Recap: Ano dumped ice water on Sunny. She thought Ashar's iris was attractive and had an argument with him. He said he was compassionate towards her. Then, he walked away and she asked one of her mom's managers about Ashar's bio data.

15. Sunny With A Chance
Doesn't seem like it.

"How's your face?"

I probably should've refrained from asking this question as it brought up the fight between him and Ashar. Both of them had bruised up faces.

Sunny and I were perched on the sofas in the living room while Ashar and his family were upstairs.

"Is this how you normally welcome guests in your house?" Sunny asked, dodging my question.

I pursed my lips in guilt and attempted to hide the laughter dying to erupt. Sunny was engulfed in a warm blanket, pretending not to be freezing to death after the ice bucket bath.

"I'm sorry. It was meant for Ashar, but you popped up out of nowhere . . . Do you want another blanket?" I tried to be slightly more courteous. His bruises from the fight with Ashar ought to hurt with ice water slapped on them.

"No, thanks." He shook his head, indicating he was warm enough. "I only dropped by to formally apologize for what happened at your uncle's party."

"You're better off apologizing to your wife than me. I don't really care." I shrugged, my eyes roaming over my nails. I desperately needed a manicure soon.

"Considering I beat up your husband..." he trailed off as if he was in deep sorrow for "beating up" Ashar.

"Ashar took care of the situation just fine," I said not impressed by his choice of words. "Your face looks worse than his."

I couldn't believe I was taking my fake husband's side. Maybe it was Sunny's exposed prostitution or the argument regarding compassion with Ashar that I had ended up taking Ashar's side.

Sunny's eyes narrowed before he blinked quickly. Maybe his eyes hurt.

"Of course. For the sake of our old friendship, I refrained from hurting Ash too much," Sunny admitted. I gave him the benefit of the doubt.

"Why aren't you two friends anymore?" I asked forgetting the details.

"Differences happen," he said, his eyes turning away. It was evident he didn't enjoy this topic. "That aside, I wanted to make it up to you for what happened at the party. For being such an awful friend to you." I frowned. Sunny and I were never close friends to begin with. He always treated me like Jhanvi's cousin—like an ordinary younger sister of somebody's. "I do believe now you owe me for the ice water in the snow."

I raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"How about we go have lunch tomorrow?"

I didn't like the sound of that. Sunny was a hot model prior to the bomb drop that he was sleeping with somebody.

"I have work," I told him.

"Dinner?"

"I work from six in the morning till probably ten at night." Okay, that was a lie, but he didn't know that.

"Maybe on your day off?" he continued. Now, he was skating on thin ice.

"I'm sure Jhanvi is free anytime to hang out with you. You should probably fix your marriage." I don't know why he was pushing himself on me when he had an upset wife.

He sighed. "She's far too pissed off at me. In fact, she's filed divorce, and wishes to cut me out of her life completely. I was hoping you could help me fix the situation. But you're so busy with your life." He buried his face in his hands.

That's why he's here!

He needed my help to save his relationship. It made much more sense now.

"I thought you were just trying to hit on me." I chuckled. "But you just want to use me to get to my sister."

His dark brown eyes flickered to mine immediately. "Of course not. I am simply lost. I made a few wrong choices, but I love your cousin to death. You're the only person who can help me. Will you?"

I scanned my chipped nails again before agreeing.

"I think we should discuss the matters at a spa rather than lunch or dinner."

The lines on his forehead deepened with bewilderment. "A spa?"

I nodded. "That's where I can think best about how to help you. Three o'clock this Friday. Meet me at the Hands of Gold."

He slowly inclined, a warm smile coming over his features. He leaned forward, grasping my right in his freezing cold ones.

"Thanks so much, Annie!" His excitement was getting the best of him as he halted the blood circulation in my hand. You have no idea how much I owe you!" He even went to the extent of kissing my hand with his dry lips. "Please let's just keep this between us two."

Before I could reply, I felt a presence behind me. I turned my head to find Ashar standing there with his arms folded.

When did he enter the scene?

"Are you two keeping secrets? Should I be concerned?" Ashar said in a joking manner. He placed a hand on top of my shoulder which made quickly retreat. I forced my hand free of Sunny's grasp.

It was an odd situation.

"He wanted me to not tell anyone I showered ice cold water on him," I lied.

"Probably the first time he took a shower in days, anyways," Ashar mumbled.

I pressed my lips, hiding my smile.

"What was that, Ash?" Sunny inquired.

"Nothing. I was just making sure you weren't trying to steal my wife after losing yours." Ashar and his bluntness. Although he had said it in a joking manner, Sunny took it as his cue to leave.

