/Shivani/
On Sunday morning I have my father waiting for me outside my house. My brothers are arriving today so we need to pick them up from LAX airport.
- Good morning little habibi! - he says and kisses my forehead in the affectionate way he always does. My dad is such a sweet guy, maybe that's why he's so good at his job as a paediatrician.
- I'm not little anymore, dad! - I say after a tight hug.
- You'll always be little to me, look at you, in my eyes you're still the little girl who used to put a tiara on her head and dance around the house! - he says as he takes my handbag to the boot of the car - Let's go and get your brothers, they're about to land!
I follow him into the car and we make our way. Despite the years he's been away from the UAE, he's never lost his taste for his home country, so we spent the journey listening to typical arabian music, which reminded me of the few memories I have of my childhood in the lively house.
When I see the large façade of one of the world's busiest airports, my heart starts beating faster, I'm so homesick for Gaara and Kankuro, my younger brothers, who are three and one year younger than me.
With the car parked, my father and I make our way to the arrivals area to wait for them. My feet tap the floor impatiently in anticipation until finally the first passengers start to appear, I stand up quickly and, in the middle of the crowd, Gaara's small figure appears, none of us can contain our smiles when we see each other, we've always been very close and when we were separated it was like losing part of me.
When we meet, we share one of our mega-tight hugs, whenever they're near I feel an indescribable love. We only parted so that they could hug our father, whose eyes were shining with the sudden urge to cry. I know that, like me, he loves both of them above all else and has also suffered from what has been agreed.
- My boys, I've missed you! - he says with watery eyes and suddenly the urge to cry hits me too
- Three months is too long.
- We talk all the time by video call, baba! - Kankuro calls him by an honourific that he finds very old-fashioned, it's at times like this that living in the USA shows its effects. And even behind all that teenage drama, I can see that he was missing him too.
- But what I missed was your hugs. - he says and crushes Gaara who just stands there awkwardly, he's not much of a touchy guy, but with dad he accepts it.
- Let's go home, we're like crazy people who haven't seen each other for years! - I say, already holding my brother's suitcase, which, by the way, is far too heavy, and head for the car.
Fortunately I'm followed and after paying for the car park we set off for Santa Barbara, the city where my father lives and works, and where I spent my teenage years, I hope it hasn't changed much since Christmas.
The streets of California stretch across the horizon full of cars, I hope to get home before lunch, I've been craving my dad's food for weeks, he always makes a feast of traditional food when we go to visit him, fortunately it's mostly vegetarian, so I can try almost everything.
We arrived at our destination around midday and my brothers and I each went to our room to unpack. As I was folding the last t-shirt, I heard a knock on the door.
- Is lunch ready yet? - I ask a little confused, it's only been ten minutes.
- No, it's me, sis! - I hear Kankuro's voice and authorise his entry.
- Is everything all right? - I ask and sit down on the bed, gesturing for him to sit down too.
- Yes, I just want to come and talk to you. -he says a little nervously, which makes me raise an eyebrow in question - I need a chat between brothers without mum or dad gossiping, she always listens to our calls. What I wanted to tell you is that... - he hesitates and leaves me with a great deal of hope - I have a girlfriend! - he says so quickly that it takes me a few seconds to decipher what he's just said.
When I regain my senses, I give a controlled scream so as not to attract our father's attention and hug him tightly.
- Oh my gods, your first girlfriend! How exciting, tell me all about it! - I say with great enthusiasm and joy, it's not because my love life is a disaster that I want others to go through the same thing, quite the opposite, I hope my brother enjoys this phase of life.
I spent the next few minutes listening to the mega-cute story of how Kankuro's girlfriend asked her to date him and how he almost cried, seriously, only him could be like that. He showed me photos of them, told me about their first kiss and their first date. From his descriptions she seemed very nice and I can't wait to meet her. He carried on with his lovey-dovey chat until we heard our father calling for lunch.
We were both surprised by the feast he had prepared, everything imaginable was on that table, including both of our favourites.
