Maahi took a sip of red wine to take the nerves off. Even though Sonu was seated at the other end of the table, she could feel his glares and that was unnerving for her.

On one side of the table, it was Maahi, Nikita, Anaya, and Sanjana while Parth, Blake, Esha, and Sonu were on the other across from them.

Noticing she seemed to be on edge, Parth asked out of concern, "All okay?"

She placed the glass back on the table and nodded with a polite smile, "Yup."

He wasn't convinced, but he didn't pester her further either, least he make her more uncomfortable. He couldn't keep his eyes off of her though. He had seen her all dressed up in an Indian outfit at the wedding, but since having met her again, this was the first time she had dressed in a western outfit. He found her beautiful in general, but tonight felt different.

The red dress hugged her curves, and the color complimented her pale and creamy skin tone. It wasn't that he found her to be uncomfortable with what she was wearing. She was very much comfortable. She had been comfortable wearing that choli as well which he remembered to be dangerously backless. This dress definitely covered her a lot more decently than that blouse had. Still, there was something keeping her on edge. It was obvious the way she relied on alcohol to get her through the night.

He was starting to notice that she did that quite often. He didn't know whether it was normal for her to be socially drinking. But there had been times, like the night he went over her place with beer and ice-cream, he knew she had used beer as a coping mechanism for everything she had connected about her grandmother's scheme. The evening she drank coffee, she had made a comment about how she shouldn't pull out alcohol when she wanted something stronger than water. Tonight, he figured she was battling something as well and relying on alcohol for courage.

He wondered if it was healthy. Drinking socially simply because they were out on a celebration was one thing, but relying on it seemed different.

༺༻ ༺༻༺༻

At the end of the dinner, Esha hooked one arm with Parth and another with Maahi, pulling them back from the rest of them who were assembling outside the restaurant. Parth questioned, "What do you want now?"

Esha took offense, rolling her eyes, "I don't always bother you only when I need something, alright? In fact, you'll thank me for what I have to tell you. Both of you, actually."

"Okay, what is it?" Maahi urged her to continue and ignore Parth.

Esha spoke in a hushed tone, "They were playing footsies!"

"Who?" Parth asked.

Maahi questioned, "Is that some short form for football?"

Parth felt surprised as well as Esha that Maahi asked that, but he repeated, "Who was?"

"Sonu and Sanjana."

"Are you sure? It could be an accident."

Esha confirmed, "It wasn't an accident. I thought it could be at first too, but the third time I 'accidentally' got kicked, I used the camera on my phone to check."

Parth speculated, "Wait, so that means the person he's been having an affair with is Sanjana?"

Maahi had her doubts, "Sanjana? No, I don't think the name I read in his text messages was Sanjana. I mean we have been living under one roof for weeks now. We've never seen them nor did the cameras catch anything."

"He could have saved her name as something else." Esha offered an explanation. She was sure she had seen the two of them playing footsies.

"We can look into it." Parth said, not finding any harm in giving it a try. "Thanks, love."

Esha stomped on his foot, making him hop on one foot and squeeze his eyes in pain. "I did it for Maahi di, not you."

"Show some respect, dude. I'm older than you." He teasingly scolded her for calling Maahi 'di' but stomped on his foot.

"When you get it in that thick skull to stop calling me love." She declared her bargain. "Now good night. I'll see you when I see you." Then she turned to speak with Maahi in an incredibly softer tone, "It was great to meet you. I hope to see you again."

"Same here, and remember what I told you." Maahi said, hinting at the words of hope she had given her.

Esha nodded and started to leave, but Parth took her hand and pulled her back, giving her a hug from the back while she continuously made attempts to peel his arm around her that came from one shoulder to the other. "Thank you for driving up here." Parth expressed genuinely. He knew she wasn't a fan of hugs, but he also wasn't going to let her go back without one as a goodbye.

Esha relaxed and momentarily gave in to his hug. "Sure thing, crybaby."

Parth let out a chuckle at the various names she would call him by to irritate him and released her, "Drive safe, okay? Call me in the morning before you leave for college and when you get there."

Esha answered in a bored tone as if used to this protective routine, "Yeah, yeah. Any other instructions?"

Parth replied cheekily, "Yes, enjoy college but be a little merciful on the guys you come across. Make some friends and don't go too crazy. Arjun will have my ass otherwise for spoiling you."

