It was a usual boring Sunday. There wasn't much to do except ironing her outfits for Monday, writing out emails and just doing the chores she didn't want to do on Saturday. Her mother had gone to grocery shopping with her father, and she was home alone with the maid and Billu, her cat. Since she was home alone, she had instructed the maid to go "Bibi jee aur Baray Sahab ghar par nai hain(No one is at home)" to all the people who came at the door. Zoya really hated attending her mother's friends. Actually, there weren't many 'friends' to begin with and she was sure the ladies shouldn't be referred as friends for they were far away from it. But they were all her mother had. Long story short, she hated attending them because whenever they saw her face they'd go "Beta shadi kab karo ge"( Beta, when are you getting married) and Zoya would just sit at stare at the wall. The room then echoed with silence. Silence which Zoya hated.

The TV longue was bursting with the sunlight from the window, illuminating every corner as Zoya sat in the middle of the sofa staring at the LCD re-watching Bridget Jones Diary.

"Ahhh Mark why would you be rude to Bridge !" Zoya thought out loud with grimace. She loved Mark adored him so much that she wanted one for herself. But she hated it when he said "I didn't. It must be my Mom" to her "Thank you for inviting me."

Funny how the rude snobbish Mark Darcy reminded her of the Stuck-up Suits. Not that she needed a reminder since he hadn't left her thoughts or inbox! Yes, she had sorta become friends with him over the texts after helping him with the Meena situation.

Only if Mark was real and Muslim(duhhh), she would have married him. The guy wore Christmas Sweaters his mother got him. She had this fetish for the bad boys who were scared of there Moms. And well Mark Darcy might not be a baddie, but he was this perfect gentlemen who was a successful lawyer. Another reason why Mark reminded her of Irtaza. Zoya wanted him. Not Irtaza! Mark Darcy. All the sweaters he didn't like, she'd be happy to borrow. Just the thought made her heart giddy with excitement. Her love for sweater and winter clothes was out of the world.

"You beautiful thing," she said lovingly as she jumped in front of the screen. "Mark, meri jaan....I do believe in soulmates aur "—she leaned forward toward the screen stretching her arms to the width of LCD—"Teri nazroon nay dil ka kiyaa yeh hasarrr asarrr yeh huaaa" ( )

"Do you always try to woo the characters on the TV or is it a special occasion?"

Zoya whirled around at the sound of a deep male voice. Good damn it. She recognized that voice but didn't believe it was him until she saw him standing in the doorway. It was Irtaza Haider Awan, looking as sinfully handsome in the dress pants and a cotton shirt, as annoying he was. Which is A LOT! Was that a beard? He grew a beard? Uff, Zalim !!!! Its hides your strong jaw structure. Not saying I dont like it. But umm he should keep a beard when he in 40ish. Before that stick to the stubble pleaseeeeeee.....

Wait a minute! What the hell is he doing here ? And how the hell did he get in? Her heart was ready to burst out of her ribcage.

She placed her hand on her heart as she waited for it to settle down. Finally finding her voice, she decided to voice the question.

"What the fu-" She caught herself just in time. She wouldn't let this man reduce her to cursing out loud and going broke so that her swear jar can get fuller. No matter how often she cursed him in her head, she wasn't going to voice it out.

"What are you doing here?" She asked as she took a step away from the screen and hesitantly walked towards her shoes. God, she wasn't even wearing her shoes. Forget shoes, where the fudge was her dupatta. Feeling somewhat similar to Babu Bhaiya who had lost his dhoti infront of a lady , she looked around for her discarded dupatta.

"Wa-Alikum Assalam ! Main bilkul thek. App thek hain? ( I am good. How are you doing?)" He replied making her feel remorseful about her poor manners.

" I am sorry. Assalam-Alikum... MashAllah....Shukar Alhumdulilah. I mean , what are you really doing here?" She said trying to rephrase her question to sound more polite but failing miserably.

"I believe it was obvious that I was going to visit after I asked for your address last night and told you see you soon, yes?" he murmured. "Or did I misplace my brain, like someone I know?"

Good chocolate cookie!!! He was throwing shade at her, in her own TV longue. He had just arrived. He was seeing her after what 5.5 months? Was this how he was going to treat her?

What did you expect? That he is going to open his arms and sing " Rahnjhana huaa main teraa ... Kon tere bin mera" just because he had called you cute 10 times in the texts you have exchanged last month....

