After deserts and small talks, Adil changed into V-neck Kurtha pyjama. Walking out of the guest room, he noticed that Fareeha was still busy with her mom in the kitchen. He walked to the door and cleared his throat. The ladies looked at him.

"Aunty, can I take Fareeha for a walk?"

"Haan, haan, haan, zaroor, why not?" Almas thrilled, pushed her daughter. Fareeha stumbled forward. Adil extended his arms to help her, but she balanced herself with the kitchen slab. Throwing a look at her mother, she walked towards the door.

As they walked, the air filled with the delicate scent of jasmine flowers, added to the enjoyment of their stroll. In the evening, a few people strolled or walked their dogs, adding to the lively atmosphere. Young and old couples, friends.

Adil kept his hands behind him, gently walking in pace with Fareeha. But she was uneasy with the tightening pearl necklace. He noticed her pulling on the knot and there was reddening around her neck.

Adil stopped, and held her arm to stop her, - "Are you okay?"

"Um," Fareeha winced, a little out of breath.

"Wait, wait." He tried to unknot the thread, but it had tightened. "What is this? Are you planning on strangulating yourself?--Wait—May I try with my teeth? Will you be okay with that?"

Fareeha's heart jumped to her throat. Before saying yes, she attempted one more time and then agreed.

He came closer to her, and Adil's head tilted as he leaned in, trying to get a better look. Fareeha closed her eyes, her breathing quickening as she felt the proximity and his warm breath gently brushing against her skin. He pulled the thread with his finger a little. His teeth lightly skimmed the sensitive skin of her neck, causing her to take in a quick, shallow breath. The combination of his lips' softness and the thread's slight dampness sent a tingly feeling coursing through her body. Her body quivered with a faint tremor.

In this accidentally, he bit on her skin along with the thread. Fareeha winced and Adil straightened, profusely apologizing to her. She massaged over the stinging sensation on her skin.

"I think we should go and—and your mom will fix this."

Fareeha nodded, - "You stay here, I will come in a minute."

Adil agreed.

Later in the night, the two chatted, reminiscing their teenage days. Adil noted her body language and words whenever Fareeha spoke about Hadi. Casually, he included Dania in their conversation.

Sarfaraz relaxed in his leather chair inside his vanity. A hairdresser working on his hair, and a make-up artist adding extra shine to his collarbone and moving to his bare chest. He shifted, getting irritated with the stupid ready-made dhoti. This stupid scene seems to never end.

Fareeha climbed up with a few papers, a file, and a mobile in her hand.

"Sarfaraz." She called, walking up to him. 

"Hi!" The make-up artist smiled at her.

"Hi, Kiran." Fareeha greeted her sweetly. Kiran stepped to the other side, and the hairdresser gestured to Sarfaraz in the mirror. They nodded at each other. He turned and began gathering his stuff.

"Dude, here is the script you asked for and—" Fareeha leaned, placing the papers into the file. As she was bent over next to him, Sarfaraz noticed a purplish mark on her neck. He straightened, frowning at it. Kiran insisted he sit back, but he ignored her. Fareeha was busy flipping through papers to get to the scene he had asked for.

Sarfaraz squinted his eyes as Kiran pushed him back against the chair. He recollected Hadiya informing him at the dinner table about Adil being invited to Fareeha's place by her parents. And he would be staying there the entire night.

Sarfaraz stiffened, then gestured Kiran to leave.

Both she and Fareeha looked surprised.

"Sarfaraz, little touch up—"

"Give me five minutes." He said impatiently. Kiran glanced at Fareeha. She nodded at her.

After the make-up artist had left the two friends alone, he looked up at Fareeha. Leaning back, he placed his hands on the armrest.

"Had fun last night with Adil in the house?" He spoke through clenched teeth.

Fareeha smiled, tugging the hair behind her ear, exposing the hickey even more.

