It was the last night she was going to spend with him in the room. She tossed and turned recklessly. She had a chance to talk to him in the ride back home but she was so pissed at him , that she decided not too. And now she was regretting it. Taimoor lied on the opposite side of bed ,sleeping peacefully .

"Haya , stop him before its too late. He isn't leaving now.You , promised Mariyam that you would talk to him."

" I'd stop him tomorrow."

"Rona maat bad main!(Dont cry later on)" Her heart warned her.

"If he really do love me , how can he sleep so peacefully? Isn't he supposed to be at least a little bit sad about leaving ?" Haya stared at Taimoor, who's eyes were closed and his face relaxed as he slept on his side.

Was he really going to leave her . Won't her miss her ? Her mind was still wrapped around it. She couldn't fathom her life without him and here he was planning to leave her. And then sleeping peacefully on it.

"Haya" , he calls her name in the husky bedroom voice of his. And she felt her heart stop. Was he going to confess his undying love for her. Yeah, when the hell freeze overs. Her inner voice said. But one could wish for things ! Haina ....(Right ?)

"Stop wrestling on the bed. I have to leave early in the morning. " The 'leave' word made her heart sink. He was really going. But then she was the one who wanted him gone in first place. But did he not know her? Didn't he know that she said stuff which she doesn't mean. Can't he read the silent plea in her eyes ? Can't he understand the signs ? Haya why can't you just tell him that you love him. Why don't you just ask him to stay ? Her sanity asked her a million dollar question. But who listens to sanity? Atleast not Haya.

He hadn't come to pick her up from her parent's place as she had hoped. He didn't even try to make small talks with her in the car. Ignored her at Shahmeer's . And right now he was lying with his eyes closed as if everything was normal. While on the other hand Haya felt her world slipping away.

"HAYA !" He whines again. "I am sorry.......I can't sleep. I guess I'll just leave. " She said as she pulled the covers away to get out of bed. She was on the verge of weeping. She didn't want to cry in-front of him. She didn't understand why she felt like she had to go to bathroom to cry her eyes out. But she did. He was sleeping peacefully, tarnishing the possibility of a beautiful future they could have together.

Before she could leave , he pulled her arm and she landed on the bed with a thud. She hadn't expected her. Her breathing was rapid , while she tried to calm her ragging heart , his hand went on her waist , and pulled her closer to his chest.

Haya didn't know what to feel. She was overwhelmed by the sense of him . The shock of him pulling her towards him and resting his arm on her waist hadn't left her when he placed his face in the crock on neck. Haya lied there too frozen to do anything.

Her heart was racing but there was a sense of comfort in it. It didn't feel strange to her or new to her. It felt safe and warm and familiar to her. Had she been in his arms before ? Haya jogged her memory , but she couldn't remember one single moment when she had cuddled into him like this. Allah knows, she was feeling at home in his embrace. The tingling sensation and the butterflies in her belly were ignore-able.

Haya lied there like a statue for few minutes . Her wit had gone out the door, the proximity too was making her dizzy. Dopamine blast which were occurring, made her whole-body tremble with delight. After few minutes in the heaven of his arms, she decided to sneak away. It felt like cheating. He was sleeping and he didn't know what he was doing . She was enjoying the warmth of his embrace, which in the back on her mind felt like talking advantage of him.

Haya was trying to pull herself away from the cage of his arms when his gruff voiced stopped her dead in her tracks.

His voice was gruff with affection and sleep when he whispered her name again. "Come back here. "

That wasn't a compliment by any means, it was a request. But it did feel like a command and this was probably first command that she had accepted without questioning him. The joy she felt was there all the same. She rolled back against his side. Taimoor put his arms around her and pulled her tight against him.

There weren't any more compliments, or fervent declarations of love either. He did kiss her on the top of her head, though.It was just a simple little kiss which unsettled her.But it was enough. It felt enough. She hadn't recovered from the forehead kiss when he dropped another bomb on her.

"Let me hold you for the last time. " He said. Haya froze.

Haya breathed in his cologne as his thoughts invaded her sense leaving her numb. I'd miss this smell . I'd miss him. I'd miss him alot.

OH, how they fit perfectly . His hand was on her waist while her back was pressed against his chest. His head resting on the top of her head while he breathed in her Natural Essence shampoo which smelt like sweet strawberry . His words were like a dragger into her heart. The last time. Haya repeated the words again and again until she decided not to think about it.

With his arms wound around her , Haya went out like a light. She was drained and sleep deprived, and he felt so warm .Sleep was so welcoming and peaceful. She didn't even have to fight those nightmares. It was peaceful. It was calm. It was perfect.

Before closing her eyes ,she decided to tell him that she had forgiven him and well that she loved him. If he wanted to leave , they she won't stand in his way. And again, she had procrastinated on the task which was really really important. After procrastination and ending up with pile of assignments she should have learned that it never ended well for her. But sadly she hadn't.

******************************************************************************

There is this famous saying , "Don't delay what you can do today." If only Haya had paid heed to it and not procrastinated, she wouldn't have to go through the emotional roller coaster .

