To fulfil the promise

Anastasia crossed the living room when her elder cousin brother Nicholas saw her and then called her name. She halted at her place and then turned her gaze towards him. “I heard you are getting married,” Nicholas stated with a tiny smile on his lips. 

“Do you have any problem with that?” Anastasia asked him. 

“I am happy but I am wondering why a brainy girl like you has agreed with grandfather’s choice. He wants you to marry a jobless and penniless guy who will do household chores for you,” proclaimed Nicholas. 

“Eldest Brother, are you caring about me or you want me to defy grandpa’s order?” Anastasia queried him. 

Nicholas chuckled and spoke, “of course, I care about you. I do not want my sister to have a useless husband.”

Anastasia sneered upon hearing Nicholas’ words. “It is so surprising for me to see you caring about me. We both know what do you care about the most? I also know it was your humble idea to make me marry soon. Do you take me as a fool?” Anastasia asked him. 

“Indeed I told them to make you marry but not this way. Well, if you want then I can have a conversation regarding this with Grandpa. He will reconsider this decision and maybe will find someone worthy for you,” pronounced Nicholas. 

“I do not want your favor, thank you,” Anastasia said with a raised brow and turned to go when Nicholas said, “Few months more, Ana. You and your father will be out from this family soon.” Saying this he walked away. 

“That’s the reason I have to marry,” she murmured and went towards her room. As she stepped into her room, she found her grandfather, Sebastian was seated on the mini couch there. “Grandpa, you here?” Anastasia asked. 

“I was waiting for you. After marriage you will live separately with your husband in the Bungalow. Are you not going to question why am I making you marry a jobless guy?” Sebastian queried her. 

“You must have thought good for me. So, I dare not to question,” replied Anastasia with a faint smile. 

“I had a friend name Brian Adamos. Unfortunately he is no more. We two used to study together. When I started this company, he was the first person who invested in the company. I then asked her he should ask me something. He refused a lot but then he jokingly said to marry my youngest son with his daughter in the near future. But your dad ran away from home and I could not fulfil that promise to him. He left the country for the job in the neighborhood country and after many years I found that he died because of a terminal illness. I tried contacting him earlier in those times but I did not know he was no more. 

A few years ago, I found that his family is not that well off. But a promise is a promise. Because of him S & L came to this level so I have to repay him,” asserted Sebastian. 

“I will help you fulfil that promise to your Late friend. Grandpa, why do you always taunt dad? He has always done things for you,” Anastasia proclaimed. 

“Lucas and my relationship has impaired a long time ago which cannot turn good in any way. Let’s not talk about that. I am happy that you did not run away like your dad who ran away with his so called love years ago. Since you are the child of my youngest son, so I want you to go with this marriage and fulfil my promise to him,” pronounced Sebastian. 

“So, he has a grandson whom I am going to marry?” Anastasia asked. 

“Yes,” replied Sebastian, agreeing to Anastasia. “He is jobless and has acquired no wealth but because he is the grandson of Brian, I want you to marry there on which you agreed upon easily.” He further added. Anastasia gave a nod. 

“I must go. Take a rest for a while,” stated Sebastian and got up from the couch. Anastasia too stood up and saw off her grandpa till the door. 

