19 - Confusion

Diya pov

I kept silent, not able to perceive the manly deep voice from the other side, wiping my sweaty palm on my pant, I asked him, "who are you?"

"Raghav" wait? Raghav? Why is he calling me? I don't want him to get into danger because of me.

"Raghav?" I asked him alarmed.

"Yeah Diya, can we meet?" he asked again taking circle one.

I thought for a while, "When?"

"Now?" I can't waste the chance of getting even a single clue from here, if I go out I won't be able to know what is the problem with them, but also I need to apologize to Raghav for Arjun's beast etiquette, "Am sorry Raghav, I am not in the situation to meet you now"

"Yeah, it's okay. I can understand" he said awkwardly, "hope I didn't bother you. Bye"

"No, you didn't, am sorry can we meet some other time?" I asked to which he said yes and cut the call. I feel bad ignoring him like that.

I folded that paper and put it carefully inside my purse and looked around to find any other else while looking at the books, I found a black diary on the backside of some books which looked pretty old in the state that it will tear if it's folded, I took it carefully and looked it front and back it's showing the year 1997.

Whose diary it will be? I opened the first page of it and it's empty, when I turned to the next page, I heard footsteps from outside, quickly I settled it back in its place, taking another book away from the shelf I pretend to read it and the door burst open the next second, while I trying hard to calm my racing heartbeat.

"Diya, what a surprise" I heard my father's surprised voice back to me, I masked a smile on my face to hide the edgy face but deep down I missed my father more and more, due to Arjun's anger I avoided being in contact with him.

He gave me a small sad smile, hiding the dismayed face behind, "Your husband made you forget your father?" he said taking few steps towards me and placed his hand on my head patting it softly with a fatherly pure smile.

I strongly disagree with Arjun's statement, my father is not the one to think harm to others, I need to remove the tough knot behind this mystery, "Nothing like that Paa, I wanted to see you" I hugged him, "I missed you paa" not even a single passed without thinking about my father how he would take care of himself, how he would take medicines on time as he is a diabetic patient. Unnoticed a tear slipped my eyes which I quickly wiped.

"Missed you too Diya," he said kissing my head.

I Moved away from him breaking the hug with a fake glare, "you are lying, you not even once tried to contact me nor tried to see me in person"

He sighed and sat on the couch nearby with crossed legs taking a file with him after removing his blazer, "I was too busy with the new project Diya, it cost much, so sorry" he apologized to me placing the file back to the couch.

I felt a bit odd when he said it, it's like his work became more important to him more than me and his demeanor is somewhat changed in personal like somewhat nervous, fear, and anger in him.

"Paa, what's wrong?" he raised his head from the file to look at me but this time it's empty, why do I have to face empty faces all day long, but he is looking too lost behind those empty eyes. He rubbed his palm hard, "nothing Diya, I am somewhat upset, can we talk any other time?" I nodded and was about to leave the study but his voice stopped both my tracks and heartbeat.

"What are you doing here in my study?" he asked as I am debating myself whether to turn around or not, but turned around to him, "I was bored, so came to get some book" placing the book back at a random place.

"No, I just asked as you never wished to come in here since your childhood" yes, it always feels uncomfortable to be in his room filled with only business talks which I certainly suck at.

"Take care Paa, don't forget to take medicines on time, don't hesitate to call me when needed. I will come soon to see you, make sure you are free that day for your daughter" he nodded, "with good food" he said giving me his usual lovable smile, I retired the room gets and downstairs with confusion saying I want to go home as I am getting late.

What is the reason for his tenterhook's behavior? Maybe he is doing something wrong like Arjun is saying? No, he won't.

The father who has been showering me with unconditional love, support, who enlightens me what life is, how to handle things on our own without harming others, how to love others, how to respect every human with kind, love, and care... He won't ever do it.

Why the bizarre around me is getting hard every passing day?

Directly I went to my friend Ekta's house, she lives with her family elder brother, father, and mother who are lovely peoples who love me like their family. I will get a feast whenever I get there and that's the intention I avoid going there in paramount possible ways. But right now I need to calm down and unshackle myself with this situation.

Even a few minutes there felt like I am being with my family, the love her mother shower on me tells how pure and innocent a mother's love can be and I will always enjoy every bit of it like a thirsty deer.

I inhaled the sweet smell of her food at the doorstep and knocked on the door happily to have family time after a long time. The door was opened by my idiot friend Ekta with an angry look she is fighting with her brother.

"Again fighting with your brother?" I asked entering the house while she slammed the door shut without answering me, she can be a child at times and much worse than a child in drama, this made her brother play more with her.

"I am saying once again stop reacting to his words" she sat on the couch continuously changing the channels, ignoring her I went towards the kitchen where the smell of Aunty's handmade food is trawling me on its own.

"I know you would come today" I laughed at her and said, "Ek is an exact copy of you, drama queens" she laughed along with me, "but a lot of stubbornness from her father" that she is. But her brother is the exact opposite of her, a joyful, ever-smiling, cheerful man I have ever seen he is 2 years younger than us but also behaves like a mature one on time. Just started to work in a multinational company as an Electrical engineer.

