Fahad's POV:

"Fahad?! Tum idher kya kar rahay ho? (Fahad?! What are you doing here?)" Rubab gaped at me as she halted her footsteps and turned to look at me. 

It was pleasant to see her stony face warp into something else for once. She must have noticed me observing her features because she was back to her icy unreadable expression in seconds. She looked behind me and then at me and then behind me again causing me to raise an eyebrow. Should she really be worrying about other things when I am standing right before her?

"Well, I just wanted to see you." I grinned as I took three long strides and caught up to her. Women loved it when I said this. I turned to look at her and she didn't seem like she trusted a word I said. Ah yes, women apart from Rubab. She wasn't a woman. She was a rock.

"Oh, I see. Were you the guy following us? Oh my God! Don't tell me the person chasing after Zoya is Kamran?" I saw panic on her face. Her eyes widened for half a second until she turned to me again and regained her composure. I wonder how she keeps forgetting that it is me standing in front of her. This was a little offensive to my pride. I simply nodded to her question. "He is going to hurt her. We need to go find them." She looked behind me again and I scoffed. As I said before, she really needs to pay more attention to what is before her.

"Don't worry, that guy would never hurt your friend. He loves her too much to do it." It took a few seconds for her to process that. She didn't look like she believed a word I said. Again.

"Why would he love her? He doesn't even know her." She tied her arms over her chest and looked at me intensely. I should have made eye-contact with her but instead my eyes trailed to her defined collar bones that protruded out of her square neckline. I had never found that feature attractive in a woman before but for some reason, her collarbones looked really beautiful. So fragile and refined. I wanted to slide my fingers over it. "Fahad? I asked you something. What are you doing?" I blinked before looking back at her. What did she ask me again? Oh yeah, Kamran hurting Zoya or something.

"Don't worry, that guy would never hurt Zoya, he loves your friend too much to try that." I replied and she blinked at me.

"You already said that, Fahad. I was asking why would he love her? He doesn't even know her that well. Why are you so zoned out? Are you intoxicated?" She bent down to look deeper into my eyes causing me to gulp slowly.

"I am completely sober, Rubab. This is his personal issue but I can guarantee that he won't hurt her." I assured her but she just narrowed her eyes at me. Her eyelashes were pretty. They weren't really long but they weren't non-existent either. Just the right amount. Was her skin always this clear? It looked like a silk canvas. I knew she was wearing a foundation or something but her makeup wasn't overly done. I liked that.

"What if he does?" What if he does what? Oh right, hurt her. She really needs to drop this topic and focus on us.

"He won't. Trust me." She didn't look like she trusted me but she just shrugged in return.

"Alright but we still need to go to them. I don't want to leave Kamran near Zoya for long." Oh, it was cute of her to be protective like this. I wish she showed her protective tendencies with me too but she was numb with me. In fact, it looked like she didn't give a flying fuck about me. Oh but there will come a time for that. I felt the corners of my mouth twitch up in a smile.

"Sure, we can go to them. Let's walk." I offered reluctantly. I wanted us to spend some quality time together. So much for that. I rolled my eyes as I shoved my hands into my pocket. Rubab started walking beside me. Her shoulder was inches away from mine. I wonder what it would feel like if I wrapped my arm around her shoulder? Her height really complimented mine so I am sure we would look good to bystanders. I liked that too.

"Do you even know where they are?" She said without looking at me. She was looking ahead, her eyes were carefully scanning the area before her. Does my presence not make her conscious? Am I the only one being so alert?

"No. But they went in this direction so they won't be far." I replied as I continued to observe her silently. This was probably the most normal conversation we had.

"Why don't you call him?" I sighed internally. Of course, she would suggest that. The sooner I call him, the sooner I would have to meet them and we won't be able to spend time together.

"Oh, he left his phone in the car." I lied calmly and she didn't say anything after that.

"So how have you been?" I saw two guys look at Rubab and it ticked me off. Couldn't they see she was with company? I closed the gap between us while giving them a warning look and they looked away. Rubab didn't notice my action but she did give me a response.

