The next morning comes with a new joy of Christmas. Everyone is in the kitchen helping make dinner for the eve. Jaimi, Murat, and Daksh are experimenting with cakes. Daksh takes the chocolate cakes out of the oven. Jaimi is collecting the supplies for the next step while Murat is in the process of making frosting with his little helper, Aahna.

After what seemed like an eternity, the three are able to complete the cake. They plop down on the breakfast counter. Ayesha hands Jaimi a chopping board and carrot.

Ayesha: Jay, please chop them!

Jaimi starts chopping them. Mehjabeen is giggling along with Ayesha.

Mehjabeen: Jaimi, it's a carrot, not a criminal. Your karate chops won't work here!

Jaimi looks down at her masterpiece slightly embarrassed. Darshan hands the tray of vegetables to Mehjabeen.

Darshan: Let me help you!

Inaya glares at him as he goes around the counter and stands behind Jaimi's stool. Inaya looks mad and the only thing left to prove it would be the steam coming from her ears and nose. She squints her eyes at them.

Darshan, on the other hand, moves behind Jaimi sandwiching her between him and the counter. He wraps his arms around her and places his hands on top of hers. He leans down closer as he takes control of her hands. His face is resting on her right shoulder. His breath tickles her ear. He has her hold the knife with her right hand and carrot with the left as he teaches her how to chop it correctly.

Darshan: That's how it's done!

Jaimi nods her head not being able to utter a word.

Daksh: Jay?

Jaimi cranes her neck to look at Daksh sitting on the stool beside her. Her nose hits his and her breath hitches. They simply stare into each other's eyes as he turns to face her.

Mehjabeen: Inaya, pass me the salt!

Inaya doesn't move a finger as she's staring at Darshan and Jaimi. If looks could kill then, Jaimi would have been dead by now. Mehjabeen snaps a finger in front of her eyes, snapping her out of her thoughts.

Inaya: Huh?

Mehjabeen: Where were you lost?

Inaya: Uh... nothing. I just zoned out for a second.

Mehjabeen: Ok.

Inaya: You needed something?

Mehjabeen: Salt!

Inaya nods her head and passes the salt. Once again she keeps her firm gaze on Jaimi and Darshan.

Jaimi's uneven breath falls on his lips, teasing him. Their eyes locked completely blocking out the world. They hear a loud thud. Jaimi forces herself to look away from him and shifts in her seat. He draws his arms that are around her and steps back. He scratches the back of his neck and moistens his lips with his tongue. Jaimi shakes her head.

They turn their head to the source of the voice. Daksh is laying on the ground with Aahna jumping on top of him. Murat has his hands over his mouth trying to stifle his laugh. Jaimi hands the chopped carrots to Ayesha and takes out a box from the cabinet above. She takes the box back to the counter.

Adaa: What is that?

Jaimi: Gingerbread house.

Ayesha: When did you get that?

Murat: We got it when we went shopping. We thought Aahna would like it!

Adaa: Thank you very much for being so thoughtful about her.

Murat just smiles at her as Jaimi starts taking out the pieces.

Murat: Daksh and I will finish up with the lighting on the three.

Jaimi nods her head as she glances at the instructions.

Darshan: Let me help you!

He sits on the empty stool beside her. The rest of them continue to do their work paying no mind to the two except Inaya, who is staring at them like she's the predator and the two are her prey. They start building the gingerbread house in silence. Their eyes lock every few minutes, but Jaimi usually looks away. There is this new sensation that spreads through their body like wildfire every time their skin comes in contact. They finish in about an hour or two. They clean up the kitchen and properly store everything by three in the afternoon.

They make their way out to the living room to see Aahna pulling Murat out of the door. Jaimi looks outside to see it's snowing. Everyone puts on their coats and footwear as they step outside. Jaimi puts on her snow boots and steps outside without a jacket letting the cool air tickle her. She locks the door and they make their way to the backyard.

The snow falling from the strong blue-grey cloud above them became the happiest of flash-mob scenes. The snow danced in the air due to the gentle winds blowing before settling itself on the ground. Jaimi leans down and makes a few snowballs. She throws them at Ayesha, Murat, and Daksh. In a matter of minutes, everything in sight becomes white. They play in the snow for some time making snowmen and snow angels on the ground.

