Chapter 23: Chapter 23

Khushi's  P.O.V.

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After lunch, I drifted to sleep while reading a story book and when I woke up, it was almost afternoon. I immediately got down from my bed and rushed to washroom.

After making ablution, I said my prayer and got ready to go to meet Esha totally forgetting about the fact that a party is supposed to be held in my house.

When I got downstairs, I got shocked to see the hall room all decorated beautifully. I kept staring at all around the room while wondering the reason behind the decoration.

I got all startled when Vaia spoke up from my behind all of a sudden, “Where are going now?”

I turned to him and tried to speak up, “Vaia, I was” but got cut by him as he spoke up, “Forget it. Don't bother going outside now.”

I kept staring at vai as he never cared where I was going or doing as he continued saying, “There is a party in this house which will get started any moment. I don't care if you attend it or not but I don't want to get Abbu or myself embarrassed if anyone of the party ends up asking about you.”

My mind started chiding, “As if anyone of their business world knows that Abbu has a daughter also.”

Giving that thought a break, I tried to say something but he cut me off by yelling at me, “Just shut up and stay your room.”

When I still kept standing there, he shouted at me, “Look Khushi, whatever you have done to us till now made us went through the worst so don't you dare creating a scene now. Just go to your room.”

The words got set in my mind and this thought that actually what I had done was eating me up but seeing vai giving me death glares, I didn’t get to muster up the courage to ask him about it.

I left the hall room with teary eyes and came back to my room. I didn’t bother to get changed but kept sitting in the balcony while crying badly.

I didn’t know how long I was like that until I heard the Magrib Azan. Seeing all around, I found it was already evening.

I was starting to feel a headache. Without bothering that, I said my prayer after making ablution. But the headache was getting terrible so I thought of having a coffee.

When I got out of my room, I could hear the sound of light music and people talking. I didn’t bother to look at them and thought of silently slipping to kitchen before any could notice me.

But to my bad luck I heard someone uttering my name quite loudly and when I turned to that direction, I found all of the people staring at me and got shocked seeing some people whom I never imagined to find in my house that even together.

I got paused there sensing something even more terrible to happen to me than the headache of mine.

When I didn’t move from my place, Aunty again called me, “Khushi, come here dear.”

With steady steps, I went towards them as Arhaan, Areesha Api and Muhib Vai kept staring at me getting shocked and another little soul was staring at me with a warm smile.

I tried to smile a little looking at her but the smile got wiped off when I saw Vai glaring at me.

I got near them and Esha spoke up, “Aunty, you here? Now take me in your arms.”

Finding nothing to say, I took her from Api and before Api could say something, Aunty spoke up again, “It's so good to see you two again, dear. So this is your family?”

Indicating the family of Arhaan, she asked me but I kept all silent looking at Areesha Api and Muhib Vais shocking face.

Before I could say something, Aunty spoke up looking at other direction, “Anas?”

In a few moments some people came close to us but couldnt get myself to look at them immediately as Aunty spoke up, “Didn't I tell you a sweet couple came to our place getting all drenched in the rain at night two days back and you kept telling me that I shouldn't have let in strangers that way? Now look, they were the couple"

I looked at Aunty to say something to explain the matter but got stopped immediately when I found Abbu and Vai standing right there and glaring at me.

And Aunty continued saying, “Look they are really a couple and from a decent family. Now will you stop nagging me that I just go on trusting on some wrong people.”

That uncle uttered in a apologetic tone, “Okay okay, I am sorry.” and then turning to us, he again spoke up, “Sorry, dear. Actually there are some people who goes on taking advantage of a situation by acting like a couple or something. That's why I said those to your Aunty. I am sorry and glad to meet you.”

Before anyone of us could say something, we heard someone calling from behind, “Mr. and Mrs. Anas?”

Uncle looked back and uttered happily, “Mr. Sabbir?"

Then he turned to us again and uttered, “Glad to meet you all. You guys continue. I need to talk to him.”

Uncle and aunty left from there and Areesha Api spoke up, “Arhaan, Khushi..what was all this?”

I didn't get to hear if Arhaan said anything as I just kept looking at Vai and Abbu being afraid as they were glaring at me only. Vai was about to say something but Abbu got hold of his hand and shook his head as vai turned to him.

Vai seemed to get hold of his anger and with a normal face, he looked at me and coming forward spoke up, “There must be a situation and Mrs. Anas must have misunderstood by taking them as a couple, right Khushi?"

Arhaan uttered turning at me and Vai, “Who are you?” and vai spoke up, “I am Khushi's brother, Kowshik.”

I turned to vai getting shocked as it was for the first time that he said that he was my brother that even in front of others.

Muhib Vai came forward then and spoke up, “Oh, then Khushi, you are Mr. Zahir Malik's daughter, Khushi Malik? The own”

Abbu got near and cutting Muhib Vai off, spoke up, “Yes. She is my daughter. We are really glad that you came here."

I was utterly confused at their behaviour and before anyone could say something, some people came there and called Abbu and Muhib Vai. They moved aside and Vai also followed them.

At first I was trying to avoid the gaze of Api but thinking Api might misunderstand Arhaan, I looked at her and uttered, “Api actually that night..”

She turned to me and when I found nothing like irritation or disgust on her face but curiosity, I explained her the things of that night what I heard from Arhaan and Aunty.

Api spoke up with a little bit of smile, “I can understand Khushi. Don't worry about it.”

I felt relieved and looked at Arhaan and found him looking at me confusingly and as soon as he saw me looking at him, he spoke up, “I wasn't worried about you. I just did what I felt I should do for the sake of humanity.”

Api looked at him and nodded as she spoke up, “Yeah yeah."

Glancing at us, Arhaan went towards Muhib vai and Areesha Api and me continued gossiping.

Later the party time went on smoothly and at some point all left our house after party.

Then Vai came towards me with a glare but before he could utter anything, Abbu spoke up, “Kowshik, leave it for now and come, I have something to discuss with you.”

They also left from there and I kept standing there for a while. I wasnt getting their behaviour. They were all cool and silent at the party and even now about that night. Though vai tried to say something but Abbu was stopping him.

I kept pondering, “Was it really just it or it was just the silence before the storm!!”