The next morning Haya woke up still sleepy, she was disoriented. Rubbing her eyes twice she glanced at the watch . The clock hand was on 11!

What? Its 11. Did he leave? No no no. She had to tell him. Grabbing her dupatta, Haya rushed downstairs.

She found her mother in law in kitchen."Ammi did Taimoor leave?" "Yes beta he left around.." Haya didn't stay long enough for her to complete her sentence.So, he had left. He left her. She didn't even get to say good-bye. Or "I love you ! Please don't go." Running back to her room , Haya closed the door as she sagged against the bed. She felt like a loser. God ,she was a loser.

Looking around the room , her eye's stilled on the brown envelope that lied on the dresser. Was it what she thought it was ? Haya was shaking . Trembling with sadness and misery. She didn't have guts to open it and look inside it.Or even go near it for further inspection.

Haya stayed there lying on the ground like a broken person for what felt like forever. Crying and hugging her knees to herself, she lamented over not stopping him when she could have. She was such a fool and an idiot ! Letting go of the man she loved. Only a moron does that.

Now Taimoor was going to marry some mature pretty girl who unlike her would hold on to him forever. He did deserve better. How could she let him slip? When she knew he was such a catch. Imagining Taimoor with some other girl, smiling and holding hands was like a knife in her heart.It made her want to puke. But she kept torturing herself by imagining such scenarios.

Last night had felt so perfect . They were perfect. It had felt like a dream . And now that dream was over . And she was back to reality. A reality where she didn't need a villain to ruin happy ending because she herself was a villain enough.

What she would give away to have him back? ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING ! She thought.

Haya spent all the drowning in the misery and sorrows. It was evening when she decided to go out the room and have something. Ami and Abu weren't home as they had left to visit her parents i.e. her Dadi . And she had refused to go. Because she didn't want to face anyone. Or just listen to them telling how perfect Taimoor and Haya were. And began everyone was going to ask her the reason of her swollen puffy eyes.

Haya was pouring herself a glass of water in the kitchen . Her throat was parched , her eyes were swollen and her head hurt thanks to her crying him a river. Reaching for the glass, Haya sipped the cold water which brought relief to her sore throat. She stood beside the counter as the memory of Taimoor and her in the kitchen popped in and once again began her self-torture. Like cutting you skin with a razor blade all the memories of them together were slaying her. The only difference was that she wasn't slicing her skin it was her heart, and the actuality that she wasn't bleeding red. She bled from eyes, those salty tears .

Haya was staring in oblivion as the scene from the past played in-front of her eyes.

"How miserable can I get, now I am imagining him standing in-front of me while he would be hiccuping God knows where . " She said as she stared at a figure which looked a lot like Taimoor but was too good to be true. Because he had left her.

When she turned to put the bottle back into the refrigerator , she had hoped that the figure would have disappeared. But it was still there when she turned .The figure was now looking at her with concern in his eyes.

"Let's just pretend you are really here." Haya said. She was talking to herself. Something she did when she was alone or miserable. Ironically, she was both now.

" God, the way you are looking at me , it all feels real. But then my dreams have always felt real." Haya said as she dismissed every possibility of him being real.

Placing her arm on the counter and resting her chin on it she looked at him dreamily. His hair was a mess , his tie loose around his neck .The white cotton shirt, had wrinkles on it, and the sleeves were folded till mid-arm high-lightly those strong well tones arms. Even his frown was too real.

"I ...umm God , even your imaginary self is making me all goose bumpy. Stop looking at me like that, Mandy." Haya whined as she felt her heart rate increase . His eyes were black like miner's coal. He was statue-ed against the kitchen counter a few feet away from her, taking deep breaths as if to calm himself. His chest rose and fell, and she found herself staring at him.

Mandy reminded her of the fact , that she had just a few days ago changed his contact Id from Mandy to something a bit more personal . And now she'd have to change it again. Because she was losing him, and losing all the claim she had on him.

"I'd have to change your name on my phone again. Since you aren't my man anymore. Or maybe I'll just delete your contact. " Haya said as tears started welling up in her eyes. It was a surprise that she could still cry. She had half expected to run out of the tears. The statue inched forward as her eyes began glistening.

"I am sorry Taimoor's Doppelganger. I wish I could say that to the real you and not imaginary you. But like you know I am too dramatic and naïve and chicken. I couldn't. But I wanted too ...."She said as she paused to look at the doppelganger giving him a sorry smile.

" I didn't mean a word when I said all those mean words to him. I regretted them the moment I said them. God, I couldn't even get myself to say the last of them I just nodded in the end. Because , opening my mouth was risky. And I didn't want to risk anything. I never meant a mean word I have said about him. His face doesn't disgust me. I can look at his face all day , forever ! It's so appealing and perfect. His is the look I want. It makes me lose my wits. His is the touch I carve. It makes my skin tingles. And there are fireworks inside me. When he is gone it hurts. And I am miserable. Like I am now. SO, miserable that I am imaging a doppelganger and talking to his imaginary self." Haya said giving the figure a small smile.

