The mall buzzed with life, yet Zoha felt an unexplainable stillness around her. Memories of past encounters lingered, confusing her heart. Somewhere in the crowd, eyes watched her closely-unseen, yet knowing everything.

🎀Happy reading🎀

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Finally, the wait is over. Zoha is filled with happiness; her soulmate is back from America after four long years. In that time, Zoha endured a lot without her friend Muskaan Sehgal, the one person with whom she could share all her thoughts without hesitation. Sometimes, there are things we can't share with our family, and not everyone has someone they can trust with their heart and soul, but thankfully, Zoha did.

After hanging up the call, Zoha headed toward Gate No. 2. She rushed forward, her excitement to see her friend consuming her, and she paid no attention to the eyes that were watching her.

When Zoha reached Gate No. 2, she took a deep breath upon seeing the figure standing in front of her. She ran toward her and hugged her tightly, exclaiming, "I miss you so much!" Her friend giggled and replied, "I missed you too, babe." Zoha released her from the hug and handed her a bouquet of lilies. Muskaan laughed and said, "Aww, it's so beautiful, just like me!" Zoha rolled her eyes and replied, "That's why I bought it." Changing the subject, she said, "Let's have lunch, and then we can go shopping for my dad's friend's party." Zoha looked at her in confusion and asked, "Did you come to see me or to go shopping?" Muskaan teased, "Both!" and playfully pinched Zoha's chubby cheeks.

After lunch, they set off for the mall.

The afternoon sunlight streamed through the glass ceiling of Phoenix Palassio, bathing the bustling crowd in a warm, golden glow. Zoha walked beside her best friend, Muskan, their laughter mingling with the sounds of chatter and music that filled the expansive space as they meandered through the vibrant shops. Dressed in a flowing blue abaya and matching hijab, Zoha exuded a quiet elegance that drew the attention of passersby, though she remained blissfully unaware of the eyes tracking her from the upper floor.

Arsh Ali Shah stood above, his sharp gaze locked onto Zoha with an intensity that contrasted with the cool demeanor he maintained. As he leaned casually against the railing beside his friend Arav, he heard him whisper, "Yeh toh wahi ladki hai na?"

While Arsh's expression remained unreadable, his mind was a whirlpool of thoughts. *"Even amidst this throng... she stands out,"* he reflected, a faint, almost involuntary smile teasing the corners of his mouth. The successful, ruthless businessman in him was composed, yet memories from the previous night flooded back-the encounter with the masked stranger, the electric tension that hung in the air, the intoxicating scent, the sudden obsession that had ignited within him, blazing like an unquenchable fire.

*"Sadgi ka rang jitna chhupao, utna aur nikharta hai,"* he murmured to himself, his eyes fixated on Zoha as she moved gracefully through the crowd. Even adorned in the modest garb of an abaya, her simplicity radiated a uniqueness that was impossible to ignore.

As Zoha paused in front of a bookstore, her fingers danced over the spines of the novels, flipping through pages with an eager curiosity. Muskan playfully nudged her elbow. "Zoha, itni serious kyun ho? Chill maar yaar," she teased, her voice light and filled with warmth.

Zoha chuckled softly in response. "Nahi yrrr, ye book dekh kabse me isse dhund rahi thi," she replied, her eyes shimmering with excitement.

Meanwhile, Arsh, maintaining a facade of nonchalance, adjusted his cufflinks and pretended to study the directory, but he was acutely aware of every slight movement she made. Each tilt of her head and each gesture of her hands captivated him, marking her as unforgettable in a sea of faceless strangers.

When Zoha aimed for a book perched precariously on the top shelf, Arsh instinctively took a few steps closer, watching her skillfully balance on her tiptoes. It was a simple act, perhaps even mundane, yet to Arsh, it was utterly mesmerizing.

Muskan laughed, "Aree yrr, tum itni chhoti kyun ho? Book girani hain kya?"

Being a petite 5-footer, Zoha often found herself struggling to reach the higher shelves.

