SOON...

"I need you to be Zaya's fake boyfriend" Mrs. Salma said to him.

"You are the only man who stands a chance with Kabir. Kabir is intimidated by you because of the aura you carry," Mrs. Salma added.

"Well, say no more," Zafar said while smirking, looking at Zaya.

"Zafar? My fake boyfriend?" Zaya said out loud in oblivion.

"What? Are you scared that you'll fall in love with me?" Zafar teased.

"As if!" Zaya muttered.

"You guys are such a cute couple!" Rahila said.

"Thank you." Zafar said.

"We are not a couple," Zaya pointed out.

"Oh!" Rahila said in realization.

"Mother-in-law, what do you have in mind?" Zaya asked.

"I want you and Zafar to be a fake couple and make Kabir jealous. Acting like you don't care and going out with Zafar will make Kabir jealous. When he sees that you aren't giving him the attention he used to know, he will become concerned and will probably look for solace in Lara, but she won't be around. He would call his siblings, but they won't give him a listening ear because he never did with them when they were advising him on how to treat Zaya. Out of frustration, he will ask Roy for help, but Roy, like his siblings, will not have any help to give." Mrs. Salma explained.

"I don't know how this will solve the problem," Salem added afterward.

"Salem, Kabir is a very competitive man and once he sees that Zaya is being taken care of by Zafar, he would want to win her back and make her his. Then, it will be Zaya's turn to play hard to get," Mrs Salma explained further.

"I think this just might work." Rahila commented.

"It is a great plan…" Lara tried to say as a notification came in on her phone.

"Sorry, excuse me." She apologized and proceeded to check what the notification was about.

Lara let out a smile after checking her phone.

"I just received a message from my manager saying that I have been confirmed to star in the reality show!" Lara announced to them, feeling happy.

"That's great!" Rahila said.

"Congratulations," Zaya added.

The congratulatory message went on for like a minute or so. Everyone was happy for Lara because it meant that the plan would turn out well.

"When are you leaving?" Mira asked.

"Probably before the end of this week or the next," Lara said with uncertainty.

"Do not tell Kabir about your departure," Mrs. Salma said.

"Of course. I do not want Kabir to ever find out. He wouldn't know what hit him!" Lara said as she smirked in satisfaction.

"Good then. I'll keep everyone, especially Zaya, updated on what to do at a particular time. In the absence of no other questions, I bring this meeting to an end. I'll take my leave immediately" Mrs. Salma uttered and stood up to leave as she had said.

Mira and Roy bid everyone goodbye and left after Mrs Salma. Salem and Rahila also said goodbyes before leaving. Soon, the room was left with Zaya, Zafar and Lara.

"Zaya, can I speak to you in private?" Lara said as she made eye contact with Zafar, signaling for him to leave.

"What?" Zafar teased.

"Can you please leave?" Zaya asked politely.

"You should have just said so instead of twitching your eyes like you had a problem with it," Zafar directed his words at Lara while she sighed out loud.

"Fine, I'll leave," Zafar said as he stood up and left the room.

"What do you want to talk about Lara?" Zaya asked, immediately Zafar left.

"I am sincerely sorry, Zaya," Lara started off.

"Why are you sorry, Lara?" Zaya asked, confused.

"I want to apologize for any pain that I have caused you. I am deeply sorry for what I did." Lara said.

"But what did you do, Lara?" Zaya inquired politely.

"I should have stopped Kabir from coming to see me. I should have stood my ground and not let him visit me again. I'm sorry I kept you away from him. I'm sorry you didn't get to spend more time with your husband because of me. I promise it will never happen again. I just hope you can forgive me for it." Lara let out.

All along, Zaya had brewed a little hatred and envy for Lara because she thought that she was the one who ruined her marriage, but getting to find out the real truth at the meeting made her realize that Lara was actually a nice person and was not at fault for everything that happened. Lara was actually apologizing to her.

"Oh Lara, don't worry about it. It is not your fault," Lara said nicely.

"No, it is my fault because if I had told Kabir sternly that I did not want to see him again, he might have listened and let me be. But no! I didn't do anything, I let it go on for so long. I should be blamed for it." Lara explained.

"I know how you feel, Lara, and I also want you to know that I don't hold you responsible for anything that happened. I do not hold a grudge against you and I want you to know that I have forgiven you," Zaya told Lara.

"Are you serious? Are you sure about that? Because if you hate me it would be totally understandable," Lara replied Zaya.

"I have forgiven you sincerely from the bottom of my heart" Zaya said as she placed her hands on Lara's and smiled at her warmly.

"I don't hate you. I hate mosquitoes," Zaya teased Lara.

Lara let out a sigh of relief and proceeded to say

"Oh, thank goodness! I feel so light-hearted after saying this. I finally feel at peace with myself. Thank you, Zaya. I am really grateful."

"It's okay. You are welcome," Zaya commented.

"I would like to take my leave. I need to meet up with my manager," Lara said.

"Oh, that's fine. Let me walk you to the door," Zaya said.

"I would very much appreciate that" Lara added as, they both stood up and headed for the door.

Zaya walked Lara to the front exit and bid her goodbye as she got into her car. Zafar was seated in the waiting area when Zaya walked back inside. She walked up to him and asked,

"Why are you seated here?"

Zafar stood and whispered close to her ears, "I was waiting for my wife."

"I am not your wife!" Zaya protested.

"Sorry, girlfriend. I was waiting for my girlfriend," Zafar teased.

"I…" Zaya hesitated to say. "Am not your girlfriend" she completed.

Zafar let out a light chuckle before saying "Soon…"

"Zaya, my love, soon." Zafar teased as he headed for the exit too.