chapter 9

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Ayesha's pov

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The smirk! That stupid smirk.

I couldn't sleep all night because I was worrying about waking up early in the morning. I had to reach on time, the surity I saw in his eyes that I would turn late, ignited fire in me.

What this devil doesn't know about me is that, if there is a challenge, I would leave no stone unturned to win it.

I smiled proudly when I looked at the time, it was 8:50 when I entered the office. I met Rose, i was so satisfied with myself when she informed me that Mr Khan has still not come.

My happiness was over the moon when I noticed it was 9:05 am and he still was not here. Looks like he partied too hard last night.

I went to his office and took out some random files and began reading them. It was 9:07 am when the door of his cabin opened and he entered.

I stood up and gave him a full fledged smirk, he rolled his eyes and walked towards his chair, I went towards him.

"Good morning Mr Khan" I said cheerfully. "Is everything ok? You got late today" he glared at me

"Don't worry I'm not judging you, it happens. After a late night clubbing, getting  late for the office is quite normal. I am not going to make you write "I will never come late" so relax" I said making sure I drip every word of mine in sarcasm

"Miss Siddiqui! Don't you have any work to do?" He snapped at me

"No work sir! You are yet to give it to me." I smiled innocently. He looked at me, he seemed deep in thoughts, then a slight smirk came to his face, but he controlled it, i frowned at his action

"Go to the nineteenth floor, meet Roshan there, he will tell you about some project, take files from him, I want you to study every detail about it and make your own data and chart about it. I want this work done by lunch time" he said.

"Finally! Finally! Some real work."  I smiled and quickly left.

I was in the elevator when I met Amir

"Hey! You survived the whole week?" He asked

"Why? Have you had any doubt?"

"Something like that" he beamed

"I'm not going anywhere till I get my degree"

The lift stopped on the nineteenth floor, he stepped outside along with me

"Well! Good luck with that" he said then he went out of my sight.

I asked for Roshan, and was given the direction of his office. I made my way towards it.

I knocked on the door, and entered once I got the permission

"Hi! I'm Ayesha Siddiqui! Mr Khan sent me. I assume you have some work for me" i said nicely

"Certainly Ayesha!" He stood up from his chair and went towards the rack, he searched for something, then he returned to me with two files, then he went to another rack and brought three files, after he was done roaming around the room, I had around ten files in my hands. I looked at him in confusion

"Which one of these is for me?" I asked

"All" he shrugged

"What? You must be mistaken"

It is not possible to read these files thoroughly, prepare notes and submit by lunch time.

"No mistake here. Sir told me to give you these"

He is indeed a jerk.

I held all the files tightly and returned to his cabin, without knocking I entered and slammed all the files on the table.

"Is this a joke?" I barked, he leaned back on his chair and looked at me smugly

"Not at all. It's the.... What did you call it? Yeah! Real work" i rolled my eyes

"There is no way I can finish this work in the given time, it will at least take me a week"

"Tsk tsk I guess you just like to talk when it comes to work you become lazy"

I huffed and picked up all the files, I came outside to the small cubicle which was given to me for work.

I picked up a file and began reading it, I was highlighting the main points while reading only.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't notice my phone ringing. I saw the light on in my phone, when I picked it up to see, it showed, 7 missed calls from baby.

I checked the time it was 12:00, and i was just on the third file.

I was about to call her back when my phone started ringing again

"Hel......" I answered, but immediately was cut off

"AYESHA I'M SO SCREWED" Reem shouted, it instantly worried me

"Are you ok? What happened?" I asked

"Dadi called, she wants to meet me"

"Shit! You think Izhaan has told her"

No no this is not good.

"I don't know. She just said that she found out something and wants to talk about it with me"

"Damn! What now?"

"I'm so scared"

"Hey don't worry! I'm with you"

"I have to meet her in an hour. You think you can come, i really need you" she pleaded

I looked around at the scattered files all over the table. I have to leave right now, but what will I say to the devil?

Idea!

"Of course I am coming" I said

"Great" she let out a relaxed sigh, then hung up the phone

I got up from my seat, I took some water in my hand and splashed it on my face, then I went towards his room, on my way I wiped off the kajal from my eyes.

I knocked

"Come in" he said

I half closed my eyes and tried to look as sick as possible.

