Zivah's POV

I parked the car in the parking of Ambience Mall. It was the nearest mall and I was glad that I don't have to get stuck in traffic wasting my time.

Ali wanted to shop for Bua and herself but she anyway dragged me with her. Vihaan wanted that coffee treat so he tagged along as well.

Well, he was on cloud nine when I told him that Ved called to apologize. He was literally flying high in the sky and being loud. Even Ali and Tara got to know about everything and they started teasing me right away.

In all of this chaos, I had to stay up till dawn to finish my work. So I'm again sleep-deprived and all I wanted to curl into my soft bed but no one allowed. People are just telling me all kinds of work since the time I woke up at 7 freaking AM because Dadi couldn't see me sleeping peacefully.

I will just pour some hot coffee in Vihaan's throat so he will keep his mouth shut and will go home so I can get some sleep. Ali is anyway going to the salon with Bua once we are done buying a few stuff. I know that a few are just a foolish thing to say because I don't believe in those words at all.

Ali ran inside one shop holding Bua making her almost trip but Vihaan managed to get hold of her thankfully. Ali apologized for her immature behavior but Bua is sweetest.

I was about to make my way inside but my phone buzzed in my jeans pocket so I gestured Vihaan the same and took it out. I let out a sigh looking at the caller ID and pressed the green button. I guess mom is awake so early today.

"Hey, mom," I said in my lazy voice. I wanted to yawn but I controlled.

"How have you been?" She asked sounding plain.

"I'm good. You up this early? I mean it must be something around 6 in the morning there?" I asked looking at my watch. It struck 4 in the evening. God! It's already 4. When will I get sleep now?

People there will start working in the next 3 hours. I let out a sigh.

"Yes, I have to leave for LA to attend one meeting. I was waiting at the airport so I thought of asking about you." She said again and I could feel she was busy with something else.

"Okay," I said plainly not being used to her calling to check on me.

"So how is everything going?" She asked again not letting the conversation die.

"It's great actually. We are at one mall as Alizeh wanted to shop." I said.

"What about Vandana? I don't want to hear her nonsense." She said making me laugh. I am glad we at least have something in common.

"It's not just her, mom, but this time her daughter-in-law is with her," I said filling her up with details.

"Is Armaan engaged? When did this happen?" She asked with surprise. I shook my head.

"Apparently she told this to dad," I said.

"Oh, I'm not surprised that we didn't know about it." She said and I could hear the disappointment in her voice.

"How is the project going? Any obstacle or anything?" She asked going to her most favorite topic ever. I let out a sigh again.

"Nothing as of now. Everything is going smoothly. I solved a few doubts as well which the team faced and took a meeting for work tracking and stuff." I filled her up as a smile formed on my lips. I was proud of myself for handling things well.

"Good. Seems like you are getting used to a new role very well." Mom said.

"Yup," I said nodding and still smiling widely.

"Alright, I have to go. See you in India next week." She said in a hurried tone.

"You both coming next week?" I asked as a frown formed on my face with that thought.

"Yes, bye." She said and cut the call without even waiting for me.

I stared at the phone for a few moments and put it inside the pocket again. I looked around to see Ali along with Bua and Vihaan was already out of the shop.

I walked towards them with my eyebrows raised.

"This store suck we should try something else," Ali said making a face.

"When is your parlor appointment?" I asked in a hope that it should be early.

"In the next 1 hour?" Ali said looking into her watch.

"One hour?" Vihaan asked sounding surprised. Ali gave him a confused look.

"It's good. We will get free early then." He said chuckling and looking at me. I didn't let my expressions change and kept on looking at him with moving my gaze to Ali in between.

"What did you say?" Ali asked crossing her arms over her chest. Vihaan's smile faded as he looked at her.

He looked around the place.

"Look that shop over there look nice." He said with a wide smile and pulled not so pleasant Ali along with him. I followed them along with Bua.

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

It's been past 30 minutes already and still, this Ali is stuck in the changing room. We three waited for her to come out but I don't know.

Vihaan was smiling like an idiot looking at his mobile screen. I rolled my eyes at him. I looked in the watch getting reckless when I finally saw the queen coming out with a wide smile. So that adds into the big bag of clothes which we already have. All of them belong to just one person.

I don't know when is she going to wear all of these considering she shops like this every month. I doubt she even repeats her clothes.

I am not a fan of shopping so I use my comfortable baggy t-shirts and shirts along with the same sets of pants and jeans until mom shouts at me to replace them. I just have a designer if I have to attend some important functions else I'm all good by myself in my comfort zone.

"I will be buying this too," Ali said with a wide smile putting the one piece in the bag which I was carrying.

"I got that already seeing the look on your face," I said giving her a look.

