Two years later, at Guryon manor Jennifer was going through some documents in the study room. Amanda knocked the door, Jennifer looked at Amanda and invited her in. Amanda sat across Jennifer and said, "Ma'am, the time has arrived!"
Jennifer shifted her gaze at Amanda with knitted brows, "What are you referring to?"
"I am talking about Leonardo's journey!", replied Amanda. Jennifer eye brows tilted in recalling something. She slightly pursed her lips and nodded heavily, "Ah~ I remember now!" she paused and asked, "Have you made contact with them?"
"Yes, I did send them a letter. They accepted and—this weekend someone from there side will visit." Replied Amanda. "Ah! Thank God! I thought they would reject us!", Jennifer sighed in a relief and kneaded her face on her hands.
Seeing Jennifer's reaction Amanda said, "Ma'am!". Jennifer faced Amanda, "Hmm?"
"I've been wondering, do you really believe that our finest academies are so incompetent that they would fail in teaching him what Leonardo needs to know—"
Jennifer was silently listening to Amanda and waited for her to finish.
"…And with all due respect Ma'am, why are you sending him away, when you were the one who said that you wanted to spend your remaining time with him!"
"So, you already know." Jennifer poured some tea in the cup and served it to Amanda. "Amanda what if, one cup from this tea set is disappeared—what do you think would happen?", asked Jennifer. Amanda frowned, "But Ma'am it doesn't have anything to with what I asked?"
Jennifer insisted, "Come on, tell me."
Amanda suppressed her anger for a moment and replied, "Then it wouldn't be called a tea set anymore!"
"Exactly my point!", said Jennifer gleefully.
Clank!
Amanda put the cup on the table in front. She knitted her brows in annoyance, "I don't get it! What are referring to Ma'am? You have decided to send Leonardo with some stranger without even telling me!"
Jennifer noticed that Amanda was getting vexed over her calm replies. "I want to know the reason—but here you are…asking me some ridiculous questions!"
Jennifer smiled, "Ho~ ho~ Calm down Amanda—I will explain everything to you." She observed Amanda; who was getting frustrated. Jennifer knew that Amanda loves Leonardo like her own flesh and blood. So, her reaction was obvious over Jennifer's decision.
Jennifer sighed. "Well—I'll make this easy for you to understand what I want to say to you." She leaned back on her chair. "If that vanished tea cup is returned back to its place than we will call it a tea set. Am I right?"
"Yes Ma'am!"
"In our empire, families are breaking apart quickly rather than a cup! Someone told me that it happened several years ago before the apocalypse—and—now—it's happening again. Just like my teacher told me forty years ago!"
Amanda was confused by the latter's sudden explanation of current occurrences in the empire therefore, she couldn't help but ask, "But—what you're saying has nothing to do with young master's current—"
"It does, Amanda! It certainly does!"
Amanda furrowed her brows, "How!"
"Years ago, when I was around Angela's age, my mother left me alone with my workaholic dad. My dad was really devastated after my mother left. After few days my dad received a letter—"
Amanda asked when she noticed that Jennifer stopped speaking, "What was in the letter?"
"It was none other than divorce papers. My dad was already struggling with his loneliness until he found the divorce papers. What left of his hope to see my mother again was completely ruined! Dad was really depressed and pissed therefore; he couldn't find time to look after me."
Jennifer curled her lips and continued, "On the other hand, I was really angry at my selfish mother, for leaving me alone with my workaholic father. Just like a famous saying: 'Girls took after their mothers' I, too became selfish, self-centered and mean to everyone—at that time Rebecca came here with her mom, since my mother abandoned me, I couldn't stand her good relationship with her mother. I bullied her almost every day."
Amanda noticed a sad smile on the old lady's face. "Things escalated day by day; my dad was really worried about my future like every caring parent when he witnessed my misbehavior with not just Rebecca but with everyone. He decided to send me to a boarding school. I hated it; therefore, I ran away from home. I was young and ignorant—I didn't know what impact it'd do on my father."
Amanda was bewildered; she asked, "For how long you were gone?"
"Not for long, just for a week—soon, police found me in a nearby alley. I ran out of money and I was burning in fever. When I opened my eyes, I thought maybe I'd see my father beside me but no one was present besides such a troublemaker like me."
"Where was Mr. Guryon?", asked Amanda.
"I was informed that dad left due for some business—I was left alone again in my room which haunted me. There was no one who I could talk to. Days passed, and then I learned that our house was in debt. The rumors spread like wild fire and shortly after maids left one by one. I didn't stop them because I thought, maybe it was better that way."