"Hmm, I may go crazy just to see that." Esha teased him, though she did receive the message. She wasn't a hardcore party girl anyway. She knew where to keep her priorities. "Bye now." She bid them all again before getting in the car with Anaya, Nikita and Blake as they were staying over at Nikita's place instead of a hotel.

While walking towards Parth's car, Maahi commented her observation, "She really is your best friend, hmm?"

"Yeah, I don't have too many females who are just friends. She is so mature for her age that I sometimes don't remember how young she is."

"I noticed," Maahi said, commenting about Esha's maturity.

They got in the car and Maahi sat in the back only when Sonu sat in the front, as she obviously was not going to sit in the back if Sonu had sat there as well.

The ride back to the apartment was silent, but Parth did noticed how Sonu kept staring at the side mirror. Eventually, he realized he was staring not at the mirror but at Maahi's reflection in it. He glanced over in the rear-view mirror after that multiple times to see she kept playing with the hem of her dress.

He connected the dots, finally. He understood why Maahi had been odd and quiet throughout dinner.

When they were parking in the garage of the apartments, Parth said, "You two go ahead. I have something to tell Maahi about the case."

Curious as to what it could be, Maahi stayed back. Sonu grunted and went up using the elevators with Sanjana. "What's up?" She asked, standing with ease and confidence now that Sonu wasn't around.

"He really did a number of you." He muttered under his breath.

"What?" She asked, not hearing him at first until her mind replayed his words. "Yeah, I guess the whole night I was just worried he'd say something." She said, after understanding he had figured it out.

He turned to stand in front of her while she slightly leaned back against the car door so she wouldn't have to keep her balance on the heels. He glanced at her hands at her sides before reaching for them. She blinked in attention while his eyes trailed back up to hers. "Hey, you don't have to be scared about anything he says anymore."

She knew that, but it was still difficult to convince her heart about it. It was going to take some time getting used to it.

He gently squeezed her hands to pass comfort as he spoke, "Ask someone who actually cares about you. You. Are. Gorgeous."

She didn't know how to react hearing his words. Her breath caught in her throat hearing the words. Earlier he had complimented her, but she found that to be polite. This? This felt more intimate as he was holding on to her hand and baring into her eyes as if reading her soul. Not to forget, it was just the two of them. He wasn't saying it for anyone else to hear but her while indirectly accepting that he cared about her.

"His opinion doesn't matter," he added.

He wasn't making a pass at her. It was simply something he felt she should know. He couldn't change Sonu's mindset, but he could make her realize it wasn't the right mindset. Seeing that she was baffled, he assumed his words had got to her.

He released her hands and as they dropped to her sides again, he lowered his gaze to the floor. "Let's go." He said in a whisper and turned to leave. There were many more things he wished to say but he knew now was not the time for any of it. It wasn't that he was searching for the perfect moment but even he understood that the circumstances they were in made things complicated and it wouldn't be right for him to express his thoughts and feelings to her.

In that one moment, however, she made the decision. She couldn't let this go when it had been knocking at her door for weeks now. Her hand reached forward on its own account until they had slipped into his. He stopped and faced her again with questioning eyes. She took a step towards him while saying, "Just so you now, this isn't a mistake. Or accidental."

He began to ask, not grasping her words "What isn't...?".

She silenced him with a soft brush of her lips against him. Since one hand had been in his, she could feel him stiffen at the contact. He inhaled sharply, not having expected that at all. This time, it was her waiting on him to make a choice and move back, for she had already made her choice. Only, he was frozen in place, his mind rushing to comprehend what was happening.

When he didn't lean away, standing there with lips parted, she mustered up the courage to continue. Her lips on his again seemed to break him out of his trance.

It wasn't imagined. He hadn't imagined it.

His brain caught up to the present. He moved his hand to her sides. Feeling him finally react, she moved her own to rest on his chest. His heart beating underneath her fingertips. Within a second, he took charge, causing her to take small steps back to keep her balance. His grip tightened around her. Her legs seemed to be against the car, but her upper body was pulled against his, leaning in. Her hands traveled up his chest to shoulders, neck, and behind until her fingers knotted into his hair, tugging him closer and deepening the kiss as if she couldn't have enough of his taste.

She didn't want it to end.

Her heart was beating at an unusually fast pace, pulsing blood all through her body. She felt the butterflies return to her stomach, churning her insides and making her recall their first kiss years ago as if it were yesterday. Nothing with Sonu compared to this simple kiss. A tear escaped her eyes, as three years with the man she was married to made her feel nothing, but this simple kiss did. Yet, the mere thought of him acted as a bucket of cold water, causing her to pull back for air.

