After a long while, I finally got up and boarded the bus to the work. I pushed through the Church Street until I get to the Naimie's Street.Huh! Finally! I had reached. I looked for the receptionist for I wanted to know about HR sir's presence.I looked here and there, probably she was there in the washroom. I sat down on the chair while controlling my emotions and waited for the receptionist.It was already more than 10 minutes. I could not afford to waste my time anymore. So, slipped away from there. “Is HR sir available?” I asked one of the staff. While I was on my way to my cabin, I met one of the staff.“Yes, he is there in the office.” He replied. "Ah! finally." I let out a sigh.“Is it possible to meet him now? Can you let me know?” I asked him politely and humbly. Requested."Okay, ma'am. Please wait here, I shall return in few minutes."Oh! JesusNeed your help.. . “Madam, you can go.” A voice came from behind while I was seated on the chair outside HR sir’s room.“Oka
Christiana's point of view Ough! I got off work exactly at 6 p.m. and returned home as soon as possible. I blared the loud music to hear nothing from outside and figure out things. Huh! All in vain. My hands were still shaking whilst having dinner. I was sitting in my thoughts. Though it had been more than a couple of hours since I had come from the office. I cannot tell why I was shaking. Was it the fear of not arranging the money or because of having the dinner hurriedly? Or was it my job? With the constant work traffic at the workplace and my issues, it was rare that I could find peace. I longed for peace that day more than any other day before. I barely got any time to figure out things that happened in recent days. I was already dealing with my contract marriage and job then. Moreover, a major part of me was dormant. But God had to test my patience more. There were only a few days left in my hands. I had to arrange the money anyhow to get my brother's bail. I wanted him o
Christiana's point of view Before coming up to that conclusion, I had a miserable time. MISERABLE. I was crying, yelling, and slamming doors. My stomach was twisting, my hands were trembling, and my cheeks were burning. I was scared! BROKEN HEARTED. HEAVY HEART. SUNK HEART I was weighed down by the feeling of sadness. My heart sank all the more after heading towards the place where I was not supposed to. With flaccid muscles, drooping eyelids, red eyes, and a hanging head, I approached the person I was not supposed to. I wasn’t. Yes. Huh! Why did I even go there? How did I even think that she will help me out? Never. Never means. I was such a fool to approach her. Such an idiosyncratic soul I was. She – may stepmother. Ough! Yes, I met her finally. All those days I had made excuses about her name, but that day I went to her place. Her place. It ain’t her place, it was my parents' place. The dream world that they had created, love, affection and hard-earned money were the base and
It was almost 11:30 in the morning. I approached the bus stand took the bus and reached BURBANK’S CAFÉ on time. Yes! Alivia and I were to reach the café by noon. Alivia had already warned me to be on the time. So, I decided to be there early. When it came to both of us, we probably had different definitions for what it meant to reach at the time. But that day was different. I glanced at my wristwatch, it was around ten minutes left until noon. After waiting for a while finally, I called Alivia.“Hello! Where are you?”“On my way to the café. Will be there by noon.”“It is already noon.”“Oh! shoot. Don’t tell me you are already at the café.”“Hahaha! Yes, I am there.” I grinned.“Ah! No… how come?” She sighed. “Anyways, I’ll be there in five minutes.” She continued.“Huh!” I took a deep breath. She was to be there in a few minutes. The whole night I had been thinking about how to put my things before her. Again, the same awkwardness and fear were occupying my mind. I knew what to do
Christiana’s point of view Have you ever been done with life? Every day, life keeps on testing us. And we ought to have patience and endeavor. Even if it is difficult, we need to hold ourselves until the goal is reached. Becoming weak is not at all an option. That was how I was feeling that day. Ring. Ring. Ring The doorbell rang for the third time. I did not want to turn to it. “Aaargh! Who else will be there except my dearest husband? When will this stop?” I mumbled while frowning. With heavy and fast steps, I approached the door. “What is wrong with you? Did you not hear the bell ring? Where were you?” Tiger yelled at me while glaring. I furrowed my eyebrows listening to his set of questions. “I was in the washroom,” I told him a lie. I did not want to indulge in an unnecessary fight with him. So, just escaped from that situation. Above all, I needed to persuade him to sign a loan agreement with me. Priority – that was my priority. . . I brought him a cup of latte while he
Christiana’s point of viewCreak. Creak. Creak.I could hear heavy walking steps approaching towards my room. The walking steps weren’t familiar. I was a little taken aback.“Is it of Tiger? I doubt.”Ring. Ring. Ring.The doorbell rang, and the fear took everything in me. I was standing a few inches away from the door. I got up and went to see whoever was on the other side of the door.Holy Jesus!Tiger, yes, it was Tiger.Oh! Shit.I came back opening the door.Fluttered!He fluttered his lashes and opened his eyes again and again. Tiger literally blinked his eyes more than five times to confirm the view in front of him. He wasn’t able to avert his eyes from me.“Am I looking like a clown?” I tittered whilst mirroring myself. His gaze made me doubt myself.“No… in fact you are….” He muttered. Squinted! He squinted his eyes whilst having my view from top to bottom. His mouth fell wide open in awe as he was awestruck by the frame in front of him.When he came inside the room, I had fr
Christiana’s point of view“All good.” Tiger spoke.“Yeah! I am fine.” I tried to escape him. Though failed miserably. “Really?” He doubted me yet again.“Yes, will you stop your nuisance. I need to go off to sleep.” I snapped at him for I wanted to ignore the situation. “Yes, yes. I will keep shut.” He sounded quite weird. “Better.” I replied.“By the way, when are you going to tell me the factuality?” Jesus. I thought he was to doze off. But no, I was wrong. He started intriguing me. “What factuality?” I spoke to him in a very casual tone. “Well, factuality. That very factuality you wanted to tell me from two days, but you aren’t telling me.” He had probably figured out that I was up to something. He had read my face. “Yeah, yeah! I read your face. But ain’t that talented. Didn’t get everything. So, do me a favor and tell me what is it.” He added further. “Umm…” I stammered. “Yes, yes. Carry on.” He said to me while holding my hands. Is he fooling me again? No, no, not again.
