Hadiya adjusted the pallu of her parrot green saree and exited her room. Adil met her in the lobby. They shared lovely greetings and warm side hugs. When she looked at him, she felt pride even though she hadn't birthed him. But he was so caring and kind to her. As they climbed down the stairs, Fareeha met them. Hadiya smiled at her. She formally smiled back and glanced at Adil.

"May I talk to you, Adil?" She requested, keeping a straight face. He nodded and together they walked to the living room.

"Can you hurry—"

"Forget about Dania for a minute, Adil. This is important." Fareeha said impatiently. He sighed.

"I know what you want to talk about. About the random guy I paid to pretend to be Hadi, right?"

She nodded, and added in a small voice, - "Why? I feel like I betrayed my best friend by telling you everything that night."

Adil held her shoulders, - "No, Fareeha, please don't blame yourself. I did it for Chote and Dania. He isn't confessing his real name to her, nor she is interested in knowing about the man she is supposedly in love with."

Fareeha frowned, - "Supposedly?"

"Yeah, can't you see? They aren't serious about each other. Dania is in a double mind, she is insecure mainly because of her past. Hadi is still infatuated with her, as he was those years ago. And she still snubs him. Don't you see how she treats him?"

Fareeha looked away, nodding subtly, - "Baath toh hai. That is what I was telling him." She thought of the kiss and realized how could he kiss her so passionately yet be madly in love with Dania. If so, he wouldn't have even thought of it.

"I want him to confess to Dania, that's why I did that. And I need your help and support." He tightened his grip on her shoulders, - "Will you help me?" He stared into her eyes. Fareeha nodded with a smile.

"You are concerned for him, like me. I am sorry to doubt you."

Adil chuckled, - "Not like you. You are just—so into him."

Fareeha giggled, her ears turning red, - "What? Kuch bhi."

He kept a serious face. "Think about it, " he said simply. Then he turned around and walked out, leaving Fareeha in her thoughts.

Sarfaraz lathered his loofa and rubbed against the contour of his back. As he glazed the foamy loofa over the back of his neck and then throat, there was a knock at the bathroom door.

"What?"

"Dude."

He stilled. The heavy cold shower continued to drench him from the ceiling shower.

"Can you come out?"

"Naked?"

"Chi, no."

"Then have patience, langoor."

"Whatever."

After he finished showering, Sarfaraz wrapped a towel around his waist and wore a bathrobe. A quick run of his fingers to untangle the wet strands of his short hair, and walked out of the bathroom.

Fareeha sat on the bed, fidgeting with her golden earrings, when he casually walked in.

"Kya hua? Why is your ass on fire?" He joked, walking towards the mirror.

Fareeha huffed, getting up, - "Mine isn't. But yours will be." She responded.

Sarfaraz frowned, whilst dapping his neck with the towel. Then he tossed it on the bed.

"What are you talking?" He undid the bathrobe and picked up his perfume, spraying it all over. Fareeha coughed, but he ignored her.

"I met Adil."

"So? Did you talk to him? You should have warned him about me ready to punch his nose." He interrupted impatiently, picking out a graphic grey tee and pulling it over his head.

"No, didn't get a chance. He was in a rush to go meet Dania."

Sarfaraz rolled his eyes, - "What is his problem? Why is he so chipkoo?" He gestured for her to turn around. Fareeha turned.

"Dude, shouldn't Dania be making that boundary? He won't if she asks him not to."

Sarfaraz pulled up his black jeans and buckled it, - "Again, Dania."

"Can I turn around?"

"Yeah!"

Fareeha turned and walked to him, - "Dude, think, why is Dania giving him so much importance over you? Aren't you her man? Then why isn't she keeping you in the front? Why him? When she needs something, Adil. And she doesn't even get mad at him. But she is mad at you, even—even—for breathing."

Sarfaraz furrowed his brows, thinking over her words.

"She can be insecure and ask you to add clauses, stay away from women, which you know is impossible in your profession. Still, you are willing to take the risk. Then why can't she distance herself from Adil, for your sake?"

"No, No—" Sarfaraz turned to face the mirror and picked up a comb.

"Is this even love? When you are so scared to be yourself, speak your mind thinking she will dump you. Dude, if she does, then let her."

Sarfaraz shook his head, - "Don't push my buttons, Fareeha."

"I am stating a fact." She sighed, raising and dropping her arms, - "Anyway, tonight is our flight to Dubai. Your seat is with Dania unless she kicks you right in the face and sits with Adil."

"She won't. If she was interested in Adil, why hasn't she returned the ring yet?"

"Maybe, she forgot. Like she forgets you." Fareeha shifted to her side, - "Tell me, dude, after that yacht date, how many dates have you two gone? Haven't you noticed or realized she doesn't look at you the way she used to? And dude, you—kissed another girl, technically cheating on her. Why would you, if you were irrevocably, madly, deeply, passionately in love with her?"

Sarfaraz held her arm and pulled her to the side, - "You don't count." He patted her cheek and lazily walked to the door. Stopping there, he turned to face, - "Coming for breakfast?"

Fareeha exhaled deeply, shaking her head, frustrated, - "No, I had mine."

It seemed like her words didn't affect him. But it kept troubling him through the day. Even with his film fraternity friends at lunch, he thought of Dania's changing behavior. Before she would call him, text him, and they would spend hours talking sweet-nothings. There was a time when he thought of no woman but her, and now, he was having crazy thoughts of kissing his best friend. Sarfaraz shivered.

