Hasan kept angrily mumbling as he pulled his Kurtha off his head and tossed it on his bed. Hatred for Anaisha just kept building up inside him. He pulled out a lime yellow chikankari Kurtha. Secretly, He was thankful his pant wasn't wet. Before he could wear his Kurtha, a sound of a whistle distracted him. He frowned, thinking it to be some hostel mate. Ignoring it, he began to wear his Kurtha when a voice interrupted him.

"You need to work very hard with a body like that."

Hasan froze hearing a familiar feminine voice. He stared in horror at Anaisha who sat crossed leg on James's bed. Terrified, he yelped, - "Ya Allah!" Swiftly, he wore his Kurtha and looked away. Feeling violated that she saw him without his Kurtha, without his consent.

"How did you get here?" He avoided looking at her, whilst buttoning his Kurtha. He made she didn't get any peep of his chest.

Anaisha scoffed, climbing down the bed. She folded her arms and walked towards him.

"I have certain perks—", - She dug out some money from the back pocket of her jeans and showed it off, - "Anyway, how did you like my style? Embarrassed you in front of your crush." She spoke, checking her nails.

"Great." Hasan sarcastically clapped, - "Should I give you Padma Shri for this excellent work." He annoyedly looked away briefly and then looked back at her, - "Your highness, you have certain perks but not me. Before anyone sees us here. Please leave."

"I haven't come to ogle at your skinny body. I have come here for something you might like." She inched closer to him, - "A deal."

Hasan gulped moving backward until his back hit the cupboard. He noted that Anaisha liked to corner him and make him feel uncomfortable.

"I am friends with Sanam, and I know you like her. So. I can fix you with her but on one condition." She raised her finger and smirked.

Hasan stammered as he said, - "I am not going to apologize to you."

Anaisha laughed throwing her head back, - "Think about it." She moved her hand towards him, but Hasan slapped her hand away. She winked at him and turned around, walking out. He angrily adjusted his Kurtha and looked away. He would prefer to jump into a well full of lions and hyenas rather than apologize to her.

Later in the evening, Shivansh was super shocked knowing Anaisha was here but James was super-excited knowing she sat on his bed. Hasan sighed, adjusting his blanket. Shivansh held his shoulder and coaxed him. James looked at his dejected face and walked up to him.

"I know you fancy Sanam. Anaisha didn't do good by creating misunderstandings between you two. Don't worry, she is in class with me. I will fix this for you."- He patted his shoulder, grinning at him. Hasan smiled a little, but he didn't have many hopes. Here he was dreaming of introducing her to his parents and getting married to her but Anaisha poured cold water over those dreams.

Two days later, Hasan sat alone on the campus ground and studied for the test that was after the bell. As he flipped a page, someone cleared their throat to get his attention. He looked up and blinked in surprise. The bright noon sunshine shone over Sanam's beautiful face, highlighting her beautiful features.

"Asalam aliakum, Hasan."- She hesitated, shifting a little shielding him from the sun. Hasan was grateful for that. He smiled a little, standing up.

"Waliakum Asalam." He greeted back.

Sanam gulped, shifting her weight to the other feet, - "Um,"- She played with her fingers, - "James spoke to me yesterday and—I understood that there was a misunderstanding and—I am sorry."

Hasan shook his head, waving his hand, - "No need to say Sorry,"- He noticed how she was avoiding eye contact and he felt even more attracted to her. He took a breath, lowering his head, and fidgeted with his book, - "I am sorry, I shouldn't have followed you everywhere. It was very problematic. But—I—wanted to—be your—friend."

Sanam looked up at him, into his eyes but only for a millisecond, - "Why do you want to be friends with me?"- She shrugged, - "Isn't it Haram?" She suppressed her smile, trying hard to not look into his eyes.

Hasan gulped feeling his heartbeat rise, - "But my intentions aren't wrong." He pushed back the thought of guilt in his head. He will ask for forgiveness in the prayers.

Sanam slowly looked up at him and quickly diverted her gaze, - "Okay!" She kept her lips tightly pressed to avoid smiling. Hasan inaudibly let out a sigh of relief. Then, he smiled to himself.

Your plan flopped, your highness – He thought with a grin.

"It has been a while since we hung out in a club." Priyank chirped to his gang. The gang was split in two, but many agreed with him. Anaisha clicked her tongue and everyone turned their attention to her.

"Nah!"- She spoke without looking from her phone. Priyank frowned,

- "Why?" He shrugged.

Anaisha looked up from her phone, brought her chewing gum to the side of her mouth, and smiled at her friend,

- "My brother's engagement is coming up and I have a lot of shopping to do." She began chewing her gum again.

The girls were excited while the guys were disappointed because Anaisha was the life of their parties.

