Hey!

Please read the note below.

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~~~PREET'S POV~~~

"Sorry Sorry- what?" I choked on my buttermilk when Asmaara's words processed inside my head.

"It's a charity Mascaraed Ball, Preet," she sighed from the other end of the phone, "You know how mama's reports came clear? Now she wants to fundraise for the cancer society."

"That's amazing but, she knows what it is, right?" I asked, imagining Asmaara's expressions right now.

"She asked me to participate. What are you even on about?" She groaned and I laughed.

Hussain walked past, behind me, and ruffled my hair. I whacked his arm in response. He howled and I stuck my tongue out at him, making his narrow his eyes at me. I laughed, scrunching my nose and he rolled his eyes.

"Preet, are you listening?" Asmaara's voice caught my attention again and I sighed. I had completely zoned out on our conversation. How rude.

"Uh yeah," I replied, unsure. I stretched my back a little as my lower spine felt quite uneasy.

"So can I count you in?" she asked. I could imagine her smiling right now. "Yeah."

"Great!" she shrieked from the other end, "I have 17 girls now- 3 more to go!" With that said, she disconnected the call.

Wait! What did I just sign up for?

This mascaraed ball is not just a random ball but, more like an auction. One by one, the girls who volunteere, will come forward and the males present, will have to pay to dance with them for the night. The highest bidders win the girls for the night and the money earned is later donated to the chosen charity.

Actually, you know what? I would love to take part in this. Let's see how far Hussain can go to win a dance with me. I am sure that he would never let me dance with any other random guy.

"Kya hua? Akele Akele smiling?" His voice pulled me back from my trance and I giggled.

"Kuch nahi bas tum hein bankrupt karne ka plan banaya hai," I winked and he shook his head. "Chalo, tumhaare liye yeh bhi sahi."

'Ding'

My head snapped to look at my phone and I saw a text from Asmaara.

Asmaara:: Dress Shopping. You better come! Downtown in 1 Hour. :)

Preet:: And I am allowed to bring a date for me and a date for you? :p

Asmaara:: You be my date for today.

Preet:: Shehry's got a great taste you know? He'll help you pick the best dress.

Asmaara:: how about I pick the best dress and surprise him? P.s Have something planned :P

Preet:: geez! FINALLY!!

Asmaara:: yeah! *blush blush* Just two more nights :D

Asmaara:: but you better not tell anyone!

Preet:: lips sealed.

Asmaara:: good :) see you soon! xox

~~~MALVIKA'S POV~~~

"Manik Arora, come back!" I yelled, panting.

This little kid is really something. I have been running after him with a glass of milk for the past twenty minutes and he is running away like he is practicing for a marathon. Where do little kids get this energy from?

The doorbell rang and Megha chose to answer it while I went inside the study room to look for Manik. I found him hiding under my study desk with puppy dog eyes.

"Manik, be a good boy and come out," I asked him politely and I rubbed my temple. Running after him, early in the morning, gives me a head ache. When he didn't move, I slammed the glass on the table and picked him up. Why is he so stubborn?

He is your son after all, a voice replied inside my head and I sighed.

"Nai!" he screamed as I made him sit on the chair. "Now be a good boy and drink!" I raised the glass to his lips.

"No no no!" he yelled, nodding his head sideways. His hand flew by and the glass fell out of my hands, spilling milk all over my files.

"Manik!" I yelled and almost raised my hand but, someone stopped me.

"Malvika stop!" Waqas shouted as he came forward, "he is a kid for God's Sake!"

"Vikkuu!" Manik clapped his hands together, giggling all of a sudden.

"Kid? Aafat hai yeh," I complained, holding my head.

"Talk to him nicely and he will listen to you," he said as he picked up Manik and walked out.

Damn I almost slapped him. What's wrong with me?

After Cooling myself down, I too went outside, only to find Manik sitting on his tall chair, peacefully drinking his milk. I glanced at Waqas and he smiled at me. Inhaling a deep breath, I dropped myself on the couch. Over two years and it's still hard for me to find my way around this boy and Waqas' magic spells are already working on him.

"Good boy!" I heard Waqas say and soon Manik came around. "Mushells!" He giggled, showing off his tiny arms.

I glanced at Waqas and laughed at Manik's cuteness. I kissed him on his forehead and he ran inside again.

"How on earth did you do this?" I asked Waqas and he wriggled his eyebrows.

"Jadoo!"

