Ch_13

Arhaan's P.O.V.

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I was so happy being able to be back to my homeland. I didnt tell anyone to give them a surprise. I was impatiently waiting to be home and see the happy and excited face of Api and Esha.

I got a taxi and forwarded towards home. But to my luck, I got stuck in a traffic jam. Being annoyed, I put down the glass and looked outside. 

I was looking outside normally when some words got my attention. A young man was begging for some money for her sister as she was ill. 

Hearing that, I felt sad and looked hopefully towards the person whom he was begging. It was a girl of young age.

I thought she would help him but to my utter surprise, she uttered something that just boiled my blood up and went away.

“Stop this nonsense. There is nothing like brother and sister. Just get lost from here.”

I uttered in extreme anger, “What the!” and got down from my car. The young man kept looking towards the girl with watery eyes as she went away. 

I went up to him and forwarded some money. When he gave me a questioning look, I spoke up smilingly, “For your sister.”

He took the money while wiping his eyes and gave me a grateful look and I just smiled at that and said, “Take care of your sister.”

He nodded at me and said, “Thank you, sir.” and went away. When the man went away, I looked glaringly towards the girl.

After some moments she looked back and may be got startled seeing my look. But when she came to me asked while searching someone, “Did you see someone asking for help here?”

Getting hold of my anger, I just uttered, “What the!”

But right then the jam got cleared and the driver of the taxi called me, “Sir. Please get in. We need to move.”

While giving her a death glare, I hopped in the taxi and forwarded towards my home.

The entire way of my home I kept thinking about the girl. The more I was thinking, the more I was getting angry and hating the girl.

Like this I reached home and pressed the calling bell. Api opened the door while uttering, “Who is it?” and when I caught sight of her my all anger melted away and I smilingly uttered, “Api..”

She excitedly shouted, “Arhaan!" and hugged me. Esha came running to me as she uttered happily, “Mama.”

Api let go of me and I took Esha in my arms and uttered while caressing her hair, "My Princess. How are you sweetie?"

Esha smilingly replied, "I am good."

And Api spoke up like a complain, "Why didn't you tell me you were coming today? I would have gone to airport to pick you up."

"I wanted to give you a surprise Api."

I uttered in my defense and she smiled and spoke up, "Go freshen up first. By the time I am making something for you."

Nodding at her, I went to my room taking Esha in my arms. As Api went towards kitchen, Esha looked at her then turned to me and spoke up, "Mama, my chocolate?"

I smiled at her cute antiques and spoke up, "Let's go to my room first. Then I will give you. Otherwise your Mummy will see it."

She replied, "Okay" while nodding at me and I took her to my room. By the time, Raju, one of our housekeeper brought my bag to my room. 

I opened one of my bags and forwarded two big size of chocolate packets to her. She smilingly took the packets but to my utter surprise she put one aside and spoke up, "This one is for Aunty" and while hugging the other one she again spoke up smilingly, "This one is for me."

Being confused, I asked her, "That one is for whom?"

She answered smilingly, "That one? That one is for Khushi aunty. She also gave me chocolates once and she told me that she also loves chocolates."

Being irritated at her answer, I asked her, "When your this Khushi aunty will be coming here?”

After thinking for a while, she answered, “I don’t know Mama. She doesn’t come every day.”

I just nodded at her and uttered, “I see.”

?️?️?️

That entire day passed happily and in excitement in Mahmud Mansion.

Everyone was happy beyond limit as Arhaan was back home. 

At night when Esha fell asleep, Areesha, Arhaan and Muhib gossiped about random stuffs till late at night like their past times before they slept.

???

Khushi’s P.O.V.

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After dinner, I went to balcony and kept staring at the sky. Day was all alike for me. Neither my father or my brother cared about me nor I was trying to get their care anymore. 

As Preety left, there was no one now with me who could make me feel somewhat better. 

But today what I did out of airport, was bothering me. I kept searching for him for a while but he was not there anymore. 

Its not like I really dont believe in siblings relationship but whenever my brother came to my sight or the thought of him came to my mind, I just start getting glimpse of all the bitter memories with my brother and when I cant stand that anymore, I start yelling without my realization.

I did the same today and now I am repenting my words and the glaring look of the other man kept bothering me. I didnt get to know when my eyes got watery. 

I got back inside my room and took the photo frame of my mother. Holding that close to me, I went to bed and eventually drifted to sleep. 

???

Arhaan's P.O.V.

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Waking up in the early morning, I got ready for jogging. When I was on staircase, I saw Muhib Vai coming out of his room in jogging dress.

Seeing me, he spoke up, “Arhaan! You are up this early? You should have get some more sleep. Arent you tired of jet lag?"