"Yeah, of course. After a long time, we got to bond. Ammi and Dad slept, but I and Adil were awake. Almost the whole night, dude, it was fun." She said innocently.

"Acha, wow!" Sarfaraz spoke sarcastically, controlling his anger.

"Yeah," She nodded, her eyes twinkling, - "I wish you were with us. All three of us, would have so much fun."

Sarfaraz clenched his fist, - "Me? Are you drugged or drunk?"

"What?" Fareeha looked aghast, - "Obviously, not."

He stood up from a chair, towering over her, his eyes blazing – "Then, you want me to do what with you guys' last night? Watch you two have sex?"

Fareeha shut her mouth, stilled with shock.

"Or participate in this—" Before he completed his sentence, Fareeha slapped him super-hard. He fell to his side and grabbed the back of the chair.

"How dare you?" She reprimanded, breathing heavily, - "I think you are drunk. Why will I have sex with him? I know you think I am desperate, but I am not that desperate."

Sarfaraz straightened, - "Really, you think I am dumb?" He held her hand and brought her in front of the brightly lit mirror. "Then, what is this?" He pointed at the bruise on her neck. Fareeha touched it, then turned to him.

"You are indeed dumb. We are childhood friends, and you believe in what you are saying?" She then explained about the events of the night. After she completed. Sarfaraz burst out laughing. Fareeha frowned at him.

"You think I am stupid? What a dumb story. Impossible fairy-tale."

Fareeha fumed. She slapped his arm hard. He stopped laughing.
"You tell me, why will I have sex with Adil? And if I did, what is your problem? You are behaving as though I am saving my virginity for you." She paused and added, - "Ass!"

Sarfaraz rolled his eyes, - "Please, like I care. I just don't want you to waste your time and—" he cleared his throat, and added, - "over someone who doesn't value you. I am saving you. Can't get such a simple thing, ass brain?" He gently pushed her forehead.

Fareeha looked offended, - "Dude, I can't believe this. Even if you are caring for me, in this weird way, you have no right to talk rubbish." She warned him, pointing a finger at him.

"Also, you are bothered about me and Adil, right? Same I felt when you were going crazy for Dania and I was warning you. I too was saving you from a heartbreak." She flipped her hair haughtily, - "Which is obvious."

Then Fareeha turned on her heels and stormed out of the van.

Sarfaraz felt guilt rise in his chest and sighed, dropping on the chair. He offended her big time, but he doesn't understand why the bad over-reaction. Why did the thought boil his blood? Was it just a care? He recollected Adil's words in the VIP lounge room when Fareeha had passed out.

Then the memory of his strange dream shook him. He shut his eyes and began deep breathing to calm himself. But the reminder that indeed nothing happened between Fareeha and Adil was a breather. And how the hell he could think such a bizarre thing about them?

Sarfaraz chuckled at what Fareeha said actually happened last night. That was just the most bizaare-ist thing to happen. As Kiran climbed back into the van, his chuckles had grown into full-blown laughter.

For the evening, Dania wore a full sleeve one shoulder black, thigh-length dress. The side slit just a little up added to the boldness of the dress. Dania wanted to look the part of a Bollywood star's girlfriend.

She ruffled her long tresses with her hands and side-parted them, keeping them messy. For the lipstick she chose the darkest shade of red and smacked her full lips, smiling at the perfect look. After she applied deep black kohl, she dabbed the richest aroma of feminine perfume. A sexy black super-thin pump completed her look.

As she climbed down, her cousin's sister caught her and began pestering her. Dania adjusted the soft curls of her hair on her shoulder and smirked, telling her that she was going on a date—with herself. But her snoopy relatives found Adil waiting for her with a cab.

Cab? Dania hadn't felt more embarrassed ever. She pretended to be cool, walking casually to him.

"Why are you here? Where is Sarfaraz?"

Adil grinned, forwarding his arm. To avoid suspicion, Dania took his hand.

