At night, Fareeha found herself reminiscing about the kiss again. In thoughts, her hand reached up, and she gently caressed her lips. The warmth and soft feel of his lips still lingered. So, this is how a man's lips feel. Involuntarily, she drew in a breath and imagined how a real kiss would feel. Lips, mouth, tongues, hands—and Sarfaraz's face popped into her mind.

She sat up on the bed, clenching the bed sheet.

"Chi, yuck, no!" Fareeha shook her head, then held her forehead. Maybe Sarfaraz was right. She was taking this non-kiss seriously. Why was she thinking about it? Was he thinking about it, too? Nah! He must have completely forgotten about it.

Sarfaraz sat on a beanbag, drinking coffee and reading through the script. This time, he was going for a romantic thriller. For Dania, he had insisted he would play the villain and Akshay Makhwana be the hero. He sat back, took a sip, and stared at the script. Reading his romantic scene with the female lead, his mind raced to the kiss.

Fareeha met him today, and she seemed to be perfectly normal. Perhaps he was overthinking about it. Sarfaraz sighed. But then why was he even thinking about it?

His thought broke with loud rapid knocks at his bedroom door. Startled, he slipped from his seat and quickly bounced on his feet.

"Who is there?"

"It's me, you ass."

Sarfaraz frowned, turning to check the time. One in the night. Fareeha?

Cautiously, he approached the door and opened it. She stormed him and held the collar of his top.

"Give me back my ring."

"What?" Sarfaraz looked puzzled.

Fareeha seemed fresh as a daisy in a sleeveless palazzo set.

Her eyes blazing with angry tears.

Sarfaraz gulped.

"Why are you still wearing it?"

He fumbled, - "It is stuck."

She raised her eyebrows, - "Too bad, we will have to cut your finger."

Sarfaraz chuckled, - "You think I am seven?"

"Give it back to me." She began to snatch it from him. He winced, pulling his hand.

"What—"

"Listen, ass, this is for Adil. I love him, and I am going to marry him."

Sarfaraz's face hardened.

"You are not." He pushed her shoulder. She stumbled back but boldly took back her step. She raised her face, staring into his eyes.

"Enough is enough, Hadi. Dania's mother is insisting on his marriage with her. Before I even get a chance, I am desperate to propose." She restlessly flexed her fingers.

"Fareeha," He held her shoulders, - "Babes, you have no chance," Sarfaraz spoke in a serious tone, maintaining eye contact.

Fareeha shrugged his hands off her, - "I am not going down without a fight." She vigorously shook her head.

Sarfaraz's heart sank looking at her desperation.

Fareeha lowered her head, her lips quivered as she sighed, - "Dude, why me?" With tears down her cheeks, she stammered, - "I have tried so much, but no one finds me attractive. I also want to be center of attraction like Dania. Two men fighting for my attention." She wiped her tears with the heel of her palm, - "Hadi, you are right. I will never find someone to love me. Not Adil, not anyone else." Fareeha stumbled back, Sarfaraz held her hand and pulled her to steady.

She attempted to free her arms from his tight grip, - "Leave me, Hadi. Keep the ring—I don't care anymore. I should get back to what I am good at. Working for you." Her tear-filled eyes had reddened, and her nose and cheeks turned rosy as well.

"You were right, dude. You are always right. I have a mustache." With trembling hands she pointed at her upper lip, a tremulous smile on her face, - "I have a hard time maintaining my weight, my looks are average—"

Before she could complete her rant, Sarfaraz bent holding her face angled up, and pressed his lips firmly over her moving mouth. Fareeha stiffened momentarily, her neck hurting with the sudden change in posture. Wild tremors shot down his nerves as he moved his lips over her soft closed mouth. She relaxed as his hold loosened and he gently gripped her cheeks with both his hands. As soon as Fareeha parted her lips, Sarfaraz got better control. Her wet lashes flickered, closing as she relished the kiss.

