Journey of Hope

CHAPTER:- 13

Ashia's Pov

"Hello!" I heard Pratyasha's confused voice from the otherside.

"Hey, Prati! Ashia here." I said composing myself.

"Ashia?" She asked in confusion.

I licked my lips in nervousness. "What if she will ask, how did I get her number?" I thought, but it was too late to think about the call. I had dialled the number and she had recieved the call. I forced my brain to think a quick lie, that would be equally convincing. But, Pratyasha's next words left me shocked.

"Oh my God, Ashia! I was just thinking about you and see you called. People said right, whenever we wish something from heart, God grant it." She said excitedly.

I couldn't believe how naive she was! Being a girl, she didn't even ask me how did I get her number at the first place. Strange!

"Maybe your wish was too strong. So God granted it too early." I faked excitement. I was not in a mood to gossip with her. "What are you doing?" I asked the basic question to continue the conversation. I had to dig inside her life.

"Nothing much. Applying turmeric paste to my scars." She said. I was surprised, not because of her scars, as I knew about her disturbed family. But her voice had no gloominess, that left me to think over again.

"Scars? Are you fine?" I expressed my concerns, which were fake at the same time.

"Don't worry. Scars are my old friends." She casually said. "But, for the first time, I am enjoying the pain."

Hearing her excitement, I was confused. According to my investigation, she should be worried or should have cried. But her cheerful voice was not according to my assumption.

"Enjoying the pain? Are you alright, Prati?" I sceptically asked her.

"I am alright." She said, and I heard a thud sound from the other side.

"What's that sound? Prati! Are you fine?" Unknowingly, I asked in a worried tone.

"Yeah. I am more than fine. I just jumped on the bed causing the sound." She giggled. While I released the breath that I was holding for a second.

"And why are you so happy today?" I asked in a mocking way.

Well, she was too naive to understand the mockery in my voice. As an innocent child she started to narrate the whole conversation of her with Ishaan.

"And that's why I am so happy today. You know what, Ishaan is not that bad. I was wrong. I shouldn't have made a conclusion of him, without even having a normal conversation for once. Actually not my fault too, he always behaved as an angry young man with me. I never realised that he too has a caring and carefree side. He didn't even tell my Dadi about our outing. And he made this turmeric paste for me. I think, I should give our marriage a chance. What if he is the prince charm of mine!" She kept blabbering, while I tightened my fist to control my anger.

"Enough!" I shouted finally, not being able to control my anger. She flinched, I heard the sound and realised that I did a blunder. The anger burned my patience and I couldn't think how to mend my mistake.

"Good night." I said and cut the call, before she would have said anything.

"A game of chess life is! You have the game, until you control the pawns. A single mistake and you loose. Innovate your own rules, so that the opponent won't predict your next move." I thought looking at the opened file, lying on the front table.

Name:- Pratyasha Ahuja

Age:- 20 years

Father:- Famous business tycoon Pratik Ahuja

Qualification:- An excellent academic records in the state intermediate board.

Current status:- BBA second year student in Business School, Delhi.

Relationship status:- Engaged with Ishaan Samantray

About:- Born with a silver spoon and raise as a porcelain doll. The naive princess of her rich billionaire father.

I read the information again and turned the page. The next few pages were filled with photographs. Photographs of Ashia, from her childhood to her engagement, I had everything in my finger tips. It took one month to gather the informations about Pratyasha Ahuja - daughter of the Pratik Ahuja.

I still remembered how enraged I was after knowing about her fairytale life. I destroyed my own room, venting my anger on the poor furniture. It took me a whole month to plan the destruction of Ahuja. After bribing few officials, I got the admission in the middle of the year and finally today, I took my first step, by earning Pratyasha's trust.

"Everything was fine. Pratyasha was totally in my trap. But, Ishaan Samantray has to spoil it all. I am the only one, who should be her knight in shining armour. But, Ishaan gave her assurance of a better life." I stood up and said to myself in front of mirror. "No, I can't loose after coming so close to my target." I said in a determined tone.

Pulling the black hoodie from the hanger, I wore it over my white knee length frock and matched a black boot along with my attire. The wing eyeliner and dark red shade lipstick completed my look in a perfect sense to visit the night club.

Connecting the google navigation system, I drove my car towards one of the famous night club of Delhi - Silvery Shine.

I had many reasons to choose this night club among all the high profile clubs of the capital. From qualitative to quantitative, the most prominent reason was, Ishaan Samantray was the regular visitor of this club.

I parked my car and came out of the parking area to be bumped into someone. I looked up to meet the same person, for whom I had travelled forty five minutes precisely to reach in this famous night club.

Ishaan Samantray, I hated to admit the fact that he was not that bad looking to ignore. Infact the rumours about he being the charmer might be true too.

"Ok. You are an egoistic lady, Ashia. He is handsome, and It's not a rumour. He has charm over all the college going girls, and you yourself have seen it today." My subconscious mocked me.

"Whatever! I admit he is quite good looking." In my irritation, I spoke the sentence loudly. Realising the blunder I had created, I immediately palmed my mouth.

He observed my face, with an expressionless face. I closed my eyes in embarrassment. In a few second, I heard the sound of someone's laughter. Opening my eyes, I discovered the most unexpected side.

Ishaan was laughing at me. But, I was not angry. Maybe because I was lost in his carefree side. The sound was soothing to my ear. There was something about him, that pulled me towards him. I felt different around him. But, I ignored my growing feelings. Because it had no value until it reciprocated. And Ishaan Samantray was just another bait of my game to destroy the Ahujas.