Home

Kira was truly excited. He was sitting by MenMen's side, holding her hand. His eyes not leaving hers. His smile brighter than the sun. He had made one phone call, that wasn't very long.

"We'll be leaving. MenMen will be coming with us. Get the procedures done."

And then, they waited. An hour later, a middle aged man dressed immaculately in a black suit walked in wearing a good looking albeit unrevealing smile and a respectful attitude toward Kira. He stared into Kira's eyes and spoke with short and clear words.

"It's done sir."

Kira nodded. And smiled at MenMen. All that needed to be said, was said in that smile.

A doctor with a white head came in, followed by Javi. He spoke about the hospital's rehab facilities being among the best in the country and how it would do MenMen mighty good to stay. Kira was smiling throughout, not the smallest fluctuation in his face. After a while, the old doctor gave up. He wished MenMen a speedy recovery and left. Javi was quiet all through, and in the end walked out without having made a sound, following after the old doctor.

Not long after, a couple of men in plainer black suits walked in, pushing a bright red gurney that was much plusher and a lot more comfortable that the hospital gurneys. Wasn't very difficult to recognize them as security personnel. A woman in a pastel blue dress followed after the two men. She looked the most elegant among all in the room. She stopped in front of Kira, bowed, and spoke in a voice that was honey to the ears.

"Sir. Everything is ready."

"Thank you, Em. This is MenMen. My daughter."

Em nodded at MenMen, bowed slightly, with the same respect on her face as she had for Kira.

Kira looked at MenMen and continued. "This is Em. My assistant. She's the best. And sometimes she can be very intimidating. Try not to anger her." And winked at MenMen.

MenMen hid her laugh behind a smile as Em cleared her throat. Kira continued introducing the others. The middle aged man was Jem, he liked calling himself the butler. Ada and Adi were twins, and Kira's personal security. They were all respectful to MenMen, like she truly was Kira's daughter and their young mistress. It was a good first meeting.

Kira and Em helped MenMen onto the red gurney carefully. Jem pushed the gurney, Kira walked by the side, not leaving MenMen's hand. MenMen was finally leaving the hospital room, which in the last few weeks had grown large enough to encompass all of her world. She was a little afraid of what was outside, and also a little expectant. She unconsciously pressed on Kira's hand, revealing to him all of her thoughts. The hospital hallways were long and wide. Everybody seemed to be looking at their party curiously. But none in the party was even a little curious about anyone else. Completely blind to the prying eyes, the party continued on. As they went out the big doors, MenMen squinted her eyes against the bright sun. She pressed Kira's hand so hard, the veins were showing. But Kira didn't show even a little pain. On the contrary, he was smiling even wider. He patted MenMen's hand gently with his free hand, offering her assurance. He was here. She would be fine. MenMen smiled at him warmly.

A large black van that was nondescript except for its size was their ride. Kira, Em and Jem were in the back with MenMen. Ada and Adi were in the front. The van was modified to make it extremely comfortable, especially for MenMen. She didn't feel the littlest turbulence. The van was so steady, it might not have been moving at all. They were driving for over two hours before coming to a stop. When the doors opened, what MenMen saw was vast grounds empty but for nature, and in the middle of it all was a large mansion.

"Home," Kira said, when they were out. "Don't let the size frighten you. There's a few of us here, so the size is rather necessary."

Adi and Ada drove away with the van. Jem excused himself, stating that he needed to ensure the preparations were complete. Em was pushing the gurney, while Kira walked by MenMen's side. As he was introducing home, MenMen was seeing everything in her head. She didn't tell that she saw a lot more than what Kira was introducing, because she liked hearing his voice, and even more because she felt warm under his care.

The mansion was home as well as Lubar's listed office. Lubar was a privately owned tech company that was primarily into research. It also had a think tank that published papers, which was the primary source of income as far as the world was concerned. But Lubar was actually much more. The vast grounds were needed because the labs were underground, where the true research was going on. The employees weren't many in number, but they were all carefully selected and hired. No one applied to Lubar. It was the company that scouted talents, and offered them what they truly desired to hire them. The employees stayed on the property. The majority stayed in the mansion, because they were far too absorbed in their work to think of family and were thus single. Those that did have a family, chose to live in cottages spread out on the property, ensuring personal space. The property was like a small commune.

Kira was the managing director of Lubar. And the overall head. In here, he was the biggest celebrity, loved and revered by all. As his daughter, MenMen's future was no big mystery.

MenMen's room was on the ground floor in the east wing that had the best view of the lake. Several birds flew over to the lake to sate their thirst, and for lazing about, so it was always picturesque. The window in MenMen's room offered a direct view of the lake. No other window in all of the mansion was closer to the lake.

MenMen's room was modified to seem not very different from her room at the hospital. But it had brighter colours, and smelled like home rather than a hospital. A middle aged woman with a pretty smile was at the door, acting as the welcome party.

"She's Amyra," Kira introduced. "She'll be your doctor and responsible for your recovery. She'll also be your mother." He was red faced.

Em didn't try to hide her teasing smile. "You've been married twenty years sir, and you're still embarrassed."

"Why do you think it was me chasing after him in school," Amyra replied. "Oh, the difficulties. I wish no one else has to experience them."

Kira was even redder, as Amyra and Em burst out laughing. MenMen felt for her father. The only consolation she offered was pressing his hand. She was here, she was telling him. And that was all he needed.

The brief interaction wasn't lost on the sharp-eyed women.

"Oh," Amyra said. "So you're like that. On his side."

"Guess things will be interesting now," Em added. "With the ground evened."

"You have a brother dear," Amyra explained. "He's working now. He's always working so much. He's not like either of us, dad or me. But he's on my side. Dad felt alone all these years. Now that you're here, and on his side, I guess he'll feel strengthened."

They helped MenMen onto the large bed in the middle of the room that was a lot more comfortable. Amyra proceeded to give MenMen a massage, as she continued speaking.

"Dad and I were in school together. He was so handsome then. He's still handsome, but a different handsome. Back then, we were just six years old. And he was so cutely handsome, everybody in school had eyes only for him. I knew from the moment I saw him, he had to be mine. Chasing after him was so arduous. Winning him was the most difficult thing I've experienced in all of my life. Did you know, a day after we graduated from high school, we were engaged. I was going to med school. He was studying engineering. We were going to different colleges. I couldn't risk having him stolen away. It was like a big scandal back then. Everyone was talking about us. As if they were betting on which of us would break off the engagement. But we made them eat their words in the end, when we got married. So, anyway, I'm the resident doctor here. Oh yes, what do you know about Lubar?"

Em was startled, realising that they had forgotten entirely about the matter. Kira, however, wasn't fazed. He shrugged at MenMen, and MenMen nodded.

"A little," she said honestly. "Enough for now. Enough for my purposes."

The women paused, looking deeply at MenMen. Kira smiled appreciatively. MenMen smiled back at him. This time, the women couldn't make sense of the brief exchange. It seemed like the father and daughter had a secret.

"Let's decide on the course of recovery," Amyra said after a while.