Today, stop and take a look at you. Be proud of all that you do and all that you are!

Tonight is the success party of my fashion show. The Masquerade Ball.

If I was the old Ashu then Annie would push me through the door of my room to go to the party. But here I am, the new me, organizing a social event, a masquerade ball.

My mom gifted me tonight's gown for the ball. I have no words to describe the beauty of this gown, its beyond beautiful. The golden hand embroidery on the full hand sleeves, till the waist was beautifully done on the delicate fabric of midnight blue with golden zari borders. The mask complimented the extra-ordinary outfit which was golden with dark blue feathers. Three words- I love it!

"Momma, you look gorgeous, I know. Take a lot of photos so that I can see it later."

"Sure darling." I smiled warmly at my daughter.

"Hey princess!" Lan spoke excitedly.

"Yo!" Avery exclaimed, making the two of us laugh.

"You sure about it, Lan?" I asked for the millionth time.

"More than sure. What a lucky guy I am, to have a date with the princess. Don't ruin it Ashna." Lan faked a sad face. I gave him an eye roll.

"Ice-cream! Ice-cream!" Avery jumped in excitement.

"There you go." I said.

"Come on princess. Say bye to momma." Lan spoke.

"See you momma. I love you."

"Love you too baby. Take care." I told her and the Limo left for the party. Lan and Avery waved us bye as I did the same.

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"Mom!"

"Sweetheart!"

Mom and I hugged each other like long lost mother and daughter. I kissed her cheeks.

"Ashu darling." Mr. Raichand- Pa; engulfed me in a bear hug. My step dad was huge, and when I say huge means really huge. I almost disappeared in his arms. My step dad is a very jolly man. All the wines and all sorts of alcohol in the party was made in his wine industry.

"You look stunning!" Pa beamed at me.

"Thanks Pa." I smiled at him.

"She is my baby girl, after all." Mom said proudly.

All three of us smiled.

"Oh my God! Look at the woman there!"

I immediately turned to see who the new voice belonged to.

Mr & Mrs. Singhania.

Roy's parents were one of the most adorable and re-knowned oldie in the country, calm people and happy with life. This couple sets a very good example to the new generation.

I walked towards them and Mrs. Singhania greeted me with a kiss on my cheek, I did the same with her. And shook hands with Mr. Singhania.

"This is a great masquerade party. Just like old traditional style." Mr. Singhania said, seemingly impressed with the set up.

"Congratulations, on the success of the new Basic design collections." Mrs. Singhania wished me. Mrs. Singhania was the first brand embassador for the Old Is Gold Collection. That's how we knew each other so well.

"Ah, everyone knew it would be a grand success." That was Mr. Raichand speaking now, patting my shoulder.

Social gathering and parties are not my type of place. In fact, till my teenage years there was no chance of attending such grand parties. Growing up in a middle class family, never gave me an opportunity to aquaint with people. It's my fault too, I was always a nerd who was busy with books and locked myself inside from the outside world. Therefore, here grows the awkwardness.

How much I have been trained all these years, I'm still the same. How much I try to act normally, I just can't. My awkwardness is so much that I can't even form words to speak at times when I'm in big crowds. But now, my profession demands me to be an extrovert.

Where is Annie when I need her?

"What is she doing with my son?" Mrs. Singhania frowned and made a nasty face.

I turned back to see the couple standing at the entrance, her hand locked with his.

Roy with the witch.

The smile that I had since last night on my face, instantly disappeared at the sight.

My body, mind and heart didn't like what it saw.

He walked down the stairs and our eyes met, and the next thing that he did made my blood boil.

He winked at me.

Holding another woman in his arms and he has the audacity to wink at me.

"What is he doing here?" Mr. Singhania asked ruefully.

"He has started working for me." I replied without turning.

Natasha clinged to him as if her life depended on him.

"He started with something good. But time is running out for him." Mr. Singhania muttered to himself.

"Ah he will prove himself. I'm 200% sure." His wife spoke. "But that woman... she is a demon!" My mom chuckled hearing Mrs. Singhania.

"Some people never change." I blurted out still trying to ignore them but failing drastically.

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Alcohol killed me once and I promised myself never to get drunk again. That was the first and last day I drank, on my 18th birthday and got almost killed by a truck.

People said a lot of things to me about drinking, some were like 'if you don't drink, no one will accept you in the rich, high-class society.' If god has given us mouth to speak then we are gifted with two ears too, listen from one and throw out from the other.

I stood in the balcony with a glass of soft drink in my hand. Finally, I could breath. Its suffocating with so many people inside.

