Kamran's POV:

"Kam...ran? That is too difficult to say." Anushay looked deep in thought as she put her hand on my head and pet me. Her small body seemed so delicate. I wanted to protect her. "I am just going to call you Sher!"

"Sher?" I looked at her confused, not minding the hand on my head. It was calming. She nodded happily as she held my face with both her small hands and pulled it towards herself so that our faces were only inches apart.

"Yeah! Because you look like one. A lion. With your fluffy hair and scary eyes!" She grinned at me, one of her front tooth was chipped but it looked adorable on her face. "Come on! Let's go to the sea!" She grabbed my hand and started dragging me in a random direction.

"It's late already. How about we go tomorrow?" I caused her to halt as she looked at me confused while tilting her head. She really was adorable when she did that. It actually wasn't late but I had wanted her wound to heal sooner. I felt guilt pull at me when I saw the bandage on her wrist.

"Tomorrow? Do you promise?" Her big bright eyes stared into my soul. They were drawing me in.

"Yes, yes, I promise." I held unto her hand.

"Yay! You are best, Sher. My Sher!" Anushay grinned at me again but her face started to fade away. Ah, fuck, this was another dream huh? Another memory from the past? I have been getting a lot of these dreams lately. If only back then I had taken her to the sea when she asked for it, maybe things would have been different. As her face disappeared into the darkness, I opened my eyes to see Fahad on the driving seat.

"You are up? We are here." Fahad grinned as he pointed his thumb to the front side. We were in front of Rubab's house?

Rubab's POV:

"And this one is called Faizan. Yes, he really has grey eyes. His stare makes you uncomfortable but he has a really soothing aura around him. He is one year my senior in Law school." Zoya zoomed into his face and handed me the phone so I could have a closer look. He wasn't that bad. His eyes really did make you uncomfortable though.

"Um, no." I replied to which Zoya lightened up and swiped the phone screen to show me another guy.

"Not your type? Oh well, check this one out. His name is Haider. He is on his way to becoming a chartered accountant. Isn't he hot? When he flexes his arms, you just want to-" Zoya was cut off when the house doorbell rang. It was just the two of us and Sohail who were home since Ammi Abbu had gone to some wedding.

"It's the pizza delivery guy." I looked at the clock on the wall and then got up from the bed, putting Zoya's phone on the pillow. It was about time for him to come. It had been around 30 minute since I ordered. I picked up my wallet from the side table before casting Zoya a glance. "I will be right back."

"Want me to tag along?" Zoya offered but I shook my head. All I had to do was fetch the pizza and come back.

"Nah, it will hardly take a minute. Sohail is sleeping so I will just get it myself." With that, I left the room. I peeked into Sohail's room and he was really sound asleep. He must have been tired, he had back to back exams till late afternoon.

I took a step out of the wooden door and walked towards the main metal gate. There was a sound of clang and then I unlocked the door. My heart nearly stopped when I saw Fahad on the other side of the door, a grin on his face like a Cheshire cat. On reflex, I decided to close the door on his face but he stopped me almost immediately by placing a hand on the gate, the veins in his arm tightening. Not only the veins but I noticed the scratches on his arm too. What did he do to get hurt like that?

It was none of your business, Rubab. He can jump in a ditch for all you care. My inner voice spoke and I agreed with it completely.

"What's the rush, Rubab?" The way he called me sent a shiver down my spine. Ignore it. "Pretend or not, I am still your lover. Is this any way to treat me?" He leaned forward causing me to take a step back. I gripped the door handle tightly. I really didn't want him here.

I spotted a car, an Audi to be precise, a little distance from my main gate. I instantly recognized Kamran sitting inside playing with his phone. The light flickering from the phone made his features all the more obvious. Oh God. Zoya was inside. I had to get rid of Fahad as soon as possible.

"What are you doing here?" I whispered yelled as I held unto the door ready to slam it into his face any minute but he kept a hand on the door's edge as if he knew.

"Well, it's been a while so I just wanted to check up on you." Fahad smirked as his eyes shined in a satanic way. "I am sure your parents won't mind. I should stay close to you, you never know what Zohaib could be planning."

Right now, Fahad's face scared me more than what Zohaib could possibly do. Fahad looked like he was daring me with his eyes to make the wrong move. As usual, it was like he was playing a game. A mental game that messed you up.

"You should leave." I threw on my impeccable bitch face as I looked at him without a hint of emotion. I couldn't let this snake know that Zoya was here. He needed to leave. I didn't care about myself right now but Kamran cannot find out about Zoya. He just cannot. If he belongs to that family, Zoya's life could be in danger. I slowly tried to close the door again but Fahad held unto the door and slowly pushed it in my direction caging me between him and the gate.

"Oh I will leave once I get answers. We never finished the conversation from the hospital. Why are you avoiding me?" He was staring right at me. I felt like I was being observed under a microscope. One slight mistake and he would know.

Fahad's POV:

"I am busy today. I will tell you some other time." I noticed the way her voice hastened. This woman. She was hiding something. It was different from the fear she had in her eyes at the hospital. There was anxiety in there too. What was she up to? Was it Zohaib? Had he threatened her again? I focused on her facial expressions. It wasn't enough. I needed to read her clearly.

I got closer to her face. I could feel her breath on my neck as she looked at me. There was something whirling in those cold eyes of her. Her breathing had increased pace slightly. Ah, was she nervous? I knew it wasn't only because of me. What was the cause?

"You seem nervous, ice queen. It's not like you. Did I catch you at a bad time perhaps?" I dragged the conversation on. I noticed the way she seemed light on her feet. Was there someone in her house? A man? Did she not want me to see him? She looked like she wanted to dodge me but it doesn't work that way. Come on, Rubab, crack. Crack under the pressure.

