Eshana's POV :
It was 24th December, 8:30 am in San Francisco. After taking a shower, I changed into a kurta kameez (an Indian traditional outfit). I was about to dry my hair when I heard a knock on the door. As I headed to the door and opened it, I find Maddy looking at me with curiosity. She pushed me aside as she entered the room and then settled herself on the bed.
"So...spill the details", she said. I gave her a perplexed look as I turned to close the door.
"What exactly are you talking about?" I questioned while using the towel to dry my hair as I countinued to stare at her.
"Oh please! You know what I'm referring to, and just so you know, I was awake last night. 'You are my reason' huh?" The realization dawned on me as she looked at me with a smirk. She brought up the tune I played the previous evening. My cheeks began to flush as I thought back on those moments.
"Someone's blushing! So what were you both up to? Did you guys make out?! Did you hmff hmff-" I covered her mouth with my palm as she continued to ask loudly, enough for the entire mansion to hear her. This girl doesn't have a filter in her mouth, does she?!
She finally stopped babbling, and I removed my hand from her mouth.
"Do you have any sense? What if someone overheard you asking that?" I asked in a whisper, staring at her in bewilderment. She just rolled her eyes at me.
"Oh, c'mon. I don't have to yell for everyone to know what you did up there! So, tell me before I do it for real" She stated, waiting for my response.
I let out a sigh "Okay, fine! We didn't do anything, alright? Just cut the cake, have dinner, and dance for a while. Nothing like what you assume" I just blurted it out.
"Which is romantic! It's a actual progress since you're meeting for the first time." She mumbled "But, Do. Not. let. my. ship. sink. like. The. Titanic! Despite of the fact that it was unforgetable for decades... I'd prefer not have my Rose sleep alone on the door and let my jack freeze, or vice versa. Is that clear?" she warned as she locked her gaze on me. This poor soul has no idea that her gaze looks more adorable than scray, but as they say, 'if you mess with a cat, you get the whiskers'.
"Sure, Maddy. I'll give it a shot from my end" I assured her. "Now let's go have some breakfast. Everyone's probably waiting" I stated as I headed to the door, leaving the towel in the laundry.
"Yeah, sure... everyone is waiting" I heard her chuckle as she followed me downstairs.
We arrived at the dining hall to find everyone waiting, and as I approached them, Aunt Amelia, Zach's mom spotted us.
"Oh! Here they are. Come here, both of you. Take a seat" She waved at us. I headed to her side and was about to touch her feet (a cultural gesture in India used in order to ask blessings from elders) when she stopped me,
"You don't have to do so. My blessing will always be with you" She smiled and patted my head softly, and also the same response from Grandma, but I couldn't find Uncle Williams anywhere. Looking around the table, I spotted two chairs- one next to Disha and the other next to Zach. But, Maddy beats me to the seat next to Disha as I was about to walk up to it.
"Eshana! What are you waiting for? There's a seat next to Zach." Maddy smirked, and I rolled my eyes internally, knowing she played it well. That's when my gaze was drawn to his, and I noticed a smirk on his face as well. What's up with both of them smirking today?
Having no choice but to take a seat between them, and now I'm sitting directly across my brother and another handsome man who has a cold and dominating aura around him. I haven't seen him anytime in the last two weeks.
"That's my brother, Xavier Alexander Knight and well known as Xavier or Alex but, we go by Xander" Maddy whispered.She must have noticed me glancing at him. I hummed at her as I continued to stare at him. He appears to be far more cold and collected than everyone else in the family. As far as I know, both of their parents are cool and entertaining. When my brother returned to India, I remember telling Zach, 'Whoever his boss is, If he's single, I pray that he finds his soulmate'. I had no idea these two were brothers.
My thoughts were interrupted when I noticed Aunt Amelia serving breakfast.
"Aunty! I'll help you with it" My friends and I offered to help at the same time, and we smiled at eachother as we stood up from our seats.
"Woah! It's fine. I couldn't let the guests serve themselves, can I?" She asked, smilimg as she proceeded to serve. Ridha approached her, took the dish from her hands, and looked up at her.
"We? Guests? Nuh-huh. Not for long" She shook her head, began to serve as Aunt Amelia glanced at her with a smile plastered on her face.
"What's that supposed to mean?" my brother and I both inquired simultaneously as we kept staring, no, glaring at her.
