Journey of Hope

CHAPTER:- 18

Ashia's Pov

Some unexpected turns in life made us with peoples, whom we had never expected to meet like this. From meeting Pratyasha to Ishaan - everything was my game plan to get what's actually mine.

To achieve my target, I had to make Prati a prey of friendship. But, Ishaan came out of the syllabus. That night, I went to the night club to know any secrets of Ishaan, that could break his relationship with Prati, because I had to break Prati, so that I will be her solace. That will be my trump card to enter into Ahuja's life.

But, a heart to heart conversation with Ishaan changed my mind. Under the effect of alcohol, he shared everything about him like an open book. The thing that left me surprised was his stories of childhood. He lived in USA. For confirmation, I checked his wrist. The bracelet that I had gifted her long back was still around his wrist. 'Isu' - it was written.

When he felt asleep, I took her to my home. Revenge was not in my mind at that time. He was Isu, my Isu, my childhood bestfriend. When everyone were teasing me for being an orphan, he like an angel called me his bestfriend. I was his Asu and he was my Isu. But I couldn't share this news with him... At least not till my target was accomplished.

"Ashia! Are you alright?" Prati asked patting my back. I looked at her, how selfless she was!

"I am fine, Prati. Don't worry." I said with a smile. Unknowingly my gaze shifted to Ishaan, who was driving the car. I caught him, looking at me. But, he quickly averted his gaze. Was he really looking at me. Did he know that I was his Asu? I had lot of questions, which had no answers.

"Thank God. I was so much scared seeing you unconscious." Prati said, joining her hands to God.

"That's because I am claustrophobic. It's normal. There's nothing to worry. I would have gone home alone too." I said.

"Your car was blasted a few minutes ago, in front of our eyes. It was on fire. Can you imagine any one closed to your heart in that car? Can you? I just brought you a little distance and saw the car on fire. You can't imagine what I went through..." Isu kept saying as an upset child. While I admired the way, he kept licking his lips. That's his habit of hiding his fear.

"I will always protect you." I remembered his promise from childhood. I was sure that he hadn't identify me as his Asu. But, our connection was pulling him towards me, the same connection that kept me bound to him only. I just hoped that this growing connection between us, won't be a obstacle in my way of revenge.

I looked at Prati, who was strangely looking at Ishaan. Her eyes held the doubt. Maybe she was surprised seeing Ishaan worried about me. Well, if this was jealousy, then I have to show her that I am not interested in Ishaan. That would break her trust on Ishaan. And it's going to be a big break in my plan to avenge my dead mother - Adyasha.

"Your place is in the same direction to our home. So I thought to drop you, as it won't cost us extra petrol. You know, country would be proud of me as a responsible citizen." Ishaan tried to be sarcastic as he was awkward. Unknowingly he had shown his desperation to care me. After realising his behaviour, he was embarrassed.

"Ahh... Ishaan Samantray! I would prefer to walk by, rather than trusting your driving skills. I am sure you knowingly hit my car. Guess what, the first thing I will do after reaching home is to file a complaint against you." I said showing my index finger to him. Though he was in front, but still smiled seeing my action from the rear mirror.

"Excuse me, Miss complain box! It was Prati, who hit your car. All thanks to your yesterday's driving lesson." He mocked me.

"Yes, Ashia. Ishhan had no fault here. I didn't see your car coming. This way is usually less crowded. So I was just a bit distracted. I am sorry." Prati again apologised, being the naive soul she was.

"Ohh! It's ok, Prati. Nothing serious. Look I'm fine too. You will learn driving soon. Let's forget all this." I assured her with a smile. Poor girl was crying. I side hugged her.

"Ok, so madam, now you won't file a complaint against me?" Ishaan asked, raising his one eyebrow. I saw him from the rear mirror.

Instead of answering him, I turned towards Prati. Ishaan frowned a little, not hearing my comebacks. He was about through another comment of his, but my words had left his mouth shut.

"Prati! It's your car right? Why don't you kick this i***t out?" I said to Prati.

"Ashia! I am sorry." Ishaan sincerely apologised. Ishaan accepting his defeat, was something unbelievable for me. Still I smirked, but the next moment that was wiped out by no one else than Ishaan. "Don't kick me out... From my car, Please." He stopped in the middle and completed his sentence, carrying his permanent evil smirk.

"It's your car?" I asked, making a bad face.

"Any doubt?" Ishaan said giving a mean look.

"Then I will definitely file a complaint now." I said smirking at him again. "After all I would love to see the owner being interrogated. And what's the proof that Prati was driving your car? It was you, the owner, Mr."

"You, little devil!" Ishaan shouted, turning around.

"Drive carefully. I don't want to die early." I said, glaring him.

"Oh, then when you want to die? At the age of 100? With grey hairs and wrinkled face, you will look cute, little pot." He said, looking at the front again.

"Yes, but you won't even have grey hairs at your 100. Because you would be bald, Chimpanzee."

Silence prevailed. It was how we teased each other in our childhood. The memory was refreshing. I found Ishaan, driving with an expressionless face. Maybe he was guessing me to be his Asu. I didn't want him to ask me on my face. I would not be able to say a lie on his face. It would be better, if I will be careful around him. It won't be good for my revenge game, if Ishaan will find out who I really am!

