47. That evening, something truly remarkable unfolded. Dinner was ready

That evening, something truly remarkable unfolded.

Dinner was ready. The small tables at The Ranch were brought together to accommodate everyone. Uncle AR and Uncle Robin arrived ahead of time, exchanging warm greetings with the family. Ted, however, had a glint of determination in his eyes. There was no way he was letting this opportunity slip by again. The last time he’d seen Uncle AR, the mood had been too somber, and a departing flight had cut the conversation short. But not tonight.

Ted approached Uncle AR directly, his tone earnest.
“Uncle AR, I have important questions to ask you. Please don’t leave without answering them for me. It’s not for me, personally—it’s for our book, Nessa’s and mine.”

Uncle AR’s curiosity was piqued. “Oh really? That sounds intriguing.”

Ted leaned in slightly. “It should be. There are references to you and Uncle Robin in it. Check your WhatsApp—I’ve sent you the link.”

A brief silence followed as Uncle AR unlocked his phone. Time seemed to pause as he read, his face a mix of intrigue and concentration. To Uncle AR, every moment mattered. He had always believed that time was fleeting—some people were aging, some nearing the brink of failure, and others standing at the summit of success, often forgetting gratitude.

Ted stepped away briefly to check on Aunt Rebecca, who had just flown in on the Learjet from England. She had been weary from the journey, but she waved him off with a smile, assuring him she was fine. When Ted returned, he found Uncle AR completely engrossed in the script he had sent.

Hearing Ted’s footsteps, Uncle AR looked up, his voice warm with praise.
“Ted, I can’t believe it. This is marvellous—not because it mimics the works of great historical writers, but because it motivates, engages, and allows the reader to grow within philosophically bound moral limits. It’s especially tailored to Gen-Z and Gen Alpha. Why don’t you get this translated into French and German? It’s imperative that you do.”

Ted beamed but then caught on to something peculiar. “Thank you, Uncle! But why did you say, ‘hopefully’? You’ll come again, won’t you?”

Uncle AR’s tone softened. “The future is not in my hands, Ted. I don’t know if I’ll be able to come back or not. But I’ll give you all the time I can tonight because what you’re doing is important—you’re passing the message on.”

Ted felt a surge of urgency. “Then please, Uncle AR, tell me the story behind the story!”

Uncle AR chuckled, motioning for Ted to sit down. “Calm down, Ted. I’ll tell you, but you need to listen carefully. The fate we speak of—what we call destiny—was written long before our time. When God created the pen, He ordered it to write.”

Ted leaned forward, hanging on every word. “What did the pen write?”

“The pen asked, ‘What shall I write?’ And God commanded it to write Destiny. The pen began its work, recording every event, every action, every path. That’s how it began.”

Ted, wide-eyed, asked, “But where were the souls during all of this?”

Uncle AR tilted his head, smiling as if about to unravel a profound mystery. Instead, he asked, “Ted, if you want to make tea for five cups, what do you boil water in?”

Ted was momentarily confused but answered, “In the kettle.”

Uncle AR nodded. “Exactly. The kettle’s purpose is to boil water. But do you drink directly from the kettle, or do you pour the tea into cups?”

“Into cups, of course,” Ted said, still unsure where this was going.

“Exactly,” Uncle AR said again. “God’s logic operates at a level far beyond our comprehension, but it always makes sense within our consciousness. Just as the tea is distributed into cups, so too are souls poured into the vessels of their existence. And just as tea cools to a drinkable temperature, so does God manifest balance and order.”

Ted blinked, trying to piece it together. “So, souls existed before they were... poured into us?”

“Yes,” Uncle AR replied, his voice steady. “The souls lived in the world of spirits, waiting for their moment to enter the vessels prepared for them. This is where the story of destiny intertwines with our own. Everything was written—the journeys, the tests, the successes, and even the failures. Remember the story of Abraham and the fire?”

Ted nodded. “Yes, God commanded the fire to be cool and safe for him.”

“Exactly. Fire’s nature is to burn, but by God’s command, its nature was overridden. Similarly, the properties of materials, elements, and even our destinies are all manifestations of His will.”

Ted sat back, awe-struck. “So, the pen event... it’s about the entire design of existence, isn’t it?”

Uncle AR smiled. “Yes, Ted. And the more you reflect on it, the more you’ll understand how beautifully intricate it all is.”

In that moment, Ted felt a profound sense of connection—not just to his family or his book, but to the universe itself. The evening had turned into something far greater than a dinner; it had become a tapestry of wisdom, faith, and purpose.