Last chapter summary: Four of them (Soha,Rahat, Shujaat and Mahi) got stuck in the middle of nowhere. They take shelter somewhere in the village. Soha and Rahat share a somewhat intimate moment with each other.

Rahat's point of view:

Seven days with Soha passed by in a blink. It was our last day in Haider mansion. We were having one last meal with the whole family. Khala insisted that both Shujaat and I eat with them.

Everyone was at the table. In these past seven days I learned that it was an unwritten rule to eat without chit-chatting unless the elders spoke first. I also knew that Soha and Mihad only abide by the rules in front of their grandma. I glanced at Soha only to see her bright eyes cast down every time. She never looked at me.

"Soha, we need to talk. I'll be waiting in the study." Grandma said as she silently put her spoon on the plate.

"Whatever it is, you can say in front of everyone."

"Very well. I've arranged a meeting for you with Mrs. Haq's youngest grandson." Grandma spoke with an authoritative voice. "Cancel everything on your schedule tonight."

My ears perked up at the mention of this arranged date. A chilly shiver ran down my spine as my hands felt sweaty.

"I don't want to."

Soha's flat voice didn't even bother her one bit. But her answer had a soothing effect on my heart as if I've never heard anything sweeter than this.

"So, you're going back on your word?"

"I never promised to meet him or anyone. And you can't force me. You have no power over me." She looked at her grandma as if daring her to say otherwise.

"You really want to try and see. . ."

Mr.Haider stepped in.

"Ma, let's not talk about this in front of the guests."

Grandma huffed as she couldn't say anything else. Everyone seemed startled by the sudden turn of events.

"Omg! We need to leave for the airport." Mahi grabbed Soha's hand. "We'll meet you guys in half an hour."

Soha glanced at me for a second before following Mahi to the stairs.

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We went back to the guesthouse. I walked in to my temporary room and saw my belongings scattered all over the room. I picked up every thing one by one. I wished I could do the same with my feelings that would be lingering here even after I was gone.

Was there any way to pick up those feelings too?

I found the heart shaped kite that we flown at the Shakrain. As much as I wanted to leave it behind, my heavy heart wouldn't let me. I put it at the top of my clothes so that it could be safe throughout the journey.

Shujaat knocked on the door before coming in.

"Are you rea-" Shujaat stopped mid sentence. "Why are looking at the kite like this?"

"Just wanted to. . . Nothing."

"What's bugging you? You were okay last night. . . Wait, something happened between you two. What is it?"

"Soha likes me." I said turning around to face him.

"And you don't?" He folded his hands.

I nodded silently. I never thought I could like someone after spending only a week with the person. But here I was, trying to deceive myself. It didn't feel good thinking about Soha with someone else. It hurt to imagine her holding someone else's hand. It took all my strength to not react at her grandma's proposal.

"I told her that I don't do relationships."

I knew it was the best way. She was hurt enough. I didn't need to add more to it. Then I explained what happened last night.

"Are you nuts? Why'd you even say stuff like that?" He looked at me like I just kicked a puppy.

"You know me, dude. Have I ever been able to make a relationship go well more than two weeks?" I asked. "I don't want to hurt her. She seems like a tough girl but trust me, she's not."

I got to see the real Soha. I saw her pain behind those smiles. How she shook and stopped breathing. People hurt her with their actions. She had had enough.

"How long are you gonna live like this? You're not your father. You're different than him."

I'm my father's son though. I wouldn't be better than him. He couldn't keep his promise to love Ammi forever. He forgot her. He fell out of love as soon as he came to the US.

It hurt to reject her like that. I confessed my feelings as well. But soon after, I did what I thought should be done. I told her I didn't like her that way. I suppressed my emotions and lied with a straight face.

****************

Soha's point of view:

Rejection hurt like hell. I was sure of my feelings. I felt all those stuff they say one feels when one's in love. But he wasn't. He didn't feel anything for me. To him, I was just a friend. A friend whom you kiss whenever you feel like it. You hold hands together but you're not in a relationship.

I wondered how things worked in that part of the world? Did he think of me as a friend with benefits or what? My cheeks got warmer at the thought. How could I've been so naive? I was angry. Here I thought he was feeling the same thing as me.

I cherished every moment I spent with him. I foolishly, confessed and made a laughing stock out of me. They could've been laughing their ass off all this time.

