Nyra’s POV

I looked in the mirror as I got dressed for the gala. It is one of those usual, ordinary galas held every month by one or the other business men for very mere reasons. But this gala was not normal, well at least for me it was not going to be normal because Ishaan would be attending this gal , and for sure I would have to cross path with him. Based on our prior interaction which we had after 7 years that led to me having a mental breakdown I decided at first to not attend the gala as it is not even that important but then Ayesha, Alisha and Samira convinced me to attend it as they said that they would also be present plus if I did not go he would very well think that I did not show up because of him and I would do anything but give him the satisfaction that I would even bother think about him. Maybe this is what hurts the most that no matter how hard I try I do think about him even though after what he did to me. And Alisha being Alisha came up with the brilliant idea that I should not show up to the party alone but rather with a date to see how Ishaan reacts. And what else dos this girl do better than adding oil to the fire. Anyways the idea was not that bad so I decided to go with it. Finding a date was not that hard and on an account I found the best – Ruaan. He and Ishaan were not on good terms with each other from beginning and I knew that he always had an eye for me so I played the cards. Ruaan was at first surprised when I contacted him after years but after a few sweet talk he gave in. I I don’t have any feelings for him and even he has I know that it is not going to work out so whats the harm in experimenting, besides even a road side beggar would be better that that Ishaan. Ruaan had picked me up for the gala. And as we entered the party he held my hand clearly trying to give the impression to people that we were dating and I did not protest even though at any other situation I would not even look at him let alone be his girlfriend but I wanted Ishaan to see that I had moved on and was not sulking for him. But that seemed very hard for Ishaan to digest as he I could clearly see the agitation creeping in him as he watched us from across the room without even falling an eyelid. And I knew that I was successful in my plan. Finally after some time I find Alisha so that I could inform how great of a success her lan was and also partly because I wanted to be freed from Ruaan, now that Ishaan’s eyes were not on us any more. I quickly run towards her as I find her coming out of one of the room, flustered, as she spoke something to herself and what takes me b surprise that following her someone else comes out of the room and OH MY GOD! It’s her boss – Dr Armaan Malhotra. Did their enemity so fast turn into something else ? I could not hold my laughter seeing Alisha as she snapped at me clearly knowing what I was going to say, as she spoke looking with vengeful eyes at Armaan “ Don’t get me started.” Alisha’s POV I had come to the party with a very good mood and was ready to enjoy to the full extent until I saw him. Mr Armaan Malhotra. How does this person end up everywhere where I am present. At the first sight of him I felt like running away from there because once he saw me there would envetably be a fight between us because that man has taken an oath to never let me leave in peace and it is his sole motto to take away my life. But before I could go away from him, he catches me “You weren’t trying to escape from me, were you?” he says pulling a chair beside me as he indulges into conversation with others while looking at me from the side of his eye as a triumphant smirk grows on his face knowing that he was right. If it was in my hands I would have broken a few glasses on his head. What difference would it even make? It is not that he could go mental for he is already one. Well atleast I found Ayesha as I excused myself from there and him and went to her . “Did you see how infrituated Ishaan looked seeing Nyra and Ruaan together?” “well the credit goes to one and only ME” I said full of pride of myself “where is Samira?” “Oh!its no wonder that she has forgotten about us after finding a boyfriend.” As we were talking Ayesha suddenly jumped to her feet when I asked her confusingly ”What happened?” “OH! Carlos is here. I cant manage for him to see me. He would not leave a chance to embarrass me after our office encounter.” saying which she quickly ran away as the first place she could find as I pretended nothing happened. And kept on standing there for it is better like this than having to face that Mr Khadoos.

