Chapter 8
Safiya sat on the sofa with Khwaish curled up on her right and Kabir seated on her keft.
Rabiya was glaring daggers at Safiya. Her father sat nearby, gently trying to calm his wife's rising temper.
Nauman and Riffat, seated across from them, remained quietly observant.
At the head of the room, Zaviyar sat stiffly, his jaw clenched and his eyes burning with unspoken fury.
"Why did you go out alone?" her mother asked, her voice low but laced with barely controlled anger.
"I wanted ice cream..," Safiya replied nonchalantly, shrugging as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Then you should've told someone. We'd have gotten it for you. But out alone, at night?" her mother snapped, her voice rising slightly, loaded with frustration.
"Mom, in case you've forgotten. I've always done everything myself..," Safiya shot back, her voice sharp and steady, taking everyone in the room by surprise.
"You know that whenever I need something, I get it myself," she added, this time softer, trying to rein in the anger bubbling in her chest. Why was everyone treating this like a crime scene? It was just ice cream. Not a murder.
"I know, beta, but this isn't a city," Wajahat said gently, reaching over to side-hug her in an attempt to ease the tension. Safiya leaned into him slightly and gave him a nod.
"Laws are followed in YOUR. CITY. NOT HERE. ", Zaviyar said emphasising on each word. Her eyes rolled before she could stop them. She bit her tongue, swallowing the sarcastic response rising in her throat,
'Haan kyuki yeh touh jungle hai na. Tendua uthake le jayega yaha mujhe beech sadak se. Aaye barein, Mufasa samajhte hain khudko.'
('Yeah, because this is a jungle, right? A leopard will come and take me away here. As if he's Mufasa or something.')
"I already apologized. How much longer are you all going to lecture me?" she whined, turning away from everyone and toward her dad, conveniently ignoring the intensity in Zaviyar's eyes.
"Zaviyar, let it go. Safiya wasn't aware of all this..." Riffat finally spoke up, sensing the room cornering the girl.
"Bhabi, don't stop Zaviyar. He's correct, she shouldn't have left without informing us."
"Don't you dare say a word to her... And Nauman ji, bring her ice cream tomorrow." Riffat rose from her seat and crossed over to Safiya, placing a warm, comforting hand on her head.
Safiya looked up at her and smiled, her expression softening as she wrapped her arms around Riffat's waist, finding some sense of peace there. A moment later, Khwaish and Kabir mirrored her, leaning into their mother's side, almost like they were forming a protective little unit.
"As you say, Begum," Nauman said with a small smile, which earned a round of soft chuckles from the room.
Everyone except Zaviyar.
He rolled his eyes in exasperation, muttering something under his breath before standing up abruptly and walking toward his chambers.
Any more affection and he would gag.
{ I wrote this entire scene and then felt stupid for writing so much thriller just for ice-cream. And I wrote all this while eating ice-cream. ???? }
The trio, still reeling from the scolding, were slowly heading towards their chambers.
"Sorry you got scolded because of us..", Kabir mumbled as Safiya reached her room and was about to enter.
"I was the one who persuaded both of you. So, it is my fault...", she replied casually, leaning against the doorframe, brushing it off like it was no big deal.
"It's really late now. Go to sleep...", she added, watching as Khwaish and Kabir gave her a quick goodnight and turned towards their rooms.
They had barely turned the corner when Safiya saw Khwaish and Kabir suddenly come running back, panic written all over their face.
"What happened?" she asked, concern flickering across her face as she noticed the anxious expressions on both their faces.
"Zaviyar bhai is coming here..." Khwaish blurted out, breathing heavily.
Safiya raised an eyebrow. Zaviyar coming here? That was unusual. The man barely stepped out of his beloved wing unless it was absolutely necessary.
The sound of his boots clicking against the polished floor grew louder. Without a second thought, Kabir and Khwaish bolted and hid behind the nearest pillar like two kids caught stealing mangoes.
