Recap
"He's my brother" Jodha muttered while the two others were looking at her, surprised and shocked at the same time. "That's so cool" Eddie exclaimed while Kat was still shocked. And jodha knew that it was understandable but she can't just waste her time now. "Let's go, I will explain you" Jodha requested Kat and she started driving. It was now surprising for Jodha that Kat didn't asked anything. "See! I know you are mad at me! But you know...Come on!" Jodha muttered at Kat, she was genuinely feeling bad about her. Kat told everything about her but she didn't."There will be more celebrities in the trip with us?" Kat exclaimed to which Jodha mentally slapped herself. Now how can she tell her that there will be Jalal and others. She have to think about something. She was so much confused now. Firstly Jalal isn't picking up her phone and secondly, this new problem.
Chapter 25.
Finally, Jodha reached her brother's place. Eddie was holding her hand, and by the look on his face, she knew that he was excited. But, she was terrified at the thought of answering so many questions. "Jodha! This place is so cool!" She looked at him, smiling at his excitement.
After a few seconds, Kat joined them. "Let's go." Before Jodha could react anything, Kat pressed the doorbell. They waited there for a moment and finally a servant opened the door. And the next second Kat and Eddie were inside the mansion. "This way!" Jodha muttered, walking her way to the living room. "Where were you?" Her brother asked, but again Eddie spoke before her. "Hello, I am Eddie. She's my sister, Kat. And Jodha was with us." Jodha looked at the 7 year old, who really behaved like a gentleman. "Oh my god! You look like our boss." Jodha heard Kat saying that. She turned her head, and there was her mate, expressionless. "Oh my god! What's happening?" Kat muttered, looking at everyone. Jodha sighed. Okay! So everyone's here.
From Jalal to Rishika, even Natasha was there. And everyone was having their eyes on her. "Jodha! You should have informed us." Veer spoke and at that time Eddie and Kat was confused. "But sir, why she should have informed you? I mean, her brother should ask this question." Now, Jodha was hell confused, or say terrified. She never knew, that this could get so much complicated. "I think we should talk about this after sometime. Go, to your room." She looked at her brother and then at Jalal. He looked tensed and maybe a little bit angry. She regretted her decision of adding Kat and Eddie to the trip. But she called him, he wasn't picking it up.
"And what about...us?" Eddie spoke, Jodha mentally slapped herself. This kid can't control his mouth. "Come with me, kiddo!" Piya took Kat and Eddie to guest-room. Phew! Jodha sighed and was all ready to walk to her room, not wanting to answer anything.
"Stop there!" She closed her eyes, hard. No, she was not in a mood to answer. She, herself was so confused. "Actually! The situation was like Veer told me that he will pick me up but Kat told me that he went. And I was like how I will go home? Then Kat took me to her house. And there I realised I wasn't having my mobile. So, I didn't know what to do. I tried to call Jalal but he wasn't picking up my phone. And I was like what should I do, now? And then, I realised I had to inform you to join us for the trip. So, then I came here with Eddie and Kat. I don't know if you got what I said. But this is what actually happened." Jodha gasped after saying such a long sentence. She looked at him, who just shook his head. "I knew this. It's all your fault!" Jodha looked at her brother, who was now blaming Jalal. "What I done?" He was as shocked as Jodha, but her brother was no-where to back off. "You should have picked up her call." She looked at her brother and then at Jalal, who didn't look angry but irritated and frustrated, for sure. "But sir, he was so tensed looking for Jodha." Veer interrupted this time, standing by his friend's side."That's what I am saying. He just needed to receive the call but no, he was too busy to pick up my sister's call." Jodha sighed at her brother while Natasha who was a silent spectator, somewhat understood why Jalal was unhappy about her brother joining them to the trip.
