Chapter 31

I finished off my side of the designs and sent them ,I finalized all my things and ensured that any work related things would not interfere with my journey.

"So you are leaving?" Ayesha asked looking at me sadly.

"Yes but I will be back ,it's just a matter of months and I will be back ,"I said as I hugged her .

"We will miss you ,I will miss you considering I am your manager and without you I am jobless ,"Nobuhle said as she joined the hug .

"You won't be jobless you will still have to run some errands for me here and there ,"I said.

"Flight A32 passengers who are flying to Mumbai please get to gate 4," the intercom announced .

"Let's take a picture together before I leave New York,"I said getting my camera .We asked someone to take a group picture of us and after the mini photo shoot I walked away to board my flight .

I finally arrived in Mumbai the next day tired ,I took some pictures in the plane too.I hadn't told anyone home that I was coming back home ,so I got a cab to take me there straight .Being back in India after so long was great ,it was refreshing and I felt at home .We arrived at our house and I stood by the gate taking in my beautiful surroundings and snapping some pictures ,I rang the gate bell .

"Good day welcome to the Ambani household ,how may we help?" Mr. Singh said ,our close family helper.

"Mr. Singh open up it's me ,Kaju barfi ," I said smiling .

"Oh heavens Kaju ,is that you dear ?" he asked surprised .The gate opened and I pulled my suitcase inside ,as I walked in I saw Mr. Singh standing by the entrance smiling he was old now but he had refused to retire .

"Mr. Singh ," I said hugging him .

"Dear welcome home ,you didn't mention that you were coming home,"he said .

"I wanted to surprise you ,did you like the surprise ?"I asked.

"Certainly I did ,welcome home,"he said .Ms. Chatruvedi ,whose name is Chenni ,came and assisted me with my bags .

"Where is everyone?" I asked looking around the empty house that had servants passing by time to time, "They went to attend Mr. And Mrs. Rathore's daughter's wedding they will be back later in the evening," Chenni said.

"Aaliyah is getting married?" I asked sitting on the couch . "Yes she is to Armaan Raaizada ," Mr. Singh said sitting next to me.

"Wow they fought so much I wouldn't have guessed they would get married ,who am I kidding I am not surprised I knew they would get married one day," I said .

"You always did ,so Anika why the sudden surprise visit ?"Chenni asked sitting close to me ,she was a year older than me but we were friends . She was more of family than a worker in our house , "I missed everyone and I wanted a break from work ,I needed to just relax,"I said .

"It's nice to have you back home ," she said smiling happily.

We talked for some hours and she helped me set my room and i freshened up ,we were now in the lounge just chatting .Mr. Singh had long gone home.

"I am off to bed if you do need anything please do wake me up ," Chenni said .

"All clear ,have a blessed night," I said smiling with my thumbs up ,she waved and made her way to her bedroom to sleep .I was wearing my night wear and had ice cream and cake next to me as I prepared to watch a movie ,my family wasn't back yet .As I was watching 'A fall from Grace' I heard cars parking outside and I knew they were finally back .I switched off the Tv quickly and switched off the lights and went to hide in the kitchen .

"Aaliyah looked so beautiful tonight I can't wait for Anashe to get married soon ," my aunt said .

"Yeah and Armaan ,what a sweet boy ," another aunt said .

"I am tired these clothes and jewelry are heavy ," my cousin said .

They entered the house and switched on the lights , "Someone was having a party but ended it so early left the ice cream and cake out ," my other cousin said .

"Chenni doesn't eat all this dairy and Mr. Singh has long gone home .Who could have eaten that?"

"You know only one person eats ice cream with cake ," I said walking towards them.

"Yes Kaju does but she - Kaju!"my aunt said turning towards my direction with shock in her eyes ,everyone turned and looked at me and they all rushed to hug me.

"When did you get here ?"

"Are you here for work ?"

"We missed you so much?"

"Are you on vacation?"

"So many questions at once slow down ,I got here earlier this day ,I am not here for work ,I missed you too and yes I am on a vacation ,"I answered them.

"I am so excited ,you promised to teach me how to dance ,"my cousin sister said.

"And you promised to show me your workout routine."

"And you promised to cook with me ."

"You promised to take me out."

"You promised to help me plan my wedding ."

"Yes and that's why I am here ,each day I will fulfil all my promises and on my last day here we will go out as a family and spend the entire day to ourselves ,sounds fun?"

"Yess!!"

"Where is dad?" I asked as my cousin and I prepared our bed to sleep , "He had an emergency at the hospital so that's where he went ,your stomach has gotten a little big it shows you are taking care of yourself and enjoying .At least you are not starving yourself ," she said as she got into the bed sheets .

"I am happy ,why wouldn't I be?" I said smiling as I also got into the sheets.

I felt someone hug me tight as I was still in my sleep ,I opened my eyes slowly and I saw that it was dad , "Dad,"I said in a tired voice.

"Chocolate pumpkin," he said smiling .

"Papa ,I missed you.," I said hugging him again.

"Me too baby ,you are really here.What about work ? "

"Oh work ,I am on a hiatus to focus on myself and you guys ,I need to make up for lost time,"I said .

"I am glad ,we have a lot to do ."

"Definitely!" I said high fiving him.