AND YES SHE COUNTED! AND NO SHE IS NOT IN LOVE.

If not that he should have sang "Ajjaa main hawaon main utha kay le chaloon tuhi tu meri dost hai ...." A voice whispered only to get scolded again.

Zoya!!! Get real.

Her brain worked in a pretty much INSIDE OUT manner (Author's extra: I am talking about the movie.I love it so much ! Watch it if you haven't.) There was Joy, there was ANGER, there was Sadness and there was FEAR.

Slyly making her way to get her dupatta, her eyes fell on the bouquet he was carrying. God, in her surprise she really had missed the white flower he had tucked under his arm. White lilies, she noted. Her heart was beating erratically as her eyes were ready to drop out of the sockets. HE was carrying her favorite flowers! How in the freaking hell? No one knew she preferred the lilies. Were they even for her? Whosoever they were for, they are going to end up in my room. The lovely lilies. Simple and elegant.

Wrapping the duppata around her neck, she began. "I meant ," she growled. She didn't mean to, but she did. "How did you get in?"

What was wrong with Kousar Auntie ! Ase kese kisi mard ko ghar main ghusa liya. Akal nai hai unahin. Bataya bhi tha k jo bhi aye kehna hai , Mama ghar pay nai hain. (How can she let any man inside when I have told her to inform everyone that Mom and Dad aren't at home.)

She was really frowning hard as she stared at him.

He cocked his head toward the hall he had come from. "The usual manner. I rang the bell and your maid let me in."

Ab usi darwazay say wapis chalay jao! (Please leave using that same door?)

Zoya's look of irritation at his sarcasm, encouraged him into further continuing. "She told me you were in the longue . Although I know you want me to claim that it was some sort of devious subterfuge that involved me gut throating your maid to get inside," he continued maintaining an impressive condensing lawyer tone, "it was actually quite mundane and straightforward."

"Ho gaya apka ?" She muttered! (Are you done?)

"Nai...But apki khatir I'll cut it short" ( No. But for you I'll cut it short)

"Auntie was supposed to tell everyone that Mama and Baba weren't home. Ghar main ek alkali larki hai aur anjan admi ko ghar main ghusa liya unhoon nay."( I am home alone and she let a stranger inside !) She spoke out loud!

Stupid! Stupid stupid ! Either he is going to take offense to the statement or insult me by saying something "My taste is elite" whatever.

But he didn't.

"Meri jaan ki bilkul fikar nai karain app. (Don't worry about my life) I have brought, backup with me. And she didn't let a stranger in. "

She bristled. "I meant no insult. But you are a stranger to her...."

"No," Irtaaza said with a chuckle cutting of her nervous ramble, "I wouldn't have thought you'd stoop as low as insulting."

"If you are going to make another joke on my height, nikal jao abhi mere ghar say.( Leave my place right now)"

He smiled. "Abhi height joke? Nai jo kaam karnay aya hoon kar loon, chai pee k phir janay say phelay!" He smirked at the end! Jerk!

( Height joke this instance? No ! Let me do what I came to do, sip some tea and then maybe before leaving. Definitely before leaving.)

Of course. "You! You are supposed to act uptight and cold like the last time. How and when did you develop this whatever 'humor' " she groaned. He shrugged in response.

" About your maid, she didn't let a stranger in. Hashim sath aya tha. She let both of us in. Phir Hashim ko koi call agai and he is out in the lawn attending it. The maid just assumed that I like Hashim, am your friend." he answered politely.

You are my friend. You became my friend, the moment I texted you asking if you think I am buttercup. It was a silly question and you answered explaining it like quantum physics. You are my friend Irtaza, even though you don't think of me as a friend.

She shook her head and got back to the conversation. "Actually, I hate attending my parents' guests. And well I don't have any guest except for the numbered friends. So, I wasn't expecting you guys to show up. Although guests are blessing, and I shouldn't hate on them. Maybe hate is a strong word. But I don't like how nosy they get. Invading my personal space and making me feel like crap in my own home. So, no visitors when Ammi is not home. " She gave her head a little shake as her shoulders lifted into a perplexed shrug.

His brown eyes remained fixed on her face, and she realized she'd just let this man—her friend-cum-nemesis, really—into a small corner of her life. Something she kept doing. She hated how his dark eyes compelled her to explain everything. As if he had a mojo similar to Lucifer's. Except his was "what's your deepest darkest secret Zoya."

