CHAPTER 24

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Our flight was on time; I am glad because Adnan won't have to wait for long. I had asked him to not disturb his work but he simply asked me not to think about that and he will be coming to pick us up.

Ruchi was little disappointed because she had been hoping to have Riad too on flight with us. I am happy he wasn't, I can't bear that Hanan lady. I and Ruchi are waiting for baggage. First business class baggage will be arriving. Ruchi is feeling agitated, our, the economy class baggage, will come after theirs. And theirs is taking eternity.

My phone rings and I smile seeing Adnan's name flash on screen.

'Hello, Bhai!' I beam, my smile fades when I see Riad and Hanan standing next to the luggage belt, Riad bends down to take a pink Samsonite bag, it must be Hanan's. Ah ha! I was right. Hanan smiles gratefully at him, she is dressed in deep V neck yellow maxi dress. I am sure Riad would have a good view of her boobs peeking from her deep V-neck as she bends down dangerously low to pick up the bag.

I see Riad look at her chest for Nano-second before moving his gaze back to the bag. Men! No matter how "Shariff" they are, but this slip of gaze always happens. At least he is gentleman enough to look away and not stare. But there is one word for Hanan that I can say, Despo!

Thank fully Ruchi didn't see them, she was busy cursing the slow service. Watching them waiting for their luggage, it snaps to me. They were with us throughout the journey, except they were in business class and us in economy. And then it snaps to me again, Adan is outside the airport! Shit...

'Hello, Aleesa are you there?' I hear Adnan's voice from the phone and it is then I realized I am on call with him. I have to distract him, if he is talking with me maybe then he might miss Riad. I begin talking to him, about many things, our flight journey and how long the baggage is taking. From corner of my eyes I watched Riad and Hanan, Riad gets a call. I see Hanan take out her huge sunglasses from her hand bag, looks like a designer bag. Riad held phone in one hand and is dragging the baggage trolley with the other while Hanan is simply tagging along. I am relieved as they walk away.

*

I am fast asleep in my bed, it's not jetlag but after a long journey I am really tried.

'ALEESA!' I am startled when I hear my brother's voice thunder. I sit up straight, why is my brother screaming? I have never heard him roar so loud, even in anger. Without wasting any time, I leaped out from my bed and quickly tied my night robe and hurried down stairs.

What I see downstairs blew my mind. Adnan is standing there fuming and along with him is, Riad and Urooj.

Wait, what? Riad and Urooj in my living room. I gulped. As I climb down Adnan turns to me, his eyes red with rage. I don't know how to react; I just shiver with fear. Adnan takes hurried steps towards me and slaps me hard.

That slap didn't hurt my cheeks, in reality it hurt my heart. Tears formed in my eyes. Adnan held my arm and make me look at him.

'Riad and Urooj have said everything to me...everything that happened that night...I was such a fool to have trusted you and not them. Had Riad told me everything then, I would have never seen your face again...'

'Bhai!' I plead crying badly now

He leaves my hand and pushed me, I stumble few steps back

'I am ashamed to be calling you my sister.... you have broken my trust.... you have broken me...I never want to see your face again' he yells. I fall on my knees and break down...

'No...No...Bhai...I am sorry...I am sorry...' I chant.

'Aleesa...Aleesa...'

I hear Adnan's voice calling me, his tone soft and gentle but his voice seems to be coming from a distance, like he is miles away.

I felt his palm on my shoulder, he shakes me and I am awoken.

'Aleesa, Bacha! What happened?' I see Adnan's concerned face looking back at me. I touched my forehead, I am sweating badly. Gosh! That was a nightmare. I take deep breaths to calm myself.

'Have water' Adnan says forwarding me a glass of water. I nod and take it from his hand. I glance up at the wall clock, its 6pm, I had arrived here around 2pm. I slept off without even having lunch.

'Aleesa, you get ready and come down. Vimala is making Pakoras and tea. We will have it together.' Adnan says smiling.

My heart sinks seeing his happy yet not happy face, I know he is smiling just from outside but inside...and then Urooj's and Atif's face flashes before my eyes and tears fill my eyes. I looked away and climbed down the bed, without making any eye contact I go my cupboard. After Adnan leaves, I let tears fall from my eyes.

As the cold water drenches me, my mind goes back to the nightmare I just had. My greatest fear is what if the nightmare comes true. Riad hadn't said anything then, what if he tells now? but then for fifteen years he hasn't opened his mouth, why will he saying anything now? The thought of being exposed doesn't bother me much, what scares me is falling in Adnan's eyes? The disgust and anger in his eyes, in my nightmare, scared the heck out of me. Falling in Adnan's eyes in my biggest fear. I will die if this nightmare comes true.

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