His body too came down from its high, but he didn't want to let go of her yet either. He was afraid this kiss too would be a one-time thing. He didn't think he could forget this one as easily as the first – not that that had been easy. It had haunted his nights and threatened his focus during the day as well, for months since it had happened.

He rested his forehead against hers, working on getting his breathing in control. To protect his heart, he offered her an excuse, a way out of her actions to see if she would take it. "You're a little drunk."

She whispered back instantly, "No." This time, she had no reason to run away. This time, she didn't want to give him the wrong impression. This time, she was going to go about this more maturely.

He opened his eyes and leaned away to gauze her expression and determine for himself if she was real. It had been seconds since the kiss, and she had yet to either pull away or disappear.

"I'm giving you a way out, love." He said, giving her another chance.

She opened her eyes at the words and searched his eyes. She couldn't say she blamed him for thinking she would regret this. She tried to put a smile on her face as her hands untangled from the back of his head and found their way to his neck. "I don't need a way out, Parth. I meant it, no mistake. I don't regret this now, and neither will I regret it in the morning. There are many things happening in my life right now that I am not sure how I feel about them yet, but I promise you. This is not one of those."

One couldn't blame him for taking a few seconds to conclude the sincerity in her words.

He placed his hand on her cheek and wiped at the wet trail the tear droplet left behind. He wanted to ask her if it was him that had made her cry, because if he had, he didn't think he could forgive himself. After seeing everything she was struggling with already, he didn't want to add to it or hurt her as well. Guys in her life had always hurt her. He didn't want to be one of them as well. if he unknowingly ended up doing something to hurt her too, he didn't think he could ever forgive himself for it.

"Um, so I guess we should talk?" She said, pulling away but still standing close enough.

"Yeah." He answered, still a little dazed. Her feeling of her lips still lingered over his, and he somewhere wished to return to the feeling once again. She lifted her hand and using her thumb, wiped at the corner of his lips, slightly blushing at the mark of lipstick – the one physical evidence of their brief kiss.

She asked, "But, um, tomorrow? My feet are killing me. These are Nikita's and I already have blisters."

He nodded, making the compromise, "Yeah, we should get back before they get suspicious."

She did not like being reminded about Sonu again. She convinced her mind that it was only a matter of two weeks. Before they would walk towards the elevators, he took her hand in his. But the very second that he did, he started to wonder if he should have done that. If it was wrong. The lines were blurred right now and he had no idea what he could and couldn't do.

But when she glanced at the interlock, and smiled softly while looking back up at him, he was left assured. He dropped the idea of pulling back. Holding hands, they walked up to the elevators. He pressed the button and they waited for the elevator to come down. She leaned her head on his shoulder so as to pass off some weight and she didn't have to stand on her own two feet.

He commented, "You're definitely tipsy."

She continued to deny, "Am not, I had food too. If you don't want me to be touching you, that's fine. Just say it." She tested him by lifting her head and proceeded to move away from him. He instantly tugged her hand back. She chuckled and returned to her previous position. "And yes, the wine did give me the courage, but it's not the only reason I would kiss you. Just, FYI." She added for she had a feeling it might be something he could be wondering.

"I feel better." He passed it off as teasing, but it did put his mind and heart at ease. It was something he had thought of to ask her tomorrow for he didn't want to ruin the current moment.

They walked inside the elevators. She moved from him a little to lean her weight on the side of the furnished elevator instead. He turned as well to stand in front of her, his feet as either side while hers were in middle.

"I'd like to kiss you again," he confessed with a sigh, momentarily closing his eyes to flash back to their kiss earlier.

Ever since it happened, it was all he could think of after all.

She let out a grin and pulled their interlocked hand closer to her body. "And I'd like my ex-husband to not be there when we get to the apartment." She let out a fake sigh, "But we don't always get what we want."

"Tease." He complained, and quickly glanced up at the floor number they were on. The number next to the red arrow was '3'. Following his gaze and catching his plan, she thought a step ahead. Lifting her free hand, she briefly pressed the stop button.

His eyes flickered to her in surprise. Smirking, thinking he could, he tried to lean in to kiss her, but she placed her hand on his chest. "Uh-uh. Not so easy."

He narrowed his eyes, confused as to why else she would stop the elevator. She tugged her locked hand free from his and used it to unbutton his top two buttons. He raised a brow at her, questioning her intentions but she laughed at his insinuation.

"No, you're not that lucky either." She commented further, making him run out of more ideas.