A Snowball fight breaks out between Darshan and Jaimi's team. Jaimi's team includes Ayesha, Murat, Daksh, Asif, and the little munchkin, Aahna. Darshan's team consists of Jyugal, Naushad, Mehjabeen, Adaa, and Inaya. The backyard turns into a battleground as balls of snow are thrown across the field like cannonballs. They retire back into the house after an hour or so. They freshen up.

The boys are sitting in the living room. They all are wearing a white shirt and black or blue jeans pants. Ayesha walks down wearing a high low green dress along with Mehjabeen who is dressed in a white floor-length anarkali dress. Adaa is hot on their trail wearing a red anarkali and Aahna in a cute red dress. Inaya walks in after a few minutes wearing a tight red bodycon dress that reaches her mid-thigh.

They all settle down. Darshan turns his head towards the staircase. He sees Jaimi walking down wearing a simple red dress that reaches her midthigh. She has paired it with black heels. His mouth parts open a bit, but he quickly closes it before anyone can see him.

The party starts with them chatting for an hour. They have dinner afterward. Aahna opens her gifts then, Adaa puts her to bed in their room. Daksh returns with a glass bottle.

Daksh: Let's play truth or dare!

Mehjabeen: To make it fair, no work-related questions or dare!

They all agree. Daksh puts the bottle on the center table.

Ayesha: Jaimi and Murat!

Jaimi glares at Ayesha, but gets up and takes a seat on the couch across from Murat. Daksh spins the bottle and it points towards Murat.

Daksh: Truth or dare?

Murat: Truth!

Jaimi: What is the craziest thing you've done in the past three years after getting drunk?

Murat: I called my grandmother thinking it was you and spilled all the tea about how I thought this girl I was with for a night got pregnant.

Jaimi: Are you freaking serious?

Murat: No lie!

The bottle is spun again and it stops on Jaimi.

Jaimi: Truth!

Murat: One of the pickup lines you used on someone and the story behind it.

Jaimi: Ayesha, Harsh Bhai, and I were in Canada for a wedding. We went to the bar and I saw this super hot guy. He sat beside me and we kinda got into a back and forth pickup line battle.

Murat: Your pickup line on him?

Jaimi: Apart from being sexy, what do you do for a living?

Daksh: Wow! You finally learned how to flirt with boys rather than beating them up.

Jaimi: Oh, shut up!

The bottle again stops on Murat.

Murat: Truth.

Jaimi: The last person you made out with?

Murat: Dare!

Jaimi: Who is it?

Murat: I'll tell you later! I can't say it out loud.

Jaimi: Mouth it!

Murat mouths the name without letting a sound escape his mouth. Jaimi covers her mouth with her hand to control her laughter. She hides her face in her palms as she turns red like a tomato.

Daksh: Jay, his dare?

Jaimi: I'm gonna get back at you for the last time.

Daksh: When was the last time?

Jaimi: When we five were in Dharamshala. Murat, you have to do belly dance.

Murat: No!

Jaimi: It's either belly dance or say the name out loud!

Murat: Damn it!

He mutters under his breath before getting up. Jaimi is on the floor in front of Ayesha who is sitting on the couch with her popcorn. They both munch on their popcorn watching Murat miserably failing at belly dance. They all are laughing hysterically clutching their stomach. Murat is beet red from the embarrassment. Jaimi pulls him down beside her and gives him a hug.

Murat: I hate you for this!

Jaimi: Feelings are mutual!

They enjoy the rest of their night with games, movies, dance, and much more.

The next few days pass smoothly. Darshan is growing suspicious of Jaimi as she said she doesn't know who carried out the attack on the girls on the 24th. He keeps an eye on Jaimi and Murat as they look like they are up to something.

