A STRANGE ENCOUNTER

After a joyous reunion, they went downstairs for lunch. All the dishes spread on the table were Sheena's favourite.

"Dear, now that you are back. What have you decided to do?"

"I have thought nothing yet grandpa; I want to rest and look around for a few days."

"Good child, rest and get used to this place. After all, you are back after a long time."

Guessing he wanted to say something but hesitated, Sheena rested her hand on his.

"Grandpa, is there something you want to say?"

Old man nodded and continued, "I was thinking when you would be going to join the family business."

Not wanting her to misunderstand him, he continued,

"Not that I want to hurry you up. But I want you to claim what belongs to you as soon as possible. Otherwise some bunch of jackals are always on the way to snatch it up, right?"

Both chuckled. Sheena nodded as she understood why he was concerned about this.

"You don't have to worry, grandpa. You worked hard for me until now. Do you think I'll let it all go to anybody else?" She said as she smiled at him, making him relieved.

Indeed, he didn't have to worry about her; he raised her, and she was an identical copy of him. The senior Master of Panache group made the entire business world bow down to him in his time, and his granddaughter was no less than him.

............…

The next days were peaceful and the granddaughter grandpa duo was back to their usual childish selves, enjoying every moment to the fullest as it passed.

As Sheena was back in the town, of course she had to surprise Ash and Anne. So, she came up with a plan. With the help of some old school friends, she invited them to their usual meeting place.

It was still early, so Sheena walked around before heading to the cafe.

Walking through those streets again, breathing the same air as five years ago, it calmed her down to the core. She was in a trance as she realized she was already at the intersection. She was about to cross the road when she heard some noise behind. As she turned to look, she saw an elderly man with baskets. It seemed his fruits had fallen on the road and he was getting down to pick them up. Sheena rushed to help, but the man was at a distance. Before she could reach him, he was already down, picking them up. As she was walking towards him, she saw a motorbike at high speed approaching him; she ran to him and covered him from behind, wrapping both her hands around his shoulders.

Grandpa lookout!!

Before the old man could realise it, there was a loud screech. He turned his face to see what was going on behind him. The first thing he saw was a girl's face covered with her long, black and silky hair. He was mesmerized at once, as he saw the girl realising that they were safe. Her expression was one of fear as she tilted her head up to look at him. Then she carefully lifted him up with both her hands and checked if he was fine.

"Grandpa, are you fine? " She asked him seriously before turning to the person on the motorbike.

"Are you blind? Is this how you ride a motorbike? The basic safety driving rules are taught to primary kids,I think you should go attend school again."

She was fierce. The old man was looking straight at her, not being able to take his eyes off her.

"Grandpa don't you worry,. I'll call the police. They think that people walking on the roads are insects, so it's fine to crush them??"

"Let me tell you, mister, they're not." She turned to the biker as she said.

He panicked at once. "

Madam, I'm sorry, I was over speeding. Please let me go. I would not be doing it again. I'm so sorry."

"Not me, him. Apologize to him."

"Sorry sir, here let me help you."

"No, no you can go."

The biker nodded and left. As if scared she would report him.

Just after the motorbike left. Sheena turned to the old man,

"Grandpa, you were at wrong too. Do you know how dangerous it is for you to walk on these roads alone with such heavy baskets. What if something happened to you?? What would you family do, huh?"

"So now she was scolding him like she was his mother." The old man smiled at her reaction.

Sheena realised his change in expressions. She frowned subconsciously.

"Or wait, does your family not care about you to leave you here alone?"

"I'm so sorry."

The old man couldn't help but laugh to himself. She was still frowning, but rather than saying anything she bent down to pick up the fruits, rubbed them on her jeans carefully before putting them in the basket.

The old man was carefully noticing her. He was about to bend down to join her. But she got up, made him sit on the side and got him a bottle of juice.

"Here, drink this first. Let me do it for you."

The old man was observing her actions. It would be wrong to say he wasn't pleased at all.

After she was done, she picked both the baskets. They were indeed heavy. Walking to him, she waited for him to finish his juice.

He quickly got up,

"Here, let me hold them."

"No, I'll do it. Grandpa, I can't let you leave alone. Let me drop you home."

"No, child, you've done enough for me. How can I let you carry these? I'll be fine."

"No, I'm not listening to you, or are you afraid I'll eat your fruits?"

Both laughed at each other. They walked down the street as they talked.

Sheena realised he seemed no ordinary man from his aura and presence. He had a nobility in him, a charming aura surrounding him. Nobody could deny it. But as she thought about how the old man was today on the street, she suppressed all her thoughts. She literally felt bad for him.

'What would have happened if she wasn't there on time.'

Soon they reached the end of the road. A young man in loose t-shirts and pants ran up to the old man.

"You again left alone?? If you wanted to have fruits, you should have told me, I would have gone to get them for you. But please don't do this. You know how scared I get."

The old man was looking expressionlessly at him. The guy looked behind him as a realisation crossed his mind. He looked at Sheena, who was standing behind his master, and went to her.

"Miss, sorry for troubling you with this. Let me hold it up from here."

Sheena handed over the baskets to him.

"Grandpa you have to listen to him alright? Take care of yourself."

"But you did so much for me. I didn't even thank you properly".

"Here, take this basket with you."

"No, no grandpa. Since when do the elderly have to thank children? I'm happy that I could be of your help. And these fruits, I know you might have picked them up yourself. Please keep them."

The old man smiled at her and both waved goodbye to each other as Sheena turned and went on her way.

As she left, the old man's eyes darkened.

"Why do you have to appear at the wrong time? Anyway, what do you think?"

"I think these fruits are fresh; the assistant said as he took a bite of a fresh cherry."

Old man tapped his head.

"Not these, you fool. The girl, what do you think about her?"

"Oh the girl, she seems good. Why? Oh nooooo, Don't tell me you are in love??"

The old man couldn't help but smack his head.

"Bastard, do you think I'm after girls at this age?? Not for me…. for Kelvin."

Just as he mentioned Kelvin, the old guy looked speechlessly at the old man.

"Sir, are you reading too many romance novels these days? You're fantasizing about something impossible."

The old man couldn't help but sigh to himself.

..............................