Ultimatum

Mr. Graham was in his study when Zayn walked in briskly. He was a very agile man, who even in his older years, still had a certain charm and strength to everything he did. He was going through some papers, but stopped mid-way and looked up to welcome his son home.

“I was beginning to think you might turn down this invitation as well,” his father said, shaking his head subtly. “When was the last time you’ve been home?’

“You said it was urgent,” Zayn replied, making himself slightly comfortable on the white couch away from the desk. “What happened?”

“So you wouldn’t have come home if it wasn’t.” It wasn’t posed as a question because both Zayn and his father knew the veracity of those words. Although Zayn loved his parents and could do anything for them, there were just some variants that made him weigh his choice each time he felt like coming over.

But when his mother had called the previous to inform him it was pretty important he was over at the house that morning, Zayn had at once, p