𝑬𝒏𝒕𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝑫𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒚

43.

The rows of cars were aligned for the pickup outside the Lucknow airport. Sofia thought they had to wait for their time to come but when Arsalan's hand rested on the small of her back and directed her to the other way she saw the two black badge Rolls Royce Ghosts waiting at the VIP car pickup with two of the chauffeurs waiting for them. As soon as they recognise Arsalan and Malakeh they greeted them with huge welcome smiles on their face Arsalan curt nodded towards them as he whispered to Sofia to hop in the car after introducing her to the family chauffeurs to whom she returned the smile and headed in with Asmara by her side.

"Excited?" Asmara asked once she was off her phone.

"Kind of maybe nervous," Sofia said with a shaky chuckle.

"Don't be I know it is your first time but I am sure you gonna love it so much that you won't even feel like you are away from Mumbai"

Sofia laughed "hoping to lose myself while I am here"

"I will make sure of that. I have so much on my mind I hope we will be able to do that much fun in the short time while we are here" Asmara sighs "but we will have all the fun anyhow" she winked at Sofia who chuckled while nodding her head amused by her determination.

Arsalan entered the car once he was done helping the chauffeur load their luggage and settling Zaid's family in the other vehicle while Malakeh joined her sister he came to the car his wife was in. Sofia was new here and he wanted her to be within his eye range so that he doesn't get mad with worry.

"Bhai?"

"Hmm?"

"Sofia bhabhi will be with us all the time so don't get pissed when she isn't with you. You will have her at some nights so you gotta be satisfied by that time of the period"

"Some nights? Satisfied? Are you kidding me or are you trying to pick a fight with me?" Arsalan turned in his seat to look over at her sister who shrugged her shoulders at his bewildered expression.

"What can we do your wife rolls on demand"

Arsalan looks at Sofia who gives him a sorry smile and he groans seeing she had already agreed to Asmara's plan whatever that was. They have recently started enjoying each other's company and a little break scares Arsalan would drift them apart the thought itself prickles his heart a little.

"What's with the sad face?" Asmara asked, "God, you look so obsessed with your wife" she laughs "don't tell me you can't stay a night without her" she teased her brother with a taunting smile.

"Don't forget I won't let you go this easily sweet little sister you know I am good at revenge"

"He definitely is pissed now" Asmara turned to Sofia "you married to a little crybaby bhabhi may God help you with his tantrum"

Sofia wanted to laugh at their banter which kept on going the whole ride they somehow helped to whoosh away her nervousness about her visiting the Abidi Manor making her the hot topic of their bickering until her eyes landed on the big marble stone engraved with 'Abidi Manor' and her heart picked up the beats.

The strong black iron gates open up once the chauffeur confirms his identity and rolls the car onto the long stretched road with both the side of the land covered with tall lush trees as the car speeds by the greens of the tree blur into the air and her curious eye were glued out at the concrete road not wanting them to end while playing with her wedding ring nervously and that's when she sees the trees diminishing little by little and cottage like homes started to appear on the green landscape. She frowned, confused as to why there would be cottages that looked too vintage occupying both sides of the land. Were they for the guest? Was this Abidi Manor? It can't be as much as the description laid out by Asmara the manor sounded huge and not in cottages.