DEFYING MY MATES

The Heirloom

When I woke up in the morning, it was raining heavily as I heard the rainfall dripping against the window. I felt tired due to my early morning escapades. Yawning and stretching my numb limbs, I got up while I cracked my knuckles, wrists and neck in the process. The sense of relief when the tension was released from my joints was satisfying for my ears. I knew it was a bad habit, but you know what people say. Bad habits die hard. They were so damn true.

As I glanced at my clock, it read 7’O. Laying on my stomach, I slid my hand under the pillow for a more comfortable position than I was in. My hand touched something rugged. Rubbing my eyes a little, I shifted the pillow and saw the old journal I had dreamt about these past nights.

Fuck! I totally forgot about it. My sleep vanished in thin air as the need to hide the journal settled in my mind. Hiding it in my bag, consisting of all my books, I sighed in relief, as it was the safest place I could think of. I didn’t think I would get any time to read it here and, most importantly, it was too risky with my father, who kept appearing out of the blue wherever I was.

I looked out of the window, there wasn’t any sign of rain stopping anytime soon. I had the sudden urge to drink coffee and write something. What could be a better time than this? Right?

Brushing up and flossing my teeth, I filled the bathtub with lukewarm water and dropped the lavender bubble bath bomb in the running water. Sitting in the tub, I squeezed a blob of shampoo into my palm and washed my hair. Lathering my body with body wash using a loofah, I rinsed off any soapy residue and gently applied conditioner to my hair, massaging my scalp in the process. Doing a final rinse of my body and hair, I towel dried my body and applied moisturizer.

Walking in my closet, I wore a mauve colored t-shirt and black trousers. I rushed downstairs, but the kitchen was empty. Everything was neatly placed as if my parents weren’t up yet. So, I decided to cook breakfast for them.

Settling for biscotti and brioche, I gathered the ingredients, made a dough and baked it accordingly. I cut the biscotti into pieces when it cooled down a bit. Putting the water in the coffee maker, I brewed some coffee.

An hour later, my breakfast was ready. As I was giving the final touch, mum and dad came into the kitchen wishing me morning.

“It’s lovely, dear. I would have helped you if you had called me, you know. You didn’t have to do it all alone.” My mother said as she saw me cleaning the mess I made in the kitchen while I washed my hands in the basin.

“Mum, it’s been years since I have burned down the kitchen. Now, I know how to cook. You don’t have to be worried about your kitchen anymore.” I joked while I dried my hands and kissed her cheek.

“Still, I don’t like you doing it alone…” Mum said with distaste, making an angry face which was cute. She looked like an angry bird, short and cute.

“Oh, let her be. She’s not a little girl anymore and I’m famished. My stomach is begging me to feed it.” My dad saved me from her lecture while I kissed his cheek and greeted him in the morning.

“Dad, can you help mum by setting dishes on the table while I pour coffee for us.” I asked him as I set three mugs on the kitchen counter top to pour coffee in it.

“Sure, dearie.” My dad exclaimed happily as he helped mum set the Biscotti’s, Brioche, and plates on the dining table.

We ate our breakfast merrily. The biscotti were delicious and went well with the coffee.

“When do you plan to travel to Greece?” My father inquired as he sipped his coffee.

“I booked a flight from Italy to Greece for this Monday. The departure time is 1’O O'clock at noon and it will take about 2 hours and 45 minutes to reach Bresso Airport. I have made a list of a few places I could stay in. When I find the perfect one to settle down in, I’ll inform you. Okay?” I informed them about my whole plan.

“Don’t you think it’s too soon?” My mum asked, frowning a bit. Her face clearly showed she wasn’t very pleased with the idea. Her face was so expressive that one could read her like an open book.

My dad was calm and composed and rarely lost his s**t. While my mother was the worried one and I was the most short-tempered of our family of three.

“Mum, I will need some time to settle down. It’s not like I have a friend or home there. I have marked a few places and I will need to check them out before I shift in.” I explained my reasons in a cautious tone as I didn’t want her to blow up on me.

“Why do you need a place to stay when you have your own?” Mum asked, confused as she placed the dirty dishes in the basin. Washing her hands, she poured more coffee in her mug and sat down in front of me.

“What do you mean by a place of my own?” Now it was my time confused.

What actually was going on here? Was I missing something that I should know about? My thoughts were jumbled as I looked at dad for answers, but he gestured to me that he would handle it.

“Come, I will show you.” Placing down her coffee mug, she slid off her chair and got up. Gesturing me to go with her.

