Natasha Sinha!

Abhimaan clenched his fist at her name. He still couldn't believe why his dumb friend was after her or - in Sagar's words - "in love with her."

"Abhi, why do you always behave like this?"

"You've known her for a long time and now..." Sagar said, keeping his elbows on the table.

"I don't know her. It was just a casual affair that ended within a month."

"How can you still be with her after knowing her real face? She is a shallow, self-centred girl and nothing else." Abhimaan poured out his anger towards his friend, who was foolishly wasting his time with a money-minded and selfish girl.

Natasha Sinha was a runway model with whom his company worked for some time. After a drunk night at a party, it turned into a fling for them. But Abhimaan soon ended it - because of his rule "Do Not Mix Business With Pleasure".

" You are being judgemental about her as always. She is my girlfriend and she needs my help. Is it wrong to help your partner?" Sagar defended himself. He knew Abhimaan didn't like Natasha. He knew about their past. But he never had any issues with it because he knew that hookup meant nothing to both of them.

"Did you not help your wife with everything during her college admission?" Sagar countered him back.

"Don't compare these things together. Samaira got her place herself and Natasha... She got all the projects because of you." He said pointing a finger at him. He didn't like the fact that Samaira would be compared with some plastic woman overloaded with makeup.

His mind went to Samaira, he realized she was a natural beauty. He never found layers of makeup on her face. She is way too natural than others.

"I know, I'm sorry..." Sagar looked down. He knew everything. But, he couldn't see the woman he loves in problems. He just wanted Abhimaan to sign her as the modelling face for their hotel project.

As Natasha wanted. In fact, she pleaded to him. She knew how to manipulate him. She knew how to get her work done with her feigned words of love with Sagar.

That's what Abhimaan was worried about. He cared for his friend, but his dear friend was madly, and perhaps blindly, in love with her to see her real face.

"Now you want me to hire her for my projects!!! Are you serious?" Abhimaan yelled in frustration.

"This is my project too! I also have the right to decide who will be the model for our project campaign!" Sagar, now feeling angry, said bitterly.

"Why can't he just say yes?"

Somewhere in his heart, Sagar also knew the reason but he was sure that his love would change her soon.

"Don't use this tone with me!! You know why she is with you?" He said harshly.

That's why Abhimaan hated her more - for making his friend turn into a lovesick puppy. She was just using him for her benefits and would dump him as soon as she's done with him!!

"Sagar, you need to realize this before it gets too late." He ended the heated conversation by saying what he always said to him.

"Now get out before I throw you out!!" He said keeping his palm on his face, leaning back to his comfy chair.

Sagar instantly felt bad for his friend's state. He should be helping Abhimaan to cope with his delicate relationship and here he was behaving like a jerk to him!!

"Sorry! My issues are always going to be this way. But yours are genuinely more important. Tell me what happened?" Sagar asked him.

"I don't know... I have never before tried to break the ice with someone but for the first time, I tried... And she... She should have at least realized my efforts!!" Abhimaan said, shaking his head. How he wanted to spend time with her in the morning but they ended up arguing - rather he ended up hurting her.

He remembered her tearful eyes. He closed his eyes in defeat.

"I thought, you have made some improvement but it seems, you are complicating things more," Sagar replied, watching his messed up situation.

"I'm just concerned about her safety, is it wrong??" He asked him, straightening in his position.

"Of course not! It's just that imagining you’re caring for someone is a new thing. But knowing you, I'm pretty sure you must have been forcing her or scaring her into it." Sagar made a point while sounding very casual though knew his nature very well. His friend had some unusual ways to show his concern!!

"If she is not taking anything from you that implies that she has self-respect. Simple!!" Sagar said, shrugging his shoulders.

Now, it hit Abhimaan's head!! Of course, that was the matter. He has always judged her using unkind words like 'Golddigger'!! She was not any one of these. She's very simple, intelligent and hard-working.

"God! I messed up again." He rubbed his palm over his face. He should have made her understand calmly and not like a jerk!!

"I only scared her more."

"Dude, relax!! With everything you have told me I can say that she is a decent and dignified person."

