15. The Return of OG

"Salam bibi," Kishore greets me the second I enter the office.

"Wasalam, Kishore. Kiya haal hai?"

"Bhagwaan ka shukr hai, muskaan bibi." He briefs me about his family's latest news, telling me how his wife has begun working in a factory, and his kids settled in the new school. We ended up making small talk until I reached my cabin and he was summoned by someone.

In the tiny space provided in front of my cabin that was supposed to be used as a walkway, I noticed Shef and Ruby shooting a reel.

The tune of the song was something familiar, and I was sure I'd heard it before. It was the way they danced, taking turns to appear before the camera and thanks to the endless time I've spent scrolling through Instagram reels, I knew exactly what they were dancing to.

'Hey, I like the way he's looking

The way he's moving now,

I like the way they call him

Kukkad kamaal da'

Once they were done, they wrapped up, getting their things together. Shefali catches my eye, seeing me stand behind them and waves.

"Who's that for?" I ask after waving back, taking slow steps toward my cabin.

"Apne kukkad kamal ke vaaste." She answered, fangirling at the thought of this so-called kukkard kamaal.

"Who?"

"Mr. Hussein, who else?" Shefali said that in a 'duh' tone like it was common sense as though someone had asked her, where does SRK live and they replied 'in Mumbai, where else?'.

My brows shoot up at her response. He is Kukkard Kamal for them?

*blargh*

"Kitna hot hai nai?" Ruby cuts in giving a dreamy sigh, following me in my cabin with Shef hot on her heels.

"You lucky bish," Shef pokes me in my arm. "You get to spend day after day with him."

I frown. "So, wha--"

"Does he have a girlfriend? Is he married? Is he interested in someone?"

"I don't--"

"He would definitely have a girlfriend." Ruby claimed, answering her own question with a smack to her forehead. " I'm also so stupid. Who in their right mind would let him go?"

"Tumko nahi malum." Shef asserts. "Gorey ghaas nahi dalte desis ko waha. Khatarnaak racist rehte."

"Not all--" I try and speak up only to be cut off like this.

"Main gori ki thodi baat karri thi. Main to desi bachiyon ki baat karri thi."

"Unlogan goron ke peeche rehte."

"Sahi me?" Ruby turns her head to look at me and questions. I open my mouth to answer her still reeling from the bombardment of questions they shot my way.

"How would she know?" Shef continues. "She's only been to the US. Not the UK. Har gora same nahi hota."

"But racist to kaisa bhi rehta." Ruby muttered.

"Wo baat bhi sahi hai." Shef nods before her attention is back at me again. "Aren't you interested in him?"

"What?!" I exclaim.

"Areyy, shit." Ruby cursed. "Ye to poochna ich bhool gaye. Of course, she has a crush on him. They'd been spending so much time lately."

"Who has a crush on whom?" Khalid, the gossip monger of our office, materializes out of thin air and asks.

"Muskaan has--"

"A headache." I finish. "Muskaan has a headache from listening to Shef and Ruby talk about my colleague."

"Ohooooo, possessive." Shefali and Ruby say together in a sing-song voice.

"Oh, you mean Mr. Hussein? You have a crush on him?" Khalid concludes.

"No! I--"

But he paid no attention to my disagreement and went on."Every girl has a crush on him in this office. But I think sab se pehle muskaan ka haq hai uspe."

"Aysa kaisa?!" Ruby argues. "Humlogan saali bane nahi hai yaha."

"Ruby meri jaan, tera boyfriend hai na." Shefali pacified.

"Oh, haan." Ruby sighs, deflating like a balloon when popped.

"Muskaan ka nahi hai."

"That's because I don't want any." But my voice went unheard.

"I think we should give Muskaan and Hussein a chance."

"Fair enough." Khalid intercedes, while I bury my face in my palms.

"We also don't know if he likes someone from this office already. He could like Muskaan given they spend so much time together."

"Ok, that's it!" I exclaim and drive the group out of my cabin and pull the glass door shut

"Allah Jane what is wrong with the trio. Ajeeb deewane Bataan kar walo bus. Mr angrez k Ilawa koi aur bhi dikh jaye kisi ko. Ghar me muaaz, muaaz, office me, hussein hussein. Kahi chain nahi hai. Allah miyan, sukoon do thoda meko."

"Will thoda be enough?" I shriek in my place at the sound, spinning around to bump into the man himself.

"Owwww!" We say in unison. He held his nose and I, my forehead.

I begin rubbing my forehead when two large and warm hands take control and massage the area. I crack an eye open to see Mr. Angrez's concerned face very, very close to mine.

A hiss escapes my lips when he presses a little too hard on the affected area.

"I'm sorry." He says softly.

One of the things Shefali said plays in my mind. 'Muskaan ka boyfriend nahi hai, I think we should give Muskaan and Hussein a chance.' I shake my head and step back, my back hitting the wall.

"Dukh do phir sorry bolo," I grumbled, plopping down on my chair with a huff.

