Arshi SS: Hamesha & Forever

Chapter 3

Lucknow

7.00 am

Payal walked to her room drying her wet hair when she heard her phone ringing. With towel in one hand, she picked the call with other not even bothering to check the caller.

"Hello"

"Payal it's me!" a familiar voice said.

"Bye" she said and was about to cut when he cried, "No...please don't cut the call..."

"What do you want Akash? I told you...I'm done with you!" Payal said angrily.

"I know....it's...it's dadi!" Akash said.

"Dadi?" she frowned.

"She is ill. Very ill and she wants you here! She asked me to call you!" Akash said.

"And you think I would believe you?" she scoffed.

"Please..." Akash pleaded, "Dadi asked me to call you and I did. Bhai and Khushi ji are also coming!"

"Wait a minute...Khushi? She is coming and Arnav ji?" she asked shocked.

"Yes. I called them!"

"SO YOU HAD THEIR NUMBER FOR ALL THESE TWO YEARS AND DIDN'T BOTHER TO GIVE ME?" she screamed.

"No I called their company and...."

"Forget it" she snapped and cut the call.

Seconds later she received a text.

Please don't delete this before reading. I know we're over but we cannot tell this our family yet. Dadi is so ill and she really wants everyone near her. Please, come Payal. I've sent a flight ticket to your mail. It's in three hours. Please...for dadi. Just some days....when she recovers we'll tell her the truth that we're soon to file divorce.

Payal closed her eyes and sighed.

Nani ji's smiling face came to her mind. "She was the only one who loved me in the whole Raizada Mansion. And now she needs me!" Payal said to herself.

Sydney

1.00 pm

"Hey this is cool stuff dude!"

NK smiled at the appreciation.

"I'll make sure that this is the cover page of my magazine!" the editor of Global Geographic magazine said and NK said, "Thank you sir!"

"Collect your pay check from my assistant NK. And yeah, your work is always welcome here!" he said and NK smiled nodding.

He walked out of the office selling out the photos he had taken from Amazon rain forest at a price no one can imagine. Smiling at his victory he sat inside his car when his mobile beeped.

The contact showed Akash.

Akash!

A past acquaintance whom he always wanted to forget.

Why, after 2 years?

He opened the message and read,

NK bhai, its Akash. Please don't ignore this message. Dadi is seriously ill and she wants all of you here. Please come home.....

Home?

He scoffed.

When did that "ashantivan" become home?