The Traps of Black Swan

Aaron's clutch on the spoon, so as Aarvi's hand on his shoulder. Sophia was the more panicked one. She felt it was required to get angry at the new bride as Aarvi might have misunderstood their gesture. She wanted to say it was alright, she could give the food to neighbors who would love to try something different.

Anyway, who was she to talk to in between the family? Sophia knew her position so she pursed her lips and looked at Aarvi.

Sophia was surprised, Aarvi was still serene despite being yelled at by Zelda. It was like nothing could disturb the calm surface of the lake.

The silence fell over once Zelda stopped. Zelda tried to calm herself while thinking how much food might waste due to Aarvi unnecessary cooking. She would have surely appreciated Aarvi if they were in Rivas mansion with all. For four, there were many dishes.

For a moment Zelda thought she might have been too harsh on Aarvi hearing no word from her. She lifted her head and saw her unreadable gaze on her. She failed to read if Aarvi was disappointed, sad, or angered.

Aarvi finally spoke in a calmer voice that was stark against the voice of Zelda, "Elder madam, don't you know why I cooked multiple dishes?"

Zelda frowned at her unemotional voice. She looked at the table full of dishes. She lied as she doesn't eat cheese hence Aarvi was prepared with Tomato soup. Now looking at the dishes, she could discern why there were so many dishes.

Chicken Enchilada Casserole, if Zelda says she doesn't like chicken, then Aarvi had an alternative for it, Turkey & Root Vegetable Meatloaf. 

If Zelda comes up with she was a vegetarian then there was Quinoa Burrito Bowl. If she argues as she was old and couldn't digest, Aarvi had an option for it too. Loaded Mashed Potato Cakes, nothing could be as easier as it to digest and get the required nutrients.

If Zelda wanted whole nutrition other than a burrito, there were four stuffed Green peppers with and without the cheese. It meant Aarvi was prepared for Zelda's unreasonable tantrums.

Aarvi continued after a pause, "About wasting of the food, Elder Madam, you are free to check in the kitchen. Whatever I have cooked is on the table. So there is only one serving extra."

Value of food? None of them knew the value of the food better than her. There were uncountable days Maisie had starved her from a very young age. No… Maisie had starved her from birth.

Aarvi didn't want to argue with word for a word so she didn't say anything else.

Aaron lost his appetite due to his grandmother. He wanted to leave the table but didn't want to disrespect the old lady either. The words on his lips were mockery which was held back due to Aarvi.

Sophia took the gamble to break another round of uncomfortable silence, "Old Madam, the food will get cold. Let's eat."

Aarvi served them, patiently waiting for them to complete dinner. Whereas Aaron was quick to complete so that he could feed his wife.

Without letting them interject, he warmed the soup and two more dishes and took Aarvi out to the swing chair on the lawn.

Zelda had another cup of tea in her room watching the couple on the lawn. She couldn't decipher Aarvi completely. She was being spoiled by overindulging Aaron, yet that wasn't making any harm to her personality. It was like she had two worlds, one where she had only Aaron and another world for the rest. 

The only thing Zelda liked in Aarvi was, the latter knew to calm Aaron, make him smile, and also bring out his hearty, unrestrained laughter. 

Zelda wasn't sure if it was a good thing or bad. If Aarvi loses Aaron, she will be nothing but a lonely bird in an empty dark sky. If Aaron loses Aarvi, the whole world would fall short to make up for the emptiness he would have to embrace. 

Life was never about one person but the two had taken the path of no return. Zelda could only wish and hope they could walk together till the end.

She went to bed without troubling the couple more. She soon fell into a deep slumber with a hand on the space next to her, as though they were somebody next to her, sleep with her.

Zelda and Jordan; Jordan was a person who gave priority to family whereas she was a totally practical woman. When she had accepted Jordan, it was purely because he was a good man, it wasn't because of love.

She always kept the 'if' in her mind. Prepared for oddness that most of the time made her appear pessimistic. But isn't that what was life? Unexpected and unintended events appearing in life.

She had seen many people dying and many surviving at the brink of their life. So she was never able to believe happiness could last long. That made her cold-hearted while Jordan took the responsibility of the mother to their children and she took care of the house. Hence family members were always close to Jordan.

Yet the man never fell back in showing his love for her. How could she not fall for him? She had seen how Jordan had to struggle with keeping everything positive when things were turning unpleasant for the Rivas hospital. She was glad she was strong enough to support him at the hospital with their son while Jordan and Karsen had to handle the company front he scratch.

But she honestly hadn't expected, one day he would become coldhearted to save Aaron and ignore another innocent girl. Ava was the one who made Zelda realize that her heart had softened over time.

That day, she was indeed worried about Aaron but cried for the stranger. Leaving Jordan was a punishment to Jordan to let him know what Aaron lost was the same Jordan was losing. Young or old, Love was love. Time doesn't define it. 

Well, her decision was also her punishment to become a cold-hearted woman. For her, life was never a romantic, dreamy world that was unrealistic.

----

At Rivas mansion,

Shea had lost her appetite. So she had little food before excusing herself. 

With a deep sigh, she sat at her study, cupping her face, looking outside the window. She wished she could put her hand in her mind, grab the person who was occupying it and throw him out of her head.

She had got a message from Shawn in the evening mentioning he was going to the club. She could go to the club if she would like it.

She had assumed, Shawn was asking her out indirectly so she had excitedly reached the club. Anyhow, she was welcomed to the slight of a tall, dusky beauty flirting with Shawn. 

If that lady was forcing on Shawn, Shea would have definitely pulled that woman away and slapped her across the face. But it wasn't the case, Shawn was flirting too and he seemed to be enjoying it.

She realized, only she was the one who started to have feelings for Shawn. While he was still enjoying with other women.

Unwilling to see them getting close, she had left the club immediately dropping him a message, she couldn't make it.

She had thought she got over the short-term crush on Shawn but it returned bolder and stronger making her recall every minute she had spent with him. 

She felt jealous recalling the lady Shawn was flirting with, "I am going crazy." She cried, tousling her hair and holding her head. 

She didn't want to become a possessive and jealous woman who would stop other women from reaching the person they are obsessed with.

"I need to focus on my studies and forget Shawn." She slapped her cheeks and tried to focus on her studies.

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