Possession by Laila Ali (best authors to read txt) 📕

"Start eating" He ordered in his deep, elderly yet dominant voice and everyone begin to eat. The atmosphere was thick at the dining table. No dialogues were being exchanged. Everyone had that hunch feeling of something ominous being happened. And minutes later the dinner was over.

"Everyone listen to this and listen well," Shabbir Haider Syed spoke, his deep baritone voice striking in the thick atmosphere, "no member of haveli will be leaving out without informing Irtaza or Shehryaar." He announced.

"And Zahra," he moved his head towards her, "you won't be stepping out of haveli without taking 'permission' from Irtaza." He ordered and stood up.

"I hope I have made myself clear." He said and left.

Zahra was not able to utter a single word in front of him. She was gobsmacked and felt humiliated. Then another bomb was dropped on her by Irtaza's next words.

"Dua, Haya, Haseeb, and Zahra I want you all in my office by 9:30" He ordered and then left the table. They all felt like they were being called to the principal's office. Before any once could ask something from them they immediately stood up and left.

.............

"I don't know what will happen to me," Haseeb said as he continued to roam here and there like a lunatic. All four of them were meanwhile collected in Zahra's room.

"You coward. Be a man and face it with dignity" Dua sassed although she was also afraid for him, Zahra, Haya, and herself but didn't show it.

"Shit! Why didn't I think of it?" Haseeb replied to her in the same tone.

"Because you don't have a brain stupid. Just tell Irtaza bhai you wanted to go and you always do what you want." Dua joked to break the lock of the thick and hypertensive surroundings.

"Haan (yes) why not. I will absolutely do as you say and then your brother will break almost all my bones." He replied.

"Wow, how did you get there? I exactly want that to happen." She teased

"Brain baby brain," He answered..

"Can you guys stop pulling each other legs because it's already 9:15. Think of something solid to give as an excuse." Saif said while entering the room. He only had a single motive to somehow alleviate their tension.

"Aghh! Nothing is coming into my mind. No lies, no excuse nothing and I don't know what he will do to me. Ya Allah save me from my own brother." Haseeb dramatically replied.

"Why are you acting like a scared cat Haseeb?" Saif asked.

"Am I acting like a scared cat? You forgot your time when you were almost ready to run from haveli only to get away from Irtaza Bhai."

"Bastard this was a secret between us." He gritted, teasingly.

"Shit! Sorry, just a slip of tongue."

"Dua Haseeb has a crush on your best friend, Sameen, and Haya he knows your Instagram password. Oh sorry a slip of tongue"

Haseeb's mouth hung open.

"Bhai you know my password."

"You have a crush on her!! What???"

With that being said four of them engaged in a ceaseless and an incessant conversation while Zahra sat on the other side of the bed looking like a scared pigeon, only praying that somehow the clock could not be stuck at 9:30.
...................

"You go in first," Haseeb whispered shouted, and pushed Dua towards the door of Irtaza's office. It was 9:28 by now.

"No I am not going first. You go Haya."

"I can't be your scapegoat. Haseeb bhai you go in first this all happened all because of you."

"Hahahaha I am not going in until or unless someone knocks at the door. You know manners. Dua, you knock at the door and Haya you enter first then I'll be following you."

"You are a big ass coward Haseeb."

"No, you are."

"No, you are"

"You. Are."

"You were, are, and will be."

"Guys stop it it's 9:29 already," Haya told making their whisper shouting stop at once.

"I think so Zahra should go in first. She is Irtaza bhai's fiance and he won't say anything to her." Haseeb advised.

"No...I don't want to." She stuttered. Her face was already paled.

"Fuck off Haseeb. I am going inside." Dua said, turned the doorknob, and went inside. Three of them followed her, Zahra at last, and found the office table empty.

"Irtaza Bhai darr gye mj sei" Haseeb jokingly said.

(Irtaza bhai got scared of me)

"Who got scared and from whom?" Irtaza asked, who was sitting on the sofa along with his Dada. He stood and move towards the table.

"Shit" Haseeb cussed under his breath and bit his tongue.

"Sorry, Bhai," Haseeb said.

"You will be" he replied, and leaned against the front of his office table.

"Line up." He ordered and chucked the apple in his hands. Their grandfather observed them with his hawk-like eyes.

All of them lined up. Zahra next to Haseeb, Dua next to Zahra and Haya at last. Their heartbeats were now getting faster with every second especially Zahra and Haseeb. All four of them were looking down at the floor as if it was the most mesmerizing thing they have ever seen.

"Zahra," he called out making her breath hitch, "why did you leave haveli when I told you not to?" He asked.

She remained quiet, contemplating what to say. It took her two long minutes but still, nothing came to her mind.

"Answer!" He gritted.

"I..uh.." She immediately replied but nothing was coming up in her mind.

"Look at me while you speak."

She nodded her head and slowly looked up at him.

"Now speak" he commanded looking straight into her eyes.

"I do..don't know" she replied with the first thing which came into her mind and looked down again.

"LOOK UP!" He shouted and in hysteria, all of them looked up at once. Zahra was almost shivering by now.