Namaste

The Cranky expression still covered Rajesh's face. After the incident he just kept quiet, not a word came out of his mouth. Zoya was also silent and looking out to the people passing by and the row of shops along the road side.

She was sure, the young man was not lying by telling his mother died. Zoya could see the sadness and confusion on his handsome face.

Handsome? Suddenly she smiled. During four years in Boston she rarely saw Indian men, only White or Hispanic faces everywhere. Once in a while another east Asian face. That's what she often saw at least around her campus. She wasn't that interested in them. The face of India was more attractive to her because she felt closer culturally. And honestly she admitted that the young man was the most handsome Indian man she had seen since setting foot in Mumbai today. That's why she's not angry.

Her heart was wondering, who the hell was he? From his simple appearance, the man was nobody, just ordinary man like people out there. But his face seemed to have a magnet for women who saw him. She thought that if the man upgraded his appearance, people would believe that he was a Bollywood star.

Hey, why the hell are you thinking about him? Zoya seemed to have come to her senses. Just set foot in Mumbai had already thinking of guys? Don't worry too much about it, the stock of men were abundant in India and the men was not the center of her attention this time around.

Not long enough she was almost at the mansion of her family. The white-painted building with a large yard surrounded by a high fence looked more like a large bungalow with two floors. Three rooms downstairs and four rooms upstairs. There was a swimming pool and tennis court as well. That's where her family had lived for the last ten years. Previously, they lived in the Bandra West, but for it was too crowded, they moved to Juhu.

"Uncle, please don't tell anyone about the incident, okay?" said Zoya. Rajesh was silent and then nodded weakly.

"I'll take care of everything, just mum for words."

"Okay Miss!" That was all that came out of his mouth.

The electronic gate opened as the car was in front of the gate.

Home sweet home! She cheered in her heart. How nice to be back home. Surely her beloved family was waiting for her.

But the house seemed deserted, there was no sign of a welcome greet. Where were the people?

Just as the car stopped, Zoya jumped out, as if she couldn't wait to meet her parents and her two younger siblings, Rahul and Danishka.

"I am home!!" she shouted as she opened the door.

Quiet.

"I am home! Daddy, Mommy, Rahul, Danishka! I am home!"

"Hey, where are the people? Any body home?" she said louder.

Silence.

"Mom! Dad!" Zoya looked here and there, and kept calling.

"Welcome home, sweetheart!" a deep voice greeted her from behind the sofa. Zoya was a bit shocked, why her father was hiding behind the sofa? Then followed by three other heads, Mom and her two younger siblings.

"Namaste!!" they greeted in unison.

Zoya was flabbergasted. Why did they greet her in such a ridiculous way? What a stale greet, like in the movies. But they were laughing happily. Seeing them happy, Zoya couldn't help but smile with this welcome.

"Namaste!" Zoya cupped her palms in front of her chest and nodded her head. Her sister Danishka came forward and draped a garland around her neck. Her mother somehow dressed in Sari (it was rare for Zoya to see her mother wearing Sari) also came up and applied tilak, a grain of rice on her forehead.

Zoya even laughed at the behavior of her family who were very ceremonial to welcome her this time, just like Atithi Devo Bhava'. Not only that, she saw Naivedya's offering of fruit and sweets made of milk on the table. Vaguely, she also smelled of incense.

"Hey, I'm not a great guest. Don't treat me like a guest in my own house," she guffed but her family didn't listen at all.

Her father, Narendra Prasadh, smiled brightly.

"Do you know, why do we welcome you like this, young lady?"

"Why Daddy?"

"Because you are very precious in our hearts. You came home with good reputation as good as smell of incense. My daughter successfully graduated summa cum laude at the top university in US. It's not in vain that you had studied far away."

"It's my responsibility, Dad. You gave me the best, so did I."

"That's my girl!" said Narendra glancing at his wife and then at his two other children.

"Rahul, Danishka… your sister is an example. You both could be like her, if you really study heartily."

Danishka, a 16-year-old girl and Rahul, a 14-year-old, just smirked. But there was admiration in their eyes.