She had never seen him so tensed, the way he got worried when Jodha wasn't picking up her phone and in that frustration, he just left his mobile somewhere and went to office, hoping that she was there. But, except her he found her phone there. He looked scared, maybe cause of the thought that she wasn't safe. He had told Natasha about the attack and the thing that cops had estimated that her life is in danger. And by this information, Natasha knew that it was quite reasonable that he was so nervous about her.
"Bhaiya--" Jodha tried to stop her brother from saying further, but as accepted she failed in doing so. "Princess, I was so tensed, I told you that there was no need to hurry into this marriage." She looked at her brother, a little taken back by his statement. "Why we are talking about marriage, I mean it's not even related." Jodha was not getting why her brother was bringing the 'marriage' stuff, again. She knew he wasn't excited about her marrying this fast, and that too with Jalal but still, she don't regret that decision of hers.
"Of-course it is related. If you weren't married to him, then this wouldn't have happened. Just two days after your wedding, I hear that my sister is missing." Just after her brother finished his sentence, she looked at Piya for her help. "She was not missing, come on! she just went to her friend's place." Jodha thanked her stars for such an awesome sister-in-law. Before his brother could continue, Jodha followed her consort who just left the place, maybe because he had enough by her brother.
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"Hey" She muttered as soon as she spotted him doing something with his phone, sitting on her bed. She knew that he was just ignoring her, what was he so angry at? If anyone had the right to be angry, it was she. Suddenly realising that he should be the one to apologise first, she cast him a glare and stood at the window.
He looked at her, surprised at her sudden behaviour. Wasn't she there to talk to him. Trying his best to ignore her, he shifted such that his back was facing her. He couldn't blame her, she was trying to call him but her brother just pissed him off. He came to her brother's place just because he thought that she would be here to inform him about the trip. But, because she wasn't here, her brother was just blaming him for the situation. From the time he entered this mansion, he was just hearing her brother's taunts.
His defences went up, he was the one who should be angry, and he was. Why shouldn't he be? He's the one who was tensed for her, searching at every possible place and most importantly, dealing with her 'extra irritating' brother.
The air inside the room grew thick with tension in the ensuing silence. She sighed in frustration, she turned from the window and walked to the door. As he watched her go, he groaned in irritation, why can't she just apologise. Stay, he ordered himself. Don't follow her. But even as he thought it, his body was in motion.
Jodha walked to the terrace, the night was warm and clear. She heard Jalal's footsteps come up behind her, and she tensed. A part of her wished to explain him and just apologise. But she wasn't the only one who was guilty. If he was so worried for her, then why he didn't just picked up her call. But instead, she turned to him suddenly to say something...anything...only to freeze with her mouth open.
It was the way the moonlight stuck his face that rendered speechless and caused the muscles in her body to go rigid. Those hazel eyes of his that hedged somewhere between light brown and a little green were fixed anxiously on her. "Why are you so stubborn?" Those five words just ruined the moment. Were those words really necessary at that time. Jodha's moment of appreciating his features left her feeling angry and confused, but most of all foolish. "I ask you the same!" With that, she took a step back, resulting in more distance between them. But his hand clamped down on her shoulder. With fingers flexing against her flesh, he pulled her back at the same spot she was standing before. "What's your problem?" He asked, she glared at him and then pointed her finger at him. "It's you." She stopped for his reaction. His brows furrowed in confusion.
"I told you everything, right? I forgot my phone but still I tried to call you. But no, you weren't picking it up. And now, I should be the one to be angry, not you." She poked her finger against his chest.
Surprise flashed through his eyes, his mouth twisted as he wanted to deny it but couldn't. "I was so tensed that I left it in my room. But wait, your brother was just blaming me like I kidnapped you. He's the maddest person I have ever met." Gosh, he was feeling nice. After saying this, he realized that the reason behind his frustration was not her anger but her brother.
