Just For Inheritance

With Byaaj

Not a speck of dust rests on the shelves. Not a single used utensil lingers around, waiting to be washed. Not a sock is thrown on the couch. How the heck-

Norah's gaze instantly widens. A young boy with a small graduation hat firmly tucked on his head, glares back at her with those rich black orbs from the frame. Familiar orbs.

Her fingers instantly wrap around the photo, her urge increasing to fully scan it. Now she knows that he is like this since his childhood. Raised to be like this. To be an-

"Put. That. Down-" A sharp shiver runs down Norah's spine, sending a sudden jolt through her hands, making the photo wobble between her fingers.

A loud thud resounds in the drawing room, piercing the silence. Norah takes a sharp breath before hastily picking it up. Her guilty gaze immediately shoots to him. Those same black orbs.

A soft sigh escapes Fateh, weariness evident in his slightly slumped posture. He swiftly places the blanket that was balled-up in his arms, on the couch.

"Bas yeh hi arrange ho payga, koi dikkat?" He mumbles, rubbing his palms together. Norah firmly shakes her head, giving him a tight smile.

Fateh narrows his gaze, a silent question lingering in his mind.

"Bas aaj hi ki raat na?" He says, his voice barely audible.

"Haan, vese bhi itna chotta flat mera taste ka hai hi nhin," Norah counters back, tapping her foot.

"Aur agar meri landlord mujhe apna room kisi doosri ladki ke saath share karne ko request nhin krti, toh mujhe itni baarish mein yahan aana bhi nhin padta!" She adds, some confidence radiating from her gaze that firmly rests on his. Fateh nods genuinely.

"Goodnight then," He spats, casting one last look at her. He turns around with a swish, and Norah's eyelids flutter, her shield apparently disappearing.

Lying has never been so tough- Fateh abruptly halts, looking over his shoulder. Norah stills too, her gaze locking with his.

"Kuch bhi toota. Kuch. Bhi. Remember you'll have to pay-" Norah rolls her eyes, a loud sigh escaping her. Unbelievable-

"With interest," He grits, and silence stretches between them. Enough to let Norah know that he isn't kidding.

Clearing his throat, he walks away as soon as he appeared, leaving the world's-best-organized space to Norah. The world's-most-untidy girl.

She tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear, her gaze dropping back to the boy in the frame. The one grown up to be an asshole.
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"Tu baat mat kar yaar mujhse!" Siddiqui's razor-sharp voice makes Norah flinch.

"Sun toh-"

"Kya suno?? Tujhe apni thodi bhi parva nhin hai toh mein kyon karon!" Siddiqui yells, as if she doesn't have a voice box but a voice-loudspeaker.

Norah's instinctive brain can almost feel her spitting on the screen. A grimace displays on her face at the thought-

There's a deep sigh on the other end, making Norah fully sit up on the couch, the blanket piling near her stomach.

"Ab Tu kahan hai?" Siddiqui mumbles, the subtleness finally returning to her voice. A smirk tugs Norah's lips.

"Pati dev ke ghar par-" The sound of shoes clicking against the floor reaches her ears and she unknowingly bites her tongue.

Her widened gaze travels to him, fully dressed, at 7 in the morning. Psychopath. But he's not even bothered to really see her, his pace controlled yet urgent as he gathers his stuff.

Norah silently prays he didn't hear what she just said-

"Hello? Kabtak ruk paygi wahan par!?" Siddiqui's faint voice finally makes her attention snap towards the call. Norah gulps, pressing the screen to her ears.

"I'll talk later," She whispers before straightening herself. She licks her lips, her gaze moving with him as he navigates around the place.

"Uhm, baat karne ka time hai?" She finally mumbles, her face lighting up with some kind of hope.

Fateh doesn't stop, swiftly opening the drawer, grabbing his car keys and closing it with a thud.

"30 seconds before I leave," Was all he says before taking out his shoe-polish. Norah glares back at him. He plops himself onto the stool before stilling-

"25 seconds," He shrugs, tapping a finger on his wrist. Norah instantly scrambles off the sofa, practically running towards him.

"Dekho, bhaiya-ji, mere paas ek aur deal hai-" Fateh scrubs his shoe, the sound of brush polishing the leather cutting her words. He's apparently surprised at such respect.

"Agar aap mujhe yahan kuch dino ke liye aur rehne dete ho-" Fateh's gaze shoots to her-

"As a partner, I'll let you have 5% of my share of the property!" She finishes, bending right over him, eagerly waiting for an answer. Fateh looks up at her, scratching his jaw.

"Tumhein nikala gaya hai, am I right?" He breathes, the corner of his lips twitching. Norah's lips part, her palms resting on her waist. She bites the inside of her cheek, this isn't the time for anger.

"Kya mein iss sawal ko haan samajhoon?" She mutters instead, her hair brushing past her shoulder and hanging against her chest.

Fateh abruptly gets on his feet, and only then does Norah realize that there's absolutely no distance between them, his face inches apart from hers. She silently stumbles back.

"I'll think," Was all he says before taking his wallet and leaving. Literally leaving. His gaze rested on her much longer than usual.

Norah drops back to the couch, his warmth was definitely making it hard to breathe. But an unknowing smile tugs at her lips, when did 'I'll think' not mean a yes!

She stretches, a yawn escaping her- Her knuckle seems to hit something cold, her brows crinkling-

A loud clink echoes in the atmosphere, making her jump up with a jerk. To her horror, the flower vase- broken flower vase lies on the floor, glass pieces scattered all around.

Norah winces, a fake-cry brushing past her lips. That asshole will probably take all her property as an interest!
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