The fantasies he had been having recently of Fareeha. He didn't even think this way for Dania. And it disgusted him. Fareeha was his best friend. How right it so to—then he recollected reading an article years ago that stuck with him for some strange reason; many guys have had fantasies of their female best friends/friends at least once in their life. Most guys than girls goes on to show how perverted men can be. 

Dania was glad Adil had come to meet her mother. Faryal was being restless, knowing her daughter was traveling abroad. Adil calmed her, assured her, and even introduced her to his doctor friend, who would be taking care of her.

"And, if you need anything—" Adil held her fragile hand and smiled, patting her forehead, - "We will be here in a heartbeat." He assured her in a soothing voice. Dania smiled, looking at him and the instinct happiness of her mother's face. She hated this woman, but couldn't bear to see her like this. So weak, so dependent. Adil's kindness enamored both the mother and daughter.

"You are not one to us, but you care so deeply for us." Faryal gestured for Dania to give her hand. She did. Then, her mother placed her daughter's hand over Adil's and smiled meekly.

"So, perfect. I wish I could get you guys married before you jet off. Because, how can I be sure if I—"

"Please, Aunty." Adil placed his finger on her lips, - "No, you are the patient, you must keep a positive outlook, then your body will get the strength to fight back. Our mind is very powerful, Aunty."

"Yes, Ma." Dania spoke softly, - "Take care."

They let her rest and turned around. At the door, Sarfaraz stood next to Salman. He held a huge package with an elaborate, elegant logo, while the latter stared at Dania with a scrutinizing gaze.

"Dania, your boyfriend is here." He said in his deep voice. Faryal straightened, calling out in her meek voice.

"What?"

"Yes, Aunty." Sarfaraz grinned, whipping out a bouquet from behind him, and rushed to her. Dania and Adil glanced at each other. He forwarded it to her. She looked confused at his daughter.

"Dania, haven't you said to your mom yet? Show her the ring." He took her hand and flaunted the heart-shaped expensive ring on her face. Faryal blinked at Dania.

"I proposed, and your daughter accepted. And, don't worry,"- He held her hand,- "We will wed soon after coming from Dubai and you will dance happily."

Dania slapped her forehead. Faryal snatched her hand from his grip.

"Don't tell me, you and this actor guy are in a relationship. What is with Adil then? You won't be marrying him?" Faryal's voice began to rise, and so, did her breathing. Dania hurried to her, and Adil held her hand, squeezing it gently.

"Aunty."
"Ma, whatever you say will happen," Dania assured her, panicking.

Salman hurried to his wife, pushing aside both Adil and Dania, - "Get out. All of you."

Once outside, Dania confronted Sarfaraz, - "What is this tamasha?"

"Tamasha?" He looked offended, - "My feelings are tamasha to you?"

"Look, Ha—Sarfaraz, Aunty's condition is critical, and you—"

"This is between me and Dania. Who are you to talk to?"

"Listen, Sarfaraz—"

"You listen, Dania, this man is playing with your feelings. He got some random guy as Hadi?"

"Excuse me. I don't have any feelings for that idiot, Hadi. Even if he is dead, it doesn't matter to me. Understand."

Sarfaraz and Adil shared a glance.

"But my mother matters to me. And you just put her at risk. And for? Why are you being to insecure? I will tell her about us."

"When?" Sarfaraz was out of breath now, and for the first time raised his voice against her, - "When your mother would have gotten you two married? For how long was I to wait?"

Dania rolled her eyes, - "I am no toy. She can't force me to marry someone I don't want to marry."

Sarfaraz nodded, glaring at Adil, - "So, you want to marry him?"

She slapped her forehead, - "Think what you want, Sarfaraz. I can't continue to justify myself. If you don't trust me then—"

Sarfaraz stilled. Dania pulled the ring out of her finger and handed it to him.

"You are breaking up with me?" He gaped.

"No, I am taking a break from you." She joined her hands, - "If Dubai wasn't in my commitment, I wouldn't have come."

Sarfaraz blinked, flinching back his head, - "You don't have to. Send your designs if you want. Else we have other designers too." He turned, paused, and turned back, - "You know I did a mistake by picking you for this. I was trying to help you with your business when you were crying about it. But now—" He looked at Adil, then back at her, - "seems like you got someone else's shoulder to cry on." With that, he threw the gift-wrapped package in front of her. Then, marched away from them.

Adil cleared his throat, straightening in place. Dania slumped her shoulders.

"You shouldn't have given back the ring."

"What else was I supposed to do? Didn't you see? He was so rude."

"Yeah, but—"

"Leave it, Adil. Come, Ma needs us."

"You, not me. I have some work I am coming. By the way, you should google about Sarfaraz, the man you are in love with." He said seriously.

Dania was confused by his statement.

Guys, did Sarfaraz over-stepped in his insecurity? Is Dania correct in returning the ring? She accuses him of being insecure and impatient, but she, too, is being insecure about his career. Still, he is willing to make changes, so that she is comfortable. 

Is Sarfaraz's insecurity justifiable? Also, do you think Dania will marry her choice or her mother's choice?

Drop your thoughts in the comments, please, and Stay Tuned for the next update :*