The Roses of Rishtay

Chapter 7: Awkward Encounters

MAHEEN KHAN'S POV:

He was right.

I used to call him that.

I can't believe he remembered that and that I had forgotten it.

I used to occasionally call him that, especially when Abbu would tell me to call him bhai and not just his first name but I would whisper 'Kaleem mera shohar hai.'

Just so Kaleem could hear me say it to him.

He would even tell both mine and his Abbu that he didn't want to be called bhai and didn't mind me calling me that.

He would use the excuse that I was still young and didn't really understand much so that's why I wouldn't call him bhai.

(Abbu- dad, Kareem mera shohar hai- kareem's my husband, bhai - brother)

Somehow, they didn't mind and let us do whatever but they would constantly say in front of others though just to keep our family's reputation intact.

I decided to just forget this conversation and hopefully avoid contact with him.

I go to my massive bed and lay down whilst staring at the ceiling until there's a knock on my door.

"I'll be down in a minute!" I shout realising that I'm probably being called down for dinner.

I get out of bed and wore my shoes and put my dupatta across my shoulders and unlock my room door.

I was confused as whoever knocked on my door was still there but as soon as I opened it, they weren't there and I assume that they had ran away.

Weird.

I go to the dining room and see our table for 8 filled with so many dishes.

Was I dreaming??

"Shehzadi the table's already laid out why don't you sit down and eat your meal. Looks like there's a spare seat next to Kaleem." My Ami sweetly tells me.

(Ami - mum)

No.

Why him??

I nonchalantly walk over to the empty chair and sit down next to him like nothing happened in between us whilst acting like I didn't care.

I did care.

He stares at me with a blank expression on his face.

"What?" I ask him quietly so no one could hear but us.

"I didn't say anything." he responds quietly with an uninterested and boring look.

I shrug it off and focus on enjoying my biryani.

It was the same one from the tiffin that I was eating at Kareem's house, I didn't get enough time to finish it so I finished it at the table.

KALEEM SHAH'S POV:

She furrows her eyebrows after hearing my response to her unnecessary question.

Cute.

We all finish up eating and head back to our respective rooms...except me.

I stand outside Mahi's door debating whether I should go talk to her or not.

After much consideration, I head back to my room and go to sleep hoping I can do something tomorrow.

THE NEXT DAY

I go downstairs after freshening up and setting my hair with some gel.

I wore a simple black kurta with simple shoes and wore my silver watch.

"Ami why did Zara api and Noor api leave the house without dropping me off at university? Who am I gonna go with now?" Maheen whines to her Ami as she doesn't want to be late again like she was yesterday or so I was told.

(Ami - mum, api - sister)

I laughed at her cute antics quietly so no one would notice.

"Have Hamza bhai and Rashid bhai left yet?" She asks impatiently.

Fortunately, the answer was yes.

"Where's the driver?" She questions curiously.

Gosh.

She was so worried about being late to university.

'Uh-if you want I can drop Mahi off at university, it's on the way to my office anyways so I might as well." I ask her Ami politely whilst praying that her answer to my question is yes.

I mean, I did tell the driver to take the week off
- I needed an excuse to speak to Mahi.

Especially after that awkward encounter we had faced.

However, she did show that she wasn't bothered by it - does she really not care?

Oh well.

I thought it was kinda cute.

Luckily, her Ami agreed and sent her off with me so she wouldn't be late to university.

We walk out of the front door and head straight towards my car.

Luckily, I had cleaned it well in advance.

It appeared to look like she was going to sit on the backseat - not a chance.

I open the passenger door at the front for her and she looks at me. I smile hoping for a thanks or a smile in return but all I receive is her instantly turning away.

That made my heart ache - she has no idea what she means to me.

However, she does take a seat in the front which made up for her unnecessary attitude but still, there was room for improvement but not to fear, I'll take care of that... eventually.

-----------------------------------------------------------
Hope you guys enjoyed this slightly smaller part, let me know your thoughts on it and don't forget to vote.

Eid Mubarak ♡

and thank you <3