THE EVENT

Alayah was serving the drinks when she heard someone call her name, she turned around, it was Harry.

"Alayah, why are you here? Why are you wearing such clothes?" He questioned and Denzel started listening to them.

"Well, I came here for you, I knew you will be here", Alayah replied with a smile.

"You came here for me? Just to serve me? Did uncle call you?" He was shocked.

"Haha, no, I came because I had a dream that you would be here today. Mr. Harry, what would you want to take?" Alayah asked in a friendly tone.

"Serve me...", Harry started thinking meanwhile Denzel approached Harry, Harry noticed him and ran toward him.

"Uncle!" He said with excitement and Denzel picked him up.

"Yes, my love, don't you know how much I missed you, I took a photo of yours with me and placed it on my side table, I used to kiss that picture daily", Denzel said.

Harry started rubbing his palms on his cheeks.

" What are you doing", Denzel asked.

"Wiping your kiss", Harry replied.

"Ha-ha I kissed here and here and there", Denzel started cuddling him.

" Stop! uncle meet my friend, she is Alayah," Harry said, Denzel started looking at her.

"I have seen you before, I can't remember where but… did you ever visit the animal shelter?" Denzel asked.

"Yes, I do visit an animal shelter which is nearby, I often go there and try my best to help these animals as much as I can. Animals are unable to communicate sorrow or happiness to humans. Because of this, people must speak up for animals. Animals too have emotions, have thoughts in their heads, and have lives of their own. Animals dislike being confined in cages, prodded with sharp objects, or subjected to emotional and physical abuse."

Denzel continued to watch Alayah because he was fascinated by the way she observes animals; not many people had this perspective.

"What happened?" Alayah asked Denzel.

"Nothing, I am simply so impressed by your thinking.", Denzel replied, "Do tell me something more about it, I would love to hear", he requested.

"The fact that people think they are superior to animals and ought to be regarded as a higher species contributes to how poorly the animal is treated. That kind of attitude frequently results in cruelty to animals. Animals do not deserve to be treated like people, according to those who believe they are superior to other species. Animals should no longer be viewed as inferior to humans and people should stop acting as though they are", Alayah said.

"Should we visit the shelter together? I mean, I would like to help, Can I have your number?" Denzel said.

"Well, there is a number of shelters you can visit, and as far as the address is concerned, you can get it online", Alayah replied.

"No, no, I'll give you Alayah's phone number; save it. She would be happy if you accompanied her", Elin said immediately and Alayah was looking at her in with an angry face.

Elin took the phone from Denzel's hand and said, "Let me save it for you", after a while she returned it, "I added her number."

Denzel looked and his phone, saw the name, and said, "Alayah! I am Denzel, instead of your name I am writing, ANIMAL'S SHELTER ADVISOR", he looked at Alayah with a smile.

Alayah took two glasses of drinks and went towards Aaron's table, as they never saw each other before, so Aaron did not recognize that she is the same lady who is working as a cook at his house. She put the tray on the table, "Here is your drink sir, enjoy!" she said but when she was about to leave, her bead bracelet got stuck in one of the cuff buttons of Aaron's shirt.

"Woah, Woah, Woah, wait lady!" Aaron said.

"One second, sir, don't move, just don't move your arm please, otherwise it will break", Alayah requested.

Aaron looked around and get irritated.

"One moment, sir, just one moment", Alayah said.

"Okay!! I am done now" he said and break the bracelet, soon all the beads were on the floor.

"What? It all fell apart! I lost my most special bracelet just because of you!" Alayah shouted.

"Miss, please calm down, I will recompense", Aaron said while taking his sunglasses off.

"You can't recompense everything!" she said with teary eyes.

"It was so expensive! It was made with specially imported gems", Elin said.

Aaron gave some money to Alayah but refused to take it and left that place.

"Elin! You gifted me that bracelet, I am feeling so sad", Alayah said in a gloomy tone.

"I will make another, just calm down", Elin said.

*

*

AT NIGHT, ALAYAH'S HOUSE:

Alayah was studying, Elin entered her room and said, "Alayah, just leave these language courses, why do you work so hard?"

