The reads are less on previous update. You may have missed reading it so please read it before you read this chapter.

Aaaaaahhhhhhh... Ammmmmaaaaaaa....

Sidharth startled in his slumber when he heard a lady cry loudly. He turned on the light and ran outside his room towards the direction from where he could hear the shrieks travel.

Iravati, who was also on her way out and was also going in the same direction, followed him. The shrieks were coming from the kitchen where the lights were already on.

"Kaun he waha?", he yelled while entering the kitchen. He bumped into Shehnaaz's back who was standing at the door. Shehnaaz stumbled and Sidharth quickly grabbed her by her waist to save her from falling.

"Ke hua Shehnaaz?", he asked holding her by her arms and studying her from top to bottom to see where she was hurt. Shehnaaz looked into his eyes. His eyes had the same concern in them that she had found in the video where he had saved her from smoke and fire earlier.

"Huh?", Iravati gasped looking at the two standing so close.

"Thaakur.. usko kuch na hua.. manne bachaao..", he heard the voice from behind. He left Shehnaaz's arm to turn around and saw Kalyani sitting on the floor.

"Kalyani? Ke hua?", Iravati rushed to her side and looked at her curiously.

"Amma, yeh chhorri manne marna chahe se..", Kalyani cried pointing at Shehnaaz.

"Ke?", Sidharth looked at Shehnaaz in shock, who shrugged her arms blinked clueless.

"Hua ke Kalyani?", Iravati asks

Flashback:

Kalyani's stomach grumbled due to hunger as she lay in her bed.

Arrrghhh.. josh mein aake manne woh sehri khanna khaane se mana kar diya.. ib bhook ke maahra pet mein dard ho raha se..

She turned and tossed in her bed and found the hunger to be unbearable. Moreover, she was reminded how tempting the pizza looked when Shehnaaz was serving it to Iravati and Sidharth. She tip-toed and slowly opened the door to see outside. There were no lights which meant that everyone was sleeping already and the coast was clear. She stepped out and walked in the dark towards the kitchen.

She felt something under her feet as she stepped and flinched when she saw two glowing eyes.

"Mmmmeooww..", the cat screamed and jumped away.

"Hushhh..shhhooo..", she whisper yelled to the cat to shoo away.

She then proceeded to walk into the kitchen. Unlike other parts of the house, the kitchen was dimly lit. All thanks to the little lamp that was still burning in the little temple altar that was placed in the kitchen. She started looking for food to calm her aching belly - Pizza to be specific.

Finally she found it in the box and quickly opened it. Even in that dingy kitchen, the pizza looked clear due to the white cheese. Her eyes shined looking at the tempting pizza so she quickly grabbed onto a piece of pizza and dug into it. She had hardly taken a few bites when the lights went on and she found Shehnaaz standing at the kitchen door. Embarrassment was all written over Kalyani's face, when she looked at her and swallowed the pizza in her mouth.

"Arey, yeh kya kar rahi ho? Tumne toh kaha tha ki tumhe pizza nahi khaana..", Shehnaaz asked in a mocking way.

"Maahri marji.. Thaara khaa rahi hoon ke? Maahre hone waale marad khaa rahi hoon.",Kalyani barked. How could she give up to her arch rival?

Without her knowledge, Shehnaaz was irked at the final statement.

"Haan! Mera hi khaa rahi hai. Yeh pizza maine jeeta tha, apne GGSC ke show ke contest mein. Toh yeh mera hi hai..", Shehnaaz came back. Kalyani's eyes widened on the new information but still she couldn't give up.

"Toh yeh thanne na banaya? Manne bhi sochu ke thaare ko toh gobar tak na khaana aave, toh thanne yeh kese banaya.. bol toh aise rahi thi jaise thanne banaya.. amma ko pata chalega toh ke sochegi?", Kalyani tried blackmailing but Shehnaaz smiled.

"Batayega kaun? Tu? Jo khudh chorron ke jaise andhere mein baitke khaa rahi hai.. tujhe apna reputation banake rakhne ki zarurat hai, mujhe nahi..", Shehnaaz taunted.

"Arghhh.. manne satha math chhorri, warna thaare ko ghana mehenga padega..", Kalyani warned.

"Superstar Shehnaaz Raizada hoon main. Koi airee ghairee Kalyani nahi.. Sasti cheezon ki mujhe aadat nahi hai..", Shehnaaz asked.

"Super istar? Thaara shakal dekh ke maahre ko sarr dard aur ulti aave se..", Kalyani held her head in frustration.

"Ohh.. arey re re.. main toh bhool hi gayi thi.. achcha kiya tumne yaad dilaaya.. iska matlab dawaa ne apna kaam shuru kar diya hai.", Shehnaaz muttered audibly looking at pizza and laughed

"Ke matlab?", Kalyani asked.

"Kuch nahi.. khao khao tum pizza khao.." Shehnaaz laughed hysterically.

"Thanne ke pagal kutte ne kaata se? Hass ke rahi se?", Kalyani asked totally puzzled by Shehnaaz's reaction.

