Ahaan stayed back in the chemistry lab, this experiment was tricky and he wanted to redo it as he wasn't satisfied with the result.

'Look, fatso is working here.' Ahaan sighed, he is used to these taunts by now. It has been one week now. A bunch of boys came, they gathered around him to intimidate him but Ahaan wasn't bothered, though he was little worried. His hands trembled as he held a test tube.

'What is this? Better be poison.' One of the boys, the alpha male, grabbed the test tube from his plump hands. The boy was taller than him and he waved the test tube in air as Ahaan tried grabbing it from him.

'Hariz, give back the test tube.' Ahaan said annoyed.

'You want? Here catch.' Hariz teased and threw the test tube at one of his friends.

'Come fatso! Catch me if you can.' Hariz grabbed Ahaan's book and ran out of the lab.

'HARIZ!'

Ahaan is huffing and sweating badly as he ran behind Hariz, who being the football captain was much faster than he was. As Ahaan ran through the corridor leading to the computer lab, the door opened and a girl came out. Ahaan dashed right into her. They fell.

'Ouch! Fatso, get off me.' the girl yelled underneath him.

'Sorry...Sorry...'Ahaan apologized fanatically. Everyone stopped by for a good laugh as the Ahaan struggled to stand up.

'Ahaan!' a girl squeezed her way through the crowd, she extended her hand and helped him stand.

'Idiot!' the girl underneath said.

'Sorry...' Ahaan apologized she then looked at the girl who rescued him and smiled, 'Thank you, Abeer.' He said gratefully

'Hey! What are friends for.' Abeer smiled. Ahaan the fatso, had managed to get only one friend, one sympathizer Abeer.

'You Moron! How dare you?' Ahaan is alarmed and looked up. A girl charged towards them. On recognizing who she was Ahaan smiled, Rifaat. But then his smile is wiped away but a tight slap. 'Bloody Tharki.... *****,******, fatso! How dare you fall over my friend on purpose?' she fumed with rage. Ahaan is happy, at least she is talking to him.

'Look, Rifaat you are misunderstanding...' Abeer intervened but Rifaat stuck out her palm and she stopped.

'Listen (Rifaat snapped her fingers in front of Ahaan) if I see you anywhere near my friend. I swear I will complain to the principal. Bloody loser.' She looked at him bottom to top with an angry scowl on her face.

And that was the first and the last time she spoke to him, ever....

Ahaan walked out of the shower, his body wet, water dripping from his hair. He stood in front of the mirror. Even after such a long gap, Ahaan instantly recognized Rifaat. How he wished she recognized him too. But then, how will she? He is no longer that Bloody loser that he was back then. He smiled looking at his reflection. Ahaan has managed to shed all his fat and sculpt his body into a perfect toned body. Chiselled chest, perfect abs, sharp jawline, biceps, triceps, everything. He chuckled imagining how Rifaat would react if she recognized the new him. Smiling to himself he neatly combed his black hair, applying gel he side-parted his hair and made it rest properly.

But then his smile faded when he realized he is supposed to meet his prospective bride. One moment Ahaan was excited to have Rifaat back, but then things are still the same that was years ago. She still doesn't realize he exists and he is still having a huge crush on her, perhaps love. Ahaan sighed, life must go on.

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

Rifaat stepped out of her bathroom draped with a light blue towel around her. She walked towards her wardrobe and began to look for the dress for the day. Today she and her Uncle are going for house hunting. Though everyone asked her not to Rifaat insisted on staying in a different apartment. She didn't want to cause much trouble to her Uncle and Aunt. Plus, Rifaat was used to simplicity and her uncle's mansion made her uncomfortable. She is looking for an apartment which will be in the same locality.

She chose to wear, cup sleeved lace peach dress reaching little above her knees. She blow dried her hair and combed her hair. Her brown hair has natural big wave curls and ends few inches below her breasts. The new shampoo she has gotten gave it volume and bounce. She admired her hair. Rifaat has been genetically blessed with good physique and flawless skin but that doesn't stop her from taking care of her. In fact, Rifaat is very particular about her looks and is very strict in maintaining it. She wore her make-up, nude lip gloss and kohl. Wore wrist watch around one of her wrist and left the other bare. She then slipped into her white thong slippers, with her height being 5'5 she doesn't need heels much either.

She climbed down stairs and found her Uncle and his family seated for breakfast.

