"What is that awful smell?"
Ashton moved around the house sniffing like a hound trying to figure out from where the weird smell was emanating.
"It smells like something's rotten in here" Ashton murmured in irritation.
Lyza stood near the table in living room closely watching Ashton. She wrinkled her brows trying to figure out what Ashton was talking about.
Ashton kept on looking around the area and at last found that the smell was coming from the direction of Lyza. He walked closer to her and the stench got stronger and stronger.
Lyza was puzzled when Ashton started moving towards her.
He slowly pulled her away from the front to see the table behind her.
The small flowers kept in the bowl were rotten.
"How can these tiny flowers produce a smell so strong?" Ashton spoke as he took them away to the front yard. Lyza tagged along still trying to figure out the smell Ashton was describing about.
[THE GARDEN]
After disposing the rotten flowers Ashton held onto Lyza's arm and took a stroll through the garden admiring the colors which befell the new morning. The green freshly cut grass around the fencing was adorned with small pink flowers which added on to its archaic beauty.
"We will wait here till the rotten smell fades out!"
Ashton told and picked up a new bunch of flowers which were about to fall to the ground and carefully placed them in the clean bowl in his hand while Liza sat lazily on the grass admiring the scenery around.
"I know the best hair style for you!" Ashton remarked suddenly and sat next to her in a rush.
He slowly grazed his hands through her soft, dense hair, taking one lock at a time and started braiding. He kept one pretty pink flower in the middle of each braid as he worked on it with utmost care, trying his best not to hurt her while he pulled on each strands to tighten it.
"Okay…Done!."
Ashton raced to his room and came back with a small mirror in hand. He handed over the mirror to Lyza while he sat down on the lawn.
"It didn't come out like I had expected!" Ashton told as he scratched his head giving a shy smile.
"I am a hair salon owner, but definitely not a hair stylist."
Ashton couldn't control his laughter and leaned backwards on to the grass.
"I started the salon because of my mother. It kind of keeps her alive in my heart."
Ashton gave a long pause and continued.
"After my mom started the treatment, she started losing hair. I could see her in pain but I couldn't do much for her. I could only tell her it was alright, and that she was beautiful as always. Then the day came when she got her chemo wig. She was really happy for the first time in ages. I could see the twinkle in her eyes reappear. And that's when I decided to work on what made my mom happy"
Ashton gave a weak smile as he stared at the white puffy clouds in the morning sky which tried to mask the ferocious sun from glaring at the weak beings below.
"Well, look at the brighter side of life. I have got you. I have a bunch of people with whom I can trust my life with. I have got a salon running quite smoothly." Ashton slightly curled his forehead as he said the last line.
Lyza smiled while she laid next to him as she fixed her eyes on the kind clouds in the blue sky.
[EVENING]
Lyza rushed to Ashton. She was radiating with excitement.
"Ash! I have got a surprise for you"
Ashton was about to get in the shower before his favorite show aired in the television.
"Guess what it is!"
"A 100 million dollars?"
"No. It is what you need the most!" Lyza exclaimed.
"Ahh. Money is definitely not the thing I want the most, right?"
Ashton smirked and kept on guessing.
"Perhaps more flowers?"
"Nope"
"What could be more important than the pretty flowers you get me?"
"A kiss, may be?"
Ashton gave a naughty grin and pouted his lips with his eyes closed.
Lyza kept her hands on his lips to stop him from coming any closer and stretched her arms to handover a loosely tied up pleat of hair.
"Wait a minute. Is that your hair?" Ashton exclaimed and turned Liza to see her back.
"Are you mad? Why did you cut it?"
"It is okay. It will become normal in a day or two. You can use this for living your dream."
Lyza was ecstatic. He could see her eyes sparkle with joy. He didn't want to bring her down.
"Yes. This was what I wanted the most. Thank you, dear!."
Ashton told as he hugged her and tried to become a part of her happiness.
'It would have been nice if the world worked the way she imagines.'
Ashton thought as he tightened his grasp around her.