I felt someone slap my back of my head making me yell in pain, "who told you to come here" I turned to saw the monkey of the decade, Ek's brother, Kabir, "go back to your house, I am going to have all the food made by my mom"

I rubbed my head glaring at him, "how dare you beat me? Aunty I am going to kill your son if he keeps on teasing me" she gave a pan, "please go ahead" I smirked at him who is happily sitting on the kitchen floor playing with tomatoes like a cricket ball, "way to save your son maa anyway, it's not gonna kill me, besides you are becoming fat every passing day, have control in your food"

Looking down at myself I questioned myself, "Am I that fat?" I asked while he nodded his head in yes, "see who is advising me to not take his words to the brain" Ek mocked me quickly snatching the pan from my hand and hit Kabir hard, and ran away from the kitchen while Kabir ran after her making me laugh hard at their tom and Jerry act.

The whole evening passed happily, I forget about my problems...

I wanted to discuss the paper I found in my father's study with Ekta but never got a chance to talk to her alone as her brother is with us the whole time even when Ekta tried to kick him out of her room...

At 9.30 pm I returned to Verma's Mansion(Arjun's parent's home). I saw his mom sitting on the couch going through a magazine, she has wrinkles on her forehead like she is not at ease mind. I slowly approached her, hearing my footsteps she looked in my direction and the wrinkles on her forehead disappeared which is replaced by a small satisfaction smile.

"I was scared" she stood up and hugged me immediately, instantly I felt a motherly hug in her which made me stun in my place as my mind imagined things, 'is this mother love?'

'Will mother's hug be this warm? soothing to heart?'

'Lovely?'

Always I have witnessed a secure with my father beside me even he showered me with his love but there feeling I felt now is not what I usually get from my father, instead it's making me rest at peace.

"I tried to call you but also I don't want to interfere in your matters" she broke the hug and kissed my forehead, "thank god you are safe"

"she is a mature one, dear. She will take care of herself" I heard his father's voice who is smiling at us, "come let's have dinner," he told me.

Shifting in my place awkwardly I apologized to him, "Sorry uncle, I had my food at my friend's home"

He returned the smile, "no problem Diya, take a rest," he said moving towards the dining room, I followed them with guilt, they are waiting for me to join in dinner but I messed up without even informing them. While uncle sat on the chair aunty took his place and was about to serve him, I stopped her, "let me serve you"

She ignored it politely, "let me do it aunty please, I want to be a part of this family, not a guest" she nodded with a smile and sat on the chair while I served both of them having a small chit chat, but I must say these both are a cute couple, especially the look uncle is giving aunty is adorable with love.

Wish I could enjoy my life like them, "Mom, missed me?" I heard a happy voice far away from the dining room, even it's not clear, I can identify the voice.

It's him.

Advik, Arjun's brother.

"again the boring chapati?" he chirped entering the kitchen with a smile, his eyes landed on me for a snap of a second but moved to his parents and again turned to me with utter shock.

"Advik, what a pleasant surprise?" his mom asked him, while his father's business tone came out with authority, "Hope you satisfied Mr. Bakshi's problems?"

His mother came in between them, "no business during food time" she said strictly. Whole-time Advik never tried to remove his intense gaze more like intimating glare, have these brothers decided to kill me with their gaze?

"Oh, I forgot to introduce him Diya, he is my second son Advik" I just nodded at him feeling different under his gaze, "Advi, your sister-in-law, Diya"

He laughed mockingly to come close to me giving a handshake and whispered slowly only for me to hear, "yeah the great destroyer" I closed my eyes for a snap of seconds controlling the pain building up in me, and shook hand with him with a smile.

"he is one of the chatterboxes you can ever see Diya, he lights up our house with his silly activities and when his sister joins with him they will turn the house upside down, I have to beg them to keep quiet for few minutes. These two are the exact opposite of Arjun, who always prefers silence and calm surrounding"

'No aunty your both sons are the same, vowed themselves to destroy my happiness with their words' I wanted to say but nodded my head and sat quietly while they are pampering Advik, as he came here after a long business trip and the words his mom said are true, he is friendly with them with his heartwarming words and silly jokes.

When he decided to leave his father stopped him, "stay here for a few days Advi"

"Yeah, give Diya company, she might feel good when a person of her age lives with her," he thought for a while and nodded in yes making me shocked.

He is planning something.

"Mom, can I take bhabhi(sister-in-law) out tomorrow, we can know about each other?" he asked his mom.

"If she wants, then yeah no problem" his head now snapped towards me questioning me with a sly smirk dancing on his lips.

I wanted to know about Arjun and my father but If I deny him, this will hurt his parents so I said yes. Also, I can try to get about how Arjun is related to my father.

"wow sister-in-law, tomorrow will be a fun day. Sharp at 5 in the evening" he winked at me and went upstairs, I am confused as hell about what is going in his mind now? Why do I always fall into such kind of weird problems? The smile in the face somewhat looks like a fire being ignited in for years.

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So here comes another problem for Diya.

Why does Raghav want to meet Diya?

What do you think about the problem her father is facing? Is he a bad guy? Does he seem to?

And what do you think about Ekta? Will she help Diya solving her problems or will she be a hurdle in her problems and what about Kabir? Isn't he an interesting one teasing and playing around making Diya smile?

And about Arjun's parents... I love his mother sweet and caring just a lovely mother as all have and Arjun's father... A very strict one but they both failed to take care of their daughter-in-law from their sons.

The great new Jerk...Advik exact copy of Mr. Arjun Verma... Don't think of him in a bad situation he is not such a bad guy but hates her for some reason(same as Arjun).

And what is planning for Diya? Let's pray to make Diya Bold and strong.

And my lovely readers just give me support by showering your votes and comments, please. It will honestly lit my moods up...

Bye, take care until the next chapter...

Next update: Sunday

And I am missing Arjun 😕