"You called my brother mad?" He looked at her, she surely didn't like the fact that he called him that. Her hands were placed against her hips, indicating that her irritation reached the next level. "Of-course he is, I mean he told me that he will file a case against me and even threatened me that he have connections with underworld. He can't accept the fact that now you are my missus." Covering her mouth with her hand, she got her lips together so the laughter bubbling up inside her wouldn't escape.
In the space of a few seconds, Jalal's expressions went from startled, to offended and finally to really annoyed. That was not funny for him, her brother really warned him. His gaze met her's, he narrowed his eyes, as though daring her not to laugh.
But she did, she couldn't help it. Peals and peals of laughter, even though she tried hard not to. He turned his head, annoyed by her laughter. But deep inside his heart, he was satisfied that finally she was with him, all fine. He only know how vulnerable he felt that time. But now, he won't risk, he had to contact the commissioner, he need to find the person whose behind his wife. After this trip, he won't sit quietly.
"Okay, I am sorry." Her voice grabbed his attention, he actually wasn't expecting it. She really meant that which threw him.
"No, it was my fault."
"No, it was mine."
"Yea..that's true, but still--" He looked for her reaction, from shock to really annoyed one."Okay! So now you are blaming me, you should also apologise." He sure liked her, the thing that she was truly unpredictable, just a second ago, she was all fine but again her mood changed. "I was just kidding, I am sorry." He muttered. He wasn't sure why he was the one apologizing but it felt necessary. Giving him a long, level look - "Apology accepted." She grinned at him. "Let's forget it." She said, like nothing serious happened.
"You are crazy." He muttered, his hand circled her wrist. "Only about you." She chuckled, slipping her wrist from his hand, turning to clasp it with his. "That was cheesy." He replied, chuckling softly. "Nu-uh. This is cheesy." She said, raising their joined hands and kissed the back of his hand. He heard her laughing at her own joke, to which he smiled in return.
"But wait, what about Kat and the young boy?" She wasn't expecting this question that time. He stared at her for answer, but instead she just smiled sweetly. "It won't work." Her brow furrowed in slight irritation, he knew a way too much about her. "Okay! They are joining us for the trip." After saying this, she looked at him for his reaction. And as expected, he looked irritated by the news.
"Say it again."
"I said they are --"
"You don't really need to repeat." Jodha turned her head in irritation, what he wants."You only asked it." She replied, not liking the tone he used. "Have you ever heard a word called -sarcasm." He mocked in irritation. Whenever he thinks that everything's going well, his wife brings something to spoil his temper. "Were you being sarcastic when you said that? If yes, then you are going to regret it for a long time." Jodha snapped back. Why he was making it so big, she just invited two people. Yes, they sometimes are hard to handle but still, he's her mate.
"Why you actually invited them?" He asked, trying not to fight with her. "You said that I can call anyone I want. And they helped me, so I just...you know!" She muttered, not knowing what to say.
"That is so irrational."
"Are you calling me irrational? Because I will tear your head off dirty dog. I will tear it off and I'll throw it over that railing."
"What..?" Jalal looked at her, surprised and shocked at the same time. Looking at her, she also had same expressions as him. "I really said that?" Shocked by her words, she looked at him and the look on his face confirmed her doubt. "I think that was just an outburst." She muttered. "It scared the hell out of me." She looked at him, taking his words seriously. But seeing his smile, she frowned at him. "Stop teasing me." She pushed him lightly.
"Tear my head..woah girl, I am your spouse." Jodha's eyes lowered and her cheeks flushed in embarrassment. "Come on!" She said, softly. "I liked that, don't worry." She heard him say that. She looked at him, holding his hand a little more firmly. "You are amazing." He looked at her, brushing his fingertips lightly over her cheeks. "Maybe." He muttered, as he drew her nearer to his face. Knowing what is coming next, she closed her eyes.