I let my mind wander to the previous thoughts. Why does it bother me to see him with someone else? Its wrong. I shouldn't be bothered. Its his life, he can do whatever he wants. He can come with anyone he likes. No, I will not get all tensed up with his thoughts.

The party was in full swing and I even saw Natasha and Roy dancing. They were so close to each other. Roy was not smiling. I knew why, because 'our' Natasha can't dance.

He let her go when she stepped on his feet with her heels. That was funny, I chuckled. Serves him right!

Feels like hours had passed and I am standing here. I don't want to go inside. The cold wind is so soothing. I just want to get into my cotton pyjamas and sleep, cuddling my pillow.

The very strong smell of Axe perfume came closer. This is not his usual cologne but I know it was him.

"You are here and I was looking for you everywhere." He said, coming closer to where I was standing. I didn't turn to look at him.

"Why were you looking for me?" I ask.

I turned around when he didn't reply, and met the perfect brown eyes . He looks hot and handsome. He looked at me for a minute and then licked his lower lips. Damn!

"Why were you looking for me, Roy." I asked again.

"To tell you that you look gorgeous." He smirked.

My heart and mind did a happy dance but I choose not to show him.

"To how many woman did you say that tonight?"

His handsome face turned into a frown. "You're first and last." He smirked again and came closer to where I was standing, taking away my personal space. "You're the most beautiful woman here, sweetheart."

"You should go back to your date." I didn't push him away, which I should do but him being so close feels so right.

"She can wait." He whispered in a seductive tone. Did the oxygen supply in the air stop suddenly?

I shoved his chest and turned around. "You shouldn't make a woman wait, that too she is your date Roy." I mumbled the last three words.

He chuckled. "Are you jealous?"

Was I? No! I turned around to face him with a smirk on my face. Before answering, someone entered from the balcony gate and coughed.

It was Michael Richards. Our media partners. The owner of the biggest fashion channel in tv. FWorld.

"Ashna...may I have a dance with you?"

I smiled at both the handsome men standing in front of me.

"Sure." I gave my hand to Michael.

"I have better things to do, Roy." I gave him an evil smile.

That look on his face... what was that, jealousy? Clearly he didn't like me leaving with someone else. He deserved that.

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I loved to dance. My mother admitted me in a dance academy when I was only 4.

This dance form was one of my favorites. Its all old traditional ball dance where the women stands in the inner circle and men in the outer circle, as the music starts the dance begins and at every flick of another song, the partners are changed.

My partner was Michael Richards. He was not that bad but not as good as Roy. Oh god! Again I'm thinking about him. Stupid me!

Michael and I danced, smiled and laughed.

The music changed and I was Ed's partner now.

"Hey hottie." He said without looking and my eyes were covered with my mask.

"Try that on some other woman, little brother." I said smiling at him.

"Dee! You look hot!" Ed's cheeks turned red. Wow! My brother blushes too.

"Shut up!" I laughed.

The music changed and it was Parth.

"Hey CEO!" He smirked.

"Hey, did you kidnap my best friend? I didn't see her." I asked.

"I wish I could." He smirked. "I'll keep that in mind though." He gave an evil smile.

"Where is she?" I smiled.

"Right behind you."

Now I was dancing with Pete, Ed's friend.

We just smiled and danced. My legs started aching already.

I was passed on to Mr. Raichand, my Pa.

"Still the best dancer, you are." He said proudly.

"I'm always the best." I smirked.

We both laughed heartily.

The music changed to one of my favorites, All of me by John Legend.

Pa twirled me and I was dancing with my new partner.

Guess who?

"Why did you go with him?" I looked up and it was him. Roy.

I smiled, he didn't.

"He asked me." I asnwered simply.

"I came to ask you first." He said.

"But he asked first."

"You could've denied."

"And why would I do that?"

"Because... you're supposed to come with me." He shrugged while dancing perfectly.

"I don't think so."

I smiled at him when he didn't say anything.

After a minute or so he sighed. "I didn't like when you left me there to go with him."

I smiled evilly. "Are you jealous?"

He smiled, finally. His breathtaking smile. "No! Why would I be?"

Right! Why would he be jealous? But I'll play along.

"Your face gives it away that you are jealous." I smirked.

"I don't have any reason to be jealous, do you know why?"

I didn't want to know the answer because truly he can get any woman so there's no reason for him to be jealous. But then my heart wasn't satisfied with my self-explanation.

So I asked, "Why?" I bore my eyes into his.

"Because at the end you're mine."

The music stopped and everyone clapped. We broke our stare and realized we were standing in the centre of the hall and the only couple to end the dance.

We smiled.

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