She came out of her luxury car, taking her clutch and mobile in one hand. She locked the car's power door with its remote key.

A blazing sun kissed her skin, making the ivory creamy layer tainted with natural rose blush. As soon as she turned to face the modern structure of the well known building's entrance, her phone rang in her palms. Looking down onto the screen of her smart phone, a beautiful smile made its way on her pink glossy lips.

"Sorry sorry sorry, just arrived, coming inside," she hurriedly told the person who was about to speak on the other side of the phone and cut the call off without listening to any reply.

She made her way inside the building and took the stairway to reach her destination. As soon as she reached the open premises of the exquisitely decorated restaurant, her eyes sighted the person who was sitting on one of the tables placed at the far end of the restaurant. She smiled and made her way towards him, who was playing on his phone to kill the time.

"Hello, Mr. Zain Ahmed," she chirped and took the chair opposite to the person who was looking grumpy and a bit annoyed. She could tell that he had been waiting for her from a long time.

She felt a bit guilty, but there was nothing she could have done about the delay. She had made every effort to make herself free an hour before, but still ended up being late for their scheduled lunch. Her senior wasn't ready to let her go early. After completing her shift she had headed towards her home, took a relaxing shower and had directly come to the venue that they had selected for their meeting.

All of their meetings till date had been in public places. She had never met him in private, as she was aware of her status in the society. She carried the name of a well known and leading industrialist of Delhi city.

"Ahh, look who we have here, none other than Miss Khan," he stood up from his chair and remarked sarcastically. A beautiful smile made its way to Zoya's pink soft lips as her whole face lit up with pure delight.

He bent down a little, placing his palm on his chest, and continued his dramatic act. "Thank you so much madam, thank you so much for your gracious presence here, I feel honored." She burst out into fits of laughter; she always liked this jovial side of him. He had the ability to make her feel happy in the toughest times of her life.

It took a good three minutes to suppress her laugh. "I am sorry, I really am. But you know that it is the last month of my internship, and there were no other junior staff present except for me today." She took a glass of water and gulped down a few small sips in her slightly dry throat.

"You have always been like this Zoya, you always make me wait for you, like I am the most free person on this earth," he stated after taking his seat back in front of her. His voice was laced with a little disappointment and a tinge of sadness. She felt guilty; she never did this on purpose. But it was never easy for her to meet him, although she had always enjoyed his company. He was the most easy going person to talk with and she never felt bored in his presence. She never felt useless and unwanted in his company.

"I know my apologies are nothing compared to your patience Zain, but you do know that it’s not easy for me to meet you," she said in a low voice, filled with culpability.

He covered his palm over her small fist, and smiled at her. "And you do know that I can't see you sad or guilty Zoi," he said in an ever so soft voice of his, which worked like a soothing balm on Zoya's pained soul. She smiled lightly, blinking her glossy eyes several times to clear away the slight wetness caused by his gentle sweet words.

"And you are looking beautiful in blue; as beautiful as ever." Zoya's ivory spotless skin warmed up to his compliment. A little blush crept up on her glowing soft cheeks and the tip of her nose turned into a rosy shade of pink. A full blown smile appeared on her rose tainted lips showing her pearly white set of teeth.

"I am not going to thank you," she said in her more cheerful voice. Zain chuckled lightly at her confidence, which could be seen in her personality whenever she was with him.

"You don't need to thank me Zoi. It is your right to take compliments; no words of admiration can do justice to your beauty," he stated, his voice dripping with genuity.

"You are good with words, you know that," she uttered teasingly. "You can make any girl fall head over heels for you, just by stating a simple sentence."

"Really? So should I consider that you have also fallen for me?" he said, while giving her the Menu card. She took the card and glanced through it before placing her order, ignoring his question completely. But a small smile was playing on the corner of her lips, which wasn't hidden from his astute gaze.

They placed their order. Zain was the one who broke the spell of hollow silence between them.

"Did you talk to him Zoi?" he asked, while she was checking her phone randomly. She didn't answer his question, just turned her gaze on his face, and took a deep steady breath.

"It's not easy to talk to him Zain; he is not a person I can smoothly converse with. We barely indulge in any conversation. Besides he is always away on business trips, and I rarely meet him, except when we are at the manor on the occasional trips to our hometown."

"Then when are you planning to talk to him Zoi, how much time do you need for just a simple conversation?" His voice was a little louder this time, laced with frustration.

"You do not understand Zain. It's not just a 'simple conversation'. I just cannot ask him for 'divorce'," she replied impatiently.

"Then when are you going to ask him Zoi? It's been more than a year since we have been meeting like this. We both know that we are more than 'just friends'. Besides, he doesn't care if you ask him for a divorce. You are living in a loveless relationship Zoi, why shouldn't you ask him for a divorce. It’s your right to be happy, to live your life the way you want. And you know it Zoi, that we are compatible with each other, we will be happy together. I am financially competent to take care of you. I know I can't give you the extravagant life style which he has provided you. But I can promise that I will take care of your every essential need. I will respect you more than anyone, and I will love you till my last breath Zoi." He completed his last words with strong determination and looked into her big eyes, which had moisturized from the impact of his stimulating words, his implicit feelings.

