Fareeha ran her hand nervously over her ponytail, checked her face with her hands, and pearl ear-studs, and patted her yellow floral co-od set. Grinning to herself, she trotted through the hallway. The intensity of the tune amplified, as she neared the room. She paused, anxiously entwining her fingers, and licked her lips. Her heart went Dhak-Dhak, as she knocked at the door.

"Come in." The deep baritone sends tingles in the bottom of her stomach. Fareeha placed her hand over her pounding heart and sighed. Shaking her head, she patted her cheeks and exhaled through her mouth to gain composure.

With sweaty palms, she twisted the doorknob and peeped inside.

"Adil?" Her voice trembled. Then, her gaze caught a man sitting on a tall bar stool playing guitar. His fingers moved expectedly on the strings. Fareeha kept a dreamy smile and leaned against the door. She was enamored by him like always. This brought the memory of the first time she met him. Hadi and she were fourteen when Hadiya married Ashiq Mastana and brought with her, his son, eighteen-year-old Adil. He was tall, brawny and shy. Hadi hated him instantly, but Fareeha gave him a chance. She had weak knees the moment she saw him. The fact that her upper-lip hair, unibrow, oily hair, and all those things that Hadi always made her feel insecure about, didn't bother Adil one bit and attracted her to him even more. They began talking and in a short time befriended each other. Though they weren't very close.

He stopped playing guitar and glanced up. Fareeha straightened when his hazel eyes met hers.

"Ah, Fareeha." He raked his fingers through wet strands of his hair. She smiled nervously. Now, that they were adults, the interaction seemed—different. She mentally slapped her head for reading too many romance novels. His tall build, broad shoulders, rugged chest, and muscular arms made him look like he had come out of a romance erotic novel.

"Hi!" a deep dimple on his right cheek enhanced his male beauty. Fareeha's heart began dhak-dhaking at high speed, making her giddy. When Adil stood, was when she noticed he was shirtless. Fareeha gulped hard, lowering her eyes, and felt heat radiating from her cheek.

"I tried to stay in contact with you through social media. But there was no response." He shook his head, making a sad face. Fareeha's cheek flustered more, and she darted her gaze on the marble titles.

Adil chuckled, his voice having a ring to it.

"Noth—noth—just—busy—with—work." Fareeha's voice cracked.

"Work?" He flipped a white shirt and speedily put his arms into the sleeves. Fareeha turned her head to the right, biting her smile.

"Still working with Hadi? Has he toned down his attitude?"

Fareeha giggled, shaking her head.

"How is work in the US? Seeing all the patient and listening to their grim stories. Must be tiring."

He nodded, uncapping a bottle, and gulped down some water. Fareeha eyed his bobbing Adam's apple and her gaze followed the stream of water rolling down his throat, sternum bone, and—

"What the hell are you doing here?"

Fareeha flinched, straightening on the spot. Adil looked at the door, and grinned, - "Hi, Chote."

Sarfaraz scowled at the two. When his dead stare landed on Fareeha, she smirked at him.

"Come with me." He grabbed her hand.

"Hey, Hadi. Why are you being rough with a girl?"

Sarfaraz continued to frown at his step-brother. Fareeha raised her chin but winced when he gripped her wrist tighter and stepped in between them. Six feet, Sarfaraz had a height advantage to seem intimidating, but Adil was unmoved. Standing at a decent five feet eleven, Adil had no streak of anxiousness. In between them, five feet three Fareeha felt invisible and conscious of not wearing heels.

He spoke through clenched teeth, - "Fareeha is my-- friend, I can do whatever I want with her." Sarfaraz poked his step-brother's chest with a finger, - "so, you stay away." Sarfaraz spoke menacingly. Adil looked at her pained expression as she tried to free her hand. He sighed, drooping his shoulder.

"Okay, Chote. Just don't hurt her."

Sarfaraz took a step closer, Adil stood his ground, - "I am not anyone's chote." He averred. Then, he turned around dragging Fareeha with him.

"Hadi! Hadi!" She punched his arm, but he was unstoppable until they reached his room. Finally, when he let go of her hand, she gasped feeling the lingering warmth of his finger clasped around her hand. Her fingers and palm felt numb.

"Idiot."