"So, you were all alone by yourself in this house?"
Jennifer shook her head, "No, there were two persons remained in the house alongside me—it was Rebecca and her mother—Rebecca took care of me—spent time with me, while her mother prepares meals for both of us—I couldn't understand them at that time, why were they doing that—what was the reason behind their act of kindness and being friendly with me. At first, I despised them but they kept pushing—and in the end (sigh!)—I came to like them both—I realized that I was used to them and I couldn't live without them." Said Jennifer with a helpless smile.
"One day I was playing with Rebecca when my dad appeared with an old man dressed in white—(chuckles)—even though that man was ten years older than my father but he looked so full of vigor and vitality. On the other hand, my dad looked weak and depressed in comparison to him. I was so shocked when I saw him for the first time, his face was glowing like Sun. I couldn't figure out what was it that attracted me towards him. I just stood before him and asked whether he was an angel. That old fellow smiled at my silly question; he caressed my head and said that he was just a wandering old fellow who came to meet me."
Jennifer looked at the ceiling in daze and continued, "There was some magic in his words which soothed my unsettled heart. I still don't know why, but my eyes became wet after his gentle touch. I cried at our first meeting. When that man noticed my tears, he hugged me and said that it'd be alright. The more I spent time in his embrace, the more I cried. There was something inside him which was moving my heart and soul towards peace. That was the day when I cried without holding back for the first time in my life." Jennifer looked at Amanda, "Do you know who that guy was Amanda?"
Amanda shook her head. "I regarded him as my teacher. He came from the East empire, whom we address as barbarians, fighting maniacs, uncivilized people, old-fashioned."
"What!?", Amanda cried in shock. She never knew, that Jennifer was taught by someone from East Empire. Amanda's forehead was covered in wrinkles. Jennifer smiled at her reaction and requested, "Please let me finish first."
Amanda nodded hence Jennifer continued, "His name was Sheikh Abu al Qasim. He came here for some business at the eastern port where my dad worked. Dad later told me that he met him by chance. It was around the time when we went bankrupt. My father was an honest man and trusts people very easily. That was the very reason we faced that hard time—but then—Teacher appeared out of nowhere and helped my dad out in his business."
Jennifer smiled unknowingly, "Back then my father used to call him 'his mentor', 'bringer of good fortune' because after six months we were able to pay our all debts to bank and our business prospered. The people who tried to destroy us came at us again but they weren't able to. Teacher was about to depart when dad informed him about my condition and begged for his help therefore, he agreed and then we met for the first time and I cried like a baby in front of him. Ah~ so embarrassing!" Jennifer kneaded her face and continued.
"I clearly remember that I couldn't sleep that night. I avoided his gaze for few days but he still took the initiative and talked to me. Few days later, I got used to it and began calling him grandfather. That old fellow didn't mind at all; he even enjoyed it. He taught me many things."
Jennifer confessed, "I realized the mistakes I made and the headache I gave others. So, I decided to apologize to the people whom I bullied—it was the hardest thing to do at first—because, the first person who came in my mind who I bullied the most, was Rebecca. At that night—"
Jennifer ceased speaking. Amanda asked, "What happened at that night?"
Jennifer lowered her gaze and replied, "—I was at the dinner table with dad, grandfather and Rebecca. When we finished dinner, I told Rebecca that I wanted to talk to her in front of everyone. She sat there and waited for me to speak—it was hard for me to see her in the eye but I followed the instructions of grandfather and started confessing all those evil deeds, I did to Rebecca, it brought tears in her eyes—at that moment…I realized how much I had hurt her."
"The more I confessed the more she cried—on the other hand I was no different. I admitted everything I did to her. Rebecca and I were both sobbing. She got up from her seat and hugged me. From that day till now, I treated Rebecca as my sister not as a maid. And that was the day, when my life changed completely with the help of that old man…I apologize to everyone. In just few months we became a famous family in the state and like that seven months passed; I learned a lot from my mentor during that time. I became a different person under his tutelage. Even my dad couldn't recognize me sometimes when I casually talk to him."
"And shortly after, the time for my teacher to depart arrived. I insisted for him to stay but he said, it is up to Lord Almighty, if he wills then we'll meet again my child—when he was about to leave, I hugged him tightly and cried again like a baby again but this time it was different, because I had this feeling that if I didn't say a proper good-bye to him then…I would never see him again. Teacher patted my head gently and said that if I cry like that then how could he travel without any worry. I wanted to stop but I couldn't therefore, he recited something in Arabic and it immediately calmed my heart."
