The darkness had a new hint of warmth in it, indicating a new dawn.

'Click, click.'

Annie and her stupid camera, let me tell you she is too bad at clicking photos, unlike my daughter. Avery being a 10 year old, has a passion in photography and believe me she is too good. It is a gift to the little girl given by God, she can't see but the random shots she takes can make a real photographer shy.

In the few years that she has been with me I was always astonished at my daughter's talent. But her explanation was she wants to capture all the memories that she was lucky to experience. When she gets her eyesight she wanted to see what all she did in the past.

"Ann, walk faster will you?" Irritatedly I said after coming back from my thoughts. She was strolling behind me.

She rolled her eyes and followed me behind.

"I can't walk, my legs are paining." Annie pouts and huffs.

"We are not even half way till now." I rolled my eyes. One day I'll see things upside down, I swear for rolling my eyes so much.

I gulped a mouthful of water from my bottle and started walking. Eventually, Annie followed.

It was Annie's idea to watch the sunrise, and because we had only two days so I suggested we trek the hills and then watch the rising sun. Now? Annie already lost her energy. Huh.

"I've seen you somewhere."

A voice came to my ears, a deep male voice. I turned around and saw a familier face. Well, it looked familier but I still can't figure out who he was.

"Maybe." I replied.

"You look very familier." He said.

"Everyone says the same when they see my best friend." Annie butted in with a flat face.

The person narrowed his eyes. "She isn't a celebrity!" The man said, probably thinking what an obnoxiously arrogant woman Annie was.

Annie smirked. I liked this game of hers. "Actually, she is." Annie said with her most gracious grin and then we walked away.

"Parth!" I heard another deep voice, very manly that every girl will swoon over. "Walk man!"

I instantly recognized them, by the name. The guys from Mackey's Diner.

I turned around and saw the other guy. My surrounding went absolutely soundless. A cold shiver rushed through my body and my knees felt numb.

The face of the guy and his being sent all these unknown feelings through my blood and veins.

My mind and heart spoke only one word.

"Roy."

I was glad that my voice came out in a whisper but Annie heard me clear because the next moment I was being dragged by her.

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An hour later, we and some other tourists were on top of the hill.

The sun came out like a blooming sunflower, spreading a tinge of Rosy hue in the sky.

It was strange how after 7 years that same person could create such feeling inside me.

If I have to admit, then truly I felt kind of good seeing him after so long. People think I hate men. I don't hate men but I don't like them either.

That night 7 years ago, 18th October was the date, when reality struck me like a thunder and I learned that all men are same, all are bloody cancered street dogs.

Now I am scared, I don't want to get hurt again. I fixed the shattered pieces of my heart because I simply had no other choice other than fixing myself and moving on. I had dreams!

Today, with the rising sun witnessing, I promise myself not to take the same road to heartbreak because not everytime can you mend the broken.

"Are you okay?" Annie asked me with a concerned tone.

"I am fine." I gave her a reassuring smile to sound convincing.

"Ok, I know what you need." Annie searched her backpack and took out a packed lunch box. "Have this." She gave me a burger to eat.

Early morning burger! This woman needs a nutritionist. Imagine if someone like Natasha would see this early morning burger what would be her reaction. Christ! But I knew there was a reason this woman is my best friend and that is our love for food!

I narrowed my eyes at her. "One day, I'll be having a balloon walking my ramps."

There was a voice, laughing!

Annie and I looked up to see who dared to laugh at my best friend. And there was he again.

Parth.

I looked at Annie she had a dangerous face. If looks could kill then Parth would have been spot dead.

"Stop that!" Annie hissed in a deadly voice.

Parth came forward. Annie didn't know him. It was me who saw them at the Diner.

"You" he pointed at me "...are Ashna Kapoor, CEO of Basic. And you..." now his fingers pointing at Annie, "...are Annie Edwards, the supermodel." He smirked.

"Why so interested, mister?" Annie asked, her tone sickly sweet.

"Honey, you don't remember me!" Parth drammatically puts a hand on his chest. "That hurts."

What a flirt.

"Listen Mr. Whoever, if you don't leave us alone now then I swear I'm throwing you down this hill." Annie said seriously.

"Fiesty! I like that." Parth smiled.

Annie's face turned a deep red. Uh-oh.

Next moment Annie was pushing Parth backwards to the edge. Gosh! This woman is crazy.

"Annie! Stop!" I shouted, completely in a state of utter panic.

I could see her hold was quiet tight. Parth was taken off-guard and couldn't react immediately.

"CEO! Stop this girl!" Parth shreiked. It looked like the guy would start crying any minute. I didn't know if I should laugh or stop Annie. I chose the latter.

"Annie!" I tried to stop her.

Roy came behind me from somewhere, his arm brushed mine.

"Man!" Roy gripped Parth's wrist and pulled him towards us. I gripped Annie's arms and pulled her too. She needs anger management too.

"Are you fucking mad?!" Roy and I said in unison, then looked at each other. Our best friends looked at us too and Parth started laughing.

"Annie, babe you're about to kill me!" Parth growled at her. Moods!

"I wanted you dead, asshole!" Annie yelled. Was she on her period? I have to ask her.

Parth chuckled which fueled Annie's anger more.

Pair of eyes were on me too, I could sense it. I didn't turn to look at him.

"CEO, your friend forgot that we met at a charity event two years back in Mumbai and I was the one to bid on her and we had a lovely date that night." Parth winked at Annie.

Annie's eyebrows met, thinking deep. Her eyebrows widened after a second. "Ah, so now kitten becomes a cat." She said. What did she mean, by the way?

Parth rolled his eyes. I saw his best friend fidgeting with his phone.

"You don't get phone networks here at this altitude." I said.

"Right." He said, Annie and Parth were chatting and laughing now, all anger and teasing forgotten. "Why is Parth calling you CEO?" He asked suddenly.

Now it's time for me to smirk. "Because I am one." I said proudly.

"But I don't know, I mean your company... maybe something small you do." Roy shrugged and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Your mother knows me, Mr. Singhania." I smiled. "As well as your father. Well, we even danced at the ball three months back."

Yes, I can play this game. "I see, I'm Roy." Roy held out his hand for me.

"Ashna Kapoor." I shook his waiting hand and sparks flew with his warm touch.

I could see his eyes widen. "Ashna Kapoor? As in 'The Ashna Kapoor' aka Ice Queen?" Roy grinned.

I rolled my eyes, "The one and only." I gave him a saccharine smile.

"Nice meeting you, Ashna." He smiled.

"Same here, Roy." I smiled, genuinly.

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Edit(13 July' 17)-- chapter edited!

loren