She took his hand into her small one, and smiled sadly. "I will, I will surely talk to him this time when he returns from his trip abroad. I am as impatient to be a part of your family as you are for me, Zain. I feel blessed when I am with you or your family. I treasure the love you have given me, the respect your family has given me. You don't have any idea how much I craved for these two things after my father's death years back. I will ask him for divorce, because I am tired of being alone now. I am tired of this whole public facade. I want to be with you." Her voice became distressed as she placed her forehead on their entwined hands, tears dripping down her soft cheeks, as a few strands of her chocolate brown hair slipped from her band, covering her now wet face.

"Hey, its okay Zoi, please stop crying dear. We are in public, and you shoulder a strong high profile background. This vulnerable state of yours may become the headlines of press tomorrow. Just stop crying, I am with you," he whispered softly picking up a tissue from the stand, and passed it to her, covering their entwined hands in his other one.

Just then the waiter arrived with their order and placed it on the table, refilling their empty glasses with mineral water. Zain mouthed a thank you to him as he left. She dabbed her face with the tissue paper. They ate between random talks, mostly related to their respective works. Once they finished their meal, Zain asked for the bill.

"Ok Zain, I have to go now. It's already 2:30. Khala (aunty) must be waiting for me." She grabbed her mobile and clutch and stood up. Zain also exited from the restaurant with her. As they reached the parking lot, he stated "Okay, Allah Hafiz (good bye). Take care of yourself." He opened the car's driving door while bidding his farewell to her. She closed the door and smiled.

"Remember you have made a promise for something," he said leaning towards the open car window.

"I will surely," she whispered and pulled the car on the main road. The whole ride was consumed with her thoughts about the dreadful thing which she has to ask Shahzeb. She knew for sure that it was going to be the most horrendous conversation of her life. He was not a man who would be considerate to her demand. She knew him well enough to imagine his arrogant self-loving side. He would never accept easily that his so called public wife could ever ask him for a divorce. Her train of disturbing thoughts ended as soon as the outer boundary of her gigantic house appeared through the car's windscreen.

She honked and the gates were opened by a uniformed armed guard. He slightly bowed his head in respect and closed the gates as the car entered the curvy driveway of the villa. She hurriedly got out of the car and entered through the over-sized opulent wooden double doors. Going through the large corridor which was made of imported marble and granite, she reached up to the main lounge, but was halted in her tracks by the sounds of television news playing inside. "Who could it be in the lounge?" she muttered under her breath and entered into the plush lounge. At the very next moment, her breath hitched in her throat and eyes widened from the shock.

"Salaam darling." His husky lethal voice burst in the spacious lounge. She was dumbfounded by the impact of his unexpected greeting.

"Come have a seat," he ordered her and this time she just went towards his direction and stood in front of him. There was still a considerable distance present between them.

"You didn't answer my salaam." He took another puff of smoke and picked the coffee mug up in his other hand, his eyes fixed on her delicate form.

She came out of her trance and tried to study his cold yet mysterious facial features as she gazed at him but failed. His face was as empty as the white wall behind her.

"When did you come back?" she cleared her blocked throat and asked him in a slightly trembling voice, still standing rooted to her spot. He crushed the remaining cigarette in an ashtray which was placed on the glass coffee table near them and looked up at her as an evil grin appeared on his sensuous mouth.

"Well sweetheart, when you were busy with the chocolate boy at CP having lunch and pouring your heart out." His voice became dangerous at the end, making her shiver on the spot. Her cheeks became pale and the oxygen level decreased in her lungs.

"I just landed at the same time at Delhi airport, and got the best surprise of my life." He paced towards her and stood just inches away, scanning every emotion floating through her big brown eyes, thrusting his hands in to his trouser's front pockets. She could smell his fragrant breath mixed with coffee and smoke around her, as her soft cheeks turned into a darker shade of pink.

She scrutinized his appearance; plain black trousers perfectly fitted around his narrow hips, paired with a white button-down shirt hugging his muscular torso, sleeves rolled up to his elbow showing his strong forearms, steel grey Rolex wrapped around his wrist. Her intricate gaze travelled to his chest, displayed through his shirt's top two open buttons. Just as her brown eyes met with his pair of midnight black observing ones, she immediately tore her gaze down and fixed it on the fluffy carpet beneath her feet. She slightly shivered at her own inadvertent deed as her cheeks coloured with embarrassment.

"Wanna see the 'surprise' which I got at the airport?" He picked up his mobile from the coffee table, searched through its gallery, opened a photo and showed it to her. She set her eyes on the photo, as her breath knocked out from her body. Her once rosy cheeks turned into white linen sheets as all the warm colour drained from her face.

"Don't be scared. I am not a monster who would punish you for your little public stunt," he whispered into indecisive silence which had fallen between them aimlessly.

"I, I didn't do it purposely," she stuttered. "It was just an act of emotional disability," she tried to justify her immature act. She knew she had done an unthinkable mistake and there was no cover up for her action, albeit she was neither guilty nor ashamed.

"I don't need your absurd explanation Zoya. Just remember one thing. Another scandalous deed and you will see my wrath." His tone was harsh, fuming with anger as his penetrating bloodshot eyes fixed on her frightened self.

"Family honor always comes first for me and I do not spare any second chance for the person who tries to muddle it up." He emphasized each word. "Never try anything foolish again Zoya, never." With the threatening commanding statement he turned back. Picking up the cigarette case and lighter from the coffee table, he walked towards the staircase, but stopped for mere seconds.

"We are leaving for the manor in an hour. Pack your things and meet me at the porch in 40 minutes." With that he climbed up the stairs and disappeared in to the upper corridor.

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