Flower on the ash

I looked at him in disbelief. We both walked out with Zeus and Alex locked the house. We all sat in the car and Alex started the engine.

" What do you think? Will grandma like me?" I asked Alex. I don't know why, but I'm feeling very nervous.

" Don't worry she will definitely like you." he said with a smile. Even after Alex assured me that she will like me, I'm still having an uneasy feeling. Alex was driving when I saw a gift shop on the roadside.

" Alex, stop the car." I said to him and he did.

" What happened?" he asked me.

" I would like to buy a gift for grandma." I said to him.

" There's no need for that." Alex said to me.

" You won't understand." I said and opened the car's door to get down. Alex also got off the car and entered the shop with me.

" Hello, Sir. What would you like?" the shopkeeper asked.

" How much is that one?" I said and pointed at the statue of the laughing Buddha.

" Oh, this one?" he said, taking out the sculpture from the rack and I nodded my head. Honestly, I saw this through the glass wall of the shop and then the idea struck me to buy a gift.

" How much is it?" I asked him rummaging my bag to take out my card.

" $90." he said and I forwarded my card.

" Take mine." Alex said taking away the card from my hand.

" Hey, No! I'm buying this gift for grandma." I protested.

In the end, Alex paid for the gift and we both went back to the car. Alex put the box on the backseat and Zeus sniffed it all over.

" Alex, How about I join the company from tomorrow onwards?" I asked him.

" Why?" he probed one more question on my question.

" I'm bored all day. And Aunt Zhao said she will be back from tomorrow onwards, so I think I can resume my work." I replied.

" You could do your work from home also." Alex said.

" Please. It's been ages since I went to company." I said to him with puppy eyes. He sighed.

" Ok then. But you will go with me." he said and I agreed. At least he is permitting me to go to the company.

Alex drove for about thirty minutes more and we reached grandma's home. It was bigger than Alex's house. He told me before that this is his ancestral house, and now is under grandma's supervision. The front garden was full of greenery. There was also a kitchen in one of the end. We three got off the car and a butler greeted us. I didn't forget to take the box of gift out with myself.

" Young Master, this way please." the butler said and took all of us to the hall.

As we reached the hall I saw an elderly woman sitting on the couch with a wooden stick in her hands. Her hairs we all grey and her glasses were on the bridge of her nose, staring us through it.

" Good morning Grandma." Alex said joyfully and walked towards his Grandma.

" G-Good morning, Grandma." I said to her and took two steps forwards. "Here's a small gift for you." I said and handed her the box.

" Hmm. Sit." She said and I took the seat beside Alex, who was sitting in front of the couch where his grandmother was sitting.

" Your mother called me saying that your wedding is going to be held on the 1st of August." she said to Alex.

" Yeah." Alex replied and Zeus came inside in the hall where we were sitting.

" Take Zeus for a walk in the garden. I will talk to my granddaughter-in-law alone." she said and Alex nodded his head. He stood up and took Zeus away, leaving me and grandma alone.

" Anna. Isn't it?" she asked and I nodded my head. I was feeling intense pressure and nervousness more than I was feeling for my interview in Star Corporation.

" What does your family do?" she asked and I scoffed internally. Family? A Dad you agreed to break relation with in order to save his business.

" My Dad is President of Evans foundation." I answered.

" Hm. You know how to cook?" she interrogated.

" Yes." I replied.

"Ok follow me then." she said and stood up. She started to walk and I followed her. We both entered the kitchen, which was very big. Big enough so that a feast could be arranged easily. Grandma walked and stood near where the stove was.

" Let's prepare lunch. There would be about seven people including all." she said and handed me a chopping board and knife.

" What are we going to prepare?" I asked her.

" Rice, meat, fish and veggies." she informed.