chapter 21

Fiza calls Aarav and informs him about Sameer's arrest. Sameer's arrest shocks Fiza. Now, she works as dedicatedly as before, but her behavior toward everyone has changed. She is still soft-spoken, but these days she doesn't speak to anyone unless it is necessary. In the last few days, the eyes that looked at Fiza with thousands of questions today have all respect for her. Everyone appreciates her courage that she went to the police. Generally, girls do not report to the police for fear of slander which encourages the people who harass girls.Fiza returns home with a heavy heart. She is not as strong as people think of her. She is vulnerable too. After what Sameer did to Fiza, she can no longer trust people. Fiza wants to drop everything and go back to Kolkata and sleep in her mother's lap, but she can't go back now. Fiza has vowed to prove to her father that without her father's identity and money, Fiza can create an identity for herself. Fiza is stubborn like her father.When Fiza's father, Junaid, learned about her relationship with Aman, he rejected Aman as he believed that Aman didn't love Fiza, but he was cheating on Fiza for Junaid's money. According to Junaid, people love Fiza because she is Junaid's daughter. Fiza has no identity without her father. She couldn't understand why he didn't think the same for Arif. Maybe he also has kept his eyes on Fiza's father's money.Fiza goes to the balcony to talk to the stars. But no stars are visible because of the clouds in the sky. She feels like crying loudly but can't cry. Children playing in front of the building are making noise, but Fiza doesn't feel like going there today. She sits silently on the balcony for some time, waiting for the stars to come out. But when the stars don't come out, she comes into the room and starts painting an incomplete portrait. It's a sketch of the face of a beautiful girl. Fiza uses red, orange, blue, purple and black to color it. She puts red in the eyes, red-orange on the cheeks, nose and chin, blue on the forehead and purple around the eyes and lips.'Fiza, what are you doing? It's not right to be so angry.' Aman says.'You can only see my anger, not my pain.' Fiza cries out.Aman hugs her and says,' You are strong. You can't be vulnerable.''No, I feel pain too. Can you say why everyone does this to me? What did I do to Sameer that he did this to me? I was my Abba's princess until he knew that I loved you. As soon as he learned about our relationship, all his love for me ended. Even when I was in pain, he was not there for me. Maa was only there when Abba was not around. You have cheated me too.'Aman couldn't find words to console her.Fiza fell asleep on the floor crying. When she wakes up, she feels lighter. She finds herself painted in colors. She looks at the canvas on the stand and sees her pain in the eyes of the portrait.Fiza has come to Mumbai to make her name and fame without her father's support. Now, her only focus is to grow in her career. She avoids all the official parties and gatherings unless it is too important.Nowadays, Fiza talks to Shabana, Arif or Shalini only through messages on the pretext of being busy. Otherwise, listening to her voice, they will understand she is upset. During those dark seven days of Fiza's life, Aarav was by her side. Aarav knows the trauma she has gone through those days. He did not tell Shalini about the incident because she could tell it to Arif.Aarav calls Fiza while in the office. Fiza gets surprised to see Aarav's name on the screen. She picks up the mobile and says, 'Hello.' Hearing her voice, Aarav understands that she is still upset.'Hello! The trouble is over. Why are you still sad?' Aarav asks Fiza.'No, nothing as such.''Fiza, at least don't lie to me. There is good news for you. All the pictures have been taken off the internet, and the police are trying to put Sameer in jail.''Thank you for your cooperation.''Don't be so formal. I think you should take a break. Take leave for seven days and come to our place. Shalini will be happy.''No, I have a lot of work in the office.''Listen, Fiza. The office will run without you too. But, you can't recover from the trauma you have gone through in the last few days if you don't take a break from the office. If you don't want to come to our place, it's okay. Then take leave and go for a solo trip. But we will love it if you come to our places.''Okay, I will think about it.'After some other regular conversation, Fiza hung up the call.Fiza thinks a lot about Aarav's proposal and decides to take a full week off.On Saturday morning, Fiza reaches Shalini's house without informing her. Shalini gets surprised to see her.'Is everything all right, Fiza?''Yes, I just came to stay a few days with you.'Shalini is happy to meet her friend after a few months. She hugs Fiza and says,' Thank you. At last, you found some time for me.''I thought I would come to meet you, but the work pressure made it impossible. So, I have taken seven days off to spend time with you.'Workaholic Fiza has taken leave to meet Shalini? Shalini finds it fishy, but she doesn't say anything.Hearing the doorbell, Aarav comes out of his room. He feels happy to see Fiza.'Thanks for coming.' Aarav says.'Why are you thanking her for coming here?' Shalini interrupts.Aarav understands his mistake. 'You always ask Fiza to come to our place. Finally, she got the time to come here. So, I thanked her.'  Aarav says to manage his mistake.Although Shalini couldn't believe him, she remained silent. She doesn't want to spoil the moment. She only wants to enjoy the time with her childhood friend.Although Shalini looks very happy, many questions arise in her mind. Why has Fiza taken leave from her office? Why did Aarav thank her for coming here? Are they hiding something from me? Shalini says inwardly.(Continued ....)