"You two need to talk to understand each other. Your family loves her, they won't be wrong in judging her." Sagar said thinking about their recent conversations about his marriage.

He left after some time leaving Abhimaan alone with his thoughts about his life, his marriage and his wife.

"Am I ready for all this?"

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Abhimaan entered his house late. The whole house was covered in darkness. He directly went upstairs to Samaira's room and opened the door silently.

She must have been sleeping, so he didn't make any noise. He found her sleeping and stepped closer to her.

She was sleeping on the right side of the bed, her hair was scattered all over the pillow... making her look more beautiful. He could see her face in the dim light of the nightstand. Her cheeks had tear stains.

She had been crying!!

Again!!

"Because of me!!"

He wanted to touch her cheeks, cuddle her.

He wanted to apologise for his rude behaviour. But...

He sighed.

He took out the photo frame of her parents, which he gave to get it repaired. He put it near her. He wanted to give her in person, maybe she would have given her breathtaking smile to him.

But... Let it be.

He couldn't stop himself from brushing off her hair from her face, which was disturbing her sleep. He rubbed his thumb lightly on the tear stains - as if he wanted to erase them. He bent down a little and kissed her forehead lovingly.

He couldn't understand why it was making him feel so restless but he would never make her cry and let anyone else do it.

"I'm sorry, Samaira..." He sat there for a few more minutes before walking out of the room - looking at her one more time.

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Samaira and Ritika came out of their classes. It was a hell of a tiring day for both of them with back-to-back lectures. Due to the seminar and holidays, they had to quicken their speed to cover the syllabus as their internal exams were approaching soon.

It's been weak since they resumed college after that dreadful incident. Ritika helped her a lot in adjusting to the environment. She almost avoided everyone on the first day but to her surprise, they seem to be so understanding. Sure, she received some looks of sympathy and pity but every time Ritika was there to help her and forget everything.

About Abhimaan... She sighed thinking about him. He was very different and difficult from others. They didn't interact after that day apart from some greetings in the morning. She only saw him in the morning at breakfast. At night, she didn't even know when he came. He came late daily.

She remembered finding her parents' photo near her when she woke up the next morning after their fight. She was very happy that he kept his word.

That's what she needed. Little gestures of love and care - not some expensive gifts.

The next day, they kept on stealing glances at each other but no one said anything. It's better this way, at least they were not hurting each other.

"Samaira, I need to go. Rishi wants to meet me. Your driver must be on his way also." Ritika said coming out of college. Samaira looked around to see the car.

Yes, she came to college in his car and a personal driver, just as he mentioned. He didn't say anything directly to her but when she came out of the building his driver didn't let her go alone. He even said that he would lose his job if she didn't come with him.

Then she realized his tricky ways to get his work done. She didn't want someone to lose his job just because of her. So, he won!

"Sure! But is everything okay between you and Rishi?? You seem to be worried." Samaira asked her. As she was noticing Ritika for some days - her relationship was going through an on-again-off-again phase.

"Yeah... We are going for a date today after so long." Ritika said happily. Samaira smiled and they waved at each other. She was standing outside the college waiting for her driver when she felt a tap on her shoulder from behind. She turned to find a handsome man wearing formal clothes standing there giving her a wide smile.

"You are Samaira, right??" He asked or stated the fact to her. She looked at him with confusion.

Who is he?

"Yes, I'm... But I'm sorry I don't know you." She said politely. She didn't know the person standing in front of her. He didn't seem to be from her college either.

"I'm Sagar Mehra, your husband's friend." He said, forwarding his hand to her. She watched his hand, debating in her mind whether to believe him or not.

She had always been an introverted type of person. She is not good at talking to strangers. She didn't even know her husband properly. Then, his friends surely were a total stranger to her.

"Ohh! Okay!" She didn't know what to say. He took his hand back sensing her discomfort.

"I'm here to pick you. Abhimaan asked me to drop you home as your driver is not on duty today." Sagar informed her.

She felt good about his concern for her.