"Because I have some dream", Alayah replied.

"Oh, girl! Just marry a rich man and fulfill all your dreams", Elin said with excitement.

"Why should I? If you are interested, find one for yourself! Being a self-made person, I will work as hard as I can!" Alayah replied.

"Well, of course, I would love to marry a rich man!" Elin replied.

"Go and sleep Elin, instead of demotivating me, I have to open my dream restaurant, I just wish to have one", Alayah said and started working again.

*

*

Early in the morning, Denzel was playing piano, he was trying to concentrate, but something distracted him, while playing the piano he looked at his phone. He stood up and dialed Alayah's number.

It was Sunday so Alayah was still sleeping, she woke up due to the phone's ringtone.

"Hello Alayah, it's me, Denzel, we met at the event?" Denzel said.

"Hello Denzel", Alayah replied.

"Alayah you mentioned an animal shelter, can we go there today?" Denzel asked.

"Well, I'm sorry, but I'm busy today", Alayah said and disconnected the call.

*

*

AT AARON'S FARMHOUSE:

Everyone was gathered there; Aaron's mother was placing the plates on the table for the breakfast.

"Harry! Come, let's have breakfast", Della called him.

"No, mom! I am going to ride a horse", Harry said.

"No!" Della shouted.

"Yes, I am going", Harry said and run outside.

"Mom! He just becomes so careful whenever he comes here, he doesn't eat properly", Della said worriedly to Mrs. Lincoln.

"It's okay sweetheart, he will come, just sit and eat", Mrs. Lincoln said.

"Aaron! Will you come next Sunday too?" Mrs. Lincoln requested.

"I really have a lot of work to do, mom, so, please. I just can't come here daily" Aaron replied.

"Despite their continued busyness, Della, Henry, and even Erik occasionally visit this place on the weekends, even Erik calls me daily, why don't you?" Mrs. Lincoln said.

"Well, Mrs. George gives you daily reports, about the business, about the house, and of course about me, so what's the problem?" Aaron asked.

"Mom, just don't waste your time, he doesn't call us either", Della added.

"Let me tell you something, Aaron calls me every day, every morning I receive his call", Erik exaggerated.

"I can't believe it!" Mrs. Lincoln said.

"He calls me and says "hey Erik! Let's go to work", Erik said while doing mimicry of Aaron.

Everyone laughed.

"Ha-ha! He calls me every night and asks, "Henry all the records ready or not?" and he disconnects the call as soon as I reply", Henry added.

"Because this is the only way to see Aaron, and I anticipate that he will call me as well, I believe I should also join the company", Mrs. Lincoln said.

*

*

After breakfast, Aaron was enjoying a cup of tea while standing next to a river in a tree-lined area when his mother arrived.

"Aaron! This is the place where you used to catch fish with your dad", She said with love.

"Is that so?" he asked while looking at the river.

"Don't you miss me? Why do you never call me?" Mrs. Lincoln asked.

"Mom, please!" Aaron got irritated.

"When you were a child, I always wished to see you as a grown-up successful man, but now I miss that version of yours", Mrs. Lincoln said in a gloomy voice.

Aaron remained quiet.

"Son, I think you need someone by your side, who remind you to call your mother", Mrs. Lincoln said and held Aaron's arm.

"No mom, please," he said and looked at his arm, he moved a little so that his mother cannot hold his arm again. "I am fine the way I am", he said and left that place.

*

*

AT AARON'S HOUSE:

Alayah was mopping the floor; today she was dressed in a white t-shirt, blue trousers, and white high-top sneakers. Her hair was left loose and she was wearing a hairband.

She wore a headphone and started mopping again.

Aaron came early today, parked his car, entered his home, went to his room, and hung his coat up on a coat rack.

He didn't observe Alayah cleaning the living room at the moment, he moved toward the kitchen, filled a glass with water, and eventually got Erik's call.

"Where are you?" Erik asked.

"I am just exhausted, that person was so annoying. Handle him; I'm home now", he said and went towards his room.