Zoya looked at Danishka. She is getting taller with a perfect body. Her black hair fell down to her shoulders. She looked more beautiful in her teens. Her eyes were round and her eyebrows are curved, which made her even more beautiful. Zoya was sure that if she entered the world of modeling, she would surely become a supermodel, or at least become Miss India at the Beauty Pageant. Honestly she admits, Danishka's beauty is two levels above her. But how could Narendra Prasadh want his children to become celebrities? Who will take care of the business in the future?

"Hey, Rahul! Why are you silent? You're not happy I am home?" asked Zoya teasing her youngest brother.

"I'm happy... but I don't know what to say," he replied casually. He's getting bigger now.

"Zoya, you must be hungry. I have prepared delicious meals for you. Do you want to eat now?" her mother asked.

"Not now, I'm not hungry yet."

"Let's eat now! I just can't wait too long for you to come. Mom forbade me, she said to wait for you to come home first," said Rahul honestly. The woman glared, but not angry.

"As you wish. Let's eat now."

"Let's do it at the pool side, huh? It must be more fun."

"No problem."

"After eating, let your sister to take a rest, first. She must be tired after such a long journey," Said her father.

The maids in the house immediately prepared everything and soon they were near the swimming pool eating and chatting.

Zoya was happy. Talking with a complete family member was very rare occasion because of their busy lives, especially for the father, Narendra Prasadh. As a conglomerate, of course his responsibility was so big to control a company whose assets are billions of dollars. There were tens of thousands of employees working in the companies he owned. Although he had director, and manager in every line, but everything was under his control. That's why they were rare to get a chance to gather like this.

But what made Narendra so happy this time was Zoya's return after studying in the US. His daughter would be his biggest hope in the future. In her hands later the control of the company was handed over. That's why Narendra had to start preparing his daughter for his successor. His other two children are still too young.

"How's the new car Daddy bought for you?" Rahul suddenly asked about the car that had picked her up . "Are you happy?"

"Oh yeah, you like it?" asked Narendra Prasadh looking at his daughter's face.

"No! I don't like it and I am not happy!" Zoya answered frankly. There were shocked expressions on their faces hearing Zoya's answer.

"Why aren't you happy?" asked Danishka in surprise.

"It doesn't suit me. Dad, why didn't you ask me first before buying me a car?"

"I deliberately didn't tell you so it would be a surprise. The car was your graduation gift," said Narendra Prasadh lightly.

"But you broke the rules that you made yourself about modesty. So far, you had never bought us expensive things. It is unnecessary and unimportant things. The substance of an thing is its function, not its prestige. Do you remember, Dad?"

"I do. I never forget about it!"

"Then why did you buy me a new BMW series? What for? Whatever the car, the function is the same! As a means of transportation. Even my old car still works."

Zoya remembered. Before she moved to America, she only had Premier Padmini car, occasionally Tata. She was okay to ride that car while her friends had European-made car. At least Mercedes. She didn't care about the taunts of his friends that she had stingy parents. After all, it didnt lessen her status as Narendra Prasadh's daugther.

"That car is a small present for you, Sweetheart! For your hard work, but that doesn't mean I'm breaking the rules that I made my self for you, kid."

"That car doesn't suit me!" Zoya protests.

"Then what suits you? Ferrari, Porsche? Lamborghini? Or Roll Royce? Say what you want! I'll buy it for you."

"Dad! that's not what I meant! Using a luxury car on the busy streets of Mumbai is really not suitable. Inefficient and only creates social jealousy."

"Hey, it's just a normal car for us. Can't you see how many luxury cars are on the streets of Mumbai right now? Nobody's jealous. It's only your feeling because you're used to riding in Padmini. But if you don't want to, okay, I'll buy a Bajaj for you, so the impression is more populist." Narendra Prasad chuckled.

The two siblings laughed too. Zoya was just silent.

"You should be grateful, Sis!," said Rahul.

"Yeah, I should be grateful. Oh, Praise Lord Krishna!" Zoya said raising her hand and looking up at the sky. Her siblings laughed again.

"Okay, I think the welcome greet is enough. I have to go back to the office. I will go to the site of our new textile factory. You just keep talking. If you want to rest, that's fine too. I'm going now, worried I'm late."

The Fifty-eight years old man rose from his seat. His assistant and bodyguard, Rajesh Kumar was already waiting and on standby not far from the door.

"Okay. Be careful."

The man walked away.

Information:

Atithi Devo Bhava' is a way of welcoming guests in Indian Hindu culture which means guests are like gods