(Arata)
The car rolled inside ena Mansion, the place my late grandfather had built for my grandma, but all of us now resided here with her.
My parents initially had been living in Mom’s place, which she had inherited from my maternal grandfather, but due to so tragic incident that took place there, she refused to return.
This was our ho now. I had been planning to move out with Andy, but now that plan had gone down the drain. The night had already fallen due to the ti difference between the two cities when we arrived ho and I knew Mom and Baba were ho. Zaylen had told on the way.
Excitent rushed through as I got out of the car. The scent of Arabian jasmine was heavy in the air as grandma had planted them in her garden and loved creating small jewellery from it.
I inhaled deeply with my eyes closed while our gatekeeper greeted and began to help Zaylen with my luggage. Returning his greeting, I rushed inside to et my family.
Opening the front door, I burst into the lounge where Mom, Baba and Grandma were seated on the sofas discussing sothing.
"Surprise," I shouted, spreading my arms.
Their collective eyes found and a blinding rush of happiness and cheerful smiles brightened up their faces and the room.
Baba jumped out of his seat and rushed to be by my side, hugging as if his life depended on it.
"My moonshine, you are here." The happiness in his voice was so evident, filling with his love and warmth.
"Baba." I hugged him back, letting his arms soothe the burdens of my heart. Once he let go, I rushed to Grandma and my Mom. Both of them were overjoyed.
"We were just talking about you, Ara. So glad you decided to co," Grandma joyously said.
"I was missing you all, so I took leave, and here I am."
"That is why Zaylen was sneaking out earlier, telling us he had an errand to run. He went to fetch you." Mom knew him too well. I sheepishly smiled and looped my arms around her shoulders.
"I told him not to tell you guys, and wished to keep it a secret."
Baba settled on the other side of , his face beaming. Bitu flew over and settled on my lap.
"Ara! Ara! Ara!" He shouted in his shrill voice. Although he was getting old, that voice of his was still enough to pierce our ears.
I lovingly patted his feathery head and he closed his eyes, soaking my affections.
"It’s good to see you, Bitu."
"Was your flight on ti? You didn’t feel any discomfort?" Baba asked and I shook my head before speaking.
"Everything was fine and I reached safely." Turning to Grandma, I inquired. Bitu settled in my lap and snuggled.
"How is your health? Are you taking your ds on ti?" I could see she had grown thinner than the last ti I saw her and her hands shook more than before.
"This old woman is fit as a fiddle. And your parents never let miss a day of dicine," she affectionately smiled, her wrinkled face holding so much wisdom.
"And you should never," I said tightly, knowing how much she hated taking ds, the sa as Baba.
"You must be hungry? We were just getting ready for dinner. You are right on ti. Go freshen up, and all of us will have dinner together," Mom said, and I rested Bitu in her lap.
Getting up, I headed towards my old room. My luggage had already been placed there. Removing my headscarf, I threw it on the bed and let off my red locks.
No more stupid wig while I was ho.
Freshening up, I joined my family at the dinner table. The aroma of ho-cooked als made so much saliva in my mouth that I almost drooled.
Beef steak, fresh veggies, saffron rice and chicken gravy. I rubbed my hands together as Baba filled up my plate and I began to eat fervently.
I had no clue how hungry I was. My appetite had died since yesterday, but now sitting with my family amidst chatter and hearty laughs, it had returned tenfold.
"How is your job going, Ara?" Grandma asked as Mom helped her with her steak.
"Not bad. I am learning new strategies, plans, and what it feels like to work under a demanding CEO," I answered while stabbing a piece of asparagus and crunching on it.
"Demanding? Does he make you work too much?" Baba quickly asked, picking up on the word. His forehead slightly wrinkled.
I tried to ease his fears.
"Not more than my job description. Working under a CEO is always demanding, Baba."
"I can vouch for that." Mom raised her hand and gave a subtle wink while Baba quickly turned to face Mom.
"Was I demanding?" He asked, rather confused. Zaylen tried not to laugh at the question as he placed a spoonful of rice into his mouth.
"Not in that sense. Zy but that is a pressure job. So much can go wrong, and you always have to be on your toes even if your boss is lenient," Mom explained, and I wholeheartedly agreed. Karsten was hella demanding. Even getting him a cup of coffee was a headache.
"Well, I never thought of it in that sense," Baba pondered, placing his spoon down and picking up a glass of water.
"Ask, Lawrence, and he will tell you how demanding you were." Mom giggled with her slim hand on her mouth.
She was the epito of perfection. Smart and seed so young for her age. I looked nothing like her daughter, apart from my hair. Sotis, the thought made apprehensive, and I wished to look more like her. But I knew I was beautiful in my own way, and one day, soone was going to love for who I was.
Like Azul had found beautiful without knowing my last na, Karsten had never body-shad , and the way his eyes road my body, I never felt any disgust there.
"Lawrence will always take your side." Baba shook his head.
"We will ask him tomorrow. Rember, all of us are going for a beach vacation." Zaylen announced and began to lay out the perfect weekend plan he had put together for the upcoming days.
After dinner I fetched the presents I had brought for my family and all of us sat together to open them as if it was an early Christmas.
"Thank you, Arata. The presents are gorgeous." Mom tightly hugged and I bead.
This was my ho and these were my people. When I was with them, I could feel nothing could go wrong.
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