"Hey Jodha--" Her eyes snapped open by this new voice. And there was the seven year old with his brows raised. "What you are doing here?" His eyes met Jalal's, both were staring at each other, in not a good way. "I ask you the same." Jodha smacked his hand lightly. "Shut up." She shushed Jalal and walked towards Eddie. "Your brother is calling you for dinner." The little guy told her while his eyes were still on Jalal."And if you want, you can join us." He spoke coldly to Jalal and took Jodha with him, holding her hand.
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"Oh my god! Sir is here." Kat spoke in enthusiasm. Jodha looked at her husband who finally came for dinner. Jalal looked at his wife, she was sitting between Eddie and her brother. Rolling his eyes, he grabbed a seat beside the seven year old. "Oh my god! Veer sir." Everyone turned their heads at Kat, who was looking really excited. "What?" Jodha chuckled at veer's expressions. "Veer came." Kat pointed at the puppy who made his way towards Veer, who growled at the little pup. "That's so cool, it's name is after you, sir." Everyone chuckled looking at Veer. "I hate you for naming it after me." Jodha frowned hearing that and started arguing with him. Jalal looked at his wife and then at his friend, nothing new.
"You like her, right?" Jalal looked at the kid beside him, who was signalling at Jodha. "Why you are so interested in knowing that?" Casting a glare at the boy, he motioned him to eat his food. "Because she's my sister's friend." The little guy glared back at him with the same intensity. "Shut up." Jalal muttered as he saw Kat staring at him and then at her brother.
"Why aren't you eating, Eddie?" The seven year old, looked at his sister and then at his plate.
"Maybe cause of the guy next to him." Jodha rolled her eyes, why can't her 'elder' brother eat quietly. Jalal looked at Eddie who was smirking at him because of his wife's brother.
The rest of the dinner went like this. Kat blabbering by herself, Jodha and Veer arguing on silly things. While her brother wasn't missing any chance to irritate Jalal, who was having a 'glaring' match with Eddie. And of-course, Natasha and Rishika were busy chatting up. While the little pup was playing with Piya. After few minutes, everyone went to their room preparing themselves for the upcoming trip.
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Jalal rolled his eyes for the umpteenth time, cursing his luck. He closed his eyes, harder as Kat screamed in excitement for the second time. He was really having a tough time in this car. And adding to this, Jodha was in the other vehicle but her brother was beside him, commenting non-sense on everything but specially on him. But it doesn't stop here, Eddie was also with him, bugging him with the same question - Do you like Jodha?
"We are here!" His eyes snapped open as soon as he heard Kat's shriek. Not wasting any second, he stepped out of the car and took a deep breath. After nearly five minutes, he spotted Veer's car. Watching his sister winking at him, his irritation increased. How can he forgot that she took his wife away from him, last night for a girl's night out.
"Hey Jodha!" His eyes turned to the little guy who ran to his mate. Her eyes met him but he just deviated his eyes off her. "The ride without you was way too boring." Jalal narrowed his eyes at the little guy. Before Jodha could react to Eddie's comment, a woman in her early 60's came. She was dressed really fancy with heels and her huge sun-glasses. "Oh! You all are finally here." Eddie giggled at the way the old lady spoke. "Mom! Can't you be like normal mothers." Veer growled at her mother, but then hugged her."Mom?" Jodha looked at Kat who was looking confused but after a second, her eyes sparkled. "I bet she's Veer sir's mother." Jodha and Eddie rolled their eyes at Kat.
