Chapter Two

                                               2. CHAPTER TWO

Fixing his collar and straightening out the few creases on his red t-shirt, Jay made his way down to breakfast. He always got up early. Unlike other children of famous children, just like his dad was, a business tycoon, he wasn’t a little bit spoiled. This was partly a result of the magnificent upbringing of his mother and partly the competent and inspiring character of his father.

 As he stepped into the dining room, he was greeted by the brilliant aroma of his mother’s exceptional cooking. Likewise, this was one of his mother’s old habits. Even though there were about half a dozen cooks in the kitchen itself, Emma Aston believed in cooking for her loved ones herself. She managed to do it for either one of the dishes at breakfast, lunch and dinner too. She was almost as steadfast to this practice of hers as Jay was to getting up early and exercising before breakfast. And she handled her job skillfully. Jay found his seat and settled down. His dad was present at the table. His mother was not.  She was probably in the kitchen whipping up something nutritious for the family. Helping himself to some grape juice, Jay addressed his father who was busy reading the morning paper.

 “Morning, Dad! What’s up?”

 At the same time he saw his mother coming in followed by a few servants carrying tray laden with breakfast goodies. 

His father set down the paper smiled and then replied, “Well I am doing great! And I have some great news for you!”

 Jay frowned at his dad. “You do?”

 His dad smiled and asked, “Well aren’t you going to ask what it is?”

 Jay shifted his questioning gaze from his mother to his father. His mother stifled a smile at his puzzled look. Jay frowned. His parents did an awesome job always making up different things for him to guess. Here was another one. Great.

 “Why don’t you have some breakfast first, dear?” His mother asked him.

 Jay took and transferred a pancake to his plate and looked up again. Picking up his knife and fork, he shrugged at his father, “So what is it?”

 Though he had addressed his father, it was his mother was the one who replied, a slight smile forming on her pretty face. “Jay! I don’t know how you would take this, but we would be a taking a little holiday…. Obviously we had been to numerous places, but this is going to be a bit different. London. Actually, more like, the edge of London. Just for a short while. Not more than a year. So what do you think?” 

Jay stared at her, obviously too lost for words to come up with a reply immediately. “Oh!” was all he could manage at the moment. “Well, that is……… unexpected! “. He finally decided. His mother let out a laugh at his lost expression.

 “Jay!” She waved a hand in front of him. “Are you still with us?” 

“What? Oh yes.” Jay muttered returning to his previously abandoned breakfast. He played with it for a while absentmindedly and then questioned his parents again. “Anyways, what with the, you know sudden plan? Is everything Ok?”  This time it was his father who answered him.

 “Yes, Jay! Everything is Ok. You remember that recent project I was talking to you about the other day? It is on the suburbs of the London, next to a marsh. That place is a large stretch of unused land but depicts real beauty all year around. However, it has remained deserted for over 10 years now. A few other businessmen along with me decided to invest in the place to revive it back to life. The work going on there is almost complete. We are going to go there and inspect for a while. I am sure you would love it!”

 Jay’s mother however, looked at him suspiciously and asked him, “Is it OK with you Jay? I mean you have loads of friends here plus you don’t always get used to new places. If you do have any issues, do let us know. We can drop the idea.” She smiled and fondled with his hair lovingly. “Nothing is more important than my prince!”

 Jay moved away biting his lips to keep from grinning. His mother knew exactly how much he hated that nickname and yet always used it, just to annoy him.  “No mom! I am cool. I was just surprised. That’s all. You know I wouldn’t mess up your plans.”

 “Now that’s what I love about you, Jay!” His dad exclaimed proudly puffing up his chest. “By the way, just to tell you, Dawn and her family would be joining us too.”

 Jay looked at his father intently apparently surprised. “Really? That’s great!”

 “Yeah you wouldn’t be alone then.” His mother smiled at him probably happy to see his building enthusiasm.

 “When do we leave, dad?” Jay asked, getting up from the dining table, wiping his hands with a paper napkin.