"He told me. As you weren't comfortable going public with your relationship." He replied cheekily. She sighed, rolling her eyes, and got into the cab first.

Sarfaraz tugged on the collar of his black shirt and pushed it under his grey trousers. He breathed in, pulling up his pants.

"Bhai!" There was a soft knock at the door.

"Come in, Haya." He turned and beamed at the young girl walking in with a bowl in her hand. She hurried to him, handing him the ice-cold bowl.

"Ow!" He almost dropped it, - "Did you take this right out from the fridge."

Haya giggled.

"Arey, wow, Rasmalai." He gasped in excitement.

"Adil Bhaiya got this."

Sarfaraz froze with his mouth open and the spoon halfway towards it.

"Fareeha made it. He knew it was your favorite, so he got it." 

Almas sat in the living room, watching intense drama between the new bride, her sister-in-law, and her mother-in-law. They kept throwing witty threats and angry expressions while the camera rotated around them.

A loud ring at the door, and she jumped on the spot, nearly slipping from the couch.

"Who is that?" Feroze yelled from inside the master bedroom.

"I am checking." Almas tugged her dupatta on her shoulder and rushed to the door. She unlocked and opened the door.

"Salam, Aunty." Sarfaraz smiled at her.

"Arey, beta. Salam, salam. Come inside." She ushered him with both her hands, - "How is Hadiya—?"

"Aunty, where is Fareeha?" He interrupted her. Almas stopped walking and turned to face him.

"In her room."

Sarfaraz turned on his heels towards the room, - "Where are you guys going?" She asked.

"For a friendly dinner with Adil." He informed. Almas's eyes brightened.

"Adil will be there?" She swooned, with a dreamy gleam in her eyes. Sarfaraz frowned.

"Aunty, Aunty?" Hetapped her shoulder, - "the ad-break is over." He pointed at the television.Almas gasped and dashed into the living room.

"Western or Desi, I am going to impress him my way," Fareeha spoke determinately, shoving three plain silver bangles through her wrist; looked at her reflection and huffed. Gathering her hair, she tied it in a sleek French updo and secured it in place. Looking around, she picked two ear studs when the creak of the door alerted her.

"Ammi, please zip my dress from behind na." She requested, busily searching for the ear-stud stopper.

Sarfaraz cleared his throat, - "May I help?"

Fareeha looked up at hisreflection in the mirror. Usually, she would have scolded him, but for somereason, she was tongue-tied. Casually, He walked in.

oooooooooo......

Do you guys think the Rasmalai will do it's job ;)

𝒫𝓇𝑒𝒸𝒶𝓅:

"Shut up, Fareeha, just shut up." He straightened. Fareeha flinched, taking a step back.

"Nothing more against Dania." Sarfaraz huffed, showing his palm at her.

"Against?" Fareeha countered in the same tone, - "Dude, I am telling you the facts."

He scoffed, turning his back on her, - "Ho gaya, we are getting—"

"You shit-scared to tell your real identity to her. How is this true love? If she really loves you, should this matter?"

"Fareeha!" Sarfaraz twirled, his eyes blazing with anger. Why was he getting so mad at her? Maybe because, deep down, he knew she was telling the truth.

"Stop speaking, or else I will shut you up."

"Hello, I am not scared ofyou. And I am telling the tru—" Before she could complete, he grabbed her faceand pressed his lips over her yapping mouth. Fareeha's eyes widened, lipsparted, and her neck hurt. Sarfaraz's eyes closed, his lips busy smooching herplump round lips. 

.............

Sarfaraz straightened, shaking his head, and glanced lovingly at Dania, - "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. 

.....................

"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 drinkfrom his mouth back into the glass, and Fareeha nearly slipped from the chair. 

How was the Chapter, my lovelies? Are you excited after the precap ;) Stay Tuned for the next update :*

Please comment, lots, lots, lots and lots. It motivates me and brightens my day.