Ayesha looked at Abhijay and then at her mother.

“Bas 5 minute mai aati hu mummy.”

“Now!”

Her mother said sternly and Ayesha sighed.

“Mai aati hu thodi der mai. Kahi jaana mat. Wait here for me ok?”

Abhijay nodded and Ayesha ran behind her mother. She took Ayesha to Ayesha's room and locked it from inside.

“Kya karna chahti hai tu?”

Ayesha frowned at the harsh tone and asked.

“Matlab?”

“Matlab ye ki image aur reputation ka koi khayal reh gaya hai ya nhi? Kisi ke bhi saath chipakna shuru kr degi kya?”

“Kya bol rhe ho mumma?”

“Dekha maine tujhe uss ladke ko hug krte huye? Koi andaza hai agar kisi aur ne dekh lia hota toh kya kya baatein banti?”

Ayesha didn't like how her mother addressed her Jay.

“Abhijay naam hai uska. Aur dekh liya hota toh kya problem hai? Pasand hai wo mujhe. Pyaar krti hu mai usse. Infact aap thoda aur late aate toh usse bta bhi deti ye baat. Aapne moment spoil kr dia mumma.”

She pouted unaware of the storm that was about to hit her.

“Dimag kharab ho gaya hai tera? Samajh nhi aa rhi abhi baat tere? Aur pyaar? Pyaar standard dekh kr hota hai Ayesha. Aur aakhir hai kaun wo? Ek cook ka beta. Log hasenge Khandelwals pr. Eklauti beti aur ek cook ke bete ke saath. Hosh mai aa Ayesha. Mujhe toh tumhari dosti bhi manjoor nhi thi. Lekin tere papa kuch jyada hi emotional. Uss ladke ka baap bodyguard tha. Job kr rha tha. Lekin tere papa na bas zindagi bhar jaise karzdar ho gaye. Huh! Udki padhai pr aur uss par aise paisa kharch kia hai jaise apni aulad ho.”

Ayesha was shocked to hear the venom in her mother's tone. Why did she hate Abhijay so much?

“Lekin ek baat aaj meri kaan khol kar sun le. Tu aaj ke baad uss ladke se kabhi baat nhi kregi. Bhut ho gyi dosti, bhut ho gyi masti. Ab saare rishte khatam kr usse.”

“Mumma! Aakhir problem kya hai? Ki wo hamari cook ka beta hai? Family background toh koi decide nhi kr skta na? Sur galat kya hai? He is living a respectful life. Hamari hi company mai itni reputed one pr hai wo. He's worked hard for it mumma. Toh phir mai uska hard work dekhu ya family background? Aur mujhe inn sab cheezon se honestly farak bhi nhi padta. Aur na hi papa ko padta hai. Infact he likes Abhijay.”

“Tum dono baap beti ka dimag kharab ho gaya hai. I'm warning you Ayesha. Finish whatever you have with him. Aaj ke baad tu usse kabhi baat kregi. Aur agar mujhe pata chala that you're still talking to him. Toh jiss hard work ki tu baat kr rhi hai na, na wo job rahegi aur na uss hard work ki value.”

“Mumma?”

Ayesha was shocked. What did she mean?

“Yes my dear daughter! Company se dhakke maar kr, ek nhi bhut saare allegations laga kr nikalwaungi usse. Phir dekhti hu kaha dikhata hai apne hard work ki value.”

Tears formed in her eyes.

“How could you? How could you do this mumma? Itni nafrat?”

“He should know his place. Usse kya laga? Businessman ki beti se affair krega toh usse sab mil jaayega?”

“Affair nhi hai. Pyaar hai! But you know what? Aap kabhi ye difference nhi samajh paaoge. Atleast jab tak sar pr paisa sawar hai na tab tak toh nhi.”

“Aaj gaali de rhi hai. Kal thank you bolegi ki teri life bachali maine. Meri baat dhyan rakhna Ayesha. Talk to him and he loses everything.”

With that she left a crying Ayesha behind. She sobbed even more thinking about him waiting for her at the terrace.

That was the last time she talked to him properly. And now she'd hurt him behind repair. It was over. Whatever was left between them was over.

It had been a few weeks and Abhijay still couldn't get her words out of his system. Did he really imagine everything that was ever between them? Was he only a plaything for her? His heart didn't believe it. But his mind and ego was hurt.

He was at Khandelwal mansion. Ayesha's father had called him to discuss an upcoming business project. Abhijay mentally prayed not to see Ayesha. He wasn't ready to see her but a part of him craved her.

He walked towards the study where her father usually discussed everything but stopped short hearing voices from inside. Ayesha's parents' voices. They seemed to be arguing about something. Abhijay felt rude to eavesdrop and was about to leave when he heard Ayesha's name being taken and came to a halt.

“Meri bhi beti hai wo. Mujhe pata hai uske liye kya sahi hai aur kya nhi. Aap bas mujhse waada kariye ki aap beech mai kuch nhi kahenge. Achha ladka hai Rohan. Jaldi hi apne papa ki company ka CEO hoga. Crores ka malik. Hamare standard ke log hai.”

Abhijay felt his senses go numb. Did it mean what he thought it meant?

“Standard aur paisa beech mai kaha se aa gaya? Baat toh Ayesha ki khushi ki ho rhi hai na. Toh agar wo khush hai toh paisa aur ye sab toh secondary hai. Tum jaanti ho Ayesha ko financial background aur status se farak nhi padta.”

He heard Mr. Khandelwal's voice counter.

“Dimag kharab hai uska aur aapka bhi. Itne bade businessman ki eklauti beti hai wo. Achha lagega agar kisi financially low income ke aadmi se shaadi kregi toh? Log hasenge. Ki apni eklauti beti ki shaadi bhi achhe ghar mai nhi kr ske.”

“Mai tumse argue nhi kr skta aur na krna chahta hu. Tum chahti kya ho?”

Abhijay’s heart was beating wildly. He was mentally praying to God to not make what he feared to become true. But the next words that her mother uttered, shattered his hopes and his heart completely.
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