When I suddenly noticd that some people were string at me as they went by. At first I ignored them because it’s a usual thing for people to stare at girls. Well I was not going to hide somewhere because of such people. But soon the no of stares increased which made me feel concious .And how could it happen that for one day I could live without problems. First Mr Khadoos and then this. The chain of my dress had broke giving a way to my back.i quickly retored to a wall with my back to it as I searched across the hall but could not find either Ayesha, nyra or samira. God where had they disappeared now. I quickly slid into a nearby room and luckily it was vacant as I sat on the sofa closing the door behind me. I tried calling the three of them but neither of them picked it up so now I was officially stranded and would have to wait for one of them to remember me. STUPID DRESS! UGGH! I sat on the sofa hopelessly when I suddenly heard the door creak open, OH N0! how could I forget to lock the door? What should I do to stop the person from entering because if I stood my dress would fall off my back and then I would become a show infront of the people. Not being able to comprehend anything I picked up my Loubuotin heel and threw it at the person as I could hear the person cry out in pain. Slowly light came into the room giving way for the person . My eyes buldged out in fear and awkwardness. It was him. It was Armaan. He would chew me alive now. Should I run away? Should I throw the other heel at him so he would go away from here? no matter what you do Alisha no one can save you now. Which was pretty clear from his expression. He looked at me with a mortified expression on his face as he was holding onto my heel which had hit him right in the chest. Well it was good that it did not hit him in the face. I spoke in in a low voice not being able to guess how he would react “My heel.?” I said as I slowly slipped out the heel from his hans in which he was digging his nails angrily. When he took a tight hold of my wrist and pulled me closer to him in a rough way , looking fiercly at me as if he would burn a hole through me which he most probably wants to. I try to free my hand from his grip but he tightens it more as he speaks in a low yet firm tone “what do you think? You would get away by doing anything , just because I let you pass everytime don’t take me for granted. Don’t you dare pull your antics on me , Miss Alisha.” Sorry” was only what I could speak from my mouth as he finally left me and I took a deep sigh. Well I was wrong but I wouldn’t give in when he is also at fault. He does not even have that much of a mannerism to knock at the door. “You were also at fault.” I said in a hushed tone “WHAT!?” HE shouts looking at me in disbelief “why are you looking at me like that? Has anybody not taught you that you should knock before entering a room ?” “Oh yes its my fault that I would know that someone is sitting in one of the room leaving a party outside” he said in a dry sarcastic tone. “Well if anything I am not sitting here out of joy “ I make a disgusted face at him. “Then why are you sitting here? All by yourself?” I will ofcourse not tell him the reason . I do not have further wish to get embarrassed . when I hear him clear his throat as I look up from wearing my heel moving the hair falling on my face as I see him turning his head away from me looking hesistantly at the wall. Did a snake stung him? When I realized .OH SHIT! My dress.I quickly stand up trying to fix my dress being very well sure of the fact that I can't do it alone. His head was still turned against me as he aksed in a hesistant tone "Do you need help?"

WAIT! Is he actually proposing to help me or am I just high?

"Dont look so surprised. I do not have such interests. I am not so cheap as you think I am." He says clearing his voice.

Why can't this man ever say something without taunting.

"As if I would let you." I retorted back making a face.

I turn around , my bare back facing him as I pull my hair infront of me taking a deep breathe. I only hope he doesn't not remember this moment. How will I show my face to him next day at hospital. Now he woukd always bring it up making me remember how much of a help he was to me. Phew, Mr Khadoos.

His sleek, strong fingers graze slightly against my back as he pulls up the chain of my dress effortlessly . I could feel his warm breathe on my neck while he quickly says in a hushed tone " Done" as if meant only for him to hear but the proximity between us give way to another.

I instinctly turn to look at him to find his head turned away from me as if he is trying to avoid my gaze at any cost. And how could I let go off such a wonderful opportunity?

" Dont tell me your blushing." I look at him with smikiring eyes.

He let's out a small chuckle in a mocking tone, " I am not the one who blushes but the one who makes one blush which is quite evident from your own face and why just make you blush , if you want I can even make you feel more than that Dr Sahiba." As a smirk plays on his face.

"Shut up before I throw my other heel at you , Mr Armaan Malhotra."

"Well I would have stopped by now but it's entertaining to see you get flustered like this , Dr Sahiba ."

"Stop calling me that, Mr khadoos, before I really punch you in the face." I say infuriated by the smug attitude of him.

"As if you can, shut up Alisha."

"Make me." I say the words in the heat of the moment only to realize what a bad selection of words those were and Armaan utilizes the opportunity to his full advantage.

"I can but you will moan a little." He says leaning effortlessly against the door as he slides his hands in his pockets clearing waiting for me to react.

But I have done enough with words . I give him a dead stare and I stomp on his feet with my heel and walk off from there as I could hear him yelp in pain. HUHH!Jerk, he deserves it.

Ishaan's POV

When I got to know from Sahir that Nyra was attending this event I knew that at no matter what cost I had to come to this event. Because this could be only chance to talk to her, even though I have realized that no amount of words could make up for the pain which she had to go through for me and that I could never make up for the humiliation she had to endure for me. But I need her to know that I love her, truly and solely and I never meant to hurt her, break her in this way.

