Prachi and Ranbir were sitting together when Aryan came and joined them.

"Hey Aryan, have you seen Shahana?" Prachi asked him.

"No! I thought she was with you." he exclaimed in surprise.

"Have you seen her?" this time Prachi questioned Ranbir.

"What? Who? When?" Ranbir looked at them in confusion.

"Ranbir......why don't you ever pay attention? We were talking about Shahana!" Prachi scolded him.

"Umm...I was.....never mind. You can try calling her." he suggested.

Prachi picked up her phone and did the same. The phone rang several times, but no one picked it up. 

"What happened?" Aryan enquired when Prachi looked tensed.

"She is not picking up her phone." Prachi said worriedly.

"What's there to be so tensed about it? She may be busy." Ranbir tried to pacify her.

"You don't understand. The last time she didn't pick up her phone, she was in trouble. We must find her immediately." she responded.

So, they set out in different directions to find her.

-----

Aryan was passing by the girls' washroom when he heard a whimper. He stopped on his tracks and pressed his ears to the door.

Yes, a girl was crying inside.

"Shahana, is that you?" he knocked at the door.

There was no reply. But again, the cry of someone in pain reached him.

He hesitated for a bit before opening the door as it was a girls' washroom but finally decided that desperate times call for desperate measures.

His eyes were searching for a similar figure when he found her.

She was sitting in a corner, her hands clenched together and face hidden in her knees. She was sobbing hard and her whole body was shaking furiously due to it. Moreover, she was mumbling something.

Aryan immediately went to her.

"What happened to you? Why are you crying?" he asked out of concern.

Suddenly, Shahana lifted her head and her breaths became short and heavier. She was sweating profusely.

"Don't go.....I miss you.....I......ill luck.....burden....." she began mumbling random words between her sobs.

Aryan recognized the symptoms. She was having an panic attack! He began rubbing her and rocking her back and forth gently.

"Ssh....ssh....calm down. No one is going anywhere. See, I'm with you." he tried to console her.

But, whatever he did, it seemed to have no effect on her. Her condition kept getting worse and her vision got blurred.

"Maa..........Papa............Nooooooooooooo!" she shouted before closing her eyes.

Aryan tried to bring her back into senses by splashing water on her face but to no avail. Finally, he picked her up in his arms and rushed towards his car.

On the way he came across Ranbir and Prachi who also joined him.

-----

"When will she regain consciousness?" Aryan questioned the doctor impatiently.

He, Prachi, Ranbir and Pragya were huddled in a room in Sarita ji's house and the doctor was checking Shahana who lay unconscious on the bed. 

"Calm down young man, she will be fine soon. I have given her an injection. But, before prescribing the medicines, I want to know what was the cause of this panic attack. Is there something traumatic in her past?" the doctor asked.

"Actually doctor, she had lost her parents in her childhood. Apart from that I don't remember anything." Pragya informed.

"Are you sure? Did she say anything before fainting?" the doctor urged them to think.

 "She gets lost into thoughts sometimes and he was there when she fainted." Prachi said pointing towards Aryan.

The doctor looked towards Aryan and spotted a hesitant look in his eyes. She smiled lightly and nodded her head.

"Can you all please go out of the room for a while. I would like to talk to him alone." she said to the others.

Obeying the doctor, everyone except Aryan went out of the room, closing the door behind them.

"Now would you please tell me everything?" the doctor turned to Aryan.

"Umm....she was mumbling something about someone leaving her and called out her mom and dad before fainting." he said.

"Ok, seems like she misses her parents, but according to others she is always happy. Is it true?"

"Umm.....Uh.....Actually......"

Seeing him hesitating, the doctor said, "You must not hide anything from a doctor and lawyer. It may increase the problem. And don't worry, I'll not disclose it to anyone."

"The truth is that the smile she puts up is just a disguise. It's not that she is unhappy or others are torturing her. She misses her parents badly and craves for love. She is a sweet and emotional soul who gets disturbed easily. She hides her emotions because she feels that it might hurt others whom she loves. Sometimes she feels herself as lonely figure in this vast world. Please doctor, don't disclose it to anyone, not even her sister or maasi."

"You can trust me. But, since I can't tell anyone about it, you have to take the responsibility of helping her out of her problem or she may slip into depression." the doctor instructed.

"I will take care of her and ensure to keep her away from anything that may disturb her." Aryan promised.

"You love your girlfriend very much, don't you?" the doctor smiled at him.

Aryan was dumbstruck by the words. Before he could protest, the doctor was out of the room, instructing Pragya about the medicines.

Soon enough, Shahana gained consciousness. She slowly opened her eyes and looked around. Prachi helped her to sit up.

"Finally you are awake. You gave us such a scare!" Prachi exclaimed.

"I'm sorry...... " Shahana put up a sheepish smile.

"All thanks to Aryan that he found and brought you back home." Pragya said.

"Thank you so much" Shahana looked at Aryan with grateful eyes.

"Next time faint in a place which is accessible to both males and females. I can't risk being slapped by someone." Aryan said jokingly which made Shahana giggle.

-----

Aryan was sitting in his room when Alia arrived there.

He and Ranbir had returned a few minutes before after Aryan was satisfied that Shahana was now well.

"How was your day dear?" Alia said sweetly and sat down beside him.

"It was pretty good."

"Do you have any work tomorrow?" she asked.

"Umm......nothing much." he replied.

"So, can you do a job for me?" she asked in her sugar laden voice.

"Sure mom! Just name it."

"Do you know Dimpy from your college?" Alia enquired.

"Yes. She is Rhea's friend." Aryan answered wondering why on earth was his mother was interested in her.

"She is a very sweet girl. And I have heard that both of you are very good friends. So, I want you to take her to café Valentina tomorrow."

"She is not even my friend! Why will I take her to that place? Ask Rhea to take her." Aryan exclaimed.

"Rhea is busy dear. We are going to sign an important business deal with her father. If you both go out together, it will make a good impression on them. You promised me. You can't deny now." Alia left no place for argument.

"Fine!" Aryan said sadly as he knew there was no point refusing her.

"That's like my son! Good night dear." Alia smiled and left the room.

"I know that Dimpy has a soft spot for Aryan and I will make sure he falls for her too. After all, she is rich and of our class. He will never be yours, you middle class girl, Shahana." Alia thought happily to herself.