Sarfaraz gulped, adjusting the rearview mirror and checking on his "friend's" reaction. Fareeha sat in the passenger seat scowling at him, her shoulders squared and hands folded. He made an apologetic face through the mirror. She rolled her eyes and peered out of the window. The view raced in front of her eyes, but her mind restlessly kept thinking about the kiss.

He kissed her for God knows what reason, but why did she kiss him? Fareeha went through her brain trying to get a reason. Meanwhile, she reminisced about it, glancing at Sarfaraz, who was busy driving. Then, cautiously, she touched her lips, feeling the lingering imprint of his lips. The tingly sensation in her stomach made her shiver. Sarfaraz's eyes flickered to her, and speedily she put down her hand.

At the restaurant, two tall, muscular men greeted them. Sarfaraz reciprocated and guided Fareeha with him, the two men following them.

Dania sat with Adil sitting across the table from her. They sat on the top floor, where fewer people were present. A waiter appeared with their order and placed a grapefruit juice with ice cubes, garnished with rosemary and a piece of the fruit. Adil dragged it to his side.

The waiter smiled, placing a sparkling, rosy cocktail at Dania's side. She smiled back, then leaned to call Adil, - "Where is Sarfaraz?"

He sipped his drink and looked over her shoulder. A wide grin cracked on his handsome face, - "There!"

Dania turned and smiled, waving at her boyfriend. Sarfaraz waved back—Fareeha timidly behind him, but her mind was super busy.

Dania rose from her seat and hurried to Sarfaraz.

"Hi, I was getting impatient." She wrapped her arms around his neck, embracing him tight. Fareeha glared at him. He glanced at her from the corner of his eyes. He stammered, she looked away and smiled at Adil.

"Hey!" Gracefully, Fareeha walked to the table and sat beside him. He greeted her back. And they exchanged smiles.

Sarfaraz also looked away and placed his arms around Dania. She parted, and together they got to the table. She turned her head, noticed the heavy men, and inquired about them to Sarfaraz.

"Bodyguards."

"You have danger from?"

Sarfaraz smirked, - "Girls. Obviously." He winked, picking up her glass and taking a sip. Dania smiled half-heartedly. Her eyes met Adil's just for a second before she looked away.

"What will you order, Fareeha, Sarfaraz?" Adil asked cheerfully.

"Anything," Fareeha replied, attempting to make her smile genuine. Adil noticed her body language was off, and Sarfaraz was distracted by Dania. He wondered if something happened between the two.

Adil ordered the same drink for Fareeha as for himself. Sarfaraz turned his face, placing his hand over Dania's on the tall glass.

"I will share with my gorgeous lady love. If she doesn't mind." He grinned at her. Dania smiled back.

For nano-seconds, Fareeha looked at their hands touching, then looked away, clearing her throat and falling back against the chair.

"Are you okay?"

"Of course. Why won't I?" She shrugged, rather defensively.

Adil raised his eyebrows but said nothing further. He noted how Sarfaraz moved his hand off Dania's and shifted in place.

After drinks, they chatted randomly, mostly Adil talking, and Dania responding. While Fareeha kept throwing daggers at Sarfaraz, and him dodging them by pretending to be hypnotised by Dania. Finally, they were served their dinner. Dania eagerly eyed as the waiter kept bringing delicious dishes one after the other- the Prawn stir fry noodles, Pan-seared chicken with lemon sauce and asparagus, Mushroom risotto, charred broccoli salad with dates and almonds.

Dania leaned, placing her elbow on the table, and raised her eyebrows, - "No Indian food?"

Sarfaraz smiled, graciously accepting the waiter's plating for him, - "I wanted this dinner to be fancy, and unique. We all have tasted Indian cuisine a million times."

She giggled, - "I often had Indian food in London too."

"Precisely."

"Ah, exactly." Adil chirped in, much to Sarfaraz's annoyance, - "Desi food tastes exceptionally good abroad, for some reason."

"Right." Dania agreed, and they shared a hi-fi.

"If you love Desi's food so much, why don't you leave there and settle here?" Sarfaraz muttered. Then, he noticed Adil offering food to Fareeha. She shyly smiled at him. He glared away.

