Arham is standing there holding Aamir by his collar looking at him with a murderous glare. I quickly wrap my night robe and tie it quickly.

Aamir looks at Arham and smirks 'See your boyfriend is he...' before Aamir could complete his sentence Arham punches him hard in his guts. Aamir winces and stumbles few steps back clenching his stomach tightly. Arham then punches him hard on his face

'Arham' I yelp, I am not worried for Aamir, that jerk deserves all the bashing but I fear for Arham. I don't want him to hurt himself or get into any trouble.

Aamir is in no state to retaliate, Arham punches him again and he falls. I panicked as Arham climbs over Aamir and start to punch him senseless. I quickly grabbed the landline

'How...dare...you...misbehave...with "my" Zahra' he says still punching Aamir

I freeze, did he just call me as "his". This is the first time he has showed his possessive side, not even in school had I seen this side of him.

I quickly compose and call the reception, the way Arham is punching Aamir I fear he might kill him and I don't want Arham to become a murderer.

I put the phone down and rush towards Arham and Aamir, I held his shoulder and tried to pull him off Aamir.

'Arham stop' I plead trying to move him, I could see blood and lots of it. So much blood is making me feel giddy.

Within seconds security guards come and they managed to pull Arham off Aamir. They took Aamir away, they were going to take Arham too for creating nuisance but I stepped in to rescue him.

'Officer, this man (I point at Aamir) barged into my room and assaulted me, and Arham saved me. what he did was in self-defence' I clarified to the two policemen who the hotel staff had got.

They handcuffed Aamir and took him away. Once the policemen left I sigh in relieve and hug Arham, clinging on to him tightly. Arham slowly hugs me. I am really grateful to Arham that he came on right time else I can't even imagine what Aamir would have done to me. Tears begin to flow from my eyes. Arham separates our frames, I lowered my head and stare at the ground sniffling. It is then I noticed blood on Arham's knuckles. Is it his or Aamir? Nevertheless, I get worried.

'Arham, you are bleeding' I say and held his hand, he looks at me and then moves his hand

'It's okay...I am fine...' he says

'Shut up' I say taking his hand again and pulling him towards the bed. I make him sit and get some ointments and bandage from the cupboard. Arham winces as I apply the ointment on the hurt.

'I am sorry' I apologize. Arham looks at me and smiles.

'Waise, what happened to you...if we hadn't stopped you, you would have killed him' I say bandaging his wound.

'Of course I would have killed him...such shitty people don't deserve to live' he says angrily; his tone is so menacing that I got scared. Arham looks at my torn sleeves I notice him get angrier, I quickly try covering my sleeve and get up.

'I will freshen up' I say. Arham stands up and held my hand

'You are fine?' he says

I smile 'if I have a friend like you then I will definitely be fine.' I say. He takes a step forward and hugs me. This is the first time he has initiated the hug. I held him tightly wrapping my hands around his waist.

I so wanted to tell him how much I love him but I didn't...I couldn't. I go into the bathroom to change my nightdress. I took my purse inside, I opened the side zip and take out a silver ring. My father's engagement ring, I had slipped it in my bag that night after my engagement with Aamir. I know now that I have found the deserving man for it, a man who had always been deserving, the man I love.

I slip into a maroon Hello kitty Tee and white pyjama. I come out and see Arham sitting on the bed massaging his wound, I feel bad. I decided to change the atmosphere and make it lighter.

'Hey! Let's celebrate our victory' I say, and walk towards the mini bar. Arham looks at me surprised as I take out four cans of beer. Arham eyes widen

'Are you sure you can handle this' Arham teases me

'Don't underestimate me' I say as I open the can. I pass him one and open one for myself.

'Cheers' I say clicking our cans together. Arham smiles as I sit next to him, two long pillows acting as barriers between us.

I and Arham started to curse Aamir, one word he says and takes a sip from his can, one word I say and take a sip from mine.

Two can down and we both are seriously drunk.

'Arham...dude...you are so strong...you were bashing him so badly' I slur holding his arm. I touch his biceps and gasp.

'Wooowww...' I say and let my head fall on his shoulder. He chuckles

'You have changed so much too...my fatso' he smiles pinching my cheeks. I smile dreamily

'When people call me fatso...I used to hate it...but when you say...I love it...' I say and lean forward then I sit up straight.

He smiles

'You know...I had always liked you...no...no...loved you...actually you looked so cute and hot when you were sixteen-year-old' he says

My heart flutters when he finally said he loves me, I am feeling light on my feet and it has nothing to do with alcohol. I am high on love.

'I am not hot now?' I say sitting on my knees and running my hands through my frame. He observes me frowning and then shakes his head

'No...you looked hotter before' he says

I pout, he sits up straight and held my hand. I gasp as he pulls me, I fall over him. Our gaze getting locked. He glances at my lips and then back into my eyes, I am having a silly smile on my face.

'Zahra...I am sorry...'he starts, I placed my palm on his mouth but he removes my palm and looks at me.

'Please don't stop me now...I swear I didn't put up those posters...I swear...I wanted to badly apologize to you...I searched for you...I went to your residence but you had left...I am truly ashamed of myself.... I genuinely was your friend but I messed up...but I swear I didn't put up those posters.' He says

I smile and move up sitting on his lap, I twist my body slightly to look at him. I cup his face and look at him lovingly. He blinks at me.

