SO FAR AWAY

Chapter Five

A girl was sitting in a restaurant in the corner waiting for someone. She was fuming in anger as it became her habit to wait for him every time. She was again and again messaging and calling him but getting no response. She also ordered coffee to keep herself safe from embarrassment as she has been waiting for almost half an hour. She was in the middle of having her coffee when a chair in front of her pulled away by a force and a man sat with a thud. She glared at him and he could see the anger in her eyes. He gave her a repentant smile. She was blazing with anger by seeing him smiling

"I'm sorry. I was stuck, you know family commitments"

"I'm going, you continue with your excuses"

"I'm sorry yaar. It's not an excuse. I have to take my parents to the hospital for a checkup"

"So what should I do? Huh?". She said squinting her eyes

"I'll make it up for you don't be as angry Rida"

"How? By purchasing some cheap flowers or anything" She whisper yelled

"But you always liked them"

"Pretend to like them" She huffed

"I'm offended, darling". He said casually to make the environment less serious

"Sidharth you always came late. Am I stupid to wait for you? Everyone was looking at me as I was looking foolish by sitting here alone and not ordering or doing anything" She gritted her teeth and glared at him. She was not taking anything for his behavior.

"Let me make it for you and take you to your favorite place" Her forehead creased at him

"I'm letting you go only this time". He grimaced and also ordered coffee for himself. Once they finished he paid the bill and headed towards the Mei Kong to have their famous hot and sour soup with fish crackers. It was one of their favorite Chinese place they had known. Most of the time they didn't need to go outside Bahria Town Islamabad as they got everything within it. This seemed like a whole separate city from other parts of Islamabad. It had everything that nobody needs to go outside this scheme. Both Sidharth and Rida were enjoying their meals. It was a cozy restaurant with dim lights and less crowded than on weekends.

"Ab mujhy maafi mil gai?" Sidharth asked when they finished their food and waited for the bill (Am I forgiven now?)

"I'll think about it" she faked a smile

"Uff you're so hard to please" His expressions dulled

After having their late lunch Sidharth dropped Rida at her place and he heads back to his house. He knew a new drama was waiting for him as he received a message from his younger brother, Shehryar. He was driving unexceptionally slow.

His parents were sitting in the TV lounge listening to the same news which he hear in the morning when he was going out. He didn't know why his father saw the news every hour like he will see some new news. Even then he had so much interest in the same news.

"Assalam Alikum" he greeted them standing at the threshold of the door

"Walikum Aslam aye sahabzady bari bat hai ap 1 dafa kehny par tashreef ley aye hai" his father greeted back tauntingly (Come sir, It is a good thing that you have visited on one call)

"Kuch kam tha baba?" (Was there any work Baba?)

"G aye ander to a jao betho". Siddharth sat on one of the single chairs. He raised his brows towards her mother to know what is the matter but she just shrugged (Yes, First Come and sit)

"Ab tak to samjh jana hi chahey tha k kis liye bulaya hai tumhy yaha" (Until now, you must know why you were called here)

"G btaye baba," He said making an innocent face (Tell me Baba)