He placed his hands behind her, lifting her seamlessly off the ground so they could be at the same level. As their body posture relaxed, Sarfaraz deepened the kiss. Fareeha placed one arm around his neck and with the other held his jaw. Both kept their eyes closed. As he walked a few steps, carrying her whilst kissing her, his feet stumbled and he fell.

Sarfaraz fell off his bean bag, his eyes snapped open as steaming hot coffee fell over him.

"Ouch! Ah!" Glancing around, he found himself alone in the room. Looking down, he gasped at the messy, ink-dissolving, filthy-looking, unreadable script, - "Shit!" Sarfaraz clenched his hair.

"This stupid girl. Why did she—why did I?" He smelled the remaining coffee in the mug. Was this drugged? With the thought, he made a mental note to make his beverages.

Sarfaraz hurriedly got on his feet, and removed the Tee over his head, tossing it in the corner. After splashing warm water on his face, he stared at his reflection in disbelief. He needed to sort one thing at a time. First, he needed to boost Fareeha's confidence so that she would stop being desperate for Adil. Then he will deal with Dania. Or should he sort out his matter with Dania? Was that woman just fooling around?

Sarfaraz clenched the wash basin, gritting his teeth, - "That ba*****, Adil, he is the root cause of all."

What to do of him? Hire henchmen to kill him off? Accident? Get his tickets to America and kick him off by his private jet? Get a sanskari sushil girl, drug him, and get them married?

He hit his fist on the granite slab and turned around. Holding the back of his neck with both hands, he stretched and sighed.

Something must be done, but before anything, he needed a good sleep to clear and cleanse his mind. What sort of non-sense hallucinations was he having? 

Dania sat on one of the sofas in the lounging area and worked on her tablet. Twirling the stylus pen in her hand, she stretched her neck to check her phone.

Adil walked in, searching for Dania. Within seconds, he found her busy on her tablet and talking to someone on the phone pressed between her ear and shoulder.

Adil straightened,tugging on his yellow polo shirt at the waist.

"Okay, Nimmi. I have seen the craftsmen work. Perfect." She smiled, massaging her forehead. Glancing at Adil, she blinked and nodded with a smile. He reciprocated.

"I am sending some last-minute changes in this embroidery. You are the expert here, check on that—and so kind of those men to accommodate— Thanks, honey, you are best."

Dania disconnected the call and groaned, falling back with her hands on her face. Adil observed her with a smile.

"So much stress." Her voice was muffled.

"Understandable. First time you are going out of your comfort zone, and that too for such a huge project."

"Seriously." Dania emerged her face from behind her hands and straightened in her place, - "I don't know if I can do this. Famous actresses and such top personalities from the business world, showbiz, sporting—oh, my God." She fell back again, massaging her face.

Adil leaned, placing his arm on the back of the sofa, and rested his face against his knuckles.

"I haven't seen your work, but I trust you got this."

Dania shook her head,- "The wedding is around the corner, and in that leaving Ma in the hospital."

Adil sighed, shaking his head, - "That will be tough. My friend, Dr. Vihaan's cousin, works here. I will introduce him to Aunty and also keep in touch while we are in Dubai."

"We?" Dania raised her eyebrow.

He beamed at her, - "Of course. How can I miss Bollywood Shaadi? They are so much fun."

She smiled, falling her head back on the sofa.

Adil admired her for a while until he recollected Fareeha's proposal. He closed his eyes, shaking his head. The guilt stabbed his heart again. His friend, Fareeha, was so sweet, innocent, and caring. She deserves all the happiness, but he doesn't feel the same way. Adil's gaze flickered over the heart-shaped ring on Dania's finger.

Everything was going wrong. He needed to solve this.

Pushing aside all the over-thinking, Adil offered some coffee in the cafeteria. She agreed. 

How was the Chapter, my lovelies? Drop your thoughts lots, lots and lots. It will brighten my day and motivate me a lot.