Safiya, however, stepped forward, right into the middle of the hallway. Zaviyar, walking at full stride, was about to pass when she moved in front of him, blocking his way.
"Move aside.", he said, his tone cold, not even bothering to look at her.
"Stop hiding and come here... Khwaish, I can see your scarf, come out.", he called out, voice stern and restrained as his anger slowly started seeping through.
Both siblings hesitated but peeked out. Khwaish stepped out first, sheepishly, followed by Kabir. They stood before him like two students about to be handed suspension letters by their khadoos, sadu principal.
"Sorry bhai-", Khwaish started nervously, but Zaviyar's next words stunned her into silence.
"Maaf kiya."
(You're forgiven.)
Both Kabir and Khwaish blinked at him in disbelief.
"Kuch garbar hain, itni aasan maafi raas nhi aayi." Kabir muttered under his breath, side-eyeing Zaviyar with suspicion. This wasn't right. The same man who had once almost shipped Khwaish off to boarding school and grounded Kabir from gaming and bikes for a year was now forgiving them...
(There's something wrong. Such easy forgiveness from Zaviyar bhai is unexpected.)
Just like that?
"Kabir, your video games, car rides, and Khwaish, your one month's pocket money are all suspended." Zaviyar added calmly. Kabir groaned, visibly sulking now.
"Khwaish, focus on your studies. Your exams are coming up..." he added, dismissing her completely.
"What is this? You're letting this chirkut off with just a warning. At least leave my bike out of this." Kabir whined, trying to win back at least some freedom.
( Chirkut - shorty )
Zaviyar raised a hand at Kabir, signaling him to stop.Then, finally, his gaze shifted to Safiya. She had been quietly watching the drama unfold, amused and confused until now.
"And you, Lawyer, whatever you do in your city isn't my concern. But this is Azamgarh, and here, our people and enemies both live around every corner.", His voice, sharp and laced with venom, stung far more than anything he had just said to his siblings.
Kabir and Khwaish froze. It made sense now, his leniency wasn't because he had turned soft-hearted. Rather his anger was directed towards Safiya, reserved entirely for her. It was not wrath he had constrained within him from the moment she crashed into him which was finally surfacing.
"Your carelessness could cost us dearly.", Safiya frowned, her lips parting to respond but Zaviyar cut her off, raising his voice.
"Aapko apni izzat pyaari ho ya na ho, hamare liye hamari izzat hee hamara rutba hain, hamari pehchan hain."
(Whether you care about your honor or not, for us, our honor is our status, our identity.)
Each word hit like a slap. Like it was meant to hurt her, and it indeed land harshly.
"Aur hum nhi chahte ki aap jesi bat kirdar, nihayati badtameez, aur mufat ladki ka saath meri behen par havi ho. Aap sheher mein kuch bhi karein woh hamara masla nhi... Lekin yaha. Apni ghatiya harkate aur baatein apne aap tak hee rakhe.", she flinched at his last words.
(And we don't want a girl like you-loose character, extremely ill-mannered, and loud-mouthed- influencing my sister. What you do in the city is not our concern... But here. Keep your cheap acts and words to yourself.)
"Tum jaisi ladkiyon ko humare yahan sirf do nazron se dekha jaata hai- ya toh tamasha samajh ke, ya zillat se.", His final line was the one that shattered her.
(Girls like you are only seen in two ways around here-either as a joke, or with utter disdain.)
She didn't know when, but a lump had formed in her throat. Not because she was scared of him. She had faced worse. But this? This wasn't just criticism. It was character assassination.
And in front of Khwaish and Kabir? That made it ten times worse.
"No one has ever spoken to me in such a disgusting way... Sorry to tell you, Mr Khan, but I feel utterly disgusted just breathing the same air as you.." she snapped, her voice shaking as she fought the tears stinging her eyes.
"This is exactly why I don't like village people and their small-minded thinking and you've just proved me right.." she spat, her tone dripping with loathing.