"Oh, you know. Same old. I have my prof coming soon." She answered. "Wait a minute. Did you tell Kamran that Zoya was back?" Her eyes widened again as she stopped and looked at me with disappointment. That kinda hurt.

"Kya? Nahi. Mujhe kya zaroorat hai? Menay tumse wadah kiya tha ke men nahi bataounga aur menay nahi bataya. Fahad Abroo kabhi apne alfaaz par wapis nahi jata. (What? No. Why would I? I gave you my word that I wouldn't tell him and I didn't. Fahad Abroo never goes back on his word.) This was purely coincidental." It annoyed me that she didn't trust my promise. More than annoyance, there was hurt.

"Okay, I am sorry. I am just really worried about Zoya." She paused before looking at me. "I know you would never go back on your word. Not for me at least." She wasn't smiling but her eyes were soft and I felt my heart rate speed up. I don't know if she was flirting with me or just being genuine, but I felt my heart beat pick up pace. Damn, she really knew how to mess with my heart.

"You can rely on me, you know? I know you don't like doing that but just know that, it's okay to be weak sometimes and rely on someone. In your case, you can only rely on me though." Rubab blinked at me in surprise and I heard something that sent my heart in an absolute frenzy. Her laugh. She covered her mouth with her long delicate fingers as she laughed elegantly while looking at me. She rolled her eyes in amusement.

"Alright, I guess, I can try that." What was up with the Rubab of today? Did she eat something weird? Did she wake up on the wrong side of the bed? Was she intoxicated instead? I looked into her eyes but there was no signs of drug or alcohol intake. In fact, she smelled wonderful. Hints of something sweet. Honey? And Chocolate? Was it her shampoo or her body wash?

"So when should we go on our next date?" We had been walking for a while now so it was weird that we hadn't spotted Kamran or Zoya but I had successfully distracted her from the issue at hand so I was content. 

This was going good. It was peaceful and fun. Whenever I was out with a woman before, it was either them dragging me to a store to buy something for them or them being intimate with me or taking pictures with me to show the world and brag to their friends. There was never this before. I didn't know what to call it. We are just walking while having small talk, surrounded by a calming aura. There is no rush, no interruptions. It was a first for me. I wasn't sure if she was enjoying it too but she didn't seem to mind our close proximity and she wasn't as icy as she was before so it was probably alright.

"Well-" She started but was cut off by my phone's ringtone. I grimaced as I took it out and saw Kamran's caller ID. I contemplated whether to pick it up or just ignore it but Rubab saw the caller ID and then her eyes turned to me. There was a hint of betrayal in them. Why did she looked so upset? Uh oh, I told her that his phone was in the car. Her icy aura came back as she pointed at the phone asking me to pick it up.

Reluctantly, I slid the screen and placed it against my ear. Rubab stepped closer as if she wanted to hear it too so I subconsciously brought the phone closer to her ear too.

"Did you find-" I was cut off by heavy breathing on the other side.

"Anushay fainted. Meet me at the entrance ASAP." He hung up and I was sure Rubab heard him clearly too since there wasn't much to pick on. I saw the different emotions swirling on her face. The last one being rage.

"You told me he wouldn't hurt her!" Her outburst hurt me a little because I knew she was disappointed in me and worried for her friend now. She huffed as I tried to think of something to tell her.

"I am sure there is an explanation." She gave me a cold glare before walking towards the entrance and I sighed as I started following her too.

Fan-fucking-tastic.
There goes my date.

Author's Note:

Hello and Asalam o Alaikum Lovelies!

Long time no see. I hope all of you are well and staying safe and warm. It's freezing here. I know I said I will update in January but I decided to give you an early New Year surprise in hopes that 2021 will be a better year for us in terms of health, happiness and peace InshaAllah.

The chapters will slowly pick up speed once my exhaustion settles a little and I get back into that writing mindset but for now, here you go. I hope you enjoy the chapter. ✨