When Fire Meets Ice - Completed.

100. L O V E - I I I

A H A D

A MONTH LATER;

Goa.

Beaches always had a sense of making you exhale. Especially after a draining flight, when the evening moist wind brushed past us, there was nothing more I could've asked for.

Inaya was beside me, directing the serviceman to unload our bags from the vehicle. I walked forward a little, smelling the salt that trailed from near the shore.

Kaif, Zara, Ahmed, and Sasha were already near the resort entrance, chatting and laughing while they awaited us.

The plan for this trip had been one of those last moment ones - where an absolutely random idea is born and then as if the time itself lapsed, the preparations, departure and stay are managed.

Money simply made it tenfold easier.

The past month had been comfortable, but with a bit of work-pressure. My company, and Inaya's, both had suffered due to our prolonged absence from the matter. We had been occupied with smoothing those disruptions.

Mr. Ilyas had stayed for a week and left after finalising the details of the deal. And then it was just lots of family time, and work.

And now, as the companies were declared on a leave for an ongoing major Hindu festival, we had ended up landing in Goa, for which we had planned just yesterday and departed for this morning.

"Done?" I murmured to Inaya who hummed from beside me, adding, "they'll deliver the luggage."

And as naturally as breathing, her fingers slipped through mine before she interlaced them together. God, more than one year with her, and yet, her mere touch rendered me flustered like never before.

The place we were to stay at was beautiful. White stone pathways stretched through rows of swaying coconut palms. Warm yellow lanterns had already begun glowing as evening settled over the property, leading towards cottages scattered across the landscape.

We neared the rest of them, just then, Ahmed spoke up, "Bhai? What took you so long?"

"He's getting old now, so bear with it," Kaif joined in almost immediately, refusing to let go of such an opportunity before beginning to advance inside.

"One more word and you're swimming back to Mumbai through this very sea," I declared, keeping a straight face.

Zara chuckled beside me, adding, "His humour is Inaya's influence."

Kaif gave her a betrayed look. "You're supposed to be on my side."

We laughed at that before entering the lobby. Ahmed moved to the reception, taking the cards of each of our suites.

"Three joined villas at the back end, sir, he will guide you," she explained, gesturing to one of the workers nearby.

Just as we began to follow, a voice, or a call to be precise halted all of us as the person called out, "Ahad!"

I turned first, Inaya's hand still held loosely in mine.

The woman looked familiar but I couldn't quite place where and when I had seen her. She neared us with a smile and I caught the badge on her uniform, 'Manager'.

I frowned but managed a polite smile. Kaif was beside me then before he whispered discreetly, "Man, She's the C.R."

C.R?

Oh. The memories flashed in like a tape playing. She was the class representative during our third year of graduation.

I didn't recall her name, but I at least knew she was one from the business batch.