She turned back and went to the swivel chair there. She sat on it and closed her eyes. “I am marrying an unknown person. I don’t even know how will I handle the aftermath of this marriage?” thought Anastasia. 

~~~~~~~~~~  

All the family members were seated around the couch in the evening except Anastasia as she was in her room. 

“Lucas, you are lucky. Entire marriage expense is being seen by your elder brother,” pronounced Sofia Spanos proudly. “You should be thankful to Icarus,” she added. 

“I am really thankful for this but I have saved enough money for my daughter’s marriage. So, brother Icarus does not need to spend anything on my Ana’s marriage,” asserted Lucas.

“Don’t fight over this. Anastasia is my granddaughter and marriage is arranged by me. Her marriage will be one grand marriage,” Sebastian announced. Lyra smiled upon hearing those words of her husband.

“Dad, a grand marriage means a lots of invitees and since it is so sudden I don’t think our relatives and other close people be able to come here,” stated George.

“They will come. Make the travel arrangements for every single person who is going to come for Anastasia’s marriage.” Sebastian ordered. George and Icarus looked at each other.

“Father, why to do so many expenses on this marriage? My son also got married last year but we did not do that,” opined Icarus.

“Anastasia is the only daughter of the house so her marriage should be grand,” Sebastian announced with a delighted face. Lucas was looking at their brothers faces and realized how inconvenient were they just by hearing that. He had desired to do all alone by himself but he also knew that his father wouldn’t let him so, he decided to keep mum.

The house butler Adrian came there. “Sorry for the intrusion, my lord,” he said with the most polite way to Sebastian, “Mr. Christopher Aetos is here. He is in the waiting area along with his assistants.” He then completed his words.

“Please bring them here. Call Anastasia too. She is in her room,” stated Sebastian. Adrian gave a nod, bowing his head and left from there. “I am going to my room. I have some work to complete,” Nicholas said. His mother Sofia told him to go. Icarus and George too left the hall along with their respective wives. Now there were only Sebastian, his wife Lyra and their youngest son Lucas, in the Hall.

Christopher came there with a bright smile on his lips along with his four assistants. He formally greeted them. Lucas stood up from the couch and shook hands with him. “Please have a seat,” asserted Sebastian. Lucas told the other assistants to take the seats as well. They thanked him and sat on the couch.

Three housemaids came, holding trays in their hands. They put the trays on the sofa table there. One of them poured the freshly prepared orange juice in the glass while others served them except Sebastian, Lyra and Lucas who refuted to take. “Please drink this till Anastasia be here. Don’t hesitate at all,” Lyra told them.

Christopher sipped the juice, followed by his assistants. “Design the best wedding dress for Ana,” stated Sebastian.

“Sir, do not worry about that at all. I have brought the best wedding dresses for Miss Spanos. I won’t disappoint you.” Christopher confidently pronounced. Sebastian nodded when Anastasia came there with the head butler, Adrian. He then stood behind Sebastian at an angle.

“Ana, this is Christopher Aetos- a world class designer. Please choose your wedding dress and some other dresses too,” Lyra Spanos, her grandmother told her. Christopher had already stood up as he saw Anastasia coming there. He forwarded his hand to shook hand with her which she did.

“So, let’s start then. Miss Spanos, what kind of dress do you want? Can you give a description of the dress that is in your mind?” Christopher asked her.

“Actually to tell the truth I have never thought about getting married,” Anastasia asserted. “Just show me the designs. I will select any one of them. You can send that here,” Anastasia added.

“Ana, just describe him. Even if it will be vague, he will design it,” Lyra told her. 

“It’s fine, grandma. That would take time, I guess,” Anastasia asserted. “Since Mr. Aetos is the world class designer so any of the designs will be perfect, I think.” 

Lyra gave a nod and gestured to Christopher to start. 

“Ahh, okay. Miss Julie,” he called one of her assistants who handed him his Ipad. Christopher told Anastasia to sat on the couch, which she did. He handed her the Ipad. Anastasia looked at the designs and in just ten minutes she picked a dress from among thousands if designs.

“That was fast. Check once more,” Lyra told her.

“Grandma, it is good to me. Have a look,” Anastasia stated. Christopher took the iPad to Lyra who looked at it and went with the choice of Anastasia.

“Miss Spanos is really quick in things,” Christopher praised her. Lucas smiled hearing those praise words.

“Ana, pick some other dresses too. Christopher send them by tomorrow morning here,” said Lyra in a commanding tone to which Christopher nodded. In just thirty minutes, Anastasia was done choosing everything. Christopher after having a gentle conversation with them left from there with his assistants.

“You are really quick in this. You could have patiently checked some more designs. After marriage, you will hardly get these things,” Lyra pronounced which saddened Anastasia.

Lucas too felt the sadness in his daughter’s eyes but he kept mum because his words were null to his parents.