geet sat up,''what?''

Maan pulled her back into his arms and said,'' just listen, okay.

''I was very surprised as well. But later very happy because I was drugged that night. Apparently, Anushka did not take my rejection very well and decided to teach me a lesson. Many people at that party were under age and high on drugs, she got us all there and then, called the police but Sam knew about this plan of hers,

so, she took me back to her own place. Of course, the others were arrested, press had a field day but I was saved. I stopped drinking alcohols at party and avoided all models from then but Sam became my friend. Actually, I kept bugging her until she decided to be my friend. I guess the real reason she accepted my friendship was because I never asked her any questions about her past and secondly, I never tried to flirt with her. She never liked people touching her.

Geet asked quietly, ''were you ever close to Jenny or Sam like you are to me??

Maan looked into her eyes, then lightly traced her jawline with his finger, ''I love you geet, never compare it with anything else because its insult to my love for you.'' he paused and then said,''There were three girls in my life with whom I became physically closed to, Anjali, Elisha and Sam. With jenny, it never reached that level, I am very choosy about those whom I decide to share my bed with, with Anjali and Elisha I thought I might have a future but in Sam case it was different.

I don't know how to make you understand, but just give it a try, Back then, you guys were in India and I missed home, we became best friend, I noticed how she didn't even like casual touches, it puzzled me but I never pressed. Anyway, she became just like a friend to whom I could talk about my family and share everything.

She had no one else, so when she was free she would hang out with my group.

Sam's Pov

Susan, ''it was not your fault Sam that Harry was such a b****** and you did what you could do for Candace, you are not responsible for anything.

Sam, ''it doesn't matter, he got what he wanted from me, and in return, I lost the person for whom I did everything.''

Susan,'' you could do nothing about it and you faced something like that and remain sane that require real strength.''

Sam,'' I don't know how I survived at that time, so many times I just wanted to kill myself , but just could not do it.'' she took a deep breath and continued,'' I even managed to find a friend, he was and still is, very supportive, his eyes were just like Candace and he watched her pictures with me. He had a family so he could understand my pain. My friendship is one thing I am proud of and something which I have not failed.'' she said defensively thinking about something.

Susan noticed and gently prodded, nothing about was mentioned in her case file.

''why do you think that you should not be proud about your friendship?''

Sam was suddenly agitated, could she talk about her relationship with shuriya to anyone? Even Maan do not know everything. But, she had to try, she could not live like this.

''Shuriya never approved of it. He was my Fianc. I met him shortly after I became friend with Maan.'' she became silent after that. Susan let her think and remember everything. Sam could not face Susan, she got up and moved to window turning her back to her.

''I met him at the party organized for Indian students in London. Maan invited me and I agreed, it was fun, everyone was real casual, students feeling home sick met with fellow indian students there and were happy.

I liked it, back then, I could not speak hindi and could understand very little of it. Maan got into a heated debate on some topic with one of his class fellows. I was feeling a bit crowded with all people present, so went outside into lawn. It was summer night, I was sitting with my feet in swimming pool and watching others dancing, laughing, playing different games through window. There laughs drifted over me and It made me happy. I don't know why but I love to hear the sound of people laughing happily.

Suddenly, someone emerged from water splashing water all over me. I backed away and got to my feet. He did not pay attention to me, I had been sitting there for at least 5 minutes and he was under water for that long. He swam to opposite bank with strong strokes , a grace in his movements.'' Sameera remembered that night, still could feel even the light breeze of that night on her face. She closed her eyes and got lost in past.

His skin was gleaming in the lights arranged in the lawn. He got out on the other side and grabbed a towel from lounge chair. He turned to look at me while rubbing his hairs with towel. Sam was model herself and had worked with most beautiful males but he drew her gaze like magnet. Sam felt uneasy with it, his gaze was direct too direct like trying to recognize her. She went inside and joined Maan and his friends. She remained on edge whole night but never saw him again.

Shuriya watched her from the balcony, who was she? He had never seen her before but her face was

familiar. She was different from every other girl in the party in several ways. She had no make up on, she was not wearing any jewellery and appeared to be separate from everyone.

He drink the champagne with a self mocking smile touching his face. He was never attracted to anyone before this, no matter how beautiful and charming and today a simple college girl had him totally hooked up. Mr. Shukla asked him something and he focussed on him but she still lingered in his mind.

...Next day.....

Sameera went with Maan to buy gifts for his family. He was going back to India for holidays. He bought something for everyone. Maan,''its done.''

Sam,''you did not buy anything for Geet.''

Maan looked surprised for a moment, then said,''i have never given her any gift.''

Sam,'' that's rude, you have gift for everyone else, she will feel bad.''

Maan, '' yeah, like I care.''

Sam looked at him and said, well you talk about her most. Any way, I think this bracelet will look good on her hand.''

Maan was puzzled for a second, he did not talk about Geet that much. He automatically glanced at bracelet and said, no it would not suit her. Her eyes are hazel, so I think some other stones will be better.''

Sam turned her back to him and hid her smile. He was such an idiot, poor geet, Maan had no idea about his own feelings.

After the shopping was done, Maan dropped her at her place and told her he will call from India.

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

Sameera entered into her own place and came face to face with anushka. Anushka,'' you don't want me as your enemy Sam, I will get even with him one way or other and don't try to come between us.''

sam who had been avoiding her since party night incidence said,'' you can't hurt me as I have nothing left to lose and I am not going to watch you play your sick games with another guy.''

