The Traps of Black Swan

In the kitchen,

Aarvi saw different kinds of meat on the kitchen counter. She started to think if Zelda had put some quest in there too. 

What if she cooks chicken and Zelda says she doesn\'t eat it?

What is she cooks seafood and Zelda had bought for them?

She knows nothing about her preferences.

Taking a long breath, ready to start the battle, she tied the apron and started the work.

Meanwhile, Aaron stared at his grandmother who was drinking the hot tea. He had thought it was for him and his wife.

Zelda didn\'t probe him to drink tea as he would surely bring up his wife in the response. "Aaron, what are your plans for studies?"

When it comes to medical science, the studies never stop and if stopped then there would be no growth in the career and respect would lower slowly.

It was a pure coincidence he got to operate on the heart in a short time that gave a young best cardiologist and it wasn\'t enough. He had a lot to study.

"I don\'t have plans, yet, grandma," Aaron responded. He was thinking of continuing his medical practice and his research instead of joining any medical centers for research.

Zelda\'s brows tightened hearing Aaron and scoffed, "Your Cupcake put a full stop to your career then." As far as she knew Aaron wanted to research heart behavior under different health circumstances and. It wouldn\'t be possible by staying in Mocon or Coasta.

Aaron didn\'t like how Zelda assumed Aarvi was stopping his growth. "Grandma, it\'s my choice about my career. My Cupcake was never a blockade for me." He always saw her try to unload his office work even if she gets a little free time, just so he could focus on his being a doctor. She was always the first one to give up her wishes, just so that he can focus on fulfilling his duty as a doctor.

Zelda kept the teacup down. It was hard to read if she was angry or annoyed that he always speaks in Aarvi\'s favor.

"Then tell me, what if your Cupcake had married somebody else? Would you have given up on your dream?" In that case, Zelda was sure Aaron would never step back to the country with an excuse for research. 

Aaron clenched his teeth, frowning at his grandmother. He could feel she was adamant on pinning his paused career and education on Aarvi. He was at least glad Zelda was speaking about it with him privately, or else Aarvi would have been heartbroken, thinking the same.

"Grandma, I don\'t think we need a response to the hypothetical question to the past." He didn\'t want to think of it. He continued to end the topic, "I am not you. My life isn\'t my career." If that sounds less ambitious, he didn\'t care to be called an unambitious man.

Zelda knew what Aaron meant. For her it was always her principles above love, since she left her family to live alone, it only meant her life was her career. "You…"

Aaron cut in as he continued, "I do like the profession where I can try my best to save people but that\'s not my dream." He argued. 

He had thought life was about having a good career, hence he had assumed it was his dream. But the career is just a part of life which he understood after he got his Cupcake.

Life is about living while balancing everything else. His dream was to live a fulfilling life with his Cupcake. So he won\'t be embarrassed to accept, "My dream is my Cupcake."

He paused looking at his grandmother certainly disliking how he was arguing. He wasn\'t talking in favor of Aarvi, he was speaking the truth. He looked out of the window as he added, "Cupcake recalled everything."

He could feel Zelda surprised and a hint of joy appeared on her face. Anyway, she concealed it completely when he turned back to face her.

Silence fell for a few minutes. Aaron was doubting if the two ladies will like each other while Zelda was recalling fourteen-year Ava Kelly who was so fond of Aaron that she couldn\'t bear to accept her Ronron wasn\'t anymore.

If there was somebody else in little Aarvi\'s place, Zelda could guess they might have cried hard but moved on with guilt. 

Does that mean Aarvi was weak in terms of Aaron?

Aaron stood up as he told his grandmother, "I will unpack."

Zelda tried to hide her hurriedness when she suddenly asked, "Are you sure she is the right one for you, Aaron?" There were doubts in her tone. 

Zelda had thought Aarvi had truly changed when she met her at the door. But when she saw Aarvi with Aaron, there was no headstrong lady, but just a wife who wouldn\'t mind depending on her husband. 

As a matriarch of the Rivas family, she didn\'t want somebody who would lose her control if something happens to Aaron again. 

Aaron\'s hands paused in the air hearing Zelda. Right or wrong, he never thought of it. If life is too perfect, isn\'t it boring? He never craved a perfect relationship either. He didn\'t know if he was the right one for Aarvi either. All he knew was, "She is the only one for me." He didn\'t turn around to face Zelda and started unpacking their clothes, his files, and their laptops.

Zelda picked her teacup and continued to drink. She had no plans to break the husband and wife. She didn\'t want her grandson to suffer more due to his Cupcake.

----

At seven,

Aarvi was drinking water when Zelda stood at the entry of the kitchen. She almost choked but controlled by looking away.

Zelda could smell the flavors in the air but kept her stoic face. "We are having dinner today. Not tomorrow." She taunted. Her dinner always started at seven.

Aarvi was about to respond, Aaron stood behind Zelda, winking at her. She involuntarily smiled and Zelda snorted before she left.

Aarvi skipped in front of Aaron, "Were you two bitching behind my back?" She asked threateningly.

Aaron crossed his arms, leaning on the door frame, "I was thinking… Let\'s have our wedding here."

Aarvi: "..."

What was going on in her husband\'s head?

Recalling the scenic view they were in, she ignored her wish for a winter wedding in the snow. She excitedly nodded, "I want a big veil trail to sweep on green grassland."

Aaron chuckled at how swiftly she started to imagine their wedding. Cupping her head, he kissed the corner of her lips, "Let me help you serve."

Aarvi peeked at Zelda who was grimly sitting at the table. Shaking her head, "Go and sit with grandmother."

Thinking she might probably need a little more time, he went and sat to the right of his grandmother. He was about to ask where Aunty Sophia was, she came inside with big bags in hand, panting to catch a breath. 

He got up to help her, but Sophia stopped him, "It\'s alright, Young Master. These aren\'t heavy." She took a deep breath going towards her room, "I thought I was late. I will come to the table soon." 

Since Zelda had only Sophia at home, the latter was more like a flatmate than a maid so Sophia always had food on the same table as Zelda.

Aarvi went out with the soup bowl after garnishing the dishes. She placed the big bowl in the center.

Sophia exclaimed after sniffing the aroma and looking at the different colored vegetables, cleanly chopped, floating in the white creamy soup, "It looks delicious."

Aarvi flashed a faint smile at Sophia, "Then please have more." 

She was about to serve Zelda, the latter kept her hand on the bowl to stop her pouring the soup to her. "I don\'t eat cheese."

Sophia and Aaron: "..."