"I can buy you ice cream if you want." He offers.

"No, thank you."

He shrugs pulling the chair back and settles down across me.

"What?" He asks when I stare at him long enough to make him uncomfortable.

"Why are you still here?"

"Because we are partners, remember?"

"Isi baat ka to dukh hai." I mumble pulling up my agenda for today.

"So," He starts. "How was your day without me?"

"Blissful."

"Awwe. Good, you enjoyed it for the short amount of time."

"What do you mean?" I frown.

"I'm coming home with you."

Hein?! Itni jaldi? Abhi to gaya tha itne mushkilon ke baad. Phir se wapas aane ki baat kyu karra?

"The deal's not over yet."

"But the conditions are met." He smiles.

I take a pause. "How do you know?"

At that, he pulls out his phone taps a couple of times before setting it on the table. My mind quickly labels Asrani's voice and links it to the Jailer's character in Sholayy.

'Humare jasoos is jail mein charon taraf--'

"Fatty." I snarl.

"No," Mr. Angrez negates in a calm voice, pocketing his phone. "It wasn't him."

"Then?"

"Doesn't matter."

I flare my nostrils and turn my attention back to the screen, refusing to look his way.

"Do you have something to eat?" He asks after a cloud of silence passes over us.

"We're not in school anymore. No home-packed lunches."

"Can we go and grab a quick bite? I'm hungry."

"What did you have for---" I'm interrupted by the loud rumble coming from his, what sounds like an empty stomach. "What did you have for breakfast?"

"Air."

"Dinner?"

"A small sandwich that I'd ordered, turns out you were right about me being a hungry monster."

Another rumble sounded, equally loud if not louder and I knew he wasn't lying.

"Why didn't you eat?" He shrugs causing me to shake my head and sigh.

"Such a baby," I mutter, reaching for my phone so I can order something for this 6-foot toddler, while he grins sheepishly.

"Chalo, ghar aagya." Karamat uncle announced, waking me from the partial slumber I was in.

"Jazakhallah," I say, wishing him a good night, and push the passenger door open. Behind me, Noor was already making her way past the gates of the villa. I follow her lead, shutting the iron gates behind me. I turn to strolling toward the front door, stretching my arms on the way.

What a long day it's been--- Oh dear God.

I gasp internally seeing the man himself, in all his glory, standing by the the front porch. Noor rejoices seeing her beloved father who takes her into a hug, his sharp eyes cutting to me.

I gulp thickly, realizing I've stopped dead in my tracks. Mustering every ounce of energy, I keep one foot in front of the other and slow down massively to the speed of a shell tortoise. I watch his daughter shoot me a look I think was concern-filled before making her way inside. That's when I realise how much of a bad idea it was, letting her leave me and go. Now, I'm alone with him in the dark.

His hand reaches for his pocket where he fishes out a pack of cigarettes and placed one between his lips. Shivers run down my spine when he lits it using a matchstick, his gaze zeroed in on me. The glint of the fire cast an orange hue on his face and that's when I see it.

The warning. The anger. The terror.

MA! My insides cowered under his stare. Why'd you send me here?

But, nothing could be done now. I was here and I had to deal with everything. With the new found determination, I decided to greet him as I was only a hand away.

"Ssss--" I shut up, clear my throat and start over. "Asalamalaikum."

He takes a puff, plucks the cigarette from his lips, and blows. I was a little late to cover my nose which caused me to cough as a result of the smoke.

As though satisfied with this, he answered. "Walaikumsalam." I also see his head nod in the slightest before he dismisses me silently, catering to his 'me time'.

Taking that as my cue, I switch to speed-walking into the house and heave a sigh of relief once inside. Now, back in my senses, I look up to see Saira Mumma, Imran chachu and chahi lined up in front of me.

"Did you meet him?" Saira mumma asks, almost whispering, gesturing to her husband.

"Yeah, just said Salam, is all," I say and shrug, showing as though it was such an easy task when in reality, I was totally in sync with her thoughts.

"Allah ka shukar." Maryam chachi sighs.

Looks like they were as freaked out as I was.

"By the way, aaj ek dum bhaiya bahar kaisa aagaye?" Imran chachu wonders.

"Is it because he knew Muaaz wasn't home last night?" Chachi suggests.

"Arey begum, bhaiya to ye dikhare they that he is not concerned about Muaaz."

"Haan...?"

"So, he wouldn't step out to show if he's alright." Chachu concludes.

"Guys, it can also be a coincidence." Saira mumma claims. "Maybe he was bored of his own company."

We snort at her remark light-heartedly but quickly fall silent when footsteps approach from behind. With my back still facing the door, I scanned their faces which took a quick 180 showing signs of dread. I twirl around shrieking internally to find him standing behind me, in my personal space.

His sharp gaze boring holes in my soul.

I was as tall him, if not taller by an inch or two. But felt like a minion in front of his commanding aura.