 “I think you better start packing. We leave a day later by the 12 a.m flight.”

 “Ok. Thanks. Good surprise dad.”

 “Oh no! You don’t know about the surprise yet. But I bet you’d love it.” His father let out a loud laugh and cleared up his misconception. 

“What on earth? God, Dad!” Jay could hardly hide his annoyed tone. “Why did his parents have him guessing all the time?” He pushed back his chair with more force than he intended to and it squeaked in protest against the spotless marble floor. His mother hid an amused smile. Jay got up irritated by his dad’s last sentence. Anyways he had no intentions of doing anything that would by anyway spoil his parent’s plans. Two can play at this game. He thought and smiled.

 “I see. Well I have no issues at all.” He told his parents and saw heartwarming smiles light up their faces. He had always been a wonderful son, no doubt about that. 

“I better see to the packing up program,” he spoke quietly and turned to leave. “I’d bet anything, Mom isn’t going to be too happy if she has to do it all on her own”. He continued his sentence casually and took a peek at their reaction. His father let out a big laugh while his mother lost control over the smile she had been biting back since a long time, breaking into a huge smile. He strolled out of the room silently hiding his witty smile.

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“Oh come on, Carmela! Just this once…"

Gazelle grabbed her hand. She pulled it back. 

“You know exactly how much I hate slumber parties. Especially after what happened the last time, you really think I am going to accompany you?” Carmela frowned at Gazelle.

 “Oh, I am so sorry about the last time. I never meant that to happen.” Gazelle looked at her with big pleading eyes.

 “No way! That party ruined me for believing I’d ever have fun at parties again.”  Carmela fixed her with a long icy glare. Gazelle seemed to notice her fury and pulled back a bit.

 “Look, this isn’t happening again. You know Nephi and Cassandra. They like a good laugh and that’s all. But this party is at my place and no way will I let anyone drench you in ice cold water this time. “Gazelle looked at her pointedly and gave a sheepish smile.

 “No!  And that’s a big no. I am not coming and that’s final!” Carmela pulled her hand back from the latter’s grip and harshly repelled her, pushing past her. 

After she had gone a few steps, however, she stopped and strained her years to listen. No sound. All quiet. She turned around slowly to face her friend. Gazelle stood a long distance away, but her face was something Carmela could read even at a light year away. She faked a smile and nodded her head.

 “Go on! I understand. I won’t insist again.”

 But her eyes reminded Carmela of broken glass, the agony on her face was unbearable. They were like sisters after all and she had known Gazelle all her life. Both meant life to each other. Not a day was spent without the other. How could she have been so rude? Gazelle turned to leave the clearing. Just outside school.

Carmela knew she had it all wrong. She dropped her bag on the grass and rushed towards Gazelle, grabbing her shoulders.

“Mean, wasn’t I? I am sorry, darling. I didn’t mean to be that way.”

 She smiled at Gazelle and pulled her in a tight hug.

 “Hey! I am sorry. I love you. Forgive me? Just this once?”

 She slowly whispered in Gazelle’s ear. She broke apart and smiled an angelic smile at Carmela.

 “Do you even have to ask? You know, I don’t mind.”

This was so…………. Gazelle. Even if she had been stabbed right through her chest she would never be mad at the person. Smiling at the thought, Carmela looked at Gazelle and with a sigh, surrendered to her. 

“Fine, dear. Count me in on to this one.”

Gazelle gave a whoop of joy and jumped up forgetting entirely of what happened a few moments ago. 

“About time too. No one could have imagined me having a party without my best buddy. Yay! I love you, Carmela…….” 

She smiled radiantly at Carmela, and she too had to smile. Gazelle was just too excited. “Well, in that case, you’ll be personally responsible if I don’t come back home in one piece later.”

 Carmela told her. Gazelle nodded and shook her hand and was off.  Carmela smiled to herself. 

“I love you too, Gazelle!”