Ch_9

Arhaan's P.O.V.

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Today when I entered the College library, Abeer was already present there working on his laptop. With a frowning face, I went up to him and took a seat beside him.

He didn't even notice me but continued his work. I couldn't help being sarcastic and spoke up, "Abeer, you here! This early! Is everything alright?"

He glared at me and then again turned to his laptop screen again. He was scrolling down and turning next pages while searching something.

I got surprised at his behaviour as he was a person who believes, "If it's not on the first search page on Google, it doesn't exist."

I asked him casually, "What happened, Abeer? You are looking quite serious."

He spoke up in a disappointed tone, "Arey yaar, thesis project submission date has been declared. And it is by the end of THIS month. Can you believe it!"

But hearing him, I got excited. Though I didn't know when the submission will be but I told Api that by the end of this month, I will get back to them. Now I can really get back to them by the end of THIS month.

Being happy with the thought, I uttered excitedly, "Really?" only to get a glare from Abeer.

I thought of giving Api the good news and immediately called her. When the call was answered, I was about to utter, 'Api' but heard an unfamiliar girlie voice, "Hello." and got paused for a moment.

Then it hit my mind. Why Api's phone would be answered by an unknown person rather than Api or Esha that generally happens!

Remembering the day when I called Abbu only to get the call answered by an unknown person and told me about the damn accident, I got terrified.

While fighting my fear, I started shouting, "Who are you? And why in the world you are answering this call?"

I was damn worried and just wanted to hear that my family is safe but the person got totally silent. So I again started yelling, "Answer me, damn it. Who are you?"

This time she answered me stuttering, "I a..am Kh..Khushi."

I was too worried to remember who was she and asked again, "Whoever you are, why are you answering my sister's phone? Where is she? Is she alright?"

Then I heard what I wanted to hear the most at that time, "She is alright. Talk to her."

Saying that, maybe she handed the phone to Api as I heard her saying, "Arhaan, I am alright vai. Don't worry."

Hearing Api's voice, I got relaxed and asked, "Why your phone was answered by the girl whatever her name was?"

"Her name is Khushi. I forgot my phone on the table where Khushi was tutoring Esha." Api spoke up casually.

But I was irritated and spoke up, "Oh, so it's her. But why she being an unknown person would answer someone else's phone call!"

Hearing Api saying, "Arhaan!" in a cold tone, I got silent for a moment then again spoke up, "Whatever. Api, thesis project submission date has been declared and it's by the end of this month. When I told you that I would be back by this month, I wasn't sure but now I am sure to be back to you guys by the end of THIS month."

Api uttered being extremely happy, "Alhamdulillah. I am waiting for the day to see you here, vai."

"I will be with you soon, Api. Now got to go. You stay with Esha now, okay? Bye" Saying this, I cut off the line and got back to my seat.

Abeer seemed to stuck on something. So I spoke up, "Go slow, yaar. Take it easy. This way you will kill yourself."

He gave me a death glare and spoke up, "If I wanted to kill myself, I would climb your ego and jump to your IQ."

I nodded at him smilingly and said, "Okay okay. I got it." and started working on my project.

☣

Areesha's P.O.V.

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For almost 1 hour, Esha was waiting for Khushi to come. She was jumping around and looking at the door every minutes as she kept asking me about the time.

When Khushi came, she shouted excitedly, "Mummy, Aunty has come." and ran towards the door.

I got near them while thanking Almighty as Khushi agreed.

I asked Esha to take Khushi by the poolside and after sometime I went to gave Esha and Khushi some snacks and then hurried back to kitchen as I left something on gas. But I forgot my phone there on the table.

When I was done with my kitchen stuff, I went towards the poolside where Khushi was tutoring Esha. Getting near, I heard Khushi stuttering, "I a..am Kh...Khushi."

When I caught the sight of her, she was on phone and Esha was reading something. Then I noticed Khushi was talking to someone on my phone.

Seeing her face, I understood who would be the person Khushi was talking to. When Khushi saw me, she handed me the phone after saying, "She is alright. Talk to her."

Taking the phone, I went to other side of the pool. After talking to Arhaan, I was very happy as he will really get back home by this month.

When I got near them and saw Khushi's sad face, I thought Arhaan must have talked to her rudely. So I got near her and spoke up, "Khushi, please don't mind Arhaan's word. He has always been like this. I am apologising on my brother's behalf."

She looked at me with a little bit of smile but I didn't know what happened to her but her eyes were all teary.

Seeing her like this, I again spoke up, "Khushi, did Arhaan say something or bad mouthed you? Why are you?" But she didn't let me complete and spoke up, "No. He didn't. He just got worried for you."