"Well? I didn't mean anything at all. You know back there in India, we don't treat our guests as outsiders, do we? They are family as well. So what's the difference here?" she responded with a smirk. Ugh! I'm done looking at that ridiculous smirk. Leaving the topic aside, Disha and I took the dishes from the table and began serving. As I approached Zach, I saw him staring at me intensely. I avoided his stare and served him while trying to keep my heartbeat under control. Ridha and I quickly served the food to everyone except Amar. We exchanged glances before returning to our seats. I could feel Disha and Amar glaring at us as we begin having our breakfast. Disha had no choice but to offer him the food. I've never seen both of them this flustered. I guess I was too blind to see this earlier.
"You look beautiful, Angel" Zach whispered into my ears, pulling me away from my thoughts and I nearly choked as I noticed the distance between us.
"H-huh? T-thanks" I stuttered, trying to conceal my blush, and I felt my brother and Xavier's gaze on us. Their stares and Zach's proximity sent shivers up my spine. It was too much to bear. Fortunately for me, Zach noticed this and backed away with a smile on his face, and changed the topic.
"Anyway, can someone finally tell me how you all planned this?" He questioned anxiously as he fixed his gaze on me and my friends, and everyone's gaze was drawn to us.
I let out a sigh and we explained everything from the beginning to the scene in the airport.
"HAHA! So these three tricked you by reserving 4 tickets instead of one, and they met you just before the plane was about to take off, knowing that you couldn't stop the flight?" Zach laughed out loud as he questioned Amar, who continued to glare at Zach. We were hella embarrassed when everyone started laughing with him. I could see Xavier almost smile as the corners of his lips curved upwards.
"Then what? What about your family? They didn't contact anyone of you?" Zach asked, intrigued. Have I ever told you how insanely cute he is when he's curious? No? Well, he certainly does.
"Well, they did" I mumbled, biting my lower lip.
"Don't-" Zach was about to say something but stopped himself by shaking his head.
"Don't what?" I questioned, noticing everyone staring at us as they continued to eat as though watching a movie.
I glanced at Zach, who shook his head again. "Nothing... Anyway, what did they say?" He asked.
"Well..." I began.
______________
[ Flashback~]
As we reached the gate of Knight mansion, to say I was shocked was an understatement. The entire mansion screams rich. But to be honest, it wasn't a modern kind of a rich which scares you away from touching anything in the mansion. Rather, It has a homely feeling and it looked like it was built years ago.
"C'mon, let's go" Maddy suggested as she got down from the car and so did I, and helped me with the bags. Disha parked the car inside the garage not bothering the guards for help.
As we were about to enter the mansion, my phone started ringing. I glanced at it to find Amar calling. I picked it up,
"Where are you, Eshu?" He asked impatiently.
"I reached Knight mansion. Is everything alright?" I frowned.
"Everything's fine. I was just worried" He whispered and I let out a sigh.
"But where are you?" I asked.
"I just booked a room-" he was about to continue when I cut him off,
"What? Why?!" I blurted out. 'Why would he book a room?'
"Wait Eshu. You know I'm here for work right? I won't be comfortable working there. But don't worry, I'll try visiting there" He assured and I hummed in agreement.
"Anyway, I'll call you back later. Have some rest, hm?" He suggested and hung up as I agreed with him. I glanced up to find them waiting for me.
"Let's go in?" Maddy asked and we nodded at her as we carried our bags and entered the mansion.
"Dad! Mom! Gramma! Look who's here!" Maddy yelled as we walked into the living room. There they are. Mr. and Mrs. Ashford and Mrs. Knight who is Maddy's grandmom. She looked like an Indian. I guess it's not just me but also my friends as we shared a look. Dropping our backs aside, we introduced ourselves and before they could realize it, we touched their feet and Ridha just bowed her head to them.
"Woah Woah! What's this?" Mrs. Ashford blurted out as she was unsure of what to do.
"Well, that's the way one could ask for a blessing from elders" Mrs. Knight explained not just clearing their doubts but ours too.
"Look at them, Maddy! You don't even wish us in the morning. All you do is wake up and play video games and prank everyone. When will you grow up?" Mrs. Ashford shook her head in disappointment.
"Yeah, the day I grow up is the day I give up, and about pranks tell that to your husband. He's the one who gives such ideas" Maddy rolled her eyes and I found Mr. Ashford trying hard not to laugh at the look on his wife's face. Before she could burst out, Mr. Ashford tried to get the situation under control.
"Hey! I don't know anything! It's your son who does that" he tried to convince her but the look on her face again said otherwise "I mean...'our' son. He was the one who pranked you the other day by preparing juice using powdered cheese" He blurted out and we all burst into laughter.
"Yeah, he pranked but who gave him the idea, dad?" Maddy asked with a smirk and he pursed his lips into a thin line. Mrs. Ashford glared at him with her fists clenched. She looked like she was about to smash something on his head.
