CHAPTER 18

CHAPTER 18 : Fest of Friction

-------------------------------------------------------

"I came here for you" Fawad told her and Safia clenched her fist.

"Why?" She asked with gritted teeth . She understood that she was his about to be contract wife - but she wasn't one yet . She wanted her own share of privacy and life.

Fawad stayed silent trying to study expressions on her face because they weren't exactly like that of a happy person.

"Because -we couldn't attend the fest" He said with uncertainty and Safia looked around the area.

"You-arranged this fest?" She asked with shock.

"Yes , for you" Fawad simply answered to flatter her but she yelled on the top of her lungs .

"WHY ARE YOU SO OVER THE TOP???" everyone looked at them and Fawad frowned.

"You don't like this?" He asked calmly .

If it was anyone else , they would be laying down in the pool of their own blood . But it wasn't anyone . It was Safia , and surprisingly Fawad didn't even felt an ounce of anger towards her. All he wanted was to know her feelings .

Rudhra loaded his gun and was about to put it on Safia's temple , when Fawad extended his index and middle finger and gestured to not do it . Rudhra backed it away and put it in his pocket irritated at this .

'How pathetic. He is letting a klutz to disrespect him'

"Why would I like something like this" Safia asked with gritted teeth.

"You want something more luxurious? I should have known better"Fawad looked around , and realised that the place lacked the exciting factor .

'Do I look like a gold digger to him?' Safia felt offended.

'I should have known better , when he offered me money to spend time with him ' She cursed herself under her breath.

"Don't ever talk to me ever Mr Siddiqui. If you want to shoot me just do it ! I can't bear you both . Kill me ! Stab me ! Pluck my eyes out with a spoon , but never ever talk with me again" Safia huffed and walked off angrily , she didn't give Fawad and Rudhra the time to react . Her throat felt heavy and if she stayed any more moment, she knew she would break down in tears.

The insult was making her heart break .

"What did I do wrong this time?" Fawad asked Rudhra.

"Maybe , you shouldn't have invited the guests and these sellers . Possibly she is the 'I want a private time' type of girl" Rudhra suggested .

"I knew it , I shouldn't have listened to that fool Seth" Fawad said in irritation.

"You still have time . Want me to push all the people out ? To make it a private area where you both can spend some time?" Rudhra asked .

