Zubiya walked down the stairs wearing an elegant black velvet salwar-kameez with silver intricate works embroidered on it and only a pair of silver kundan jhumkas, gifted by Asfand and her engagement ring as her only jewelry. A pair of silver stiletto shoes completed her get up.. She had got her make up done by Gaiti bhabi, and after a lot of coercion from Gaiti bhabi, she had decided to put her hair down.

Asfand gazed as Zubiya carefully walked down the stairs - mesmerized, by her beauty and sheer simplicity. It was her simplicity which made her stand out to him.. not in a bad way. Oh, definitely not in a bad way. It potrayed her inner beauty and the outer as well. She didn't have to highlight it out by wearing heavy make-up. And that is what he loved about his Zubiya the most. His Zubiya. His mouth turned up in a soft smile as he spelled it out in his head - Zubiya. Butterflies erupted as he thought about it.

But it vanished quickly as it came when he remembered what he saw just a few nights back.

Zubiya noticed Asfand sitting on the sofa watching television and directly headed towards him.

"How do I look?" Zubiya asked once she stood in front of him. "Have I gone a bit overboard?"

Asfand cleared his throat and averted his eyes to the TV screen as he answered nonchalantly, "You're looking good.. What's the occasion?"

Zubiya looked at Asfand confusedly and asked back, "Sirf achi?"

"What else do you want me to say? You look good and that's what I said."

"No, it's just.. Um.. Today is one of my colleague's daughter's third birthday. I have been invited to the party."

"Will it get too late for you to return like the other night?"

"No.. don't worry about it.. He told everyone not to worry about travel modes. He said he will take care of it all." Zubiya said, as she tried to straighten her dupatta which had got ruffled. She missed the dark look that crossed Asfand's face.

Asfand cleared his throat and asked carefully, "Is your colleague male?"

"Yes! Didn't I tell you that in my batch it's only me and two other girls. And the rest are male colleagues?" Zubiya confused asked as she finally looked up.

"Yes- yes.. You had mentioned it once.." Asfand stammered and quickly changed the topic, "Are you sure that I don't need to pick you up?"

"Yes. I'm sure." Zubiya said as she lightly rolled her eyes at him, making Asfand chuckle. Asfand stood and with a smirk on his face made his way towards where she stood. His eyes glistened with nothing but mischief and another unknown feeling.. passion?

"By the way, you are looking very beautiful.." Asfand said as he caressed Zubiya's cheek with his thumb- which soon turned rosy pink as she looked down shyly.

He stood very close to her, so close that she could almost feel the warmth emanating from his body. Her breath hitched as Asfand brought his mouth close to her ear as he spoke, "Can't it be possible that you go with me somewhere in this beautiful rainy season and spend some alone time with me instead of attending the party?"

"Asfand.." Zubiya whispered, breathless as lips touched the tip of her ear. "Asfand, please - someone will see us.."

"I don't care if anyone sees us.. I don't fear anyone. Anways, it's just a few months' matter and then we will be married." Asfand said smugly as he shifted back enough to look at her expression.

Before Zubiya could get back at him with her sarcastic comeback back they heard Lubna aunty's voice, "Zubiya, don't forget to call once you reach your colleague's house and if you the car to return, then please call Asfi and let him know immediately. Okay?"

Asfand, hearing his mother's voice quickly removed his hand and stood back from Zubiya almost a feet away. Zubiya, stunned, watched him move away from her as Lubna aunty entered the room. She blinked her eyes numerously and bit her lip as she watched Asfand nervously looking at his mother.

Not scared of anyone, my foot! Huh!

Zubiya shook her head as she turned towards Lubna aunty and hugged her tightly, "Yes, Ma. Please don't worry. I'll do everything as you say."

Lubna caressed her hair as she replied back, "Okay, my child."

After Lubna aunty left the room, Zubiya folded her arms as she raised an eyebrow at Asfand who tried to ignore her look and meeting her eyes. When both their eyes met and Zubiya finally cracked a smile, both fell into a hysteric fit as the situation was no less than a hilarious one.

Afzal parked his car in front of Zubiya's home and looked back at Zubiya who was preparing to leave the car.

"Zubiya, thank you so much for coming to the party today. Mariyam really enjoyed your company.. It's been four years since coming to the town and she has yet to make any friends. I am happy that now finally she has opened up to you."

Zubiya smiled at Afzal softly and replied, "I am happy too. I like her. Don't worry about her. I'll be making some plans with in my free time. "

Before she left the car Afzal gratefully said, "Thank you, again. You're truly a great friend."

Zubiya waved at Afzal as he drove away and she finally turned to walk into the house with a soft smile on her face.

"Zubiya." Zubiya jumped as she suddenly heard Asfand's voice call out to her from the dining room.

"Asfand! You're still awake? Don't you have a morning shift tomorrow? Asfi.. I've so many things to tell you! I am so glad I went to the party today." Zubiya spoke excitedly without noticing the barely-controlled angry expression on Asfand's face.

"Who was he, Zubiya?" Asfand asked her.

"Who?" Zubiya stopped short and asked Asfand with a confused look on her face.

"The one who drops you at home everyday."

"Asfand- if you are talking about my colleague, his name is Afzal.. and he doesn't drop me everyday. But why are you speaking like this all of a sudden? Why don't you clearly tell me what's the issue here?"

"How should I talk then? Have you got any idea how much worried I've been worried for you? How many times I've called you?"

"I am sorry! Obviously, I couldn't pick up my phone because my phone is dead!" Zubiya exclaimed.

"Dead? Then couldn't you borrow someone else's phone or this colleague of yours - Afzal's and once let me know?! Am I not important to you?" Asfand asked her back.

"Hey! Just because I didn't call you it definitely doesn't mean that you're not important to me! And do you have any problem with Afzal? Why do you keep pulling him to the conversation again and again?" Zubiya asked him to which Asfand let out a dark laugh.

"Of course, I do have a problem. When an unknown man will drop my fiancé at her home every other day without my notice.. I'll definitely have a problem!" Asfand exclaimed loudly, leaving Zubiya stunned.

Zubiya shook her head in disbelief, "I can't believe this. I really can't. An unknown person? He is a friend! Due to rain the car had been stuck in jam and if he hadn't offered for the lift I would've arrived home 3 more hours later. Anyways.. today he dropped of us. It wasn't only me as you just said. I can't believe that your thoughts are so petty. I mean.. he is a man! He has a 3-year old daughter! Yes! It was party that I had attended! And I damn well know that he is very loyal to his wife. He just told me that he was really happy that I had befriended his wife because he was worried about her having some social issues. He called me a good friend! He considers me as a young sister. And just because I made a mistake it doesn't mean that I'm going to repeat it all over again. I've already learned my lesson."

The words cut into Asfand like a knife. He took in a breath as he realized what Zubiya meant to express by her words.

Zubiya left the room and walked up the stairs but not before giving him a fleeting look of disapproval.

Asfand gazed at the empty space where Zubiya had stood mere seconds ago and slowly thumped down on the sofa before covering his face with his hands and roughly pulling his hair in frustration.

What have I done?!