Umaira couldn't sleep that night. Her mind wandering to Mehran. He was drunk and she is sure he must have drunk more. She lay on her back staring at the ceiling. She silently prayed he is fine. She closed her eyes, tears fell from the corner of her eyes. She shouldn't have left him like that. He must have been devastated with the news plus he was drunk, else he wouldn't have spoken the way he spoke. She shouldn't have ignored him and been more patient with him. Once again, she became impulsive.

Damn! She shifted to her side and stared at her camera that lay on the bedside table, 'I know how you are feeling Mehran. I am not happy with this either. You know I love you...but I guess it's not in our fate to be together.' She said sadly. Umaira looked at her camera and something snapped inside her head, she has clicked Mehran's photos back in the reception.

She hurriedly climbed down her bed, gets her laptop. She connects her camera with the laptop and quickly browses through the photos. She paused and zoomed at his photo. Her heart fell seeing his hurt face, the sadness and anger in his eyes. She leaned forward, her eyes brimmed with tears and her fingers trembled as she touched his photo. She smiled sadly as she caressed his photo.

'I love you.' she whispered kissing her finger tips that had touched his photo. Umaira lay down with her laptop to her side, she stared at his photo silently crying.

'I am so sorry.' She sobbed. Even looking at his photo she felt close to him, like he is there with her, lying beside her. She placed her palm covering her mouth as she cried.

She cried herself to sleep, her laptop still on paused on his face.

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

TRING...TRING...

Umaira's mother opened the door. Ibrahim beamed from the other side. He greeted her politely. Mrs. Siddique is over excited to see him. Ibrahim also greets Umaira's father, Mr. Siddique. 'Umaira is still sleeping. Go and wake her up and join us for breakfast.' Mrs. Siddique said. Ibrahim is more than happy.

Ibrahim smiled looking at Umaira sleep peacefully. He walked towards her and admired her. She looked so innocent, cute, and even more beautiful as she slept. The sun rays peeking from behind the curtains enhanced her beauty. Ibrahim noticed her laptop is in sleep mode. He went to the other side and picked up her laptop, it switched on. Umaira had never kept any security code, so last night's opened tab came out. Mehran zoomed and paused photo popped up.

'Mo-Mom...switch off the lights...five more...minutes...'Umaira yawned stretching in her bed, her eyes closed. Ibrahim pressed his lips tightly, looking away from the screen and at Umaira. Umaira frowned on getting no response from her mother. Her eyes widened and her sleep flew out of the window when she looked at Ibrahim standing at the bed side, holding her laptop. She realized that he saw Mehran's photo.

'Ibr-Ibrahim...you...here?' she stammered quickly standing up. Ibrahim placed her laptop on the table and took a step closer to her, she looked at him frightened.

'Why? You were expecting someone else?' Ibrahim said menacingly.

'Huh!' Umaira is surprised with his tone and his sentence. He had never used such tone before. Ibrahim was caring, protective but never possessive or insecure. But then how does she expect him to react seeing his fiancé watching some other man whole night, even though it's virtually. 'I...didn't know...you will come here....' Umaira stopped speaking when Ibrahim held her arm, he made her look at him.

'Get ready! We are going to spend some quality time together.' He said tugging her arm harshly. She winced, nevertheless, nodded.

'Good!' he said kissing her forehead. Umaira squeezed her eyes tightly. He left stating he is waiting with her parents at the dining table.

Five minutes later, as Ibrahim sat with Mr. Siddiqui in the living room he felt guilty. He shouldn't have spoken that way with Umaira. But he felt very angry when he had seen Mehran's photo on her laptop. The thought of her looking at him all night boiled his blood. He had always been considerate when it came to Mehran. He thought he was okay with Umaira's past thinking she has moved on but the way Umaira has slowly changed and him meeting Mehran in Milan Fashion week he began feeling insecure. And today, seeing his photo he snapped. Ibrahim mentally decided to apologize to Umaira.

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

Mehran woke up with a terrible headache. He sat up straight holding his forehead.

'Kaka!' he called his butler, 'Lemon juice.' He said and fell back on his bed. He breathes deeply and slowly opened his eyes, his eyelids felt heavy. Five minutes later, he felt his eyes prick sharply with the sunlight.