Astagfirullah! That was blasphemous .

Or was it not ?

Shut up ! We'll debate about it later.

She felt the words "I'm sorry" bubbling on her tongue—a reflexive reaction, she supposed, for having spoken too freely. But she didn't want to apologize to this man for anything (not when he was being a smug grade A jerk), so instead she just said, "Mama Baba gayen hoen hain so umm bad timings."

(Mama Baba not at home, so bad timings)

"Oh, I didn't know about that," he replied. God, he has mastered the art of sarcasm. He grasped the bouquet of flowers—which had been tucked under his right arm—with his other hand, and as he brought it forward towards her.

"This," he said, putting one of the bouquets down on a side table, "is for"—he said prolonging the sentence, knowing very well that she was waiting for him to hand over the flowers.

Zoya stood frozen with shock, unable to take her eyes off the perfect white lilies. She knew what he was about to do, that the only reason he'd brought flowers was because she had been helped him with the Meena situation, but blast it, no one had ever brought her flowers before as a 'thankyou', and she hadn't known until this very moment that how badly she'd wanted someone to. How did he know she preferred lilies? She wanted to ask!

"These," he said finally, holding out the cute arrangement of lilies, "are for your mother."

"Thank you," she said immediately taking them into her arms. "They're lovely." She leaned down to sniff them, sighing with pleasure at the thick scent. Glancing back up, she added, "It was very thoughtful of you to bring me flowers. But you didn't have to. I know I helped you but...."

"umm, I said these are for your mother...." He repeated.

" Whatever you say. We both know that they are going to my room. My mother would let me keep them. I, on her behalf thank you. "

He nodded graciously. "It was my pleasure."

"Here, this is for you." He said as he held out another bag. God, where was her brain at? Why had she not seen it before. Excitedly she lunched for it. It was a small cute little box shaped thing wrapped in a pink wrapping paper with a white ribbon on the top. Dashing the etiquettes, she grabbed it not uttering the thank you and began unwrapping it like a kid on Christmas. Her eyes were glittering with excitement and her heart was giddy. She really wanted to know what it was. She hoped it was something cute and sweet. Uff, he had gotten her gift.

"What is inside it?". He smiled at her pert question.

"You'll find out soon."

"Why did you get it?" Zoya asked.

Irtaza's grin turned devilish in the extreme. "Like you said I needed to thank you for your help. So, a thankyou gift you were in dire need of.."

"Aww," Zoya coughed, not particularly wanting to be honest with him but quite incapable of doing anything otherwise. "But the flowers are lovely, and—and it was a lovely gesture on your part to get me a gift." She swallowed. This wasn't easy for her to thank him without over doing it. "I do appreciate them."

He leaned forward slightly, his dark eyes positively melting. "A kind sentence," he mused. "And directed at me, no less. There now, that wasn't so difficult, was it?"

Zoya went from bending lovingly over the gift to standing uncomfortably straight in an instant. "You do seem to have a talent for saying the most irritating things and ruining the good you do."

"Only where you're concerned, my dear Miss Hussain."

Did he just call me 'my'?

My dear. He said 'my dear'

Dill shamball ja zara phir mohabbat karnay chala hai tu..

Calm down !!!!! He is just being his usual sarcastic self.

The wrapping paper finally gave away and she stared at her lap with utter shock. Nothing could have prepared her for it.

"A-" She was struggling with the words. "Dictionary," she chocked on the words. She couldn't believe it.

A god damn dictionary! Do I look like an illiterate!

What were you expecting? A ring? Ghadhi ! (Jackass)

His eyes lit up as he studied her horrified expression. "One of the best. And I myself checked its words for you. This one has words like, "No" , 'negative' and 'never' in it. You can throw away the useless crap dictionary of yours now".

" I wish I had it in my possession when you asked for my help" She ground it as she held the dictionary out.

"I am sure, you do.", he returned.

"I am sure you didn't come here to humor yourself. That you could do on phone. If there is something or any message you want to leave for my parents, go ahead." She said primly.

"Dismissing the guest, bad manners! What is Auntie going to think when she learns you didn't even ask me for chai. "

This was too much ! He was sending her on a guilt trip and I am going .

"Kis kaam say ayen hai app?" (Why are you here?) She managed to say, without gritting her teeth. Her entire body was shaking with rage and if she had been a less-polite mean bitch that she wasn't, her hands would have been wrapped around his throat. His tall neck. Gosh why am I licking my lips. She thought.