'Good morning.' She greeted everyone brightly.

'Good morning.' Everyone wished back in unison.

'Beta think one more time. I suggest you stay.' Her Uncle said gently.

'Yes, Chachu! I have thought about it. I am 100% sure.' Rifaat said confidently. Her Uncle didn't say anything further. The butler plated breakfast for them. Rifaat is positive about this, and frankly very excited of staying on her own in a house of her own. Plus, after all the incidents in the past, Rifaat has become more reserved and prefer staying alone.

After every one were done, Rifaat along with her Uncle left to meet up with the broker who will be showing them around the place. The broker seemed to be too Middle classy for Rifaat's Uncle. He made faces as he followed her inside. 'Are you sure, Beta?' he whispered, he sounded very sceptical.

'Relax, Chachu.' Rifaat assured her Uncle. She removed her sun glasses and placed it on top of her head.

A lanky nervous looking man greeted them. He had protruding front teeth and big thick square glasses.

'Hello, Myself Rajesh.' He shook hands with Rifaat, who smiled politely. After he shook hands with Rifaat he shook with Mr. Siddiqui who at first looked apprehensive but shook hand nevertheless. After Rajesh, had left he quickly wiped his hands with a handkerchief. Rifaat caught him and smiled to herself.

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

Ahaan felt like an idoit sitting outside a star-buck outlet. He is dressed in a crisp blue and white checked shirt and denim jeans.

'Sir, your order?' a waiter asked politely. Ahaan shook his head, 'I am waiting for someone.' He said. From past half an hour he is sitting here waiting for his potential bride. Ahaan gulped down third glass of water. He isn't liking this, what type of girl does his mother wants him to meet? Someone who is so irresponsible on their first meeting. Ahaan relaxed in his chair and exhaled loudly. He stared at the salt stand, fidgeting with it.

'Ahaan?' He looked up. A young woman clad in pink Kurthi and Churidar stood in front of him, her hair tied in a loose fish tail braid. He nodded. She smiled and sat opposite him. She completely ignored his confused look.

'Look I am telling you beforehand. I am not interested in this marriage. Cancel it.' she said directly coming to the point. Ahaan's mouth dropped open, "What kind of girl has his mother selected?"

'This is just a formality. Please Reject me.' she said leaning little in her seat. Ahaan blinked at her clueless.

'Are you dumb?' she then gasped, 'And mute too?'

'Of...course...not...But this...why...why this formality...? You can reject me.' Ahaan said

The girl rolled her eyes and leaned forward, she rested her arms on the table and looked straight into his eyes.

'I did reject, last ten alliances and now my parents (she sighed) are insisting me to marry the next guy they got me for me and that is you. So...'she raised her eyebrows. Ahaan is speechless. First time he is with a straight-forward and a very bold girl and so he doesn't know how to react. She kept looking at him impatiently tapping her fingers impatiently.

Ahaan debated with himself, then he thought- this is what he had wanted.

Now he can easily reject her and not feel guilty about it. He smiled looking at her and nodded. She smiled relaxing in her seat. 'Okay, thanks.' She smiled brightly and stood up.

'By the way,' she turned around when Ahaan called her, 'what is your name?' Ahaan remembered that he was so disinterested in this alliance that he didn't even bother asking the name, it was kind of like blind date for him.

The girl smiled and extended her hand, 'Abeer Ansari.'

Ahaan's eyes widened and a bright smile appeared on his face. The girl, Abeer frowned.

'Are you okay?' she asked cautiously. Ahaan jumped up from his seat, 'Oh My God! Abeer?' he said excited.

Abeer looked at him like he has grown a pair of horns.

'Yeah! So, my name shouldn't be....'

'Abeer, It's me, Ahaan. Ahaan Qazmi. The Fatso!'

Abeer's expression changed from He-is-weird to Oh-My-God! She looked at him from top to bottom, 'Fatso! Tu?' She jumped on spot. Ahaan nodded his head.

'I can't believe it.' She covered her mouth with her palm, her eyes twinkling. Ahaan smiled. Abeer leaned forward and hugged him, he hugged her back. They swayed on spot hugging each other tightly.

'Oh Gosh! What a transformation. Yaar, you are unrecognizable.' Abeer said once they broke the hug.

'I know I have worked hard.' he said with pride.

'Hats off to your dedication.' She saluted him and Ahaan felt his chest swell with pride. Abeer smiled and hugged him again.