The woman wobbled her head. "Exactly! These men only use their contacts and show off the work which is done by poor seamstresses like us. We spend hours and hours working in dim light till our fingers bleed and what we get in return? Insults and a few pennies like a beggar!" She said with anger. Ruth couldn't help but agree with her. She could sense the anger that rose in her. "But your condition is better than me, Thea. You work in his shop and get more wages than me." Ruth said. "Yes. But you know how everything is getting expensive nowadays. Especially when the country is in wars with other counties and colonies. It indirectly affects the prices of acommodities in here." The woman answered. "Yes. You are right. By this rate, people like us would not be able to survive after some time." Ruth said after sighing. Thea's eyes gleamed with happiness as she spoke. "But now my days are going to get better." Ruth gave her a confused look when she didn't understand what the woman was trying to say. "What do you mean?" The woman's cheeks tinged with pink colour as she blushed. "I have found my suitor. And he has asked my parents for my hand in marriage. Both of our families have agreed. And soon we are going to get married." She squealed in excitement. Ruth looked surprised yet happy to hear this. "That is a very good news, dear! Who is this lucky gentleman, if I may know?" "He is a soldier in the service of the O'Dell family. He gets a considerable amount of remuneration. He told me that I don't have to work after the marriage. Finally, I will get the freedom out of the clutches of this life in poverty." The woman said dreamily. "That-that is great! I am very happy for you! May God bestow you with more happiness. Congratulations!" Ruth took the woman's hands in hers and patted affectionately. "Thank you, Ruth. Oh, we lost the track of time while talking. I should get going or Mr Cooper would roast me alive. See you around!" Thea remembered that she had to go to the tailor shop. "Yes. Yes. Bye!" After bidding Thea her farewell, Ruth again started to walk in her house's direction. Ruth was a kind-hearted person and always got happy in other's happiness. But this time she felt a pang of little jealousy in her heart as the woman told her about her soon to be wedding and how she had found a man who was willing to take care of her. Ruth never had anyone to be called her close ones or loved ones except her mother, who died when she was thirteen. She never had any close friends as she was always busy working and battling every day of her life that brought new troubles for her. Her experiences taught her to always put her guards up and not trust people easily as the smiling faces were always deceiving. People didn't concern unless they want something in return from you. And being an orphaned girl was a vulnerable target for the evil vultures. Ruth felt an emptiness in her heart that there was no one to care for her or love her. There was no one to share her responsibilities and tell her that she didn't need to worry about anything. She ran her tongue over her chapped lips as her eyes teared up again. The weight of the money that she held in her hands started to feel very heavy as it carried the humiliation and misery that Ruth faced. She didn't know what destiny had up her sleeves for her but one hope was there in her heart. A hope that there might be someone destined for Ruth, who would be her life partner and her better half.. One day she would find her happiness like others. One day!