- Dad, you shouldn't have tried so hard, we're going to be here for a fortnight, you don't have to cook everything today. - I say and sit down, already salivating at the incredible flavours coming from the table.
- I only want the best for you, nothing less! - he says and sits down too - By the way, how have you been, my Tem? - he asks fearfully.
- I've been fine, my friends have helped me a lot, you know how they are, they can't see me sad! - I say with a smile - I'm still not 100 per cent myself, but every day I'm getting better and better!
- You haven't had any other help, by any chance? - my brother asks suggestively - I also have insiders, since you don't tell me anything.
- I think you're wrong, unless you want me to say more than I should! - I tease him back, and he quickly regrets the statement.
- What are you talking about? - my father asks.
- It's nothing, Dad, forget I ever said anything. - Kankuro tries to reverse the situation. Although he seemed unconvinced by his words, he forgot about it and went back to eating.
- More importantly, how are you, Dad? - I ask, delighted with the fork I've put in my mouth.
- I'm fine, work is going well fortunately! And now that I have my sons, It's almost perfect! - he says with a half-smile, it's impossible to give a real smile because we all know what's missing here, my mum who's on the other side of the world.
After this delicacy of the gods with lots of fun, we cleared the table and my father went to get us a surprise. He gives us presents every time we come here, we're very spoilt.
He comes downstairs with three bags in his hand and hands one to me and the others to Gaara and Kankuro. We all dive through the wrapping paper until we reach a soft fabric, when I pull it out I can only utter a perfect O with my mouth, it was the most beautiful traditional clothing I've ever seen, in shades of tan and purple that completely contradicts the norm, my brothers got them in red and dark brown very fitting to their styles.
- Now they can be my Indian princesses!' he says with a tear in his eye and I jump up from the sofa to hug him.
- They're beautiful, thank you! - I kiss his cheek and wipe away the tear that stubbornly fell.
- I've got more surprises! - he says when he's back on his feet and shows us the DVD with a trilogy of classic indian films, a family tradition.
- Where did you get that? - my brother asks.
- Put it on, I miss it! - I say and then correct myself - I watch Bollywood films on Netflix all the time. - I say and get a laugh from both of them.
He already had the video system on, so it was easy to start the film. Popcorn was made and we were all ready to start the marathon.
We stayed at it all afternoon and at the end of the day I received a message from Shikamaru saying that he had already landed and was on his way to the family home where he was staying. I wished him a safe journey and asked him to keep me updated. My brothers looked at me suspiciously but didn't say anything. They complain about our parents, but they're worse than them; a person can't even have a private life any more.
Dinner was obviously the leftovers from lunch and I feel that tomorrow will be the same, it really was a lot of food, I'm scared to see breakfast tomorrow.
In the evening, I go to my room and after a quick shower I call Tenten, we need to catch up on things since yesterday.
– You didn't happen to tell my brother anything, did you? - suspicious doubts after the initial conversation.
– I'm sorry, he came to ask me and I couldn't resist! – she doesn't even try to lie, she knows it hasn't worked.
– You are impossible! Now I must tell you, sometimes I hate you!
– I love you too! – she says quickly and hangs up the call so she doesn't hear me grumbling anymore.
– You can come in, I know you were eavesdropping! – I say out loud as I already knew that Kankuro and Gaara was listening to everything.
– I'm sorry, you don't tell me things and I'm curious – Gaara says already inside the room.
– It must run in the family! - irritated snort.
– And you're not going to tell me? – he asks hopefully.
– Don't you already know everything?
– No, Tenten was very vague, I just know that you are seeing a boy. – Kankuro says.
– You already know everything then, that's all, we're not dating and we don't plan on doing so.
- But why? I bet you look cute together!
– Because none of us is ready! When you reach adulthood you will see that you can have a relationship without dating.
– Like sex without love? – Gaara asks quietly and embarrassed.
– Like sex without commitment. We don't want to date, but we enjoy each other's company in different ways! - I say suggestively just to see him blush a little more.
