Imad had been working in this company for past four years. And all this time his hard work and loyalty had made him Shehryar's right hand but this loyalty wasn't confined to only his direct boss. He respected his big boss as well and right now he was here because she wanted to have talk with him.

"Shehryar is acting weird ma'am. I mean he hasn't done it ever. Giving special treatment to an employ. And on top I don't know the reason but I don't think so things are smooth between the two. The relation isn't at all professional. There is a tension between them."

He completed and looked at Rodaba. To his surprise she wasn't at all surprised. A small smile was playing on her lips. She turned to Imad and held his hand in a motherly manner.

"Thank you so much for informing e about this Imad. And don't worry. Your boss is perfectly alright. He is just a big time fool. Nothing else."

Imad chuckled and got up to leave. Rodaba had called him last night to know why Shehryar was upset these days or if there was any work pressure. He just mentioned his boss's involvement with the new designer and that piqued Rodaba's interest. She immediately summoned him.

After narrating the whole thing to Rodaba he had expected her to be worried but she was calm like an ocean. Descending the stair he looked here and there to see if his Boss was back from his morning Jog. And to his relief he hadn't. Sighing he turned around only to be bumped into a yellow vision with fruity smell surrounding her. Samia who had just came out after getting ready held his arm to support herself.

"I'm sorry."

She left his bicep and turned to leave not noticing his eyes had followed her retreating back all the way with a hint on longing in them. Taking a deep sigh Imad shook his head and started walking towards the main door.

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Rodaba peeked inside her son's room and found him buttoning his shirt standing before the mirror. He turned and reached her side taking long strides.

"Mom? You okay? Where is Farhat?"

"Calm down, Shehri. I can wheel this chair on my own. Don't spoil me too much than I already am."

He smiled lightly and gently pushed her wheelchair inside his room.

"God! See your table! You were working till late night weren't you?"

He sat on the recliner and took her hands in his.

"Work pressure is too much. I'm tied up in so many things."

"Or your brain is tied in so many things?"

He kept on looking at nothing in particular.

"You always immerse yourself into work when you are running away from something. Is that the case?"

Still no answer.

"Is that something or someone is Alizeh?"

His head jerked up towards her. How on Earth she came to know Alizeh's back?

"Mom how.."

"Cut it! You know I have my own sources. But tell me is that the case?"

"No! She mean nothing to me. She is just working for the new merge my company has been a part of. Nothing more."

Rodaba wasn't surprised that how casually he was talking about his wife whom he met after five long year. He was trying to act nonchalant but she could see through every facade he put on.

"That's why you gave her a separate cabin while all other designers are working at a different place?"

He closed his eyes in irritation. Imad was so dead.

"Don't even think of firing Imad or else I'll throw you out of this house."

He sighed when she cupped his face.

"Why you are running away from the truth? You still have feelings for her. Your denying your Dado and always making an issue whenever she is suggesting a proposal for you isn't just because you don't want to marry again. It's because you don't want to give Alizeh's place to anyone. You still want her back in your life."

"That's not true Mom!"

"How much will you lie to me? Forget about me but at least be truthful to yourself. You were wrong five years back to let go off her and after all these years you are still wrong. The matter could be solved. We all could have lived like a family but Your anger and Alizeh's stubbornness made things worse. Ego doesn't take you anywhere Shehri. You have played this ego game very well last time. Don't do it now. Give yourself a chance. Give her a chance. Everything will be back to normal."

She looked right in his eyes and continued.

"And if you think by bringing Alizeh back to this house will be not accepted by Dado and Samia then don't worry. I'll take care of them. I know the path of finding this relation again isn't easy but you can try. "

He didn't say anything. What would he tell her that Alizeh had demanded a divorce from him and was all ready to start a fresh with Umair. His mother would be sad to know the path to togetherness wasn't easy.

Nodding his head lightly he called Farhat's name who rushed towards his room. Kissing Rodaba's forehead he instructed her caregiver about her breakfast and medicine and marched out of the room.

Rodaba looked at him with a smile. She didn't know why but her heart was saying things will soon be fine. Happiness will soon be back.

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With a bad headache she hired an auto completely ignoring the breakfast she was supposed to have to make herself feel better. But right now her breakfast was concern instead her mind was continuously thinking of the person who could solve all her problems with his one nod. If only he tried to understand her. And she was determined to make him agree to this divorce anyway.

