SaHil FF - The Phoenix - Chapter 8 - Page 14 - Page 3

Chapter 2

"Your home? " Aahil inquired with his eyebrows raised. "How is that possible when my father owns this property?" He smirked, folded his arms across his chest and waited for the response. This was certainly going to be worth the evening's entertainment' he thought .

"Now listen here you..." Sanam started with her finger pointed at him but she was interrupted by the door bell.

"Sanam, go see who it is beta" came the warm voice from behind her.

"Badi Ammi?" Sanam grumbled as Dilshad patted her shoulder and nodded to her. She threw Aahil a venomous look before she stalked off to answer the door. The other girl, Haya, trailed behind her as she stormed off.

"This home belonged to me 20 years ago beta and when I returned to Bhopal, kind people were able to help me secure the property again. Once that was done, I had it transferred in Sanam's name so now she is the owner of this property."

Sanam's badi ammi explained while she lovingly looked at Rehan. Her demeanor was so warm and kind and her face seemed so familiar to him but he just couldn't place where. She placed her hand upon Rehan's cheek and Aahil felt a stab of wanting. He never recalled his own ammi touching like that.

"It's true Aahil bhai. I saw the deed your father signed which said if the true owners ever came to claim the land it would have to be turned over to them for a minimal amount. She is the true owner of this home." Rehan supplied quietly.

Aahil briefly recalled the call from his father's lawyer about this a few weeks ago and he gave his consent not realizing which property it was. He let out a manic laugh at his fate. Here he was trying to teach this girl a lesson and ruin her life and he just gave her a piece of property.

He opened his mouth to say something but then recalled where he had seen her badi ammi. It was back in Punjab when he was looking for a mechanic and she pointed him in the right direction. His face softened and he said, "Why did you leave this house to go to that village?"

Dilshad, Sanam's badi ammi, then recalled the same night where she helped him and she smiled a very sad smile. "My family was destroyed by a devil of a woman twenty years ago and I feared for my granddaughters' lives so I took them and left. I never wanted to come back here but it looks like Allah S.W.T. has other plans for us."

Aahil felt as though someone had walked over his grave. He shuddered as she spoke and he had a premonition that his life would change for the worse with her words. He didn't know why but he wanted to find out more about the situation to help her. Just as he was about to ask, Sanam's tinkling laughter brought their conversation to a halt.

Dilshad smiled and said, "Oh, he must be here. Excuse me." She made her way inside the house leaving Aahil and Rehan in the garden.

He? Who is he?' Aahil was suddenly very, very curious about the man that made Sanam laugh that way and he wanted to put a stop to it immediately. "You have a lot of explaining to do Rehan Miyan" Aahil said before turning on his heel and following Dilshad in the house.

As he approached the living room, his gait slowed as he saw them from the opened verandah windows. A well dressed man was chatting up Sanam and her friend and as Dilshad approached him she gave him a hug. Aahil's heart hurt a little at the gesture as he thought no one had ever greeted him like that before either.

Dilshad sat down on the couch while the man opened a bag that was at the foot of the sofa. Ah, so he's a doctor. Nothing to worry about there.' Aahil's blood pressure went down a little but his heart kept a steady, furious beat as he saw the man wink at Sanam over her badi ammi's head.

What is it about this woman that makes these men act like school boys? Kuch bhi' Aahil shook his head but still kept his eye on the doctor as he made his way into the living room. He confidently approached the doctor and stuck out his hand, "Aahil Raza Ibrahim and you are?"

The doctor finished Dilshad's examination and and gave her a thumbs up to signal all ok. "Dr. Aydin Khan. Pleased to meet you."

Aahil shook his hand and admired the strong grip of the doctor briefly until he saw Sanam smiling at the good doctor. Oh right' Aahil removed his hand and folded his arms across his chest.

"So how long have you been taking care of badi ammi?" Aahil came straight to the point.

