Love or business

Calm before Storm

Sam pov

Friday midday…

After more than a week of hard work to ensure everything would run smoothly in our absence. My parents and I prepared for our trip. The duration of our stay was uncertain.

And here is the day, Friday and Saturday is the weekend in Egypt and we are traveling now and will be there Saturday morning. I gathered my things and meet my parents at the airport. After a long flight, a driver was waiting for us with an SUV in the airport. It is obvious that he knows my father well. Once he saw us, he took our bags and drove nearly an hour and half before getting to the mansion

As we approached, a flood of childhood images filled my mind. Oooh, I can't believe this house holds so many memories.

”first remember to talk well with your grandpa whatever he says for you, it is because he wanted to see you long ago and you never came,,” dad said

"OOok,” I said not really getting what he was saying I was in another world remembering the garden, the flowers, this fountain is so old and I always played here where I was young, this wasn't allowed and mom always prevented me from coming near it alone. The play area was my place, I spent most of the day there, most of it still the same; the swing is the only thing I can use Now, I think it is new as I don't remember it. I first grew up and learned to walk, talk,, and had a lot of fun here. It seems like time has never passed.

We entered and a maid ushered me to my old room and what surprised me it was still the same with all my toys and even more. It wasn't a child's room so it can fit me now. I never expected that a 28 year old man like me will feel this happy seeing his first teddy bear, and my first bike also here.My heart is beating fast and feels full. Now I wish I came to visit more often, maybe then my grandpa wouldn’t force me into this marriage and I would spend more time in my room.

After unpacking my things, and taking a shower. I got out of my room heading to my grandpa at the living lounge. Dad said it is on the same floor as my room and all the other bedrooms of our family, the palace is huge and I don’t remember most of it so I feel lucky that he is waiting for me on the same floor now. I wandered through the corridors till I found him.

“Hey grandpas miss you a lot,” I wasn't aware how I should greet him

“Yaaaaah (Egyptian expression like oh) Samy my dear finally, you grow up so much and become a man now,” he said and hugged me strongly. Guilt washed over me I missed his embrace all those years, but I cannot let it sway my resolve I have to be clear, I am not staying here nor marrying this girl.

“Of course I grew up, grandpa, it was a long time,” I said

“Why dear? Who made this long? Your parents come every year" he said

“I was... busy at those times managing the work instead of dad,.... And I can't find myself here” I said not knowing how to respond to this mix of tenderness and double entendre at his words.

“Ok, it is not a problem now that you are here, son. We can forget everything and start over, no benefits from this talk now” he said. And we spent the next two hours catching up, he asked me about my education, interests, friends, and love life. Found out that he wasn’t in a complete dark about me, actually, he knows more than expected. He also told me about how he took his ancestors’ business and made it into the big empire we have now, and how he met my grandma and fell in love with her and their perfect life together that he cannot even look to any woman after her death. I wondered if he would tell me that they were forced to marry at first but with the end of the story I found out his story was pure love, didn’t he think this will make me refuse the marriage more!!. And which makes me wonder more that he didn’t mention the marriage of my cousin at all…..

Four days have passed and still no sign for this mysterious cousin. Not that I am eager to see her, just curious. I started to think she eloped from the house after they told her to marry but to my disappointment, she was just traveling for a vacation then a business meeting and coming today. I didn't know she travels alone and really does work, I thought she only goes to the board meetings to say those ideas that get to my nerves.

I spent the last four days catching up and socializing with my family, my uncle and aunt are very nice people and they, my parents, grandpa and I ate every meal together, I thought it was boring and restrictive at first but I loved the gathering and talking around the table. and they tried their best to help me speak Arabic again.

Maya pov

I just came back from days of meetings and flights. Now I am at my parents house alone packing for grandpa’ s huge play because I can't see it as reality. He decided to pursue his career as an author after retirement and his first work will be practical based on true story of the forced love of my grandchildren, as he think that we will end up in love like old movies.

I swung by the company to handle some paperwork and take papers for baba and grandpa to sign, Call my friends to check in on our little marketing company, I started it with them immediately after graduation to prove that I am capable of handling my life alone and get enough experience in business on my own, but the my grandpa retired and baba wanted to rest too so I had to work with them, it was abound time so. My friends manage our little baby company nearly without me nowadays as they are my partners after all. And then I drove my car to the place I always loved but now I am dreading going there. it feels like hell getting through its door. I enter from the back door directly to my room then call my mom

On phone

“Hi mom,” I said

“Hi sweetie where are you now we must have lunch together as a big family?” she said

“Already in my room, I just don't want to meet him now, I miss my uncle and aunt a lot but can't tolerate him, really,” I said

“Ok you should try tolerating him because he is your family and business partner so... “She tried to explain but I cut her…

“I know we should be at least friends, but he is an i***t and bully"

“Baby he was so young last time, of course, he has changed now,” she said trying her best to convince me to be nice to him.

“And you saw him now, right??!!” I asked

“Yes…” she said

“And is he now accepting our differences?” I asked

“I don't know but maybe, he was nice last week” she replied hesitantly.

“Ok, did he start thinking about religious things and why we take it seriously?” I asked again

“Obviously No” she replied

“Ok does he stop being judgmental about anything he saw here and my love life?” I asked knowing the answer but wanted to prove my point.

“No, but what does he have to say about your love life?” she said

“It is a long story, and that means he stills an i***t, whatever I should go see grandpa for important work before lunch,” I said

“Ok, bye,” she said

I head to my grandpa's room secretly trying not to be seen by anyone

“Gedoooooo” I screamed in a playful way

“My little princess come on, thank god that you are back safely dear,” he said

“I need you in a lot of work before lunch,” I said trying to get rid of our topic

“Ok and all my ears with you, my little girl,” he said

We talked for some time, then I left to go find my parents, But while walking I heard a strange voice taking in English to my uncle and I didn't like this talk

I went to my parents

“Babaaaaa” I screamed from anger this time “Please tell me I can kill him today “

“No, Kill who?” he asked

“This animal with, tongue to speak we call him Samy" I said

“No you can't kill anyone and please behave with him for the sake of your uncle and grandpa,” he said

“Of course shady will not appreciate you calling his son animal,” mom said

“And you appreciate him calling your daughter an old fashioned b***h with no brain and that I will happily accept him because he is a once in a lifetime chance for me as all my options will just take me for my money and won't let me out of house and I wouldn't dream of one like him!!” I screamed the words at their faces not giving them any chance to reply. “s**t!! This bastard got the worst version out of me. I can't tolerate him even as a long distant cousin, who does he think of himself, Aaaaaah”

“Of course not, we don’t appreciate his talk, but that is why your grandpa wants him back, you should be on good terms,” baba said

“At some time you may be the only family remaining for each other” mom said

“No, mom, don't say this, please, Allah give you all long life” I said. “Ok I will go calm in my room then meet you at lunch”

I went to my room, took a shower, wore wide-leg pants and a hoodie, dried my hair and put it in a pun at the back of my head in a random way, wearing the head cover of the hoodie and sprinkle myself with my favorite perfume to help me calm my nerves and be happy. Then I head to lunch deciding to show this duck head who is the boss here…