Ch_8

Khushi's P.O.V.

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Hearing Azan at Fazar time, I woke up and forwarded towards washroom. After doing my business, I made ablution and got back to my room.

I said my Fazar prayer and recited the Holy Quran for a good time. Then I again lied down on my bed tried to get some sleep only to get up being unable after a while.

I got down from bed and went downstairs to get a cup of coffee. Taking the cup, I went outside of the mansion and walked towards the garden which I always looked at from the balcony of my room.

While standing there, I kept thinking about random stuffs and sipping my coffee. I was lost in my thoughts when I heard someone uttering my name, “Khushi?”

I turned around and found Heera Kaki (aunty), our maid standing there.

I looked at her as she spoke up, “What are you doing there?”

“Nothing kaki. Let's go. I will help you making breakfast today.” saying this, I walked inside the mansion.

Kaki tried to stop me and spoke up, “It's not necessary. I will make it.”

“Its okay, Kaki.”, saying this, I entered the kitchen. When breakfast was prepared, it was almost 8:30 by morning.

I went upstairs to take a quick shower. When I entered my room, I heard my phone ringing but before I could reach it, the call got cut.

It was Preety. I was about to call her back when I got a message from her.

“Let's meet at 11 AM at same place.”

I replied to her text as, “Okay.”

Then I went towards washroom. After taking a shower, I got ready and went downstairs.

I helped kaki in setting the table. By the time we were done, Abbu and Vaia came to dinning table. They were looking somewhat tensed. They didn't gossip as usual.

For once I thought of asking what's the matter but my mind started chiding, “As if they would answer you!”

I got totally silent at that and finished my breakfast. When they were done, they left the dinning table as well as the mansion and went towards office, I guessed. I kept looking at them until they were out of my sight.

When they were gone, I again entered the kitchen. Seeing me, kaki spoke up, “Khushi, you need something?”

“I am going to meet Preety later, kaki. I want to make her favourite kheer for her.” Saying this, I started getting the ingredients.

Kaki came to me and said, “Okay. Let me help you.”

I politely refused her saying, “Its okay kaki. I will make it. You continue your work.”

After making kheer, I went back to my room. Getting freshen up, I got ready and went downstairs. I took the kheer in a box and left the house to meet Preety.

☣

Preety’s P.O.V.

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When I entered the cafe, Khushi was already sitting there and sipping coffee. She was staring at something with a smiling face. I followed her gaze and saw two girls who seemed to be friends gossiping happily while eating Pizza.

Looking at that, I remembered our past time when I used to take Khushi here forcefully and eat my favourite fast foods. Pizza is one of them. I got near Khushi and seeing me, she spoke up, “Look Preety. They made me remember our past times.”

With a sad smile, I took a seat beside her and tried to speak up, “Khushi, I want to tell you something.”

Interrupting me, she spoke up, “Lets talk later. I have brought something for you.”

Saying that, she took out a box. She handed it to me and spoke up, “Open it.”

I knew what was in the box as its not for the first time. Once I visited her house and she made kheer for me.

I liked that very much and said, “I just love it, Khushi.”

From that time whenever we met other than varsity, she brought it for me.

I opened the box and took a spoonful and said as usual, “Love it, Khushi.”

 Hearing me, she smiled heartily. I gave her few spoonful and finished the left all by me.

When I was almost done, she asked me, “Now tell me. What's it that you want to tell me?”

Hearing her, the smile of my face faded instantly as I spoke up, “I am leaving this country, Khushi.”

The smile of her face also got wiped off but she didn't say anything.

I spoke up again while expecting something almost impossible, “We are going to shift to London. Khushi, if possible let's go together. We can get higher studies there. It will be good for our career. What say?”

Khushi was about say something but I interrupted her and said again, “I know about your family but still I want you to give it a serious thought, Khushi.”

Khushi just nodded at me but didn't say anything. I knew what it meant.

I befriended with Khushi after giving a great deal of effort for it. I remembered her saying, “I don't want to get close to people as at some point they will walk out of my life no matter how close we were.”