As the friends had their fun time in the cafeteria, Hasan walked in and noticed the gang in the empty cafeteria. The class was just about to start and so, not many students were there. He straightened and walked confidently towards them. Anaisha had her back to him but somehow, he knew it was her. He stood next to her and cleared his throat. She looked up from her mobile and blinked at him. She was pleasantly surprised to find Hasan here.

"I know it doesn't matter to you. Your plan has backfired. I and Sanam are now friends."- He paused to take in her expressions, but she had a poker face. He leaned a little, - "Like I said God is with the truth." He said with sincerity. Then, he straightened, and without another word, he walked away.

Anaisha tried hard not to laugh at his statement. To her, he didn't make sense. He termed a co-incidence as God's intervention. But her friends weren't kind. They burst out laughing. Nevertheless, Hasan didn't turn around.

"I suspect he likes you and that is why he is finding excuses to talk to you." Mia nudged Anaisha.

"Doesn't everyone like Naisha."- Priyank threw an arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer, - "She is a Diva, and everyone wants her attention." He patted her arm. Anaisha fell back against the chair, an arrogant smile on her face.

"That nerd is not of my taste. Only skin and bones. Besides,"- She tapped on her phone as she spoke, - "he should stop taking harmless pranks so seriously." Anaisha shrugged. Priyank laughed, hi-fing with his friend, Umang. 

Anaisha walked through the hall towards her room. At first, like always she ignored the muttering of Mr. Singhaniya and Dadisa. But as she crossed the living room, she heard Dadisa's voice and stopped in her tracks. Quickly, Anaisha hid from them and pressed her back against the wall. She leaned little, straining her ears to listen to their conversation.

"Listen, Aryaman. This alliance is perfect. I have invited the boy's family to Abhinav's engagement. The boy will be coming with his parents and grandparents. They will see the girl there and hopefully, select her." Dadisa was heard saying. Anaisha's mouth hung open.

Aryaman exhaled deeply, - "But Masa, this guy, Rahul, he is like 28 years old and our Anaisha is just 19."

Dadisa exclaimed, - "Just 19. And your father was fifteen years elder than me. You don't see me complaining. And what do you want? Do you want a 20-year-old for her? Rahul is MD of a multi-national company. They belong to our caste. Everything is perfect."

"But--", - Aryaman seemed to struggle for words, - "The guy is too dark."

Dadisa scoffed, - "Like your daughter is white as snow. She is black. We should be thankful to them for accepting her. Dark girls don't get alliance so easily. This came to us, because of our reputation and family."

Aryaman clicked his tongue in agitation, - "What are you talking, Masa? Anaisha isn't black, she is a wheatish complexion. Beautiful Indian skin."

"Nonsense." – Dadisa struck her stick on the floor, - "Men are preferred to be Tall, Dark and Handsome but not women. People want a fair bride and that is the truth."

"Masa. I am not giving my daughter to such superficial people."

"Aryaman."- Dadisa thundered, - "You are arguing with your mother for that prostitute's daughter? For the first time, you have spoken against me for that girl."

"Enough, Masa."- Aryaman tried hard to keep his voice under control but his agitation was felt, - "Anaisha is my daughter. I don't want this discussion anymore."

"Then, I don't want any discussion as well. Rahul and his family are coming. That's it."

Anaisha clenched her fists and turned away. Angrily, she climbed the stairs and walked into her room. Then, she slammed her door and tossed her college bag on the bed. She didn't understand what was Mrs. Anahita Devi's problem. But above all, she didn't know why her? What was her fault in all this? In a fit of rage, she threw her bag and some pillows on the floor. She closed her eyes tightly and internally screamed.

Aryaman sat in his study with a cigar pressed in between his lips and an office file in his hands. But his mind was lost. He knew his mother was doing injustice to Anaisha. And by bringing her paternity, she purposefully taunted him. As he sat there, there was a knock. Aryaman straightened in his recliner chair and placed the file on the mahogany table. Then, he called the person inside. The door opened and Abhinav walked in. Aryaman quickly pushed Rahul's photograph inside one of the files.

Abhinav had his eyes into a file and spoke about a query related to the office. He was slowly taking over the business from his father. But he was a fresh MBA graduate and new into the business circle. Whenever he had any doubts, he always consults his father. Aryaman was proud of his son. More so because his son kept their personal and professional apart. Or was it because he didn't know how tortured his mother, Babita was. Surely, he knew about the injustice upon her as she was practically invisible in the house. All decisions were mostly taken by Anahita Devi and rarely by Aryaman, while Babita had no say at all. She was just like a ghost wandering in the house.

"Dad, are you listening?" Abhinav waved a hand in front of his father's face.

Aryaman cleared his throat and nodded, - "I am listening." 

How was the Chapter, my lovelies? Drop your thoughts in the comments, please *smiles* and Stay Tuned for the next update :* :*