(Mujhe touh Pooja Bhatt ka - chhote loug chhoti soch vala dialogue yaad aaraha hain. Haan padh lou nhi aaungi beech mein. ??
Vote guys, itna touh banta hain. )
"I'll leave. I'll stay away from you people. I just wanted the experience of living with my family. Technically, step family. And now I know why they say that no matter how much you try- apne apne hote hain aur paraye paraye."
(Your own are your own, and outsiders are outsiders.)
She stormed off, slamming the door to her room shut. Khwaish moved forward to stop her, but it was too late.
"Bhai... you shouldn't have spoken to Safi aapi like that." Khwaish said softly, turning to him.
Zaviyar turned to her slowly, his expression hardening.
"Now you've also started talking back to me, Khwaish?"
"No bhai-I just...." she tried, but fell silent under his cold glare. She walked away quietly, brushing against Kabir's shoulder.
"You can silence Khwaish, but not me." Kabir said flatly, standing firm.
He respected Zaviyar, he always had. But Safiya had become like a sister to him in just a few days. And he protected his sisters.
"And you need to understand... in this house, the final decision is mine.." Zaviyar said, stepping past him.
"Who's talking to me... my brother? Or the heir to the Khan Empire?" Kabir asked coldly.
"Nawab Zaviyar Raza Khan. Heir to the Khan empire. And in this haveli, what I say becomes law."
The finality in his voice was enough to silence the hall. Kabir simply nodded and turned to walk away.
"Yahan rishtay bhi mere usoolon pe chalte hain... aur yaha ke log bhi." Zaviyar said under his breath.
(Here, relationships run by my rules... and so do the people.)
Kabir's steps halted.
"Kahi aapke inn usulo ke chalte, aapse sab loug dur na chale jaaye." Kabir replied, not even turning back.
(I hope because of these principles of yours, people don't end up drifting away from you.)
Zaviyar stared at his back.
But didn't say a word.
The next morning, Safiya was up earlier than usual. After attending a call with one of her clients, she sat back with a cup of tea, mentally checking off her cleared schedule. No upcoming court hearings. No deadlines looming. She had planned her work well.
She had already begun packing. Most of her clothes were still inside the suitcase, untouched. Only a few things, some electronics and makeup were scattered across the bed waiting to be put away.
A soft knock pulled her attention to the door. When she opened it and saw Khwaish standing there, she smiled and stepped aside to let her in.
"aapi, what are you doing?" Khwaish asked, stepping in with her breakfast tray, only to frown the second she saw the half-packed suitcase sitting wide open on the bed.
"I need to discuss a case with an important client, that's why I'm returning to the city," Safiya replied casually, popping a cookie into her mouth before returning to fold an ironed shirt.
"You're going back because of what bhai said, aren't you?" Khwaish asked directly, skipping over any beating around the bush.
"I'm quite stubborn and shameless by nature... I don't take people's words to heart so easily." Safiya shrugged, her tone light but eyes slightly clouded. No, she wouldn't admit it, not even to herself about how badly his words had hurt.
"Did Uncle give you permission?" Khwaish continued, following her across the room.
"Why would I need permission?" Safiya asked, pausing and turning to her, confused.
"You're going back, and he's going to stay here for some time, right?" Safiya chuckled, brushing it off.
"I'll inform him when I'm leaving. I don't need anyone's permission."
Khwaish dropped onto the bed with a loud sigh, her arms planted at her sides as she looked up at the ceiling.
"You're lucky... No brother to boss you around, no drama either..."
"I thought you'd say Nauman Uncle is strict..." Safiya replied, coiling her straightener and placing it inside the bag.
"bhai has become the biggest problem in my life, aapi... Mom and Dad never stop me from anything. But bhai..." Khwaish sighed like it was the end of the world.
"Uss khadoos ko aata bhi kya hain, khunnas bhara hain pata nahi kiske liye.", Safiya's gritted words made Khwaish let out a laugh.
