'Hey! Rifaat...' Ahaan called as they dispersed after work. Rifaat turned around and saw him, but then quickly looked away. Ahaan didn't understand this behaviour, perhaps she didn't see him, he thought. He hurried towards her but just then Mr. Siddiqui came in front of Rifaat.

Ahaan felt uncomfortable to speak to her in her Uncle's and his boss's presence so he let it be. He will speak with her later, he has downloaded CD of latest 90's music and he is very excited to share it with her. Rifaat on the other hand has decided to keep her distance from him. Perhaps, few days of distance will bring things back to normal between them, at least bring her back to being herself. From her past Rifaat has learned one thing- coming dangerously close to a man will only bring misery and heartbreak and her heart isn't strong enough to take another blow. She decided to stay with Uncle for few days, away from Ahaan. The thought itself made her feel low.

Around 10 pm, Ahaan thought maybe Rifaat is to stay with her Uncle tonight. He is little disappointed but he distracted himself by watching an action movie. After the movie and dinner were done Ahaan lay on his bed fidgeting with his mobile. He debated with himself if he should text her, he even had written three to four messages and erased it many times. Once again, he felt like a sixteen-year-old silent lover only with a twist, now he has a mobile and her number. As he is about to text her he gets a call from his mother. He jumped up on his bed. He panicked thinking something bad happened to make his mother call him up at 12 am.

'Hello!' Ahaan said in a worried tone.

'Beta, your father fell from stairs and he is badly hurt...' Ahaan felt his heart stop for a second as he heard his mother's sobbing voice from the other side. Ahaan assured his mother he will get to Delhi from the first flight he could get. After cutting the call, he logged into his laptop and quickly booked his tickets to Delhi for next day itself. He typed an urgent leave letter and mailed it to Mr. Siddiqui. He then began packing silently hoping Mr. Siddiqui shows some humanity and gives him leave.

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

Rifaat purposefully avoided going to the gym, instead she used the home gym. Rifaat is determined to stay away from Ahaan and clear her feelings. She terribly missed Ahaan as she did her exercises. Even though, she is staying away from Ahaan physically but he is always there in her mind, in her thoughts.

After the gym, she quickly showered and changed into her office wear- Emerald green pencil dress and black Stiletto. She combed her hair and tied half of her hair with a black banana clip. She came down for breakfast and found her Uncle looking slightly disappointed.

'What happened, Chachu?' she asked applying strawberry jam on her bread. Mr. Siddiqui shook his head and sighed, 'Our best employee is taking a three-day break.'

'Who?' Rifaat asked taking a bite.

'Ahaan Qazmi.' Rifaat paused chewing, Ahaan is taking a three-day break, that means she won't be seeing him for three days. But why? She thought.

'Some emergency for him back home. He will be flying to Delhi. He has emailed me and you too. I granted him leave.'

Ahaan is going to Delhi, for three days? That means she won't even see him in his apartment. Rifaat isn't liking this. Though she has decided to keep a distance, secretly she had hoped to accidently dash into him or at least see him. But now with him being in Delhi, she won't be able to even get a glimpse of him. Rifaat's heart sank with disappointment.

Rifaat came for work with her Uncle, as she walked through the corridor she stopped at Ahaan's empty cabin. There is no one inside. Rifaat stood there with her gaze fixed on his chair. Tears pricked her eyes as she recollected the time she used to see him sitting on his chair and working very hard. His dedication commendable.

'Good Morning, Maam' Rifaat snapped out from her daze when she heard Yash's voice from behind her. She quickly blinked back her tears and turned to look at him, she forced a smile and greeted him. She then turned around and dashed into her cabin.

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

Ahaan's heart is beating rapidly as he emerged out from the arrival gate of Delhi airport. Since, he has heard about his father's condition he is in panic state. He booked the first flight he could get, also he is very grateful to Mr. Siddiqui to have granted him holiday. So, there is some humanity in him. He doesn't have any luggage except a wheel bag. After five years, he is back in Delhi but due to his worried state he can't enjoy his time here. He wheeled his bag and looked for a cab. His mother had insisted she will try coming but Ahaan refused, he didn't want anyone to leave his father's side.

The road to his home looked completely unfamiliar. Ahaan looked out from the window with the glass rolled down and wind fanning his face. Everything, has transformed so much that for a second Ahaan couldn't even recognize the way. His small cosy bungalow looked the same though. Except for the garden, as Ahaan looked at the perfectly mowed grass and beautiful rose, marigold plants, also some bushes and shrubs, he recollected his mother telling him about hiring a new gardener. By the way the dead dried lawn has been transformed into a perfect lawn Ahaan knew the new gardener is a perfectionist. Ahaan smiled imagining his mother's beaming face on seeing her perfect lawn. But then his smile faded when he remembered his father isn't well. Ahaan picked up pace and hurried to the main door. He knocked the door and waited patiently for someone to open the door.

'Beta!' his mother smiled from the other side. Ahaan smiled and leaned forward hugging his mother tightly. Mrs. Qazmi had instant tears in her eyes as she hugged her son.

'Ma! Don't cry. Now, I am here, everything will be fine.' He held his mother's face in his palms and wiped her tears with his thumb. Mrs. Qazmi looked away and took a step back, 'Come in.' she said turning around and walking in. Ahaan found this behavior odd but ignored it thinking she must be tensed. Once inside, Ahaan saw a completely different story.

'Ahaan!' Mr. Qazmi walked towards him, holding only one clutch supporting his broken leg. 'Dad! You are walking, is it paining?' Ahaan dropped his bag and rushed to his father. Mr. Qazmi smiled and placed his hand on Ahaan's shoulder.

'I am fine, Beta. I just slipped in the garden.' He said. Ahaan is confused, his mother had said his father had slipped from the stairs. Just then, his mother came from inside his room and asked them to join for lunch. Ahaan didn't say anything, maybe there is some confusion.

Though everything else in Delhi has changed including the lawn of Ahaan's bungalow but his room remained the same. From the wall paint to furniture to decoration, ditto same. Ahaan felt like he has travelled back in time. He loved this feeling. He quickly unpacked and showered changing into his casuals. He had lunch with his parents, best lunch he has had in these five years. After lunch they dispersed to their room, Ahaan lay on his bed and fell asleep instantly.

In the evening,

'Beta, be ready tomorrow morning.' Mrs. Qazmi said as she, Ahaan and Mr. Qazmi sat in the lawn.

'Sure, are we going to the doctor?' Ahaan asked taking a bite of a hot Pakora. His father and mother shot a glance at each other before his mother said nervously, 'We are going to the Maliks.... For your alliance.'

Ahaan choked on his Pakora.