It was a beautiful sunny morning. Rina Johnson has arrived at the airport after 6 years of studying in London. She is awaiting her father with her aspiring eyes... There comes a luxurious car where an old man gets out of the driver's seat and is walking towards her.
Rina identified him at a glance and ran towards him excitedly but stopped when she was just a few meters away from him.
Mr David: Good morning Miss Rina Johnson. This way, please.
He showed his hands in the direction of the car and was anxiously waiting for her response.
Rina: Mr. David. You are ten minutes late. You are fired. You may contact the butler of the Johnson family and get your final payment.
Mr David remained calm. He collected her luggage and loaded it into the car. Rina was still showing her sulky face and sitting in the car.
David : (smiling) Hey you naughty girl, you still want to play the same old tricks on this old man?? Even after staying away from home for half a decade, you are still the same.
Rina : (slightly angry) Did you wish to see me in the airport like a lost puppy waiting for its family to pick up? No one wants me to return... none of you were expecting me, right?? Even my dad didn't come to pick me up... (in a fake hoarse voice)
David : AYO... is my baby girl really crying or is she faking her tears (caught her in the act). Sorry... Master had a board meeting in the morning. Hence, he failed to reach you on time. Now, in order to comfort my princess, shall we stop by your favorite ice-cream parlor??
Rina : You really know me best (mischievously)
David is the driver of the Johnson family and has been working there for 30 years. Since Rina's father was busy in company affairs, Rina was taken care of by David and the butler as their own child. She had been pampered since childhood. Her mother passed away when she was five years old due to severe depression. Later on, all the workers in the Johnson family loved and took care of her as their own child. Even Rina considers them as her guardians instead of her servants.
Rina has returned from London after completing her masters in finance and accounts. She is in her mid twenties but she still behaves like an arrogant child.
After making a trip to the ice-cream parlor, the car stopped in front of a huge mansion. All the servants were standing on either side and were welcoming Rina Johnson. Rina got out of the car and was walking towards the gate and made eye contact with the butler with a warm smile. She jumped off and hugged him.
Rina : Uncle, did you miss me?? (with eyes full of expectations)
MarkSmith(butler): (pinching, her cheeks with affection), ayo my silly child, I was looking for this day every single moment.
Why are you so thin? Didn't you like the food there? You were chubby when you went there, but now you are reduced to a skeleton. Come, come in. I ask the chefs to prepare all your favourites.
Rina : Uncle, you have grown old. Your eyes are fooling you (laughing).
Now everyone is moving into the house.
As Rina stepped in, all her childhood memories appeared at once. A warm sense of familiarity, the place where she played along with her barbies, toys and so on, the garden where she planted her favourite flowers, cycled with her friends, danced near the fountain, celebrated her birthdays every year, childish reasons for the fight with her father, the kitchen wall where she used to peep when the chefs were cooking her favourite dishes, dark room where she was grounded for not obeying her father and many more.
Rina : Uncle Mark, will my father at least come to welcome me now?? He didn't even come to pick me from the airport...(showing her dissatisfaction).
MarkSmith : (obediently) Your father is waiting for you in the study. Go and greet him, my child.
On hearing, she felt a sense of accomplishment and ran towards the study. She stood beside the door, placing her hands on her chest. She inhaled and exhaled, making up her mind to open the door. Then she gently pushed the door open and her eyes were looking for her father.
Daniel Johnson, the chairman of the J&J group, father of Rina, in his late sixties, remains single ever since he lost his most beloved wife, Marina Johnson. Although he always pulls a poker face, he loves his daughter a lot as she is his only close relative left.
Daniel was sitting on a chair in the middle of the room and pretending to look into the file. Rina, walking on her tip-toes, closes her father's eyes from behind.
Rina : (changing her voice) guess who I am??
Daniel : (pretending to not recognize her voice) Mark, what drama are you playing now? Aren't you bored of all these child plays? My daughter will be here in any minute. Have you ordered the kitchen staff to prepare all her favourite dishes? Hurry up, get ready soon or else she will throw a tantrum.
Rina : (sulking) All drama, see you can't even recognize my voice. You don't miss me at all. You would have forgotten if I didn't return this time. Everyone is standing outside and welcoming me but you were in the room busy.