With a playful smile, she shot back, "Chup chap khadi raho, lambu kahi ki."

After a moment of effort that felt like a mini adventure, she finally grasped the book and triumphantly emerged from the store, Muskan grinning beside her.

From a distance, Arsh watched as Zoha and Muskan departed the bookstore, his interest piqued further.

As they approached the escalators, the two friends chatted animatedly about which café they should hit up next. In the midst of the conversation, Zoha's gaze caught a stack of books precariously teetering on a shelf nearby. Without a second thought, she reached out to steady them, but one book slipped through her fingers and plummeted toward the floor.

Just before it hit the ground, an imposing tall hand shot out, catching it mid-air. Startled, Zoha looked up to see Arsh leaning casually against the railing from the upper floor, their eyes briefly locking.

"Oh! Thank you," she exclaimed, a mix of surprise and relief flooding her voice.

Arsh's heart raced at the connection, his mind racing with thoughts. *"Little Angelo... always so delicate, even by accident,"* he mused, feeling a familiar sense of warmth and intrigue spreading through him.

Though Zoha lifted her gaze fully, she saw only a stranger characterized by a sharp suit and confident posture-imposing yet entirely disconnected from her world. She did not correlate him with the masked figure that haunted her thoughts from the previous night.

Muskan tugged at Zoha's sleeve, breaking her reverie. "Zoha, chalein? Book ka drama khatam hua, ab phir kabhi aur le lena books," she whispered with a giggle.

Zoha nodded, clutching the rescued book close. "Haan yaar, chalo," she replied, blissfully unaware that the man standing above her had already begun to know her better than anyone else in this crowd.

As Arsh shifted, adjusting his cufflinks casually, he hid the intensity behind his gaze. *"One day, little Angelo... you won't be able to hide from me, not in an abaya, not in a crowd. You'll be mine to watch, mine to care for,"* he thought, tinged with a thrill of obsession swirling in his mind.

Suddenly, Arav dashed up beside Arsh, breaking the spell. "Kaha gayab ho jata hain bhai tu bar bar?" he inquired, slightly out of breath. After a deep inhale, he continued, "Aur kon thi woh ladkiyan?"

Arsh's gaze followed the direction Zoha had taken, a hint of distraction lingering in his expression. "Huh?" he replied blankly.

Arav, misreading his reaction, laughed incredulously, "Don't say you're stalking that blue abaya girl," shaking his head in feigned disbelief.

Snapped out of his reverie, Arsh retorted, "No, I'm not. I'm just looking for a book," lying effortlessly as he feigned interest in the novels on the shelf.

Arav smirked, clearly unconvinced. "Woh mujhe dikh raha hain. Let's buy a gift for the Oberoi and leave this place," he exclaimed, nudging Arsh onward.

"Hmm," Arsh replied absentmindedly, still preoccupied with thoughts of Zoha.

The two friends soon picked out a beautiful bouquet and an exquisite bottle of perfume, leaving the store amidst the lively atmosphere of the mall.

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Even as Arsh descended the escalator with Arav, maintaining an air of casualness, his gaze was unwaveringly focused on Zoha. Amidst the laughter, chatter, and flurry of shoppers, Zoha remained blissfully unaware of the storm quietly trailing her-a storm that was poised to change everything in her world.

As Arav observed where Arsh's gaze lingered, he quipped, "By the way, you could have arranged this gift from home in minutes. Why did you need to come to the mall?"

Arsh, maintaining a neutral expression, replied, "Ata nahi toh kuch bahot zaroori reh jata."

Arav, puzzled by his response, furrowed his brow, attempting to decipher the unsaid words as they moved through the crowd, oblivious to the intricate layers of emotion brewing beneath the surface.

Arsh left the mall with Arav and was getting ready for a party he was attending at 7:00 PM that evening. He spent a lot of time in the mall buying a gift for the host of the party. In a way, you could say he used that time to find his peace, whether it was far away or close by..



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