FROM DARE TO LOVE (Editing)✔

CHAPTER 70

Few minutes later, I gathered all my courage and I climbed down my bed. I walk towards Adnan's room. I twisted the door knob, and find the door is locked. I bit my lower-lip. I fear what he is doing inside, I hope he doesn't harm himself. I close my eyes and take deep breath and knocked the door. There is no response, I knock harder.

'I am not hungry, Vimala' I hear him say, his voice hoarse. He is crying, I felt tears welling up in my eyes again.

'It's me, Bhai' I say

There is silence, after waiting few seconds I knocked again hoping he opens the door.

'GET OUT' he roars and I flinch. Vimala comes at the edge of the stairs and looks fearful. I bit my lower-lip to suppress my sob. A traitor tear rolls down my cheek. I quickly wiped my tear and climbed down. Vimala asks me if I will have water or something. Though I am parched I refused. I sit on the stair-case, resting my head on the wall I wait for Adnan. He will open his door and come down, I will confront him then. I fall to my knees and beg for forgiveness.

I want him to slap me more, scold me, kick me out of the house at least he will talk to me. This silent treatment, his cold behavior is unbearable.

Waiting for him I didn't realize when I slept off. After what seemed like eternity I wake up. I held my forehead, my head hurting with all the crying. I open my eyes and look around, I frown on realizing that I am in my room and on my bed. I sit up straight, I look around but I see no one. I threw the duvet off me and leaped down from my bed. I come out from my room, I see Adnan's room open. Adnan must have come out from his room while I slept off leaning against the wall at the staircase. He must have seen me and carried me to my room. I smile, even though he hates me, which I deserve, but he can't suppress his brotherly care. I am so lucky to have brother like Adnan. Perhaps, he forgave me. I didn't want to keep much expectations, but my little heart is hopeful. I literally hopped down stairs, Adnan must be in his study. Before I go meet him I wanted to know how is his mood. I go to the kitchen instead, where Vimala is making dinner.

Vimala says I had been sleeping for three hours, Adnan had carried me to the room and asked her to give me some water, tea or something once I wake up. I ask her how is his mood, she simply replies that Adnan is still mad, he isn't meeting anyone's gaze and talking in mono-syllables. She also adds that she feels really bad looking at such pathetic state of Adnan. Vimala, has been with us long enough to be considered as part of the family. I nod my head. I asked her to make tea for him and I will take it to him, I assured her I will take care of Adnan and he will be alright. Riad, is right, Adnan needs some time. Vimala quickly makes tea and I carry the tea cup. I trembled as I knocked the door to his study room.

'Come' he says softly.

I walked in, Adnan is sitting at his study table, his reading glasses on and he buried in piles and stacks of files, his laptop open to an excel sheet. I gulped and walked towards him

'Bhai' I say. Adnan freezes, I stand patiently.

Few seconds later, Adnan looks up at me, his gaze falls on the tray I held. I take a step back as he stands. I smile slightly as he picks up the tea cup, but my smile turns into a frown as he stares at it. I gasp as he throws the tea cup, it goes smashing on the floor, some of its hot content spills on his palm

'Bhai...'I held his palm but he jerks my hand and glares at me. Vimala comes hurriedly.

'Saheb!'

'Clean this mess' Adnan says angrily.

'Bhai please talk to me...I am sorry...Bhai...' I say following him out of the room, he ignores me and climbs upstairs. He goes into his room, I held his arm. He jerks his hand off mine

'I don't want to see your face! I trusted you so much...I trusted you more than I trust myself. Fifteen years...Fifteen years I had been living in guilt for not being there for you when Riad was apparently molesting you. Fifteen years I had been in guilt of befriending a guy like Riad who misbehaved with my sister...but... I was just a fool, a blind fool... (he held my arms harshly and I wince) I can't believe you...you... my own sister lied to me. And you have been lying to me since then...do you have a heart? How can you look at yourself in the mirror?' he says, spilling out all the venom he held since he found out the truth.

'Bhai I am sorry...please forgive me' I plead, he abruptly leaves my arms and pushed me, I stumble few steps back.

'I am not interested in your apology (he takes his car keys and then looks at me) you mean nothing to me now. Aleesa Siddiqui, you are dead to me' his words stabbed me like thousand cold knives. I break down crying, but this time my tears didn't melt him. He glares at me and storms out from the room with his car keys.

Minutes later, I hear his car ignition and screeching sound as his car leaves the drive way. I fell on my knees and begin to cry inconsolably.

Some more minutes passed, I sit on the floor, my eyes staring at the door from which Adnan had stormed out and my head resting against the edge of the bed.

'Didi, your phone?' Vimala says coming to me carrying my phone. I didn't pay much attention to what she was speaking, the only thing I can see was Adnan fuming with rage, his burning eyes and his venomous words that broke my heart into thousand pieces, pieces that I don't think I will be able to join again. A small voice in my head says, I deserve this. Of course, what I did was wrong but do I deserve such harsh punishment, that I wish to die?

'Riad...'

I snapped out from my trance when I hear Vimala say his name, I quickly wiped my tears and stand up.

'What happened to him?' I asked

Vimala shakes her head and repeats herself. She said that my phone was ringing a lot and seeing me lost she decided to pick up thinking it must be important. Ruchi has called me several times and there is a message from Riad. That is all she could read; her English isn't strong.

I take the phone and opened his message, it reads

"Aleesa, please meet me at parking lot at Olivia there is something important I need to discuss with you...it's about the newspaper. please meet me"

The message read. I think for a while, perhaps Riad has found about the reporter or maybe he has met Adnan and he wants to talk about it. Nevertheless, I didn't want to take chances. I asked Vimala to be at home and if Adnan comes tell him that I have gone to meet Riad. Vimala nods. I didn't bother changing, I left the house dressed in my office clothes that I had been wearing since morning.

I drive towards the restaurant, Olivia.

I reached there as fast as I could, I parked my car and leaped out. I dialed Riad's number, he picked up my call in two rings itself

'Where are you?' I ask straight away

Riad gives me his location and with quick steps I hurried to him. I see him leaning against his black Audi.

'Riad' I called him, he straightens up. Before I could ask him, he says 'Are you alright? Is Adnan fine? Why have you called me here?'

I frown. I have called him? He had messaged me and called me here, then what is he saying? I say him the same. He frowns

'I? no you called me' he says showing the message. I look at it, it is the same message as I had received. I showed him my message and he looks at it puzzled.

'If we didn't send each other these messages, then who did? Who called us here?' I say.

Before we could understand, we hear a female voice 'I did!' I and Riad we both turn our heads and look at the female figure who stands few distances away from us dressed in white shirt and black trousers

'Hanan' I and Riad say in unison.