Emma could see that gaze again. It was the same gaze she had seen in the eyes of the boys earlier when they had seen her at first; and she got really curious.

" Can't you talk or what.." The woman queried, seemingly getting tired of repeating her questions.

" I'm Emma, and I live down the street" Emma replied looking at the woman. But she couldn't keep the eye contact for long. Rubbing her hands together, she looked elsewhere, at the gmelina trees; because for some reasons, unknown to her, she felt cold under the woman's gaze.

"You live here??" The woman asked, her voice tinted with a note...