"Here's your order." Shahana placed the dishes on the table.

"Thank you" Aryan smiled at him.

"Try and say how's it?" Shahana asked excitedly.

Both Aryan and Dimpy took a bite. But, the expression on both of their faces was different.

"It's not worth eating. Who gave you the job?" Dimpy said with attitude.

"It's delicious. I didn't know you could cook so well! I'm surely going to come back for more." Aryan said genuinely praising her.

She smiled at him and left.

He then turned towards Dimpy. "I guess our tastes are quite different. So, it will be better if we have our food and leave fast else our non-existent friendship may turn to dislike before it even becomes real." he said with a fake smile.

 Dimpy was dumbstruck. She could not answer and turned her attention to her food.

-----

The whole day Purab was unusually silent. Disha's words were ringing in his ears. She had addressed him as Mr. Khanna. Was she still angry on him? Did she still hold him responsible for what had happened 20 years ago? Many such questions were clouding Purab's mind.

Not a single moment had passed in these 20 years when he had not missed Disha. Alia may be his legal wife in front of the world, but his soulmate was and always will be Disha.

When he had saw her today, he badly wanted to hug her, explain himself and even ask for forgiveness.

He was ready to divorce Alia for Disha any day, but only there was the question of Aryan........

A hand on his shoulder broke his train of thoughts. He lifted his head and turned around to see his best friend Abhi looking at him.

"You met Disha, didn't you?" Abhi asked.

"How do you know?" Purab was surprised.

"Vikram told me that you are upset after meeting the woman and I at least have the power to guess that the lady was Disha from your condition."

"Yes she was Disha. But she has changed. I'm happy that she has prospered so much in life but she hates me........I can suffer her anger but not her ignorance. I'm the most unlucky man on this world who couldn't even win the trust of his love." Purab poured his heart to Abhi.

"Calm down. Your mind is not in the right state. Try and think about the positive things in life. Get happy that you at least got to see Disha whereas I don't know anything about my Pragya. Still I have not given up hope. So, how can you?" Abhi tried to console him.

"I'm sure di loves you, but Disha hates me now."

"No! You are a fool to believe that. Your love for each other was pure and where there is love, hate can't exist there. She is just hot headed and gets angry soon. You have to make her understand."

"Are you sure?" Purab's eyes were sparkling with hope.

"101%. Now cheer up and don't be a cry baby."

"I'm not a cry baby!"

"Look who's speaking."

"Abhi....." Purab started

"Purab......" Abhi mimicked him.

Purab shot a glare at him but soon both of them were laughing together. For the first time in 20 years, Purab was feeling happy with the thoughts of clearing the misunderstandings between him and Disha.

-----

The café was almost empty now. Only a few customers were inside. So, Shahana was free.

Aryan and Dimpy had left and Shahana was pondering over them.

Why had Aryan brought that lizard with him? Was something going on between them? Did he like her?

These questions were popping in her mind.

"Whatever he does, why do you care?" she asked herself.

Because you like him, you fool.

"Okay, let's believe you like him. But, does he like you?"

No! Rather he is irritated by you. 

"Hey! What's up?" Aryan said entering the café once again and breaking Shahana's thoughts.

"You? Again? Where did Dimpy go?" Shahana questioned genuinely confused.

 "My car broke down and so I hired a cab and sent her home. I'm here 'cause I'm hungry and how can I deny some delicious food." he explained.

"Oh! Ok. What do you want?"

"What about  chicken sandwiches?"

"Coming in a minute." said Shahana getting to work.

"Umm....Shahana.......I......I didn't bring Dimpy on my wish. My mother forced me to it." he explained suddenly.

Shahana turned towards him, gave a blank look and said "Ok"

"Okay? Just ok?" he stared at her in surprise.

"Yes! What else did you expect?" Shahana said nonchalantly, hiding the true enjoyment that was going on inside her.

"Nothing" Aryan said with a poker face.

Soon enough, Shahana's work got over. The manager congratulated her for her hard work. She went out and was surprised to see Aryan.

"You didn't go?" she asked.

"Thought of dropping you home. It isn't safe for girls to go alone in night."

"I thought that your car was broken."

"It was.....It had got sick after bearing that Dimpy for so long. It's totally fine now that she is not here." Aryan said with a mischievous grin.

"You lied to her!"

Aryan just shrugged his shoulder.

They were travelling in a lonely road and a soft music was playing in the music system. Aryan took a secret glance at the peaceful face of Shahana. He didn't know why, but he always felt at peace when he was with her. Their cute fights refreshed him and the silence understanding between them was a bliss. When he was with her, he forgot about all his problems. The feeling was something special and unusual, something more than normal friendship. But he couldn't figure it out.

"Good night." Shahana wished him before entering through the gate of her house.

"Good night." Aryan too greeted and kept on staring at the retreating figure of Shahana, hoping that she would turn back to look at him once.

To his dismay, she kept on walking.

"Why will she turn back towards you?" he questioned himself and drove his car forwards.

But, she did turn back! 

Just as he was leaving, Shahana turned to look and him and saw him leaving. He didn't see her.

"Why would he wait for you to turn?" she questioned herself and entered the house.

Unknown to both of them, a pair of eyes were watching them.

-----

"Hello. Is it Bittu?"

"Yes. Who are you?" 

"One of your well wishers."

"Listen, I don't have time for prank calls, try someone else."

"I have a deal for you."

"What deal?"

"I will help you to get Shahana."

Bittu stared at his phone for sometime. "Who are you? And how do you know?" he questioned.

"Alia Mehra" came the answer.

"The one whom Sanju knows?"

"Yes....."

"I'm not going to work with you. All thanks to you, Sanju is in jail right now."

"He was a fool. You are better than him." she coaxed him.

"But....."

"Prachi had my bhai and Ranbir backing her up whereas Shahana is alone. It should be easy for you."

"What do you want me to do?"

"Listen......" (plan muted)

"I understood everything, but why are you helping me? Weren't you helping Rhea to get Ranbir?" he asked.

"I was.....But, it's important to secure one's own fort before attacking other's and I'm doing that. I was a fool not to notice earlier that Shahana is growing closer to Aryan."

"Okay. I'll be there." he assured and cut the call.

"No one can be the obstacle in Alia Mehra's path. I will adopt any means to remove the threats to me and this time, it's your turn Shahana." Alia said in a dangerous tone.

Those who don't know about Bittu, check the CS once.