The Housewarming
I sat there in my car, in front of my house, my very first home and a place that I could finally call home after 7 years of struggle, relief washed over me.
Finally a sense of belonging settled within me in this known-yet-strange place.
After the relief, the past came to haunt me with its claws to my throat. I shook my head to clear my thoughts. This is the night to celebrate the sweet fruit of my labour, hard-work.
I got inside my home, with all the things needed for the housewarming. Aurora and Darius would be reaching within an hour. I didn’t have many friends, but Aurora and Darius proved themselves to be incredibly loyal best friends as well as good human beings.
Their presence was a boon in my life, both came to my life at my darkest and never left me behind ever since. We had each other’s back from the very beginning, taking care of one another through thick and thin.
A small smile crept upto my face, as I thought about them. I prepared the food and decoration for the housewarming. I set the ice-cream for our late night chat and made a dreamy tent set-up with lights to relax on the rooftop.
"Ding-Dong!"
I opened the door and I was immediately engulfed in a hug.
"Lena darling!Congrats for the new home!!", Aurora hugged me and congratulated, always like usual, bubbly.
"Lena, Happy Housewarming!", congratulated Darius.
"Thank You guys. Come on in. I’m excited to show you the complete house!", I said as I welcomed them in.
Aurora, a bubbly woman, like her name meaning dawn, made herself at home, rooftop tent was specially made on her request. While Darius chose his spot in the house that he already booked with me.
I called them to eat, we ate while arguing and making fun of each other.
"Let’s go to rooftop. Darius and Aurora, let’s go and choose our favourite drink and something to munch on.", I called and went to the rooftop.
We were drinking and munching, I started feeling a little melancholic.
"Thank you guys for being there with me and encouraging me. Due to your encouragement I had enough courage to venture in Business. And look, I now own my own home.", I said with little moistness in my eyes.
"Selene Nyx, you are not allowed to be in low mood and we’re your friends, this is what we should do.", Aurora said. She only called me by my full name when she’s very angry.
"Yes Lena, Aurora is right. We are friends, we have stood for each other in the past and will do so in present and future. You don't have to be burdened by this. You also have saved our ass many times", Darius said and chuckled.
"I realize you're right. Reflecting on the past today has stirred up some emotions. It's hard to believe how much we've grown in just seven years", I said.
"Well, in all this I forgot about ice cream. I made the ice cream myself, would you both like some?", I asked, changing the melancholic topic.
Aurora and Darius both cheered. I left laughing and brought the ice-cream.
While eating ice-cream, Aurora asked "Are you free the day after tomorrow?"
"No, I have to go on a business trip to Celestia." , I replied.
"Well, why do you have to go? You can ask your assistant, Mike to go in your stead.", Darius said.
"It's a big project and I'm also thinking to take 2 more days to enjoy whatever Celestia could offer.", I replied.
"Well, that's a good idea and you do need to take a well deserved vacation", Aurora said.
"I'm sleepy!!", Darius exclaimed.
"Oh it's so late! I need to go to sleep or I will look like a panda.", Aurora said.
"Then let's go to sleep. I have already prepared rooms for you both.", I said, laughing to myself at their childishness.
We wished each other goodnight and went to sleep.
I thought i should take a relaxing bath before sleeping. My muscles needed some relaxation after the busy days that I spent on my home and housewarming.
I added hot water for the bath, with essential oils to relax myself.
I descended into the bath.
"Aah! This is what I needed after the busy schedule.", I sighed in relief as tension was relieved from my body.
I started feeling sleepy. I entered the dreamy land. I saw myself in the middle of a jungle, a full moon in the night sky, venturing through it looking for the thing that pulls me to whatever and wherever it is.
I saw a silhouette, I stepped closer without alerting the creature to see through the moonlight. There was light enough for me to roam the jungle but not enough to see clearly. But I could make out that the silhouette was of a man, a very tall one, for a human, or is it the shadows?
Suddenly, the man looked at me, directly in my eyes, with his golden eyes, shining like a panther in the forest.
I blinked, there was no man with golden eyes there. I was getting nervous and scared.
There was a sudden noise on my left, and I hurriedly looked there.
Only to see golden shiny eyes, only a few centimetres away from me.
I woke with a start, panting.
"That was so scary!", I said to myself, realising that the water was cold.
"Is there any connection between a dream and reality?", I asked myself.
"How is that possible? It's probably that the water got cold and all my imaginations. But this can really be a good plot for some horror movie.", I chuckled to myself, reassuring.
I got dressed in my pajamas, and to my new bed. I sighed at the feel of the soft matress and fell asleep.
I woke the next afternoon. I went to dining area and saw Aurora and Darius there.
I greeted them. Aurora asked what I wanted to eat as they were going to order food from the restaurant. I told them to buy me fried chicken.
"You do realise that fried chicken is not something to eat for lunch?", Darius chided.
"I know, but I am really craving for this. And I don't know what I will find for eating in Celestia, so I'm going to satisfy my craving here.", I said.
Darius sighed resignedly and ordered the food to be delivered.
"Food will be here in an hour. ", Darius informed.
The food came and we ate watching our favourite stand up comedy.
After finishing up with the cleaning, Aurora said,"We should go shopping, you will be on a vacation after you are done with the business."
"But I want to save some energy for tomorrow's trip.", I said whining.
"Ok then, choose the dresses you like from the official website. Then we will order them and the company will deliver it in 2 hours.", said Aurora.
"A new feature of your fashion brand?", I asked, after seeing the company's name.
"Yes, do you like it? I specially introduced this for your lazy ass.", said Aurora.
I beamed at her.
She opened her tablet with products showcasing on it. I chose all the dresses that I liked in my size and amazingly it was delivered within an hour.
I was genuinely impressed with the delivery.
I tried every dress showing it to my bubbly bestie.
After which I started packing for my business trip. I readied my documents, business plan and all the required things needed.
I messaged Mike to come and pick me at sharp 8 in the morning tomorrow.
After which Darius and Aurora came to inform and said that they have to go as they are expected to be in a meeting for there next project.
Darius being in the real estate business while Aurora in fashion industry with her own brand, are both busy after their business increased, like myself.
I bid them goodbye with a good luck, and especially warned Aurora not to go out after the sun had settled.
Aurora assured and told me the same.
The war 7 years ago was really a big change in the life of every person in our country , Sylvanar, especially the unmarried women suffered the most.
I sighed and stopped thinking about it. A lot on the plate to think of the past.
After all the arrangements it was time to sleep.
It was the next morning. I was looking outside the window of the car, on our way to airport.
For a flight to Celestia.
I watched the scenery passing. This place had been the place I chose to build my nest, my world after my previous safe haven broke due to the war.
My thoughts were stopped when Mike said we had arrived at the airport.
After entering the airport, we boarded the plane, which will take us to the destination, the capital city of Celestia, Haven.
We landed at Haven, and only after seeing the place did I realise why it was called The Haven.
The whole road and pathways were lined with small flowers, their height barely 10 cm, the flower seemed to be glowing under the sunlight.
After I checked in the hotel and to my room, did I realise and felt that I was the princess. The room was in the theme of night, with stars like lights blinking on the ceilings and a room fit for royal.
After freshening up, I fell down on the bed and slept peacefully.The next day business partnership was determined without any hardship and went smoothly than expected.
After which I enjoyed my rest of the days enjoying and exploring the Haven.