(That grumpy man doesn't even know how to live peacefully. He's so full of anger, I don't even know for whom.)
"Please don't leave, aapi. At least stay until bhai's wedding is over, you can leave peacefully, and I'll join you in the city too before going for my medical internship." Khwaish pleaded, her eyes wide and hopeful.
"Arey uss Napoleon ke grandchild ki shaadi hone wali hain?" Safiya asked trying to divert the topic, eyes widening as if she'd just discovered breaking news.
(Oh really, the grandchild of Napoleon is finally getting married?)
"Don't say that, aapi... I'm related to him by blood too, remember?" Khwaish pouted.
"Exactly. That makes you Napoleon's grandchild too...." Safiya teased, giggling before making a dash across the room as Khwaish sprung to her feet looking betrayed.
She quickly snapped a picture of Khwaish mid-shock.
"Yo-you... Wait, Safi aapi-" Khwaish squealed, chasing her around the room.
"Catch me if you can... I was a gold medalist in running..." Safiya called over her shoulder as they darted out into the hallway.
"Try catching me, I dare you- " she taunted, the sound of their laughter echoing through the corridor. They were too busy fooling around to notice someone approaching from the other side.
"Aapi, look ahead...." Khwaish's voice dropped as she skidded to a stop. Standing just ahead was Zaviyar, flanked by Waqas.
Safiya stopped abruptly too, barely inches from crashing into him. She let out a breath of relief. That would've caused another unwanted scene.
"What on earth is going on here?" Zaviyar's voice boomed through the hall, his expression stormy as he waved Waqas off.
Waqas, recognizing Safiya, gave her a quick grateful nod before turning to leave. His wife had been calling him nonstop for hours, and now thanks to this chaos, he might finally get to call her back. Zaviyar had previously scolded him for flirting with his own wife during working hours.
"Watch where you're going and pay attention to what's happening around you." His tone cut sharp through the atmosphere.
"Aur itna shor sharaba mujhe pasand nahi, achcha hoga agar aap sab yeh bandar jese chillana band karein... Pillar ke peeche chhupne se koi faida nahi Khwaish... Ainda khayal rakhna."
(I don't like all this noise and chaos. It would be better if you all stopped screeching like monkeys... Hiding behind a pillar doesn't help, Khwaish. Be careful next time.)
Khwaish peeked her head out, her eyes wide like a guilty kid. Safiya, on the other hand, acted like he didn't exist. Zaviyar glared one last time before storming out of the house.
"Yeh kya baat hui bhala, mujhe chup hone ka bolke khud itna chik chik karte hain." Safiya muttered, arms folded as she turned to Khwaish who finally emerged from the pillar.
(How is that fair? You tell me to be quiet and then yap like a parrot yourself.)
"Meh bol rahi hoon Khwaish, tumhare bhai ko na kisi ki saas hona tha. Galti se ladka paida ho gaya."
(I'm telling you Khwaish, your brother should've been someone's mother-in-law. He was mistakenly born a man.)
"Don't do this, don't do that... Even my hostel warden was more lenient than him." Safiya said, dramatically tossing her hands up.
But her eyes narrowed when she noticed Khwaish silently sliding back behind the pillar again.
"Kya hua, itni manhoos shakal kyu bana rahi ho..." she asked, confused.
(What happened? Why the gloomy face?)
"Aapki saas aapke peeche khadi hain isliye.", Khwaish whisper-yelled before dashing away again.
(Because your mother-in-law is standing right behind you.)
"Dhokebaaz...", Safiya muttered, mentally cursing her partner-in-crime. She slowly turned around to face the hypothetical 'saas' who happens to be inside a male and surface every time she's near him.
(Traitor...)
Zaviyar stood there with one brow raised, his expression unreadable. Safiya straightened her back, raising her chin like the queen she was.