"On the second thought. Please go back." He whispered.

"Sarfaraz?" Dania placed a hand on his shoulder, - "What are you talking?"

"Nothing."

"Acha, sorry. I was just—"
Sarfaraz straightened, shaking his head, and glanced lovingly at her, - "Why are you apologizing, meri jaan,"- He darted his eyes to Fareeha, who rolled her eyes at him, - "Enjoy the food, please. All is for you."

Fareeha scoffed, - "Then, what are we doing here? A—" She shut her mouth at the right time. Sarfaraz glared at her. Adil held her hand, - "Let it be, they are lovers." He winked at his younger brother. The former ignored him, focusing on Dania.

As the fancy dinner continued, every time Adil initiated any talks with Dania, Sarfaraz would butt in. Eventually, he stopped as Fareeha attempted to distract him. At one point, Adil stopped eating and waved at someone at their side.

"Arey, I am glad you are here. Come here." He gestured. Confused, Fareeha turned her head to the side and saw a beefy man walking towards them. His hefty biceps threatened to tear his white t-shirt, his nipples poking out from his heavily muscular chest and track pants tight at the crotch, highlighting his taut thighs.

Sarfaraz casually picked up his drink and muttered to Dania, - "What a weird friend?"

The guy came up to them, his eyes on Dania. He smiled at her; she hesitated. Adil got up and embraced the man, slapping his back.

"Come, I will introduce you." Adil parted and looked at Dania,- "Here. Finally. Dania, this is your chomu and my step-brother Hadi."

Sarfaraz sprayed the drink from his mouth back into the glass, and Fareeha nearly slipped from the chair. She held the table, gaping at Adil and the imposter.

"What? Really?" Dania looked him up and down in amusement. In the background, Sarfaraz coughed as the drink disturbed his wind-pipe.

"See!" He gestured at himself, - "You taunted and mocked me for my chomuness. Now see," He flexed his heavy biceps, - "I started with being a gym trainer and now, I am the owner of successful chains of gyms. bulkier, smarter, and wealthier than Shahzain."

Fareeha and Sarfaraz glanced at each other in disbelief. He raised his eyebrows at her and she shrugged back. Momentarily, she turned her head to Adil, giving him the look of betrayal. That night, she had talked everything about their past to him and, for some reason, he betrayed their secret like this. Dania looked on, surprised.

"Fareeha, why did you do this to me?" The imposter Hadi spoke, looking directly into her eyes. She gulped.

"I told you so many times to make me meet Dania, but you kept beating around the bush. But see, destiny made us meet." He grinned.

"Excuse me?" Sarfaraz interrupted, - "Who are you?" He gave him an accusing look, - "She is my girlfriend, and she,"- He pointed at Fareeha, - "Is my friend, so—"

"Please, Mr. Hot shot. Fareeha and I best friends since birth." He placed his muscular palm on her meek shoulder, and she dropped to her side. Adil held her arm.

"Enough." Sarfaraz slammed the table, aggressively getting up. Dania gasped, her drink toppling on her expensive dress, - "That's it. I don't know who you are just get lost." He passed a glare at Adil.

"Chote, chote."

Sarfaraz straightened, realizing he was talking to the imposter, - "Please—Sarfaraz, relax."

Dania rose from her seat, - "What nonsense is this?"

Before Sarfaraz could comprehend, the imposter noticed Dania's spoiled dress.

"Oh no, Dania. Your dress. I will buy you—"

"Shut up." She grabbed her purse and glared at Sarfaraz.

"Dania, I am sorr—"

"Why so aggressive? Are you mad?"

"Dan—"

"Adil, please drop me. I have no time for this nonsense."

Adil nodded, rising from his chair, and called the waiter for the bill. Dania rolled her eyes, grabbed his hand, -"Leave it. It is his restaurant. Let him pay." She said, annoyed, and dragged him with her. Sarfaraz called her, but she didn't turn around. Fareeha got up, - "Dude, everyone is seeing." She hissed.

Sarfaraz flipped hair from his forehead and glared at the imposter. He smiled, raising his hands, - "Sorry, sir. I was paid for this." He shrugged and rushed from there. Fareeha leaned against the chair, folding her arms.

