Even in the chilly weather, Dania's throat dried and she had tingles in her stomach. Poonam was just yammering out of jealousy. Soon, she arrived at the destination. Just as she was about to enter, someone opened the door from behind. Dania froze and the person on the other side stilled as well.

"Tabish!" Dania mumbled.

His eyes behind his black-framed glasses widened, and he nearly dropped the small shopping bag from his hand. Dania's gaze fell on a young Blonde woman beside him, the same age as hers. Tabish gulped hard.

"Dania." He stammered, adjusting his glasses. 

"Who is she? Why are you shopping with her? She is—Rhea's friend?" Dania looked suspiciously at him, but forced a smile, - "Oh, oh, She is Samantha, Yasmin's sister." She extended her hand to the girl, - "Wow, heard a lot of you, glad we met."

The girl looked cluelessly at her. Embarrassed, Tabish darted his eyes elsewhere.

"I am not Samantha. I am Gia, Tabish's to-be-wife." She flaunted her expensive engagement ring.

Dania's mouth dropped, she blinked at her boyfriend.

"She—she—is—my—parent's choice," Tabish confessed.

Dania shook her head, again, - "She? Your parent's choice?" She pointed at the girl by his side.

"You said, your parents want you to be settled with a Desi Muslim woman, and—"

"Darling, what is this happening? Why are you lying to her? We have been dating for six months now."

Dania gasped. Tabish gulped harder. Six months? And they had been dating for three years, which meant he was two-timing on her.

"Let's go." Gia pulled him. But Dania grabbed his free hand.

Sarfaraz watched from a distance the heated argument between the trio. His heart sank noticing Dania crying whilst blasting her boyfriend. He felt strongly about bashing this Tabish guy.

Dania pushed him and turned to march from there. Sarfaraz called her, but ignoring him, she stormed past him. Dania angrily wiped her tears, then shoved her hands into pockets of her overcoat and kept roving on the pavement as fast as her legs carried her. Finally, she collapsed on the pavement. Covering her mouth with the back of her palm, she sobbed. Dania wondered if truly everything they shared was love. That rascal was two-timing her, no wonder he had stopped persisting on intimacy.

Mirroring her emotions, the cloudy sky began to drizzle and quickly picked up pace. Sarfaraz had been following her and watched her from a distance. Seeing her heartbroken, his world shattered. Unable to resist, he walked to her without bothering about being drenched.

Cautiously, he sat beside her. Silent. Dania rested her head against his shoulder, still crying.

"Why?" She breathed.

Sarfaraz hesitated, then placed a gentle hand over hers.

Dania's grip on his hand was desperate as she pressed her forehead against his shoulder, seeking comfort in his embrace. He allowed her to hold on, offering her the solace she needed.

"Not even in my wildest dream I could imagine, Tabish would turn out to be an asshole. Why can't love stay with me."- She cried.

Sarfaraz blinked his tears, thanks to the rain his emotion could be masked. Her words resonated in his mind. Love could have stayed in her life had she chosen him. He held her hand tighter. Dania continued to cry, wrapping the other hand around his arm.

They remained this way for some time until she realized she had been leaning against a complete stranger. She jerked her head back, and her tear-filled eyes met his moist eyes. Hastily, Dania pulled her hand from his hold and shifted a little away from him.

"I am sorry." She choked and jolted up. Sarfaraz rose from the pavement as well.

"He didn't deserve you." He coaxed her.

Dania wiped her nose with the back of her hand. Sarfaraz hurriedly pulled out his hanky and forwarded it to her. She looked at the wet cloth, then at him.

He shoved it back into his pocket, - "I am concerned for you, Dania."

She had a blank expression on her face for a moment, then she began to walk. He called her but she ignored him. Sarfaraz worried that she would take drastic step.

"Dania, Dania." He kept calling. The rain lashed on and others carried umbrellas or took shelter. Except for these two.

Dania was nearly running now, Sarfaraz matched her pace and finally caught up with her. He grabbed her hand and twirled her to face him.

"What do you want?"

"I can't let you be alone at this time, being vuln—"

"I am not a baby, I can handle myself."

"No, you can't. Heartbreak can really shatter someone." He held both her arms firmly, - "You need someone who can console you. Like I had—"

Dania jerked his hands off her, - "Leave me alone. I deserve to be so."

"No, Dania, no. You deserve all the love."

She eyed him from top to bottom. The raindrops made the visibility very hard. In the close proximity, they could barely see each other's expressions. Dania blinked, keeping the eye contact with him.