"You know me too well." She said hugging me tightly.

"What about your parlor appointment?" I asked making my way towards the counter before she looks anywhere else.

"Shit! I forgot about it. Why didn't you remind me before?" Ali said widening her eyes dramatically. I rolled my eyes at her.

"I need to call her and tell I'll be there in no time." She said taking out her mobile.

"No time?" I asked raising my eyebrows.

"It's nearby so it won't take much time. I'm booking Ola right away." She said opening the app.

"Vihaan!" She shouted not taking her eyes off from her phone, side by side so we won't waste her time. I stood in the long row in front of the counter.

"What? Coming!" Vihaan said taking his ass off of that chair finally.

"Just handle the billing you both. I'm taking Bua to parlor along with me as you ditched her so I will take care of it now." She said putting the mobile back and giving me a look. I rolled my eyes.

"Let's go, Bua, let us do some facial and stuff." She said dramatically. Vihaan took the bag from me and stood in the line. I was so thankful for this gesture but I didn't say as I don't want him to fly even higher in the sky.

"You know the reason very well but thanks," I said giving Ali a mocking smile.

"Bua still loves me more and she is determined to do the same in the future as well," I said further with the same look. Ali rolled her eyes at me.

"Whatever." She said holding Bua with her arm who was just smiling looking at us.

"When should I book for you?" Ali asked.

"Sometime next week," I said with a shrug. The next thing which I don't like, parlor. But yes I gotta do something about my face. I haven't done anything with it for months.

"Okay, bye," Ali said making her way out with Bua.

"Bye, your highness. Your servants will take care of the rest." Vihaan said making me laugh.

"Okay, love you both," Ali said shamelessly giving us flying kisses. Vihaan looked at me with displeasing expressions as I started laughing even more.

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

It took us another half hour in the row and finally, we were out.

"I won't be going to the mall again," Vihaan said looking lost and tired and frustrated all at the same time. He held the 5 bags of clothes.

I had two and those were enough for me, I can't take anymore.

"First London and now this." He said looking at me as we walked looking around the mall.

"Excuse me. I still didn't take this much time nor bought these many clothes." I said defending myself which was true. "I just bought two dresses," I said frowning.

"Yes, but the number of trials you took wasn't less than this. In fact, it can go beyond this." Vihaan said with his ever so annoying mouth.

"I'll beat you, Vihaan," I said almost shouting at him but that didn't change his expressions even 1%.

"I wish I would have made coffee at home with my own hands and drank that while taking some money from you." He said again with a plain face.

"What?" I asked.

"It would have been less painful." He said throwing an irritated glare at me as if I dragged him along with me to shop for my own self. I rolled my eyes at him.

"Are you missing your Tara already?" I asked with sarcasm visible in my voice.

"Listen, there is nothing going on," Vihaan said getting irritated.

"Oh please. You can't spend your whole day with just anyone like that?" I said making a point here. Vihaan let out a frustrated sigh as we put our feet on the elevator going upwards.

"Okay fine. I like talking to her. I mean..." He said stopping briefly to find the words to describe his lover boy feelings. I chuckled a little looking at his condition.

I haven't quite seen this side of Vihaan even when we were dating. We used to be best of friends and things just worked out naturally between us. There wasn't any need to say anything, we both already knew. So I can tell that this is different for him as he's getting to know someone new and trying to figure out his own feelings. It almost reminds me of me when I was getting to know Ved.

"She is good. Like she knows what she wants, she has her goals set. She is independent, beautiful. But as a life partner, I don't know." He said finally finding words looking back at me.

Looking at the smile he had on his face when he talked about Tara I can clearly tell he is long gone. But I didn't say anything. I was just happy that he's experiencing love in his life again. But I doubt he knows that yet.

"Why not?" I asked.

"I need some time to see if she is the one." He said with a shrug.

"Aww..." I said making a face as we roamed on another floor of the mall.

"Besides, I don't know if she thinks the same about me. I mean she is Alizeh's friend so I have got no idea if she prefers someone who is a couple of years younger to her." He said again taking out some shitty point. I rolled my eyes at him.

"Vihaan, she laughs at your pathetic, disgusting, terrible, B-graded jokes. She loves you. In fact, she is head over heels for you, trust me." I said shaking my head in disappointment as he let out a laugh.

"Anyway, where the fuck is this food court? I'm getting a feeling that we are just roaming clueless." He said looking around and then back at me.

"I was just following you as I thought you know the way," I said glaring at him. Vihaan gave me unbelievable expressions.

"What the fuck and I thought you know the way." He said kind of shouting at me.

"Why would I know it?" I said with irritation, "I'm coming here for the first time in my life."

"I'm coming to Delhi for the first time in 20 years." He said getting frustrated.

