This scene occurs before Armaan meets Zainab in her house.

Zara's POV

The cold yet pleasant breeze is hugging my body like a soothing comforter as we both are walking along the pathway opposite the fence; leading to the restaurant. The foggy atmosphere is feeling so calm and relaxed. The only pronounced light here is the moonlight which is peeping through the slits like leaves of trees all around. I take a glance at Armaan who unexpectedly hasn't spoken any noticeable thing since the time we are out for the dinner. Whenever I am with him, it's sense like a feel of comfort, happiness and care has surrounded me all over. But living and sparing time with him as a friend is easier than now; when he has confessed his love for me. But that's not how it will work. I love him and I want to spend my life with him like a normal married girl and that will be just possible when I will come out of this hesitation and reluctance with him.

I again look at him and my gaze flows from his face to his muscular arm and then his hand. I stare at his hand for a while before raising my own. Should I do this? I take a deep breath before shoving my hand inside of his hand. His hand is so warm, unlike mine which is so frigid due to the cold wafts of the air. It's like his warm hand is giving me the comfort I need at this time.

Armaan pauses for a moment as his hand turns rigid and stern. He looks at me with confusion in his eyes.

"What happens?" He asks, directly staring into my eyes.

I shake my head sideways as I show him a smile. He keeps on gaping at me for a while before his lips spread to form a smile as well. He clutches my hand tightly and intertwines our fingers.

"Your hand is so cold, Zara." He asserts as he lifts my hand which is still in his and slowly rubs his both hands on it.

I contently look at him and this just prompts my smile to go deeper.

"Are you okay? Should we go back if you are feeling cold?" This time, he asks with a concerned expression.

"No, I am fine. Moreover, your hand is giving me the warmth I need the most," I state with a smile playing on my lips.

He turns to me with an amused expression in his eyes.

"Don't talk to me like that, it makes me fall for you even more." His voice is more like a whisper in these hushed surroundings.

"Then let it be," I shrug my shoulders.

He places my hand on his chest directly opposite to his heart; where I can easily feel his throbbing heartbeats. He pulls me near to him, by placing his hand on my waist. He gazes into my eyes as his fingers softly tug my hair away from my neck. The brushing on his fingers on my bare neck sends electrifying sensations all over my body. He plops his hands on both sides of my neck and lifts my face up, to his level. He stares at my lips before looking back into my eyes for permission. There is something in my eyes which he reckons as yes and then he leans forward. I close my eyes when I find his face nearer to me.

His lips barely touch mine when a loud thumping voice prompts us to pull away. I put a hand on my chest as I breathe heavily; due to how startled I have got after the horrifying sound. My jaw dropped when I see a cat going down the way; so that is the sound of a cat jumping from the high cliff on the ground.

I glance at Armaan who has the same expression on his face. We both burst out laughing as soon as our eyes meet. This is so funny yet embarrassing at the same time. His laugh is so genuine, so passionate that it urges me to stare at him more than I have expected.

"You should smile more often. That's better than that usual scowl of yours," I state as I point my index finger towards his face.

The smile on his face worn out all of a sudden. I look at him with an apologetic expression. Does he not like what I said? I shouldn't have blurted this thing. I take a few steps back when he walks towards me. He grabs my arm and pulls me towards him.

"When I am with you, I can't help but smile," he whispers.

"By the way, I have something for you." He leaves my arm as he shoves his hand in his pocket.

"What?" I ask in confusion.

I peek at him taking something out of his pocket but I can't see it as he has instantly covered by his fist.

"I don't know whether you will like it or not or you want to have it or not in the first place but I just want to give it to you."

I curiously stare at him than his tight fist. What does he want to give me?

He opens his hand and my eyes get wide in astound seeing a bronze box in his palm. He opens the box and it has a diamond ring in it. The small diamond placed on the upper portion of the round coil is so shimmery and shiny; it kinds of remember me the diamond necklace Dad has given me.

"Think of it as my symbol of love for you. May I help you wear it?" He asks.

