Ch_2

In London

It was half-past five by morning. Last night he woke up with a strange feeling and after that he couldn't fall asleep again. Then he started working on his project thesis.

After working on the project thesis for several hours, Arhaan got tired. Standing by the side of the window, he kept staring at the sky.

The cool breeze was touching his face and to clear his mind, he kept standing there.

When his phone rang off, he looked at the phone screen and a smile crept on his lips.

He attended the call immediately and said, "Hey, Api. All good?"

"Were you sleeping? Without looking at the clock, I called. I was about to cut the line off but you answered." Areesha spoke up apologetically.

"Api, I was up from few hours back. I was working on my project. You tell me. Everything okay there?" Arhaan spoke up and hearing him, Areesha felt relieved.

"Everything is okay here, dear. You tell me. Why were you up this early! Don't do over work, dear. You will fall sick." Areesha spoke up with a concerned tone.

"I am fine Api. My project thesis is almost done. I will be with you all in a few days. Don't worry."

"That's great. By the way, have you taken anything for breakfast?" Areesha asked further.

"Breakfast! Api actually I was about to go for it now." Arhaan tried to make an excuse only to get yelled by Areesha.

"I knew it. You will never care about your health by yourself. You are more like Esha in this matter. I shouldn't have come here leaving you there alone." Saying this, she turned to her husband, Muhib who was getting ready for his office, "It's all because of you, Muhib."

Muhib got startled hearing this and looked at Areesha with a questioning look and when Areesha kept glaring at him, he asked being confused, "What did I do now?"

"What did you do! Okay, let me tell you" Areesha started but interrupting her, Arhaan spoke up understanding the situation, "Api api. Just relax. It's a matter of a few days. And anyway I am going to take my breakfast now. Don't worry."

"That would be better for you. Okay then" Areesha spoke up with a smile and was about to cut off the line when Arhaan asked, "By the way, where is my princess?"

"Your princess! She is not yet up from her beauty sleep. I tried to wake her up for several times but all she kept saying is '5 minutes Mummy'. And these 5 minutes seems to be never-ending" Areesha replied with a sigh.

Arhaan laughed out at that and Areesha said again, "You two, you and Muhib made her like this."

Arhaan said in their defence, "Let her sleep Api. What's the hurry!"

"Okay, Api. Gotta go. Will talk later. You guys take care. Bye." Arhaan cut off the line but didn't go to take breakfast instantly rather he kept standing there.

His phone vibrated again indicating the arrival of a message. Arhaan checked it only to find out that Areesha messaged her.

'Take your breakfast right now.'

Seeing that, Arhaan got downstairs to take his breakfast with a smile.

While taking his breakfast, he kept thinking about how his life changed after that accident of 16 years back.

They were brought to London by Iftekhar Zaman who was the best friend of his father. He took care of them like they were his own children.

8 years back he fulfilled his promise of marrying his son to Areesha that he made to Rehaan Mahmud, his friend as well as their (Arhaan and Areesha) father once.

They are a happy couple and Esha is their cute little baby girl of 5 years old.

Last year they moved back to India as Muhib had some business issues.

Arhaan had to complete his studies. So he didn't. It will be completed within a few days of this month and he will be back to his family.

After breakfast, Arhaan went upstairs and worked on his project thesis again for few hours. Then he got ready to go to college for project thesis work.



Malik Mansion

Khushi was preparing for her examination. This was the last examination for her graduation.

She was fully concentrated on her studies to realise it was already half-past nine. She got distracted when a maid entered into her room after knocking.

Khushi found a tray in her hand and gave her a questioning look. Understanding that, the maid spoke up with a sad and caring tone.

"Actually Malik Sir and Kowshik Vaia (Brother) already had their breakfast and left for office. And I thought you might be studying as you didn't get down for breakfast. So I brought it here. While studying, take your breakfast", saying this, she kept the tray on the table.

Khushi nodded and said with a sad smile, "Thank you, Kaki."

The maid was in Malik Mansion for a very long time and she knew Khushi's situation. So she tried to take care of her however she could.

The maid smiled at Khushi and left the room. Khushi started thinking about her father and brother and her mind went on like, "What have I ever done wrong? Why do they dislike me this much? No, not just dislike.

They haven't acknowledged my existence ever. What is my fault actually? If I ask them directly the question, Abbu will slap me and Kowshik vai will enjoy this smilingly, right? Like the last time."

She remembered about the time when for the first and last time, she asked the question to her father only to get a slap in the face and a evilish smirk from her brother.

Remembering that a tear dropped out from the eye. She wiped that and tried to concentrate on the study again leaving her breakfast untouched.

After a few minutes, her phone rang off. Seeing the caller ID, she smiled a little and attended the call.

"Hey, Preety."

"Hey, Khushi. What are you doing? Obviously studying, right?" Preety spoke up casually.

"Yeah. What about you?" Khushi replied while trying hard to sound normal.

"Me too. Khushi, will you go to the park tomorrow?"

"Of course. I already missed that for about a month because of the examination. I have to go there tomorrow. I miss them, yaar."

Khushi replied remembering her days in the park in the afternoon and a smile crept on her lips.

Her chain of thought broke when Preety asked her again, "Khushi, have you had your breakfast?"

Khushi looked at the tray where her breakfast was left untouched and spoke up stuttering, "Ye..yeah. You?"

Preety kept silent for some moments. Then she spoke up, "I had it, Khushi and you also should take it. Don't fall sick being like that, okay?"

Khushi didn't reply anything instantly and Preety spoke up again in a concerned tone, "Khushi?"

"You should study now, Preety. Will talk later." saying that Khushi cut off the line not giving a chance to Preety to speak up again.

Cutting off the line, she kept staring at the food kept in front of her for a while. Then she started taking her breakfast slowly and tears kept threatening to come out at any moment.

❣❣????????❣❣

Assalamu_Alaikum readers.

Hope you are all well by the Grace of Almighty ALLAH.

What do you think of the chapter?

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Stay Safe & Blessed.....?

~Silent_Learner