"And I gave that juice to the guests the other day. No wonder everyone took a visit to the bathroom before running away! It was because of the two of you? Zach is so lucky that he's not here. And you better leave before I permanently throw you out of here, Mr. Ashford!" She yelled and he ran away. No one could stop laughing and in the end, even Mrs. Ashford couldn't help but laugh. This family is too funny.
"Anyway, those guests are my siblings who keep asking for money every time they visit and I can't believe he would do that" She chucked. She then noticed us standing.
"C'mon. Have a seat. I'll get you something to drink" She said and before I could decline, Ridha beats me to it.
"Sure, Aunty! I'm hungry" She blurted out and I nudged her as I looked at her with a frown. That's when she realized that she is not in her home. Mrs. Ashford noticed her face and the corners of her mouth turned upwards.
"It's fine, dear. Just make yourself home" She flashed a smile and went away. There was comfortable silence in the room
"You Indian?" Disha broke the silence casually as she noticed Mrs.Knight's outfit which was a saree. Mrs. Knight glanced at her and chuckled.
"Yeah. I am" she confirmed our doubts and before anyone could say anything, my phone rang again. Thinking it was Amar, I was ABOUT to pick up the call. Keyword 'ABOUT'. But no, I glanced at the caller id to find my dad calling. I would be lying if I say my heart didn't come to my mouth.
"What's wrong? Why don't you pick the call?" Mrs. Knight asked.
"I-its my p-parents" I stuttered and before she could ask another question, I told her about everything including who I am.
"Wait. You are Agarwal? What's your grandmother's name?" She asked and I was puzzled. My grandmom?
"Neerja Agarwal" I blurted out and her eyes widened. I glanced at my friends with a confused look and before I realize what happened, I was in a tight embrace. Not gonna lie, it was comforting. Not knowing what to do, I wrapped my arms around her. After a while, she pulled out of the embrace and rested her palm on my cheek.
"Do you know who I am?" She asked with tears in her eyes and sadly I shook my head. I only know her as Mrs. Knight.
"I'm your grandmom's best friend-" and that was enough for me to know who she is since my grandma had only one childhood best friend, The Niharika Sen who was forced to get arranged with someone but she ran away yet she kept in contact with my grandma. I didn't know it was her, the woman in front of me.
"Niharika Sen?" I blurted out, completing her sentence as I glanced at her. She nodded her head.
"So, you know? and call me grandma just like others" She asked with a smile plastered on her face. "You call me Amelia or Aunt Amelia" Mrs. Ashford walked up to us with snacks and drinks. I guess she heard everything. I nodded at them returning the smile. That's when I noticed everyone else staring at us in shock.
"Oh. So what those novels say is somewhat true huh? Like destiny and stuff. Do I call you gramma and Aunty amelia too?" Ridha mumbled, shaking her head as she looked at 'grandma' and aunt Amelia. Woah! That word sounds so foreign.
They clucked as they both nodded their heads at Ridha before grandma's eyes flickered to me.
"Ah! So you are the Eshana Agarwal who stole Zach's heart huh?" She smirked and I blushed.
"Give me your phone", Grandma asked me and I handed it to her without hesitation. After a while,
"Hello? Eshana! Where are you?" I heard my dad yell. Oh god, she called them and this is all my fault that they're panicked.
"She's here in San Francisco, California" Grandma informed in a firm voice.
"WHAT?! SHE WAS HERE SOME HOURS BACK! WHAT'S HAPPENING? Don't tell me that even Ridha is with her" His voice roared through the speakers and Ridha snickered.
"Both including Disha are with me, Niharika Sen. Does the name ring bells?" She asked coolly.
"Wait...No way! Aunty, is that you?" My dad asked in shock.
"yeah, and she'll be staying with us for some days and you'll get the answers soon as she reaches India", She said and hung up with a smile.
flashback ends~
There was silence around the room and I found Amar, Zach, and Xavier staring at grandma with shock.
"So she is your best friend's granddaughter?" "You are my grandma's best friend?" Zach and Amar asked her, simultaneously.
As she was about to reply, there was a knock on the door and everyone glanced at each other.
"Are we expecting someone?" Xavier asked and Aunt Amelia shook her head.
"I'll go and get that one", Maddy volunteered as she got up from the seat and went to the door.
"OH MY! Briana Sis!" We heard a scream and we looked at each other in panic and rushed to the door to find the scene that shook us to the core. Before we could realize it,
*Bang!*
there was a sound of glass shattering. We turned to the source to find Xavier shaken up too. What's more weird? There was Disha who looked like she had seen a ghost.
"Anastasia" she mumbled to herself which wasn't audible to anyone but I could read her lips.
What's happening?
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