Mehran and Shadab sat on the terrace railing and sipped their beers. At first, they spoke about work but one can down, they became emotional.

'Yaar, what you are doing is wrong.' Shadab said breaking the silence. Mehran looked at him with his eye brows raised. 'Excuse me?' he said, his tone was supposed to sound stern instead his tone was slurred.

'You should come for the reunion. Dude, everyone will be there.' Shadab pouted. Unlike Siham's pout, Shadab's was ugly and it didn't melt Mehran.

'No...No...' Mehran said shaking his head. Shadab looked at him sadly. Mehran ignored him and took a sip from his beer can.

'Why, yaar? Sab hoge wahan' Shadab said.

'Exactly! She will be there too...' Mehran said and shook his head waving his index finger. Shadab sighed. 'So? Dude it's been five years. Everyone has moved on. You, she...everyone. Plus, that was just...we were young naïve and stupid...' Shadab reasoned.

'No! and don't you dare say it was just....' Mehran said standing up. He stumbled little because of the alcohol. Shadab looked at him alarmed. Mehran is wobbling very close to the railing, he might fall. Shadab held his hand. He too is drunk, they both might fall. But Mehran doesn't care. His friend has just mocked his love for her, Mehran has become emotional, a drunk emotional lover.

'It wasn't just...just...because we were young and naïve...No...no...no...I loved her...I loved her so...so...so much.... but...but...Dude, I really loved her...it wasn't just...I loved her with my heart (he poked his index finger into his chest, swaying little, his eyes droopy) my soul...with my everything...it wasn't just....'

'Yes, yes...I am sorry. I shouldn't have said that. Now, please sit.' Shadab said holding his friend and making him sit on the railing again. Mehran took a sip from his beer and sat on the railing, all the while mummering "I really loved her, it wasn't just..."

Mehran is the type of a drinker, who can't handle his drinks. One can down and a different, more vulnerable Mehran comes out; pushing behind a rude, straight forward and no non-sense Mehran. Shadab realized he had too much drink to handle and so suggested his friend to go home. Mehran nodded, he is no longer in his senses. Shadab helped his friend to his home and with help of a butler safely made him lay on the bed. They made sure his parents don't wake up and find Mehran drunk. They don't like it when Mehran over drinks and Mehran is very careful to not upset his parents. He has always been obedient, except for that one time.

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

'Umaira...Umaira...wake up love' Umaira smiled in her sleep when she heard Ibrahim's sweet voice wake her up. She rubbed her eyes and turned around. Her eyes met his dark ones and her smile widened. She sat up and noticed he had gotten her hot steaming coffee and some toast-this is all he can make. Breakfast in bed, Umaira loves this; which girl wouldn't love this.

'Go freshen up.' Ibrahim said removing the duvet off her. She stood up and hugged him.

'Thank you.' she murmured sleepily burying her head into his chest. Umaira being 5'5 comes till his shoulder and chest, she has to tiptoe high to hug him by his neck and even more to kiss his cheek. Ibrahim separate their frames and looked at her with a smile.

'Hurry up, you have a plane to catch.' He reminded her. Umaira felt sad. It's been nearly one week since, she read the email and Ibrahim had convinced her to go to India. Today is 10th and she is to fly to India today. Ibrahim had tried hard but couldn't take leave, this upset her more, though a part of her is relieved as she had wanted to go to India alone.

'What are you thinking?' he asked. She shook her head and hugged him tight. 'I will miss you.' she simply said. Ibrahim hugged her and kissed the top of her head. 'Me too.'

Umaira has been living with Ibrahim for nearly three years, she has gotten habitual of him. Daily waking up with him, eating, sleeping, watching TV, roaming around; he became an integral part of her life and now, she will be without him for few days. Breaking from the comfort zone isn't Umaira's cup of tea. She likes being in her own cocooned world.

Umaira took hot shower bath and got dressed into her dress for the day- Thigh length Burgundy Turtle neck sweater and Jeans and knee length boots. She has flight in the night, and Ibrahim has promised to spend the whole day with her. She is happy.

'Wow!' Ibrahim said, stunned by her beauty. Umaira had applied maroon lipstick, dark kohl in her eyes and her hair open. And with her natural pink cheeks, she looked gorgeous. By the way Ibrahim is looking at her, Umaira blushed hard. He couldn't stop himself and kissed her softly on the lips.

'Hawww....my lipstick.' She faked anger.

'I like it smudged.' He winked at her and she blushed harder lowering her gaze. Ibrahim had to wait five more minutes as she fixed her lip stick.

Ibrahim first took her to the planetarium. Umaria is awestruck and once inside her jaw dropped. Umaira had always wanted to visit here, but Ibrahim wasn't much interested. Since, today she is leaving he wanted to make it special. After spending good one hour there, they left. Umaira had clicked many fun pictures of herself and insisted on clicking selfies. Ibrahim isn't fan of clicking photos but for Umaira's sake he didn't protest. They then holding each other took strolls in the park, eating cotton candy, riding cycle and clicking some more photos. By evening Umaira was tired but she didn't want to go home. She didn't want to leave Ibrahim's hand. But looking at her tired, he insisted they go home.

