He looks at me surprised, I turn my head to my left and point towards few couples dancing on a beautiful lit and decorated stage. There is a small orchestra playing soft romantic music beside the stage.

Before Arham could say anything I grab his hand and lead him towards the stage. Arham as always looked apprehensive. I take his hand and place it on my waist and held his hand with mine. I look into his eyes, at first he is looking elsewhere but then reluctantly he looks at me. Our gaze met and I felt my breath getting stuck in my throat. I feel myself getting lost in his grey orbs, his eyes have such magnetic pull, pulling me closer and closer. If that was even possible.

I held his hand tighter and soon I find him relax and he grips my waist properly. I felt a jolt pass through my spine and I shiver. Our eyes fixed at each other. Everything else seem to blur, it is only me and him. The soft tune of my own playing in my ears, a smile on my lips.

I glanced down at his lips, I feel so tempted looking at it.

I look up at him, his eyes still looking into mine. I take a step closer and to my relief he doesn't move back. I know he is mesmerized and I feel strange sense of pride.

I glance back at his lips and am not able to stop myself, without thinking I lean in.

'Di...Din...Dinner' Arham says moving his hands from me and taking a step back. I snap out from my trance. What the heck was I doing. I look at him, Arham looks embarrassed, why is he embarrassed I should be the one who should be embarrassed.

I nod looking away. Arham held my hand and helped me climb down the stage and takes me to the table.

The waiter places the spicy prawn on my side, I gulp. The waiter arranges the cutlery and leaves.

'Bon appetit' Arham says smiling. I nod simply. I eye the prawn making a weird face, I gently poke it with my fork. When I was a child my mother used to forcefully feed me fish, I hate sea food. Somehow I can have fried fish but prawns...thank god I didn't order lobster or crab.

Before I could pierce my fork into one of them Arham takes the plate from me. I look at him. He forwards his bowl of soup. I am confused.

'If you don't like it then why order it, silly girl' Arham says. I bite my lower lip.

'Arham, you don't have to have this...I ordered it I will have it' I say

He looks at me and smile 'I love sea food; they are so tasty' he says.

I know he is saying just for the sake of it and I felt guilty. Arham has always been a good actor but his eyes always deceive him, even though he is happily munching on the prawns but his eyes say otherwise.

I wanted to stop him but then what can I do, I simply can't eat that and I don't want to waste the food or money. We eat in silence.

After we are done with the food, Arham pays the bill. I had insisted to pay my bill but he refused and I didn't want to argue with him. I will do whatever he says. We stand up just then Arham's phone rings. I notice his expressions change into a stern one on reading the name that flashes on his screen.

'Arh...'

He sticks out his palm stopping me in mid-sentence, he goes at the ear-shot distance from me and is murmuring something which no matter how hard I strain my ear it is inaudible to me. Arham's expression the time when he received the call made me not go to him and eavesdrop, so I stand my ground. I wonder who it is that disturbed Arham. I hope it's nothing serious, or is it?

Arham is driving the car in silence, I am looking out from the window and at times look at him. I am really curious to know who was on the call. I look at him, he is looking straight at the road. I need to get his attention so that I can start a conversation. I get a clever idea, I wouldn't have been able to execute the plan had it been someone else instead of Arham, but I trust Arham. I place right leg over my left, the slit exposes my leg. I smirk and pretend to look out from the window while I watch him through corner of my eyes.

From past fifteen minutes Arham's attention was on the road, he wasn't even looking at me, but the moment I exposed my leg I notice him glance at my leg, Men will be men! I smirk.

He quickly looks away. I notice him frown and look distracted.

Few seconds later, 'Can you please adjust your dress?' Arham says agitated, I smile widely and twist my body slightly to look at him.

'Why?' I say placing my hand on my thigh. He glares at me; with his free hand he covers my leg. He shakes his head. I frown.

There is a silence again but this time I didn't want to prolong the silence and also my apartment is nearby so without wasting time anytime I asked

'Arham, who was it on the phone?'

'Wrong number' he says simply, but I knew he is lying. Why does he lie so much?

I have had enough of lying and hiding and mystery. 'Arham' I say sternly; this is the first time I use this tone on him.

He looks at me, surprised.

'Who was it on phone?' I repeat myself, my tone still stern. He sighs and looks back on the road

'My friend, Ashok. I had some work for him' he says

I remember Ashok, Ashok Singha from our school, he and Arham always used to hang around together, he was also there in football team with Arham too. But then why is Arham disturbed with the call?

Before I could ask the question, Arham stops his car. We have reached.

I turn to look at Arham and smile, he smiles back at me.

'Thank you' I say and lean in wrapping my hands around his neck; hugging him. He takes few seconds before hugging me back. I close my eyes feeling his arms around me. I wished the moment could last longer but within few minutes he breaks the hug. I move back.

'Zahra...' Arham says and I look at him, he smiles. 'Good night' he says

'Good night' I say and step out of the car, Arham again had to help me with my dress. We smile at each other and this time I didn't feel embarrassed with my dress.

That night again I dreamt of Arham, I dreamt of being in his arms. Tonight in our "date" I was really close to him. Our face so close, I could feel his breath on my face. I feel Goosebumps just thinking about it. I sigh as I lay on my bed hoping and wishing we could come closer. Arham has his own inhibitions and I have my own, I know his guilt won't let him come close to me and my engagement with Aamir won't let me come close to him. I wish there was no inhibitions no boundaries...just Arham and me.

*

Next day I took more effort to get ready for office, more for Arham. I wear a short sleeved knee length yellow pencil dress, I tie a black strap around my waist, it contrasts well with the dress. First time I wearing a tight dress to work. I wore black heels and tie my hair with banana clip, applied kohl and nude lip gloss.

I am sitting in my cabin trying to concrete on my work but I can't concrete; all I can see is Arham's face. I lean back against my chair and stare at the ceiling still reminiscing last night, no matter how much I think about it I cannot get enough of it, Can't get enough of him.

I hear a knock and quickly sit up straight, 'Yes' I say and the door opens. Mr. Kapoor is standing there holding few papers in his hand. I change my expression and nod.

'Ma'am, this is Mr. Arham Hooda's holiday petition, for some urgent work he has to go to Bangalore for three days' Mr. Kapoor says handing me a letter.

I frown, why does Arham want to go to Bangalore? Nooren and Irum are in Indore. I look at the letter to confirm if Mr. Kapoor hasn't misunderstood. I read the letter, it says Bangalore for some urgent and personal work.

'Okay' I say.

Fifteen minutes later I casually made my way into the marketing department and knocked at Arham's cabin door.

Soon I am asked to come in.

'Why are you going to Bangalore?' I ask coming straight to point, my hands on my hips and a stern expression on my face.

Arham looks alarmed with me suddenly questioning him.

'I have some personal work' he says going back to his work. I frown. I walk towards him and slam my hand on his desk. He looks at me and frowns

'I am your boss and demand to know' I say

'I don't think boss should be interfering in employee's personal matter' he says turning his attention towards his computer screen.

'Arham, won't you tell your friend too' I say softening my tone, no matter what I always have my way. He looks at me and I flash my best innocent smile.

He sighs massaging his forehead, he stands and I take a step back.

He looks at me with a serious expression 'It's about your fiancé, Aamir' he says and I am stunned.