"Damn yaar, Vihaan!" I said with a lot of irritation.

I am so done with this day. These bags are just adding to it and I feel like throwing them away from the top floor. But I fear Ali more than the frustration I was feeling and that was enough to keep me in control.

**********

I threw the bags in the chair next to me and got seated taking out my mobile and scrolling through it.

"Excuse me, Ma'am?" Vihaan called me standing right in front of me. I gave him an annoyed expression.

"What would you like to drink or eat?" He asked again putting a sarcastic smile on his face. I rolled my eyes at him.

"Hmm..." I put a thoughtful face as I looked around the place and I spotted my safe place, McDonald's.

"I want one McChicken burger. That's all." I said and looked back in mobile scrolling through my work emails.

I felt Vihaan turning into his tracks as I remembered.

"And yes, Vihaan. I'm not paying for anything more than a coffee. I hope I made myself clear." I said giving him a mocking smile.

"Yes, you anyway are so poor what can we do." He said with sarcasm yet again. I smiled widely again. A mocking smile.

"Don't worry, I will buy the most expensive coffee out there," Vihaan said glaring at me and made his way to the counters.

"Hmm... Whatever." I said giving my half attention as I started opening the emails one by one.

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

Vihaan made a face as he took a sip of his coffee. I gave him a pleasant look chewing on my burger. I contained my laughter looking at his funny expressions.

"This is the worst coffee by far." He said pushing the cup aside with troubled expressions.

"That's what you deserve," I said with a shrug as I took a bite of my burger.

"What happened? Have your most expensive coffee." I said mocking him. He threw an irritated glare at me.

"It's because of you." He said crooking his eyebrows.

"Yes, of course, I insisted you to have this, no?" I said rolling my eyes.

"Useless," I said shaking my head a bit and got back to my burger trying to finish it. Vihaan just sat there with angry expressions like some kid who didn't get his favorite food. I chuckled looking at him.

"What's wrong with this anyway?" I asked. Vihaan looked at me and then at coffee with terrifying expressions.

"I don't know. But it tastes weird. Dark, bitter, and weird." He said making a face. I let out a laugh looking at those expressions.

"Anyway, let's just go. It was the worst day." He said grabbing the bags of Queen Ali. I gave him a frown.

"Let me eat my amazing burger. It tastes divine." I said dramatically taking one more bite.

"Hmmm..." I closed my eyes chewing the burger and giving him happy expressions. He threw an irritated glare at me.

"I hate you, honestly." He said getting up from his seat.

"You can have one," I said pointing at the different stores around.

"I am not in the mood." He said with a frown. I put the remaining bite of burger in my mouth and wiped my hands on the tissue.

"I want to get home." He said like a whining child.

"I want to curl with my Tara. I miss her touch." I said dramatically getting up with bags in my hand.

"Shut up, shut up!" Vihaan said with annoyance. I let out a laugh looking at him.

"Okay, let's go. I am done." I said moving away from my seat.

Vihaan followed me. I just took a couple of steps when Vihaan called me again. I turned around throwing a questioning look at him. He gestured to the side.

"That's Ved." He said. I looked around here and there immediately.

"What? Where?" I asked still not finding him but then my eyes landed on that guy who was sitting with his coffee and...

And Sonia along with Mira in front of him. I stared at them for a good two minutes trying to register if what am I seeing is true. He hated Mira then why is she here? Ved looked plain as he didn't have any expressions and was listening to something she was saying. Sonia was sitting beside sipping her coffee as she was giving a concerned look to Mira in-between putting her hand over Mira's shoulder and then talking something to Ved cutting Mira off.

For some reason, I didn't feel betrayed or sad or angry, looking him with Mira because I have come a long way from being that insecure little girl I was. I have changed my way of looking at the world in front. And if I can be friends with Vihaan then he can be with Mira too. I don't have even the slightest problem with that because I know in the end he loves me. A lot. And no matter where he goes and who he talks with, he is going to come back to me.

"Who are those two?" Vihaan asked taking me out of my trail.

"Sonia and Mira." I said absent-mindedly.

"Shouldn't we go and say hi?" He asked again. I stared at them for some moments before looking back at Vihaan.

"I am not sure," I said shaking my head. Vihaan threw a confused look at me.

"Why? He did apologize." He said with a frown. I let out a sigh.

"Mira is his ex-girlfriend," I said with a plain face.

"Oh. Then why is he with her?" He asked again. This time I frowned at him.

"He can ask the same to me? But he won't because he trusts me." I said. Vihaan nodded in understanding.

"I trust him too," I said looking back in Ved's direction.

