I just grew up…..

It is interesting to see people grow up. The thoughts, the steps the process of tackling the world everything changes. The person themselves might not understand the change but the people around them will notice the change. Sometimes it is harder for them to accept the changes. Others can support the change. Those who support the change can they lend a shoulder at the right moment. Alya looked at the cupboard in her kitchen. It is filled with more ingredients than before she got more grains, cereals she filled the fridge with some more food and most important of all tea. Not just any tea black tea roasted. Mr. Dean Greenfield likes his perfectly brewed tea. She beat out the bed sheets and did a whole house cleaning. The usual routine of Alya on a holiday is to grab a book and relax on her bed or turn on a movie in her laptop and enjoy the day. Today it is more like a cleaning day. She just finished filling the cupboard and continued dusting. She wore an apron with two pockets. One of the pocket had a duster the other had a big cloth. After a while she looked around the room holding a broom. ‘I think it is a good job done.’ She looked at the clock on the wall ‘…..and on time I need to clean up myself.’ 10:30am It was not a great welcome it was a bit tensed entry. Mr. Dean had the usual frown on his face he got in and dropped gave his coat to Alya. Alya asked quickly while getting some of the fried snacks out. “ Would you like some tea Baba?” He just nodded and looked around the room. “You live here alone?.” Alya opened the curtains and set some vanilla cake piece on the small table in front of the sofa, “ Yes Baba the land lady is a sweet.” Her father did not look satisfied with the answer. He got up and looked around. This made her look towards James and ask him what is going on using only hand to point at her father. James just waved his hand and dismissed it implying everything is normal. She served tea in coffee mugs. Her family likes to drink tea in a large quantity thus they like to serve it in mugs. She joined them to drink the tea. Mr. Dean took a sip and went for the sugar shaking his head. Alya closed her eyes thinking ‘ here we go let the criticism start.’ Mr. Dean looked at Alya. “ When is your work hour tomorrow?” Alya put down her cup trying to be polite she answered. “ Same morning till afternoon. You are staying for a just two days why not stay for more?” James was searching something in his phone and once or twice he would type something he did not look up from it and answered her, “ I cannot stay for long I have to get back fast. Baba is here to visit a friend.” Alya, “ Oh are you going today or tomorrow? We can go together on my way to the office.” Mr. Dean, “ No I will go late.” The surrounding went silent for a while. Alya likes a silence but this was uncomfortable. Alya, “ So what is the meeting about? I did not hear anything about it.” James looked up a bit but continued looking at his phone, “ It is a company secret I cannot reveal right now.” Alya pouted her lips she expected that she might not get to know but there is a tiny part of her brain who wanted to know what the subject of the meeting is, she was itching to ask about the rumors but decided against it. What if she say something that becomes uncomfortable to talk about? All those thoughts came to her head and she let go of the idea. ‘Forget about it let me concentrate on the tea instead.’ The Next Day 7:45am Alya entered the office with a cup of tea in her hand. She ran out of time making breakfast for the people residing in her home. Her usual morning breakfast would be cereal on contrast to the breakfast on holidays. James turned down her offer of going together as the meeting is at a later time. They hardly talked with each other it seemed like any other day. The only time they talked was at mealtime. James would keep typing and eating her father would read the paper. She breathed a relief that her father did not complain about anything yet, but she still feels nervous when it will start. The office welcomed her with the same set of gloomy environment. The people do not look at her but exchanging greetings were really awkward. She kept her side back on the desk. The screen of the computer blinked on when she clicked on the keyboard. She looked around to check her daily agenda. She was going to sit down when she a heard a familiar sound of panicking. She looked up and saw that it was coming from the desk in front of her, she walked close and peaked above the partition. Megan had the same frustrated look only the sticky notes were missing from her hair. Alya “ Good Morning how was your holiday.” Megan grinned and jumped up to hug her. “Sarah I have so much to tell you.” Alya looked at her with suspicion, “ So much? I thought you took a vacation to rest.” Megan stepped back and looked somewhere else avoiding her gaze, “ Well that and I also had a good time too.” Alya poked her to answer, “ Good time hmm….. did you meet Fionn?” Megan, “Hey stop it you are mean. Let’s talk in break I want to know everything that happened in the office while I was gone.” Alya, “You sound like Tom.” She shook her head putting both her hands on her hips. “ Besides you might have to ask Tom if you want it today I am going out in the break. Baba is in town I am treating him to lunch.” Megan, “ Aw that’s sad I will miss you. By the way have you seen Helea? I did not see her in the office.” Alya, “ Oh she is having a little lovers tiff with Aiden. I think she is distracted with that.” She excused herself back to her seat. She thought that is would be better not to reveal anything yet. ‘ I hope things go well today.’ She dreaded thinking about the lunch time. 12:35pm Alya sat on a circular table her father on the opposite side. The waiter came to serve the food. A smile formed on her face. The smell of the steak made her happy. She took a bite and grinned at the dish. Mr. Dean, “ Your table manners still needs to improve.” He was looking at her with a no expression face. Alya quickly fixed herself, “ Sorry baba I will sit straight.” Mr. Dean looked a bit startled, “ I did not think you will be listening to me that quickly.” She smiled at her father’s words. Their meal continued in silence. Mr. Dean decided to walk back to the office with Alya he will be returning to her place with James. Mr. Dean he walked beside her, “ How were the things at the office?” Alya looked at him he was asking that question a lot now, “ Everything is same as before baba. It is good.” Mr. Dean nodded, “ You changed from before.” Alya looked at him curious while he continued. “ You used to be like a child full of life. It seems you changed too much.” Alya looked down slowing down to walk a few steps behind him,” Have I changed too much baba?” Mr. Dean noticed her but continued to explain, “ You were different from the rest of us. I did not approve of it, but I did not hate it.” These words rang a bell in her head she searched for any different expression in his face, but he looked serious. “ I wish you did not change. You matured in a very small time.” Alya, “ I cannot be a kid forever baba you told me that, I just grew up.” Mr. Dean, “Not that I can support it. I do not like this change.” Alya smiled at her Baba ‘he cared after all. I wish he was not this strict.’ When they reached the entrance of the office James was walking down the stairs accompanied by Brian, Liam and Helea. They were a few steps away from where she and her father stood. Mr. Dean reached out and gave a side hug to Alya, it made her look at his face. “It is okay to let go sometimes. You should not create such a big distance between us.” A few tears threatened to fall from her eyes. She shook her head and blinked quickly to stop that. James saw them and walked closer and flicked Alya’s forehead with his fore finger. Alya rubbed her head, “ Hey that hurts. Why do you have to do that?” James, “ I have been waiting for so long what were you doing?” Alya rubbed her head, “ Sorry.” Mr. Dean proceeded to leave with James, “ Be home early today I am cooking dinner.” Alya smiled, “ Yes Father.” She waited till they left the premises then proceeded to walk back she saw Brian standing watching her approach. Brian looked like he wanted to ask something but Alya did not want to talk she was still pissed from the rumors she quickly bowed and excused herself as politely as she can to get in. ‘ I guess we all grew up even you Brian. You cannot understand me. I will explain nothing and answer no more questions.’ Brian Alya bowed and quickly left this made him feel a pang of pain in the heart. ‘Something is wrong here this is not how she would be avoiding.’ There has been too much trouble he had to look into that he did not notice what is going around in the office. “ Liam did something happen in the office in these few days?” Liam, “I have heard something, but I am not clear about the whole story.” Brian walked back in, “Find out the whole thing no better yet get Tom.” Liam nodded and followed behind him.