~~~ASMAARA's POV~~~

Choosing a gift for someone is the toughest task ever! Especially when you have to impress that someone. You can't just confess your feelings to someone and not give them something as a symbol of that very moment. I want to give Shehry something special too. If only I can find some thing good enough.

Hmph.

Actually you know what? I won't be able to anyway. Some cheesy gifts at a random gift shop can't express my feeling better than I can. These gifts can't explain how he makes me feel. How much his one look affects me. How his smile makes my heart skip a beat. How I wish to stare into his eyes for the rest of my life. How badly I have fallen in love with him.

Love. Is this love? Gawd! That short, four letter word is quite deep and meaningful.

"Hey how's this?" Preet's snapped me out if my daze and I turned to look at her.

"What is it?" I asked, taking a purple box-like Thing from her.

"It's a recording card. Just record your feelings in this since you have a lot of nakhre while choosing something off the shelf," she sneered, putting more emphasis on the word, 'nakhre.'

"Nakhre Nahi hai mere. Nothing here can sum up my reasons behind why I--" however, before I could finish, my eyes fell on a perfect showpiece, "--look at that!"

I walked around Preet and picked a tiny glass jar with words engraved on it ~Too Many Riesens Why I Love You~

"This is perfect!" I showed Preet a jar full of Riesens chocolates. She smirked, "Har chocolate ke saath ek reason bhi batana parega."

I found myself blushing and smiling at the same time, "bataungi- bataungi! Itne ki yeh chocolates bhi kam padh jayein- par sirf Shehry Ko!"

"Aww!" Preet cooed and I rolled my eyes. "Come on Let's pay."

"Yeah just in time- I need to be home soon or else Hussain will leave for his night shoot," Preet sighed and I laughed.

"What?" She mouthed, frowning at me, "jab Shehry jaya karega na - tab poochungi tujhe!"

"Nah," I clicked my tongue, teasingly, "those will be my perfect opportunities for sleepovers at your's."

"Nope. Strictly No jethaani allowed," Preet commented while the cashier scanned the barcodes.

"Where did that come from?" I asked, swiping my credit card and Preet smirked.

She stretched her arm and curved her hand inwards. Bending slightly, in Amitabh Bhachchan's Shehensha's style, she mimicked him, "Rishte main aap hamari jethaani lagne wali hein. Naam hoga Mrs. Asmaara Shehryaar Asif!"

Oh my gosh! Her words made my cheeks flush with heat to a point that I could no longer hold back the smile that was dying to play across my lips. Every time I think about him or talk about him, this happens. It's crazy and I love this feeling.

Mrs Asmaara Shehryaar Asif sounds just....

Perfect.

~~~PREET's POV~~~

Asmaara stayed back while I chose to drive home. Apparently she still had to buy a present but, after my comment about Shehry, she refused to shop with me. Well, I can't blame her because Hussain still has that effect on me that makes me turn into a beetroot- even when his thoughts cross my mind. He still feels like a dream to me and so, the way Asmaara feels, is quite relatable.

By the time I reached home, I could seriously jump in to my bed and sleep it off. I felt so tired all of a sudden. There was a sharp pain in my lower back that might have been triggered by the excessive amount of walking that I had done today.

As soon as I had said my greetings to everyone, I went straight to my room, not even stopping for a glass of water. I guess stretching for a bit might help.

I scanned the room and Hussain wasn't there. Maybe he left already but, honestly, I couldn't care any less. I just dropped the bags on the floor and myself on the bed, pulling the covers up to my shoulders. Sleep had just began to take over me when I felt the bed dipping behind me.

"Tired, Munchkins?" Hussain murmured softly in my ear.

Oh another cheesy nickname. If I got a dollar for every time he called me using these cute nicknames, I could have honestly bought SRK's bungalow by now.

Well, a little too exaggerated there but, you know what I mean, right?

Normally I would chuckle and tease him but, this time, I exhaled a loud sigh with a nod. "Yeah."

He softly kissed my ear lob and rubbed my shoulder. I stirred a little and turned around to rest my head on his arm, without even bothering to open my eyes. I felt his lips on the side of my forehead as he pushed the loose strands away from my face and tucked them behind my ear. I slid closer to his well built frame, until my nose was rubbing against his chest, and inhaled his spicy scent.

I could sleep like a baby in his embrace.

"Hey- You look exhausted. All ok?" He asked, running his fingers through my hair. I silently nodded and chose not to say anything.

"Preet?" He called out again.

"Stop bugging me, Hussain. My back hurts and I don't feel like talking," I winced and heaved a loud sigh.

He is just being nice, what's wrong with you idiot? I voice inside my head scolded me and I inhaled a deep breath.

"I am sorry," I whispered, regretfully, and earned a chuckle from him. Great.

His arm soon slid away and the warmth of his body was gone. I reached out for him but my arms didn't feel like moving. Another loud sigh escaped from my lips.

My sleep was distributed again when the bed dipped behind me. This time his hand fiddled with the bed covers, snaked around my waist and slowly found its way under my top. His cold fingers gently touched my skin and with a gasp, my heavy eyelids parted instantly.

"Hu-" however, before I could finish, he leaned closer and held my shoulder with his other free hand.

"Shh," he whispered in my ears as his fingers slowly began to form circles on my back, "just sleep. You'll feel better, Hmm?"

I felt myself relaxing under his warm touch while his fingers slowly worked their magic up my spine. I didn't even realise when sleep took over me.

