FROM DARE TO LOVE (Editing)✔

CHAPTER 7

Next day, I and Ruchi are cycling downstairs. I feel restless, I really hope the girl comes down stairs. And indeed, she does with her champu brother. I roll my eyes. Why does he stick with the girl, like a body guard? I climbed down the cycle, Ruchi opens her mouth to call me but I am already walking towards the brother-sister duo.

'Hey!' I say sticking out my hand to the young girl, this is the first time I am taking the initiative to introduce myself but I simply want to befriend her.

The girl looks at her brother, he nods and then looks at me and smiles. Esh! Why is he smiling at me? I frown at him and then turn my attention to the girl and smile at her.

'Aleesa Siddiqui' I introduced myself. Ruchi also joins us, she sticks out her hand too and introduces herself. The girl relaxes and shakes our hands

'Urooj Nawab Ali' she introduces.

'And I am Riad Nawab Ali' the boy introduces himself.

Why the hell is he introducing himself, no one is interested in him. Apparently, I was wrong, Ruchi happily shakes hands with him. He looks at me, I look back into his black eyes.

*

I am woken up from my sleep, I look around in the dark. The eyes...that dark black eyes they are the same. I shake my head; I am over-imagining. I had hardly thought about that football, and now after meeting a mysterious stranger I am reminded of him. I go to washroom and washed my face.

I groan when I noticed the water jug placed on my bedside table is empty. I pick it up and climbed down. As I walk towards the kitchen I see the lights to Adnan's room on. I walk into the room and find Adnan sleeping leaning against the chair, he has an economic book open and resting on his chest. His reading glasses still resting on his nose. I smile sadly. Carefully I removed his glasses and place it on his bedside table, and then slowly I removed the book, as I go to place the book a photo drops from it. I bend down and I picked it up turning it around.

It's a photo of us when we were kids, there is Urooj and Riad too. Riad's face is scratched out, it looks like he did it recently. Maybe few years ago. I also noticed dried tear strains over Urooj's face. Adnan is still not over her. I look at my brother sadly. I look around and find a small stool. It is heavy but I managed to lift it up and placed it in front. I made sure that I didn't disturb his sleep as I lift his leg and place on it. I removed his shoes and goes to get the duvet. I place it over him and covered him properly. He shifts in his seat but doesn't open his eyes. I switched off the night lamp and tiptoed out of the room.

*

One week later, I am over the stranger I had met in the pub. My meeting with him is now a thing of the past. One Sunday, I am woken up a call. I wonder who is calling me in a weekend, must be Ruchi and her some plans, which mostly includes going to pubs and honestly I am over going to pubs. Also, I am not interested in watching her PDA with Rishabh. My eye widens when I see my mother's name flash on the screen. I propped up on my elbow and with squinted eyes I look at the alarm clock. Its 9am, why is she calling so early.

'Hello' I say groggily. I get an overexcited voice of my mother from the other side, guessing from her voice she seems wide awake.

'Aleesa, check your mail...I have send Adnan but he refuses to check' she says. I smirk, I know very well what mail my mother must have send.

Adnan is thirty-two-year-old and my mother thinks he is very old now for marriage. I am glad they aren't insisting on my marriage. Anyway, I have fun teasing Adnan. Since last year they have started this.

'When we asked about his marriage plan he screamed at us. He has always been so calm but this time he scolded us. I guess he is worried.' My mother says

It is then I remembered about him loosing the business deal, he is tensed because of it. And that stupid Riad has also returned, as per the reports. I don't think it is a good idea to pressurize him for marriage. From last night, I am sure he is still not over Urooj, and I don't think he will ever agree to marry one else.

I nodded to my mother and ensured her that I will talk to him, which I don't intend to do.

I took a quick bath and dressed into floral knee length jumper. I tied my hair in loose pony and climbed down the stairs and find Adnan sitting at the dining table, he is massaging his forehead with Vimala standing beside him applying butter over the toasted bread. I put up a smile and walk towards him.

'Bhai' I say happily and hugged him. He doesn't hug back and I know he is tensed.

'What is Ma's problem?' he says angrily, I and Vimala flinch as he slams his fist angrily on the table. Vimala drops the bread she was holding on Adnan's plate. Adnan shoots a deadly glare at her, she gulps and quivers.

'Vimala, please get me orange juice' I say making an excuse for her to leave. She nods and hurries to the kitchen.

I place my hand over Adnan's 'Bhai, Ma is just...behaving like a typical Indian mother. Just make up some excuse.' I say softly

He sighs and moves his hand from mine 'I am tired of making excuses.' He says and stands up. I am quick to grab his arm.

'Bhai, forget all that let's have a brother sister outing.' I suggest. Adnan shakes his head and leaves. I watch him walk towards his study, he didn't even touch his food.