"Khana ready hai?" He grumbled, his eyes never leaving mine.

"Ji, bhaiya." Chachi squeaks behind me while I gulp and attempt to stand my ground.

"Nikalo. Aaru main." I expected him to walk away after giving his order but he didn't budge and stood staring at me.

"Fresh hone do usku, Fahad." I hear Saira Mumma tell him.

"I don't have him restrained. He's free to go." And yet, that unnerving gaze never left me. Neither did he step away. Nor could I muster to move a muscle.

"Jao, Muaaz." Saira mumma says but I couldn't take a step away. "Jao," She says putting her hand on my wrist and dragging me away and out of his sight.

"He's so ready to kill me." I breathed once we were out of earshot.

"We have your back." Mumma replied just as seriously as I commented. Knowing how truly dangerous it is for me to roam around in front of the freed lion. "Fahad's probably going to join us for dinner. Don't step out until I send Fatty to come get you. Let's test the water tonight and plan our next step."

I nod after which she leaves and don't waste anytime to get unready and freshen up as slowly as I could. Changing into comfortable t shirt, I stand by the open door of my room waiting for Fatty so I had security just in case anything happened.

"Bhaiya," he calls, standing in the doorway of my room, and gestures me towards the dining room.

I say my Salam like I usually do and freeze when I spot Mufasa sitting on one of the chairs.

"Move," Imran chachu hissed in my ear as he passed by me. I suck in a breath, clear my head and put my big boy pants on.

Settling down on one of the chairs, i put on my best show. Acting as if im not bothered when in reality i was, but nobody had to know how much. Everybody take their places on the large table, Noor visibly shocked to see her father eat with us.

Something twitched in me as she looked around the seated people and her gaze lands on me. She juts her chin, silently asking me if i was ok? I was more than surprised at her gesture but managed to keep a straight face and blink my eye slowly in response.

"Kiya baat hai? Aaj pura ghar hai khane ke table pe." Dada says, arching a brow at his oldest child.

"Break pe tha main. Ab wapas aagya."

"Next break kab lere bol dena tha zara, hum log prepared rehte." He comments, earning a few coughs from around the table.

"Mm-hmmm. Ab nahi lene wala hoon ek bhi." He replied with that sinister gaze in my way while i only smiled back at him.

"Acha chalo khana shuru karo." Dadi hushes everybody down and initiates dishing out the dinner.

We eat our food in silence, not necessarily awkward but not comfortable either, and return to our respective rooms for the night.

With a sigh, I shut the door behind me, take off my t-shirt and fall face first on the bed. Quickly snuggling in the duet I shut my eyes. Sleep instantly pulled me in when I heard sounds and shufflings around me. Cracking an eye open, I jolt awake, a small scream escaping my mouth that was quickly slapped shut with Noor's soft palm.

"Shut up! It's me!" She shushed. It took my drained mind to register her face for a second or two after which the male component in my brain went off. I suddenly felt her proximity, her palms and hands on me, the heat from them causing my cold skin to prickle with goosebumps.

"What are you doing here?" I whisper, pulling her palm down.

"I was just--" Her gaze falls on my bare shoulders and she goes, "Oh!"

Realizing I was bare on my torso, I quickly pulled up the duet to my neck, clearing my throat.

"Do you always sleep shirtless?" She asked after I was semi-decent.

"Yes."

"Doesn't it get cold?"

"Sometimes. But you have the heating going back home in the winters and it's convenient for summers this way." I explain.

"Hmmm." We fall silent again, my eyes darting around the room and rating how neat and clean it is for visitors to stop by at such an unusual time in the night. Then my eyes fell on her, still sitting close to me with her bum near my folded legs, in another one of her satin pajama sets but this time it was dark blue with no polka dots or anything.

"So you're here to ask me why I sleep shirtless?"

"Oh, no, I was only checking up on you after what happened tonight--"

She is cut off when my phone buzzes on the nightstand. The screen lights up with the picture of Layla on Facetime. I hear a sound coming from Muskaan but she doesn't say anything. Reaching out to grab it, she hands it over to me.

"Enjoy your night with your girlfriend. Sorry to bother you." Noor says in a robotic voice, void of any emotion, and pushes to her feet.

"Hey, no, wait--" The door shuts behind her.

What in the world was that? I wonder staring at the door. Was Noor really here or was I having a very lucid dream about her?

But what she said, sounded as though she was concerned after tonight's encounter with her father. Also, why would she think Layla is my girlfriend? Didn't I tell her she isn't?

And why is Layla even calling me in the first place? Can't she tell it's past midnight in India? Damn, this girl.

I don't answer the call, but hit the power button and put the phone away. Fluffing my pillow, I lay on the bed and shut my eyes. Noor's face lit up the darkness and before I could tell, I was pulled into the realm of sleep with the thought of her.

🚬

Fahad Abdullah is back! 🥳 Who all were waiting for the OG? MEEEEE

See you guys in the next chap!

Hasta LA Vista 👋🏻