"I didn't literally mean it... I was just... " she started to explain, her voice slightly sheepish.
He glared.
Waqas, still nearby, was practically wheezing behind his hand trying not to laugh.
"Tum nahi sudhar sakti..."
(You'll never change.)
"Ya Allah! Yeh toh kamaal... you addressed me as tum and not aap for the first time. I knew it- you only pretend to be all proper and polite." She grinned, as if she'd cracked a major conspiracy.
"Shor sharaba band karo, mere sar mein dard ho raha hain..."
(Stop this ruckus-my head is already pounding.)
She rolled her eyes at his dramatics. She scoffed when last night's flashbacks andvhis words surfaced to her mind.
"I'm leaving tomorrow anyway so today is the last time you'll have to endure this shor sharaba..." she said casually before turning around and walking away.
( Shor sharaba - noise )
Zaviyar watched her retreat, his hands clenched into fists, nails digging into his palms as she disappeared into the hallway like a storm he couldn't control.
It was best for him if she left...
°°°°°
Safiya had finished packing everything down to the last charger and lipstick.
Her suitcases were neatly placed near the doorway, lined up like soldiers ready for departure.
She had even taken out the clothes she planned to wear on her way back.
Something simple, comfortable, unnoticeable.
Just like how she wanted her exit to be.
She was zipping up the last bag when she noticed a figure by the doorframe.
"Oh, Auntie, please come inside..." Safiya said warmly, spotting Riffat standing there, a gentle smile on her face.
"You're leaving so soon, dear? My heart isn't ready to let you go. Khwaish told me about your meeting, can't you attend it online like Zavi does?" Riffat asked softly, stepping in and cupping Safiya's cheek with motherly affection.
"I could, Auntie, but the network here is terrible.
.." Safiya said with a polite smile, crafting an excuse.
She didn't want to outright refuse her. But the truth was, everything that happened the night before, she couldn't bear to stay another minute.
Sleep had evaded her completely, and all she wanted was to be back in the city, back where she didn't have to explain herself to anyone.
"That's because Khwaish and Kabir used to be glued to their phones all day, so Zavi had the Wi-Fi removed. I'll make all the arrangements right away," Riffat said without missing a beat. Safiya opened her mouth to protest, but Riffat raised her hand to silence her.
"I'm sorry for whatever Zaviyar told you last night. Yes, Khwaish told me. I'm so sorry, bachcha. I apologise to you on his behalf. He might seem a little strict, but he's just overprotective."
Safiya reached forward, taking Riffat's hands gently in hers and giving them a soft, reassuring squeeze.
"You don't need to apologise, Tayi-jaan. I understand."
Riffat's eyes sparkled at the affectionate title, her heart visibly melting.
"Come on, bring everything inside. Until Zavi's wedding, you're not going anywhere. And that's an order..." Riffat said, suddenly straightening up and placing her hands on her hips, mimicking one of those over-the-top rich soap opera ladies.
Safiya burst into laughter, joined instantly by Riffat, their laughter echoing through the doorway like a temporary balm to the tension of the last 24 hours.
Before leaving, Riffat gently rested her hand on Safiya's head, whispering a quiet blessing under her breath. Then she turned and walked away, leaving Safiya standing there with a little less weight on her chest than before.
Safiya, Khwaish and Kabir were lounging in the living room watching 1920. Safiya was covering her face with a cushion as she peeked a little from the side. Khwaish had covered eyes with safiya's hair, watching the scene unfold from between the strands.
And Kabir? He was glued to Safiya, hiding his face behind his phone , trying to act cool but shivering from within. He couldn't let the girls know that he was afraid.
However, their attention was broken when some people dressed in black came inside the living room with chest freezers.
All three of them looked at each other confused before getting up from their seats.
Khwaish narrowed her eyes as a series of delivery vans rolled through the haveli's gates, each one more suspiciously colorful than the last. One after another, boxes were being hauled into the main hall by confused workers, cold mist wafting from them like fog.