She leaned in, keeping her eyes focused on his. With each centimeter she treaded, he grew tensed at her intentions. She blinked away at the end and tugged at the fabric of his collar. She pressed her lips against his collar bone, causing him to gulp the second her lips touched his skin. She left an imprint of her lips there and casually leaned back to put distance between them.

Going on to button up his shirt again, she spoke, "There." She patted the area through his shirt, "That should keep you for the night."

She proceeded to push the button on the panel so the elevator would resume when he grabbed her wrist to stop her. "And what is going to keep you for the night?"

She made a thinking face, but he was already starting to close the distance between their faces. "Parth, no." She objected, but he didn't much listen to her. She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing herself for him to kiss her on her collarbone as well, but that never came. The only reason she had said no was because she already knew that was her weak spot.

She felt the warmth of his lips on her eyelids. The muscles around her eyes relaxed, now only having them closed instead of squeezed shut. He placed a brief kiss on the other eye as well before he released her wrist and trailed that hand down to slip her hand in his. "I think that'll work. Right?" He questioned while she opened her eyes.

A smile was passed back and forth before he pressed the button to resume the machine. They stood there, hand in hand, until there was a sound indicating the desired floor was reached and the elevator doors were going to open. Before they would, he released her hand.

The whole while, Maahi wondered the reason behind him kissing her eyes when he could have chosen any other place as well. Parth chose her eyes because not only did they tug at the strings of his heart, but also because he didn't want to see fear in those eyes ever again because of anything Sonu had said or done. He wanted her to know she would never have to fear about any such thing with him, that he would be damned if he ever scared her.

Both of them entered the apartment - Parth after Maahi. Maahi took off the heels at the front entrance so she would remember to return them to Nikita. Parth walked in knowing the mark of her lipstick, but more precisely her lips, was on his body covered by a thin fabric of the shirt he wore.

Sonu asked, "What were you two talking about?"

Maahi snapped in a clipped tone, already irritated that he was ruining the beautiful moment she just had with Parth, "I don't have to give you any answers anymore."

"You're still married to me, you know?"

Maahi spat back, "That doesn't make me your property. But anyway, as far as I am concerned, we have been long separated. We are only living under one roof because of court order."

Without wishing good night, she walked off to her room and closed the door. Sanjana was in the washroom, so she waited and retrieved her night clothes so she could take them inside with her when she went to wash off her makeup.

The end of the night with Parth had been a happy one, and she wasn't going to let a few words swapped with Sonu ruin them for her. She kept her mind cool and instead thought back to the moments spent with Parth only a few minutes earlier.

When she returned to bed after changing, she found a text from Parth.

Parth: You okay?

Maahi: If you're asking about him, then yes.

Maahi: Like you said, he doesn't matter anymore.

Parth: Proud of you.

Parth: You know that thing that was supposed to help? Turns out, it doesn't.

Maahi: Haha. Too bad. I'm going to sleep like a baby tonight.

Parth: Rude much? Lol, sweet dreams.

Maahi: Good night!

Maahi went to bed with a smile playing on her lips. Their whole exchange of messages her had grinning. She would have loved to talk with him more, but she had noticed how he was trying to keep their messages 'clean' the way he had said 'that thing that was supposed to help' instead of being outright and saying, 'the kiss'. As of now, he was still her lawyer, meaning she was still his client.

If anything, she did understand the morals behind getting into something with a client. In her line of work, it would be completely unethical to have a relationship with any of her patients. She was sure it didn't apply to lawyers in divorce hearings, but everyone has a set of morals of their own they abide by. She didn't want to push his. At the same time, there was a minimal worry on her mind about whether this constitutes as cheating. She convinced herself it didn't because she had already applied with divorce and it wasn't as if her feelings for Parth were the reason behind asking for divorce.

For now, she looked forward to the talk they would have tomorrow. She didn't know what exactly they would talk about, or the decision they would make about themselves, but either way, she knew it was one conversation she wanted to have. They couldn't have it the last time. This second chance? She did wait eagerly for.

༺༻ ༺༻༺༻

【 Author Note 】

Well then. That was some progress, wouldn't you say? What do you think, they rushed into that attraction or what? Lemme know in your comments!

I can't wait to get back to updating. Once I kick off this jetlag, that is (landed in New York. Still have to get to Jacksonville and I anticipate reaching home by 2ish of night so definitely taking 1-2 days to settle back). 

Shall you know the update schedule for this story when I update next.