Flashbacks are in Bold*

Mr Mukhtar looked at her shocked face with a raised eye brow.

"Any problem, Miss Yousaf?"

Coming out of her shocked state she shook her head.

"Okay then. Noreena will give you further details. You may leave now."

They both nodded and came out of cabin. Umair smiled brightly as he had worked real hard for this head office Karachi project. He turned to Alizeh who was deep in thoughts.

"Alizeh? You okay there?"

She nodded.

"Yes....Umair did you know about this Lahore branch merge?"

"Nah! Heard of it long back but never knew its actually happening. But why are you asking?"

"Isn't it odd? I'm the one employ who can never be in Mr Mukhtar's good books still he chose me for this venture. It's kinda hard to believe."

"Don't beat yourself down. Mr Mukhtar is no blind and he can actually see how hard you've been working. So just pack your bags and go to Lahore. You'll do awesome there."

She smiled at his supportive words and nodded.

"I should go now. Have to tell Amma about it as well."

"Yeah do that. Your aunt will take care of her and you'll be able to work without any tension."

"Sounds like a plan."

"So see you after few these. Take care of yourself in Lahore."

He patted her hand lightly.

"Khuda Hafiz, Umair. You also take care of yourself."

They both had come to the exit and giving each other final nods turned to different sides.

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Shehryar took an other sip of his soft drink looking at Daim ,Ahmed and Haris who were talking everything possible on this planet.

"Girls are just over hyped when it comes to talk like manics. Look at these morons."

He smirked and leaned on the couch. He was feeling extra relaxed today. Ahmed was back from States for some days and had called all of them to their favorite place in Lahore. Life had many ups and downs but one thing that hadn't changed over the years was their friendship. Haris and Ahmed were happily married to their respective partners, Tahreem and Areej and settled in their lives while Laiba was at the peak of her career being a top model. Both Daim and Shehryar had their family empires to take care of and they both were busy in their business but there was no way they skip a chance of meeting each other or having a get together. He was glad after so much that happened in his life there was still a bunch of amazing people he had as his friends. They had some bumpy hits in past but they all came out of it nevertheless.

But the most important progress for today was the information Imad had given him. Initially it had made his blood boil but the measures he had taken were more than satisfying. Now he was waiting for the time when he would witness the shocked face of his beloved wife. It's gonna be damn fun.

Daim patted his shoulders making him turn towards him.

"Where are you lost? Ahmed is telling about Areej and her crazy cravings. Mahn! She is something!"

He smiled at Ahmed who shook his head smiling sheepishly.

"Seriously she has always been a bit loose on head but during pregnancy her craziness has reached an other level. And it's just the beginning."

"All women do the same. I guess pregnancy is the period where you can't tell what your wife and life has become. Not that I'm complaining. But even If I'm what's the problem. Tahreem isn't here you see."

Haris winked at them when his phone rang.

"I guess she heard you."

Shehryar added while Haris just rolled his eyes and picked it up. His face lit up as it was Anaya his little angle who had called her dad to know if he is bringing her favorite ice cream on the way back or not. He excused himself talking to her in his childish voice.

"Haris makes a cute Father."

"Yup!"

"Soon I'll be one too then we'll be left with just two of you!"

Ahmed bit his tongue at his remark. Daim glared at him and turned to Shehryar who was looking at nothing in particular. They all still felt ashamed as somewhere they were responsible for this mess his life had become but he had always admonished them for thinking so. According to him it was just him and Alizeh who weren't able to make their marriage work. And it was true somehow. Immature decisions, Clash of Egos and lack of communication had led them there. But still Diam wished things had been better. They shouldn't part ways like this. After all they both were in love weren't they? He cleared his throat and snatched his drink from his hand.

"What the fuck!"

"Is it alcohol?"

"Nah. You think I'll ever go back to that evil?"

After that one time alcohol ruined everything for Shehryar he had vowed to never touch it again. In meantime Haris took his seat and looked at them. The air around was sligtly thick with tension.

"What?"

"Nothing! Well I have to tell you all something."

Daim changed the topic. They all looked at him with questioning eyes.

"I guess I like someone."

"What?"

They three asked shocked.

"Yup."

"Who is she?"

Haris asked excitedly.

"Nemrah! Dr Nemrah Nadeem! She's a counselor and psychiatrist in DHQ. Mom told me about her and asked me to go and meet. I went there just to talk to her that I wasn't ready yet for marriage or anything but God! she was something. So full of life, Spreading smiles everywhere. She was in children ward and may be celebrating a birthday. The way she was laughing and dancing with children was just magical..."

Daim ran a hand in his hair ruffling them. Ahmed smiled at his friend's lost state. Love can reduce anyone to anything and he himself was a biggest proof of it. He eyes darted towards Shehryar who was sipping his drink with a small smile but the pain behind his facade was known to all of them.

"So it's a green signal?"

Ahmed asked Daim who shrugged his shoulders.

"From my side it is but dunno what she has to say here. Let's see what happens."

