Wooing Ms. Raizada

A Late Night Call

Adil was lying on the bed when his phone rang.

"Hello"

"Esha here"

He sprang up on the bed, "Yes mam"

"Err....Ana was not picking up. So I called you! How are you both?" she asked softly.

Softly? Wow, she does have a soft soothing voice.

"Why don't you use it more often?" he asked absentmindedly.

"Huh?"

"I'm sorry" he said biting his tongue.

"What should I use more often?" she pressed.

"Nothing. You have a soft voice. That's all" he said hurriedly.

Esha chuckled and said, "Waise, Varun told me that Ana postponed the marriage"

"Yeah, I told her not to but she is adamant!"

"Anyone at her place would do that" Esha said softly, "Did your relatives leave?"

"No, they'll leave tomorrow" he said bitterly.

Esha hummed and he asked, "What did they ask to Varun? I didn't get a chance to talk to him?"

"Well, they asked Varun whether he has a job, property, wealth and stuff.....they were more interested in the Raizadas wealth than Varun's upcoming career as police officer!"

"I'm sorry. I apologize on their behalf..."

"No no, it's fine! Serene aunty did once tell us that her family doesn't approve Varun. That doesn't matter. Ana loves Varun and her mother and brother approves. That's enough!"

"That's enough for me too" Adil said smiling, "I wanna ask you something"

She hummed and he asked, "How did your mother die?"

A silence prevailed and Adil bit his tongue. "I'm sorry if I...."

"No, no....it was a week after Yara's birth. Me, dad, mom and Yara were home. Others had gone out for some function. Yara fell ill and dad took her to hospital. Mamma was weak after delivery so she didn't accompany them. So I stayed with her."

"Then?"

"I went to get her a glass of water. When I came back I saw a man killing her"

Adil gasped and Esha said in her hoarse voice, "I was scared. I didn't know what to do. I hid behind the door and clamped my mouth shut and watched her die."

"Who was he?"

"Bua's ex husband. He was a bad man. He lusted over my mother when dad and mom got married. There is a big story behind it I think. We never talk about it anymore!"

Adil sighed and she said, "I watched her....dying....that bastard he raped her and stabbed her to death....and I couldn't do anything!"

"You were a child" he said softly.

"I could've done something! I could've hit him with a vase or dialled dad or police or did something....but I didn't! Indirectly I killed her" she cried.

He kept mum and waited for her to calm down.

She sniffled her tears and said, "You know what Adil, we both are on same boat. Both of us have a sister to look after!"

"You have a big family" he said.

"So do you! You're a part of Raizada family since the moment we accepted Ana"

He smiled and said, "Thank you Esha"

"Waise" he asked, "Was Ana not picking up the cell the only reason why you called me?"

"Yeah" she said hurriedly, "She wasn't picking up....so...where is Ana? Give the phone to her!"

A smirk formed in his lips and he said, "Ana is sleeping. And she has a loud blasting ringtone that every time it rings the whole house hears it! So there is no chance that she didn't pick up! You didn't call her right?"

"Err....yeah..."

"You called me right? You didn't call Ana....you called me...." he said like a child.

"Yeah I called you because.....work....yeah I needed to talk about Mehta deal!"

"Really? Just hours after my mother's death you called me to discuss about Mehta file? Either you're making up excuses or you're heartless Ms. Raizada!" he said lying down on his bed. He crossed his arm under his head and smirked.

"I'm heartless" Esha retorted.

"Oh I see!" Adil sang.

"I'm sleepy. Bye" she said.

"Wait....wait...."

"What?"

"Thank you Esha" he said softly.

She said nothing but cut the call.

Adil smiled and kept the phone on the bedside table. Taking a deep breath he said smiling, "She isn't that bad"

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"When are you leaving?" Adil asked his uncle as he walked into the dining room dressed in a dark blue shirt and black jeans, his sling bag over his shoulder.

"Afternoon. Where are you going dressed up like that?" uncle asked narrowing his eyes.

"Office. I want you to leave in half an hour" Adil said and sat down in the chair. "Ana" he called out.

"Coming!" Ana cried and walked to him with a plate. She sat next to him and served her brother hot poori and curry.

Uncle narrowed his eyes at Ana who was dressed in a kurti and an ID card around her neck.

"Both of you are going to work?" he asked shocked.

Ana nodded.

"Just a day after your mother's death?" he cried.

Adil nodded.

"We want to lock the house. So please leave before we leave for office" Ana said and started eating.

"Don't you have a bit of love towards your mother? She is dead and her children are back to their schedule and daily routine. Don't you feel ashamed of yourself?" his uncle screamed.

"Aren't we supposed to do this?" Adil asked raising an eyebrow "Isn't this what everyone who came to funeral said? Get back to how it was earlier! We're just doing that!"

His uncle stormed his foot and walked away.

"Leave in half hour" Adil called out.

"FINE" he screamed.

Ana chuckled and looked at her brother who was smirking.

"Aunt was gossiping this morning" Ana said and Adil looked at her. She said, "I was cooking and she came around snooping. She said that she saw you talking with someone late at night!"

Adil chuckled and Ana asked, "Who was she?"

"She?"

"Yeah!" Ana shrugged.

"How do you know that it's not a he?"

Ana raised an eyebrow and Adil said, "It was Rishi! My classmate at college. He called after hearing the news!"

"Oh....okay" Ana mumbled and sipped down water while Adil smiled and looked away.