'Arghh...'he winced rubbing his eyes and sitting up.

'Here.' He stiffened hearing a croaky voice he recognized immediately. He opened his eyes and found Siham standing beside him holding a glass of lime juice. He noticed her eyes swollen and he mentally smacked himself. Did he blabber something last night? What happened last night? He looked at himself, he is dressed that means he didn't have sex with her. Good! But then why was she crying?

'You...You...fine....' he asked cautiously as he took the glass from her. Siham said nothing but simply forwarded an envelope to him. Mehran quickly gulped down the juice and took the envelope. He is clueless as he opened it. But before he could read Siham spoke, 'I am shifting to Paris, permanently.' She said Mehran looked at her shocked and then he read the letter. It is a formal letter from a leading fashion industry in Paris asking Siham to be their brand's face.
'But why?' he asked shifting little in his seat. Siham smiled sadly, 'I am not needed here anyways.' Mehran gaped at her still not understanding what she meant. Siham forced a smile, she extended her hand and placed her palm over his.

'She is very beautiful and a very nice girl, don't lose her. Because, not everyone get their true love.' she said sadly, her eyes glistening with fresh tears.

It then dawned upon Mehran, he must have spoken about his love for Umaira. Shit! He didn't want Siham to find out like this. He had wanted to talk to her, make her understand, console her. And after last night, he wasn't even sure if he wanted to break-up with her.

Siham stood up, but Mehran held her hand. She turned around biting her lower-lip preventing herself from breaking down.

'Siham! Last night...it was...' Siham blinked back her tears and turned to face him, 'Was true. I know.... I sort of knew...when...in Sangeet (Siham's lips trembled and her voice cracked, tears threatening to fall) ...that night when you defended her.... I... saw... it...in .... your... eyes... you... love...' She turned around, she placed her index finger in between her teeth to prevent herself from crying, instead she bit on her finger hard. Mehran knew she was crying, he held her shoulder and turned her around.

'Siham! I am sorry. I didn't want you to know this way.' He apologized sincerely and hugged her. Siham wrapped her arms around him and clenched his shirt tightly as she broke down crying. Mehran hugged her shaking figure tightly letting her cry. Five minutes, later they break apart. Mehran held Siham's face and wiped her tears. She moved his hands and held the collar of his shirt pulling him closer.

'I am letting you go this time but...but...in the next...next lifetime...or some parallel universe...or somewhere...you will be only mine. I won't let anyone come between us.' She said, more tears fell as she attempted to smile. Mehran nodded, tears in his eyes as well.

'Promise?' She pouted.

'Promise.' He hugged her. She held him tightly, perhaps this is the last time she is hugging him. Mehran separated their frames and looked at her, 'Promise you will keep I touch.'

'I will.' She lied.

After recovering from the shock last night, Siham debated with herself and decided to not let her feelings come in between his happiness, which she realized is with Umaira. But, she will not keep in touch lest she loses her self-control, she is human after all.

'Arey, button up. Take a bath, brush and then go.' Siham reminded Mehran as he hurriedly walked towards the door. Mehran smacked his forehead, how silly of him.

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

Ibrahim and Umaira went to a park and spend good one hour together. All the while, Ibrahim noticed Umaira was miserable. She didn't glow, the twinkle in her eyes replaced with sadness. Though he knew, but he didn't want to accept it- Perhaps, she still loves Mehran.

Ibrahim initiated many talks, but she ended replying half-heartedly. She spoke only when spoken to. Ibrahim held her hand, though she didn't protest Ibrahim knew something was wrong. She did force a smile and laugh but that didn't reach her eyes, it wasn't like before and this began to trouble Ibrahim. Unable to take a robotic Umaira, he suggested they go home for Lunch. She nodded.

TRING....

Umaira' mother opened the door, she looked tensed but on seeing Umaira and Ibrahim she relaxed. Umaira frowned wondering what is wrong.

'Good, beta! You two came.' She said and walked inside. Umaira glanced nervously at Ibrahim, who nodded assuring her, silently, that everything will be fine. Yet, Umaira is little worried. Umaira's eyes widened on seeing Mehran standing in the living room facing her father, who visibly looked angry- his face red, nostril flaring and fingers clenched in tight fists. Umaira gulped- what is he doing here?