“Show me what?” I asked, raising my eyebrows in confusion. Why don’t they directly tell me instead of creating suspense?

“Darling, I think it’s better if she stays somewhere else than that place.” Dad interrupted my mum and the drama began.

Let me remind you. Never, not even in the dreams, should one interrupt my mum because she might look short and cute, but bro, she was the complete opposite. I can bet she did a degree in showing one's place and she used it to the fullest. Now, she’s a pro.

“Are you trying to say my father’s home with all the appliances and furniture is not good in comparison to some unknown place where she would probably have to buy each and everything?” She asked dad, smacking her lips with a no-bullshit tone as her hands rested on her hips.

“Right. I thought so. Come, darling.” Dad held his tongue before the argument got worse, which was a wise thing to do in that scenario.

I patted my dad’s shoulder and mumbled “You handled it well.”

Glaring daggers at my dad’s head, mum held my wrist as we walked towards her room. Entering the room, she made me sit on the bed. I went along with whatever she was doing. Excitedly, she went to her cupboard and she was rummaging through it for some time. I don’t have a clue what it was as she blocked my view with whatever she was doing. Nonetheless, I sat patiently and let the mystery unfold itself.

“Ahh….here it is.” She exclaimed in delight and handed me a document. Sitting beside me, she gestured with her eyes to read it.

“What is it?” I asked warily.

Was it the flight tickets? Were they going to follow me to Athens? That will be the recipe for pure horror.

I won’t let them do something as ridiculous as that. They promised they would let me do whatever I want after graduation. They can’t go back on it. Can they?

Now, I wasn’t sure anymore.

“Read for yourself.” She said excitedly as she clasped her hands in anticipation.

Shutting my wild thoughts, I opened up the document and I was thrilled as I skimmed through the document.

It was my grandfather’s will. He left some of his possessions for me, like home, a pickup truck and something else which I didn’t read, as I was so excited because the home and the pickup truck part got my whole attention. It sorted almost all of my problems. Now, I don’t even have to think about a place to stay.

“Goodness, this is terrific. Thank you so so much mum.” I hugged her tight and kissed her cheeks repeatedly as she laughed in pure delight.

“Hush, thank your grandpa. It’s his will.” She said as she rubbed her cheeks to get rid of my cherry lip balm imprints.

“Thank you grandpa. You owe me one from now on.” Raising my head to the sky, I gave a flying kiss as if he was there to receive it.

Dumb!! I know, but I was over the moon to even think clearly. I can’t really explain the feeling, but I felt as if I was unstoppable and it felt amazing.

I was about to rush out of her room when she tugged at my wrist and said, “Not so soon, sweetie.”

“Don’t tell me you are too going to give me something?” I asked excitedly for another gift with a broad grin on my face.

“Well, you’re somehow right, but it’s not mine to give. It’s your grandpa’s.” She waved her hand in which she held something that I didn’t notice.

“What? He gave me more?” I didn’t know what I was expecting. Maybe a huge car or a million euros or something.

“No, the document already mentioned it in bold letters. Didn’t you see it?” She sighed at my careless attitude.

“See what?” I asked confusedly as I was about to unfold the document to re-read it carefully.

But before I could, she handed me the silver colored compass that she had held in her hands until now and said, “It says the will includes a compass and a journal. I have the compass but the journal got lost somewhere, probably when we donated some of his things to charity.”

“Here, you go. This compass has been a family heirloom for generations. My father could have given this to me when I was of age but he didn’t. He gave it to you . That means it’s special and you are too, my dear. I know it's a little late to give you, as he said to give it to you on your 24th birthday. But, I completely forgot about it. It's okay I guess, as I'm just a few months late." She said while her eyes were unfocused, as if she was remembering something about grandpa.

"When you’re lost in the dark with no one to rely on, I hope this compass directs you to the burning flame of light.” She added lovingly as she caressed my cheek while her eyes were brimming with tears.

Looking at the compass, it was a beautiful old thing. As I caressed the rugged outer surface, it seemed that the compass had seen it all, wars, blood of enemies, people’s misery and their anguish. When I opened it up, there were engravings in some foreign language that I didn’t know. My guess was probably Greek or Latin, as these languages were ancient.

I sensed a feeling of déjà vu, as if I had seen it somewhere, but I couldn’t exactly recall where.

I was curious, I just didn’t know if it was a good thing or not.

The rest of the day was uneventful. I usually slept, ate, reread 'The Damned' and stared at the compass.

At night, I fell asleep tracing the beautiful engravings of the compass.