Rifaat is speechless.

'That girl is you, Rifaat. I loved you ever since I had seen you for the first time fifteen years ago and I still love you, and I will always love you. No matter what happens.' Ahaan said looking at her carefully. Rifaat doesn't say anything, she stared at the note, tears rushed to her eyes. She began replaying everything Ahaan had just said.

Slowly, she looked up at him. He smiled at her, a tear dropped from her eyes.

'Ahaan...' she stopped, she felt a lump in her throat and she couldn't say further. Ahaan extended his hand and placed over hers, 'Rifaat. I can understand with whatever happened in the past. It is difficult for you to trust anyone. Whatever you decide it is up to you. I just...want to see you happy again and I wanted to confess my love for you.' Ahaan explained patiently. Rifaat looked at him and then at their hands. Ahaan kept looking at her, hoping she sees love in his eyes.

Rifaat swallowed the lump and slowly moved her hand from his grip and looked at him, 'Ahaan...why do you want to be with someone who is divorced? Someone who is scarred.' She said, her voice trembling.

Ahaan shook his head, 'No, no, you aren't scarred Rifaat. For me, you are the sixteen-year-old Rifaat I had fallen in love with.' Ahaan said holding her gaze with confidence.

Rifaat felt her heart skip a beat seeing sincerity, truth, and love in his eyes. She had no girly alarm ring in her head.

She knew he is not lying, she knows him enough to know if he is lying or not. Plus, his eyes, they aren't lying for sure. Yet, she feels like she isn't ready.

Rifaat sighed and looked at him, she blinked her tears, 'Ahaan. Please give me some time. I need to...'

'Process this? Sure, Rifaat. Whatever you decide I am cool with it.' Ahaan said closing the box. Rifaat bit her lower lip, tears clogging her eyes.

Though Ahaan had said he will be cool with whatever she decides but he knew he will be heartbroken if she rejected him. Ahaan looked at her, Rifaat is playing with her fingers, from her expressions it was clear she is thinking hard on his confession. Looking at her, Ahaan knew she will say yes.

'Okay then, I will be going then.' Ahaan stood up. Rifaat quickly wiped her tears with the back of her fingers and stood up too.

'Think about what I said.' Ahaan said at the door steps. Rifaat nodded.

'Good night.' she said not looking at him.

'Good night.' he replied with a smile.

Ahaan stood by his apartment, only after Rifaat closed her apartment door did Ahaan close his door as well.

That night neither of them could sleep. Ahaan kept staring at the bracelet he has gotten for Rifaat.

'Hope you say yes, Rifaat, then I will make you wear this and make you mine, forever.' He said looking at the bracelet, a confident smile on his face.

Rifaat kept tossing and turning on her bed, she couldn't sleep. She kept pulling and throwing the duvet off her. She finally sat up straight and held her forehead with her palm.

I love you, Rifaat. You are my day, you are my night. I know it's cheesy, but you should know I love you.

.......

........

I fell out of love with you.

Rifaat opened her eyes, the memories are still fresh and haunting her.

'Ahaan isn't like Hariz. Then why am I hesitating? Hariz must have moved on, then why not me? I don't love Hariz anymore...but then, do I love Ahaan?' Rifaat spoke to herself. Her gaze then fell on her engagement ring. She realized she hasn't removed it since Ahaan had made her wear it. Why? The engagement was fake, it was pretended then why hasn't she removed the ring. Rifaat tried to pull out the ring and half way through she stopped, she didn't have the heart to remove it. Why?

Rifaat sighed and leaning back she brought her legs close to her chest, she recollected her irrational insecurity when Ahaan was speaking about the girl he loves so much. She also thought about the office party when she didn't like Jenni's proximity with Ahaan. Rifaat closed her eyes and smiled recollecting the time she had spent with Ahaan, at Marine Drive, Gateway of India, the club, the time they spent dancing madly to funky 90's music.

Rifaat bright smile then turned into a shy one as she recollected their kiss. Reflexively, she placed her fingers on her lips and her smile widened.

Is it true? Has she subconsciously fallen in love with Ahaan. Rifaat leaned forward resting her chin on her arm and smiled dreamily, 'I don't know when, I don't know how I fell in love with you, Ahaan.' She shook her head smiling at her own silliness. She lay down on her bed and turned to her side, she brought her palm in front of her and looked smiling at the ring that glistened with full pride.

'I love you, Ahaan. But I need time, Ahaan. I didn't need time to gather myself and for that...' she sat up straight and grabbed her mobile phone from the bedside table.

'Hello, Chachu.' She said.

'Rifaat?' Her Uncle's sleeping voice drawled from the other side. Rifaat realized impulsively she called her Uncle at 3 am. After realizing that Rifaat has called so late, her Uncle panicked but she assured him everything is fine.

'Uncle, I need your help. I need you to find Hariz and get him to me.' she said

'But beta, are you sure?' her Chachu sounded confused.

'1000 per cent.' Rifaat said confidently.

Only when she confronts her past and throw him out of her mind will she be able to give her 100 percent to Ahaan. And Ahaan deserves nothing less.

Rifaat cut the call, her heart beating fast as she held the phone against her chest. Recollecting how Hariz had abused her in the past, she felt scared once again. She then closed her eyes, her breathing uneven.

She recollected Ahaan's smiling face and that heart shaped note, I love you, Rifaat.

'And that girl is you, Rifaat.'

Rifaat felt flattered thinking that Ahaan had been waiting for her since school, he loved her knowing well he can never get her. Isn't that is how love should be, selfless? Unconditional? Where his love isn't about having her like Hariz's supposedly love for her was.

Rifaat relaxed a little, she lay on the bed and stared up at the rotating fan.

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

Hariz groaned hearing the bell of his hotel room ring.

'Damn room service.' Hariz tried sitting on the bed, but his head hurt a lot. He has a very bad headache from last night's heavy drinking. Hariz shook his head on hearing soft snores beside him.

'Who the hell are you?' Hariz said confusedly. The girl sleeping beside him opened her eyes and smiled at him.

'Forgot me so soon, darling.'

'I don't know you.' Hariz said annoyed.

The woman sat up on the bed clenching the bedsheet tightly against her chest, 'Wow! Just last night you were saying that you fell in love with me, it was love at first sight and now....' The woman continued while Hariz rattled his mind thinking about last night. He recollected how frustrated he was when he had no luck finding Rifaat. He had gone to drink and it was then he spotted this gorgeous woman and he couldn't stop lusting over her. To distract himself he played his charming young man card, and sweet talked her to his bed. Now, looking at her he wondered what he saw in her, she is average looking and her voice is screeching.

'Get lost, woman.' He said quickly wearing his boxers.

'You *******, ******....' The woman cursed as she wore her dress.

The doorbell rang again, Hariz cursed wearing his robe. Everything in India is annoying him.

'**** pervert...I was an idiot to trust you...'

'Never show me your face again, you bloody ****'

'And you ******* *******'

Hariz held her arm and dragged her towards the door, all the while both hurled abuses at each other.

Hariz opened the door, he turned his head to throw the girl when he froze. His eyes widened on seeing Rifaat standing there looking at them, disgusted.