Turning a new leaf (SS) - Complete Ch 5 Updated - Page 2

Here's the next chapter. Keep the likes and comments coming. Let me know what you think.

Thanks for the comments as it's always a pleasure reading them and happy reading.

Chapter 3

Aaliyah kept knocking on the door non-stop and every knock got louder and louder. When the door opened Aaliyah's hand was bright red and paining, she looked up and Tanu says "What's wrong with you?" Aaliyah storms past Tanu, makes herself comfortable on the sofa and starts her rant "You won't believe what happened" and she relays everything to her friend. Tanu was quiet for a very long time until she dared to ask a crazed Aaliyah "So what are you going to do now?" Aaliyah who had one of her worst days ever goes off "What do you think? I'm not going back to that house. That bhenji is gone but she's still there and making my life miserable. If I see her I am so wringing her neck. Just her thought makes my blood boil. How can she have such a hold on my brother and daadi? They are her puppets and doing exactly what she would have wanted. I always knew she left so easily, she planned to turn my family against me when she's away so the blame doesn't fall on her. Just wait and watch, I will settle scores with her."

Tanu listened to Aaliyah patiently for the last hour while she kept repeating herself over and over. Not wanting to hear anymore Tanu tells Aaliyah "You had a long day. Go and unwind and we'll talk tomorrow. I'm at a shoot in the morning but drop by late afternoon or may..." she stops as soon as she sees Aaliyah glaring at her. Aaliyah can't believe what she's hearing and barks out "I'm staying with you. I hate hotels and I can't go back home. Just think a bit, I know that's hard for you, but who would I stay with?" Tanu gets up waving her hands "No way, you can't stay here. Why me?" Aaliyah looks up and says "You're my best friend and I fought because of you." Tanu laughs out loud and a bewildered Aaliyah hears her say "You didn't pick a fight for me but for yourself. You hate Pragya, that's the reason and do you really need a reason to pick a fight. I can't imagine living with you, just being with you for a few hours is like a roller coaster ride. I totally understood why Purab ran away, why would anyone want you in their life?" Aaliyah was pained beyond words, she had already heard a lot from her family and now her friend was adding to her miserable day. Tanu continues "Besides I'm now dating that hot ad exec that you know was always after me. I kept him in the background and I'm glad I led him on; otherwise, I wouldn't have anyone after Abhi left me. Aaliyah, your bro and I are finished and I have someone who dotes on me now. Don't feel bad, just mingle around and you'll find someone... eventually. Now go check yourself in a boutique hotel and book yourself a spa day. I'm off on a date. Lock the door on your way out." Aaliyah sees her friend go and she realizes that she literally has no one by her side now and no one to call her own. She already burned her bridges with Abhi and Daadi so she can't go home.

Sitting behind her desk Aaliyah took a deep sigh. Of all places she only has this office she can call her own. She vows to herself she'll immerse herself in work and make a name for herself. She doesn't need her family, as long as she has her work to keep her busy she's all good. Not caring in the world for the time she clogs away reviewing file after file way past midnight and finally falls asleep with her head down on the desk.

Thank you!!!! I'm actually feeling sorry for Aaliya 😕!!!!

Nice update thank you that's what happns when you ruin other people's lives can't wait to read what happens next

Happy Friday.

I realize a lot of people including myself really hate Aaliyah in the show but I do hope she reforms later on. This story isn't everyone's cup of tea so thanks to the few that are reading this and here's the next chapter. The final chapter will be out early next week. Have a good weekend and happy reading.

Chapter 4

Aaliyah woke up and once again worked nonstop for hours. After a while she lost her concentration and she could hear the seconds go by on the clock, the same clock that hung on her cabin's wall from day one but she barely noticed it until now. The clock ticked away and it was loud, there was nothing Aaliyah wanted to do so time didn't matter and it could tick away as long as it wants too. Other than the clock there was pin drop silence in her spacious office, she always hated silence and preferred to have light music playing in the background while working. Any music she tried putting on now couldn't get her mind to once again concentrate on her work. She heard the faintest of sounds and for the first time she could hear her heart beating. She heard from so many people over the years that she's heartless but she does have one but why couldn't she hear it earlier? The words of Abhi, Daadi, and Tanu rang in her ears like a broken record that wouldn't stop.

She walks over and looks into her favourite mirror but her reflection is not familiar to her at all. The person looking back has a blank facial expression when earlier there would be a slight proud smile or a mischievous smirk and her eyes that always shone with determination now appear lifeless and lost. She yells at her reflection "You don't know despair and don't feel sorry for yourself." She repeats it over and over like a mantra but her reflection doesn't change and she now sees a few tear drops streaming down her cheeks. She walks to her desk, grabs her paperweight and throws it at the mirror which shatters loudly to numerous pieces. Satisfied she walks over and looks into a broken piece but the reflection is the same, she puts her hands on her cheeks and doesn't want to understand what's happening. She's always been bitter and has quite a fiery temper so what's coming over her. She throws everything she can lay her hands on and turns the entire office upside down looking more like it's been burglarized.