"What were you doing in his room? I asked you to stay away from him." He blasted her.

Fareeha quivered subtly, - "Excuse me. You know he is my friend."

"Is he more important than me?" Sarfaraz challenged her, puffing out his chest.

She shook her head gently.

"But you know, na, that I like him." She looked at him with pleading eyes.

"And I hate him. So you should hate him too."

Fareeha tilted her head, giving him a puzzled look, - "How does that work?"

Sarfaraz shrugged, looking at her as though she had grown horns, - "How? My friend is your friend and my enemy is your enemy. Isn't that friendship rule?"

She shook her head, folding her arms tightly, - "Really? Are you listening to yourself? My, my, my, I am sure friendship doesn't work one way. Also," She raised her chin, and looked confidently at him,- "Why didn't you take a stand for me when, your darling, Dania was insulting me?"

Sarfaraz leaned back, and blinked at her, - "You are still keeping a grudge for that night?"

"And, you are still hating on Adil for no fault of his." She retorted. Sarfaraz was shocked and angered that his best friend was taking the side of someone he despised.

Fareeha gained confidence and continued to chastise him, - "You know, you are just jealous. That there is someone who could be interested in me. You don't appreciate me, doesn't mean no one else can."

"I think my feelings for him are mutual. Still, because of you, I stopped myself from keeping in touch with him. But our feelings are not mutual, Hadi. I consider you as my priority friend, but you don't."

"Just because I didn't say anything that night?" Sarfaraz placed his hands on his hips, - "About all the times I was there for you?" He defended.

"Yeah, to mock me. I think, you should re-think your behavior with me, and mine with you." Fareeha walked past him, then stood at the door and turned around, - "I am going to propose to Adil. I can't be your shadow, Hadi, I need to breathe." With that, she walked out.

Sarfaraz turned to face the door. The realization that he might lose her, hit him hard. Then he forced himself into believing that Adil would one hundred percent reject her. What is it in her that he will say yes? He looked away. Let her do whatever she wants, only that she doesn't get hurt. 

Dania gathered the sleeve of her olive shirt and rounded it till her elbow, checked her watch as she walked to the counter. It's been one week since her mother had been getting treated in Mumbai's largest hospital. Still, there weren't any improvements. Dania stood at the counter, tapping her nails, awaiting the reception boy to get the details she asked for.

Salman was by his wife's side and infuriated that Faryal was still attempting to coax her daughter.  

"Maybe you can forget, but I won't, that-- you attempted to murder my son."

Dania stared into his icy dark eyes with confidence, she had gained self-confidence over the few days,

- "And, you might have forgotten that your precious son tried to molest me. This time, I won't be easy on him. I will shoot right at his head."

Salman shuddered, moving back. Her eyes blazed with anger, and it worked to intimidate him.

After that, they never talked.

Dania collected the reports, and busy checking them made her way to the VIP rooms. In a hurry, she dashed into someone robust. Her papers fell to the ground, and she gasped.

"Oh, I am sorry, I didn't see you." A deep voice apologized. Together they bend and hit their heads.

"What the—" Dania massaged her forehead, looking up and her gaze met the hazel eyes of an attractive stranger. He blinked at her, bumped by her prettiness.

Dania snatched the papers from him, while he kept admiring her, - "First, I am getting late and then you are—" She arranged the papers, roughly pushing aside strands of hair falling on her face.

"Um, I am extremely sorry—" He hesitated for her name.

Dania glared at him, picked up her stuff, and stood up. He rose from his knees as well, - "I am Adil. Dr. Adil Rauf."

Dania clicked her tongue, getting agitated, - "Since when are we calling for a doctor? How irresponsible of you? Come with me." She turned around and kept walking, whilst continuing to rant, - "If VIP treatment is like so, what will it be for ordinary people? Such a reputed hospital and this behave—" She stopped, realizing he wasn't following her.

Dania turned around to find him still standing at the same place she had left him.

"What an idiot?" She marched back to him, - "Excuse me." She snapped her fingers at his face, and Adil shook out of the trance.

"You are mistaken, ma'am. I don't work here. Moreover, I am a psychiatrist."

Dania's cheek flushed, she blinked away,- "I am sorry." She blurted and rushed from the sight.

