Dawn of Spring

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

"My girl, I'M BACK!"

Riya's voice echoed through the house with the power of a megaphone.

Neal Arya winced, covering his ears as he stood at the door. She was already halfway inside before he could say anything. Realizing her volume had just blasted someone's eardrums, she clasped her hands over her mouth dramatically.

"Oh my gosh, I am SO SORRY!" she gasped, tilting her head in mock horror. "Hi, I'm Riya! Partner in crime to your darling daughter. Not like actual crime, don't worry! Unless making too many pancakes counts as a felony. Ha! Anyway, you must be Uncle, right? Can I call you Uncle? Oh no, wait, is that weird? I mean, Ahana is like a sister to me, so it feels right! But if you hate it, just blink twice, and I'll stop!"

Before Neal could even process her avalanche of words, she spun on her heels and bounced into the living room, leaving him frozen in place.

"I love this place! It's SO cozy," Riya exclaimed, running her fingers over the edge of a cushion. "Ahana always talks about how her parents have the coolest vibes. Now I get it! Total cozy core!"

Neal shook his head, muttering something to himself as he trailed after her, joining his wife, Mita, who was already grinning at the whirlwind of energy in their home.

"Oh my gosh, you must be Auntie!" Riya cried, practically bouncing in place. "Can I hug you? I mean, you LOOK like a hugger. Am I right? Yes? Yes! I KNEW IT!"

Without waiting for an answer, she threw her arms around Mita, squeezing her tight. "Ahana wasn't kidding! You're, like, the warmest person EVER. It's like hugging sunshine!"

Mita laughed, patting her back. "Ahana will be thrilled to see you."

"Ahana talks about you guys all the time!" Riya gushed, stepping back but still holding Mita's hands in hers. "Like, seriously, she's always like, 'my mom's cooking could solve world peace' or 'my dad knows EVERYTHING about EVERYTHING.'  You guys are basically celebrities in my head!"

Mita smiled warmly. "That's sweet of her to say. We're happy to meet you too, Riya."

Riya's grin widened. "Eeee, I'm so excited! Okay, real talk, did Ahana tell you what today is? Huh? Huuuh?!"

Neal and Mita exchanged puzzled looks, silently debating whether it was a trick question.

"Um..." Neal started, squinting at her.

"Nooo? She didn't?!" Riya's mouth dropped open in mock betrayal. "UGH, she's so sneaky sometimes! Okay, I'll spill the beans. It's my BIRTHDAY!" She clapped her hands together and spun in a circle like a kid who'd just discovered candy. "I KNOW, right? So I thought, hey, everyone surprises the birthday girl, but what if I surprise my bestie instead? Genius, right? RIGHT?"

Before they could answer, she barreled on, "Anyway, where is she? Is she upstairs? In the kitchen? Oh wait, no, she's not here, is she?"

"She's not home at the moment," Mita said gently. "But I can give you the address where she is now."

"Yes, please! Ooo, write it down, Auntie! I mean, I love my phone, but honestly? Paper is the MVP of emergencies, like when your phone dies, and you're stranded, and—oh my gosh, I'm rambling again, aren't I? Just ignore me!"

Mita chuckled as she grabbed a notepad and jotted down the address.

"Here you go," she said, handing it to Riya.

Riya took it like it was a golden ticket. "Thank you, Auntie! You're the BEST. Like, literally the best! Okay, I'm off! I'll find her, give her the biggest birthday vibes, and maybe drag her to karaoke if she doesn't kill me first!"