"Tch tch apke husne ikhlaq jaan na lain lay humari" (Your awfully good manners are going to be the death of me.) he said with annoying calmness,

"I came to deliver the wedding card. An invite for Meenu and Moeiz's nikkah. Ammi and Meena dono atay but they had to go to dress rehearsals. It's all happening in such a short time. Khair, they really want you to come. This is your separate invite." He says handing over two cards. One had "Zoya Hussain" written with the golden.

"If you are attempting to invite me, ensuring I attend" she replied icily, "you are not doing a very good job of it."

"I'm aware of that," he said. "I really shouldn't provoke you. It's not very gentlemanly of me? And I don't do it often. But I'm afraid I just can't help myself." He grinned roguishly and held up his hands in a helpless manner. "What can I say? You do something to me. Like a tick. One always has to scratch it. "

His smile, Zoya realized with dismay, was truly a force to be reckoned with. And all she could hear was

"Yun Tera Muskarana, Aur Aake Chale Jaana

Kismat Ka Hai Khul Jana

Tera Deedar Hua, Pehla Sa Pyar Hua

Pehli Hi Baar Hua Is Dil Ko

Naa Toh Inkaar Hua Na Hi Ikraar Hua

Jaane Kya Yaar Hua Is Dil Ko" ( Another song about smile. I am not going to translate. If Urdu aint your language, you can think of it as Bruno's Mar's Just the way you are...)

She was feeling faint!

Wait a minute. Did he just call me tick ?A tick... He had called her a tick ! A god damn tick! And she was gushing about his smile! Pathetic!

Gazab bezati hai yaar. Zoya tum ganay ga lo.

Where is your izat-e-nafs(self-respect)?

She looked at him with an intention of setting him right! Tick kis ko bol raha hai .( Who is he calling a tick) But the moment she took in his tall frame looming over the sofa, and the guilt of being disrespectful took over. She hadn't asked him to have a seat, and a good 15 minutes might have passed. Gesturing to take a seat, she herself settled down as she began reading the card.

"Is that my name , Zoya in the Mehndi card?" she queried, motioning towards the name written in golden.

Irtaza nodded. "You are the one and only Zoya we know."

"What ? Why ? Why would she ... you... guys would want my name on the card? She didn't even know me before Alizey's wedding?" Zoya inquired. The fact that Meena decided to have her name on the card was blowing her mind. It was super unbelievable and cute.

"Are you crying?"

She shook her head, then cocked her head slightly and nodded. "I ... it's so sweet of her to consider me and put my name here. I ... never had a sister and I always you know wanted to be on the Mehndi card....."Sister from another mister-Zoya and cousins invites you to the beloved Mehndi...."

He nodded in reply, not knowing what to say. Apparently, he wasn't expecting her to cry. Jump with excitement, maybe. Happy dance with glee but defiantly not sob staring at the card.

He then politely began explaining, "Meena feels the same about you. She sees a sister in you. And the fact that you are responsible for the wedding......Don't look at me like that. She told me. And then I might have said something about you convincing me for the wedding ... That brings me to the point THAT YOU PLAYED ME!" He accused.

"I didn't."

"You definitely did."

"It wasn't my place or secret to tell you. "

"Hmmmm! You would had the laugh of your life when I called you, panic stricken asking you to convince Meena not to marry"

"No, I didn't" She answered honestly. She had rather found that cute.

"How are you adjusting to the news of your sister getting married?" She asked hesitantly.

"I am Okay. I suppose. Like you said earlier, it's her choice. And I should support her. She is going to get married one day or another." He choked out. Zoya could see that he was having a hard time adjusting to it.

Zoya had a strange and unwelcome image of herself sitting in the room full of her friends with their spouses and kids, having the merriment as she stood in the corner alone. Alone!

Irtaza cocked his head, as he regarded her with a quizzical eye. "Are you alright Zoya?"

"Main thek hoon. Kush hoon." She practically barked. ( I am good. Happy)

"You looked rather sad and a bit flushed." He leaned in watching her closely. She really did look gloomy.

"I am sorry. Chai or coffee?" Desperately trying to change the subject.

" Playing the hostess, are you?" He asked cocking an eyebrow.

"Hashim kitni dair tak aye ga ?" She asked gazing longingly at the door.

"Chai it is..." she told him.