"Hmmm.. Achcha chalo bata hi deti hoon.. yaha pe chuha jyada hai na, toh maine pizza mein chuha maarne wali dawaa daal diya tha. Aur kyuki tumne isse khaya toh yeh dawaa tumpe asar karna start ho gaya hoga.", Shehnaaz replied with an evil smirk.

"Chuhe maarne wali dawaa? Ke bol rahi se?", Kalyani panicked. Her throat dried in fear and she started coughing.

"Haan, pehle sarr dard, phir khaasi, phir khoon ki ulti, phir tumhaare photo pe haar.. aur meri jeet.. iss sab ke liye sirf 10 minute aur..", Shehnaaz smiled while flashing both her palms to show ten.

"Aaaaaaahhhhhh.. ammaaaaaa...", Kalyani screamed loudly.

Flashback ends.

"Thaakur maahre ko bachaao jaldi se.. manne itni jaldi na marna se.. issne maahre khaane mein zeher milaaya se.. yeh manne maarna chahe se..", Kalyani yelled.

"Tumhaara dimaag kharab hai kya? Main kyu tumhaare khaane mein zeher milaungi?", Shehnaaz asked.

"Sapne mein se ke chhorri? Ke bol rahi se? Woh ke thanne maaregi?", Sidharth asked.

"Manne na pata Thaakur. Maahre paas jyada samay na se.. manne jaldi se dawakhaane le chalo.. zeher ke vajah se maahra gale mein kuch ho raha se..", Kalyani pleaded holding her neck.

"Chhorri, ye ke bol rahi se?", Iravati panicked and asked Shehnaaz.

"Nahi aunty.. yeh kuch bhi bol rahi hai.. maine kuch nahi kiya.. aapne aur aapke bete ne bhi toh ye khaaya tha..", Shehnaaz said in an innocent voice.

"Jhoot bol rahi se amma.. isne ismein zeher thaare khaane ke baad milaya se.. manne bacha lo, maahri saas phul raha se..", Kalyani cried choking on her voice.

"Seriously? Main jhoot bol rahi hoon?", Shehnaaz went ahead and picked up a peice of pizza and ate it.

"Lo, ab agar issmein zeher hai toh mujhe bhi kuch hona chahiye.. dekho", Shehnaaz said which left Kalyani in shock.

"Waise.. tumne toh isko khaane se inkaar kiya tha? Aur yaha tum khudh chalke aayi ho. Main thode hi tumhe yaha apne kande pe uttake laayi joh main tumhe jabardasti ismein zeher maarke khilaungi?", Shehnaaz asked.

Iravati and Sidharth looked at Kalyani for pulling so much drama as she was no more trembling or coughing like she did few seconds before.

"Woh.. woh.. ma.. ma..", Kalyani fumbled without any answers.

"Amma, manne sone jaana se.. waise bhi kal savere manne panchayat ke kuch kaam se bahar jaana se..", Sidharth rolled his eyes and excused to his room but not before indulging into a brief eye lock with Shehnaaz.

"Hmm..", Iravati hummed looking at Sidharth leave.

"Kalyani araam se pizza khaana.. thik hai? paani chahiye kya tumhe?", Shehnaaz asked sweetly with a smirk. Kalyani was extremely irked by Shehnaaz.

"Amma.. thaare ko pata na.. yeh chhorri ne yeh pijjaa.." Kalyani was about to complain about Shehnaaz lying about her making pizza when she was interrupted by an angry Iravati.

"Bas kar jaa chhorri.. na din dekhe na raat.. itna tamaashaa karne ki ke jarurat thi.. ek time pe apne jabaan ko ek hi kaam de.. chupp kar ke khaa le aur so jaa.. jab thaare ko ise khaana hi tha toh pehle ke itne nakhre kare..", Iravati walks off cursing her all the way.

Shehnaaz smiled at her mockingly.

"Tsch tsch tsch.. bhale hi yeh pizza mujhe muft mein mila.. par tumaare liye toh bahut mehenga pad gaya.. aur tumhe toh sasti chizzon ki adaat hogi na? Pata nahi yeh jo tumne khaaya, woh kaise pachegaa..", Shehnaaz smirked and walked off leaving fuming Kalyani behind.

Argghhh.. Bais ki poonch.. Thaare ko toh main na chhoddne wali..

Kalyani glares at the Pizza and pivks it up to throw..

Itna saara toh sunn liya ab isko phenk ke ke karungi.. roz roz thode hi khaane mile aisa khaana..

Kalyani decides to eat the Pizza anyways.

..
..
..

"Hurrrr.. hurrr.. hurrr..", a bullock cart pulls infront of the house. Shehnaaz narrows her brows and looks at it. Her lips formed a sweet curve on seeing a certain person alight from it.

"Prernaaa. Ohhh, Prerna I missed you sooo much..", Shehnaaz runs and hugs Sidharth's sister, Prerna out of excitement.

"Kaisi ho?", Prerna asks with a faint smile.

"Main thik hoon.. tum kaisi ho?", Shehnaaz asked.

"Thik hoon..", Prerna replies.

"Prerna?", Iravati was surprised.