At home, he suggested she slept. Changing into her warm clothes and socks she jumped into the bed and within minutes slept off. Ibrahim was sleepy too, but he didn't sleep. He sat next to her and placed his head against the bed rest and admired her. He will miss looking at her for one whole week. He kept looking at her, until he fell asleep.

Umaira woke up, she opened her eyes and looked around. It has become dark.

Shit! She has a plane to catch. She sat up straight and looked around. Ibrahim is asleep next to her.

'Damn!' she jumped from the bed and hurried to her wardrobe, all the while asking Ibrahim to wake up. He woke up with a jolt and smacked his forehead. He glanced at the wall clock, it's 7.00pm. The plane is at 10 and thankfully they didn't oversleep. He threw the duvet off and climbed down the bed. By the time, he took out his clothes, Umaira entered the room dressed for airport – Blue Ruffle top and white pants. Ibrahim dashed into the bathroom as she hurried to the dressing table. She quickly tied her hair in a side braid and rested it on her shoulder, she then wore her watch and brown ankle length shoes. Thankfully, all the packing was already done. She applied perfume and she was done. Ibrahim came out dressed in casual olive green shirt and denim jeans. He combed his hair as Umaira wore her overcoat.

'Gosh! We slept so much' she exclaimed tying her muffler. Ibrahim nodded wearing his long coat. Umaira took her handbag while Ibrahim dragged the little Samsonite bag with him. He drove them to the airport.

'I am going to miss you.' Umaira said hugging him tight, tears stung her eyes.

'I will miss you too. Keep me updated.' He said caressing her back. She nodded, too emotional to speak. Ibrahim broke the hug and looked at her. She tiptoed and pecked his lips, but before she moved her lips, Ibrahim held her waist and kissed her hard.

Soon, they were passionately smooching before the security check. Umaira wanted to cherish every moment of being with Ibrahim, and so did he. They had to break apart as security check had begun. Umaira is upset, once she goes through the door to security check, she will get to see Ibrahim only after a week. She so wished he could come. She looked at him one final time with teary eyes. He waved her good bye. She blew him a flying kiss. He pretended to catch it. She smiled through her tears. She then turned around and took a deep breath and entered the security check.

She didn't turn back, because she knew if she did she wouldn't be able to go board her plane. Ibrahim watched her till she disappeared and then turned around. He quickly wiped his tears, he was trying hard to control them in front of her but when she left, he felt the emptiness. Once on the plane she texted him and relaxed in her seat. She covered her eyes, adjusted her pillow leaning back she slept for the rest of the journey.

Umaira is nervous and scared- scared to face the past, nervous to meet her old classmates and her parents. It's been four years since she shifted to Milan, and she hasn't met her parents ever since. Umaira is also worried how her heart will react if she meets "him", will these years of trying hard to move on work or will it collapse with just one glimpse of her past...her ex....

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

Mehran came on time to the airport. He waited outside the airport gate glancing at his watch. His little sister, Amreen, is coming from the US along with her husband, Junaid. Amreen is only, two years younger to Mehran yet he always considered her as a baby. Initially, when Amreen had introduced Junaid, Mehran had been skeptical. He did careful background check and double triple checked everything before giving his approval. His parents were happy with her choice as Junaid is from a rich business family. They had taunted Mehran. This time their words didn't affect him.

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

Umaira took her luggage from the belt and placed it neatly on her trolley. She gets a call from her parents, they informed her that they are out waiting for her. She smiled.

In December, Delhi is also cold and freezing and so she doesn't have to remove her winter wear. Umaira stepped out from the gate. Mehran who stood at the front row, got a call, and so turned around squeezing his way through the crowd. The long-lost lovers, missed each other just by few seconds.

Umaira inhaled in the smell of Delhi and smiled. She is happy to be back home. Soon her gaze fell on a middle-aged woman clad in woolen salwar suit with a shawl wrapped around her and next to her stood a middle aged balding man wearing white and black sweater and trousers. Her parents smiled widely at her. Her mother waved at her, Umaira waved her and walked happily towards them.

As Umaira walked away, Amreen stepped out from the gate; her arm wrapped around her husband. She looked around for her brother. She is slightly disappointed when she didn't see him. Luckily, just then Mehran came, else he would have to hear an earful from her.

'Bhaiya!' she exclaimed happily. She hugged her brother tight. It is after half a month, he is seeing his sister. When he hugged her, he realized how much he missed his little sister.

'How are you Bhaiya...' She stopped when she saw Siham come from behind him. Amreen's eyes widened. She looked at her from top to bottom, Siham looks perfect clad in white shirt and black leather jacket and denim jeans with knee length boots, a thick maroon muffler wrapped around her neck. She hugged Amreen. She hugged her back and winked at her brother. Mehran smiled and greeted Junaid, the men side hugged each other. The girls chatted as they walked behind the men, Mehran led them towards his car. Ram Sen, the driver who leaned against the car reading a newspaper, stood up straight and clumsily folded his newspaper. He hurried and opened the door for the ladies