"Mr Khan! I.. I .I'm n.. not fee.. feeling well" I said pretending to be short of breath

"Miss Siddiqui! Are you ok?" He got up and walked towards me

"I can't breathe. My insides are churning, I might throw up" I said while fake panting

"What is happening to you? Let me call a doctor" he picked up his phone, but i held his hand to stop him

"No no. Don't call a doctor" I said, too normally for my acting, then i went back in my character of being sick again

"I have this health condition called breathovomit syndrome" I said

Breathovomit syndrome? What the hell am I saying.

"What is that?"

"It becomes difficult to breathe and the constant urge of vomit is there"

Great Ayesha!

"Never heard of it!"

"Yeah! I think I'm the only one in the world who is suffering from this disease" he looked sceptical. I intensified my acting

"Ah my head hurts" then i gagged as if I was going to vomit

"What is the treatment for it?" He asked

"Sleep! I will just have to go to sleep for straight ten hours to get better, it is the only treatment for it"

"Sleep?" He definitely looked doubtful

"My head is spinning, I'm gonna faint" I moved in a circle

"Ok ok! Go home. Take some rest. I will call my driver to drop you to your house"

"No need Mr Khan! I will call someone from my family"

"But.."

"It's ok" I said and ran from there, i got my stuff and went straight to the elevator. I released a breath of relief when I sat in my car.

****

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Reem's POV

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I looked up at Izhaan's house. I was so scared of going inside what will I tell dadi? I hate izhaan for bitching about me with dadi.

My hatred for Izhaan is a different thing, but I love his whole family too much. They are the sweetest people on earth.

After my family died, I used to spend a lot of time with Izhaan's family, I would keep my head in dadi's lap and cry for hours, maa would feed me by her hand. They made their priority of taking care of me.

Izhaan's grandfather and my grandfather were childhood friends, they didn't even realise when their friendship got so strong that they became a family.

As a kid I used to meet Izhaan quite often, but we hardly interacted. And when I was staying in his house after my loss, him and his brother went abroad to study. So, we never bonded, and I'm not even complaining, he's the worst person ever.

Dadi's love for me has no end, but I'm always scared that Izhaan will spoil it, i only tolerate him because of my love for his parents and grandparents, whenever I am with them it gives me a very homey feeling, the feeling which I long for.

"Are we going to go inside or just keep staring at the house?" Ayesha asked growing restless when I just remained seated in the car for too long

"What will I tell dadi? What if she is angry with me?" I said with a sigh

"Why would she be angry with you, baby? Stop overthinking! And just remember, so even if Izhaan told them everything, you were not wrong"

"You don't understand, he is a brilliant advocate, he knows ways with his words, he can make anyone doubtful about themselves easily. He can make dadi and maa against me in a snap of a finger"

"Izhaan is not a bad person, he wouldn't do anything wrong" Ayesha spoke and I glared at her

"Seriously? Are you really taking his side?" I snapped at her

"No! I'm just saying Izhaan is g...."

"Please! Save it. Arrest hone se bacha kya liya, tumhare liye to mahaan ban gya (just because he saved us from being arrested, he has become so great to you)"

"I was sayi...."

"No don't say anything"

"Ok! I'm sorry"

"Better" I said, she rolled her eyes

"Shall we go now?"

I took a deep sigh, and nodded. "Thank god" she muttered under her breath, but I heard it.

We both got outside, and walked towards the house. We rang the doorbell, the door was answered by a maid. With a nervous step I made my way inside. I saw Khalda aunty near the hall, she smiled as she looked at me, she was the oldest in the working staff

"Oh my! It's so good to see you" she smiled looking at me, I smiled back and gave her a hug

"Where is everyone?" I asked

"In begum sahab's room" she referred to dadi, she was eyeing Ayesha

"That's Ayesha, my sister, my best friend" I introduced

"Such a pleasure to meet you" Ayesha spoke

"Mashallah! You are very nice" aunty patted her head, Ayesha grinned at her

"I should go to meet dadi" I spoke

"Ya ya you must" she nodded at us, then she left

"She was so sweet" Ayesha commented

"Hmm" I nodded feeling happy about all the memories I hold with her

We went to dadi's room, I stopped at the door and took a deep breath. Then I knocked

"Come in" I heard dadi, I opened the door and entered, I found maa and dadi in the room

"Assalamualaikum" I said.