"Of course not. Annie is my good friend," Sunny said, flashing his charming smile. "I should get going now. I have some work to get done." We nodded. All of us stood up.

Ashar made sure his hand on my shoulder was now on my back. I was sure Sunny noticed it too.

We bid out goodbyes and Sunny told me he'll keep in touch. As soon as he left, I grabbed Ashar's arm and pushed it away.

"Don't touch me." I warned.

"Don't befriend the enemy," he countered.

"Don't show so much concern. I might just think you care about me," I said dryly.

The way his gaze fell on me—somewhat exasperated somewhat tired somewhat lost—it made me uneasy. I despised how him simply keeping elongated eye contact with me messed with my mind. I despised how a simple action could alternate for a wordy response and still leave an impact. It didn't help that integrity always shined in his eyes.

"What were you and Sunny talking about?" Ashar asked finally breaking the silence spell.

"None of your business," I said. "Excuse me, I have work to get done."

Ashar didn't bother with a response.

I rushed to my study and focused on the work my boss had given me.

I wasn't doing anything wrong. Ashar might be my so called husband, but he didn't have a right to know everything going in my life. I was going to help out Sunny and see if he was even worthy of being in Majhraut family.

I spent the entire evening the study until Cecily finally came to fetch me for dinner.

"What did you guys cook?" I asked Cecily, pushing my papers together.

"Food," she replied.

"I know that, stupid," I said, almost banging my head in the wall. "But what exactly?"

"Ashar ordered pizza," she said slowly.

"What?! Why?!"

"I don't know, ma'am." She kept her head down and mouth mum.

"Bring me a bowl of my regular salad up here," I told her. "I'm not indulging in heavy carbs at this hour."

"Are you sure?" she asked.

"Excuse me?" How dare she question my order?!

"Oh I mean Ashar and the girls were waiting for you downstairs to start eating." She shrugged. "He claimed he won't eat anything without the 'love of his life.'"

I scowled at her. "He said that to you?"

"Yes." She nodded her head.

I let out an exasperated sigh. He was playing the "we're truly, madly, and deeply in love with each other" card in front of Rosie and Aara.

Leaving everything on the table, I told Cecily to follow me. Plastering a fake smile on my face, I entered the dining area.

Ashar and Aara were engrossed in a (table) knife duel. I couldn't tell who was winning.

"Grab your sword, Ano. You get to fight the winner," Ashar said, but his eyes remained on his opponent.

He was acting like a child with his sisters. In that moment, all my frustration at the day's events dissipated into thin air.

"Yeah! Go Ashar! Go Aara!" Rosie cheered.

I plopped down next to Ashar, across from the girls, knowing that was the smartest move to make.

"What are guys fighting for again?" I asked.

"Who gets the biggest slice of the pizza," sajd Ashar. Then, he proceeded a couple of "hae ya's" and made Aara drop the knife.

"Dang it!" Aara muttered. "You're a bully."

"Let us ask the referee," Ashar said. They turned to Rosie who gave a crooked smile. Two of her front teeth was missing. I hadn't even noticed when she lost them. "Ashar wins fair and square!"

"The referee was bribed!" Aara declared. "I demand a rematch."

"I'm hungry," Rosie whined. She opened one of the boxes and slid three slices of pizza in her plate.

Yup, she was hungry.

The other two siblings laughed and helped themselves to a slice each, fighting over the biggest slice.

"You want me to grab you a slice?" Ashar asked when he saw me sitting there quietly.

I shook my head. "I'm not a fan of pizza. I'll tell the ser—the kitchen help to make me something." I had no idea why I stopped myself from saying "serfs."

It did however bring a smile on Ashar's face. He continued chomping on his pizza. As I got up to find a maid, Ashar cleared his throat.

"I told everyone to go home early," he said casually. "You know, because I ordered pizza. It was snowing and driving at the pitch of the night isn't safe."

My first response was to choke him. Second was to stab him with the table knife. Third was the best one yet. Cecily was in her coat, ready to leave the house as she speed-walked towards the front door.

"Cecily!" I called.

Ashar's eyes shut for a second. Cecily stopped in her tracks.

"Yes?" she asked turning around slowly.

I hated being that person, but hey, this was my house.

"Where's my salad?"

_________________

A\N

Abhi hum zinda hai. How about all y'all?

What did you think of the chapter?

Anmol is changing or the same old?

Is Sunny really asking Ano's help to save his divorce?

How is Christmas break?

—K-K-Kiran