May be it was futile once again. May be she was just banging her head on a brick wall where only she would get hurt but she wasn't backing down without a fight. He wasn't getting anything by keeping her close. The relation was only namesake between them. So calling it off and breaking the ties without further ado was in everyone's best interest. She would try her best to make him agree. She would have to otherwise the bumpy road ahead towards a long strenuous court proceeding was awaiting her.

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He had just taken a sip of his black sugarless coffee when someone barged inside his cabin. He was about to give the person a piece of his mind but stopped seeing Alizeh standing in front of him playing with her fingers. And indication that she was about to start a conversation he won't like.

"You have lost your way to your cabin or wanted to see me first in the morning?"

She glared at him but his smile didn't fade.

"You remember when I came to you a few days back? I'm here again to demand the same thing."

She looked at him confidently after finishing but he was the same. Least interest in what she was saying.

"Yes I remember that meeting and also what you demanded from me but do you remember what my answer was? It is still the same."

Her insides filled with fury listening to him.

"You are just dragging this thing Shehryar. Don't make me repeat the same things I've mentioned a thousand times."

"Then don't."

He replied calmly.

"This relation is not going anywhere!"

"Talk about yourself. I'm quite happy with it."

"Happy?"

She clenched her jaw and came close to him.

"You didn't even see my face all these years and you say you are happy? What kind of stubbornness is this?"

Her shrill voice broke the calm composer he was supporting. Standing up he came close to her but still keeping a distance between them.

"What happened so suddenly Alizeh? You know I would never divorce you if you are doing all this for Umair then why you are again bringing this topic here?"

She pushed him away as if even standing at a distance to him wasn't acceptable to her.

"Everything isn't about Umair! I'm not doing this for myself or him. I want this divorce at any cost. My mother wants to see me happy. I have already hurt her so much! I can't do it anymore! Why can't you understand?"

In her fury she didn't notice the glint his eyes were showing. Bringing her close to him he said now in a gentle way.

"So it is the reason. You are doing this for your mother? You don't love Umair right?"

"That's my personal matter."

"And I think nothing is more personal that a husband don't you think?"

"No! You are no one to me. Just finish it and let me live in peace Shehryar. My life isn't easy already and you are making it more difficult. Why seeing me all broken gives you so much happiness?"

His heart pricked at this. But without showing it to her he asked in a very gentle way shocking her and him both.

"If that's the case then why don't you come back to me Alizeh. We can start a fresh."

Her eyes widen at his out of the blue suggestion. They and back together? This man had completely lost it.

"Are you drunk or your brain isn't functioning today? It's not possible."

"And why is that so? We both will try our best Alizeh. You can do this much don't you? After all I'm your husband."

He said softly trying to make his point clear. She shook her head vigorously like a stubborn kid.

"No! No! The hell no!"

He took two steps forward and pulled her distraught form in his arm. His touch was soothingly disturbing. She shook her head with a tear rolling down her cheek when he wiped it with his thumb-pad cupping her face. She looked up in his eyes and found something akin to what she was used to seeing in hers.

A pain. A longing.

He didn't know what took over him. Seeing her this close after so long had made him senseless. Without thinking anything else and shutting his mind he just did what his heart told him to. Pulling her close and comforting her.

She was still. The struggle was leaving her body as if she had found a solace she was yearning from so long. Her mind was asking her to push him away but her heart did a little protest after being this close to him after so long. She closed her eyes feeling the warmth after like ages. His lips were inches apart from her and the breath was fanning her face.

They were so close. And it felt right. Strangely right.

She was about to lose the last bit of her control when the flashes of the painful past swirled on the reel of her mind. Her eyes flashed open and the next moment she pushed him back. He stumbled but soon regained his composure. His eyes flashed with hurt but he masked it immediately.

She wanted to kill herself for allowing him to come this close. How could she forget he was most probably trying breaking her resolve. Had she forgotten the past? This was wrong on so many levels. This man had always done this. He knew how to make her weak and she wouldn't give him this chance anymore.

Project be damned.

Divorce be damned.

Job be damned.

Right now she just wanted to be away from him.

"This is .."

She bit her lips to stop a shuddering breath.

"I'm done here. I'm not working here anymore. I can't do this anymore. I'm resigning."

She breathed heard and left his cabin with a bang. He dropped himself on the chair placing his hands on his face.

All this got messed up than it already was.

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