TOMBOY FALLS FOR FLIRT

Ch-17- Back to Mohali

*MOHALI, INDIA*

Keya's heart started beating fast as the car entered Mohali.
In one motion, all the life in India, the good times with her mom, the shock of her mom leaving, memories with Aakash, the nightmare, his death, all came in.
She wiped a lone tear and shrugged her thoughts.
Maahi needed her, thats it.
_________________________

"That is it. Stop the car.", she instructed the driver.
The driver stopped in front of a huge house with giant gates.
She paid him and got off.
"Jee? Koun?", the security person asked.
"Papa...Jaswant Mittal. Jaswant Mittal se milna hai.", she said.
"Oho! Itna jaldi aa gyi!", a rough voice called out.
Keya looked in that direction to see her Chachu.
He signalled the security guard to send her in.
She gulped and opened the gate.
"Maahi? Where is Maahi?", she asked.
A big sturdy guy, who looked like one of the people they kept as a bouncer or bodyguard, came in and bowed to her Uncle.
"Raja, bring her.", thats all he signalled.
Raja, the bodyguard, went inside the house and came out minutes later, holding Maahi by the her shoulder.
Maahi had a few cuts and bruises on her face.
Keya rushed to her and took her in embrace.
"Di! Thank god you came.", Maahi hugged back crying.
"What have you done to her?", Keya asked angrily.
"She deserved it for what her sister did.", another voice commented.
Looking in the direction, she found her step- brother and cousins.
"Anyways, the condition was, I should be the one to come and take Maahi, so I think I may leave now. Good bye.", she said and turned around with Maahi.
Her cousin came in the way and snatched away Keya's bag and belongings.
Maahi was once again taken away by Raja and she was held by her hair by her step-brother.
"Kitna bhagogi hum sab se?!", she looked up to see, the man she despised the most, Mr. Mittal aka her dad.
"Let me go! I have nothing to do with you all, or nor do you!", she said struggling to get free of the hold she was in.
"Mistaken. You matter to us. Suna hai padhai bhi khatam ho gyi hai teri. Once you ran away, we said nothing, this time, we will get you married and till you don't pursue this marriage or agree to it properly, you will see one new cut on her body everyday.", her chachu said in a sinister manner, pointing at Maahi at the end.
"Don't harm Maahi! Jo hai humare bich hai! Please let her go!", Keya pleaded.
"No! Whenever we hurt you, nothing happens. But one scratch on your loved ones and we always manage to tame the wild, arrogant girl you are!", her dad said making her remember Aakash's condition.
She was then pushed to one room and Maahi along with her. The room was locked from outside.
"Maahi, are you fine? Sorry kiddo, I got so late and you had to face all this.", she said kissing her forehead.
"Di, let them kill me if they want to. Please don't agree to this forced marriage. Please. Leave me here and go back. You have a family there, mom is there, Vee is there, and Aarav, Sameer and Zahra are there. They must be worried...", Maahi said hurriedly, panicking a little.
"Shh...", Keya calmed her down by rubbing her shoulders and continued, "you have been there, when none of them was there. And you are telling me to run back and not fight for you? Never. Lets agree to this marriage tomorrow, I will figure out a way soon.", she said hugging Maahi and patting her head.
Keya didn't know what to do, she just knew she was doing the right thing by staying for Maahi.
_____________________________
There was a knock on the door next morning and Keya opened it.
"Naashta!", Raja said giving two plates of food to Keya.
"Jaswant Mittal se milna hai. Abhi.", she said.
________
"Aapse milna tha inko.", Raja said bringing Keya to her dad.
"I am ready for the marriage.", she said with a small nod.
"Hmm.. Bhagegi toh nahi?", her dad asked.
Before Keya could answer, "Maahi is with us. Remember that.", her step brother said.
_____________________
"Don't you think she is thinking something?", her chachu asked her dad, once they were alone.
"Yes she is. But I have a bigger bait in hand. Lets call some friends from Australia.", he smiled and continued, "she shouldn't feel alone at her wedding."