"Raya, is it really silent today or its just my imagination?" Karan asked as he stood beside Raya , near the kitchen counter. She was busy preparing the dinner.
Raya chuckled at Karan. "Its really silent today. Its similar to the days when i joined here newly."
"And after that, you didn't let this mansion to be this calm. Always complaining and demanding. 'Karan, this. Karan that.' "Karan mocked raya.
"Ahh.." karan hissed as he recieved a slap on his shoulders. It was not really a hard slap but karan was in mood of fun.
"Are you mocking me? " Raya asked with narrowed eyes.
"Absolutely Not."
"But still Karan. I'm getting old. Find yourself a nice girl and date her, please. I want to see you happy." Raya was serious now.
"But i'm Happy, Raya. And i find various nice girls." Karan winked at Raya earning one more slap.
"Not your chicks. I want you to find yourself a girl who will complete you. Who will compliment you and make you perfect." Her tone turned even more serious. " I want you to find a life partner not a bed partner."
"I'm 57. My retiring age is near. And before i turn 58, i want you to find a nice girl." She commanded. "Understood, young boy?"
"Will see to it. For now, when will everyone return?" He tried to divert the topic.
Most of the times, Raya would pester him to find a good suitable girl but he never got The One with whom he could be Himself. To whom he could show his fears. With whom he will never get bored of! With whom he'd want to explore the world.
And thus he would always divert the topic.
The sound of door bell bought him back to reality and before Raya could go to attend the door, he went. As he opened the door, Mishti smiled at him.
"Hey." She greeted softly.
"Hi." He let her in before closing the door. "So, where were you?"
Her body stiffened at the unexpected question and she took a breadth before smiling back softly. "I was in Cafe. Catching up with my friends."
"The same ones ,you were attending the day i pulled you in a corner." He asked amusedly making her wonder the reasons behind his amousing tone.
"Yeah." It was not a lie. That day when Karan pulled her in a corner, she was with her team. Telling them that he'll come to chase her and he did!
"Oh, you came?" Raya sighed. "It was so boring without you here. For the first time, i missed you and lexi."
"Well, that reminds me where is she? Its late?" Raya asked worridly.
For a second, mishti felt the emotion of guilt for lying to Raya. Ever since she had joined here, Raya had given her the love that she never recieved.
"Looks like, she is here." Karan said as he heard the door bell. And it was Lexi!
She came inside with a large grin and Raya asked why was she so happy?
"I think my aim will be fulfilled soon, Raya. I just need your wishes." Lexi said brightly.
"Don't tell me you are going to have an interview in UPSC. Did the results already came? You passed?" Lexi nodded without hesistating. Soon she was engulfed in hug by Raya. "I'm so proud of you, Lexi. I have seen you working late night in some official papers, but being an illiterate, i didn't know what exactly you worked at."
"But i'm happy. My wishes are always with you. May you achieve all your dreams." A tear fell from Raya's eyes and Lexi smirked at Mishti. Since she was still hugging Raya, none could see the smirk except Mishti.
A sudden uneasiness surrounded mishti and she excused them while going back to her room.
Are they being insensitive towards Raya?
Raya is so pure, so kind and still they are playing with her.
Didn't lexi had an heart while lying to Raya?
Didn't lexi's heart felt a prick like her did when lexi smirked?
Didn't her hands shivered while hugging Raya?
Are they cheating Raya while taking their revenge from Karan?
There were numerous question to Mishti's mind which she could not find the answers of!
The door to her room opened and she looked directly at lexi.
"How could you, Alina.?" She whispered to lexi in an hurtful tone. "You are clearly misusing her trust. She's innocent."
"She might be. And yes, i'm playing with her, tejasswi, but i dont care. " lexi said in a blank tone. "All i care about is, those dead bodies. You loved them more than me right? Then how can you fall week?"
"I'm not falling week. But aren't we doing the same from what they did with them..? Aren't we being just like them." Mishti argued
"No. We aren't." Lexi said dismissing the topic. "Just concentrate on the plan before thay get to know about us and we fail in our revenge." Lexi went to the washeroom.
A soft knock on her door caight mishti's attantion. "Yeah. Come in."
It was Karan. "Raya is calling you both for din..Are you okay?" He asked as he found her eyes moist.
"Yeah." She rubbed her eyes. "It must be some dirt."
Karan nodded and left.
____
Next day.
Karan reached the hall after getting ready for his office in a navy blue tux with brown leather shoes. He saw Lexi convincing Raya for something while Mishti was setting the breakfast.
"Please my bebo. Please. " lexi said in a baby voice with her puppy eyes.
"What is going on here?" Karan asked interrupting the duo.
"Look at this whiny kid here, karan. She is having interview in UPSC and she cannot find anything 'simple yet elegant' dress and wants me to go with her in shopping. " Raya complained.
"Please Karan. I promise we'll be back soon. " Lexi pleaded.
"No Karan. I will not go on shopping with her. She takes millions of years while shopping. Nah! " Raya commanded.
Karan was getting irritated with so much of noise. Moreover, he was hungry. "Fine. Raya go with her. And lexi, you will buy your dresses fast. No need to be picky." He said dismissing the argument
"Can i have my breakfast now?" He asked impatiently.
"Yeah!" Mishti said and served his plate.
He really meant when he said that they are not his servants. They made this mansion a home! Lexi had filled the place of a younger sister in his life while Raya of a mot---No. Not that .
He was having his breakfast with mishti who was sitting in front of him. It was a comfortable silence when lexi broke it.
"So bye, folks!" Lexi dragged Raya who had a why-me expression on her face. Lexi turned back while walking straight and smirked at Mishti.
Mishti knew it was all a facade. Lexi, Alina, is not giving any UPSC exam and is just taking Raya in shopping so that she can have a quality time with Karan.
"I'm done." Karan got up and took his plate to kitchen.
"Your wound is open and you can't use any soap or detergent, you know." Mishti said bringing her plate as well.
"Its not really deep." He looked at Mishti, in her eyes.
"But your eyes are!" Mishti whispered and her eyes widen. She was not planning to say this. She was supposed to complain him about his unattentive nature and dress his wound again. She ruined the plan.
But how the words slipped?
___