Jennifer put her hand over her chest; "Soon I ceased crying—but I didn't smile either. It was really nerve-wracking for me to see him leave like that because I wanted to learn more, I wanted to spend more time with him. But—I guess God just wanted me to know the existence of his virtuous men. I am really lucky that I spend time with such a man."
Jennifer looked at Amanda who was silently listening. "You know, grandfather never gave me any lessons; he just talks to me casually, there wasn't a single day where I wasn't laughing in his presence." Amanda noticed a gentle smile appeared on the lady's aged face. It was rare a sight to be seen because Jennifer seldom exhibits such an expression.
The old lady shook her head lazily. "Sigh! Whenever I recall my past I think, I learned many things about life from my mentor. I've met many men in life and I observed some of them carefully but none of them came close to grandfather. My teacher was really a unique person; the way he spoke, the way he smiled, the way he treated me—he was so full of life! I'd never seen anyone like that till now—"
"Not even your husband or father?", Amanda interrupted.
Jennifer shook her head dejectedly, "—not even my dad or my late husband; even though they both were the men I loved dearly but they still fall behind my teacher for various reasons—to me teacher was a God-send angel who descended from heavens just to help me. Because of him, I was able to realize what a father is. I stick with my dad until the day he died not because of wealth and all that; it's because I loved him and I still love my father."
"What about your mother, my lady?", asked Amanda. "It's a pity that I couldn't find my mother. I wanted to see her again. I just wanted to tell her that even though she left me, I still love her and I wanted to see her… even from afar."
Jennifer who seemed dispirited, faced Amanda, "We, who live in west; know business well but we fail to understand the true life. Those who we call successful people these days, none of them had a proper family. I wished for a son but I had a daughter whom I failed to teach about life because I didn't know. However, God is really kind, He gifted me a grandson; who I want to become like my mentor. For that I believe, it is necessary to send him off with people of East Empire so he could learn the true meaning of life."
"So, you're saying that Leonardo would lead a happy life if he learns their way of life?", asked Amanda after hearing.
"I am not claiming that Leonardo would be able to live a trouble-less life after coming back. All I am trying to say is, my grandson would become a tree, who'd be able to help a lot of people. I want him to build a generation, who could reform our distorted society."
Amanda pondered over a moment after hearing Jennifer's reasoning behind sending Leonardo off. She suddenly recalled something and mentioned, "But wouldn't Leonardo be vulnerable to our enemies!"
Jennifer grinned after hearing Amanda and replied, "Perhaps, you think I am just sending my grandson in the pit of death! Don't underestimate the people from the East Empire. Only those will provoke them who would be tired of living. A single visitor from east means their whole empire has come to the west. Our government had to look after them from the shadows. So, Leonardo would be safer than ever. No one would dare to touch him if he remains by their side."
Amanda still felt uneasy in her heart even though after what Jennifer told her few seconds ago. "With all due respect, I am still not convinced!" she got up from the chair and unlocked the door. On the hand, Jennifer felt offended even she explained everything to Amanda.
Amanda turned to look at Jennifer, "Ma'am, Leonardo knows about this, right?"
"No, he doesn't. I'll tell him tonight!", Jennifer paused and asked indifferently, "Oh! And Amanda! Do I really need your assurance over this matter?"
Amanda froze in her movements for a moment and bit her lower lip. "…No Ma'am, you don't!" She understood the meaning behind Jennifer's prior statement.
Jennifer noticed the latter's face and said, "Don't give me that face Amanda. I know you dearly love Leonardo like your own son and you are worried about him and so am I. And one more thing." With that said Jennifer stood before Amanda and looked her in the eyes, "Do not forget that I am his grandmother, the one who possess the right, to decide what's best for him. Your opinions are secondary."
Amanda's face became pale due to the pressure. She witnessed how serious was Jennifer, therefore she lowered her head and apologized, "…I apologize…if I offended you, my lady!"
Jennifer subsided her age upon hearing the girl in front, she tilted Amanda's chin with her finger and grinned, "I am not angry at you Amanda—instead it's the opposite. Trust me what I am doing is best in all our favors. You'll realize it one day."
Amanda noticed that Jennifer's anger subsided, she heaved a sigh of relief and nodded, "…Understood Ma'am!"
Whereas, Jennifer turned and said, "…I want you to take Angela under your wing. She's an intelligent girl—she had already become an intermediate level chef in just two years. Take her in, who knows—maybe she might be able to carry on your legacy? Since Leonardo would be gone for a while, Angela would feel lonely without him. So, take this chance and train her well."
"Understood Ma'am!"