Please read the A/N at the end of the chapter.

Dubai

The Collins landed in Dubai at half-past ten at night. Meera was too tired to stay awake. She could hardly walk to the car. Amber had to support her to their hotel room. Meera managed to change and jumped onto the bed. She was immediately off to deep slumber.

Amber was very excited to be in Dubai after a long time. She had pestered a very tired Robert for accompanying the women to shopping, again. However, Robert didn't cause any fuss this time. He knew Amber won't be waking up the next morning before 10, and their flight back home was scheduled at 12.

And Robert was right. Amber's excitement cost her sleep. She passed an almost sleepless night. Both mother-daughter woke up at 10.30, making Robert smile.

"Thank God!" He muttered.

Meera, at this point, was tired of flying. She was not used to traveling so much. Amber noticed her daughter sitting with a smug expression staring at their luggage.

-"Hey! What's wrong?" Amber asked in concern.

-"I am tired." Meera replied slowly not understanding how to express the correct thing in English.

Amber understood. Traveling from one part of the earth to the other was very hectic. But for Meera, it was more than just a physical journey, but also a psychological one. But explaining her with heavy words would be futile now.

-"I know and understand your pain. You are doing way better than we thought you would." Amber smiled and continued, "Just a few more hours and we'll be home."

-"How many hours?"

-"Well, we're going to get on the flight at 12, then play some games, or maybe watch a movie, have dinner and go to sleep. By the time we wake up, we'll be home." Amber explained.

Meera felt better. Maybe the journey won't be very long. She hoped.

The drive to the airport was brief. It did not take them much time to complete the formalities, and within forty minutes, a minibus came in. They boarded the bus and took their seats, and it drove off. Meera was surprised and somewhat alarmed.

How come only we are here! She thought.

-"Kidnap korchhe na toh?" She whispered that came out louder than intended.

("Are they kidnapping me?")

Amber heard her.

-"Did you say something, love?"

-"Huh? No." Meera replied with an awkward expression returning to her thoughts.

The bus honked and came to a stop disturbing Meera's brainstorming session. She followed her parents out of the bus. Meera did not care to look anywhere else than her shoes. She was nervous, anxious. However, Amber's sudden halt in her movements made Meera bump into the latter, making her lookup. The thing in front made her numb.

There was an airplane standing. It was smaller than the ones she had been traveling. But what shocked her the most was the 'Collins' written on it in golden color. She whipped her head up towards her mother standing next to her with utter confusion on her face.

-"Well, this is ours." Amber 'tried' to clarify.

-"Tomader gota akta plane ache?!!" She almost shouted.

Meera was quick to realize that she had spoken out in Bangla not being conscious much about her surroundings.

-"I mean, you own a plane?" Meera translated.

-"Yes, we own a plane." Amber replied swinging her forefinger pointing at all three of them.

Meera was too busy gawking at the beauty standing to even listen to her mother. Robert encouraged Meera to lead, making her more uncomfortable. But she managed to walk up the stairs. Four people stood at the entrance all set to welcome them. A lady in uniform brought a beautiful bouquet to Meera. They were yellow roses.

-"Welcome to the family, Meera." She smiled.

Meera felt warm. She accepted the gift.

-"Beautiful. Thank you." She said gazing at the flowers.

Amber gave a small push with a meek "Let's get in". Finally, she looked up from the flowers.

The interior was a combination of cream, black, golden, and brown. The flight door opened to a room that had a two-seater sofa with a small table with fresh fruits and a flower vase with white flowers. Meera did not wait for anyone. She strolled towards another slightly open door. The excited soul pushed it further to get into a room that had a bigger sofa where she believed, five to six people would easily fit. There were two more recliners. She was in awe of the vehicle. And to make her day even better, she found another door that was shut. She twisted the doorknob and was thrilled to discover a small bedroom with two pillows and a small teddy bear.

Meera by now had a huge smile on her face. Robert and Amber were emotional seeing their daughter happy.

-"How do you think this is?" Robert asked leaving an almost crying Amber behind.

-"I love this. It is so good." Meera was full-on jumping by now.

With a lot of effort, the parents could finally buckle Meera up as the flight was about to take off. Meera wanted anything but to sit still. She wanted to explore more. Amber, at last, had to use her 'mommy' tone, and Meera obeyed.

The flight finally took off and after some more minutes, Amber unbuckled Meera. And on cue, she got back on her feet and moved towards the window.

This girl is gonna be a handful. Amber was confident.

Robert knew that Meera was already bored. It was very evident on her face. Staring out the window she was trying hard to find something interesting. But much to her dismay, there were clouds, clouds, and only clouds.

An idea clicked in. Robert when to his daughter and asked,

-"Do you want to go to the cockpit?"

-"Cockpit?" Meera asked.

-"Yes, there." Robert pointed towards the same and continued, "that is where the pilot does all the work."

Meera nodded not understanding him very well. Robert pulled her with her hand on his. He asked the air- hostess to open the door to the cockpit. She sought the pilot's permission before letting them in. Meera saw the main place from where everything happens. There were two chairs for the pilots, and a great number of switches of different kinds, and not to forget the big glass in front.

But did it interest her? No.

Well, she expected a better view but again there were only clouds. Hence, she bid goodbye to the staff and returned.

For the next few hours, she taught her father to play 'snakes n ladders'. But to her utter disbelief, all the four times it was her father who won. Meera's frustration knew no bounds. She finally could no longer control her tears. Amber who was busy with her laptop ran to the duo hearing her cry.

-"What did you do?" She asked Robert trying to pacify Meera.

Robert on the other hand was almost on the verge of breaking into laughter. Memories of his childhood flooded in. How he teased his younger siblings as a kid.

-" I did not do anything. I tried to lose, but you really can't help it in this game." He tried to explain.

Amber shook her head at Robert passing him a 'you are impossible' look. She finally took Meera to the other room. Explaining to her about winning and losing a game was the last thing Amber wanted to do. She eventually decided on diverting her mind to something else. Amber brought out her mobile and downloaded a picture of a minion and showed it to her daughter.

-"How about you draw this? That's something your father can't do." Amber suggested.

Meera agreed to make Amber heave a sigh. Hence, the next couple of hours passed with Meera drawing and the parents doing their work. 

They finally had an early dinner at around 7 in the evening and went to have some rest. Amber joined Meera on the bed, and Robert decided to be on the couch for the night.

No matter how prepared the couple was to have some rest, they could barely feel peace. Their life as a family was about to officially begin within some more hours. Adopting from a different culture was their choice. They were not immature to take such a decision. However, as time passed by they realized how difficult it was going to be for all of them.

.......................

A/N

Sorry for the terribly late. You already know about the problems I faced during the last weeks (if you don't, please follow me. I address them there). But there are some other issues which I wanted to share with you. 

I lost my grandfather (paternal) last October. He left for His abode after fighting cerebral stroke for a week and enduring all the pain like a hero he was. His last two days had been terrible. He had convulsions every five to six minutes. Seeing him suffer had a more lasting impact on me, at least, more than I expected it would. It's been more than four months now, but I still dream of them. A few days back I spent a sleepless night for every time I closed my eyes, all the memories flooded in. However, I am better now compared to how I had been in the initial weeks. And this is one of the reasons why I'm unable to write properly.

Apart from that my classes have commenced (online though). I am in the final semester of my post graduation. So you can well understand the kind of pressure. Please endure. 

UPDATES HEREON WILL BE ONCE A WEEK (PREFERABLY SUNDAYs).