"It means we can look forward to an other big fat Punjabi wedding?"

They laughed out loud while Daim just nodded his head smiling.

Happiness, love, companionship. That's what the lives of his friends have but there wasn't even one of them in Shehryar's life. His was full of regrets and the memories of a hazel eyed bespectacled beauty who was now a mature lady ready to start her life a fresh. The thought burned his heart but he controlled in front of his friends and faked a smile. Soon Both Haris and Ahmed bid them buy as Ahmed had an important meeting due to which he was here in India. Daim too was feeling tired so he left leaving Shehryar all alone with his thoughts. He didn't want to go home. Home didn't give him the warmth anymore. He was still seated on the couch not noticing a blondie was eyeing him lustfully. He finished his remaining drink in a gulp and was about to get up when someone placed her hand on his shoulder.

"In a place like this there shouldn't be young man like you all alone by himself."

He frowned at her.

"I'm Rose by the way."

She took a seat next to him making him frown. He tried putting some distance but she was adamant.

"Leave me alone."

She shrugged her shoulders and brought him close by pulling his tie.

"Can't! Wouldn't you like to have a conversation with me? Forget the conversation wouldn't you like to have me? "

She eyed his lips and moved forward. The man was way too distraught so may be she could get lucky tonight having this rugged handsome in bed. She bent some more with her breath falling on his lips when he jerked away opening his eyes wide. A vision in black breathing heavily under him flashed across his mind. The woman in front of him was too in black but there was no comparison between the two. Shaking his head vigorously he picked up his coat and dashed out of there.

__________

Opening the door of his car he got out and closed it again with a bang. It had been five damn years but Alizeh was still there in his heart. She left him, moved on in her life and was here to break all ties with him but he? Where was he? Still lost in those memories. The memories that were not important anymore. Not to her.

He knew he was at fault, made many mistakes, misunderstood her but he was never ever able to move on from her. He knew there was practically no way back to the path of togetherness but still he never tried to give her place to anyone else. But she did. So easily! And this wasn't something he would take lightly. She very well knew how damn much possessive he was about her didn't she? This possessiveness had lead them to marry each other. He could bear anything but seeing her with anyone else? A big No.

"You can't escape me like this Alizeh. Tomorrow! Once you came to Lahore I'm not letting you go ever. Let's solve this matter like a Husband and Wife."

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She looked at the vast building in front of her and settled her bag on her shoulder. She was back to Lahore and had immediately come to office. She still had no clue which company was going to have a merge with theirs. She had asked Noreena who ignored her question and she too didn't insist. Holding her bag she entered inside not knowing where her destiny was leading her.

Soon she was in the board room as the head of the venture and CEO of the other company was going to brief them about the upcoming event. She had been a part of so many conferences before but she didn't know why it was feeling weird today. Tapping her hand on the glass table she was checking something in the file when someone opened the door and before she could even see took the seat right in front of her. She closed the file and looked up only to get the shock of her life.

Shehryar Hussain in all his glory, sitting right in front of her, looking right at her.

This couldn't be possible.

She knew she was trapped. His smirk was telling her everything. Mr Mukhtar's choosing her for this merge and Noreena not telling her the name of the fashion house all was making sense now.

Shehryar Hussain had played well.

She controlled her anger and tried to listen what he was saying but that didn't mean he would be saved. She would confront him for sure.

The briefing came to an end so did her wait. Everyone left the room leaving only them. She took hurried steps and soon was standing right in front of him.

"You are still here? Meeting ended long back Mrs Hussain."

"Don't call me that! So it was you who planned all this aren't you?"

"Yes. The merge had been in talks for long. I just speed up the process and told your boss which employ I want in here. Rest you know don't you?"

She was about to retort back when he leaned in his chair.

"So tell me how it feels to live without your lover boy?"

"Don't bring Umair in between us!"

"You are the one who brought him between us!"

"There is nothing like as 'us' anymore!"

"I don't think so."

She finally lost her control.

"What is your problem now? You pushed me away! Didn't even turned up for once! Left me all alone! Then why now? Why now Shehryar?"

He got up from his seat and hovered over her.

"I didn't come! I did! But where were you? You left Lahore! Your aunt wasn't ready to tell me just for once where were you! You say I have got ego problems! What about you Alizeh? Your ego lead us here!"

"Ego? Don't think everyone is like you Mr Hussain! That was my self respect that forced me to leave your house that night. I never got the love of your family! Only accusations! But only thing that was encouraging me to continue with all that was you! But when even you called all this the biggest mistake of your life then what was the use dragging this marriage anymore! I left you Shehryar! And now don't give me excuses that I left Lahore and all! If you wanted you could have found me!"

He closed his eyes. That night was still fresh in his mind. And he knew he would remember it all his life. She took a deep breath after lashing on him.

"And about Umair! He is someone I can rely upon. Who is ready to accept me with all my flaws. And I too want the same."

"Alizeh I know we both did mistakes but is it so easy for you to forget everything we had between us? Have you forgotten everything? Our marriage?"