Whispers of Love

Chapter 7

Author's POV:

Asad's breath hitched as he turned around, his pulse quickening in surprise. Standing in front of him, her arms crossed and her eyes blazing with suspicion, was Ezzeh-Roshni's best friend. She had intercepted him as though she were a guard protecting a fortress.

Her voice was sharp and demanding as she asked, "Who are you?!" The sheer force of her tone made Asad flinch. His mind raced to find an answer, but the shock of the situation rendered him momentarily speechless.

Seeing no response, Ezzeh's eyebrows furrowed in irritation. "Who are you?!" she repeated, this time shouting loud enough for everyone nearby to hear. The raised volume instantly captured the attention of Roshni and Saad, who both turned toward the source of the commotion.

Roshni's gaze fell on the duo-Ezzeh, clearly agitated, and the masked man who had his back to her. Her curiosity piqued, and she began walking toward them with steady but purposeful strides. Saad, watching from the side, was left dumbfounded as Roshni passed by him without a glance, her focus entirely on the scene ahead. Not wanting to be left out, Saad quickly followed and positioned himself slightly behind her.

Roshni stopped a few steps away from Ezzeh and Asad, her tone calm but firm as she addressed them. "What's happening here?" she asked, her words slicing through the tense silence.

Ezzeh didn't hesitate to respond. Gesturing toward Asad with an accusatory finger, she explained, "This man! I just asked him to tell me who he is because he looks new here. And since he's wearing a mask, I thought he might be some thief or something. But this great man isn't even bothering to answer me!" Her frustration was evident, and she sounded fed up with the lack of cooperation.

Roshni's eyes shifted to the masked man as she processed Ezzeh's explanation. By this point, Asad's discomfort was obvious. Beads of sweat dotted his forehead, and his usually composed demeanor was crumbling under the weight of being cornered.

Without waiting for an explanation, Roshni stepped closer and reached for his mask. Her fingers worked quickly, and before Asad could react, the mask was off.

Her breath caught as she froze in disbelief. "Asad bhai?" she whispered, her voice laced with shock. For a moment, her mind refused to comprehend why her elder brother was standing in front of her, unannounced and suspiciously lurking around.

Saad, too, was stunned, his eyes widening in astonishment. The last person he had expected to see here was Asad.

"Asad bhai, aap yaha kya kar rahe hai?" Roshni asked, her tone carefully restrained as she struggled to keep her emotions in check. The events of the day had already worn her down, and this unexpected encounter only added to her frustration.

Asad hesitated before replying. "I was following you since morning because-"

Roshni, unable to hold back her frustration, interrupted him sharply. "You were following me? Why?!" Her voice rose slightly, betraying her annoyance.

Asad took a deep breath, attempting to maintain his composure. "Because I noticed your disturbed behavior this morning," he began, his voice calm yet firm. "I even asked you about it, but you didn't reveal the truth." His eyes met hers briefly before shifting to Saad, who stood silently beside her. "But now, I've got my answers."

The air grew heavier as Asad's words settled over them. Saad's face paled as he realized that Asad had pieced together something, though he wasn't entirely sure what.

Asad turned his full attention to Saad, his expression hardening with barely contained anger. "What have you done with my sister, Saad?" His words were sharp and demanding, leaving no room for ambiguity.

Saad blinked, clearly taken aback. "What did I do? I didn't do anything," he replied, his tone bewildered.

Asad took a step closer, his voice growing more serious. "Then why has my sister's behavior changed?" His tone was laced with accusation, and his piercing gaze bore into Saad, demanding an explanation.

Saad, feeling the weight of both Asad's and Roshni's eyes on him, turned to glance at Roshni. She looked equally shocked, her wide eyes silently pleading for clarity. Taking a deep breath, he responded, "I don't know if I've impacted her behavior, but I know one thing for sure-whenever I'm with her, I feel magical."

His calm but sincere words hung in the air, leaving everyone speechless. Asad's expression shifted, revealing a mixture of surprise and unease. Ezzeh, standing nearby, tried to process what she had just heard, her confusion evident in her furrowed brows.

Saad himself was unsure of what he truly felt. Though he spoke of the magic he felt in Roshni's presence, he hadn't yet delved deep enough into his emotions to understand the full extent of his feelings. Roshni, on the other hand, felt a flicker of something profound-a small but undeniable connection she couldn't yet articulate.

Before the silence could grow any heavier, Saad's phone buzzed. He quickly checked the caller ID and excused himself to take the call. Asad, unable to let things go, followed him as he walked away.

Ezzeh approached Roshni as the men departed, placing her hands gently on her friend's shoulders. Her voice was soft but curious as she asked, "Roshni, what do you feel about him?"

Roshni's composure faltered, and her voice wavered as she replied, "I don't know, Ezzeh, but I feel a small instant connection with him." Tears pricked her eyes, threatening to spill over, but before they could, Ezzeh enveloped her in a warm, comforting hug.

Roshni found solace in Ezzeh's embrace, letting herself feel the emotions she had been holding back. When they finally broke apart, they noticed the awkward stares from people around them. Roshni, now composed, returned to her desk, while Ezzeh resumed her work.

Despite her attempts to focus, Roshni's mind remained clouded. Thoughts of Saad lingered, and the emotions she couldn't yet name weighed heavily on her. In an attempt to find clarity, she opened her diary and began writing, pouring her feelings onto the pages as she tried to make sense of her heart.

Meanwhile, Saad sat in his car, finishing the call. Asad, seated beside him, remained silent, his gaze fixed on Saad. When the call ended, Saad turned to face him, breaking the tension with a question. "What happened? Why are you here?"

Asad didn't mince words. "Do you have feelings for Roshni?" he asked bluntly.

Saad was taken aback, unsure of how to respond. After a moment, he admitted, "I have, but I don't know what exactly I feel for her." His gaze drifted toward her shop as he spoke.

Without saying anything further, Asad opened the car door and left, leaving Saad to wrestle with his thoughts. Saad soon drove off to his office, his mind preoccupied.

Later that evening, Roshni returned home. She avoided conversation and went straight to her room after freshening up. At dinner, she and Asad sat together in silence, neither willing to break the awkward quiet.

Once alone in her room, Roshni paced restlessly before finally collapsing onto her bed. Silent tears escaped her eyes, soaking into her pillow as she succumbed to her emotions. Eventually, exhaustion pulled her into a fitful sleep.

In contrast, Saad lay awake, unable to find peace. He busied himself with work until late into the night, but even then, his thoughts kept circling back to Roshni. It was only after hours of pondering that he finally drifted into a restless slumber.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello everyone!

Please vote and comment.

I would love to read your comments

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------