Slowly, he descended the stairs into the vast living room of the presidential lodge, moving carefully as he adjusted the position of his necktie with one hand, while the other hand held a brown briefcase. Just then, a large woman, about fifty-seven years old, dressed in luxurious attire, opened the door of a room that was clearly the kitchen, judging by the aroma of cooking that filled the air. She stepped out, followed by a maid wearing a staff uniform and carrying a large food warmer, obviously containing food. The maid stopped behind her when she saw her madam stop as well.
Upon seeing the young man, the woman, without looking at the maid, said, “Set the dining table, Shafa,” and then continued walking. As the young man finished descending the stairs, he came to stand in front of her. Before he could say a word, she reached out and adjusted the necktie he had been struggling with using one hand.
He gave a small smile and, in a calm, gentle voice, said, “Good morning, Ammi.”
Without responding, she lowered her hands after finishing adjusting the tie and looked at his face. Worry was clearly written all over her face, yet she remained silent and said nothing.
Her stare made him whine softly, “Ammi, what is—?”
She walked past him into the dining area, pulled out a chair and sat down. She picked up a mug, opened a flask, and poured hot water into it. Then she turned around, and seeing that he was still standing where she had left him, she said, “Are you going to stand there staring at me, or won’t you go and have your breakfast?”
Slowly, he descended the stairs into the vast living room of the presidential lodge, moving carefully as he adjusted the position of his necktie with one hand, while the other hand held a brown briefcase. Just then, a large woman, about fifty-seven years old, dressed in luxurious attire, opened the door of a room that was clearly the kitchen, judging by the aroma of cooking that filled the air. She stepped out, followed by a maid wearing a staff uniform and carrying a large food warmer, obviously containing food. The maid stopped behind her when she saw her madam stop as well.
Upon seeing the young man, the woman, without looking at the maid, said, “Set the dining table, Shafa,” and then continued walking. As the young man finished descending the stairs, he came to stand in front of her. Before he could say a word, she reached out and adjusted the necktie he had been struggling with using one hand.
He gave a small smile and, in a calm, gentle voice, said, “Good morning, Ammi.”
Without responding, she lowered her hands after finishing adjusting the tie and looked at his face. Worry was clearly written all over her face, yet she remained silent and said nothing.
Her stare made him whine softly, “Ammi, what is—?”
She walked past him into the dining area, pulled out a chair and sat down. She picked up a mug, opened a flask, and poured hot water into it. Then she turned around, and seeing that he was still standing where she had left him, she said, “Are you going to stand there staring at me, or won’t you go and have your breakfast?”