In the dining hall, I avoided looking at him. I only stared at either my plate or my lap until grandma decided to drop the bomb. Well, I knew it was coming but didn't think it'd be too soon.

I licked my parched lip as our eyes met for the first time. His eyes seemed almost agonized. . . for what? I had no idea.

He should be rejoicing at the thought of me getting punished like that. Why his eyes say otherwise?

Mahi and I stood beside the car, as everyone else bid farewell to them. Mihad did the handshake thingy they did when those two first met. I could see khala's teary eyes. She smiled sadly at them requesting to visit again.

Even grandma looked a bit sad when Rahat touched her feet.

"I really had a great time here." Rahat looked at abbu. Abbu shook both of their hands.

"Thanks for having us."

"Glad to have you here. We wish you could spend a few more days with us. Please do visit us whenever you want."

Rahat only smiled in response. Of course he wasn't coming here once again.

Mahi got behind the staring wheels while Shujaat hurried to the passenger seat, leaving the two of us no option other than sitting together.

I silently climbed in. Mahi raised her hand to touch the radio. But Shujaat smacked her hand away. Time passed by as both of us looking outside the windows while the idiots on the front exchanging glances every once in a while.

I've got a bunch of dumb idiots for friends.

They thought none of us were noticing what they were up to. I saw Mahi panicking as we got closer to the airport.

"Uhh. . . I think I couldn't eat well as grandma was being fussy." Shujaat almost whimpered.

Mahi parked the car as soon as she heard him. She was never so fast to react before.

"Aww. . . Poor you. Let's feed you a three course meal, okay?" And now I could heard her sweetest voice as if she was speaking to a kitten or something.

"No." Rahat said. "He can eat at the airport."

"There's a restaurant near the airport, I think." I added.

Mahi gasped as she gave me the meanest look ever.

"I mean, they're gonna be late if we stop here." I just came up with the lamest excuse I could think of at that moment.

"You're the worst host I've ever seen! How could you let him stay hungry when you are the one who invited him? You want him to go back with this kind of-" Mahi was cut off by Rahat.

"Okay okay, let's not argue anymore."

**************************

As I predicted earlier, those two idiots left us alone in the parking lot of some restaurant. We were surrounded by cars as soon as they got inside.

We sat there together but alone. I stared at my cellphone screen blankly so that I didn't feel out of place. Rahat coughed twice. But I paid no attention.

"So, are you gonna meet the guy?" He broke the silence.

"Does it matter?" I looked up from the screen but didn't meet his eyes. I simply didn't care who I meet. It didn't matter if my heart was shattered to pieces. No one could hear them anyway.

"Look, I'm really sorry." He turned his head towards me. "I should've been careful while saying those things."

"Yes, you should have. But it doesn't matter anymore. It's your choice."

"Please, believe me. I didn't wanna hurt you." His voice cracked. "I like you. I really do. But I'm not good at being in a relationship. That's why-"

This time I cut him off. "But you can be a friend with benefits, right?" I snapped. My eyes stung as I tried to hide my tears.

"No! You got it totally wrong! I never-" I raised my hand as he tried to protest.

I called Mahi to avoid further discussion. I knew they planned it together. They wanted us to sort it out. But it wasn't gonna happen.

"Stop being a dumb idiot and come back." I hung up the phone wishing she knew how serious I was.

They came out a few moments later, both of them holding two styreofoam cups each. Mahi gave one to me which I took reluctantly. Rahat might have refused the one Shujaat offered, cause I saw him throwing it in a bin nearby. They might have guessed their plan didn't work. So the rest of the journey was quite solemn, everyone doing their own stuff.

We arrived at the airport. Mahi hugged them both while I just stood beside the car.

"Let's be in touch?" Shujaat said as he looked at us.

I nodded while Mahi replied in words. "Sure. I'll text you."

I stole a glance at Rahat but looked away as I found him staring at me intently. Before he could say anything, I got in to the car.

Mahi huffed as she said goodbyes for the last time and got into the passenger side.

A/n: Okay it's been more than FOUR Freaking months! Seriously! I couldn't write a single word. I thought I would finish the book before Ramadan. And here Ramadan is about to come to an end. And our book is far from it.

Okay let's not get disheartened. I'm so grateful to you guys who have been waiting for an update patiently. I can't describe in words how thankful I am.

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