I am ready to accept all that she says to me, it's her right to say everything insulting to me and I will have no problem with it because my problem lies in the fact that she does not even want to lift a eye at me, that now maybe, I am a no body for her. And that I could never win back my place in her heart. But I would endeavor everything possible to mend for all the wrongs I have done to her.

But my hopes were shattered when I saw that Nyra had come to the party with Ruaan, Ruaan Khan.

How could she stoop so slow just to prove her point. Does she not know that Ruaan is a womanizer, that he was recently taken under arrest for charges of drug dealings.

No matter how angry Nyra is at me I could at no cost let her stay with that man and risk her safety. Maybe it's time for Ruaan to visit the jail again.

I dial out a number on my phone while keeping track of every moment of both of them , "Get the work done quickly." I cut the conversation short and leave from the room to teach Ruaan a lesson .

No one lays hand on what's mine.

And Ruaan Khan has to bear the consequences for that.

I watch Nyra and Ruaan from the corner of the room , as Ruaan leaves to bring drinks for him and Nyra. But I don't leave to talk Nyra out of the situation because that would make it worse now, so I sit there and wait for my plan to to come in action.

But the bounds of my resilience fall to spits when I realized that Ruaan has drugged Nyra's drink .

Ruaan Khan you're going to regret this.

I walked towards them, my body cutting through the air and the people like a sharp blade as I landed a sturdy punch on Ruaan's face which made him stumble and fall back . Fragile dog .

He barely managed to balance himself as the two glasses of drink fell from his hand and laid shattered on the ground into innumerable pieces.

Suddenly all the eyes were shifted on us , as people were looking at us with prying eyes. Dont they have any work.

The entire hall was silenced. Ruaan was still lying on the floor with his nose bleeding. But this silence was the silence before storm.

Nyra got up from her chair furiously and before I realized a soft hand but with immense firece came across my face . Nyra had slapped me .

She has done right. A idiotic jerk like me deserves it . And I would bear everything to protect her even if it meant my own humiliation.

The silence in the hall was broken by hushed tones of murmuring and gossip.

If I want I could justify my actions but I remained silent .

Maybe because silence spoke a thousand unspoken words which the mouth could have never formed. Her eyes spoke for the pain caused by me which jabbed her heart yet again.

I failed once again. I again humiliated her infront of all these people .

She tried to open her lips to speak, to lash out on me, but her lips curled back into tranquility.

She pushed me aside and ran from there trying to avoid all those questioning eyes which were following her just like they had did seven years ago.

I gave one disgusted look at Ruaan, picking him up by the collar , my jaw tightened and fists clenched as I spoke in a threatening tone, "Stay away from her."And left from there.

Ayesha's POV

At the first sight of Carlos I rum in the opposite direction leaving Alisha alone for which I know she is going to kill me. But I can at no cost handle the embarrasment of facing Carlos, because the moment he finds me he would constantly start reminding me about the kiss.

But in running from one I collide with the other. As i bump into a person while trying to avoid Carlos and when I look up I find it to be Mahir.

He was as surprised as I was seeing him here, because I knew that he was in USA.

He looked at me with a questioning eyes while refrained myself from matching his gaze because I knew he had understood I was trying to avoid someone . And God forbid Carlos comes here and starts making teasing me about the kiss.

I pressed my lips into a smile, about to leave when he aksed in a soft tone, "How are you?" "Good. What about you?" I tried to keep their conversation casual to prevent any of my emotions to come to the surface. He silently nodded his head and spoke "I am getting married."

On hearing those words I involuntarily tilted my heads towards him, not being able to believe the words I had just heard. The words which pierced my ears so hard that all the noise around me felt silenced. My eyes flickered trying to make peace with the fact that I no longer mean nothing to Mahir, that he has forgotten me .

Maybe I should forget him too.

I was only able to slip out "Congratulations. " from my mouth as I went in the direction of Carlos who was sitting at the table laughing hard at someone's joke. Angrez ki aulaad.

I pull him out of the table barely giving him a chance to open his stupid mouth as I whisper to him " Dance with me" while dragging him to the dance floor clearing knowing that Mahir's eyes were following us.

"How did Our Highness come to remember someone like us. "He said in a mocking tone clearly trying to supress his laugh.

