It's an usual morning at Khan House. Warina is still sleeping like a bear in hibernation even after Mrs. Khan has been trying to wake her up since an hour. Her alarm has given up long ago.

"Warina!" Mrs Khan calls, "It's almost 8 o'clock! Wake up now!" Her hands are tied jerking her sleepy poster.

"Five minutes more, please Ammi." She whines, turning side and snuggling to her side pillow

"What shall I do with this sleepy head!" She slams her forehead.

Having no choice she decides to use the ultimate weapon.

Ice cubes!

Taking some cubes from the fridge she comes upstairs in her room and secretly rubs it on back of her neck.

"Ammi!" She exclaims, jolting up sleep. "Did you really have to do that?" She wipes the cold water with her dry hand from her neck. Few drops run down her spine giving her chills. She jumps feeling electric shock in her nerves.

Mrs. Khan chuckles. "Stop being a baby and come down within fifteen minutes." Handing her a towel, she leaves.

She stays idly on her bed, lazily yawning and stretching like a kitten. She takes more five minutes to get rid of her remaining sleep and stroll inside the washroom.

Taking a quick shower, she comes out and dresses up fast. Pinning her scarf in place, she hurries for the breakfast table.

"Ammi pack some parathas for Liza as well please." She requests her mother while munching on spoonful of cornflakes messily. "Why she left so early?"

"Eat slowly Wari!" She scolds while packing her bag, "She said she needs to finish a case that she is working. That reminds me, here you may take the keys, she has left it for you."

"Then how did she go?"

"Oliver picked her on the way."

"So early in the morning?" She raises her eye-brows, doubting something fishy.

"That's so generous of that boy, isn't it?"

Mrs. Khan has always admired Oliver Henderson as her own son. It's been almost two years they have been acquainted and he has been blessed to have adults' shadows over him; something he had yearned for years.

"Okay, I'm done. I'd leave now." She stands up, taking her bag and umbrella. "Already late by an hour." She mumbles to herself.

Her aunt comes out of her room and seeing Warina hasn't left yet pleases her. This is an excellent opportunity – she thoughts.

"You're leaving, dear?" She smiles creepily.

"Just going. Bye Ammi. Assalamu Alaikum." Kissing her cheeks, she tries to escape as fast as she could. That smile of her aunt isn't the best thing that could happen in the morning. She turns the knob, taking a foot out when she speaks again.

"Oh wait! Karim will drive you and a woman shouldn't drive anyway. It's highly inappropriate."

Discrimination in gender is her favorite and typical time pass. Sometimes it leaves Warina pondering how being a woman herself, she can talk such nonsense. Getting into no further argument Warina flatly replies, "Thank you but I'll manage." And walks outside.

Flaring her nose, she says, "You saw that Momina? I'm telling you keep your daughter at arm's length from that ill-mannered girl or else she'll slip away from hand."

Her vexation is evident. If she was in an animation, her ears and nose would bleed hot steams. Mrs. Khan nods slightly while flashing a small smile and goes inside the kitchen.

...

Twenty kilometer away in the hospital Eliza is burning with confusion and distress. Yesterday Oliver had called informing about the case she is working on has to be finished in the morning because there is another important case that needs her assessment. But to her defend she tried to explain that she is already done with her work but he insisted her to come early today.

"Can you at least check the file? I've already finished it." She says sternly.

"I did." He answers with staid calmness.

"You did? You did and yet you called me to come so early!" She is startled.

He stands tall, smiling in a cool manner, "I've to conduct a surgery and you've to assist me."

She closes her eyes, taking a deep breath and gulps down annoyance, "Mr. Henderson, are you joking here? You've called me to announce this? You could've said me yesterday!" Her tone raises a bit high.

"The surgery is in Brazil." He maintains the same cool tone.

"So what's the m..." She pauses once realizing his words, "Brazil?"

She asks in disbelief.

"We'll be going for four days. The flight is today at midnight, go home and pack your luggage accordingly. You may go now." He steps out of his cabin, leaves her hanging in anger and shock.

Before she applied here, she made a clear statement about not flying into any another cities let along countries. She even filled a cross mark in the option box of the admission paper about not willing to travel for educational purposes.

"I need to talk Mr. Henderson, wait!" She runs behind him quickly. She won't agree to it easily, he knows it well too.