Anushka laughed,'' these games make life much more interesting but then, you don't know what is to live. Yes, I cannot hurt you because you are a f*** frigid doll but I guess so many others have told you that I guess you are used to it.'' She opened the door and she was about to go out when she said, leave Maan to me, he is real man, you won't be able to keep his attention for more than a few seconds.'' with that last dig she left the apartment.

Sam quietly sat down on bed, she had not cleared Anushka's misconception that she was dating Maan because she did not want her around Maan. She was too vicious, too uncaring for anyone else . She seemed to be getting obsessed with Maan. Thank god, he was leaving for India tonight and may be when he came back, by then,Anushka might have some new target.

...........Next day...........................

Sam went out for jogging next morning at 6 a.m. Several other models jogged at this time. As usual she let them go ahead and then, set a pace few space behind them. She was jogging when she felt some one jogging beside her. She looked up at that familiar stranger. He did not look at her jogging with her silently. Instantly feeling uneasy, she slowed, so that he will move ahead, he slowed as well. She started to get angry, she turned back and jogged back to her apartment building knowing he was jogging a few feet behind her.

Then, it became a routine, wherever she went. He would follow her. He never said anything just keep looking at her like she was some sort of puzzle which he can not put together. This really irritated her. Maan had used to same tactic but his presence was comforting, she felt real calm in Maan's presence and sometime, she felt like an elder sister although she was younger than him.

While this guy, his gaze made her fidget, she worried about her clothes, her hairs, was something wrong? Why he looked like that at her. His gaze had no lust but something else, what she did not know and it used to drive her crazy.

Who was he? A stalker, no doubt about it, I will warn him once and if he still followed her then she will call police.

She looked out of the window, he was sitting inside his car, window rolled down, reading some book. Feeling her gaze at him,he suddenly looked up. Sam glared at him, a slow smile spread on his face. He winked at her.

She closed her window with resounding thud and marched down to his car.

''leave this area immediately or I will call the police....he smiled at her and then, opened his car door. Sam moved back, she was 5 '9' but he towered over making her feel small, he must be 6 '3' something.

He offered her his hand and said, hi I am shuriya kashab, will you marry me?

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

Maan Pov

Geet asked,''i can not understand if Sam and you were just friends then why were you...with her,

and still you 2 are together'', she felt a twinge of jealousy but tried to suppress it, she will give him chance to explain.

Maan,'' I told you about her problem with touching people, well, it was only with males, she shied away from any male touch. When I initially met her, I was young and frankly I never met anyone like her before. So, I thought it was normal behaviour I mean in our culture, girls don't touch boys and vice versa. Any casual touching is discouraged.

I came India for holidays, I called her couple of time, she was really happy and then, I lost contact with her. when I got back, to London, she introduced me to Shuriya Kashab, and told me they were getting married. I was really happy for her. Shuriya was really quiet, never spoke much, in beginning I went out with them when Sam asked but then, I felt like a third wheel and stopped going. I got busy with my other friends. We still maintained contact. One day, she called me at her apartment at night but when I got there, no one was present, so I waited and tried to call her but when she did not pick up my phone, I went back.

Later, I kept calling her but there was no trace of her. Jenny had moved away as well. I was able to get Jenny's number, I did not want to speak to her but she was my only link to Sam. She told me that Sam was in hospital. She said she knew nothing else, just that sam tried to suicide and they were keeping her under observation. I went there, she was..'' maan was unable to put it into words. ''

''she had a nervous break down following failed suicide attempt and further doctors told me that she had a miscarriage. When she came back to sense,she did not even recognize me, she would start shrieking loudly if any one would go near her. It took her a long time to get back to her senses, I visited when I could. Later, when she started recognizing me, I started going more. She never told doctors or even me what really happened to make her do it. I tried to find him, sure that he was responsible for it but no matter how much I tried , I could not find him. He was really well connected and I was just a student. I could do nothing to him outside India unless Sam give evidence against him.

He looked at geet absently, his fingers gently combing her hairs, ''I did not know what happened but Sam could not tolerate anyone's touch,male or female, doctors told me she said that she was filthy, that no one good should touch her. When I asked her she said it was true, her eyes... just like yours, you scared me geet that day when you cried in rain, the way you behaved it was just like Sam. He shuddered and kissed her on forehead. Never scare me like that.

Geet hugged him back and put her head on his chest, silently comforting him. Then, ''what happened next?''

''I slapped her'' geet''what?''

Maan, ' I did not like how she was degrading herself, later I was sorry but not that time. I asked her what happened to Shuriya and she said that we broke off, he decided that I was not good enough for him. I wanted her to file a case against him because I knew he filled her head with that crap. I did whatever therapist told me to do as she only talked to me. It was really difficult to make her normal to other people touching. She could not bare the accident touching of shoulders or hands. We worked on it and although she still hate it when anyone touches her but she doesn't go hysterical.''

Geet,'' so then you decided to have a relationship?''

Maan, '' it was before when she was under treatment, later when I came back to India, I asked her to come along and she came. She did not wanted to be a burden so, she started modelling in India and later, got into movies. I never stopped her because it made her happy. But we were still friends first and later she asked me to move on, she is not really interested into me.''

Geet frowned, how was it possible, he was so handsome, how was it possible for a women to be so near him and not fall in love?