Malaal- Chapter 22

CHAPTER 22

“Gaayu, get me my juice.”, Rashi said as she walked into the hall, rubbing her eyes. Her hair was messed up and whatever it maybe, she was looking cute as hell to Jigar.

She passed the dining table with closed eyes and sat on the couch. She noticed something.

“Gaayu, what’s this smell of Gujarati food?”, she asked.

“Rashi Di, it’s actually for them.”, Gaayu replied as she pointed to the dining table. The Modi Family looked at Rashi.

“Oh, I forgot that they were here.”, Rashi said casually.

“Rashi, come join us.”, Kokila said with a semi authoritative voice.

Rashi laughed sarcastically. “Why not? I’d rather die hungry.”, she said and laughed a bit more. She turned her head away.

“Where’s Ishan by the way? He wasn’t in the room when I woke up.”, Rashi asked Gaayu.

“Here I am!”, Ishan said as he entered the hall with a present. He was wearing a black track suit.

He picked up the first aid box and sat opposite to Rashi.

“First this, then the present from Harshad Sir.”, he said and winked.

The whole Modi Family’s eyes were stuck on the duo. Rashi knew that too.

“No yaar, not now!”, she whined.

“Ssh. Keep quiet okay.”, Ishan said as he put some cream on the wound on Rashi’s cheek. 

Jigar squeezed the spoon in his hand. He felt like kicking Ishan in the face. 

“Yes Mr Modi, there’s a lot of punishment in store for you.”, Rashi thought as she saw the jealousy in his face.

“Acha, what did Harshad send?”, Rashi asked as she looked at the present and held it with her non plastered right hand.

“Might be something romantic obviously.”, Ishan said deliberately. Jigar choked on his food. It was getting difficult to see all this. Kokila noticed Jigar’s uneasiness but kept quiet.

“Rashi! It would be better if you do these things somewhere else.”, Kinjal blurted out.

Rashi looked at her for a moment. Then she smiled. “You are also here? Sorry I just noticed you. And ya, I can do whatever I want, don’t dare talk to me like that okay?”, Rashi replied with a deadly poise.

“Rashi-“, Kinjal was about to shout.

“I said don’t you dare. Didn’t get that in your head yet?”, Rashi cut her off, her patience getting lower by the second.

“It’s not just your house Rashi bhabhi, you forgot it.”, Kinjal replied with a smirk.

The ‘bhabhi’ triggered Rashi big time. “Yeah I know, such rich people forcefully lodging in my home, and by the way, I am not your bhabhi. It’s been two years Kinjal, concentrate on facts if you get free time from your boyfriend and all.”

Kinjal suddenly got silent and Rashi laid back.

“Rashi! How dare you say that about my daughter!”, Kokila burst suddenly and stood up from her chair. Rashi got up in a flash and limped to her. She leaned a bit to the table.

“If I can have money thrown on my face, I can say anything too.”, Rashi said with pure hatred and hurt.

Jigar paused. He looked at Rashi with tears in his eyes.

“Ra-“, he was about to say when Rashi raised her hand, without looking at him.

“I didn’t talk to you Mr Modi. So don’t bother.”, she said and turned away, walking to Ishan. Jigar didn’t even blink.

“Enough drama in the morning itself. Let’s go out somewhere.”, she told Ishan.

“Yeah, but where?”, Ishan asked.

“To Harshad’s place probably?”, Rashi said slyly and Ishan understood.

“Yes, he’d love you being there.”, Ishan replied with a smile.

“I’ll go get changed quickly.”, Rashi said excitedly and went back to her room.

Ishan walked to the table and sat opposite to Jigar. “Gaayu, get me some stuff too.”, he said happily.

“Such a nice morning no?”, Ishan taunted the Modis.

“Keep quiet or else-“, Jigar said, already pissed off by Ishan’s closeness with Rashi.

“Or else what? You’ll throw money in my face too?”, Ishan asked and laughed so much, he almost choked on his food.

Jigar’s face turned red and he looked down. Ishan stopped laughing and made a serious face.

“Not caring for her then was a big mistake Mr Modi. Caring for her now would be bigger. She doesn’t love you, so drop this drama for god’s sake.”, Ishan said as he stood up and left.

“Rashi I’ll be waiting outside!”, he shouted to Rashi’s room.

Rashi walked outside wearing a white tee shirt that stuck to her body like a second skin. Paired with it was skin tight black jeans, open hair with no makeup. She was looking heavenly. She passed through the hall and controlled her urge to look at Jigar; she knew that he would be staring at her from behind.

“I’ll be late Gaayu!”, she said and left.

“It has come to this. The househelp is more like a family to her than us.”, Hetal said and everyone nodded sadly.

“All because of me.”, Jigar said and went away.

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