**Present**
Tears were formed in Grandpa's eyes. But he never cried.
He was always told that real man doesn't cry in front of everyone, they can cry only in the comfort of their Love, who is no more.
Anna sighed. Grandma suffered so much and left the world at such a young age.
"Did mother read that letter?" asked Anna.
"Your mother and your uncle were the first, who found that letter. They both came to my room and gave me a letter after her funeral. They both never blamed me. But they both also never took my last name."
Both were quiet.
"Grandma's family never said anything to you?" suddenly asked Anna.
"When she got pregnant, her family asked her to either marry me or abort the child. She chose none of these so they disowned her. At her funeral, her brother came and we fought because he wanted to take children with him and raise them as he was unmarried but my mother denied. She said children are the future of Jo's family."
Silence.
...
....
Anna received a message.
ALEX- I'm free tomorrow, wanna go to the beach?
ANNA- Sure. But how?
ALEX- Call me when you are free.
"Grandpa, I think we should go home now. I will go and see where is the mother," said Anna while standing up and going towards her mother's room.
But she was not in her room but in grandma's room which was near the servant quarter.
"Mom, shall we leave?"
"Yes. Let's go."
....
On the way back, no one talked. It was not awkward silence but it was emotionally tense.
At home.
Mother Marrie went directly to her room.
To relax, she went to her room and called Alex.
"Hey, Alex."
"You okay? You sound down," asked Alex.
"Got to know somethings today. Don't worry. Now tell me how can we go?" said Anna.
"It is 2 hours drive to the beach from here. We can go there if we miss tomorrow's practice."
"But it is not good to miss it. Sir will be angry. Even today, I was on leave you know."
"Don't worry, we have actually practiced more according to the days. We can spare tomorrow's time," said Alex calmly.
"Okay, let's go to the beach tomorrow! I will bring my swimsuit in my bag," said Anna excitedly.
"Sure, but what will you tell your mother?"
"Umm..... I will manage it. But till when we can come back?"
"You can see. 2 hours for going and 2 hours for coming back. Around 8 p.m. we will be back."
"Ohhhhh... I just realized we will be able to see SUNSET!!!" Anna was so excited that she was jumping on her feet.
"Yeah. That's why I chose this timing."
"Okay, I have some work, will see you tomorrow. Good night!"
"Good night."
They both hang up but there was a huge grin on both of their faces.
A smile of satisfaction.
...
She went outside her room and saw that her mother was still not out.
'I need to make dinner today, I think.'
She messaged Alena to tell her how to make dinner.
ANNA- Al, tell me the basics. How to make dinner.
ALENA- What do you want to make?
ANNA- Light food.
ALENA- Make rice.
ANNA- Tell me how to?
Anna didn't know how to cook, she never learned. Neither her mother forced her. Whenever it was required for her to make food, she mostly ordered takeout.
But today, she wants to cheer up her mother. She made rice and went to her mother's room to call her out.
"Mum, shall I come in?"
"Come."
Mother Marrie was staring at a picture. In that, there was a lady whose feature, even in the black and white picture was clear! With her were two children. This was mother Marrie and Uncle Addie.
"Mum, you again..." Anna herself didn't know what to say, she was out of words. "Don't worry Anna, I'm fine."
To ease the tension, Anna said, "Mum, I made dinner today. We both didn't eat in the afternoon so here is."
"Where?"
"Come, outside."
"Coming."
While eating dinner, Mother's mood was light up again. She just needed some space with which she got. In between dinner, Anna said, "Mum, you said I should live my life to its fullest right?"