Purple Romance

Calia flushed and lookedd away saying ''who said I forgot about you? I will bring you bowl full of congee right away'' Calia said and glared at Ad-Din before going to the kitchen. The two men laughed and shook their heads.

After Ad-Din finished his congee, he went into the therapy room that Kobby made him to set up in the quarters. They were inside having a quiet meditative therapy where Ad-Din laid on the mat relaxed with his eyes closed and his hands on his torso. There was a flute-like music which combined the sounds of birds chirping and droplets of rain playing in the background.

In meditation, there are basically two approaches- concentrative meditations and mindfulness/insight meditations. The former aims at single pointed focus on some sound, image or sensation to still the mind and achieve greater awareness. While the latter involves opening up or becoming more alert to the continuous passing stream of thoughts, images, emotions and sensations without identifying oneself with them. Such a practice helps in developing non-reactive state of mind which is the foundation for calm and peaceful state of consciousness.

Even though meditation is a mental activity, its effects on human physiology has received much attention.

Therapeutic effects of medication over the years have proven to be of great help to people who have suffered a lot of physical and emotional wounds and pains because it helps them to relax. there is especially different mechanism that capture most of the explanations found in literature. [for more information on meditation and its benefits, you can search the internet]

After a two-hour session of therapeutic meditation, Ad-Din opened his eyes per Kobby's instructions and found himself more relaxed and in tune with himself. The type of meditation Kobby goes through with helps him was different every day and he found it helpful because after each session, he finds himself having less mental drainage and stress. It also helped in balancing physiological abnormalities and promotes healing.

They got out of the room and found Calia sleeping peacefully on the sofa. She had quite a good sleeping posture that she still looked captivating even though she was asleep, or maybe she might have practiced it a lot for her body to always maintain such a sound sleeping posture. It was pleasant to the eye except for the fact that, the dress she tore to her thighs exposed her a little too much.

Ad-Din turned and looked at Kobby and smiled awkwardly, he really felt like giving his sister a good beating but refrained from it. It was also almost midnight and he needed to sleep.

''Will she be alright, sleeping in the hall? The weather is a bit cold?'' Kobby asked worriedly cutting into Ad-Din's thoughts.

''Actually, I was going to tell you, if you could help me send her to the guest room. I am not strong enough to do that'' Ad-Din told him.

''Where is the guestroom?'' Kobby asked and Ad-Din pointed at the room which stood left to his bedroom. Kobby nodded his head and lifted Calia bridal style and went towards the room. Ad-Din went to the fridge to get himself a glass of water.

Kobby placed Calia gently on to the bed and chuckled as he watched her cull herself up into a ball sleeping soundly. She didn't even know she was being carried to a different place.

Kobby looked at her and pulled the covers, covering her body up and sighed ''what do I do with you? Such a straightforward woman. Not bad anyway'' he said and turned to go and heard her voice.

''Kobby Brian, you are going to be mine. My man, tsk, stop playing hard to get'' she said drifting back into sleep again.

''Is she sleep talking?'' Kobby asked rhetorically as he looked at her. He chuckled and knelt in front of her face. He leaned closer until he was almost touching her nose and then shook his head and stood up ''Kobby, what is wrong with you?'' he murmured and went out of the room. He felt it was dangerous to remain in the room alone with her.

When he got to the hall, he found Ad-Din holding a glass of water sipping and he spoke ''is late, you should get some sleep. I will take my leave now''

''My sister likes you, you know that right?'' Ad-Din asked and Kobby turned and looked at him. ''Actually, I guess you might have taken notice of it already because Calia is not someone who can hide her feelings so well. It could be said that she wears her heart on her sleeves. I don't know what you think about her and I don't also want that to hinder our friendship, so…''

''So, you want me to be upfront with her?'' Kobby completed Ad-Din's sentence and Ad-Din chuckled.

''Yes, I don't want to see her get hurt since you are the first guy she is having a really serious crush on. She is quite fragile than she allows people to see'' Ad-Din said.

''Don't worry, Calia is a good woman and I know that. Whatever you are worrying about won't happen but just so you put your heart at peace, I won't hurt her. She is special to me too. I have to go now, goodnight Ad-Din''

''Goodnight Kobby'' Ad-Din followed him to the door and closed it after Kobby left.