"Walekumassalam" dadi and maa replied together, I was trying to see anger on their faces but on the contrary, their faces were radiating happiness. Dadi opened her arms for me, I went to hug her

"Meri bachi aa gyi, mere dil ko sukoon mil gaya tumhe dekh k (My little baby is here! My heart is at peace now that you are here)" she kissed my head, I felt so relaxed in her warmth

"Sara pyar dadi pe lutana hai ya maa k liye bhi kuch hai (are you going to spend all the love at dadi or is there any little love left for maa)" maa fake complaint making me and dadi laugh, I quickly wrapped my arms around her

"Why little love, maa? All of my love is for you" i said, dadi gasped dramatically

"Oh I am offended" she wiped her imaginary tears, maa stuck her tongue out at her, like they both are just kids.

I love them. Both of them are so adorable.

Dadi gasped loudly, and we all looked at her.

"You are gabbar, right?" She asked looking at Ayesha, she smiled nervously then nodded her head

"That is why Reem has not visited me for so long, because she has got you here" dadi looked at me, then back at Ayesha

"Come here beta, why are you standing there?" Maa called Ayesha in bed.

The moment Ayesha sat on the bed, she was pulled in a hug by dadi.

****

"And that is why I am Gabbar" Ayesha said narrating the whole story, why I call her Gabbar

It took her exactly three minutes to open them. And now she was talking as if she has been living in this house for all her life.

We were busy in our talks when the door slammed open and hayat entered, she shrieked when she saw me

"You are here" she ran and jumped on me making me fall back. "I missed you" she said

Hayat is like my baby sister, we have spent a lot of time with each other.

"I missed you too" I smiled

"Oh my God! Gabbar?" She asked Ayesha, to which she nodded

I used to talk about Ayesha a lot during my stay here, so everyone knows her.

We have been sitting and talking all afternoon, it was evening now when dadi spoke

"Hayat, why don't you show the house to Ayesha?" She said

"Would love to, let's go" Hayat said, Ayesha looked at me.

"You also come" she said, before I could say anything maa spoke

"She will join you soon"

Oh no why is dadi sending them away? I looked at Ayesha to seek help, she immediately understood

"I am waiting for you, we will go together" she said, but hayat held her

"She'll come in a while. You come with me, I want to show you my room" hayat held Ayesha's hand and dragged her outside.

I felt uneasy, what will I tell them. Dadi held my hand

"I want to tell you something very important and exciting" dadi said, from the look of her face I could see it's not what I think it was, so i relaxed

"What is it?" I asked

"Athar has found a girl for himself" maa informed me, she looked like she was about to jump in joy.

"Ok" I said. My plain reaction made both of them frown. I quickly understood what they wanted, "oh my God! Really?" I shouted showing fake excitement, and their smiles returned

"Yes! Can you believe it?" Dadi said

Honestly I don't know Athar at all, I have hardly interacted with him in all my life.

"This is so exciting" maa said.

They both were telling me about Athar, and how they want both of their sons to get married soon.

We were busy in the discussion when the door knocked, dadi gave permission to the person and Izhaan entered, I rolled my eyes

"Assalamualaikum" he said

"Walekumassalam" both the ladies answered him. They both had a teasing smile on their faces

"When did she come? And why has she come?" Izhaan asked sitting next to dadi, I glared at him, dadi smacked his arm

"This is her house, she can come and go whenever she wants, she doesn't need a reason" dadi said to him

"Reem, go, bring water for Izhaan" maa said, Izhaan looked too proud when maa said it, I rolled my eyes, but got up to bring water nonetheless

I went in the kitchen and got a glass of water, Ayesha came running when she saw me

"All ok?" She asked

"Yeah. Thankfully"

"Then what was so important?"

"Something about Ath...." I was cut off by Hayat's scream

"Gabbar, where are you?" She called

"I have to go back to her, she was showing me her sketches." Ayesha said, then she took the glass from my hand and gulped it down

"Thanks" she smiled

"It was for Izhaan"

"He is here? And you are taking water for him!"

"Maa's order"

"By the way I must adm....."

"GABBAR" hayat shouted

"You go back to her or else she will keep shouting" I said, she nodded and left.

I took another glass of water and made my way back to dadi's room. I put my hand on the handle and was about to push the door, but izhaan's words made me stop in my track

"Being an advocate how can I tolerate anything illegal" he said

"You are absolutely right, I'm with you" maa said

"My Izhaan can never be wrong" dadi said

He poisoned their mind against me already.

Ughhhh! I hate him.