"And because we are confessing, and you know I'd never confess if you were real . We can blame that on the way you look at me . It makes me forget whatever I was saying. But right now, I didn't forget anything because you aren't real and because this all is not real. I didn't lie when I said, I'd choose you forever. Even though I know for you, I am just a bet." Now the tears were dripping down her eyes. And the pain was becoming unbearable. So, she closed her eyes.

When Haya opened her eyes, the figure was gone. And Haya sighed. It had all felt too real and good. Haya was still in the haze as she took a step backward. Only to collide with something solid .

Turning she came face to face with the doppelganger of Taimoor, who stood right in-front of her with only few inches between them . She smiled nervously , still considering him a fragment of her imagination.

Because it was unreal and only a dream or maybe hallucination , Haya found herself closing the distance between them . She placed her hand on his cheeks which now had tiny sprouts of hair on it. Looking into his eyes, she stilled."These copulatory gazes are my unwinding." Haya whispered breaking the look. Her hand was still resting on his cheeks .

She was speaking what was on her mind without filtering it since it was not real. And when you are in the imaginary world called dream, you could do anything. Things like: getting married to Fawad Khan who by the way is single and not married, going on a date with Chris Hemsworth ,imaging yourself as Rose ,with Jack on the plank and allowing him to share it, be an Avenger and rescue the world (mostly USA) with Captain America and Iron Man or get slim without dieting and exercising . When you are dreaming everything is possible .

"Now with the look on your face I can tell you didn't get what I meant by copulatory gazed . It like a look which is held a little longer than usual. And let me tell you, it's a sexual signal. Animals do that. Not that I am implying that we are animals" Her imaginary Taimoor was intimidating like the real one. And the intensity of his gaze was making the neurons collide mixing all the synapse and releasing serotonin . But hearing her babble, the doppelganger smiled. His perfect white teeth were showing as he shook his head slightly.

HE is not real . Haya ! She told herself to get over the nerves.

"Okay so now in case you are wondering where I learned all this. I googled "falling in love" and this physiological article showed up. And then I read all that because I was bored . And umm I needed signs because I felt vulnerable. And doppelganger you'd be surprised to know what I discovered. "Haya babbled.

Her hand on his cheek was tingling and his heated gaze was making her melt like a Popsicle on a hot summer day .

"God , the warmth radiating from your cheek is the killing me. " Haya said as she pulled her hand away from his cheek.

"Surprisingly, you even smell like him. Man, I have killer imagination." Haya said sniffing the air around him.

And the doppelganger broke into smile. He looked so perfect when he smiled. And she felt like smiling in response.

"Haya" the doppelganger spoke for the first time. His voice was gruff and so raw .

"And now I can hear you too." Haya said as she held her hand in air frustrated with the games her mind was playing on her . Imagining him was good, but now she was hearing his voice. It was now getting creepy and spooky. She knew she was bit crazed but now this was getting extreme.

Given her wild imagination and the movie the had seen now began terrorizing her. She had watched a movie , in which the girl is left by her husband who returns a few days later. But then man who returns is not actually her husband but a spirit. And Haya didn't want spirits arounds her.

Haya stared at the goosebumps on her arms,wondering if they were because of the imaginary Taimoor or because she was scared .

" I am going crazy. This is seriously wrong. Have I gone paranoid? Itna dil ko laga liya mainay yeh ghum."(I have taken the forlorn news on my heart) Haya was talking to herself while Taimoor was looking at her trying to figure out how she had managed to go on the honor board when she was this crazy and dim witted. She thought she was dreaming.

"I'll just go sleep and tomorrow everything will be back to normal. But then only it won't be normal and I don't want you gone. God , I feel like Bonnie Bennet from Vampire diaries who kept seeing Enzo every where." Haya said as she rubbed her eyes again, hoping the doppelganger would disappear, although in her heart she didn't want that. But the fear that she may be actually talking to a spirit , made her wish for his disappearance.

"Haya!" The doppelganger whispered her name again pulling her to him. She collided with his chest which was as solid as his name implied. Another thing she had googled when Taimoor was on a mission called "IGNORE-HAYA". Taimoor meant made of steel and strong. And boy he was strong !

"He is not real. HE is not real. No need to freak out Haya. And weren't you just a few moments wishing that he returns....?" Haya was talking out loud to himself. She was confused while the doppelganger was flabbergasted . She kept dropping one after another bomb on him. Her confessions were overwhelming.

Haya was stunned. She felt lost. She was staring at the man she loved. Everything was feeling so real . Except it wasn't. Taimoor wasn't here. He was miles away from her. And he had left her. And left those documents which still were the resting on the dresser , untouched.

"He left me, and he is going to divorce me." Haya said and the tears started dripping.

"No, he isn't . He never would. If he would be really stupid of him if he did. And he is not stupid unlike someone we know. " The doppelganger said, his voice was raw and husky. By his tone , it was serious as if he was stating a fact. Haya let that insult slide. She knew the doppleganger was talking about her . She really was stupid and right now she deserved to be called that.