"Okay! No problem. I'll take the cab, you don't have to worry." Saying this she turned to go. She was already feeling uncomfortable talking with a stranger. After that night in the lab, fear has made a home in her heart.

Sagar's smile dropped on sensing his plan had flopped. But someone smirked watching them from his car. Or should we say - he was smiling proudly knowing it was coming!!

"Wait, let me call him. Then you will believe me... Maybe!!" He dialled Abhimaan's number before she could say anything. He forwarded his phone to her. She looked around and took the phone hesitantly.

"Hello?!" She said in her sweet voice.

"Yes, Samaira!" He replied instantly, hearing her sweet voice after so long. He smiled a little watching her all confused. She was looking damn cute right now!!

He chuckled in his mind.

"It IS you!" Samaira said hurriedly while her eyes widened automatically.

"It's me on my number." He replied feeling amused.

"He... he said... he is your friend and you send him to pick me up..." Samaira told him - walking a few steps away from Sagar.

"What!! No, don't go anywhere with anyone ever!! And no, he is not my friend."

"I'm coming, wait!" Abhimaan said, suddenly getting angry at his mad friend. She disconnected the call and gave it back to Sagar. Then without saying anything she walked away.

Sagar didn't understand what just happened. He ran towards her and called her. He was going to touch her hand. On sensing his touch she turned and raised her hand to slap him but someone barged in between them making her flinch.

"Wow!!! Easy there, my angry woman!!" Abhimaan said, holding her hand. Samaira looked at him in surprise. She looked around and then back to him. She looked down in embarrassment.

How did he come so fast?

"Is he superman?"

"Of course not!! Behave, Samaira!!"

She scolded herself. She looked down when he left her hand.

"What did you say to her that she ran away from me?" Sagar asked, narrowing his gaze towards his friend. He, especially, told his friend not to come out of the car until he came back with her.

Today Abhimaan was to pick her up as their driver was not on duty. Just then, Sagar too joined him - wanting to meet her.

"I said you are not my friend, simple!" Abhimaan replied casually. Sagar gave him a deadly glare.

"True... Samaira, I'm not his friend. I'm his business partner."

"Hello!" Sagar said again, extending his hand to her in front of Abhimaan, who was smirking.

Samaira looked at them, puzzeled. She bit her lower lip looking at his extended hand. She didn't want to insult him again!

She looked towards Abhimaan, who was already looking at her. He nodded to her and she shook her hand with Sagar after getting his approval. His chest puffed with pride for the respect she gave him.

"Sorry about that... I didn't know you..." She said politely. Sagar smiled at her.

"I think you should go now, your car is here." Abhimaan pointed towards his car. Sagar left after shooting death glares at him.

"Come!" Abhimaan said to her and walked towards his car. She walked behind him and sat on the passenger seat.

He too got settled on the driver seat. He was going to start the engine but stopped hearing her.

"You were making fun of me." She said with annoyance looking at him.

"No!! My friend wanted to meet you. He is always this childish... Don't take this... take us in the wrong way, Samaira.! He replied instantly.

All the while, one thing was going in his mind - No more misunderstandings!

She didn't say anything, just nodded to him. She thought he was playing with her with his friend.

After some time, they reached their building. No one said anything in the meantime. He kept on looking in her direction making her conscious.

She opened the door to get down but he stopped her holding her hand. She turned to him. She felt a shiver at his touch.

"Are you still angry with me?" He asked her directly. He couldn't take this anymore.

She shook her head. Well, she was angry but she couldn't say this to him. Why could she be angry with him? She had no right!

"I know, I have been a total jerk to you! And... I'm regretting it. I didn't mean anything that I said earlier." He said in desperation. She looked at him with wide eyes. He was looking different - so vulnerable as if he was in some great pain.

She didn't like this. She didn't want him to suffer. He cupped her cheek in his wide palms. Her breath hitched suddenly.

"Will you believe me, if I say that I... I'm sorry for my behaviour." He asked, looking into her eyes. He felt how her heart was beating fast because of his proximity. He liked it.

"I... Believe you" she replied, making him happy. He smiled looking at her with deep affection.

She was so forgiving!

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