Adil smiled to himself. "Today is such a wonderful day." He sighed dreamily.

When he turned to leave, he dashed into a petite, but short figure.

"Oh!"

"Oops! Fareeha."

"I am sorry, you turned so suddenly."

"My bad."

"Why are you grinning?" Fareeha passed him an amused look.

Adil chuckled, shaking his head, - "Nothing. Just today I am dashing into people."

Fareeha smiled, - "After all, you have a dashing personality." She added. On that, both shared a laugh and Adil complimented her sense of humor.

From afar, Sarfaraz had just exited the VVIP ward with few paps, and two other famous actors. He stilled when he glimpsed his best friend laughing with his enemy. The two hi-fied, then Adil talked something to her and together they walked in the opposite direction.

Sarfaraz clenched his fists, controlling the anger boiling within him. But he needed to maintain the composure because the cameras were aggressively clicking him, and bombarding them with questions.

"Sarfaraz, Sarfaraz, look here, you answer us as well. Give us some insight, Rajendra Kapoorji is your mentor."

He excused himself and attempted to leave, but Kabir, the famous action star, held his hand and grounded him.

Sarfaraz sighed, turning toface the camera.

In the cafeteria, Fareeha and Adil had their breakfast. He talked about his life alone in the US, while she listened intently. Placing her chin over her entwined fingers, she admired him as he spoke. She also motivated and praised him, attempting to pamper his male ego so he falls for her. But in between Fareeha's phone created a nuisance, as Sarfaraz kept calling and texting her. So, she had muted him. Simple!

Adil took a bite of omelet from his fork and lifted his head. His eyes landed on an irate-looking woman in a formal olive shirt and black trousers. She flipped behind her mid-back ash-brown hair. Fareeha frowned noticing his reaction and turned her head to notice Dania at the food counter. She darted her gaze on Adil and leaned back noticing the glint in his eyes for her. Fareeha worriedly bounced her gaze from him to her. Why was he looking at her like that? Why wasn't he looking away? Her heart sank.

She bit her lower lip and chirped her nails. Fareeha shuffled on her feet, taking him by surprise.

"Adil, your mom called. Oh!" She touched her damp forehead, - "I forgot, how silly of me?" She held his arm.

He looked perplexed.

"Fareeha, are you alright?" Adil didn't care much about his incomplete food but focused on an anxious Fareeha. He stood up.

"Yeah, Yeah." She shook her head, fingering her necklace with her free hand. Fareeha peered through the corner of her eyes at Dania, who had picked up the tray of her breakfast and was heading towards the sitting.

Fareeha panicked, and she pretended to faint. Adil gasped as she fell on him. He called her name, but she was unresponsive. Gently, he patted her cheeks and then sprinkled water droplets on her face. Few waiters arrived to check on her as well. But, Adil asked for space.

Dania heard the commotion. And like, many onlookers she too craned her neck to see what was happening.

As the people cleared, she realized it was Fareeha who had fainted. Her eyes widened. Keeping her tray on a random table, she hurried to them.

"Fareeha!" She tugged her hair behind her ears and glanced worriedly at Adil.

"What happened to her?"

"Must be stress or dehydration," Adil responded, then scooped Fareeha in his arms.

"Wait, I will come withyou." Dania huffed. He nodded, then carried her out of the cafeteria.

Dr. Adil Rauf is here, guys!!!

But he is all googly eyes for Dania, another reason for Sarfaraz to hate him.

Poor Fareeha *heart toots*

 ❝Taras Ni Aya Tujhko 

Taras Ni Aya Tujhko

Khudgarz Ishq Ye Tera Samaj Ni Aya Mujhko ❞

This song suits her so well. 

Precap:

"Dania, Dania, Dania—" She fell on the high chair once again.

"You, Adil, every boy—what is in her that is not in me? No one loves me, no one desires me." Placing her hand over her forehead, she cried. Sarfaraz was baffled. What happened here?

"Fa—"

"Shutup." She snapped at him.

Go, Fareeha, speak out for yourself, girl!!

How was the Chapter, my lovelies? Your wonderful and super comments motivated me to post excitedly. Thank you tons for your support. In tough times, your responses keep me going. Keep showering your love, please.