"I'll certainly be not going. I already stated that I won't be flying out of Hill Town." She stands still on her ground. "Moreover you've far more accomplished doctors such as Dr. Lily."

She knows exactly to vex his nerves. Dr. Lily is the name of trouble, at least for him. Since the day she has joined at Harmony, she is hill over heels for Oliver. She is well determined to win him someday. Her bizarre stunts and acts entertain the hospital quietly hilariously. He maintains more distance with her than the depth of Pacific Ocean. She can't be fired as she is one of the best doctors Harmony has.

"It's for your training purposes. If you denied it then you'd be suspended." He terminates the conversation in a single sentence. He knows she can't afford to be suspended when she is on the verge of earning her medical license.

Eliza is about to burst at him when Dr. Lily enters the hall.

Name of the witch and the witch arrives – she thought. If murder was legal the one person who would be buried six feet under is Dr. Lily. She hates her fake diva and innocent act in front of Oliver.

"Oh Oliver darling, here you are. I was searching for you." She literally jumps on him rather than just hugging, "My parents are throwing a party tomorrow and you must come."

Pushing her at a distance, he asks for the reason.

"Oh my! How could you forget? Baby it's my birthday." She cries annoyingly.

"No thanks but I and Ms. Ak..."

He stops. His eyes are searching for Eliza but she had existed the scene long back. She despises seeing Lily glued to Oliver by every bone and nerve in her body.

"Ahhem," he clears his throat, and informs shortly, "I'll be in Brazil tomorrow. Happy birthday in advance by the way."

...

Warina has reached Harmony fifteen minutes ago. Last few months have been a great toil for everyone in the hospital as numbers patients of Dengue and Malaria have reached sky height across the city with the arrival of summer. Though the rates of patients are decreasing but there is still some pressure. She managed to be on time in the previous months but today after a long she's late because she's a bit exhausted.

Preparing the last file, she breathes relief. She checks her watch and it's lunch time but there is no sign of Eliza. She has tried her phone several times but she didn't answer.

Something is quiet off she guesses. She decides to check her by her own. Requesting a nurse to be at the reception for the time being, she heads for her cabin along with lunch.

She enters without knocking. It's one of her bad habit of not knocking before entering. Her cabin is hugged to simplicity. Creamy white walls and every corner have one or two plants for decoration. Her desk is neat and well organized.

"Why are you here?" She asks.

"Why aren't you answering my calls?" Warina questions back. "Anyways, I bought lunch."

"Not hungry. I wanna be alone." Her soulless face provides Warina hints about her distress.

Keeping the lunch box on table, she starts eating on her own, "Yum! These parathas are heaven. And these Kebabs are out of the world. "

Parathas and Kebabs are Eliza's biggest weakness. Her mouth is flooding with water but she denies accepting. She sternly stares at her.

"What?" She narrows her eyes, "You said you aren't hungry."

"I'm not!" She snaps, "Go and eat your food somewhere else."

"Is that so?" She challenges, "Okay then."

Taking her lunch she walks at the door, "By the way today the Kebabs are extra spicy."

Before she replies, her stomach stops her, growling loudly. Her cheeks taints in dusty pink.

Shaking her head, she comes back at the table and sit beside her. Taking a paratha she holds it in front of her mouth and she tears a morsel without complaining. She finishes eating in silence.

"What's the matter Eliza?" She asks softly.

Bowing her head down, she spills about the flight to Brazil. She notices trembling of her hands and her skin becoming pale. She knows what's troubling her.

"You'll be fine Liza. Nothing will happen. Have faith." She mumbles. "Be brave. You can't let you fear mess up with you present. That was in the past. Don't let it ruin you."

"But that past haunts me with every breath I take." Her eyes are swimming in tears.

"Face your fears and defeat them. I think this is the best opportunity. Take it." She encourages.

"I don't know."

A sudden knock at the door, step in the middle of their conversation.

"You haven't gone home yet?" Oliver enters. "Are you crying Ms. Akbar? Is everything alright?"

Eliza quickly wipes her wet cheeks but he has already seen them. She abruptly stands, "Y-yes. But sir I w..."

"We'll leave together as she needs help for packing." She speaks releasing that she'd deny him.

"Okay cool then." He smiles.

"But l.."

Eliza tries to protest but Warina cuts her off again, "Sir, did you have your lunch?"