"Ohh, you guys have already become friends!" Prati said, interrupting the silence.

"Friends?" Me and Ishaan said at the same time and then glared each other. "We and friends - never happening." Again we said the same thing at the same time and the glared each other at the rear mirror.

"Yeah. Using 'i***t', 'devil'... That's what friends for. To pull each other's leg." Prati said. But I felt something in her voice - sadness or loneliness?

"Then what are you two? You are still calling her Ashia!" Ishaan mocked Prati. "It's not only friends who call each other with names."

"Yes. Sometimes enemies do." I said gritting my teeth. Turning towards Prati, I said, "And friends are like us." I side hugged her and continued, "As in who stand by each other."

Prati smiled towards me. Not a fake smile or low smile, but a genuine smile.

"And why can't I get such a friendship with you lovely ladies?" And like always, Ishaan couldn't bear us having a moment without him. So he interrupted us.

"Because you are an idiot." I mocked.

"And you are a little devil." He too said, using the same tone as mine.

"We reached." I excitedly said seeing my home.

"We know that it's your home. You only set the address on car navigation." Ishaan mocked me.

"Whatever!" I said and came out of the car. Prati followed me. Ishaan parked the car and then joined us.

"You have a freaking mansion." Ishaan exclaimed. This guy!, can't even stay silent for a single minute. "Nice design. Guess what, I want this mansion for myself. Hey, little pot, how much will it cost?"

"I guess, your whole business." I said with a tight lipped smile. Ishaan gaped at me like a fish.

"You are eyeing our whole business?" He asked, narrowing his eyes.

"Yes, Any doubt?" I said and crossed him to move in front.

Pratyasha was still in a daze. She was admiring everything on her way.

"These things are so beautiful." Prati said, showing me the garden. "This is really your mansion?" She asked like a kid.

"I bought this, as it cost a much cheaper price. I am not a princess like you." I winked at Prati.

"And which fool sell this mansion in such a cheap price?" Ishaan asked with an open mouth. He was totally impressed with the design of the mansion.

"A regular broker." I said, not stretching the topic more.

"Who was the previous owner?" Ishaan again asked. This guy was totally into the mansion. But his question was beneficial for me. I wanted Prati to know the previous owner of the mansion.

"Raghav Bharadwaj." I said and looked at Prati to study her expressions.

"Raghav Bharadwaj! Is this his mansion? Are you sure?" And like I had expected, Prati kept asking questions.

"Easy girl. What's with Raghav Bharadwaj?" Ishaan said, seeing Prati's excitement for the first time. Prati stayed silent. But, I chose to answer this question of Ishaan.

"Raghav Bharadwaj was once the richest businessman of Asia. Infact, now his business is managed by his son-in-law." I said, noticing Prati's reaction at the same time.

"What a man! He made such a wonderful mansion." Ishaan didn't leave a single word to praise Raghav Bharadwaj.

I opened the door and we entered inside. "I have shifted a week back only. So don't mind the dust." I said.

"Are you serious? This much big living room, I won't mind this even if you will dump the whole garbage box here." Ishaan said, scanning the whole living room.

"Ashia, Will you mind if I will look around?" Prati asked politely.

"Come on, Prati. You are my friend. Everything here is yours too." I said with a smile.

"Thank You." Prati said, and excitedly leave to explore the mansion, leaving me and Ishaan alone.

"I didn't notice the mansion in the morning." Ishaan said, sitting on the sofa.

"That's because you are high." I said.

"I wasn't that much drunk." Ishaan said defending himself.

"And I am an idiot." I mocked faking a smile.

Ishaan acted as if thinking something important and then said, "That's true."

"Chimpanzee." I said, gritting my teeth. He surely know, how to instigate me. Well, experienced from childhood, you see!

"I heard that." He said, glaring me.

"It was for you to hear only." I said with a tight lipped smile.

"If it was for me to hear, then why were you muttering?" He complained like a child. I giggled.

"My house, my wish." I said, flipping a hair strand of mine.

He was already irritated with my attitude. But, he wasn't backing out, not at least, he shut me up. He still had a big fat ego.

"But, just a little moment ago, you said Prati that everything here is hers too." He said, faking a smile on his face. That smile was anything but genuine.

"Yeah, because she is my friend, not you." I said, using the same joyous tone of his.

"Ohh, like that?" He said, forcing a wide smile.

"Yeah, like that." I mimicked him.

He stood in front of me. I looked at him in confusion. He came towards me. Closer and more closer, then said, "See, This mansion is yours. Prati is your friend. So it's her too. Then I am Prati's fiancee. So I do have right over this too."

His proximity was affecting me. But, when he mentioned himself as Prati's fiancee, I came back to myself and pushed him a little.

But, it was too late. We were already lost in our world. Something was there about him, which forced me to listen the words of his eyes. Even Ishaan was feeling the intensity between us.

We might have read our feelings, or felt the connection - a little clear than ever but Prati's scream interrupted our moment.

"No!" We heard Prati's scream and followed the voice.