"So, was that the reason for all those dramas? Oh my god! You had been facing this much problems?" Asked Eby, running his palm on forehead.

Ishaan passed a little smile before turning to face his reflection on mirror. "But, when will you say this to Shreya? You should tell her soon. Or else, things will get more complicated." Eby pointed.

"I don't know. But I will. And before that, I want to sort out things between Shreya and Dad. That's why I brought her here today. I didn't intend to tell you. But you got exploded, right?" He paused, "Congrats anyways, you could be the worst." Said Ishaan, folding the sleeves of his white shirt.

Eby grinned before saying, "I was literally annoyed by everything. And I know I was rude then..."

"Hey, don't blame yourself when the actual source of problem is leaning before you." Eby smiled at his words.

"You are my best man." Ishaan patted his shoulder.

"Oye hello! The world's best men got called downstairs." Said Aju, entering the room with a packet of biscuits.

"Aju! Why you are bringing these things to bedroom? And who told you to enter here?" Ishaan asked, very bothered about the biscuits and his room.

"There was no board like 'Prohibited for foodfreakers'. And this is not India-Pakistan border or anything." Aju took out another biscuit and crunched it with his strong teeth.

"What the hell? Give me too man." Eby extended his hand.

"Errghh!" Aju narrowed his eyes as Ishaan groaned.

"Ya Allah! How I wish to see your little kids running over here having biscuits and chips making your room totally messed up." Aju got lost in his weird imagination.

"Huh? Kids?" Ishaan snickered, feeling a bit uncomfortable at those words.

"Well, when will you come back?" Enquired Eby, checking out his baggage.

"Within two weeks I think." He took out his phone from charging before putting in his pocket.

"So, London girls, huh?" Aju passed a mischievious glint at Ishaan. "I'm going there for my work. Not for girls!"

"Yeah, I know, you are such a bore man. Says that luck turns its back before needed ones." Aju made a desperate face for which the duo felt like laughing. They moved downstairs with his baggage.

"Is this Ishaan?" Shreya asked, pointing at a picture in album.

"Yeah. See, how arrogant was him even at that age." Geni commented. Shreya felt like smiling looking at the small boy, aged ten or eleven, with a mud stained football.

"He was busy attacking his football as he could not win the match that day." Explained Geni, making Shreya to let out a laugh.

"Shreyaa.." She was taken aback by his voice. She didn't get used with his presence eventhough she had been there since morning. His voice, his look, his presence, everything about him made goosebumps in her. Her Dad.

How much she wished to be with her dad even for a few minutes. Without saying it, Ishaan had done more than what he supposed to do. She was both excited and nervous, when he invited her to meet his family. But, thinking about meeting her dad, she reached in her ninth cloud.

"Now, you should have this too." Abraham handed her a small bowl of dessert. "You sounds like it's a punishment for her to have my food." Jessy entered in, complaining him.

"Ohh! You felt a nerve of ego? Then, I'm sorry dear." Jessy stared him, folding hands. "Shreya, my wife is the best cook I had ever met. Her food is so delicious you know?" His voice laced with non- existing amusement. Shreya smiled watching them.

"Dear, do you know cooking?" Jessy turned to Shreya. "Uhh, no aunty. I don't."

"Don't worry. Aunty will teach you and make you the best chef." Geni winked at her for which Jessy felt a bit confused.

"Mom, dad, I'm leaving." Ishaan came to them with the duo.

"Without having my dessert? I won't leave you like that." Jessy left them and came back with three bowls of dessert. "Here, have this."

"Wow!" Aju began to have as soon as she gave him.

"Mom, I don't want this. I'm kind of full." Ishaan excused.

"Ishaan!!" She stared for which he took a bowl with disgust.

"Well, why you are going this early? Your flight is on 11 p.m, right?"

"It's okay Mom, I will be having Michael to talk with. And it will be better if we do things more early." He assured.

"Okay. So, who is going to drop Shreya?" She enquired. "Eby, you can go, can't you?"

"Ofcourse I can... Uh, No! I can't." Eby blurted out.

"Huh?"

"I have many works in college. We are having our fest now. I mean we two are not free." Said Eby, pointing at Aju.

"Then who else?"

"Uh, uncle is free naa? He can drop her. And we can't just leave her with driver at this night." His words made Shreya to form a smile.

"Yeah, that's right. I will drop her home." Abraham said as Eby passed a genuine smile at Shreya.

"What you are doing Geni?" Asked Aju, watching her connecting a pendrive to the television set.

"There is something to watch for all of us."

"What?" Jessy asked.

"Aunty, you know about Farhan's troupe, right? They used to conduct stage programmes and all. He gave me this pendrive that day. I didn't get time to watch. So, here we go." Geni switched on the screen as Shreya joined her.

"Oh my! You girls are going to watch those monkeys's act? By the way, I hate that troupe. They are not that much talented unlike me." Commented Aju.

Ishaan finished his Mom's dessert anyhow and moved to wash his hands. He pulled his baggage before walking to the hallways as he watched everyone immersed in tv.

Ishaan paused when he heard his phone ringing. "Hello, Michael?"

"What? Are you gonna be late this time too? Well, I'm leaving now. You come at your time." He shook his head, hearing Michael, making a tons of excuses.

But he stopped when he came to hear something. He moved to the sitting area before looking at the screen.

"How could you do that? All these years, you were with me and now you have fallen for him?"

"I don't want to see you with anyone. I want you. I want you to be with you."

.......... "Will you be my girlfriend?"

"Shit yaar. Farhan was much better than this fellow. He could have act in this." Geni pointed.

"Oh my! He does acting too? We can't even put up with his songs?" Aju chuckled nastily.

"Ofcourse. I saw a video of him acting this scene with Ainu."

"Uhm, sure that he has given you something." Eby shook his head in disbelief.

Ishaan felt like his head was going to explode. He could not even breathe.

So, Farhan and Amaaya were acting that day?

He could feel half of his body getting paralyzed. His heart started leaping through his throat.

What had he done to himself? For the first time, his mind besided his heart that he was wrong.

Teribbly wrong!

Ishaan closed his eyes, wishing that the Earth could literally open up and swallow him. Her face kept running through his nerves, his mind, his heart.

"Eby, keep my bag on car. I will be back soon." Everyone passed a questioning look at him wondering, where on Earth was he going.

"Now where are yo..." Eby began.

"I'm leaving." Ishaan grabbed his key and moved to his bike.

"Man, are you gone mad? It's raining outside." Aju asked, coming out with Eby.

"Atleast tell me where are you going." Said Eby, watching Ishaan getting ready to go.

"Before that, tell me where Amaaya is." Ishaan blew out a restless breathe.

"Huh? Amaay...? But why?"

"SAY YOU DAMNN!!!"

"She... She is in our college."

"Okay fine." The next second, he scooted away flashing through their eyes.

"What? The? Hell? Is? Happening?" Aju stood there, resembling a balloon run out of air.

"Didn't you notice that glint in his eyes?" Smiled Eby, looking heavenwards.

Ishaan's vision kept blurring as it was slightly raining there. But he was smiling. Smiling like nothing.

He didn't even know what was he going to do. But he had to see her. The biscuit dipper...

He had gone all mad. Too far from himself. Unlike himself! But he was enjoying that new experience devoting himself to it.

Ishaan cursed the road as it seemed like forever. Suddenly, his mind was clouded by some bad thoughts.

What if something will happen to him before seeing her?

Anything! But not before seeing her..

Because he wanted to see her so badly that he was going to die if he could not see her...