Christiana’s point of viewDamn! I melted there. “Is he so nice?” I mumbled. “Are you okay?” He said to me again while looking to and fro and, into my eyes without blinking as he assesses the pain inside me. My shoulders began to shake, my heart started racing, and hurt-filled tears rolled down my eyes to my cheeks. “No, I am a little in shock,” I replied holding myself.“Why, what happened?” He spoke very softly looking at me with utmost affection and concern. He squeezed every emotion within me “You are so concerned…. You are, Tiger. You…” The realization of what happened was more special than what he did.“Umm… Well, I… Actually… How to say.” I could feel his awkwardness.“I was……” Tiger stumbled over his words as a vocal mirror of his thoughts. Solicitude. I could see in his eyes. He experienced me, though he showed it differently.Abruptly. Tiger wrapped his arm around my shoulder – not that tight but he did.I felt his arms and hands go around my frame and he picked me up gent
The warm summer breeze rustled through the trees outside the porch, where Christiana and Tiger sat together on their favorite wooden swing. They watched as their daughter Stella, a recent college graduate, sat across from them, her eyes filled with a mixture of excitement and uncertainty. It was time for a heart-to-heart conversation about her future goals.Christiana gently clasped Tiger's hand and smiled at Stella. "My dear, we've been so proud of you for graduating alongside your brothers, Robert and Gabriel. Your journey has just begun, and we want to know what you're thinking for the near future."Stella's gaze shifted from her parents to the horizon, as if searching for answers in the distance. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "Well, Mom, Dad, I've been doing some soul-searching lately. College has opened my eyes to countless possibilities, and I want to make the most of them."Tiger nodded, encouraging Stella to continue. "That's wonderful, Stella. You have so much po
Robert's heart raced as he watched Alena walk across the college campus. Her radiant smile lit up the surroundings, captivating everyone who caught a glimpse of her. They had been classmates from the very beginning, sharing countless moments of laughter and learning together. But now, as they stood on the precipice of graduation, Robert's feelings for Alena had taken an unexpected turn, blossoming into something more profound and intense.Every time he saw her, his heart skipped a beat. Her enchanting eyes, her infectious laughter, and her kind-hearted nature had woven themselves into the fabric of his existence. Yet, he couldn't find the courage to tell her how he felt. The fear of rejection and the potential loss of their friendship held him back, leaving him trapped in a bittersweet limbo.As the days passed, a heavy cloud of melancholy settled over Robert. The knowledge that Alena would be leaving for London soon, pursuing her dreams and carving her path in life, intensified his i
The sun shone brightly over the charming town of Meadowbrook, where the lives of Christiana, Tiger, Helen, Simon, Lucy, and Abraham had unfolded. The passing of time had woven new stories into the fabric of their lives, and now, 25 years later, their children had grown into remarkable individuals.Stella Kelvin, the daughter of Christiana and Tiger, had inherited her mother's grace and her father's determination. Her golden curls cascaded down her shoulders, framing a face that exuded both intelligence and kindness. Stella had always been curious about the world, constantly seeking new adventures to embark upon. At the age of 26, she had just returned from a research expedition to the Amazon rainforest, where she had been studying the diverse flora and fauna.Gabriel Kelvin, son of Helen and Simon, possessed his father's sharp intellect and his mother's warm heart. His deep-set hazel eyes mirrored the depths of his compassion and his fiery spirit. A talented artist, Gabriel had forged
Christiana sat on the couch, gazing out of the window with a wistful expression. Her fingers traced absentminded patterns on the armrest, her thoughts consumed by the absence of her brother-in-law Simon and his wife, Helen. The couple had recently moved into their new home across town, and though Christiana should have been happy for their new beginnings, she couldn't help but feel a sense of emptiness in her heart.Beside her, Tiger, her loving husband, noticed her melancholy and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. They had always been a close-knit family, and the sudden void left by Simon and Helen's absence was hard to ignore. Christiana turned to meet Tiger's gaze, her eyes filled with longing."Tiger," she sighed, "I miss them so much. Our house feels incomplete without them."Tiger nodded understandingly. He too missed the lively presence of their beloved family members. The house seemed quieter, the laughter less frequent, and the familiar warmth that Simon and Helen brou
