Indigo coloured clouds smothered the cool January night sky, but the spirit of the group was high. When we finally reached outside the building, we saw Rishi's Audi SUV waiting. I carefully placed the gown inside the cabin, while Kush kept the door open for me. He joined me in the backseat, while Tanya took the front passenger seat with Rishi driving. Both of the guys, without their glasses, looked suave.

As Rishi drove the car, Kush looked sideways at me and smiled. I couldn't tell, but something between us changed, it became intimate in a way.

"I have a gift for you," he murmured, putting his hand to his blazer.

"You don't have--" I was interrupted by a box which he produced before me, with a suspense-filled smile on his face.

"I am not sure if it is a good idea, Kush," I said, barely breathing. The dim light was not helping to disguise my reaction to his well-thought gesture.

He ignored my plea, opened the box, pulled out a delicate chain with a small heart-shaped pendant, which seemed to be made of tiny diamonds set in white gold. The fleeting lights outside of the window flickered on the diamonds, which sparkled. He seemed to be breathing shallow, as he leaned into me with determination and nervousness. He locked the chain on my nape and then freed my hair, with a gentle touch. Then I saw a sapphire stone in the middle of the heart, standing out from the white emanating metal. My heart constricted in a fear over his apparent love for me, which I would not be able to reciprocate fully.

A tear escaped my eye, as I clutched his hand which was placed on the stone pendant. "This is too much! I am only your friend."

"No and no. This is all I could get for you in my modest earning. But you are worth more. And you are more than a friend to me, so much more! I will not be able to explain how much more." The truth of his words reflected in his eyes, there was no veil between his heart and his eyes.

I gulped and let go of his hands. And slowly placed my head on his shoulders, shuddering inside with mixed emotions.

After half an hour silent drive, we reached the venue, Hilton hotel at Mumbai sea-shore with a dome-shaped hall. The dome was lighted up in golden lights all over, the red carpet was laid out from the stairway till the road side. People were swarming towards the entry with beautiful dresses and suits. There were limos that stood by the pavement where the celebrities got out, with a smile plastered on their faces, the photographers were already capturing the arrival of the guests. The railing barely kept them from falling onto the red carpet.

As decided in the morning, Anamika was to meet me in the hall directly. So getting out of the car, we headed directly towards the stairway leading to the hall. Tanya had communicated her mixed feelings in that few minutes, saying that she was happy to be with him, all thanks to me. Her words, not mine! She gave an encouraging nod, seeing the chain and the pendant, not forgetting to mention that it looked elegant.

I freed my hand from Kush's arm to adjust the dress one more time and proceeded to the red carpet when suddenly I looked up and saw Anamika with her bold red gown on the landing, just before the wide door, talking in a group. I took a step forward to peer through the crowd to the man having his hand on her waist. I didn't know if she was coming with a date of her own. And then the face produced itself from her left side, which made my heart stop for a while. Unfortunately, it didn't end there, my foot caught in my gown and I toppled over, face down on the carpet. I was suddenly bathed with a flash of white lights, as I lay on my stomach, looking through the shiny stilettoes, cursing the fate.

"Sara! Are you alright?" Kush's voice fell on my ears from behind me.

I struggled to get up, but the dress was restricting my leg movements, though a second later, a set of hands pulled me in one swift motion, holding me whilst I regained my balance. And a sting of pain coursed through my ankle, forcing me to blur out the surrounding. Meanwhile, the photographers didn't stop capturing the most embarrassing moment I had to face in years, on the damn cameras.

Before I could thank the person, Kush's hand grabbed mine and engulfed me sideways. I put my partial weight on his shoulders as I limped to the side, away from the photographers and the crowd.

"Are you alright?" Sid asked as he stood before me, in his black tuxedo and a bow tie, concerned perhaps? Then I realized that he was the one who picked me up. That was strange considered, how fast he got to me when I fell. Then again, I was phased out to know how much time I had lost in my embarrassed state.

"I just saw you upstairs, with Ana-" I stopped in mid-sentence when I saw Anamika herself on the final step, glaring in my direction.

"Sara! Collect yourself quickly. The function will start in a few minutes. I want you by my side," she hissed in the most subtle way. She didn't seem to stop at that, she glared at Kush, who looked calmly back. "Sara will be mine at least for an hour, then you can have her back!"

"I understand," Kush replied, squeezed me sideways, which brought a frown on Sid's face, with his thick brows snapped together in irritation. It seemed that he wanted to say something, but then he pursed his lips, took Anamika's arm and walked away.

