123 WHAT FAMILY REALLY IS

Deep down in Shamim's heart he wish to pour out everything he had just read to someone and seek advice on how to go about it. But he can't do that, it might affect his sister's well being. "Juvenal can I ask you something?"

"Sure you can." She says with a smile and adjusts herself to listen well.

"What will you do if your entire family lied to you about something for a very long time?"

"Actually, it depends on the type of lie. If it was for my sake or to put me in a better position."

"Really?" Shamim asks.

"Yes." Juvenal nods. "You know most times we tell lies to our loved ones just to put them in a better and Favorable condition."

"I disagree with that. I think you shouldn't even lie to someone you love."'

She laughs gently and says. "Let me give you a very good example, but promise not to get mad."

Shamim hesitates for a while as he wonders what kind of example will require his promise, but surrenders at last. "I promise."

"Can you tell Cassandra that your entire family isn't in support of your relationship?"

He smiles bitterly agreeing to her point. "No." He shakes his head.

"Why?" Juvenal asks again.

"Because I don't want to make her feel bad, and I want to put her in a favorable position." Shamim replies whispering.

"If she finds out, will she be happy or not?"

"She won't be happy." Shamim replies shaking his head again.

"So, can you now see that most times when you discover things like this or have a feeling that someone lied to you about something, most especially your loved ones, you have to try your best and consider them too."

He finds it very difficult to say anything. Everyone knows Juvenal to be a very smart lady, but Shamim has only thought she is a book smart, with what she just said, she just successfully proved his thoughts wrong. "Thank you." He appreciates with a smile.

"You are welcome." She returns the smile. "If you feel so bad about the lie, then I think you should talk to the person about it. Maybe, there is a reason for that."

"Is it possible for you to love someone who isn't your blood related to you like your blood?" Shamim asks already pouring his mind out.

"Of course." Juvenal nods sharply. "Blood is nothing my dear."

"Are you sure of that?" He asks already disagreeing with the idea in his mind.

"Yes, haven't you heard of news on how siblings kill each other? How blood related people betray and despise each other? Some of your family members will treat like a piece of trash, they hate on you, betray you and try to do all type of terrible things to you. But I can assure you that some of those people that you aren't blood related to will stay loyal to you, always have your back, be there for you and with you no matter what the case might be, many of your family members might not be able to do th-" Juvenal is forced to stop when she sees tears flowing out of Shamim's eyes. "Are you okay?" She asks wiping off his tears. "Did I say something terrible?"

Shamim shakes his head to reply as words can't just possibly come out of his mouth at the moment.

"Shamim, please tell me what exactly is wrong, what happened?" Juvenal asks with a lot of care still wiping off his tears.

"It's just that-" He stops for a while. "I just feel everything is just too much for me to handle." He sobs.

Juvenal runs to him and hugs him tightly. "Stop crying, it's going to be fine. I am here for you."

Just like how Ella felt a lot of comfort in the arms of Lola and Malik ten years ago, Shamim finds utmost comfort in the arms of Juvenal.

***************

If anyone had told Shamim that he wouldn't leave work early that day, he would actually deny it. But he tries his best to be like his sister Ella, no doubt she is incredibly strong. He walks into their mansion in the evening wearing a brighter look than earlier.

"Welcome." Kylie says as he embraces him in joy and happiness.

"Hi baby girl." Shamim replies with smiles and looks round the sitting room and he finds no one. "Whee is everyone?"

"Dad isn't back from work, Kim is sleeping, mom is preparing dinner and sister Ella is in her room looking for something." Baby Kylie replies with a lot of charm.

"When did Ella return?" He asks again.

"Some minutes ago." Kylie frowns a little and folds her arms. "I went into her room and she shouted at me to go out."

"Really."

"Yes." She nods. "I don't know what happened to her, she has never shouted at me for any reasons."

"Maybe she had a bad day at work." Shamim says trying to put in some good worked for his sister.

"Maybe." Kylie says and shrugs her shoulders. "I will talk to you later." She says and runs to the couch focusing on the new cartoon series that is about to be shown.

Shamim smiles at his and walks to the kitchen to greet his mom. "Hi baby girl."

"Who is your baby girl?" Lola asks as she stirs what she is cooking. "I am your mom, and your father's baby." She says teasingly.

"There you go again." He says already tired of listening to that statement every time. "You both are getting too old for this, I hope you know that."

"Getting old." Lola covers the pot and faces her son. "I am even pregnant." She rubs her tummy.

"You can't do that!" Shamim exclaims with his face turning very serious. "Pregnant how? Mom, me and Ella turned twenty three this year, how can you get pregnant again?"

"Why are you so worked out over me being pregnant? Are you the father of my baby?" She asks and burst into laughter.

"That prank was too expensive mom." He whispers and walks out