"Oh my god! I am seeing you after 6 months." His mother kissed his cheek, that was a proper 'mother-son' moment. "And you are looking old." Veer rolled his eyes at his mother. "Oh my god! Jalal and Natasha, you too, come here..sweeties." Jodha didn't like the fact that Natasha was with him but his face looked really adorable when Veer's mother ruffled his hair. "You both are still in a relationship? Or you both got married?" Now that was something which was really unbearable for Jodha. But before her, Veer shushed his mother. Maybe she was still unaware of their relation. After meeting everyone, his mother stopped at Kat. "Do you hate your mother." Everyone looked at the old lady while Kat was confused by this question. "No, I love her a lot." Kat seemed offended by the lady's comment. And the reaction was much expected, anyone would be aggrieved by that question. "So, do you have any psychological problem?" Veer's mother was not stopping and her strange questions were confusing everyone, there. "What's that supposed to mean?" Placing her hand against her hip, Kat was ready for an argument. "So, why on earth you have coloured your hair red? A normal person can never do this.?" The conversation was getting a little bit vigorous. "Mom, not everyone hate that colour. And despite that, she looks cute in those coloured curls." Veer, came to handle his mother."Why are you taking her side? Wait...you have a thing for her?" That statement forced everyone to look at Veer, who was himself shocked. But before he could react, the 7 year old interrupted - "No, my sister is engaged." Now that was something which was a surprise for everyone but specially for Jodha. This piece of information shocked her, but in a positive way. She noticed Kat's engagement ring and the fact that her cheeks turned into the same colour as her hair, red.
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Jodha was having a great time, there. Veer's mother was way too funny, but sweet too. Everyone was busy, enjoying themselves. She was with her sister-in-law, reading some random fashion magazine. She looked at Kat who was talking to Natasha. After knowing that she was engaged, everyone was curious to know about her fianc but she was too shy to speak, and no one forced her. She needs sometime and Jodha understood that she's not too frank talking about her love life.
"I am just coming." She nodded to her sister-in-law who got a call, maybe from her brother. He was out for some work. She looked at Veer who was arguing with his mother. A smile spread on her lips, they both were too cute. Looking around, her eyes spotted her husband who was sitting with Natasha, talking to Kat. She stared at them for a moment, then curiosity got the better of her and she walked towards them. "Hey Jo, come here. a very interesting chat is going on." She smiled at Kat and sat beside her. "We will talk about this later" Jodha frowned hearing that, Natasha was trying to avoid the subject. "Let's talk about it." She forced a little and then looked at Jalal, who was having an 'unsure' expression on his face. "I was just asking them about their relationship. I mean wasn't it awkward to be friends again."
Again, Jodha felt the same feeling inside her - Jealousy. It is one of those devils that just take everything over when it is felt. She knew that her jealousy doesn't make any sense anyhow, but there's nothing she can do to help that. "No, it wasn't awkward. She's a great friend, you know the one who is always there for you when you needs them the most." Jodha looked at him, he had genuine expressions when he was saying. Their friendship was confusing her, if they were so happy together then why they broke-up. There's always a reason behind everything. Natasha always supported him, and by her nature, she seems a nice person with a good heart. But the mixed conceptions in her heart regarding Natasha wasn't helping to trust her. "Why you both broke up?" Jodha looked at Kat, she asked the same question which was pricking her.
"It's all about priorities. At that time our first priority was our career. You know a time came where we both knew that finally we couldn't be together any-more, I just knew in my heart that I would still honour that relationship. And everything happens for good. I mean god is busy writing a fairy tale for me." Natasha ended up her sentence in a funny way, maybe trying to change the topic or stuff. While Jodha was now much relieved, somewhere she was afraid that Natasha still wanted to be with Jalal. But by her confession, her fear somewhat vanished. She was relieved but guilty also. She never wanted to be jealous, but the fear to lose him just make the situation worse. This aversion of loss is quite natural in nature. Like, even people that feel no jealousy also have times when they fear losing something precious, which is special to them. Maybe it's part of human experience.
"Oh please! Shut up." Rishika's voice grabbed everyone's attention. Jodha turned around, Rishika and Veer were having a verbal fight. Nothing new!
"Look Jalal, your sister is saying that women are more romantic than men." Jodha chuckled hearing that, they always fight over the most stupid-est things. "So, boys are more romantic?" Natasha raised her brows, like challenging him. "Of-course, you know when we get married we marry like one girl cause we will resist it, the whole way. Right pal?" Jalal rolled his eyes at Veer, he knew that it was for him. "Obviously! Till we meet that one girl and we think 'I'd be an idiot if I didn't marry this girl. She's so great.'." Jodha looked at Jalal when he spoke this, sometime he really surprises her, he really do.