He heard Sanam gasp behind him at the term her used for her badi ammi and he smiled at the fact that he was able to get a rise out of her without addressing her directly.

"Well, I've been taking care of badi ammi," Dr. Feelgood threw back at him with a smile, "since she came to Bhopal a month ago. She had a heart attack at the bus station and if it weren't for the quick actions of Sanu and Rehan then I would have been telling a different story.

We have all been taking excellent care of her since then. I come over once a week to check on her. She's not just my patient, she like my family." Aydin gestured to the group in the room, his eyes lingered on Haya for a few seconds longer but that was unnoticed by Aahil.

"How do YOU know the family?" Dr. PerfectAsAnything volleyed in return. "I haven't seen you here before." The doctor leveled him with a steady gaze.

Protecting his den?' Aahil thought, which only made him angrier.

"Rehan works for me and until a little while ago I was the owner of this house" Aahil declared, or so I thought'

Dilshad noticing the peacocking going decided to diffuse the situation before it got out of hand. "Well since it's getting late and I'm sure everyone is hungry why don't we have dinner." Everyone except Aahil erupted with lively chatter and gestures and got up to help. Sanam completely ignored him as she went to the kitchen to get dinner on the table.

Aahil looked at the flurry of activity before him and he felt a familiar ache of loneliness creep into his heart. Everyone had a place and a function. The girl, Haya, set the plates, the doctor saw to the glasswear and even Rehan helped with the cutlery. Sanam had complete control of the kitchen and she looked formidable wielding her knives and spoons. It was too much for him.

Aahil turned to leave when he heard, "Beta, won't you join us for dinner? It's late and you must be hungry. My Sanam's the best cook and once you've had her food you will never be able to get enough." Dilshad smiled.

Aahil was trapped. He didn't want to stay but he didn't want to leave either. "I insist." Dilshad encouraged and he shook his head yes. It was out of his hands now.

Everyone was washed up and sitting by the table when Sanam brought the food out. The smells were heavenly. Aahil tried to recall if he ever had her food before and he remembered all their altercations in a flash. He got tensed and gripped his fork tightly. Haya sitting next to him tapped his shoulder and offered him the bowl of chicken fried rice.

He accepted it with a nod and didn't know what to do with it. Sanam who was bringing the last of the dished to the table noticed him and pursed her lips at him. Badi ammi why did you invite the devil into our house? Now I have to be nice to him here too?' Sanam thought as she walked around to where he was seated. She took the bowl from him and with a stern look she dished out some food for him.

Aahil was completely focused on her and watched her intently as she took out a bit of everything and put it on his plate for him. Her hand brushed against his as she set the plate down and they both jumped a little from the contact.

Aahil just stared at her while Sanam set her mouth into an even harder line and turned away. Aahil puffed up his chest as if he'd won a prize and glanced at the other men on the table.

Dr. AnnoyingAsHeck smirked at him and raised his eyebrow as Aahil saw Sanam do the very same plating for the doctor. That's because he takes care of her ammi' Aahil reasoned to himself. She's just being nice to him.'

The thing that burned Aahil the most, however, was when she did the same for Rehan and she blushed at him the entire time. What the?' Aahil wanted to punch that big grin off Rehan's face when she moved away.

Dinner was a circus with everyone, except Aahil , sharing something about their day and everyone laughing. Haya, her cousin he learned, had suffered from PTSD as a child from that event badi ammi had mentioned before. She needed specialized speech and hearing treatments that Dr. BeeAllYouCanBe was apparently helping her with... free of charge. Excuse me doc, you have a little something on your nose there' Aahil spat in his mind.

Dinner was spectacular. The food was heavenly and Aahil mentally kicked himself for all the times he refused her food before. After desert, the men got up to leave. "Thank you for having me again for dinner." Aydin said warmly and embraced badi ammi. "Be well and I will see you all soon. Khuda Hafiz" He smiled at Sanam and Haya.

