"The quiet of her room was deceptive. Outside, the night whispered secrets Zoha wasn't ready to hear... and something-or someone-was already watching."

🎀Happy reading 🎀

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"Haye! Mere chhote chhote sapno ka kya?" Zoha sighed dramatically as she stood before her mirror, her eyes searching her own reflection for answers. The gentle, muted light of the room highlighted her soft features, yet the weight of her unfulfilled dreams cast a shadow on her spirit. "Kya se kya ho gaya dekhte dekhte," she murmured, shaking her head as if to scold the image looking back at her for the disappointments that had accumulated over time.

A moment of vulnerability washed over her, and she softened her voice. "I always thought it would happen, but it doesn't." The words hung in the air like a heavy mist, thick with unspoken hopes and regrets. Trying to console herself, she added with a hint of resignation, "Kher chhodo, jeene ke hain chaar din, baki hain bekar din."

As if on cue, her phone rang, shattering the melancholic silence. Her face instantly transformed, lighting up with a brightness that seemed to promise new beginnings. "Kaha mar gayi thi tum?" she exclaimed, her excitement bubbling forth. After listening intently for a moment, she smiled, her heart momentarily unburdened. "Okay, I'm coming," she replied, her worries pushed aside for now.

---

Meanwhile, in a tall, gleaming glass building in Lucknow, Arsh sat in his spacious office, surveying the city from his window. The sun reflected off the high-rise structures, casting a golden hue over the streets below. "Lucknow is beautiful," he whispered, almost to himself, as if trying to unlock a hidden appreciation for the city he had often overlooked.

His personal assistant, Arav, raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Lucknow has always been beautiful, sir. Shayad aaj aapko kuch aur nazar aa gaya."

Arsh turned toward him, and the softness in his voice was tinged with an unusual vulnerability. "I've never seen anything like this before that made Lucknow appear beautiful to me."

Arav's smile widened knowingly. "There is a time for everything. Kabhi jo cheez humein pasand nahi hoti, wahi humari pasand ban jaati hai."

Arsh leaned back in his chair, contemplating those words as if they held a deeper truth that was eluding him. "Arav, do you have any favorite memories or things here in Lucknow?" he inquired, momentarily steering the conversation away from his own introspection.

A nostalgic expression crossed Arav's face. "Bhai, bahut hain-Tunday kebab, Prakash ki kulfi, biryani aur Raheem ki nihari kulche... uff, kya yaad dila diya." He rubbed his stomach appreciatively, lost in his culinary recollections.

"Arre, I'm serious here, aur tu khane pe aa gaya!" Arsh remarked, tossing a small paperweight in his direction in mock irritation.

Feigning hurt, Arav replied, "Agar mere khubsurat chehre pe lag jati toh? Meri toh abhi shaadi bhi nahi hui!"

Arsh waved him off, urgency returning to his demeanor. "Bhai, tu jaa yahan se."

"Thik hai, par meeting ke liye late mat hona," Arav said, slipping out of the office.

Alone again, Arsh repeated softly, "There is a time for everything..." He clenched his phone, memories flooding his mind as he muttered, "What did you do to me, Angelo?"

---

At the entrance of the grand building, Zoha stood nervously clutching a bouquet of lilies, glancing around as if she were waiting for a sign. The delicate flowers were a contrast to her blue abaya, symbolizing hope and new beginnings. A sleek black BMW came to a stop nearby, and her eyes sparkled as she whispered, "What a car... InshaAllah, ek din main bhi aisi car loongi." She checked her watch, her heart racing, and quickly typed out a message: "Where have you gone?"

Her phone rang, cutting through the anticipation. "Where are you?" the voice inquired anxiously.

"I'm here at the entrance," Zoha responded, nervously adjusting her grip on the bouquet.

"Which gate number?" came the reply.

"Gate no. 1."

"Yaar! Come to gate no. 2, I'm waiting."

Quickly, Zoha dashed toward Gate No. 2, passing the BMW. Just as she moved past it, Arsh stepped out from the other side. Their eyes locked for a fleeting moment, and time seemed to stand still. For an instant, his breath caught in his throat as he took in her presence-quiet yet thunderous. He watched her as she walked past in her blue abaya, her confidence evident, until she disappeared into the bustling crowd. Something within him shifted-an unfamiliar, powerful sensation that left him both intrigued and unsettled.

"Sir, Mr. Khanna is waiting," Arav's voice jolted Arsh back to reality, snapping the moment.

Arsh straightened, putting on the mask of the ruthless CEO once more as he walked toward the waiting meeting, but the flicker of that encounter lingered in his mind.

---

**The Meeting Room**

Inside the plush, luxury cabin, Mr. Khanna greeted him with a warm smile that seemed at odds with Arsh's demeanor. "Hello, Arsh, glad to see you."

Arsh's voice was icy as he responded, "I'm Mr. Shah for you. We're not that close."

Mr. Khanna's nervousness was palpable as he fumbled but managed to recover with a strained smile. They sat down to lunch, discussing deals and opportunities, yet Arsh's commanding tone left no room for excuses-only perfection was tolerated.

Yet, despite his best efforts to focus, his mind drifted again, restless and distracted.

---

Later, outside the building, Arav called out, "Sir! Where are you going without me?"

"Going to die. Is that okay?" Arsh replied dryly, his tone laden with fatigue.

"Bhai, tu ja mar. Main asse hi thik hoon," Arav smirked, trying to lighten the mood.

Arsh raised an eyebrow, still focused on something beyond the present. "Where's the car?"

"Bas laata hoon," Arav said, gesturing as he began to move away. But before he could ask, Arsh decided instead, "Let's walk to the parking."

At Gate No. 2, Arsh's eyes roamed the surroundings restlessly. He wasn't searching for the car or the road; he was searching for her. But she was nowhere to be seen, and a sense of disappointment washed over him.

When he finally settled into the car, Arav noticed the silence enveloping his boss. "Kidhar goom hai tu, gadhe!" he teased.

Arsh's reply was soft, almost detached. "Kahin nahi... bas yuhi."

Arav's concern deepened. "Teri tabiyat toh theek hai na?"

Leaning his head back against the seat, Arsh closed his eyes, but all he could envision was that brief glimpse of blue that had walked past him moments ago. It wasn't love; it wasn't lust-he couldn't name it. All he knew was... he wanted to see her again.

Quietly, to himself, he whispered a shayari, words flowing like an unbidden thought:

*"Ek jhalak mein jo dekha tha, ab dil usi mein uljha hai,

Jo ajnabi guzri thi saamne se, lagta hai meri kismat usi se sajha hai."*

The echo of his voice lingered in the air, as if calling out to the universe for answers.