"And please, Vihaan, I am not some insecure jealous bitch who would go crazy over something like this. As long as he is true to me, I don't want and I don't mind anything else." I said with a shrug. Vihaan gave me a genuine smile as he nodded at me.

"Let's get home then. I don't want to stay here any longer." Vihaan said hurrying outside when I heard Sonia calling my name.

Vihaan stopped as we moved our gaze to the direction of the voice. All of the three were looking at us. I gave Sonia an awkward smile and waved at her.

She gestured us to come to the table and we had no option but to follow as we don't want to come out as rude. I noticed Ved staring at me with the same plain expressions. I gave him a small smile to which he moved his gaze to his coffee. I frowned at him.

"I see too much shopping," Sonia said with a smile.

"Yes, if you have a bride as excited as Alizeh then things like this happen," I said shaking my head. Sonia let out a laugh.

I looked at Mira who was concerned as she was looking at Ved. To be honest, all of this was a lot of awkward as Ved refused to even acknowledge us. It was just Sonia.

"Umm... This is Vihaan, by the way." I said introducing Vihaan finally. He smiled looking at Sonia.

"Yes I saw him at the party but didn't get to talk or no one introduced," Sonia said eyeing me.

"Sorry, that was kind of..." I was saying when she cut me.

"Relax it's okay." She said giving me an assuring smile.

"Your boyfriend?" She asked making us widen our eyes in shock. Mira and Ved looked at us as well. Ved had a frown on his face which I found so cute. I was on the verge of chuckling but I controlled as always.

"What?" I heard Vihaan say in shock.

"No, of course not. We are friends for long." He said trying to explain to her. I and Sonia chuckled.

"Oh okay. Sorry, my bad." Sonia said. I looked at Vihaan gesturing him for help to get out of this awkward thing. He gestured me back but didn't say or do anything.

"Hi, Mira," I said awkwardly looking at her as she made no efforts towards me. I don't like holding grudges over anything. Mira looked at me and put a smile. I could feel Ved's glare on me but I didn't look at him.

"Hey, how have you been?" She asked getting up and giving me a short hug.

"I am doing great. How about you?" I asked with a smile.

"I am fine too." She said nodding her head a little. She was surely smiling but there was some reluctance as her gaze kept on moving to Ved.

"Bro, you can at least greet me? I am feeling left out." Vihaan said looking at Ved. Ved looked up at him and got up with a smile.

"Sorry, I was just..." He said and stopped.

"Lost. Yes, I got it." Vihaan said chuckling as Ved smiled a little along with him.

"You two can sit with us?" Mira said looking at me and Vihaan. No ways I am gonna sit here making things more awkward for me, Ved, Vihaan, and Mira herself.

"No, they might be in a hurry," Ved said glaring at Mira who looked down. I felt bad for her for some reason. She did a mistake and she is guilty. She has been trying to get an apology for four years and she deserves to move on with her life.

I don't know how it feels but moving on with the burden of the past is not easy. Ved should know that and forget everything.

"Ved, don't be rude," Sonia said glaring at him but he was least bothered.

"No, he is right. We are in a bit of a hurry." I said looking at Ved who didn't spare me any look.

"I will see you all later," I said and turned around giving a small assuring smile to Mira who smiled genuinely for the first time looking at me.

"Sure," Sonia said.

"Bye." I heard Vihaan as I turned around and walked away.

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

"What's up with them? She was... I don't know." Vihaan asked taking passenger's seat. I let out a sigh.

"Nothing. Ved is again being a jerk and he needs to know that?" I said shaking my head a bit.

I don't want to give Vihaan any more details about what Mira did. What she did was wrong but I don't want to humiliate her by telling her doings to everyone I know. That's wrong too. I won't ever purposely make it worse for her.

"What does that mean?" Vihaan asked again and I sighed yet again.

"It's between them, Vihaan. We should keep it like that." I said in a calm tone. Vihaan nodded.

"Okay."

"Let me make some coffee for you once we get home," I said buckling my seatbelt once I was comfortable.

"What are you saying? I thought your mood will be off or something." Vihaan said giving me shocked expressions. I narrowed my eyes looking at him.

"What? Why? Nothing exactly happened to change my mood." I said starting the engine.

"I am tired and I want at least 2-4 hours of sleep. That's all." I said further. I am exhausted, truly.

"Shit man, I have to attend one meeting around 3:30 in the morning," Vihaan said giving some tired looks. I guess we are in the same boat. I am glad for at least that.

"Damn, good luck. I am done with that thing yesterday." I said chuckling at him and pulling up the gear and moving the car out of parking.

________________________________

✨Author's Note✨

So that was all for now. Let us know what you feel about this one.

VOTE by pressing ⭐

Zivah will be back with another update soon.

Till then, Bye.

Loads of love.❤️