Ad-Din went back to his room and opened his laptop. The screensaver was of himself and Maria. he sat down on the chair and looked at the picture longingly before he opened a file. His phone buzzed, he picked it up and looked at the message before putting it away. He yawned and closed the laptop and went to the bed.

.....

Mr and Mrs. Mathias visited Maria on the day she was supposed to be discharged. They were originally on their vacation and wasn't aware of the things that happened lately.

Soon as they returned and heard that Maria was hospitalised, they didn't waste time home and visited her immediately. They loved Maria even so more and have taken her as a daughter since Lexis was no more, so seeing Maria's wrist in such a state brought tears to Mrs. Mathias.

Mrs. Mathias pulled Maria into a tight hug as she asked worriedly ''child, are you okay, now? Why didn't you call us to inform us of what happened? We were having a vacation while our child was in the hospital''

''Aunt, I'm fine now. Don't worry too much and you and uncle finally had a time to relax away from work and stress, how could I have let you know?'' Maria told her.

Mona Lisa who was standing aside watched them and saw the love that they shared for each other. In the course of the time she spent with Maria, she could to know everything about her and also found out about her second family which consisted of these people.

''Aunt, uncle, let me introduce someone to you'' Maria said and Mr and Mrs. Mathias' minds now came to the fashionably dressed woman by their side. They had only concentrated on Maria earlier and didn't even know they were not alone.

''Aunt, uncle, this is Mona Lisa Sun, the mother of you know…the man I told you about?'' Maria said shyly.

''Which man? Your new boyfriend or the one you finally got back together with after going MIA for 8 years?'' Mr. Mathias asked and looked at Maria. he wanted to tease her a bit because she looked so shy and cute.

''Uncle!!!' Maria looked at Mr. Mathias and frowned making them to laugh. 'In any case, she is soon going to be my mother in law''

''You are going to get married?'' Mrs. Mathias asked curiously. ''Maria, we were only gone for two months and you are already planning to get married? Can you give us time to adjust to the situation first?'' Mrs. Mathias spoke.

''Aunt, I didn't plan to marry Ad-Din so quickly at first but due to some reasons, I have decided to. I was only waiting for your consent since you and uncle are now my official guardians'' Maria told them.

''You have done well, Portia. I trust your decisions fully and I know you must have thought a lot before deciding to marry him. You have our support'' Mr. Mathias said.

''Thanks, uncle. So…'' Maria pointed shyly at Mona Lisa indicating that they should carry on by themselves.

''Hi, I am Mona Lisa Sun but you can just call me Mona or Lisa. Whichever one is okay by me'' Mona Lisa said and shook hands with the Mathias.

''I am Lucy and he is Derrick Mathias. We heard you never left our Maria's side since she was hospitalised. Thank you very much'' Mrs. Mathias said.

''Is a pleasure. Maria is such a kind and strong woman, I also loved the time I spent with her'' Mona Lisa added.

''Are you ready to go home, child?'' Mr. Mathias asked and looked at the luggage bag that was neatly placed on the sofa.

''Yes, uncle. Kobby will be here soon. He will take me home since he is off duty today'' Maria told them.

''That's good''

''I wondered why I was sneezing all the way to this place, turned out someone was mentioning my name?'' Kobby said as he walked through the door with Tiana.

''Aunt, grandma, grandpa, grandma Lisa'' Tiana mentioned everyone in the room's name and went to hug her grandparents.

''Tiana, babe, how are you doing?'' Mrs. Mathias asked.

''I am doing well. Grandma, grandpa, I didn't know you two were back from your vacation already?''

''We are back because we missed you so much'' Mrs. Mathias said and kissed Tiana's cheek.

''Dad, mom, I didn't think you will be able to come here as soon as I told you?'' Kobby said and looked at them.

''How could we not have come? When our child is in the hospital?'' Mrs. Mathias said.

''Are you done with the discharge papers? I can't wait to get home. I really missed my bed so much'' Maria said.

''I did already. We can leave when you are ready'' Kobby said to her and Maria picked her phone.

''I'm ready'' Maria said hastily making everyone to laugh.