Purple Romance

"Maria, welcome to the family. Don't put to heart whatever grandpa does. He is not purposefully being hostile to you. You will soon warm up to him. Use your hidden charm on him and turn him into a doting grandpa and he will do anything for you afterwards. He is easily pleased"

':Grandpa, I heard you don't get enough sleep these days. I bought this to give to you. It will help you get adequate sleep and also make you feel refreshed after drinking it early in the morning'' Maria said and rushed to the table to pick the boxes of gifts.

''Oh, she even knows how to curry favour with elders? Let's see the great tea that can guarantee me a good night sleep? If this can really make me sleep, I will accept you as my granddaughter in law and also give you some shares as a welcome gift'' the old man said smugly.

Maria brought the tea box to him and the housekeeper that was standing aside walked forward and took it.

''Everybody heard you, grandpa. You can't back out right now?'' Gibbs said and everyone nodded their heads.

':I am a man of my word. After dinner, you shall brew some of the tea for me and I shall taste it and see for myself'' grandpa said.

''Grandpa, my wife can't go near the kitchen. I'm afraid she will hurt her hands'' Ad-Din said and everyone looked at him with shocked expressions. Maria flushed and hit his hand and shook her head ''why? I have to let them be aware. I didn't marry you to come and take over the kitchen'' Ad-Din added.

''Grandpa, I will personally make the tea myself. Don't mind whatever Ad-Din just said" Maria said and shot a glare at Ad-Din.

Mona Lisa decided to salvage the situation ''everyone, the food is getting cold. Let's eat. Ad-Din, you should listen to your wife'' Mona Lisa said through gritted teeth and Ad-Din frowned and sat down. he and grandpa shot a glaring gaze at each other and the old man sneered as if declaring that he won.

Everyone sat around the table and the food was served by the two housekeepers. Maria placed her hand on Ad-Din's lap and he turned to look at her and she smiled at him. He felt all the grudge he held earlier dissipate. He touched her hand and gave her a gentle squeeze and also smiled.

''Grandpa, can you bless the food before we eat?'' Mona Lisa said.

''May the food that the heavens have provided us bless and sustain us. Amen!!!'' Grandpa said and took the first bite. Everyone picked their cutlery and also started eating. They enjoyed the food quietly as pair the rules of their dining table manners without much talk.

After the dinner, Maria and Calia helped cleaned the table. They sent the empty dishes to the kitchen. Maria watched Calia and noticed she seemed to be in a hurry and asked ''are you going somewhere? You seem to be in a hurry''

''Is it that obvious? I got call from Tiana earlier and promised to go and visit her. She said she wanted to eat ice cream with me at our secret base and I promised to take her there. Please don't tell Kobby. I'm afraid he will scold me when he finds out that I am spoiling Tiana. She is just a cute kid that I find hard refusing at times. She said Kobby went out to get something and he won't be back till later'' Calia said as she washed her hands.

''Kobby wouldn't leave Tiana alone in the house knowing I am not home?:' Maria murmured to herself and turned to look at Calia. Tiana was probably playing a prank on her and she was innocently falling for it. ''Have you called Kobby to find out why he left Tiana alone at home?'' Maria asked.

''I did but he isn't answering his phone, that's why I am worried'' Calia said.

''Then, you should hurry and go. leave this to me, I will handle the dishes. We can't have Tiana alone at home'' Maria said.

''Really? Can I really go?'' Calia said and wiped her hands with a napkin.

''En, you can go right away. I will cover up for you'' Maria said and they gave each other a knowing smile before Calia took her purse and rushed out. The people in the hall watched her suspiciously as she rushed out without telling them.

''Calia, where is she going?'' Mona Lisa asked and turned to Maria. Maria looked up and noticed everyone's eyes on her and smiled awkwardly.

''She…she left a very important document at the office and went to get it'' Maria said and looked down. She wasn't someone who was good at lying. She felt that her face might give her away the moment she looked into everyone's gaze.

''When are you bringing my tea? Should I announce that I want to go to bed before you bring me the tea? The so called great sleep inducer tea you brought me?" Grandpa said and pouted his lips.

''Wow, grandpa, you really make me speechless. I won't bring my girlfriend to meet you until she is pregnant. That way you won't bully her at will'' Gibbs said.

''You…why are you still here? Didn't I tell you to leave back to the states?'' Grandpa said.

''Grandpa, I will make the tea right away:' Maria said and rushed back to the kitchen. Ad-Din got up and followed her.

''I will help you'' he said as he walked with her to the kitchen.

''Ad, you should go and be with everyone. I know I can't cook but I can make tea, okay?'' Maria said.

''I am just worried'' Ad-Din said and Maria smiled.

''I know you are worried but if you keep acting this way, I will not be able to get into your grandpa's good books'' Maria said to him ''go back and eat the fruits with everyone and allow me to do my duty as the granddaughter in law''

"Ok, be careful'' Ad-Din said and returned back to the hall to join the rest. In the midst of the chatting Max's phone buzzed and he looked at it. It was a file sent to his email. He looked at it briefly and closed it before joining them in the chatting. Mona Lisa stood up and went to the kitchen to join Maria.

Maria had finished boiling the water and placed the tea leaf into a cup. She poured the water on it and looked at and saw Mona Lisa.

''This tea leaf really smells nice. Grandpa will love it'' Mona Lisa said and smiled.

''I hope so'' Maria said.

''Don't worry. Grandpa is not being cranky on purpose. When you get to that age, a lot of things tick you off". Mona Lisa said.

''I know. I understand grandpa'' Maria said and looked at the tea. it had already steamed out.

''Send it to him now. Let's get him to sleep and you can also go and sleep'' Mona Lisa said playfully. Maria nodded her head and picked the mug of tea and sent it to the hall.

''Grandpa, the tea is ready'' Maria said and Ad-Din murmured.

''I haven't even had the opportunity of drinking tea from my own wife''

''I am an elder, you, ungrateful son who throws away his family after meeting his wife. Maria, you must teach him how to be filial'' grandpa grumbled before sipping the tea. His eyes lit up and he added ''this tea actually has a nice fragrance. Not bad''

Maria smiled and watched him as he sipped the rest of the tea, savouring it slowly. He was almost done when the mug was snatched from him and he turned and looked at the culprit.

''Grandpa, don't forget to transfer the shares to my wife's name tomorrow and be nice to her. You will have a good sleep from now onwards thanks to the tea she made for you'' Ad-Din said and drunk the rest of the tea.

''You…are you now even jealous of your own grandfather?'' Grandpa asked angrily ''I was savouring the tea''

''Grandpa, I will come and make the tea for you every evening. Please forgive my husband'' Maria said.

''That's more like it'' grandpa said.

Maria looked at Ad-Din and glared at him. Did he have to act so childishly in front of everyone?

''Maria, you should go and rest'' Ken Denarius said.

''Yes, father'' Maria held Ad-Din's hand and pulled him out as they rest laughed.

''Grandpa, dad, mom, I will also retire for the night. I still have something to do later on at the company'' Max said and stood up.

''Son, don't work till late. Make sure you get enough sleep, okay'' Mona Lisa said worriedly. Her son was a known workaholic. She was worried about his health.

''Yes, mom. I will just work at home today then'' Max said and also went out.

''Aye, our young boys are now all grown'' grandpa said and sighed.

''Grandpa, I am still young'' Gibbs said.

''You…I will call your father and tell him you are home instead of being at school''

''Grandpa, don't treat me like that. aren't you afraid I might hack your company if you annoy me?''

''I will just get the police to arrest you''

Mona Lisa and her husband chuckled and watched the two as they continued their usual bickering.