𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 [𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡]

ＣＨＡＰＴＥＲ 16

After her crying session Alia had put on her brave front and walked out of the bathroom. She made herself a good cup of Masala chai and sat down in the balcony. It was the beginning of August and the weather was pleasant because of the monsoon season.

"Hey," Pujita greeted as she closed the front door. She looked tired from her day at the office. But was early too. She was not supposed to home for the next two hours.

"Hi, you're early." Alia replied.

"Yeah," her mother kept her bags on the table and sat down next to Alia with an empty cup. "Pour me some." She placed her cup next to Alia's. Alia did as told.

"I had to go to the main office today. Thought I'd come back instead of going to my office." Her mother informed.

"Oh okay,"

"Your eyes are red. Did something happen? Or is your arm paining too much?" Her mother immediately got concerned. Alia was not the one to cry. Sure she got sad over things but she got numb to crying.

"Shivani is leaving." She said.

"Oh," Pujita felt sorry for the child.

"You knew." Alia accused.

"I was told by her parents and I thought you already knew." Pujita defended. "They thanked me for taking care of her while they were out of the country but now Shivani can come since they have the opportunity of providing her good education."

"And they couldn't do that before?" Also questioned not understanding the whole dilemma.

"Exactly!" Pujita voiced. "That's awfully stupid of them. But don't say any of that to Shivani."

"Okay," Alia sighed.

"How are you holding up?" She asked her daughter.

"Fine. People come and go. Some stay. It's the way of life." Alia answered, sipping her tea. "I can't stop her that's for sure, so I can enjoy this time and let her go in the end."

Pujita chuckled. "That sounds sad."

"Tell me about it." Alia laughed a little.

"If you want to go out, I have a list of things to be bought from the supermarket." Pujita offered.

"Sure."

With that said, Alia was on her way to the supermarket in her mother's car. She had lowered the window and was driving at a pleasant speed to enjoy the wind. Parking in front of the supermarket, she went in.

Alia grabbed a cart and dragged it through the aisles. The first things were frozen snacks and then it was wheat flour along with all purpose one.

"Hey," a guy greeted her. "Alia right?"

"Yeah," she answered looking up.

"I'm Ziagham. Zaigham Sultan." He offered his hand for a shake which she took.

"Hi, you're Arman's friend." She smiled as he nodded in agreement.

"So you live around?" He asked.

"Yeah. You?" 

"Sector 12 is my grandparents residence." He informed her.

Alia was on the verge of telling him; same but she stopped. She was not giving her address away to a creep's friend.

"That's nice." She commented, not giving away her information. "Well, if you would excuse me, I have to buy some―" She flashed the list to him and tried not seem rude. She walked past him.

But Zaigham did not want that. He walked behind her and started talking.

"So you and Arman, huh?"

To anyone it would seem like he was teasing her but to Alia it was understood that he was questioning her.

"No. There's nothing between us." She denied.

"Oh," she heard him from behind as she picked up another item. "In the future?"

"I don't know about that," she admitted vaguely. She was more focused on the list.

"So you like him?" He questioned again.

What is with the questions? She thought. And why am I answering them?

"I don't think I should tell you that. We are not friends, Zaigham." She smiled in the end. Her words were supposed to be cruel but she honestly didn't care about how he felt.

"Okay," he raised his hands. "I am sorry for questioning you out of the blue," he smiled and showed her the things he had placed in the basket. "I will go and bill these. Bye."

Alia waved him and continued to shop. So much for peace.

********

Entering her own house she closed the door and placed the bags on the kitchen counter. Her mother had already laid out the food and she was probably waiting for her brother to come and as if remembering the devil he came in running. 

"Guess what!" He yelled making her and her mother jump, "we're going to a fully funded trip to Bali next week!"