I answered him smilingly, "I am okay, Vai. Dont you worry."

Nodding at me, he spoke up then, “Okay. Let's go then."

While running, we kept talking on random stuffs. On our way back home, I asked him, "When is Uncle coming back from his trip, Vai?"

“As he got some free time after a long straight time of business pressure, I don't think he will be back soon. And for further details of his arrival, you should ask his daughter, Areesha Zaman. She will know about it for sure. He uttered the later part like a complaint and I laughed out at that.”

Looking at me, he continued, “Arhaan, you know sometimes I feel like I am the third person in their father-daughter relationship.”

Hearing him, I spoke up while teasing him, “Are you jealous, Vai?”

Looking at me, he sighed smilingly and spoke up, “That’s not the matter Arhaan and you know that. I am really glad and grateful to Allah to have you people in my life.”

I kept looking at him gratefully and spoke up, “We are lucky vai. If you people weren’t there that time, the who knows”

Vai didn't let me complete and spoke up, “Arhaan! How many times do I need to tell you not to say and feel this ever?”

I smiled at him and said then, “Sorry, Vai. Anyways I am going to accompany you to office today.”

He looked at me and spoke up in a concerned voice, “Arhaan, you don't need to hurry this much. You just came back. Rest for few days. Then join me.”

“You know me well, Vai. Do you think there is any possible way for me to rest for few days!”

I spoke up confidently as I knew vai was having difficulties to handle two businesses at a time though he tried his best not to make me feel that.

Looking at me in a disappointing face, e spoke up, “Arhaan! You were always like this. In your academic life, you always put your nose in books and now you will be workaholic. Enjoy your life yaar. Have some fun sometimes.”

While shaking my head, I spoke up, “I am happy with the way I am, Vai.”

“Yeah, of course.”, saying this while frowning, vai entered home and I followed him.

Api was in the kitchen. Seeing us, she spoke up, “Arhaan, you should have rested long Vai! Anyways, now go freshen up and come for breakfast.”

Nodding at her, I went towards my room. Taking a warm shower, I got downstairs. Getting at the dining table, I saw there were all my favourite dishes.

Seeing me, Api spoke up smilingly, “Sit vai.”

Seeing her smiling, a smile crept on my lips also as I took a seat. She started serving me and made me take the dishes until I was full like really. 

After breakfast, I sat on the living room with Muhib Vai and Api got coffee for us.

Muhib vai is not a coffee man but looking at Api's smiling face, he didn’t bother to say that. He really loves Api a lot.

And I really love this couple and would do anything for their happiness.

After gossiping for a while, Vai stood up and said to me, "Arhaan, get ready. We will leave in 15 minutes."

Giving a confusing look to us, Api asked Vai, "For where to leave?"

Vai answered her casually, "For office" only to get yelled at by her, as she started, "Muhib, Arhaan just came back and you are already dragging him to office!"

Vai tried to say, "Rani Saheba, I didn’t tell" but got cut off by Api as she spoke up, "Let him breath freely for sometime."

I was playing the role of a silent spectator as I really missed their cute fights like this but when Vai gave me a pleading look, I spoke up, "Api, vai didn’t even tell me once. But I want to go to office."

She started saying being concerned, "But Vai" but I cut her off and spoke up, "Api you know me. I can't stand idling a day."

She let out a sigh and spoke up, “Okay. But come back early.” 

Nodding at her, I spoke up, “Okay, Api.” and left for my room to get ready. And after sometime Vai and me left for office.

???

Khushi’s P.O.V.

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After lunch, I sat on my balcony kept thinking of my life. I was eagerly waiting for a circular of MSc admission into any College or Varsity. But to my luck there wasn’t a single College or varsity that were taking students this time.

I just wanted to get out of my daily frustrating times of being home. This place was not a home to me but far away from that.

Only the thing that kept binding me to this place is Ammi and the memories with her. Though the memories aren’t crystal clear to me but blur, those are ever green in my mind.

Thinking like that, I leaned back on the chair and closed my eyes. I didn't get to know when I fell asleep like that. I woke up hearing a sound. Then I realised my phone was ringing. 

I got my phone and glancing at the caller ID, I smiled a little and looked at the clock. 

It was Areesha Api’s number but I knew the caller was Esha for sure. I didn’t call her back but got to washroom and made ablution. 

It was Asar prayer time. So I said my prayer and got ready for going to Esha. 

When I reached Mahmud Mansion, it was exactly 5 in the afternoon. Esha was walking by the entrance of their house. 

Seeing me, she ran to me and uttered happily as she hugged me, “Auntyy!”

~To be continued