'I know...' I say and kiss his forehead.

'You forgive me...?' he says, he sounds like an innocent kid. I noticed tears glistening in his eyes.

I take his hand in mine, I look at his scars and my heart pinch with agony. He had done this out of guilt for hurting me, for failing me as a friend. It pains me to imagine the pain he had gone through...the burden of guilt not only crushes a person but also crush their souls. I can't even imagine the agony, pain and guilt a sixteen-year-old Arham would have gone through. With no one to console him, guide him and make him feel better.

I press my palms on his cheek and lean in tilting my head slightly. My gaze fixed on his lips, with my lips inches apart from his I close my eyes.

'Zahra...'

'Shh...'

I place my lips over his, my heart skips a beat as I felt his lips on mine after so long, it's been ten years since I had kissed him. I move my lips quickly, looking away feeling shy.

Arham places his fingers on my chin and tilts my face making me look at him. I smile shyly as he places his hand on my cheek and leans in. I close my eyes; I clench his shirt tightly as I feel his hot breath fanning my lips.

Seconds later I feel his lips on mine and I feel my heart leap to my throat. We started to kiss passionately. I feel intoxicated and I don't think it's the alcohol. Arham wraps his hands around my waist, without breaking the kiss I move, placing my legs on either side of his waist. Because of my inexperience initially my kiss was sloppy but I am a fast learner. I copied Arham and we are kissing each other more wildly now.

Arham lifts me up little and turns us making me lie on the bed, still kissing me, there is no stopping him tonight and I don't want to either.

I gasp on feeling his cold hands under my Tee and Arham snaps out from his trance. He quickly moves his hand from under my Tee breaking the kiss.

He lifts his body off me and looks at me, we both are panting trying to catch our breath.

'I am...sorry...sorry...' he says sitting up straight. I sit up too. He shakes his head and gets up from the bed.

'I...will...sleep on the sofa' he says taking his blanket and a pillow. I look at him disappointed. Since we both are heavily drunk it's better that he sleeps separate. I lie down and adjust the duvet over me I turn to my side looking at him. He fell asleep quickly, I touch my lips. I could feel it has swollen. I smile reminiscing, I don't know if Arham will wake up tomorrow not remembering tonight or he will remember the kiss. But I know one thing even though I am drunk, this night is etched in my memory. Just like my first kiss, this kiss felt magical too. Even though my first kiss was Arham's first too, we both were inexperienced and learning hence the kiss was soft and gentle yet passionate in its own way. Tonight, our kiss was wild and passionate, it had an urgency a longing to be together again.
This is my second kiss with Arham. When we had kissed for the first time I had decided then that my first and every kiss will be with Arham, I am really very happy.

*

Next morning, I yawn and twist my body. I frown recollecting last night. Last night Aamir had crossed all his limits, then I smile thinking about Arham. Had he not saved me yesterday God knows what Aamir would have done with me, I would have lost everything...how would I have faced my parents? My smile broadens when recollect our kiss, again I am grateful to Arham for not crossing his limits last night. My respect for him increased million times more.

I rub my eyes and sit up straight, I turn my head sideways and see Arham sitting on the sofa, his head buried in his palms. He still dressed in his night wear. I wince on feeling my head heavy, damn! This hangover. I guess Arham is also having one. I managed to call the room service and order two lime juice.

I look at Arham who still has his head buried in his palms.

I stretch my body yawning and climb down the bed. I massaged my nape 'Good morning' I say covering my mouth with back of my palm as I yawn again. I held my forehead and shake my head, I feel like my head is being bombarded.

'Arghh...' I say, I look up and see Arham still sitting in the same position, is he dead? Of course not.

I kneel down beside him and place my hand on his shoulder 'Arham...' I say softly, there is no response. I shake him slightly; he looks at me. I smile at him.

'I am sorry...I shouldn't have kissed you...'he says guiltily, he again lowered his head with shame. I roll my eyes, what is up with this guy? Why does he always feel guilty?
'What kiss?' I say shrugging, he looks at me surprised.

I then smirk, 'Hawwww... (I covered my mouth with my palm) you dreamt of kissing me...was it a wet dream?' I tease him. He looks at me annoyed. How cute he is looking! I chuckled and ruffled his hair.

I stand up and go to my wardrobe taking out my clothes for the day and towel, he stands up too

'Are you sure? We didn't...'

'Na, we didn't' I lied, he is looking at me confused 'Don't peek into a girl's wardrobe...' I say faking anger, he takes a step back and goes to sit back on his sofa. I look at him from corner of my eyes and notice him sitting there staring at the floor looking confused.

In a corner of my heart I am really happy that Arham remembers our kiss, but I am disappointed as well because he regrets it. Truth be told I don't regret it, but yes I wanted the kiss to be when we aren't inebriated. I wanted to live the moment, feel every minute of it and that is the reason why I am glad we didn't cross our limits. I want to be in my full senses when I finally unite with my Arham in all true sense. That day isn't too far, I decided then I blush thinking about it.