Remembering that, I apologised to her and said, “Khushi, we might be at distance but don't think that our friendship is over. We are friends and always will be. Don't hesitate to tell me if you ever need my help. I would love to be able to help you in any way I can.”

☣

Khushi's P.O.V.

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Preety was going on saying but nothing was getting through my mind as one line was echoing in my mind.

“I am leaving this country, Khushi”

I don’t really get along with people. From school days I just had one friend who already left the country 6 years back. After that Preety became my friend in varsity but now she is also leaving.

But I can't stop her or go with her. Its just impossible for me. But if I look upset now, Preety will be hurt.

Thinking like that I smiled a little and spoke up, “It's okay, Preety. It will be good for your career. I am really happy for you.”

She was looking at me blankly but I continued, “Don't worry and we will stay in touch, wont we? By the way when are you leaving?”

After staring at me for a moment, she spoke up, “In a few days.”

I looked at my watch and uttered, “We should leave now, Preety. And by the way I am going to tutor Esha.”

She asked me hesitantly, “But Khushi, your family?”

“I didn't get to tell him but I decided to go.” saying this, I stood up and paid the bill. I left the cafe and Preety followed me out.

Getting out of the cafe, I turned to her and said, “Let's meet one more time before you go who knows will we ever meet again.” and left from there with watery eyes.

☣

I came back home with a heavy heart and directly went to my room. After getting freshen up, I made ablution and got back to my room.

I said my prayer and then lied on the bed. While thinking about Preety, I drifted to sleep. When I opened my eyes, it was already 4 by afternoon.

I found my lunch in a tray on the table beside my bed. I was feeling hungry but didn’t feel like eating.

Getting down from the bed, I went to washroom and getting freshen up, I made ablution. After saying my prayer, I got ready and taking the card that Mr. Muhib gave me, I left the house.

It was 5 minutes past 5 by afternoon when I reached at their address. The house was beautiful. When I reached the entrance of the house, I saw Esha standing by the door.

Seeing me, she shouted happily, “Mummy, Aunty has come. and got near me.”

She gave me a toothy smile and said, “Thank you aunty for coming.”

I smiled at her and saw her mother coming towards us. She greeted me with a smile, “Assalamu_Alaikum and welcome to our house.”

It was a beautiful house with a sophisticated interior design and organised accordingly. I sat in the living room with them. Mrs. Areesha thanked me heartily.

When I spoke up, “Its okay, Mrs. Areesha” she interrupted me and said, “If you don't mind, call me Api.”

I was about to say something but Esha spoke up, “Aunty let's go to poolside. I will read there.”

Hearing that, I looked towards Mrs. Areesha and she spoke up while nodding, “Esha, you take your aunty to the poolside. I will bring some snacks for you.”

Hearing that Esha came to me and while holding my hand, she spoke up, “Aunty, lets go.”

Nodding at her, I got up and went to the poolside with her. Mrs. Areesha brought some snacks and some books. I took the books from her and we took seats around a table. She put the snacks on the table and Esha spoke up, “Aunty, I will read this book.”

Mrs. Areesha smiled at her and then looked at me and said, “You two continue. I am coming back after a while.”

She left from there but forgot her phone on the table.

I was teaching Esha some words from her English book and she was following my direction cutely.

She was reading with full of attention when the phone left on the table by Mrs. Areesha started ringing.

I looked at Esha and she without looking at the phone spoke up, “You receive the call, Aunty. I am reading.”

I tried to say something but Esha again spoke up, “Aunty please. I am reading.”

I attended the call and spoke up hesitantly, “Hello?”

The voice from the other side of the line made me go all silent, “Who are you? And why in the world you are answering this call?”

Hearing the voice, I didn't get to utter a word and the person yelled at me again, “Answer me, damn it. Who are you?”

And I started stuttering at that, “I..i.. a..am.. Khushi”

❣❣????????❣❣

Assalamu_Alaikum readers.

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~Silent_Learner