"I agree. But you know, I feel girls get to a place where they decide and pick...pick the best one or something like that. You know, like my first crush who got married and she was like 'he's got a good job'. I mean they just waste their whole life like dreaming for some prince charming and then they...they just marry that guy who got a good job and who's like always sticking around..I mean it's just ridiculous." Everyone stayed quite for a moment and then again they started fighting. But whatever he said, kinda made sense. "Who knew that he actually have this much of sense." It was Natasha who said that. After a quite good minutes of talking, everyone moved to dining table.
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Everything was going well for Jodha until the dinner. The day went well with just exploring the farm-house and walking peacefully in the garden. But the thing she missed was his presence around her. The thing that Veer's mother was still unknown of their relationship created much problem and her brother was not ready to clear the confusion. So, the result of all this drama was that they got separate rooms. And the worse thing was that her room-mate was none other than Kat.
It was mid-night but Kat and Eddie were just arguing over something stupid. Jodha sighed looking at them, she thought that this trip would be fun but no, she was wrong. "I am going out." She muttered but the siblings ignored her as they were busy in arguing.
Alone in the upstairs wing of the farm-house, walking very slowly in a dark hallway and thinking to herself - 'The next time I do this, I should definitely remember to bring a flash-light.'
As she walked down the dark hallways, she searched for some peaceful place. As she continued her rounds, she tried to remain calm by thinking about funny television shows or movies she had recently seen, but all she could usually recall was every ghost story she had ever seen or heard. She reminded herself that ghosts aren't real and that the shadows she saw on the walls couldn't be the silhouettes of any ghostly apparitions. Ghosts and devils weren't leaving her mind. She increased her pace, trying to prevent her mind to think anything scary. Suddenly, someone grabbed her arm. A sudden shock of fear overtook her body, ghosts are real?
She let out one of the most horrifying scream, but the other second she calmed down listening the familiar voice. "Shush! What happened?" Taking a deep breath, she looked at him. "Are you mad? You scared the hell out of me. Ergh! Dirty dog.." She released all her frustration on him, calling him all sorts of dirty names. It was her only defence against him for scaring her half to death.
Jalal could see that she was still shaken up from it all so he went over to put his arms around her for comfort. "What are you doing here?" She asked, after a few seconds. "I should ask you this." Chuckling, she looked at him. "Maybe..searching for you." Her pretence of seriousness faded under a saucy grin. "Yeah..sure." He brushed aside an errant curl that had tangled in her lashes, grinning. "Sure?" The warmth in her eyes had turned into a naughty glint. "What's there in your mind?" He looked around, making sure that no one was near. "Afraid?" She looked at him, he didn't answer but pulled her to him and crushed his mouth upon hers, kissing her, taking all of his longing and frustration, telling how much he missed her with that kiss. One would have thought she would be fighting him off, but she didn't. She wrapped her arms around him, giving as good as she got but...again.
There was a sound of something falling which forced them to break the kiss and to look for the sound. "That was not cool." Jodha's eyes grew wide when she heard Eddie's voice, who looked quite shocked. The trio stood there looking at each other, trying to understand the situation. It wasn't too long before the cold forced them to break the awkward silence. "I think you both owe me an explanation." Eddie asked while she awkwardly looked at Jalal, who had a satisfied expression on his face. What's wrong with him?
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So, here's the 25th chapter. I hope you enjoyed it. I know I am quite late but I was enjoying my holidays. 😆
Okay! So thanks for liking the previous chapter. I really appreciate your dedication towards all of my works. ❤️
Not to brag, but I have got the best-est readers and I love you all. 🤗
Edited by aisha.....11110 - 10 years ago
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