Sensing her hesitation, I just nodded and she turned to Esha but I was sure there were tears in her eyes. I thought of asking Arhaan for myself and got silent. Taking a seat on the other side of the pool, I waited for them to complete their study.

But I couldn't help thinking there was something with Khushi. I wasn't sure if it's something good or bad as she was looking happy one moment and on the next moment she was all gloomy and hurt.

☣

Khushi's P.O.V.

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At first, hearing him yelling at me just for picking up the phone, I didn't mind that. But when I realised that he was not yelling at me rather he was worried for her sister, the thought of my brother came to my mind and my eyes got watery before I could realise.

When Mrs. Areesha saw that, she started apologising to me thinking I was crying because of her brother's behaviour.

The case was not that. So I spoke up interrupting her, "No, he didn't. He just got worried for you." and then turned to Esha who was memorising some pronunciation.

After a while she uttered while pouting, "Aunty, I have been reading for too long. I am tired now." Hearing her cute voice, I smiled at her.

It was almost evening and I thought of leaving. So I spoke up, "Then I should leave now. You take rest."

She stood up immediately and happily spoke up, "Okay aunty" and left from there while jumping. I looked at Mrs. Areesha and spoke up with a little bit of smile, "Areesha ji, I should leave now."

She looked at me smilingly then turned to the tray where the snacks was left untouched.

She looked back at me and said, “Khushi, you didn't even touch that! Okay leave that. But you have to eat something for sure. You have come to our house for the first time.”

I tried to say something but got cut off instantly, “Its okay, Areesha ji. I will”

She spoke up with a demanding tone, “Not Areesha ji. Its sounding odd. You can call me Areesha Api. Okay?”

I uttered whisperingly, “Api!” and she smiled heartily hearing me. Then she again spoke up, “Now like a good girl, listen to your older sister. Come with me.”

Without uttering anything, I just nodded at her and followed her downstairs. She got me sit on the living room and brought something sweet for me.

Seeing me hesitating, she told me to start eating immediately and took a seat beside me while calling Esha.

I was about to put some in my mouth but stopped hearing, “Princess, I am home.” and turned towards the voice and saw Mr. Muhib standing by the door.

Esha went running to him and spoke up smilingly, “Abbu you know, aunty came today.”

Areesha Api spoke up then, “She is still here.”

Mr. Muhib took Esha in his arms and came towards us. Seeing me, he smiled and spoke up, “Thank you, Khushi for coming here. My Princess is so happy now.” as he caressed Esha's hair.

Esha got down from his arms and started jumping around. Api looked at him and spoke up then, “Let her eat, Muhib.”

He looked at the sweet kept in front of me and spoke up, “Sorry sorry. Khushi, you eat. Rani Saheba makes really delicious sweets.”

Smiling at him, I took some and said, “You are right, Muhib ji. Its really delicious, Api.” and turned to Areesha api.

Hearing me, she smiled and spoke up, “I am glad that you like it.”

With a smile I stood up and said, “Api, Muhib ji..I will take your leave now.”

But Mr. Muhib spoke up while making a confused face, “How come you are calling me as Muhib ji when you are calling Areesha as Api! Isn’t it weird? Call me Vai.”

Finding nothing to say, I just nodded and left from there saying, “Allah Hafiz.” 

They offered me to ride me back to my house but I refused politely.

I was utterly confused at their behaviour. They were being too nice to me to be true.

Whenever I got close to someone, I ended up losing the person at some point. So I was feeling confused whether I should continue coming to this house.

While thinking like that I got on the road and taking a taxi, I went towards my house.

☣

Arhaan's P.O.V.

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I was on my way home when Api called me. I answered the call and she started asking me before I could say something, “Arhaan, what did you say to her?”

Being confused, I asked her, “Whom are you talking about, Api?”

She spoke up again, “You know very well that who I am talking about. I am talking about Khushi. What did you say to her to make her cry?”

“Api, I didn’t say to her anything.”, I replied to her casually only to hear her concerned voice that too for a girl she barely knew.

“Then why was she crying!”

Being irritated with that, I uttered, “How would I know that, Api! And by the way don't you think you are caring too much of a girl you have known just for two days and even questioning me for her?”

But my Api being herself got totally silent and I knew for sure she was thinking about Khushi.

Sensing that, I tried to say something but she cut off the line saying, “I will talk to you later. Allah Hafiz.”

Then I also started thinking. Did the girl really cry because of my behaviour! But I was just worried for my sister. That’s it.

And by the way why did she answer someone else's phone call! She was the one at fault. She shouldn’t do that, right?

So I didn’t  do anything wrong...

~To be continued