Two weeks later.
SARAYA’S POV
I walked to the dinning table and the whole place was lively, livelier than it has been for in the past two weeks. The decoration and lightening were beautifully made.
My dad, Mary and Evan were already seated when I got there. A cake was sitting pretty with the inscription ‘Happy seventieth birthday, mum!’
“Are you sure she would show up?” I asked, my tone was pessimistic as I took my seat.
“Don’t be so pessimistic, Sara.” Mary said with a smile. “It’s your grandmother’s birthday. Of course, she will come.”
Grandma walked in, looking moody as usual.
“Good morning mum!” Mary greeted her all smiles while dad pulled the chair for her.
Mary leaned towards me and mouthed. “I told you she would come.”
“Happy birthday, mum.” My father began, “I wish you long life and sound health.”
My grandmother looked at the table for a brief second, “you shouldn’t have gone the trouble of making all these, a simple breakfast would’ve suffice.”
“Still, it’s your birthday, mum.” Mary chimed in. “We dare not treat it with levity, happy birthday, we love you.”
“Happy… y birthday granny!” Evan added.
I grabbed a glass filled with juice to take a sip when I noticed all eyes fell on me, Mary gave me that ‘what are you doing’ look.
I dropped the glass and forced a small smile. “Happy birthday, granny! I love you.” Though I had said the last sentence casually, I didn’t hate her much.
Grandma looked away as she muttered a ‘thank you all.’ as though as she forced to.
“You should cut your cake now that we are done with the wishes!” My father said.
Grandma leaned to blow out the candles when a stranger walked in.
“Not yet, grandma!” He walked briskly. “Not without my wishes.”
“Ian!” Excitement replaced the gloomy look on my grandmother’s face, I almost couldn’t believe the switch.
“I never knew my icy grandmother could smile like that.” I muttered under my breath but Mary heard me.
“Hush!” Mary said to me. “You’re loud.”
“Didn’t mean to say that loud, thought I was quiet.”
“Well, you weren’t.” Mary pointed out.
I took another proper look at the supposed stranger ‘Ian’ who happened to be my cousin.
Grandma and Ian embraced tightly, they were like two lovers who had reunited after a war. I watched my grandmother smiled and wondered if she would ever smiled at me that way once.
“Look at you, my boy.” Grandma began, rubbing her hands over Ian’s face. “When we spoke this morning, you didn’t even hint me about your coming!”
Ian grinned, pulling back just enough to look at her. “I wanted it to be a surprise, Grandma. There was no way I’d miss your big day.”
“Well, you succeeded,” She replied, her voice was undeniably filled with excitement. “This… this is the best birthday gift I could have asked for. Your presence means more than anything.”
I groaned inwardly as they continued their public display of affection and completely ignoring the rest of us.
Rolling my eyes, I leaned back in my chair and gulped down the entire content the glass.
Mary looked at me. “You must be so hungry, unfortunately, we have to wait for your grandmother and Ian to finish catching up before we dine.” Shechimed in. “It’s her birthday, you know.”
“I have a meeting for 10a. m and I can’t afford to be late.” I replied and stood up to take my leave.
Mary grabbed my arm. “Leaving when the party haven’t started is rude.”
“Being inconsiderate of other people’s time while catching up is what I consider rude.” I countered, what followed was a deafening silence. Only then, did I realize how loud I was.
The silence in the room was suffocating, all eyes turning to me. Grandma and Ian finally broke out of their bubble, the excitement on their face dimmed a bit..
“Saraya, do you have to leave now?” Dad asked, perforating the silence in the room.
I swallowed hard, realizing I had drawn too much attention. “Yes, I have to” I said, forcing a smile. “It just that… I have a lot to do today, that’s all.” I added in a bid to savage the awkward situation.
“Surely, you can spare a little more time,” Ian chimed in, his smile grew wider. “It’s not every day we get to celebrate Grandma’s milestone birthday together.” He walked towards me.
“I’m sorry but I’ve got to dress up for work.” I answered. “I will catch up with y’all later in the day.” I turned to leave.
“I heard I got a big sister, its good to finally see you in person, Saraya.” Ian said halting me in the process as he double crossed my path.
“The pleasure is mine, Ian.” I stretched my hand towards him in a bid to to dismiss him as soon as possible but his next action took me by surprise.
Ian embraced me, “we are family and not some strangers, Saraya.” He said. “Shaking of hands when we are just meeting for the first doesn’t seem enough.”
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes again. “You’re right, Ian. We are family.” I gently patted him before pulling out from the hug. “I’m running late, if you let me…” I said waiting for him to leave my path but he didn’t, rather be gave me a flashy smirk.
There was this aura Ian ensued that I didn’t like, he was forcing me to stay back yet he was subtle about it.
“Saraya, if you had somewhere important to be, perhaps you shouldn’t have come at all.” Grandma chimed in. “You should go if you’re not happy to be here.”
The tension in the room thickened, and I felt Mary’s grip on my arm tighten.
“I didn’t mean it that way, Grandma,” I said quickly, trying to backtrack. “I’m happy to be here. Really but business has to be attended to.”
“You don’t sound happy,” Grandma replied. “This is a family gathering, not an inconvenience.”
Evan looked between us, clearly uncomfortable, but he said nothing. Mary let go of my arm, sighing as she gestured for me to sit back down.
“Let’s not turn this into an argument,” Dad interjected. “It’s supposed to be a joyful day.”
I hesitated but eventually sat down, my face burning with embarrassment. Grandma returned her attention to Ian, her mood lightening instantly. “Now, where were we, my boy?”
Ian smiled, picking up the thread of their earlier conversation. Meanwhile, I tuned out their voices, staring at my empty glass.
Mary leaned closer to me, her voice barely a whisper. “You didn’t have to bring up work, Sara.”
I wanted to reply her but decided to let it go for peace sake. I can’t believe I’m being blamed for being business conscious when grandma is the business critic.
“Now that everyone’s here,” Dad announced, clapping his hands together, “how about we get that cake cut?”
Grandma glanced at Ian, her smile never faltering. “Only if Ian cuts it with me.”
“Anything for you, Grandma,” he said, standing up and taking her hand.
It was obvious, grandma was making a nonverbal statement of her favourite grandchild.