Christiana woke up with a sense of excitement tingling through her veins. It was the day she had been eagerly awaiting—the day she and her husband, Tiger, would take her brother, Abraham, shopping for his engagement. Abraham and his girlfriend, Lucy, had decided to take their relationship to the next level and were planning to get engaged in just a few weeks' time.As she prepared breakfast, Christiana's mind raced with ideas of what Abraham and Lucy's engagement could be like. She envisioned a beautiful garden party, adorned with twinkling lights and vibrant flowers, where family and friends would come together to celebrate their love. The thought brought a smile to her face as she poured steaming coffee into two mugs.Tiger joined her at the breakfast table, his eyes still heavy with sleep. But Christiana knew that beneath his grogginess, he shared her excitement. They had always been a team, supporting each other through life's ups and downs. Today was no different, as they would h
The soft glow of the fireplace cast a warm and inviting light throughout the cozy living room, where Christiana and Tiger sat together, sipping their evening tea. The crackling of the logs in the hearth provided a soothing background melody as they settled into their favorite armchairs. The events of the day had given rise to a topic of discussion that had been lingering in their minds, weighing on their hearts. Abraham and his recent marriage.Christiana's eyes were fixed on the dancing flames as she spoke, her voice laced with a mixture of concern and curiosity. "Tiger, have you ever thought about Abraham's marriage? It feels like such a sudden and unexpected turn of events. I can't help but wonder if he made the right decision."Tiger leaned back, his brow furrowing in contemplation. He took a deep breath before responding, his voice filled with empathy. "I've pondered the same, my love. Abraham has always been independent, following his own path, unyielding to the expectations of
Christiana stood in front of the mirror, adjusting her dress and smoothing down her hair. She couldn't help but feel a flutter of excitement in her chest. Today was a special day—it was her brother Abraham's birthday, and she and Tiger had planned a surprise party for him. Abraham had come to stay with them for a few days, and Christiana wanted to make his visit memorable.In the living room, the sound of laughter and chatter filled the air as Tiger welcomed the guests. They had invited a small group of close friends and family to celebrate Abraham's special day. The room was adorned with colorful balloons and streamers, and a long table was set up with delicious snacks and treats.Christiana glanced at the clock and realized it was almost time to reveal the surprise. She took a deep breath and walked out of her room, making her way downstairs. As she reached the bottom of the stairs, the guests erupted into cheers and applause."Surprise!" they shouted in unison, and Christiana could
Tiger paced back and forth in the grand living room of the Kelvin palace, his mind racing with worry and frustration. Christiana, his wife, watched him with a heavy heart. They both knew that their family was on the verge of yet another painful split. Simon and Helen, Christiana's brother-in-law and sister-in-law, had made the difficult decision to leave the Kelvin business empire, driven by a deep sense of disappointment and resentment.The root of the problem lay in Tiger's denial of Simon's long-awaited promotion. Simon had dedicated six months of hard work and unwavering loyalty to the Kelvin business. He firmly believed that he deserved recognition for his efforts and a chance to prove himself in a higher position. However, despite his qualifications and capabilities, the higher authorities had refused to acknowledge his potential.Christiana reached out and gently touched Tiger's arm, attempting to calm his inner turmoil. "Tiger, I understand that family dynamics can be complica
Christiana sat in her favorite armchair in the living room, a cup of steaming tea in her hands. The sound of raindrops tapping against the windowpane provided a soothing backdrop to her thoughts. It had been a long day, and she was looking forward to a quiet evening at home.Her attention was momentarily interrupted by the distant sound of the front door closing. She recognized the voices of her sister-in-law, Helen, and her brother-in-law, Tiger. Curiosity piqued, Christiana put her cup down and discreetly positioned herself closer to the open doorway, hoping to catch snippets of their conversation.Tiger's voice was low, tinged with frustration. "I don't understand why Simon isn't happy. He's only been with us for a few months, and already he's expecting a higher position. It's not fair."Christiana's heart skipped a beat. Simon, Tiger's cousin, had joined Tiger's office after his own business had gone bankrupt. Initially, Christiana had been relieved to hear that Simon was finding