~~~ASMAARA's POV~~~

The mall was just about to close for the day and when I finally found a perfect tie for Shehry. It matched well with my dress for the charity ball and so, he better wear it. After all, I know that he will be the one to win a dance with me. At least I hope.

Honestly, I don't really support the idea of this whole dance thing. It's almost like giving myself on rent to some one for a night. But, when I come to think about how magical that night can possibly be if he turns up; I just can't stop myself from looking forward to it. There is a lot planned for the night and I strongly hope that all goes well. I mean, being the jinxed me, something is always bound to go wrong and that is what's freaking me out the most.

'Ding'

The elevator's door to the car park opened with a loud chime and I dragged my trolley out.

Clicking my heels on the cement floor, I searched for my car. Though there weren't a lot of cars left here, I still couldn't remember where exactly I had parked mine. Once I had finally spotted it, I left the trolley by the rack and grabbed my bags.

There was a faint sound coming from the far end of the carpark. However, I saw no one. The moment I stopped walking, the noise also faded. Maybe it's just an echo cause by my own heels, I decided and walked a little faster this time. The noise became louder and clearer, definitely sounding like foot steps.

I was all alone here and that person could be anyone- from the Ganitor to a rapist. Goddammit! It could be Imraan.

My throat was almost dry and sore when I reached my car and struggled to open it. My eyes stung and brain felt numb, thinking about the possibilities of who it might be.

The key just didn't want to fit.

"Open up!" I begged, fiddling with them. When they refused to corporate, I decided to make a run for the shops as t's safe out there.

I slipped out of my heels and ran towards the staircase. I constantly turned back to see the owner of the footsteps was close or not. Those footstep had become louder but, they weren't as fast as mine. I couldn't even judged their exact direction.

All my fears came rubbing into my face as sweat trickled down my forehead. I felt like I would faint when I crashed into someone. They clasped their Paws around my upper arms and I struggled to free myself.

"Nooo!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. My throat felt like someone had just brutally ripped it apart.

"Let me go!" I yelled again. I tried to kick my way out of their grip but, in vein.

However.

"Asmaara calm down!" The voice took me by surprise and I opened my eyes. "What's wrong? What happened?" He asked, gently cupping my face.

"S-shehry?" I stuttered and stepped back, "I-I.."

While he studied my face, confused.

I gulped the lump in my throat and ran a hand through my hair. I turned around and wiped the sweat off my forehead before walking away.

"Asmaara!" He called out but, I didn't stop, "Asmaara wait!"

I quickly opened my car and with a blurry vision, I drove off. Thankfully without crashing.

Just random foot steps can scare me to death and here I was trying to move on. Move on? Who was I kidding? I can never do that- I am wrecked.

Scarred for life.

~~~

Hey!

How was it? Sorta rushed? ---->

I didn't get time to edit :/

I find it awkward to ask (especially because no one replies D': XD ) but, any faves in this chap? ---->

Anyway,
Coming to the updates; they are going to be SLOW from now on until the end of June. Or maybe no updates at all.

I have finals coming up and so its crazy.

OUAD will be updated soon. However, no promises :(

That book just started and I don't want to rush the chaps for it and I don't have the time that it requires. Even for this one, I didn't even get to edit.

I had this written out since Monday and it was bugging me. I had to edit it but had no time and that thought just wouldn't let me concentrate on anything else.

Now it's finally out of my system. This is why I didn't leave anything hanging here.

What's next? Mascaraed Ball XD
AND lots of drama.

Maybe sometimes after 20th :)

AND

Thank you so much for your support, guys<3
Really, you guys are amazing!

LOVE ALWAYS<3