"Ofcourse. What will be the use of me coming here and doing all this then ? I did it for Safia , not these clowns out here" Fawad told him and that was all it took Rudhra to get on his duty .

~~~

Safia was sitting by the side of the lake , while wiping her tears . She felt overwhelmed by everything. Her working in the city , leaving her passion, the change in her love life and how this.

'Nothing is going as per I planned' She held her palm on her forehead while tears flowed from her cheek.

'I am nothing like I was before. I used to have passion , pride , everything. But now I am just a nothing. A gold digger. That's what people think I am' Safia stared at the lake , remembering the sweet old days of her childhood.

"Need some tissue?" Seth asked while coming from behind . She quickly wiped her tears from the back of her sleeves.

"No . I am fine . I think some spice got into my eyes" Safia smiled while wiping the tears from her eyes again.

"Can I know what exactly is that spice ?" Seth asked.

Safia's eyes got teary as she remembered it .

"You dont know me for that long , so that I can ask that question" Safia said .

"I know , but I surely have an eye for people Safia " Seth smiled . Being in that business industry came with a lot of experience and eye for people.

"So—do you think I am that gold digger kind of girl ? Who only wants luxury or money?" She asked . Through out her past years , she have faced such words and they were always hurtful , but today , the bar just crossed and she couldn't bear it any longer.

"Absolutely not" Seth told her.

"You know , girls have a lot of options . Everyone have . Gaining money isn't exactly the most difficult thing in this world . You can steal , sell drugs . Do all sorts of things .

Even get paid to be a girlfriend for week or two . But out of all these , you chose the hard way . To work 2 jobs at a time , so you aren't definately that . I have never come across a more hardworking girl than you Safia" Seth smiled at her .

She looked at him while wiping the tears again . His words always felt so genuine and sweet , that she couldn't bring herself to believe the fact that he was one of the elites . Every single one she encountered was filled with attitude and thought of the common people as roaches , but Seth just seemed like an angel compared to them all.

"Soo—ignore whatever anyone says okay ? Remember the song Kuch toh log kahenge logon ka kaam hai kehna" Seth's smile made her smile too and she gave a slight nod.

"You like songs?" She asked him and he shook his head.

"No , but I like shayaris" Seth smiled.

"Shayaris ?"

"Yes , earlier I wasn't that intrested , but I heard Augustus reading some and asked him to read me few more . And it resulted in me loving them" Seth smiled.

"Augustus?" Safia didn't knew who he exactly was.

"Yes , he is our friend. The fourth member of our small group . He handles the buisness of Fawad , but at the same time , he owns his company too" Seth informed.

"He doesn't live with y'all?" Safia saw Rudhra , Seth and Fawad together a lot of times , but never this man.

"He does . But nowadays he is busy in his own love story . He is the same person who was there on the night when you helped Fawad" Seth tried to make her remember. Safia's mind went to the tall , dusky brittish man .

One topic led to another and in Seth's presence , Safia forgot about what had happened. Until a voice called her from behind.

"SAFIA!!" She turned around to find her mother.

"Yes ammi?" She stood up from the lake and stared at her mother.

"QUICKLY GO TO THE FEST ! MR SIDDIQUE IS SENDING EVERYONE AWAY ! YOUR FATHER IS CALMING DOWN VILLAGERS ! WE NEED SOMEONE WHO CAN CONVINCE HIM TO STOP DOING THIS" Safia's eyes widened at her mother's words as a rush of guilt and anger came in her heart.

"Fawad is doing that?" Seth asked in confusion.

"He is taking revenge for sure ! Of me scolding him . The time I think he can't go any lower he just proves me wrong on so many levels"Safia uttered in anger and ran away .

Seth quickly followed her from behind . As Safia reached there , she saw people going away with their goods with disappointment and sadness . Their happiness lasted only a few hours . She pushed the crowed to make her way towards Fawad , who was talking with someone on his phone.

"MR SIDDIQUI!" She yelled to gain his attention while still pushing her way in the crowd. She tried to calm her anger down and to apologize so that he can let the people sell their goods.

"Safia?" Fawad looked up from the phone , glad that Rudhra's plan worked.

Safia quickly came in front of him with an apologetic look.

"I am sorry for how I behaved earlier . I should have known better , but please don't send these people away . They have no fault in this" Safia pleaded as she turned around . She felt bad for bowing down and apologizing even when she was in the right , but some things just gotta be done.

"No , don't apologize . I just didn't realise you wanted a private fest" Fawad said.

"No no I don't want private . I want everyone to be here ! For them to sell goods ! Be happy ! That is the only way the fest will be good for me" Safia quickly exclaimed .

"You sure?" Fawad asked.

"Ofcourse ofcourse!" Safia told him .

Fawad called Rudhra, and he soon picked up the phone .

"Let them be here again" He said as soon as the call was answered.

"Huh? Why?" Rudhra asked .

"Because I said so" Fawad coldly told him.

"Screw you" Rudhra cursed and Fawad just cut the call.

"Are you happy now?" He asked.

"Yes ! I am" Safia sighed in relief , but she still couldn't believe what trouble I have she gotten herself into .

"Great . Let's go and eat some food afterall that's why we are here for . Aren't we?" Fawad tried to sound sweet and caring and Safia just gave him a nod in irritation.

"So what do you want to eat first?" He asked.

'Posion' Safia thought to herself.

"I don't know . Just decide something for yourself.  I will eat it" Safia uninterestedly told him.

'She wants to try something which I like . She wants to get to know more about my taste and preference indirectly' Fawad thought with a smile .

'You aren't as secretive with your interest in me Safia' Fawad thought as he noticed her staring at him.

'Look at that shameless smile of this jerk after forcing me in this fest ' Safia thought as she noticed him smiling , but she realised he's staring at her , she passed him a fake smile .

To be continued....

-----------------------------------------------------------

Here goes the second update of today !!! Hope you are enjoying it so far ! Please vote and comment if you liked it 🤭♥️