I have to defend myself. I opened the door and entered

"I swear I didn't know the race was illegal" I shouted. All three sets of eyes looked at me, two in confusion and one in amusement

"What are you saying?" Maa asked

"I can do many things, but I will never do anything illegal" I made it a point

"Of course beta we know that" dadi said and maa nodded in agreement, I sighed in relief

"See, Izhaan. They believe me. No matter what you say now" I said with attitude

"Why would we not believe you?" Maa frowned

"You have to say something?" Dadi asked Izhaan

"Go on! Tell them everything about the race" I said raising my chin up high in the air

"Race?" Dadi asked, Izhaan let out a small chuckle, I frowned

"Which race are you talking about beta?" Maa asked, I looked at Izhaan

"Bolo (say it)" he said to me, he was grinning like a fool

Jackass..

"Just now Izhaan was saying about something illegal" I said

"Oh that. He was telling us that one of his friends wanted his help in buying some land to construct a hotel, but that would be illegal because the land belongs to the government. But what were you saying? What race?" Dadi asked

Oh crap! So he didn't say anything to them. Great! I dug my own grave.

"Speak Reem" maa said

"Aaaa ummmm" I just made sounds because I couldn't find any word to say right now

"She was talking about some car racing video game" Izhaan said with a huge smirk on his face.

"A video game! You got us worried for no reason" maa smacked my forehead lightly

"Which video game is illegal?" Dadi asked

Ohho dadi! Why can't she just let go.

"I am so hungry, is anyone going to get me coffee or tea?" Izhaan spoke

"I'm sorry beta! Let's go, I will get the tea made" maa spoke and exited the room

"Tell Hayat to call Athar, why has he not returned as yet" dadi said and she also left, I turned to leave when the jackass stopped me

"Koi tameez nahi hai na tumhe, thank you tak nahi bola (you have no etiquettes, you could not even say thank you)"

"To whom?" I asked, he rolled his eyes

"Me!"

"Why would I?"

"Because I just saved you from disclosing your own secret" he looked so evil

"You did it on purpose, didn't you?"

"No, not as yet. But Reem" he took a step closer to me and stood right in front of me, "if you don't start listening to me, I will surely do things which can make your life miserable" his eyes narrowed, I raised my head up high to meet his tall height

"Dhamka rahe ho? (Are you threatening me?)" I asked, he shook his head

"Bata raha hoon, nahi mani meri to pacchtaogi (I'm telling you. You'll regret not listening to me)"

"Whatever" I was about to walk away but he held my hand to stop me

"I've seen enough of your attitude, now you will only do as I say" he ordered

"Who are you to order me?" I snapped at him

"Don't you know who I am" he asked smugly,

"Jackass" I stomped my foot and turned to leave

"Watch your mouth" he warned, without looking at him I went to the rest.

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Ayesha's pov

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I laughed out loud at the joke Hayat just cracked. We were sitting in the living area of Izhaan's house.

Turned out Reem worried for no reason. Izhaan had not said anything to dadi, she wanted to talk about something else.

I loved the ambience of the house. It was oozing out of positivity. All the family members are amazing.

"So beta! Don't you miss your parents?" Dadi asked me

"Of course I miss them. But it is because of my stupid boss I had to come here" I felt angry thinking about him

I ended up telling my whole story of how he got me here, how badly he treats me at the office, how stupid work he gives. All of them were giving me a sympathetic look

"He sounds like a douchebag"  hayat said

"Oh he is! The most disgusting person I know. Just this morning he gave me a pile of work and expected me to finish it at lunch time, can you believe it?"

"I seriously think you should report about him, this is torture" izhaan's mother said

"Report where?" Reem chuckled

Izhaan came down, he went to freshen up after he returned from his office.

All of us shifted to the dining table to have tea and snacks. I picked up the kettle to pour myself some tea

"Great! Athar Bhai is also here" Hayat said excitedly

I tilted towards Reem

"Who is Athar Bhai?" I asked

"Izhaan's twin brother"

"He has a twin?" I reconfirmed, she nodded her head. I bent the kettle above my cup.

"Assalamualaikum" a cheery and too familiar voice said, my hand froze

"Sahi time pe aaye ho beta! Chai peelo hamare saath (You have come just at the right time. Have tea with us)" aunty said

"No maa! I don't want to have tea, get coffee made for me" the voice replied

"Bhai forget tea or coffee. See who is here" hayat said, suddenly I felt my lap burning, I noticed I over poured the tea way too much

"Ouch" I yelped and got up

"Are you ok?" Almost everyone asked me

"Oh ho! Hayat, quickly take her to the bathroom, let her wash it" dadi said

"I'm fine" i said

"No come with me" hayat held my hand and turned me around, my breath hitched when I came face to face with Athar, or should I say Mr Khan.

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