AAHARA

UNANNOUNCED.

For the first few seconds, the truth didn't sink in. It was as if my mind refused to believe that Naana seriously left me here. Naana wouldn't do this. I kept repeating that to myself. Naana was always the one to stand behind me, supporting me. No matter what the situation was. Somewhere all along I knew, deep down, that he will indeed leave me in this house. I knew he needed to do something and what that thing was, I had no idea.

As if sensing my turmoil, Dad walked upto me. He held the same expression as before. Stonic.

"He left while you were hugging Aahar." His statement kept ringing in my ears as if telling my mind to catch up and react yet I still didn't move a muscle.

Naana wouldn't do this.

Naana wouldn't do this.

He was never one to run away like that. He would have faced the situation head on. Naana didn't believe in fleeing like that. Yet that's what he exactly did. Couldn't he at least call my name to tell me, before actually leaving? Couldn't he wait a little longer? Couldn't he take me with him?

Then I heard a soft sigh and felt a hand holding my chin gently and turning me around so, I could come face-to-face with the person himself. Dad. He lifted my chin up and I made eye contact with him.

"Don't cry love. He had urgent business to attend to that's why he had to leave. He will come back to meet you. Soon." There was a bit of a pause before he said soon. As if he added it to improve his words on a second thought. I didn't like that. Why does he gets to know about Naana's business when I don't?! I lived all my life with him but Dad is the one he tells everything to.

That's unfair.

Then with his free hand he took out his silk handkerchief from his pocket and wiped my tears with it, which I had subconsciously spilled. He then went ahead to caresse my cheek. All the while, looking at me as if he was looking at something precious. His eyes held the same tingle as before. Yet my mind was still too preoccupied with Naana's disappearance that I couldn't feel anything else.

"Why? Why did he leave without telling me?" I might have felt that he would leave me the moment I turned around but I actually didn't expect him to just disappear like that. Unannounced. Naana wasn't like that. He just wasn't. It was very unlike him. Very much.

"Because he knew that if he did you won't let him leave." Dad's voice was firm and I could tell that he was telling the truth. I didn't believe him though. I knew that Naana was a hard headed man. He did exactly what he wanted to do and what he wanted to do was exactly what he said. Like I knew that even if he murdered somebody he would own up the crime as if it was nothing. That was just the man he was. Okay that metaphor went too far but hey you all got the idea. Naana truly was unique.

"That's a lie. He always did what he wanted to. He wouldn't have stopped for me." Saying things like these out loud hurt but the fact the Naana left me had finally managed to get into my head and that left a bitter feeling behind.

"And that's where you are wrong. You don't even know the lengths he would go for you." I just kept looking at his face like a total creep but hey the guy had some serious problems with his way of reassuring people.

"Now let's get you get settled in. Let me show you your room." He then startled me with his nonchalant attitude. Like a minute ago he was wiping my tears and now he is ignoring them. He turned around ready to walk away and I quickly wiped my tears to stop the pity party. I will continue it in my room.

Naana had already left so there wasn't exactly anything other than that which I could do. So, I followed Dad. Only then realising that we were alone. All my brothers had left.

Well it wasn't like I could expect much from them. They all were hostile in the first place.

Dad led me through the stairs to the first floor of the house. We ended up walking though a corridor that was filled with painting. Some were just about natural scenery, some depicted historic prints and well some were exotic, too exotic if you ask me. When Dad saw me eyeing the last pictures he sighed.

"I am sorry Love. I didn't get the time to do renovations before you moved in. I will have them replaced." Dad's voice didn't betray any emotions. He had that business like tone that all the people are scared of. Like his statements sounded more like declarations. Yet I told myself not to judge everybody this quickly. It was a bad habit afterall.

Then we stopped in front of a door that had my name engraved on it with gold paint, in a beautiful script. Aahara.

Dad opened the door for me and I stepped in. Him following shortly after. The room was really cute. It had a grey theme. All the walls were grey. Although a little shade of white and black, though decorations were also present. A king size bed with a black frame and white blankets and sheets on it. Accompanied by the bed holding curtains and lights. Which I absolutely loved.

I loved lights on my bed so I could keep them on thoughout the night as they gave a soft glow and also I was a little afraid of the dark, not that I will ever admit it. The room was completed with a gaint desk with my stationary stuff and laptop already arranged on it, along with all the other furniture like couches, tables and shelfs. With a walk in closet, balcony and a gigantic restroom. All with the same grey theme.

Dad patiently waited for me while I explored my room. During my stay with my grandparents, we lived in the same way. With all the luxury and comforts. Yet I do have to admit that whoever designed this room put in a lot of effort. When done with my exploration I went back to Dad.

"Hope you liked your room? If you want you can change anything though we renovated it according to your linking."

"I love it but how did you know about my links?" I already had a suspension about this as I knew everything was too perfect to be a just a coincidence.

"Your Naana told us everything of course." Dad made it sound like the most obvious thing in the world which it kinda was but somehow it felt like a lie. He seemed to notice my suspicion so he said that I should take rest and we will talk later at dinner, to which I agreed. He probably wanted to give me some space.