"Nope. Actually I was thinking of eating together but I guess I'm late." He eyes the empty lunch box on the desk. "How about dinner?"

 "Yeah sure." Warina chirps. 

After he leaves, she throws daggers at her with her eyes, "Why did you did that?" 

"Because I love to eat fancy foods at fancy restaurant." She shrugs.

"Epicure!" Slapping her arm, Eliza storms out.

After their shifts are over they set off for having dinner. Oliver offers to drive them in his car and asks his driver to driver Warina's car back at her home. His Porsche Cayenne in front of a lavish restaurant. Parking it at an empty spot, we enter together and the employees greet us warmly as always. It's his go to place to have a fancy dinner and the girls have came here a couple of times with him before. Sitting at their usual place, they order their favorite dishes. 

"Oliver we've a flight to catch, so don't you dare to drink alcohol today!" Eliza warns before he'd take a sip of wine.

"A glass won't harm and here I thought you aren't excited about going." He raises his eyebrows while smirking at her.

"Who said I'm excited? I'm only saying I won't be flying with a drunkard." She snaps.

Warina is enjoying their little fight, "Guys please stop arguing like couples. I think we'd get going." She giggles.

Eliza eyes her angerily and Oliver heartily accepts her little comment. Warina knows love is in the air for them but no one has reveals it yet. Paying for their food, Oliver drives them home so that Eliza could pack her luggage and leave with him for the airport. 

Reaching home, Eliza hurries to her to pack her clothes and Warina goes to freshen up and Oliver gets engaged with Mr. and Mrs. Khan. They are delighted to see him except Warina's aunt. She never liked the idea of the girls to mingling with white men. She despise Warina for working at his hospital as she has a fixed thought about white men being deceptive and trouble. They only know to use women. They're just bad people. Moreover these people are atheists. 

"Are you seriously letting Eliza travel along with a Haram man?" This is the third she has asked Mrs. Khan.

"It's a part of her job sister, don't worry. She'll be safe." She replies.

"I'm not talking about her safety Momina. That she is already characterless, if she does any deed and get pregnant people will throw dirt at your door steps, I'm telling you. And you've your own daughter to get married, think about her at least." 

This woman is full of disgusting ideas.

"Don't talk such nonsense about her, I request you, please! She's also my daughter and I trust her morals, she can't do any wrong." She has annoyed her but Mrs. Khan maintain the respect she'd deserve as her sister-in-law and leaves with the tray of coffee.

They didn't know Eliza has heard their conversation secretly. She came to look Mrs. Khan when she heard them and automatically her legs had paused and listened everything. She weeps at her cruel comments but her Moni maa's reply soothes her aching heart. She'll blessed to have a mother though not biological. Quickly wiping her wet face, she joins the rest of the family at the hall. 

"Warina, come down right now! They are leaving.! Mr. Khan calls her. 

This girl do enjoy her long warm shower at night but she has to cut it short and dressed up hurriedly. She stomps with her dressing table as she tries to run out of the room, her bag falls down and everything shatters out of the bag. 

"Uff! That's why we shouldn't hurry." She tells herself.

"Warina!" Her mother calls again.

"Coming!Coming!" 

Bends she gathers all stuffs in her bag and she discovers the forgotten bracelet of Dante Armone. In the hustle bustle of the past months she had completely forgotten about it. She'd return it to Oliver so that he'd give it to his brother. Taking it she runs down to bid Eliza and Oliver goodbye before they leave. 

"Have a safe flight, both of you." She hugs her tightly as she is getting emotional. She hasn't stay without her since her kindergarten years, this would be the first time these girls would stay miles away. 

"Oh, Oliver wait!" She hands the bracelet to him, "Mr. Armone must have that day in the hospital, can you kindly give him back? It was with me for months, I couldn't get the chance to give it back." 

"Well can you keep it with you for a while please. I don't wanna carry it as I might lose it and I've no death wish." He jokes, "When I return, I'd give him back or you might deliver it back to him if you will, I'll text you the address. I'm sorry if I'm asking for so much."

"No it's okay. I'll see what I can do." She says.

"Okay then we'd get going if we want to catch a flight." 

Eliza takes her departure from her family and head for the airport with Oliver. 

_____________________________________________________

Chapter 3 done, finally! 
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Until the update...see yaaa soon...