The trio marched towards the growing mountain of insulated boxes. "Did someone accidentally order... the entire stock of a dairy factory?", Safiya asked taking a peek at the chest freezers with transparent tops.
Khwaish frowned the second she saw the boxes, she knew who had sent them. " He did not.", she said exasperated.
"Who sent what? There are at least... 20 boxes of chest freezers here! " Safiya said
"Twenty three," corrected Kabir, leaning against the pillar with a half-smile. "I counted."
Safiya turned toward him slowly. "And you didn't think to ask why someone would send us enough frozen sugar to cause a diabetes epidemic?"
Kabir chuckled. "Because it's Agastya. This is mild by his standards."
"Excuse me?" Safiya raised an eyebrow. "Are you telling me this is normal behavior?"
"Pretty much," Kabir said, already pulling open a box to reveal neatly packed tubs labeled Belgian Chocolate Obsession, Kesar Kulfi Supreme, Tiramisu Trance, and one dramatically named Mango Meltdown 2.0.
Then another man walked in. He was dressed in a black suit, speaking on the phone with someone.
Zaid walked towards Khwaish greeting her, not even sparing a glance at the other two people standing beside Khwaish. It was Zaid, Agastya' s secretary, his right hand who followed him like a shadow.
" Ma'am... ", he bowed a little and forwarded the call to Khwaish who took it hesitantly knowing the person on the other line.
She didn't speak for a second, scared of getting scolded. Her brother probably already told him everything that happened. But it wouldn't be a surprise even if Zaviyar didn't tell him.
Somehow he always knew what was happening around her. Always. Without even Zaviyar telling him.
" Assalamualaikum. ", She whispered but she almost fell shivers down her spine the moment he muttered, " Walikumassalam. ", his voice husky and deep, like he had just woken up.
" Do you like it? ", she nodded only to slap herself mentally and whisper a simple " yes. "
"Good," he said, voice low and final. "Next time you decide to do something impulsive... know that the warning won't be over the phone."
Khwaish stiffened. Her fingers trembled slightly as she clutched the phone closer.
"I... I was with Kabir," she offered, like that made it better. Like that made her feel any safer.
There was a pause., long enough to make her feel haunted by the silence.
Then his voice dropped even lower, laced with a sharp coldness.
"Kabir?" he repeated, like the name itself was enough to set him off. " Kabir who thought it was a good idea to take you to an abandoned factory zone for 'fun'?"
"He's my brother." she said, a bit too defensively, heart racing now.
"You think being with Kabir makes you untouchable?" Agastya continued, bitter amusement lacing his voice. "If anything had happened, do you think he would be able to save you? "
"You don't know him like I do," she whispered.
"And you don't know me at all, shereena" he shot back, soft but lethal. "But you will.", Her breath hitched. The silence that followed was louder than any scream.
( Shereena - sweetheart/ sweet one. It's a pashto language. )
Then she heard it. The inhale he took to calm himself. That was when he said it slowly, deliberately, "Don't test the limits of how far I'll go to keep you safe, Isha. Because I promise you... if it ever comes down to it... I won't care whose permission I need."
She swallowed, her hands clammy.
"You're not responsible for me," she said quietly, almost trying to remind him of that.
He laughed under his breath. Low, bitter, a little broken.
"You think this is about responsibility?", Then his tone shifted. Still intense, but quieter. Softer, more controlled but it sounded like he was on the edge, like his words meant something else.
" Zaid will hand you a box," he said. "Don't ask questions. Just take it."
Her brows knit. "What is it-"
" Ice cream... The one you like " he replied. " You already sent so many. Why this again? "
There was a short pause before he said, "Because I needed to remind myself that you're there, still safe... even if you have no idea how close you were to not being."
And just before the line disconnected, he said one last thing. The warm, dark promise of something more behind his words.
"Don't do it again, Khwaish. Or next time, I won't be so gentle.", the line went dead on the other side and she stood frozen.
