Junoon

24| The Hidden Room

Author's POV

The chirping of sparrows and dazzling glints of sun reflected through the window turning Roohi's face into a deep scrunch as she opened her eyes. At once, she got up and unlocked her phone, but her face fell down when she saw no notifications from Nishaan.

He didn't message me?

A fear imbued in her heart and an air of melancholy shrouded the old pink flowery walls of her dark room. She kept looking at the screen thinking if she should message him.

No! Definitely no. He will find me too clingy.

Roohi's mind kept making assumptions to a horrendous extent so as to not get shocked if something unfortunate happens, simultaneously, reassuring her mind by making logical and satisfactory answers to herself.

He must be busy. He's a professor after all. But busy on a Sunday? Of course, people have chores.

Suddenly her phone rang, and she excitedly swiped on the green button not acknowledging the name.

"Hi!"

Roohi answered in a vibrant and squeaky voice as her heartbeat escalated, though her excitement immediately turned to disappointment when she heard the voice on the other side of the phone.

"Oh, you are awake! I'm glad."

"Mumma, what happened? Why have you called me?"

"Why shouldn't I? I'm your mother, I should check upon you."

"Of course." Roohi muttered with a sardonic sigh as she removed the bedsheet from her slim legs.

"Anyways, listen your papa has told me there's an envelope in our cupboard that needs to be delivered to Mr. Singh's house. Can you do that?"

"Sure." She said squinting her eyes not wanting to get up from the bed.

"Good. I'll send you the address."

Hanging up the phone, Roohi inhaled the melancholic air of her room that was euphoric for her just a night before. She pressed her eyes for a bit, looked outside from her bedroom window at the neighborhood where school kids were playing gully cricket, and the aunties were soaking their clothes in broad sunlight. Why was she observing their activities? She asked to herself, to block any wounding thoughts that might lead to another flood in her room, her sub-conscious mind replied.

She took a quick shower, brushed her teeth and dressed up in the usual t-shirt and pajamas while making a messy bun, doing everything in a quick pace so as to not torment herself more with his thoughts and left the house.

The area where Singh's resided was a posh one. The roads were spick and span with no street vendors or cars honking around. Even the air was too silent, too swanky for her. Roohi gazed at the white bungalow across from her and cross checked the address to confirm if she's at the right place. It's not like she hadn't seen such beautiful and elegant bungalows, she had, in SRK's movies!

There were security guards at the huge vintage black main gate, driven with iron fence at the top who looked at her suspiciously. Roohi hesitantly replied to their suspicious eyes reasoning her arrival. Their countenance changed to a realization, and they let her step the indoors.

Walking inside, she breathed in the fresh air of the huge garden getting bathed by the gardeners. Ascending the two stairs that lead to the door of the bungalow, she rang the bell, and a maid opened the door, requesting her to wait at the couch for Mr. Singh.

The mirror glasses at the walls kept staring at her in the silence while she waited for Mr. Singh. She checked her phone in between to see if Nishaan has messaged but there was no sign.