Seeing which I felt like strangling him but I can't not while Mahir us prying over us like a fox.

I had never thought that Carlos would ever come to any help of me but I suppose I was wrong because now he was clearly helping me in making Mahir feel jealous without even knowing about it.

I hope he doesn't not find out other wise he woukd make ne pay for it.

I continue to put on the act with a fake smile bearing the nonsense blabbering of him.

"Dont be too flattered that I agreed to dance with you, it was just out of pity on you. Besides the fact that I know I have a face which makes people want to commit crimes." Carlos said in a flattery tone .

What does this man even think of himself ?

I give a hysterical laugh on his words, breaking his bubble.

"Don't be too full of yourself. I am just giving you the delight of dancing with me because my ex is watching us and I would not give him the satisfaction that I am sulking on him."

I see his expression change from a grin smirk to an unreadable expression, something genuine, true and not out of mockery or teasing.

"So are you over him?" He asks in a hesistant voice as if not sure of how to put it.

"Why do you care?" I aks paying not much attention to his words. He does not actually care and I know that someone why just let out my feelings on a plate for him to make a joke out of it.

"Just asking out of sympathy." He nodges of the allegations of even having a slightest bit of care towards me like dust.

"Then don't." I just try to laugh it off to prevent myself from further embarrasment as if having him pity on me was not enough .

Samira's POV

This was our second public appearance together. From then beginning we did not have much conversations with each other except the necessary ones.

Maybe that was where our relationship stood in reality no matter what we tried to frame infront of the world, we were in truth just two strangers from different grounds forced to work with each other due to mislead circumstances. And that we could never be more than that.

The entire evening was quite peaceful without any drama escalating ir anyone rising a question on our sudden bond being formed.

But how could I even have one day without problems showing up at my door.

I had just finished meeting all the important people as I was heading to find my three musketeers when I suddenly hearing a cracking noise and look down to realize that my sleek, pointed pencil heels have broken.

I somehow manage from tripping as I take the heels in my hand and exclude myself from the festivity of the party and sit in a deserted section. Only trying to find ways of how to fix the heels because in no way I am walking home bare feet.

I sit there for almost an hour feeling forgotten, when Zayn finally decides to show up.

I straighten at the sight of him , as I shift on the sofa giving him space.

"Why are you sitting here?And why are you holding your heels?" He aks taking a seat beside me.

OH GOD! Why does this man ask so many questions. How am I supposed to tell him that I broke my heels. Its not that he could do anything. It seems like Iwoukd have to somehow nanage with these broken heels only if I don't want to drain my self respect infront of him.

"Nothing. Let's leave." I say wearing my shoes and getting up.

On my very first attempt to walk with my perfectly broken heels , I trip but luckily I do not fall on the ground as Zayn holds me ,my face buried in his shirt.

I look up to find the mess created by me in his white crisp shirt. A lipstick stain on the collar of his shirt.

Has he noticed it yet? Should I tell him?

"What happened?" His voice breaks the trail of my thoughts, I look up to him startled as I see him following my gaze which lands on his shirt's collar that is stained with my lipstick.

"Let me wipe it off." I say quickly trying not to give a wrong impression as I reach for a nearby tissue paper.

When he holds my wrist firmly, stopping me from removing the stain, I look up to find his eyes which were already fixed on me.

"Stop. Leave it."

"Why? "

He cleared his throat, shaking off some thoughts from his head.

"Nothing. It would just mess more if you try to wiped it. Just leave it like this."

"Okay." I said in a low, soft tone still standing with the support on him.

When his eyes drift to my broken heels.

"You're...You're heels are broken. Show me." He says making me sit on the sofa.

"No...no it's fine. I can walk with it." I try to protest.

"Ofcourse you can." He said in a sarcastic tone.

"Open your heels."

"What!? Due you want me to walk barefoot?" I asked feeling really surprised.

Hearing this he gave me a done look. When I noticed him opening his own boots as he placed it infront of me.

"Wear these." He said in a commanding tone.

Why can't he say it in a sweeter tone ?

"I cant wear this. Then what would you wear? " I raised my questioning eyes at him.

"Stop talking and wearing this. Or else I'll leave you here alone." He said in a nonsense tone.

I pulled off my heels and wore his boots.

He took my heels in hand and walked forward barefoot without any shame or hesitantcy as if he everyday did that and it was no such a big deal for him.

Maybe he is not so bad after all as people frame him.