"Did you—did you see that?" Sarfaraz turned to Fareeha and gaped seeing her, finishing her dinner as though nothing happened.

Slurping the noddle, she looked up at him and shrugged, - "We are paying for all this anyway, so we should finish this."

Sarfaraz raised and dropped his arms, sighing loudly, and slumped in the chair. Fareeha continued to casually eat. Watching her for a moment, he picked up his chopsticks as well. She looked at him. He looked back and began to chuckle.

"Adil had to bring the weirdest of the weird as Hadi." Fareeha commented, - "Dude, why didn't you tell me about your chains of gyms?" She pointed and laughed. Sarfaraz joined with her. For a moment, he stopped when she accidentally snorted between the laugh but continued, nevertheless. He watched her, realizing how he could survive even the most tense situations with her.

After they had calmed, he spoke, - "But dude, now Dania is mad at me. What to do?"

Fareeha breathed out, pursing her lips, - "Dude, when is she not mad at you? She is taking you for granted, ya, and it hurts."

"Fareeha, please, not again. I told you, I can't bear anything against Dania."

"Else?" she challenged him. At that moment, their intense kiss passed through their eyes and both awkwardly looked away.

Sarfaraz dropped Fareeha to her place. On his way back, he kept checking his phone for Dania's reply to his numerous apology texts.

"Dude, when is she not mad at you? She is taking you for granted, ya, and it hurts."

And, with that, he thought of the kiss. Which kept disturbing him almost the whole night. Sarfaraz wondered if Fareeha was thinking about it too. Why will she?

He picked his phone and dialled her. Few rings later, she picked up. His heart raced, partly knowing she will scold him for disturbing her sleep.

"Dude, did Dania kick your ass?"

Sarfaraz stifled his smile, - "Were you thinking of that?"

"Yeah, what els—" She paused as though realizing. Sarfaraz licked his lips, shifting on his bed.

"You always have my back, Fareeha, but I treat you like trash."

"Are you drunk? Did you take some drugs? I am telling you, that Anay is a bad influence, he is drugging every—"
"No, monkey. Here I am being emotional and you—you know, you deserve to be treated like I do."

"Shut up. Did you call me to fight with me?"

Sarfaraz sighed, pulling a cushion and pressing against his chest, - "No, ya. I wanted to ask if—I am sorry, because of me our dinner was spoilt and your plan to propose to that dumbo, Adil, failed."

There was a pause, - "Dude,"- she hesitated,- "I don't know—Adil shouldn't have done that." She said in a small voice.

Sarfaraz grinned, straightening, - "So, you are not pursuing him?" He couldn't contain his excitement.

"And you are dumping Dania?" She snapped.

Sarfaraz leaned back, - "Excuse me, why?"

"Because—there are many reasons. First, she is still disrespecting you."

"She is not. I don't know-- I keep messing up."

"Coz, destiny is giving you a signal—anyway, I don't have time for this."

Sarfaraz fell on the bed, and placed his arm behind his head, - "Are you okay?"

"Why won't I?"

"I am sorry."

There was a pause, - "I am sorry too."

"For?"

"Kissing you without your consent."

"Dude," Sarfaraz chuckled lightly, - "What had happened to us?"

Fareeha giggled, - "Seriously—" her voice became serious again, - "will you say about it to Dania?"

Sarfaraz frowned, hurriedly sitting up again, - "Why?"

"Dude!" Fareeha gasped, - "You cheated on her. She deserves to know."

"No. yaar, it is our bff secret. Okay."

"Haww!"

Sarfaraz disconnected the call. The stabbing guilt made it arduous to sleep.

He removed his tee and switched the AC to a freezing temperature. Flopping on his stomach, he shut his eyes and tried to focus on the darkness in his mind. Even that, the kiss flashed before his eyes and shot up on the bed, ruffling his hair.

"Damn! How will these thoughts go?"

Kiss her again!

"Are you mad?"

Arey, arey, arey, Sarfaraz what are you thinking?

Why is he so possessive of Fareeha? Bechari Dania ko sideline kar diya *pretend sad face*

So, my lovelies, how was the Chapter? Please drop lots, lots, and lots of comments :*