Not because of what he said but because for the first time, she wasn't sure if she was afraid of him or afraid of what she was starting to feel.
She looked the other way staring at Safiya and Kabir who were staring at her with questioning looks. She handed the phone to Zaid who gave her the box which was packed more prettily than the others.
Zaid handed her a note which read,
Enjoy your ice cream, Shireena.
But don't pull something like this again.
Next time, I won't be this gentle.
- A
Khwaish wanted to scream at him. He was always overstepping his boundaries interfering in her life. As if Zaviyar wasn't enough. She felt like he was Zaviyar's twin, always bossing her around.
The staff dressed in black bowed and left along with Zaid.
Khwaish opened the box to reveal her favourite, oreo's cheesecake icecream.
" If he already knows that you like this flavour then why would he send all of this?", Safiya asked pointing at all the extra freezers that were laid there.
"This is actually toned down. He didn't send a marching band this time.", Khwaish shrugged, still not knowing what to tell Safiya.
Safiya stared at her like she'd grown three heads. "This has happened before?"
Khwaish nodded with a tired sigh, diving into her ice cream. He had already sent the ice cream, she couldn't throw it away obviously.
" Yup, last year during her birthday week...", Kabir took a bite into his belgium ice-cream sandwich before continuing. " there was a huge university event going on?"
"The one in which half the country's education board was attending... ", khwaish added.
"I told Zaviyar Bhai that I wanted to spend my birthday with my family."
"And?" Safiya's arms crossed tighter.
"He canceled the event," Kabir said, way too casually. "Rescheduled the whole conference. Moved it for four days."
Safiya blinked. "He rescheduled a national-level academic event... just because Ishu wanted to have fun on her birthday?"
"He funds the university," Kabir replied with a shrug. "Technically, he owns it. Most of it. "
Safiya looked at the two of them like she'd walked into a parallel universe. "And this didn't seem... odd to either of you?"
"Oh come on," Kabur said, handing her a spoon and a tub of Rooh-Afza Raspberry Swirl making her scrunch her nose in disgust.
"He's always been like this. Extra! He's another version of Zaviyar bhai."
Safiya hesitated, then took the ice cream. "So... What are you planning on doing with the rest of this? ", she asked pointing at the rest.
"Keep some then give the rest to the workers in the house. ", Kabir suggested making both of them give him a thumbs up.
" But two chest freezer has more than enough ice cream for the entire house. ", Safiya said. " It's okay, we will send the rest to the village people. ", Khwaish said.
"At least he wouldn't give her a giraffe just because she says she finds it cute."
Kabir and Khwaish exchanged glances.. "About that..."
Safiya paused mid-bite. "Don't. You. Dare."
The siblings giggled at her flustered expression before returning to the half-eaten popcorn and the paused movie. But Safiya didn't move. Her eyes remained fixed on the screen, though her thoughts were elsewhere caught in a quiet storm of confusion.
Something that hung thick in the air between Agastya and Khwaish, just out of reach. Something that everyone seemed to sense, but no one dared to voice out.
It didn't seem like his love was purely platonic. Not anymore. There was something different about it.
A question lingered in her mind, like a whisper she couldn't shake off. Was all of this- Agastya's protectiveness, his constant presence in Khwaish's life like they mentioned, the subtle warnings in his voice simply because he was Zaviyar's friend and was protective of her?
Was he just watching out for her like an older brother might, out of loyalty to someone he considered family?
Or... was there something more?
So there's something y'all need to understand Zaviyar hates people touching his stuff. Hates! But in this scene he was not really mad that she used his bike rather than she went out at night because it's not safe.
Was she impulsive? Yes. Was that stupid even if she claims herself to be mature? Yes.
But please understand that the more people try to cage someone, the more rebellious they will grow. Specially someone who's used to living their lives on their own terms.
And like I said, there will be character development of each character. So at times they might seem insufferable.