Marital Concerns pt. 2

"I'm glad that you came to visit us for the New Year Dasha taté," I greeted Aunt Dasha from a step behind her.

"Oh Arystan," she acknowledged me then looked back again to the trophies.

"You have achieved so much over the years dear."

"All with hard work taté," I responded to her.

She nodded her head.

"Of course. Of course."

"Have you been well taté?" I asked as I took the last step forward and stood next to her.

She looked at me and smiled.

"I had been well son. I thank Allah for blessing me and your Uncle Ruslan with good health."

She took me in from head to toe.

"You had grown a lot. I used to hold a tiny baby in my arms and now I only reach up to your shoulder," she smiled.

I chuckled lightly.

"Mama told me that you used to change my diapers."

A look of fondness came over her face and she broke into huge smile.

"Ah yes. Your äke and your ana were busy with their early careers at that time. I was still single and lived with your papa and mama. I used to chase you around at two years old because you won't let me change your soiled clothes."

"You must have had a hard time taté."

She laughed.

"A little. But you were a fun little kid."

She stepped away from the trophy shelves and led me towards the sofa.

"Tell me, will you hold a concert in Russia this year? In Moscow?" she asked me as she took her seat.

I sat on the sofa next to her.

"We haven't made plans for the concert tours yet taté."

"We are moving to Moscow next year. I felt bad for missing your concerts especially the one in St. Pittsburgh last July. Your Uncle Ruslan and I were always preoccupied with work. Tatiana and her friends are the ones who didn't miss any of your concerts in Russia. I envy them young ones."

"We can arrange to hold a concert in Moscow taté. I'll get you and Uncle Ruslan VIP tickets myself."

Her eyes lit up.

"Oh thank you dear. That would be wonderful."

I was surprised when she took my right hand with both of hers.

"You're a handsome young man with immense talent and very good manners. I hope you will live a full life and succeed in your future aspirations."

"Thank you taté," I said with a polite smile.

"Do you have a girlfriend yet?" she asked out of the blue.

"Uh.. no taté."

"Really? You're old enough to have children of your own now," she looked at me, serious.

I did my best not to laugh.

I really need to get married soon. Everyone in the family is disappointed with my lack of marriage prospects.

"I had been busy with my career taté. I haven't found the time to properly date someone."

She nodded in thoughtful concession.

"Well, yes. With your busy schedule, it would be hard for you."

I topped her hand holding mine and stood up.

"I hope you enjoy your stay with us taté. I need to check on the boys upstairs, make sure they won't make a mess in my room."

"Oh sure dear. I'll stay with papa and mama," she smiled and let go of my hand.

"Papa, mama, I'll get going upstairs to check on my room. Aunt Dasha will accompany you two," I told my grandparents when I passed by them.

"Okay son," papa responded, his eyes on the TV screen.

I climbed up the winding stairs.

Only Alikhan and Adilet is in the room. They were playing with their phones on the bed.

"Where is Dias?" I asked Adi.

"In the terrace, calling his fiancé," he answered me.

I looked around the room and saw their luggage still unpacked in a corner near the PlayStation.

"Are you not unpacking your things?" I turned to Adi again.

"Dias aga said to wait for you to come up. He doesn't want us to disorganize your closet. I have never seen your room this neat before aga. Sorry for messing the bed, by the way."

I smirked, remembering the person responsible for all this.

"No. It's okay. You can unpack your things. There are empty drawers you can use in my closet."

"Okay aga," Adi responded with his eyes still glued on his phone.

"Aga, can we play with your PlayStation?" he called to me just when I was to go out of the door.

"Sure," I shrugged at him.

I was about to go back down when I remembered my phone. I haven't seen it since last night.

I found it in the studio with several missed calls. Three are from my mother and five from Senti.

Senti.

I totally forgot about the tourist brochure.

I dialed Senti's number as I climbed back down the stairs. He picked up after the second ring.

"Hello brother? I wonder what had happened. Arina said you called me last last night. She just remembered to tell me now," he spoke from the other line.

"Good morning brother. Nothing happened. I just had something to ask about," I responded.

"What is it?"

"Albuquerque, New Mexico. I saw a travel brochure of that city. I suspect it is McCrae's."

"Ahhhh. New Mexico. She flew from New Mexico to here."

"Really? What was she doing in New Mexico? New York is on the other side of the world."

He did not respond.

I took the phone from my ear and saw that the call is still connected.

"What was in New Mexico brother?"

"Well, you might find this strange but she did a backpacking trip for five months and it ended in New Mexico."

"Five months??"

"She thought it was a good way to stay off grid."

"It was during those five months that she studied Kazakh??"

"Yeah. Whenever she's in a town, she gets in touch with me and I taught her some lessons."

"Did she go with someone during the trip?"

"I believe she set out alone. Maybe she had companions along the way but she didn't tell me about it."

"You're not kidding me right? A five month backpacking trip on her own? And I heard last night she took up a cleaning job for three months."

"I know what you're thinking brother but what I said about her is true. It's strange if you think about the things she does but she really has a billionaire for a father."

Yeah. There's no doubt she is Magnus McCrae's daughter. The resemblance is uncanny.

"Okay. Just let me remind that you brought me this unusual woman. I really hope this won't be a disaster brother."

He laughed.

"You will be fine. Just don't fall in love with her."

I also laughed.

"I'll do my best."

"But if you do, that would be fine too. Well, it would be a bit complicated but you will work it out."

"Alright brother. Thanks for telling me."

I ended the call and found my way to the kitchen without realizing it.

"You're back here again," Leila greeted me.

I took my seat in the kitchen island.

"Have you ever known someone so contrasting Leila? A person you just can't figure out?"

"I have. But I didn't try to question everything about why they are the way they are. Not even my husband."

"Why not?"

"Everyone has their own strangeness son. You'll do well to learn to accept it and maybe even enjoy it. If you are looking for Lana and Dionna, they have not come here since I came back."

"Do you have any idea where they are?"

"No."

I stood up from my seat.

"Though I suspect that Lana is back to her mother and Dionna is making her way back here."

"How do you know?"

"Aigerim was looking for Lana here minutes ago."

I sat back down.

"So it is Dionna you're looking for."

I just frowned at her.

"You are being obvious son."

"About what?"

"About her. You don't usually sit down here in the kitchen. And you're sitting here to wait for her."

"I only had a question to-"

Never mind. I can't ask her.

"To ask her?"

"Yeah. But I can't."

"Why not?"

"It's a little complicated."

Leila didn't say anything more and went on peeling the potatoes.

"So you do know?" she said after a few minutes.

"Know what?"

"That you fancy her?"

"Fancy? What a choice of word," I chuckled at her.

"But you indeed fancy her don't you?"

"I guess," I shrugged.

"I must say it's good to see you fancy someone again after a long while."

"Yntizar?"

My heart felt like it dropped.

"That means you have a new, exciting feeling for someone," Leila said to her.

"Ah. Yntizar is a fancy sounding word."

She sat down a seat away from me.

"Congratulations Sir," she told me.

I looked to her direction and gave her a curt nod.

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