"Maybe we should stop this pretend lover thing once and for all. I mean Zohaib isn't here anymore and I am grateful to you for that but you and I both know that this, us, won't work." She was lying. She was rushing. What a pitiful excuse. She wants to get rid of me now that she is done using me? It doesn't work that way. Not until I am done with her in my own way.

Did she think this tactic would work? Was she giving up? I felt something screech in my mind. Don't let her get away, Fahad. You won't find another one like her. Don't go with the flow. Don't play into this game. Lead like you always do. Change the direction of the game. The devil within me whispered. Rubab was observing me and she flinched when I felt the devil take control of me for a few seconds before it disappeared again. Oh, did she notice?

"So you are telling me, now that you have used me, you are going to cast me aside?" She seemed hurt by my words although I should have been the one to get hurt. I wasn't hurt though. I was pissed. The silent calculative kind of angry. An ominous feeling controlled me for a second. I wanted to drag her back with me but then I shook my head and laughed. "It doesn't work like that, Rubab. You should be careful with what you wish for."

"I need to study for a test right now so you should leave. I have nothing further to say." She tried to make a run for it again but I pulled her closer to me by wrapping a hand around her waist. My abdomen touched hers but apart from flinching once, she didn't let her fear show blatantly.

"It won't end like this. It won't end at all, Rubab. I told you not to play with fire before. It will burn you. I will burn you. Nobody-" I was cut off when we both heard the turn of the door knob indicating someone was stepping outside of her wooden door. And there it was. The fear on Rubab's face. It showed loud and clear. Just what was it that scared her so much? Or more like who?

"Rubab, what-" I heard the familiar sound and the final puzzle piece fit perfectly. So that is what it was about huh? I slowly shifted in place, letting go of Rubab as I looked behind her. The fear on Zoya's face mirrored what Rubab had. How amusing indeed.

"Oh, what a surprise. Welcome back, Zoya." I was ecstatic. The deer had found its way back to the lion's den. What a climax. I enjoyed the fear and nervousness in their eyes as they looked at each other. Mischief played in my eyes as I looked back at Rubab. "Is that why you were in a haste, hmm? You should have told me before that you had friends over. I could definitely over some other time."

I watched her, daring her with my eyes. Come on. Make a mistake Rubab. You are already trapped. Let's see how low you can go. I casted a playful stare at Kamran who was looking at his phone. Ah, Ha. This was so entertaining.

"Looks like we won't be having a discussion after all since I need to give this wonderful breaking news to Kamran." I was about to step away but Rubab grabbed my arm and pulled me inside much to my absolute surprise. She pushed me against the gate and shoved herself against me. Electric. That is how I felt where she touched me. Tingling sensations everywhere. Was it the thrill of the unknown? What was she going to go? Beg? I felt a shiver run down my spine at the visual image of Rubab begging me.

"Don't tell Kamran." Her voice cracked at the end but she kept the determined look on her face. She really was ideal like that. An ideal person to keep me entertained. She was so pleasantly different from the rest.

"Oh, the ice queen is pleading? What's in it for me? I thought you wanted to sever all ties with me." Come on, Rubab. Show me, show me how far you would go for your friend. I dared her with my eyes as I leaned down to look at her drawing us even closer.

"What do you want?" Zoya whispered from beside us, hissing under her breath. I glanced in her direction and then back at Rubab.

"What makes you think I will hide something this crucial from Kamran? I get nothing out of this."

"You must have a price. Something that will keep you quiet. Say it." Zoya was keeping her distance from the gate and us as if she knew that Kamran was standing on the other side. Maybe her danger alarms had gone off or maybe she could just sense her doom. It was no use though. Far too late for that.

"Oh, well there is something I want." I added as temptation and deviousness sparked within my eyes. I wanted to be sympathetic towards them but this was just so fun. This was faring better than my expectations.

"What?" Zoya snapped but then calmed down when Rubab looked at her.

"A date with Rubab. To improve our relations and fix any misunderstandings we have. In better words, I want to make this pretend game into a real one."

"No way." The words left Zoya's mouth annoying me slightly. I wanted to shut her up but this was better, it made the entire scenario harder on the ice queen. Breaking her ice walls would be easier now. The way Rubab looked at me proved that she knew. She knew she had screwed up.

"Well then, it's you or her. Looks like Kamran's day is about to be made." I took a step back but Rubab's grip on my wrist tightened causing me to pause and look at her with a raised eyebrow.

"Alright. I will do it." I felt a wave of adrenaline rush as I heard those words. The ice queen was budging. She looked like she was plotting something but it didn't matter. She didn't realize she was already stuck in my web. I wasn't letting her get away. It doesn't work that way in Fahad Abroo's life.

"Well then, my lips are sealed. Kamran won't find out a thing. You have my word. Shall we go on a date tomorrow then?" Rubab let go of my wrist immediately and I smirked. You will have to hold unto it soon enough.

"Sure." She replied as I gave her one final look before walking away. The flames will engulf you, Rubab. It's not long before that happens. Enjoy it while it lasts. All in due time.

As I joined Kamran in the Audi, I heard the bang behind me, indicating that she had closed the gate. Kamran already had Zoya's Instagram account open on his phone. I casted a glance at his phone before looking at him. I almost felt bad for not telling him the truth but I had to hold true to my word. For now at least.

"You are done already?" Kamran turned off his phone as he looked at me with a confused expression his face.

"Yeah. I am in a good mood. Let me treat you to something tonight." I said as I drove away from her house while forming a new plan in my head while texting her about the date tomorrow.