The Call

- Sometime later -

My phone rang, cutting through the conversation at the dinner table. I looked at my parents and panicked.

It was definitely the institution ringing to tell me if I got accepted or not.

As it rang again, Mum sprang into action.

"Quickly, get your phone," She said whilst gesturing wildly in the direction of the kitchen. "I saw it last next to the cooker, snap out of it! What if it cuts off?"

Spurred on by my mother's words, I jumped up, ran to the kitchen, grabbed it from the table and answered

"Hello?" I asked a little breathlessly.

"Hi, is this Miss Carlson?"

It was the receptionist, Emelia James and her kind voice seeped through the phone making me relax instantly.

"Yes, speaking". I was careful to hide the tremor and nervousness in my voice.

"Hi Arya, I hope you're doing well. I'm calling regarding the position you were interviewed for".

"Yes..."

"I'm delighted to inform you that your interview was successful and your work will begin on the first of the next month where a contract will be written and signed. Any further information will be sent to your email".

"Okay, that's great. Thank you for informing me."

"You're welcome. I hope to see you soon. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. Have a pleasant evening"

"You too. Goodbye"

I cut the call and turned to my parents. My mum's face was shining with excitement and even my dad looked somewhat nervous.

I allowed my eyes to tear up and dropped any signs of happiness from my face. I slipped in a few sniffles and my mum automatically understood and wrapped her arms around me and began stroking my back softly.

"It's okay Arya, this was your first ever application. There are plenty more fish in the sea. Don't let this hold you back but be a lesson. Okay, sweetie?"

She pulled back and held on to my face. Oh gosh, there were tears in her eyes and I automatically felt like a horrible daughter. I turned and looked at my dad's bewildered face and the guilt disappeared.

"Wait, what's going on here? Stop smothering the child and let her tell us the news".

Mum sighed. "Charles you are so incredibly dense. Read the mood. What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing's wrong with me, what's wrong with you?"

Mum looked like she was about to hit him and let go of my face.

"Now, wait a second. Before you get angry, Arya darling, what was the call about?"

I grinned. "I got accepted".

"See look at what you have done, she's going to get up-, wait, WHAT?!"

Dad laughed and grabbed me in a bear hug and squeezed tight.

"I knew you could do it, princess. You take after your dad with your smarts". He ruffled my hair and smiled warmly, his blue eyes twinkling with pride.

Mum on the other hand- who I could see over my dad's shoulder - looked positively furious.

"Arya, why would you lie to me?!"

Dad let go of me and smirked at my mum. "Alisha, she never lied to you. You didn't even give her a chance to speak"

"Exactly, I second that," I said mirroring Dad's smirk.

Mum scowled. "Stop giving her bad ideas"

"I'm not, we just think alike. My genius is genetic," Dad boasted.

Mum scoffed. "Oh please, what genius? If anything it's my genius".

"What genius do you have? I'm the one who owns and runs a business".

Mum went down and pulled off her pink fluffy house slipper and flung it. It sailed across the room and landed exactly at the centre of Dad's forehead.

"How does owning a business lead to her getting a degree in Clinical Psychology? I'm the one who's a doctor and a consultant!"

Dad chuckled rubbing his forehead and whispered to me. "Even though your mum is tiny, she's bloody scary".

I laugh and hug Mum. "Sorry for messing with you" I gave her puppy eyes. "Please forgive me?"

She pulls me closer and returns the hug firmly, her anger was forgotten. "I really am proud of you, my Arya. I can't wait to tell the whole family".

I fake horror

"The whole family? I don't need to get calls from relatives in India that I've never met before".

"Oh come on. It can't be that bad" She replied mockingly.

Dad quickly intersects to my relief. "Actually, I think we should keep this one on the down-low. Her graduation congratulation calls nearly lasted two months. I could barely sleep at night".

"Fine, fine. I'll only tell a few people."

"Wait, mum. How many few? I don't trust your version of a few".

She glares at me. "None of your business. I had to go through it, so you have to as well".

"Well thank God my family is smaller than," dad said.

I sighed and ignored them. Holsten's was way too far for me to drive there every day and come back. The only local residential area was a village and from what I heard, most staff who lived too far bought a house and stayed there as the village didn't have any hotels or inns. I wasn't too keen on the idea of moving though, but I pretty much had no choice except to move. I sighed. I had less than a month to find a house in that village, purchase a house and make sure that I got any work done that I needed. I looked at my parents having another lovers quarrel. Yeah, it would probably for the best if I moved.

"Mum, dad. I need to go house hunting".

Suddenly, they both went quiet and looked at each other. They began to exchange something using their eyes and then turned to me.

"Well are you sure that you need to, I mean the commute shouldn't be that bad"

"Maybe we could go with you, I was getting tired of London anyway and we were thinking about moving sometime soon. A change of scenery does wonders for a person".

Gosh no. I would not be letting them come with me at all. They had now teamed up and were against me. I could already feel my headache coming up.

----

Looking at the video call with both my grandparents face in there, I sighed.

"No, I do not need anybody to move with me. At all."

Gran tried to smooth things over. "No, no. We are not moving for you. That is just a coincidence".

I looked at her incredulously. "It's just a coincidence that when I happen to get a job in Holston's and need to move to Colsen village for ease of access to my workplace, you and grandad need a change of scenery? Really?"

She smiled. "Yes, it's exactly that. I always knew that you were raised properly. So kind and understanding. It's so nice to hear that you don't find your poor old grandparents a burden".

How manipulative. I can see exactly how dad became the way he is. But I'm immune to this kind of stuff thanks to my mum.

"Absolutely not. I won't have time to look after you and I wouldn't want to neglect my 'poor old grandparents'. If you want a change of scenery, I suggest the care home near our house. That way at least your son is near and you have company. I wouldn't want you to feel lonely".

My grandparents both laughed whereas I could hear Dad protesting from the kitchen.

"See? Look at how excited he is to have you over. Forget about a care home, we have enough space in the house to accommodate you all".

Dad made a few more protests before Mum told him to shut him up, telling him not to be rude 'as they were his parents'.

"Arya, I really am proud of you," Grandad said. I immediately filled with happiness. Grandad was a man of few words. He was calculating and quiet and only spoke when necessary which made his words very important to me. "But just remember who you are and if anything happens to you, there will be consequences". His face hardened even more as he said this which I thought wasn't possible.

Dad strolled into the room, his crooked tie straight, his hair styled nicely and his buttons done correctly which was probably the doing of my mum.

"What could you possibly do for her old man, hit her with your mobility frame?"

I snorted careful to hide the sound from Grandma who would have - without no doubt - told me off. Before any more could be said, I quickly shoved the tablet in Dad's hands much to his objection and walked off. He could face Grandma's telling off. I had things to do.