I excitedly nod my head in approval. He softly takes my hand in his and pushes the ring in my finger.

"That's so beautiful," I exclaim as I stare at the ring and slightly touch the diamond.

"Just like you," he beams as he again takes my hand.

He lifts my hand to his lips and kisses the back of it.

"You know what, Zara? I had bought this ring a long time ago for the one I will fall in love with and I never thought I will give it to you," he states.

He must have brought it for his girlfriend. I again look at the ring in my hand. Why I am feeling the satisfaction that he has given this to me?

"Do you want to go there?"

I come out of my thoughts when Armaan's voice comes in my ears. I look at the place where he is gesturing. It's quite far from where we are standing. Except for the shadows of huge trees, there is nothing I can decipher.

"What is it?" I ask with uncertainty, looking back at him.

"Garden."

I again stare at the place. How comes this dark place is a garden? Now I am more curious to know this.

"Of course, " I reply, my eyes still lingering in the garden.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

The fresh and fascinating smell of the rose hits my nose as soon as we enter the garden. The rows of roses and other plants are standing gracefully along the fence. The medium-sized trees are plopping behind them but their long leaves are almost inundating the flowers. The lucid and luminous white light is making the whole garden to glow. The raw and green grass is spreading in the whole area and making a grassy floor. The small drops of dew are present on the tips of the grass like pearls.

I never thought that the area which is looking so dark from outside will be so luminous from inside. My eyes flow from one point to the other as we are walking side by side. How come a place be this beautiful?

"Do you like it?"

I glance at Armaan when he asks this. I nod my head as I smile cheerfully. I take a quick look at the surroundings again as we both sit on the grass. One of the white lanterns is directly positioned above us, pouring its light on us. In this bright light, I can see his eyes which suddenly glow when I nod my head in approval.

"But how come there is no one here?" I mumble while roaming my eyes here and there.

"Because it's almost midnight. Who would come at ths time?" He chuckles.

What if there are ghosts here? I hug my legs closer to my stomach as the thought comes in my mind. I shake my head to get the horrible ideas out of my mind.

"There is only me and you at this time. "

I look at him to find him staring contently at me, with an ironic look on his face.

"Why? Are you afraid?" He smirks.

"No, I was just asking." I turn my head to the other side, in an attempt to avoid his gaze.

I flinch when I feel my arm being pulling and in the blink of an eye, Armaan pushes me against the wall. He bends towards me as he turns my face to him by placing his hand on my chin.

"You have no idea how this very nature of yours brings havoc in my heart. This feisty Zara is my favorite," he whispers as he pokes his finger on my nose.

My heartbeats race with every passing moment, he is leaning towards me. But instead of my lips, he moves his face towards my ears.

"And I love this feisty Zara," he whispers in my ear and his lips slightly touch my earlobes which sends enticing sensations throughout my body.

He pecks on my both cheeks then forehead before moving towards my lips. He slowly rubs my lower lip with his thumb. I can feel his minty breath all over my face. My heartbeats are on the marathon when I feel his touch on my lips. He softly cups my face and leans forward. Before he can nearer, his phone rings which stunned both of us.

Armaan groans as he again pulls away from me. He looks at me with a blank expression before taking his phone out of his pocket. He wavers his phone in front of me before walking away, probably to receive the call.

I rub the back of my neck when he has gone as a shy smile appears on my face. What is seriously happening? Every time he tries to come near me and something happens which pulls him far away from me.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Salam guys! How are you?

Okay, so I know this is a little boring one. It's kind of a filler chapter because to match some things, I needed to add one so I thought why not it be Zara and Armaan's.

But guess what, I didn't know it will turn out to be this boring. 😌

And this mismatch timing thingy has ended today, Thank God. I think I have done a huge blunder by doing this. But starting from the next chapter, everything will go smooth In Sha Allah.

The cliffhanger of the previous chapter will unravel in the next chapter so don't forget to read it.

If you like the chapter, don't forget to vote and comment.