Daniel : (smiling) aha aha aha my daughter, was that really you? You know how to change your voice? Come, come here, let me see you closely. (touching her hands and cheeks) ayo you have gained weight aa..? See how chubby you are?
Rina, looking at her father, realises her father has more gray hair and more wrinkles compared to the last time she saw him. She realises her father is growing older year by year. Her eyes are filled with tears.
Rina : (hugging her father) Papa, I missed you so much...
Daniel : (stroking her hair) me too dear. Even I missed you a lot. See, since we are together here, let's cherish the moment. (looking at the watch) Oh! It's time for lunch... Come, let's go to the dining area. Today, I'll feed you.
In the evening, she was resting in her room due to jetlag. She dreamt of her childhood days. She saw her mother who was cheerfully playing with her. Marina Johnson, mother of Rina, was a down-to-earth person. She never showed the arrogance of a rich lady. She was the young lady of a well-scholars family. Her father was a merchant and mother was a foreign language professor at a university. Marina had an elder brother, Richard. Marina and her brother had started a school in their neighbourhood, where Marina was working as a teacher and her brother was looking after the management and administration.
On a winter night, Marina's father was busy with his business on a cargo ship, due to the poor weather conditions leading to a loss of stability. As a result, the ship sank and her father passed away. On hearing the news, her mother had a heart-attack and passed away. In just a span of a few days, the kids lost their family. This had a huge impact on business and on school management. The share holders and board members of the school started dropping one-by-one. Richard was now engaged in his father's business, and Marina started collecting funds for her school.
She came up with an excellent project proposal and headed towards the J&J group. Daniel Johnson had just taken over his family business and came across Marina. He was mesmerized by her beauty, her communication skills with excellent confidence. He didn't want to lose her and wanted to collaborate with her. Without any further delay, he signed the investment contract. As days passed on, they started to have mutual feelings for each other. Once she confirmed her feelings, Daniel immediately asked for hands in marriage and her brother, Richard agreed.
When Rina was young, her mother Marina used to tell her stories of a prince riding a white horse and marrying the princess.
baby Rina : Mama, will a prince come to marry me??
Marina : Of course, my child, every girl will have a day when a prince will come to pick her and marry her. On that day, the girl will be wearing a white gown, holding a bouquet of flowers.
baby Rina : Mama, can you make a white gown for me too? I'll wear it when my prince comes.
Marina : (smiling) As you wish you dear...
Marina made two sets of dresses. One for baby Rina and the other for her wedding day. She preserved Rina's wedding dress for the future and gave a cute little white dress to baby Rina. Rina looked like an angel in the white dress. She was very happy and was jumping like a butterfly all day around.
That evening, when she was playing with her mother and her nanny, her uncle Richard came to her house along with his little son Andrew. The young boy was just a few years older than Rina, he had bright eyes and an innocent face. He was too timid. As Richard and his wife were busy, they didn't spend much time with him.
Richard wanted Marina to look after her nephew for a few months, as they were supposed to go on a business trip. He didn't want Andrew to be alone in the house.
Marina gladly accepted and asked him to rest assured. After speaking with Daniel for a few minutes, Richard went away.
Marina : (holding the boy's hands) Andrew, from today you will be staying in this house. Feel free and make yourself home.
Rina : (was little jealous) Mama, this is my house. No one will stay here without my permission.
Andrew was scared. He hid himself behind Marina.
Marina : (asked her to come near her) Rina, this will be your house for ever my child, but brother Andrew will be staying here only for a few days. As a good host, we are supposed to take good care of our guests. From today onwards, I'll leave Brother Andrew in your care. Can you promise me that you will be good to him?
Rina : (reluctantly) OK. But on one condition, he should obey my words. He should not touch my toys.
Andrew : (popped out suddenly) rest assured sister Rina. I'll be polite. I'll not do anything you dislike.
Rina was happy hearing his words. She hugged him and kissed him on his cheeks. Andrew slightly blushed.
Rina : (happily) hoorah!! I have got a brother to play with...
Marina and Daniel were happy to see Rina playing with Andrew there.
A short nap was turned into a deep sleep. It was time for dinner. MarkSmith knocks on the door.
MarkSmith : Rina, my child, it's time for dinner. Wake up. Your father is waiting for you downstairs.
Rina wakes up and realises it was a dream, and her mother is no more. She freshens up and goes downstairs for dinner.
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