The Displaced

The morning sun offered no warmth to Shabir as he paced the length of the grand study, his phone pressed tightly to his ear. The voice on the other end was cold, echoing the finality of a gavel.

"You have one week, Shabir," the landlord barked. "Vacate the mansion. I’ve been patient enough."

"Please, just give me a little more time," Shabir pleaded, his voice cracking under the weight of his family’s future. "I will pay off the balance, I promise—"

The line went dead. Shabir stared at the screen, a hollow pit forming in his stomach. He didn’t hear his mother, Swara, approach until she was standing right beside him. He quickly wiped his face, attempting to mask his desperation behind a stoic expression.

"I heard everything, Shabi," Swara said softly, her eyes filled with a mix of pity and resolve. "I know you take care of us and carry this family like it is your sole responsibility. But you cannot do this alone anymore. The time has come for Raghav to step up." Without waiting for a response, she turned and marched toward Raghav’s private chambers.

At Heritage College, the atmosphere was far more vibrant. Singh stepped out of the HOD’s office, his face alight with triumph. He clutched a set of documents as if they were gold.

"What’s up?" Rahul asked, leaning against the hallway wall.

"Everything is going perfectly," Singh replied, grinning as he collected his papers.

Rahul let out a sharp laugh. "I told you we have the money. We have everything in life, so what else is there to worry about?"

Nearby, another boy looked up from his books with a calm expression. "No, Zayn," he countered with a gentle smile. "Even if your father is poor, education is better than money. Just study hard." The boys shared a brief, knowing look before leaving the hallway.

Back at the Hamfa Mansion, Swara found Raghav sitting outside, hidden behind the morning newspaper. The sight of his leisure while their world crumbled infuriated her.

"Raghav, I need your attention right now," she demanded.

Raghav didn't even lower the paper. "What is the problem again?"

"Our landlord has told us to vacate this mansion in a week," she said, her voice trembling with urgency.

The paper dropped instantly. Raghav stood up, visibly shocked. "What? How are we going to do that now?"

"Go and find us a home before then," Swara snapped. "Shabir has no money left. This is your responsibility as the head of this house, not his."

She walked away, leaving him standing in the shadows of the home they were about to lose. Fumbling with his phone, Raghav dialed Shabir’s number. Inside his room, Shabir answered on the first ring, his mind still racing with the landlord's threats.

"I want to see you now," Raghav commanded and hung up.

When Shabir appeared, his father met him with a glare. "Why did you not tell me about the landlord’s decision?"

Shabir remained silent, the seconds stretching into a heavy two-minute void as he stared at the floor. Finally, Raghav reached into his pocket. "I only have 100,000 with me. You need to find the remaining money and buy a house before next week." He picked up his newspaper and left. From the doorway, Swara and Jia watched the exchange, their hearts heavy with sadness.

Shabir spent the following days scouring the local areas of Mumbai. Eventually, he found a modest property, but the price tag was 200,000. He called his father immediately.

"Dad, I found the house, but the price is 200,000," Shabir explained, his voice weary.

"Okay," Raghav replied over the phone. "I told you to add the remaining money."

"But I only have 50,000 with me," Shabir whispered.

"Please go and find it. I don't have any more money to give." The line clicked shut.

Desperate, Shabir turned to the seller. He begged and pleaded for a discount until the man finally agreed. With every bit of his savings, the deal was sealed. When Jia heard the news, she ran to find her siblings—Sophia, Yash, and Yug. "Guess what!" she screamed. "Shabi has bought the house!" The siblings jumped for joy, celebrating the fact that they wouldn't be on the streets.

Across town at Hari’s house, a different kind of celebration was taking place. Hari introduced a stranger named Sham to Pooja. Because of the money Sham brought with him, they celebrated his arrival as if he were an old friend.

"I will call mum now," Hari said. "She needs to go to the traditional doctor."

"Oh, yes!" Pooja agreed.

When the call reached Aparna at the Vikram Palace, she was overjoyed. "I will be going in the evening!" she promised.

In the palace parlor, Anika was busy cleaning as Vikram and Aparna spoke.

"Aparna, my dear, I am going for an important meeting in two weeks," Vikram noted. Aparna caught Anika’s eye and signaled sharply for her to leave.

"Please stop talking in the presence of this girl," Aparna hissed once Anika was gone. "She is a hypocrite."

Vikram sighed. "You aren't even talking about my journey. All you care about is pestering her."

"I'm sorry," Aparna pouted. "When will you come back?"

"It is only for a day."

Outside on the street, Anika was walking to the market when their neighbor’s son, Jerry, intercepted her.

"Ani, please, wait!" Jerry called out.

"What? Please, I am in a hurry," Anika said, not slowing down.

Jerry scratched his head, looking nervous. "What about our relationship?"

Anika let out a sharp hiss and left him standing there. Jerry watched her go, a dark thought crossing his mind: You will be mine, whether you like it or not.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***