Chapter 2

His words kept flashing her mind as she stepped down the stairs. What did they mean in the first place? Zoya had hardly slept the throughout the night. That is if you call tossing and turning, sitting by the window, and arranging all clothes by the same colour sleeping. Wrapped up in her thoughts she didn't see the person leaving their room and ended up bumping into a muscular chest. A hand shot out and stabled her as she stumbled back from the force.

"Watch where you're going!" She remarked looking up. Immediately she regretted her words as her eyes mett the deep brown ones.

"Good Morning to you too, Ms. Farooqui," he said pleasantly. Zoya couldn't help but arch an eyebrow.

"Did you sleep well?" He asked. She nodded silently, completely at a lost to what to say about his sudden politeness.

"Good, if you need anything just call me," he said. Zoya mentally slapped herself when she swooned at the quirk of his lips. Allah miyaan what's wrong with him? He needs to smile more!

"You should smile more often," she voiced her thoughts. Zoya clapped a hand to her mouth as he blinked in surprise.

"I-uh-er," she stumbled over her words.

"Thank you, Ms. Farooqui. You should smile more often too, your dimples are very-ah-amusing," he said before brushing past her. Zoya stood there stunned. Where in the world had that come from? She made her way to breakfast and narrowed her eyes at him as she slowly placed herself on her seat. Had he just seriously complimented her?

* * * * *

"Ms. Farooqui, would you like for me to pass you anything?"

Clang! The fork slipped from her fingers and clattered noisily against the glass table.

"Huh?" She asked looking up at him; not giving a damn about the heat that was staining her cheeks.

"Can I offer you some juice? Bread?" He asked.

"Huh?" She repeated. Najma tapped her shoulder and pointed at the bread and then the juice before pointing at her.

"Ah! No no Mr. Khan. Thank you," she said. Mr. Khan nodded and turned his attention back to Tanveer. Zoya watched him intently trying to figure out what was wrong with him. Instinctively she reached out, grabbed his face and turned him to face her. She touched his forehead and checked his temperature.

"Ms. Farooqui, kindly remove yourself from my person," he said to her, baffled at her actions.

"Mr. Khan, you don't have a fever, then why are you doing this?" She said flailing her hands in front of her.

"Doing what, Ms. Farooqui?" He asked.

"This!" She exclaimed as if it was the most obvious thing.

"Zoya, are you sure that you're feeling okay?" Najma asked from beside her.

"Of course I'm alright, Tamatar! But Mr. Khan!" She said. "You're being nice to me!"

"As one should be to their guest," he said rolling his eyes. Zoya's mouth fell open to form an 'O'. So that's what he meant.

"G-guest?" she stuttered. He pinched the bridge of his nose and looked at her.

"Ms. Farooqui, do I need to remind you of your own words? You're a guest here, a temporary member of this house," he said. Zoya felt stung at his words. Okay, maybe they were her own words, but when he said them it felt as if something sharp was piercing her heart and twisting it painfully.

"I didn't say that!" If your own words are being used against you, the best thing to do is say that you never said them. That was Zoya's philosophy.

"Ms. Farooqui, when your own words are being sued against you, it isn't a good idea to say that you never said them. It isn't the best philosophy," he replied. Zoya sat there dumbstruck. Not only was he being nice to her, but he somehow just happened to know what was going on in her mind.

"Jammy, will you stop it. As sweet as your banter is, I'm really getting late," Tanveer piped up from beside Mr. Khan. Zoya scowled at her. There was something off about this Tanveer lass and once Zoya felt disturbed, she went and found out the reason why.

"Come, I'll drop you off," he said standing up and offering her his hand. Zoya watched her place a perfectly manicured hand in his, her anger flaring when his fingers curled around her delicate fingers.

"Mr. Khan!" She shot up form her seat. He stopped and turned around to look at her.

"I have to go somewhere too," she said. He blinked then nodded.

"Alright, I'll have someone call a taxi for you," he said. Zoya felt her jaw hit the floor. Huh?

"But Mr. Khan! I'm your guest!" She said.

"Yes and guests prefer to go by taxis rather than order hosts around. So knowing how considerate you are I will have someone call a taxi for you as I drop Tanveer off," he said as he left with Tanveer trailing behind him and, much to Zoya's annoyance, their hands still clasped. Zoya's scowl deepened and she smacked the palm of her hands against the table causing Najma to jump slightly.

"Zoya, are you okay?" Najma asked.

"Fine, just bloody fine!" Zoya snapped, her mind was already weaving plans to figure out what this Tanveer character was and, the biggest matter at hand, figure out how to get Mr. Khan away from her.