Diablo (Mafia Romance)

Chapter 8

 Wardah 

Life became stagnant after Mishal left for Delhi. She had made everyone habituated to her presence in our lives in such a subtle way that we had not even realized. When she left every one of us felt like we had been pulled from the cool shadow of a tree into the scorching sun. 

Though Maan Bhai was trying hard not to portray how her absence was affecting him, it was clear that he was lost. I had never seen him like this before, not even when Bakhtiyaar Baba died or when Mama got paralyzed. 

"Aminah Dee, I have decorated the living room along with Osman. Abbas is on the way with the cake," I informed Aminah who was busy in the kitchen with Daaya. 

Aminah Di and Abdullah Bhai were celebrating the birthday of their son Hamdan. She had come to India after Mishy left because Mama's health had started to deteriorate. Mama had gotten used to Mishal and now it was difficult for her to adjust to her absence. 

"I am hoping this celebration will change the atmosphere in the house. The house never felt like this before," Aminah Di sighed. 

"Mishal had filled this house with so much warmth and love and now it feels like no living beings reside in this house. If not for you and Hamdan, I don't know how Khanam (Suleiman's mother) would have gotten through this," Daaya said, wiping the tears from her eyes. 

"I am worried for Suleiman, he had never been like this," Aminah Di was looking genuinely concerned for Maan Bhai. 

Though Maan Bhai never had been the talking type, he was not like this either. I wished Mishy would have let him explain himself at least once. Ushna and I had met her before she left for Delhi but she had made us promise never to mention Maan Bhai in front of her again. 

They both were hurting from inside. Even though Mishy was trying to act all strong I knew how broken she was from inside. There was nothing any of us could do until she would allow it. 

"I don't understand what happened in Delhi, that she is not ready to listen to anything. What could have Nicholas told her, that she is hating Maan this much?" Daaya asked, looking at us both. 

Though I was not aware of the details myself, I had the notion it was something to do with Scarlett, Nicholas's wife. I had overheard Maan and Salah Bhai talking about her after Scarlett's death. 

"Mishal was perfect for Maan and our family, I had never seen him so content before," Daaya was missing Mishal, it was evident from every word of her. 

"There is nothing we could do Daaya, unless Mishal let Maan Bhai explain himself," Aminah patted her shoulder in a comforting gesture. 

"I am sure it's the evil eye, they were looking so good together at that wedding in Delhi. Mishal had sent me a selfie from their hotel room before the wedding. I even told Mishy to apply Nazar ka Teeka (a small black dot applied with kohl anywhere on the body to protect from the evil eye, there is no scientific justification for it, and is only a traditional belief in Indians), maybe she forgot," Daaya asserted. 

Science might not have any justification for the evil eye, but it was a widely believed phenomenon in many countries around the world. Everyone had been so happy before Mishy had got kidnapped and that one incident had changed the course of so many lives. 

"Aren't we cutting the cake today?" Osman called out from the living room. 

We broke our conversation and headed to the living room, which Osman and I had decorated with balloons and ribbons. Hamdan was standing beside the coffee table on which the cake was placed with a wide grin on his face.