The girls giggled and gave their salams. He shook Aahil's hand as he was leaving. "Been a pleasure Aahil. Perhaps we shall meet again"

"Likewise doc." Aahil gripped his hand a little tightly and then they said their salams and the doctor left first.

Aahil turned and said his salams to badi ammi and Haya but just stared at Sanam before he walked out the door with Rehan on his heels. "How rude!" he heard Sanam exclaim to the other women before the door closed behind him. He grinned at the idea of getting under her skin again.

Outside, Aahil turned and faced Rehan with his arms folded across his chest. "All this was going on Rehan Miyan and you never said a thing. Why is that?"

"It's because she means a lot to me" Rehan said quiety but never backing down from his stare.

Not what he was expecting, Rehan's statement took the wind out of Aahil's sails. "Come again? What was that?"

"I said," Rehan repeated in a stronger voice, "She means a lot to me. In fact they all do. You have no idea what she went through after you outed her in front of the media a month ago. You carelessly ruined her reputation without a single thought and left her to fend for herself when she had nothing.

That day I gave her directions to my house for a place to stay but she refused saying she was going back home. Before she got on the bus her badi ammi stepped off and during their reunion her badi ammi had a heart attack. She was rushed to the hospital and my driver who followed Sanam to the bus station called me to let me know what was going on.

When I got to the hospital and found out who her badi ammi was I was able to get her the help she needed. I had found some documents in the house with her name on it a while ago so I figured out who she was and got to work on helping them.

After she was released from the hospital, Sanu wanted to open a dhabba but Aydin convinced her to invest in her passion a little more first. She has great potential. She couldn't get a job anyway because of your scandal but Aydin helped her get into a culinary program at the university and she's doing really well.

She is happy... atleast on the outside. You really hurt her Aahil Bhai. You didn't do the right by her at all. A girl cultivates her self-respect all her life and all it takes is a few malignant insults to tarnish that reputation - true or not."

Sanu' Aahil blanched at Rehan's term of endearment for Sanam. Good she wasn't happy - right? He hated himself for all he put her through but he still felt justified in what he did because of what she did to him and how she insult his upbringing. He was right - wasn't he? He started to doubt that now.

He glanced though the window as she sat on the sofa hugging her badi ammi and her cousin. She was so full of vitality and light that his hand unconsciously came up to reach for her. Rehan gave him a curious look and he ran his hand through his hair instead. Whew, that was a close one' Aahil scolded himself.

"She's no saint Rehan. She slapped me, burnt my car, followed me here, insulted my parents and now apparently usurped my property. She's..." Aahil recounted.

"BAS! Enough!" Rehan bellowed. "Don't ever speak of her like that again. Am I clear?"

Aahil blinked at Rehan and smiled. "Rehan Miyan yelling at me? Be careful Rehan and know your limits."

Rehan was still struggling to keep calm when the door opened and Miss PrideWithPrejudice came walking over to Rehan.

The instant she put her hand on Rehan's shoulder he calmed down but the action had the opposite effect on Aahil. His blood boiled as he looked at her hand's resting place on Rehan. Her hand no business being anywhere on Rehan! A witch! He thought this woman definitely had Rehan under some kind of spell. A spell he was determined to break him out of.

Aahil looked Sanam dead in the eye and spoke to Rehan, "Come on Rehan. Let's go."

Sanam's eyes narrowed with satisfaction as if she knew something he didn't - well something else apparently. This girl had totally thrown his life in a tail spin but he was determined to get it back on track squashing her in the process.

He wasn't prepared for this bombshell though. She folded her arms across her chest like he did before and spoke in that voice that was now permanently emblazoned in his mind.

"Oh didn't you know... after all his help badi ammi would never ask Rehan to leave."

Aahil's eyes widened just a little to show his surprise but his stomach was doing somersaults.

Sanam caught the little tell and she gave a wide smile, "You are a smart one. You catch on quickly and yes, you are right. Rehan lives here too".