Meanwhile, Kush helped me to climb the stairs. On reaching the hall, he stopped and faced me. "Sara," he said, placing his both hands on my shoulders. "Tanya found our table at the right corner side. We will get you after the speeches get over."

I nodded, smiling and followed Anamika and Sid to one of the front row tables. Whilst I watched them gliding forward, it stung deeply, like a bird crashing on the ground after being hit by an arrow. Injured and helpless. It was like being hit in the face with a bloody hammer, like your worst nightmare. The worse part of it was that they looked like a real couple, on the royal backdrop with red and silver shimmer. I sighed and looked away to distract myself from the unpleasant feelings arose within me.

The huge dome had a glass ceiling with golden and silver lamps hanging in an array. The white silk draping the table tops had lilac flowers in the middle. The stage which was set up in the front had an arch with combinations small light bulbs and purple orchids with a huge board which had JP Publication embossing in life form along with the daughter magazine logos.

Silently, I walked over to the left corner table of the front row and searched for my name tag on the table. There was Siddharth Kashyap, Anamika Vora, and two others, but no Sara Anand. I felt again embarrassed to be standing while almost all people took their respective, designated seat. Sid, saw my problem, and went up to the planner girl and asked her to bring up the chair, while told me to sit in his. The whole anger which was directed to both of them had me staying where I was, instead of following his order.

Finally, when a guy in his black Planner shirt, came back with the chair, I sat down, a little behind, but in between Sid and Anamika. Sid turning noticed the chain, gave a second to study it, before regaining his gaze to the stage. As instructed to me earlier, I handed Anamika the speech I prepared for her to address the people. She takes a good look at me, satisfied and folded and kept it in her hand.

As the event progressed, I closely noticed the main guests. Jason Parker was sitting with his wife, with ravenous black hair, that flowed to her front in a natural way. The couple was striking, though contrasting to each other. Jason was a broad shouldered man, with impressive height and strong jawline and thick eyebrows. The wife had olive skin, but soft features which seemed aged elegantly. She wore magenta-colored silk sari and a big bindi on her forehead. Her big, black eyes looked absolutely beautiful with her kajal and the bindi.

The stream of CEOs of Indian publication went about talking, giving their few minutes speeches, which included praises to Jason Parker. When finally it was Anamika's turn, space boomed with applaud owing to her popularity among the public.

"How could you--" Sid leaned backward to face me. "How could you lie to me?"

"What?" I asked bewildered.

"I am appalled by your behaviour! If you don't like me say it to my face!" he whispered with his clenched jaws.

"What the hell are you suggesting?"

"I won't get a minute alone from Anamika. What's the point of you asking me for the gala?" he mimicked my voice in an undertone, which absolutely didn't sound like me.

"Why do you care when you yourself wanted to come with Anamika," I gave back. The bastard was a two-timing jerk. He had the nerve to ask Anamika behind my back. He could have said it on my face.

"I can't believe you came with him? Who is he anyway," he simpered.

"He is my best friend," I admonished.

"Oh come on. He is practically married to you in his imagination," he sneered, with lines filling up his face showing his irritation.

"No...No." I shrugged and turned to get a glimpse of Kush. There he was, probably twenty meters away from us, his eyes on mine. He smiled and waved.

"See!" Sid boasted. "A man can know what the other man is thinking."

"Kudos to you!" I rolled my eyes and averted my gaze back to the stage, where Anamika started in her impressive accent. I didn't know if it was me, but I could feel Jason Parker's eyes on our table.

I shook my head and scanned the crowd behind me. To my surprise, Joyce was sitting two tables from my table with a middle aged, yet well-built man. "By the way, what's the deal with Joyce? I thought you would come with her tonight," I queried.

"Why would I come with her?" he asked vehemently.

"What did you say to her?" I asked. And when I noticed his confusing expression, I explained, "The day before yesterday, at the Purple office, when you practically walked through me."

"Oh. That. I had a message from my colleague, who is now sitting with her. I was nice enough to deliver it. Look, I made her happy."

"You are weird!" I declared.

He turned and let out an exasperated sigh, his eyes traveling down to my neck. I would rather have his smirk or tease. But his reaction made my heart constrict. Before I could stop myself, I said, "Kush surprised me. I was not planning to bring him as my date!"

"Whatever!" he resumed his glance at the stage. The Parker couple still gazed at our table.

"Whatever!" I muttered under my breath. Ass!

**Here the trouble starts. Expect some more twists to come. Especially the war between Kush and Sid which will lead to a difficult decision for Sara...!**