"Please, I have suffered heartbreaks from men, but I am not dumb to trust an actor." She waved her hand.

Now, she felt anger rush through her, and finding Sarfaraz in front of her she wanted to vent her anger on him.

"You all men are ba*t**ds. First Shahzain, Salman Zaidi, and his asshole son Samar. And, now Tabish." Dania grabbed Sarfaraz's collar and shook him, - "What do you guys think of yourself." She pushed him hard. Then realizing, she gasped.

"I am—sorr—"
"Don't be, take all your frustrations out on me. I won't complain." He confessed.

"Why? Why are you showing me fake concern." She reprimanded him.

"Because—"

"I don't know you? Why are you so concerned? Just leave me to myself." She glared at him for a moment, then turned to leave. Sarfaraz contemplated if he should walk away. Ignoring that, he secretly followed her. He paused watching her stop, like she was about to cross the road. Sarfaraz tiptoed nearer. His heart beating fast, as he noticed her trying to cross in the ongoing traffic.

Dania took a deep breath and turned her head to the right. A red double-decker bus approached. Taking the chance, she moved her leg and was about to step on the road. Before she could, someone's strong arm grabbed her and forced her off the road.

"Are you mad!" Sarfaraz turned her to face him. Dania struggled to free herself from his grasp. But his hold was tight. His brown eyes widened as he stared furiously at her.

"Leave me."

"No, never."

"Sarfaraz, stop it. Leave me."

"So, you can do something stupid again?" He glowered at her.

Dania used all her strength and pushed off his robust arms.

"I don't need your sympathy." She tried to leave again, but Sarfaraz clutched her hand.

"Why do you care? Whether I live or die. No one wants me anyway."

"No! Dania. I want you." He blurted, pulling her by her arms. Dania stilled. He too. This time, unlike years ago, his heart didn't pound in his chest. But confidence surged through him and a crazy rush of adrenaline encouraged him.

"What rubbish!"

"No, Dania." He lowered his voice, - "I love you." He moved wet strands of hair stuck to her face. She blinked.

Sarfaraz smiled, feeling a weight lift off him.

"That is not—possible," Dania spoke with her lips quivering.

He shook his head.

"We barely know each other. We—"

"That night, when I found you in the alley. That first look, I fell in love with you." His mouth spoke, and his mind whispered, - again.

Dania shook her head, and smiled in disbelief, - "You think I am mad to trust your words? An actor's? whatever is your motive, just stay away from me."

"I can't," Sarfaraz replied instantly, stunning Dania.

"If you don't want to trust me, don't. but I can't leave you, what if you hurt yourself."

"I can't believe you—"

Sarfaraz placed a finger over her wet lips. The sudden jolt of current passed through his skin into his nerves which was hard to ignore. He removed his finger instantly.

"Trust me." He peered into her eyes, hoping she caught his sincerity. Something clicked perhaps, as her shoulders loosened. Immense relief filled his chest and he passed her a half smile. But she doesn't.

Ah-Ha! Confession in the rain. Can things get more filmy?? 

Please help me, guys, and motivate me to write better and update faster. 

𝒫𝓇𝑒𝒸𝒶𝓅:

As they silently ate, Sarfaraz slid his hand under his coat and pulled a rose from the chest pocket. He glanced at her, Dania was busy relishing her food.

"You have some guts, Badi."

"I have never seen you ever in my life. Just stay away from me you creep."

Sarfaraz gulped. The delicate rose shivered in his unsteady hand. Once again, his throat felt constricted, and cold sweat formed on his forehead. It was so many years ago, now things were different. They were different people. Still, nightmarish memories kept demotivating him.

"Oh, wow. Son of a slut has the audacity to confess his love to me?"

Sarfaraz closed his eyes and breathed out. At this moment, he wasn't super-star Sarfaraz J Khan, but vulnerable Hadi Jamaluddin Khan the lanky and underconfident young boy.

But he must overcome his fears, if he wants her to be in his life.

"Dania, I love you. I have always loved you— I didn't realize when I fell in love with you, but when I did, suddenly all love songs were about you. Till date, my love for you was my beautiful little secret. But now, I can't stop myself from confessing to the girl I love the most."

Dania stopped chewing her food and swallowed hard. Her face went blank. Sarfaraz kept the rose forwarded to her.

It is the same dialogue 

 Will Dania recollect and realize? Drop your thoughts, my lovelies.