There's nothing left to vent and she didn't want to acknowledge this earlier but she now has to that her career was all because of Abhi. All his friends and associates would engage some business with her in order to be in Abhi's good books. They would tolerate her rudeness, pay her expensive fees, and still come back later with more business. Without her brother's influence no one would even want to do business with her. When she first opened her first few clients took their cases back and it was Abhi that kept her busy. Her turnover for staff is high because no one could work with her for more than a few months. Looking around the office she has no use here as she is really a good for nothing person. Sitting in the middle of the reception floor she cries her heart out. She remembers when Purab ran away from the wedding and her heart ached then but she never imagined that pain would be nothing compared to what she's enduring now. There's no worse feeling than feeling alone and unwanted. She thought of calling home but she couldn't think of what to say. She never was at a loss for words but today she didn't know where to begin and what to expect on the other end. She's done this to herself. Slowly exhaustion comes over and she dozes off.

There's a faint clinging of keys and Aaliyah wakes up realizing she spent the entire weekend here and it's Monday. She knows it's Divya the paralegal who is always the first to arrive and she's trying to open the front door. The door swings open and Divya drops her purse and all the files she took home. Aaliyah who knows her eyes are still red from crying throughout her slumber reliving all the bad things she's done she tells her between sobs "Go away, there is no office here." Divya takes a step foward but Aaliyah tells her barely audible to herself that "I'm all alone. Leave me and just go. I have no one." Divya darts outside and takes her cell out of her purse and begins dialling a number.

Nice update aww so sad I wonder if Divya is calling Abhi can't wait to read the next chapter

Sorry got down with the flu and here's the delayed last chapter. Thanks for reading my stories and this final one is now done.

Chapter 5

Divya is by the front door and she motions them to go inside. Abhi and Daadi come running to Aaliyah and Daadi says "My child what did you do to yourself?" and sits on the floor and hugs Aaliyah. Abhi too sits beside the two ladies and holds Aaliyah's hand "You have a home so what are you doing here? Come with us, we just wanted you to realize the importance of family. We will always be with you." A sobbing Aaliyah then embraces Abhi and he says while stroking her head "Whether you like it or not you are stuck with us. Now everyone stop crying, I don't look good with tears in my eyes. What will people say if they see their Rockstar crying bucket full of tears? Besides you ladies cried so much we now need to mop the floor." A choked up Aaliyah tells them "Thank you."

It's been a week since Aaliyah came home. She's been resting and getting pampered by her family and her office is being run by Divya in her absence. It's remarkable to see this new Aaliyah because it's really astonishing that she turned a new leaf. It wasn't easy for her with carrying a lot of guilt on her shoulders. Initially she was really quiet, would barely voice her opinion and just went along with everything. After a couple of days she started to open up.

She was slowly mingling with anyone that visited her and she was laughing and smiling again. Pragya took the week off from her college and she was staying at the Mehra mansion taking care of everything for Aaliyah, she prepared her favourite meals, got her favourite movies and magazines, and made sure she had someone with her at all times. A couple of times Pragya noticed that her presence made Aaliyah uncomfortable so she continued her daily routine but made sure to keep her distance from Aaliyah. From every good gesture that came to Aaliyah she knew Pragya was behind it but she didn't have the courage to talk to her. Pragya got Purab to visit Aaliyah and he pretended like nothing happened and just carried a conversation like he did earlier with his best buddy's sister. When he was leaving Aaliyah apologized but Purab cut her office saying "For what? It's all old news and done so no point going over it now. Take care." Aaliyah had only read and heard that good people do not hold grudges and she saw that in Purab and in Pragya. Of all the things she did these two still wished the best for her. She learned from Bunty earlier in the day that Pragya's leaving tomorrow and she is not sure how to talk to her before she leaves.

Pragya was saying her goodbyes and about to leave when she heard Aaliyah say "Bhabi (sister-in-law) you won't meet me before you go?" Pragya walks up to Aaliyah and says "I thought you wouldn't want to meet me so I was leav". Aaliyah hurriedly cuts her off and blurts out "Sorry" and bends her head down in shame and continues to say "I know that's not enough. I did so many bad things that I don't know where to begin. I thought you would separate me from my family but this week and even earlier you took care of me and didn't treat me the way I deserved. How can you be so nice to everyone even me?" Aaliyah had looked up in Pragya's eyes and her own eyes were starting to get teary. Pragya embraces Aaliyah and says "We're family now and often we may not get along but we still need to stick together. I forgive you Aaliyah as I now that this sister-in-law of mine has finally grown up."

Aww so sweet nice ending its good Aaliyah has changed