Chapter 18: Chapter-18 Family

"HEY SLEEPING BEAUTY!! GET UP. It is noon now", Eliza started screaming at the top of her lungs and started pulling my blanket too.

" Just let me sleep, Eliza. Please. "I begged her.

" Not a chance. I am going to post an embarassing photo of your childhood in Instagram, if you are not getting up at the count of 3. 1...."

"What kind of a threat is this? How did you even get such a stupid idea? "

"2... " Eliza said without listening to me.

"Ok fine I am up now. Satisfied. You have now officially destroyed my sleep. Thank you, Eliza. ", I said sarcastically. " By the way how come you got this stupid idea regarding my childhood photo. Do you have any right now? "

"Yes. I was going through my bag and I found a photo of three of us in my bag. Want to take a look? "

"Photo. Which photo? Show me. "

"Wait.", Eliza said, taking out an album.

" What!! You carry a photo album with you? ", I said, not able to hide my surprise. Who in the world carries a photo album with them when you can save all your photos in your phone.

" Why are you so suprised? " Eliza asked

"Nothing."

"Oh really.... " and she stared at me with blood in her eyes. I clearly know that she will kill me, if I will not tell her. How can a person be funny and scary at the same time, I wondered.

"I was only surprised because you are having an entire photo album in your hands. I mean who carries an album in the 21st century. Are you a grandma?" I said, laughing hard.

"Ha ha ha. Very funny", she said, rolling her eyes, " Your mother asked me to bring this, so I got it delivered today. "

"Mom? Why did Mom ask you to bring a photo album? "

"How will I know? She asked me to do it so I did. Now do you want to See the photo or not?", Eliza said and I also thought that she is not wrong in that.

" Wait. Let's go downstairs to ask Mom first. You know that I can't contain my curosity. We can see the photos later. ", I said and without listening to her, I hurried down.

" Mom.. Mom.. Where are you? ", and I rushed in the kitchen. I am sure she will be in the kitchen only and there she is. She is cutting onions and I can see that she has tears in her.

All of a sudden, I stopped in my tracks. I never noticed anything so much. Mom's forehead had drops of sweat all over and her eyes were filled with tears because of onions. I was observing that and after cutting onions, without even wiping her eyes, she started kneading the dough to prepare for lunch. 'Mom is working so hard just to prepare lunch', I thought.

She turned her back and found me looking at her. She said, " You are up,sweetheart. Freshen up. Lunch is almost ready."

I just hugged her and said, " Mom."

"What happened, sweetheart? Did you have a bad dream.", Mom asked worriedly.

" No Mom. I never noticed how hard you work for us and I also never thanked you for anything. Thank you, Mom."

"What happened, sweetheart? ", she asked again.

" Nothing. I just noticed that you work very hard just to prepare our meals and sometimes, when the food is not to my liking, I just throw tantrums and make you work harder. I am sorry, Mom and Thank you.", I said, with tears in my eyes.

Mom hugged me and said, " Oh my daughter, when did you mature so much? I am completely fine and I really enjoy cooking and cleaning for my children."

"And what about Dad? Don't you like to do all this for him? ", I said jokingly, wiping my tears.

On hearing this, Mom burst into laughter. " Hahaha. Of course, for him too. And before you say what about Eliza, Taylor, Max and Lydia, them too. All my children and husband. Basically, my family. And here I thought you have matured. My bad. "

We laughed and hugged again. Suddenly, Lydia came with Max, Taylor and Eliza. Taylor started coughing to bring us back to reality and make us aware of their presence.

We looked at them, then Mom said, " Kids, come here for a family hug. "

Eliza, Taylor and Lydia came running but Max stayed. Mom said, " Max, did you not hear me? I said come here for a family hug. "

Max hesitated a bit and said, " Yes Mom you said Family Hug. "

We understood what he meant but Mom pretended to be ignorant. She said, " So, what are you waiting for? "

I said, " Max you are also family. FAMILY. Got it. Now come over here before I send Eliza after you. " I even focussed on the word 'Family' and looked at Eliza. She stared at him with her deadly eyes.

Max's eyes started filling with tears and I am also starting to wonder Why am I seeing tears since morning. Huh!

Max is slowly walking towards us and then, oh! he wrapped us in a huge hug. I can clearly feel warmth and desperation in that hug and yes, each one of us can feel it. Tears are again welling up in Mom's, Lydia's and Eliza's eyes. Even Taylor is standing still, expressionlessly, hugging us. I am thinking about reading their minds except of Max. I can't and should not read his mind. That will be definitely wrong.

I am starting with Taylor. " Oh! What is this weird feeling. Why is his hug like this? Why is this paining my heart?"

Now Eliza. " Oh my god! He is so much hurting inside. How can someone's hug be this painful. Full of desperation. Desperation for love, belonging."

Now Lydia. What can little Lydia even understand? She was wondering. "Oh Mom. He is so.... Uh I don't know this feeling but I am feeling sad. "

Now it is Mom's turn. " Oh Lord. Please bless this boy. He is so lonely. How can an 18 year old boy be this lonely? How much has he been hurting and for how long? "

We have been hugging each other for like ten minutes and none of us are willing to let go. Max has now loosened his grip and we are moving apart.

Mom said, wiping her eyes," Kids, lunch is ready. Laura, go and freshen up. Then come for lunch. You have already skipped breakfast. Do you want to skip lunch too". She is trying her best not to show her emotions but it is of no use.

I said, " OK. " , and went upstairs, completely forgetting the thing I went to talk about, to Mom .

I am rushing down the stairs, to the dining room. I can see that everyone is siting at their tables and they are waiting for me. I am pulled my chair and Mom gave us lunch.

We then started talking. She said, " Max, How was Laura's training, yesterday? "

"It was very good. She is improving a lot and that too in a short time. The skills other creatures take months to learn, Laura learnt it in just some weeks.", Max replied.

" Oh. Good job, Laura. Max, is lunch alright? What should I make for dinner? ", she said. She is talking only to Max and no one else. I exchanged glances with my friends and we all are smiled like fools.

" Anything is okay. "

"No. Tell me what you like. "

"Then how about chicken? "

"Okay. Chicken sounds good. "

They were only talking to themselves and we were not willing to interrupt them. Then, out of nowhere, I remembered why came down earlier.

I said, " Mom, why did you ask Eliza to get photo album? What for? "

"Oh. Did you get it today, sweetheart? ", she said, looking at Eliza.

" Yes. ", Eliza said, giving her the album.

" MOM. Can you tell me WHY? ", I said.

" Stop shouting, Laura. I was just cleaning the store room yesterday and I found our old camera. I just went through it and got the photos printed. I then thought of making an album with your photos, happy. Happy now. You got your answer.

She said in such a way that I am taking time to absorb what she just said.

I said, " Ohhk. Wait WHAT? WHY? ", I shouted again.

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