"Amma.", Prerna embraced her mother.

"Itne jaldi aa gayi? Abhi mela lage do hi din hua se.. aur tu waapis aa gayi ", Iravati asked.

"Haan amma. Maahra mann na kiya.. toh jaldi aa gayi..", Prerna replied and went inside.

..
..
..

"Psstt.. psshht.."

Prerna scanned her room to see from where did the voice come. Soon she learnt that it wasn't from the room but outside her window.

"Kaun?" Prerna asked walking close to the window.

"Sshhhh.. main hoon Shehnaaz..", Shehnaaz shushed her before whispering.

"Kya se? Aur tum ghar ke baahar ke khadi ho?", Prerna whispered.

"Batati hoon.. tum baahar aao..", Shehnaaz whispered.

"Kyu?", Prerna was perplexed.

"Bola na batati hoon.. tum jaldi se bahaar aao.", Shehnaaz said.

"Rukho.. aati hoon..", Prerna said before picking up her shawl and wrapping around to go outside. Once outside, she searched for Shehnaaz, who was hiding in the dark.

"Sshh.. yaha..", Shehnaaz called.

"Ke hua? Manne yaha ke bulaya..", Prerna asked.

"Bataungi baba.. tum chalo mere saath..", Shehnaaz said.

"Par kaha?", Prerna asked totally confused.

"Mere pe bharosa hai na?", Shehnaaz asked.

"Haan..", Prerna replied with a nod.

"Toh chalo chup chaap..", Shehnaaz said holding her hand. She pulled her away until they reached a little far from the house. Shehnaaz took off the blanket that was wrapped around her. She was dressed in a large loosefit shirt and a denim pant. She then got onto the bike parked nearby and put on the helmet..

"Yeh kiski bike se?", Prerna asked puzzled.

"Jagdish ki..", Shehnaaz giggled.

"Huh? Thaare paas kese..", Prerna was interrupted before she asked more question.

"Sawaal jawaab baad mein.. pehle jaldi se baiton.. aur isse apna chehra cover kar lo", Shehnaaz ordered and grabbed her by her wrist to sit. Prerna covered herself in the blanket and sat behind. The bike was now in motion.

"Ib toh bata do hum donno kidar jaa rahe hai?", Prerna asked after some time

"Mele mein..", Shehnaaz replied.

"Ke? Manne na jana waha.. binti karu, waapis chalte hai..", Prerna pleads.

"Dekha isi liye nahi bata rahi thi main.. par ab yeh gaadi mele mein jaake hi rukhegi..", Shehnaaz said.

"Par ghar pe kisi ko na bataya manne.", Prerna said.

"Maine bhi kaha kisiko bataya hai.. waise bhi tera bhai toh gaon mein nahi hai.. aur aunty so rahi hai.. unke jaagne se pehle waapis aa jayenge.. meri guarantee hai..", Shehnaaz assured.

..
..
..

The bike came to halt back in the village and Shehnaaz parked it at the exact same location as it was before. The two ladies walked towards the house in dark. As soon as they open the door, they both trembled looking at Sidharth, who was seated on a chair. Just near him stood Kalyani and Iravati was seated on a deewan holding her head in hand.

Sidharth observed the two ladies. Shehnaaz's hair was unkempt and messy. She was supporting Prerna to walk, while the corner of Prerna's lips had a spot of dried blood on it along with a red scar on her forehead.

"Prerna? Yeh thaare ko ke hua?", Iravati ran towards her daughter and inquired with concern.

"Woh.. woh..", Prerna looked at Shehnaaz with fear and nervousness. Sidharth inspected his sister as well and glared at Shehnaaz.

"Ke hua maahri behen ko? Kaha le gayi thi tu maahri behen ko?", Sidharth roared like a ferocious tiger at Shehnaaz.

Shehnaaz had seen his temper many times earlier as well but this was different. It was scary as hell. Looking at which she could hardly speak a word from her mouth.

Sidharth snatched her by her arm into a firm grip and glared hole into her eyes. They held wild fire, which could burn the entire world.

"Bol! Tu maahri behen ko kaha le gayi thi?", he spoke gritting his jaws.

"M..m..mele..", Shehnaaz fumbled with her head down while struggling to release her arms that were hurting in his grips.

"Iski yeh halat kaise huyi? Ke kiya thanne maahri behen ke saath?", He grabbed her hair and pulled it to make her see into his eyes. Shehnaaz saw Kalyani smirk from behind which unleashed the beast in her. She glared at Sidharth for treating her like that.

"Bhaiyya, chhoddo usse.. usne kuch naa kiya..", Prerna spoke.

Her words neither reached Sidharth nor Shehnaaz's ears as they glared hole into each other. If he was a ferocious tiger, she was no less then the enraged tigress.

"Amma.. bhaiyya ko bolo usse chhoddne ko.. uski wajah se maahri ye halat naa huyi..", Prerna yelled.

"Sidhaaarth, chhorre chhodd usse..", Iravati summoned and Sidharth's grip loosened but the death glares they gave didn't cease.

______

To be continued..