New year's eve approaches fairly quickly. Everyone is at Murat's residence by 9 at night. Jaimi takes the last seat available next to Darshan on the loveseat. She glances across the room to see Asif and Adaa sitting close to each other with no space in between. Aahna is sitting on their lap as they lovingly play with her. She diverts her eyes away from them and sips on her mocktail. She tries to engage in conversation around her to distract her mind, but somehow it wanders back to what if Asif and she were still together. She gulps down the content in the glass in one go.

Murat: Chill there tigress! We're not in a hurry.

Jaimi simply nods her head and stands up on her feet. She walks up the stairs to the second floor. She opens the first door she finds and enters the bedroom.

Ayesha gets up to go check on her as she hasn't returned in a few minutes, but Murat stops her.

Murat: I have to go grab something. I'll check on her as well.

Ayesha nods her head. Murat goes up the second floor and searches all the rooms. He enters his bedroom to see her sitting on the edge of the bed.

Murat: Jay? You okay?

She just stares at him and he pulls her up on her feet.

Murat: Some air might do the job!

He pulls her to the balcony on the back of the second floor. He slides the door shut behind them to keep it from any intruders.

Murat: What happened?

Jaimi: I'm tired!

Murat: You want to rest for some time?

She shakes her head. He furrows his brows in confusion as she embraces him in a hug.

Jaimi: Will you answer me honestly?

He hums in response.

Jaimi: Do you wish Inayat was still with you?

Murat: Jay?

Jaimi: Just answer the question!

Murat: Yes, I do wish that she was still here with me and we could be normal, but my fate didn't like that.

He wraps his arms around her and she rests her head on his shoulder.

Murat: What does Inayat have to do with you being tired?

Jaimi: I'm tired of pretending! It hurts when I see him with someone else.

Murat: That's why you have been kind of quiet since they came.

She doesn't reply.

Murat: Then, tell him how you feel and take out your frustration!

Jaimi: So, I will embarrass myself in front of him and be called a home breaker. He will get access to toy around with my feelings again.

Murat: What do you want, Jay?

Jaimi: I really don't know! It's been three years since he broke my heart, but still, I can't get him out. I can't tell him anything because he has a family of his own. Sometimes, I can feel the pain physically.

Murat: That's the tag along you get with love.

Silence engulfs them again.

Murat: The pleasure of love lasts a moment, but the pain of love lasts a lifetime.

Daksh knocks on the balcony door before sliding it open.

Daksh: Sorry to disturb you love birds, but where are the extra snacks?

Jaimi: Daksh, sweetheart, if you don't stop with that joke of yours then I might actually murder you and go to jail this time.

Daksh frowns causing both Jaimi and Murat to roll their eyes.

Daksh: Can we go down now? Everyone is hungry and looking for you two, so come down.

They step out of the balcony and slide the door close behind them. Jaimi opens the door of Murat's bedroom as they go past it.

Daksh: What happened?

Jaimi: I'll be down in a few minutes.

Murat: You take some rest and tell me if you need any medications.

Jaimi nods her head on the cue and steps into the room closing the door behind her. She sits on the floor beside the glass wall overlooking the mountain covered with dense forest. She wraps her arms around her knees as she pulls them to her chest and rests her head against the window. She stares at nothing in particular as her mind starts running a marathon again.

Murat and Daksh take out the food and set up the table with the help of others. They settle down around the table.

Ayesha: I'll call Jaimi!

Daksh: Nah! Let her be for some time.

Ayesha: Huh?

Daksh: She isn't feeling too well.

Just as he finishes his sentence, Jaimi joins them at the table. They all have a meal with random conversation. Darshan's gaze remains on Jaimi as she plasters a smile on her face. Murat and she communicate with their eyes making him curious about what they are up to. After dinner, Jaimi is back in her seat beside Darshan. She is fidgeting with her phone to distract her mind. It is 15 minutes before midnight. Jaimi is up on her feet.

Jaimi: I'm going home!

Daksh: What? You're going to miss the party?

Jaimi: I'll make it up next time. I'm just tired and done for the day!

Ayesha: Do you want to see a doctor?

Jaimi shakes her head and forces a smile as she bids them goodbye. She hands her car keys to Ayesha as she walks out of the house. She advances towards her house which is a good five-minute walk from Murat's.

**********