Chapter 10: Out Of The World Tea

'Is he really looking at me or.....'

Rita thought, she knew the answer but her heart was still a mess to accept that.

Soon they reached home. As soon as the car stopped she jumped out to escape from his sight and rushed inside the door.

Stanley who was observing her every move smirked at her antics. He slowly opened the car door and stepped outside. He asked David to wait for her so that he can take her home to which he obliged and stayed In the car to wait for her return.

When Rita reached the living room it was empty, so she went to the bedroom on the ground floor to see how uncle Thomas is doing. When she entered the room she saw aunt Mary standing at the window and was looking outside breathing the fresh air from the garden.

Uncle Thomas was sleeping soundly but he looked pale and more like an exhausted person who has no energy left to even move a finger on his own.

Rita was feeling terrible seeing the state of the most energetic and smiling man she knew. She slowly went to Mary and held her shoulder then only she came to know that aunt Mary was sobbing silently.

When Mary saw Rita she hugged her tightly and her sobbing had increased. After some time she came to her senses and to not disturb her husband she pulled Rta to the living room.

When they came to the living room they saw Stanley sitting lazily on the sofa. Mary quickly removed her tears before he could see and smiled as if she wasn't crying a moment ago.

After all, she's a mother how can she let her children see her weaker side. Even Rita was shocked to see her shifting mood so soon.

Mary moved toward Stanley and asked

"You came, just wait a minute let me prepare some tea for you"

Before Stanley could say anything, Rita told while grabbing her hand, moving towards the sofa and making her sit on it.

"Aunty come here, just take a seat and let me make tea for you"

Stanley got frightened knowing that she is making tea. However, he had heard that she didn't know how to cook from her sister but didn't voice it out because somewhere in his heart he wanted to have a taste of her tea.

Mary nodded her head and leaned over the sofa and closed her eyes. She was crying silently in the room she herself didn't know how long she had been in tears.

But as soon as she saw her son she was energetic again to the extent that she forgot her grievances. That's how every mother is.

Rita went to the kitchen to prepare tea. She kept the kettle boiling at a low flame and moved towards the first floor where her friend, Miya's room is there.

She slowly opened the door and peeked in, she saw Miya at the window just like her mother a few moments ago. Rita sighed inaudibly and slowly moved towards her.

Rita stood in front of her leaning against the window pane while looking out just like Miya. After some time Miya said still looking out of the window.

"You know I never believed in all these things, I thought that it was all mental weakness but today when I saw with my own eyes. Am just... you know I can't... and don't want to believe it. But that doesn't mean it's not true right?"

She sobbed and continued

"Now I know how you feel when I said that you are a fool to believe in all this ghost stuff... am sorry"

She started crying hard saying the last two words.

Rita didn't say anything but moved towards her, hugging her, she rubbed Miya's back to soothe her pain.

After all Miya's father is the one implicated by the ghost. Indeed, people don't believe some things until it's involved with them.

After a few seconds, Rita pulled out from the embrace and saw that her eyes were red. she removed her tears and bent a little to face her eyes. She slowly said

"You know what I like most in you, that's your self-control, you know I can't even match you on that. Ok then let's go downstairs, your brother and mother are waiting for you for a cup of tea. c'mon."

Saying this Rita pulled Miya downstairs and made her sit on the sofa. Rita went to the kitchen to bring the tea which is done by now.

Coming out of the kitchen she shouted

"Who wants the world's best tea made by me."

Three people on the sofa grinned at her. Rita served the tea to them as well as herself. She sat in front of Stanley and to the side of Miya, which was the only empty seat.

Sipping the tea Miya said

"You know what, however bad your cooking is but the tea and coffee that you make is just out of this world, so tasty."

Stanley who was fighting his urge whether to drink the tea or not heard his sister's words, was smiling at his stupidity by shaking his head as if shaking all the negative thoughts that were on his mind about whether to have it or not.

Indeed, she can't cook but she used to make tea and coffee to impress her grandma who was always wary of her, so she is very careful when preparing it so that she can get her grandma's good books.

When Stanley sipped his tea, he felt freshened and all his tiredness of the day vanished. He wished he could get this tea every day and every time he need to drink one.

His mother was a good cook to some extent, and the tea she made was also good but today when Rita made tea for them he felt proud for liking her,

no no, not only liking but loving her.

"Love!!! is it love or only attraction" he thought. He wanted to confirm it first before telling her.