– From the look on your face when sending the message, I would say that you want to date and he doesn't. - Kankuro says.
– Well, you're wrong, I don't want to date!
– But you can't deny that you like him! I know you're not ready, but I think you should give love another chance.
– Ah yes, the last time I did this it went beautifully! – I say ironically.
– The chances of him being another Daimaru are low from what Ten told me. Please don't be afraid! - Gaara takes my hand and I see in his eyes the affection he has for me.
– Can someone tell me I'm not alone when I say all I need is a little love in my life? I miss having a boyfriend, but for now, it's just me and my broken heart. And he doesn't want to date either so we're fine with that.
– But...- the brunette starts, but I stop him with a finger above his lips.
– Enough is enough, you have no opinion on the matter! - I say to see if I can stop being scared, I hate talking about my feelings.
– Okay, I'll shut up. But you're still going to date him! - he insists.
– You're still too young to understand! - I say – Not everything is about cute passions like yours, real life is full of challenges and difficulties, it prepares you.
– That doesn't matter, I want to see him, show me a photo! - he asks and I let him see one of the few photos we have together, taken on an afternoon when we went to the park, in it we are both smiling and being bathed in the rays of the sun at the end of the day. I remember it like it was yesterday.
– Here you go! Happy now?
- Yes a lot. He's not that ugly and you two look cute together, just like Tenten said! – Kankuro responds with a satisfied look and hands me back the phone.
– That's enough for today, it's time for you two to go to your rooms, I want peace and quiet.- I say finally and they do as I asked. We say goodnight to each other and they close the bedroom door on the way out.
I finally have the opportunity to call Shika and that's exactly what I'm going to do.
– Hi Tema! – he says on the other end of the call – How are things over there?
– Everything is great, my father is a sweetheart and I really missed my brothers. So what about you?
– I'm great too, I'm loving every second, I've missed everything here, but especially my family! - I hear him mumbling something after hearing a female voice asking who it was.
– Is everything ok? - I ask, already alert, there is little care.
– Yes, it's just my sister who doesn't know how to mind her own business! – he says and I feel calmer.
– Hello Temari, I'm Mirai! - I heard her say happily and I laughed because I can imagine his irritation at this moment.
- It's a pleasure to hear your sweet voice. - I say knowing that she hears me - I hope you're bothering him since I can't do it.
– Don't worry, I'll make sure to do it.
– I'm grateful. - I respond. I hear him chasing her away and sighing.
– Did Ino tell her? - I ask
– How did you guess?
– Tenten told my sister, we are horrible at keeping secrets.
– You can believe it! – he laughs.
We talked for a while longer, but shortly after he had to go for lunch and I needed to sleep. And that's what I did, tomorrow I have another full day and I'm looking forward to seeing what my father prepared, yes, because I know he prepared something.
As I suspected, the next morning our father showed up with a list of activities for the next week, complete with everything imaginable, but also plenty of free time, he knows we also enjoy some independence.
– Well, there's no shortage of activities! – the brunette next to me says in surprise.
– Of course not, Kankuro. – my father replies – Let's enjoy every second.
- Gladly! We have so few during the year.- Gaara says sadly.
– Let's not think about sad things now, we have a visit to the zoo.- my father says.
– Aren't we a little old for the zoo? – I asks.
– You're never too old to see those cuties! – he defends himself.
From the list in front of me I feel like I'm going to have a busy week, it will be good to not miss my friends so much, just thinking about half of them leaving next year brings a lump to my throat.
But this is not the time to think about that, it is time to enjoy the little time I have with my family. This vacation will help me understand how I feel, I will be away from the temptations and pressure that people put on me. I really needed this relaxation and fun.
In the last years we've had the coldest winters and the warmest summers ever recorded, with rain in the desert and droughts in the coldest parts of the Earth. The world is giving us warnings that it is not okay. Please make sustainable choices and help the planet. If you support any story that goes against these ideals, you can stop reading mine.
Kisses❤