Zara went strolling around from one painting to another while kept an eye out for Aly's Aunt her new boss who forever wanted to fix her with one guy or the other.
Zara wanted to be direct with her but she was always nice to her friend. Initially she had tried to fix her with Aly but at that time he was dating another girl and it turned out they got along better as friends. The exhibit seemed very nice and she liked the theme as well.
Being a painter and an aspiring art coordinator she could tell that Aunt Ivana was good at her job. Each and every piece was chosen with care and then she finally found the Hussain's piece which Aly was talking about and yes it was very distinct. Hussain had beautifully captured the magnanimous Madhuri Dixit and she looked dazzling dancing and smiling, a smile that could break hundreds of heart and then portrayed her simultaneously seated behind the prison bars as well as leaning over them. The painting lifted her spirits and made her smile and suddenly she heard some commotion, so she finally turned back to find one of the dogs humping on a man just behind her and she looked out for Aly rushing over to pull the dog and save the man who had started cursing.
'Hey Scooby, no!'
' Common! Get off,' said Zara as she tried to pull the dog form the man's leg who was standing and trying to get the dog off.
'Get off, oh for fucks sake , put the dog on leech' said the man furiously. .
'I am sorry, common Scooby, get down boy.'
'Nice Scooby, come here no wait Scootie,' she yelled as the other wolfhound jumped over the guy who had fallen down.
The situation could not have become any worse . Aly finally came running over to rescue the guy along with Aunt Ivana.
A crowd started forming around them and she started feeling a bit claustrophobic so she fought though the crowd to get away and catch some air.
She figured that Aly would take some time dealing with the situation so she halted near the entrance doors to catch her breath when someone pushed her and she fell on the ground.
'Oh, i am so sorry I didn't see you ,' said someone.
Zara looked up to see a very tall guy who held out his hand to help her stand up.
As he pulled her up, he started smiling and giving her the look. A look she knew very well and just said "'no worries,'
She felt uncomfortable from his stares and decided to flee when the guy stood infront of her and said 'Hi, I am Martin.'
Zara just looked up at him and said ' Zara, thanks for helping me,' and gave a plain formal smile just to be polite and gestured him to let her pass.
'Um, would you like to go out for drinks with me, you see i am new here and don't know anyone and it would be nice to know a face here,' asked Martin.
Zara looked at him and said, 'Sorry, i am busy and i am late for somewhere.'
'Well, i am here for a week and we can meet for one of the days this week, when you free.'
Zara thought that the guy was being very persistent and looked around for Aly to hurry up so they could leave while she said, 'I am leaving town this week, if you will excuse me now.'
She looked over Martin's shoulders and saw Aly heading towards them with Aunt Ivana and a group of other people.
She figured it was probably the guy who got attacked by the dogs and a lady.
While they were approaching Zara noticed the guy who got attacked looked quite angry but seemed attractive and exhibited some aura as he had a confident walk and a smoldering look on his face. She then saw a beautiful girl walking beside him holding his suit jacket and tie.
Aly as usual was laughing and talking to them with the dogs who were now on their leach.
She walked over to them smartingly ignoring Martin who had started following her and while she approached them she made an eye contact with the guy who still looked pissed but then stared at her. When she stopped infront of them he just acknowledged her with more stares and looked at Aly and Aunt Ivana expecting them to introduce her to him as if they were his subjects.
This made her a little wary but then she looked down and again looked up and still found him staring at her, still smouldering.
Before Aunt and Ally could say anything Zara said taking out her hand, looking directly into his dark eyes,
'Hi, I am Zara.'
She felt little uncomfortable, but she tried to keep her calm as he finally shook her hand and said, 'Leo, nice to meet you. Thanks for trying to help me but you ran away leaving your dogs slobbering all over me.'
Zara, finally broke the eye contact and said, 'They aren't mine, they are Aly's and we they weren't just slobbering , they..... ' She quickly stopped talking and looked away to his left to the beautiful blond standing next to him who was smiling at her.
'Hi, I am Ash. I know you, you were my junior in Saint Martin's Academy. How are you ?'
'Hey, I see, it's nice to meet you. Sorry I don't remember you. So you went to the same school as me in London,' acknowledged Zara.
She remembered Ash as she was the most popular girl in their school but used to have dark hair and she suspected that she is probably the angry guys girlfriend. Wait what was his name again Leo, yeah Leo.
She looked back at him and found him looking at her but then looked away Aly started speaking to the two. It seemed like they knew each other.
Ofcourse they did else why would they be here.
Zara suddenly got a call and saw there were dozens of messages from Ray and the landlord.
She left the group to speak to Ray, who was shouting on the phone.
'Hold on Ray, What? seriously. Okay, I am heading home,' said spoke quietly into her phone.
She could feel eyes on her even though her back was turned. She walked back to the group ignoring a set of certain person's eyes and told Aly, while avoiding the the rest.
'I have to get going, something urgent came up. It was nice meeting you all and Thanks Aunt Ivana.'
'Take care dear, and please take out time this week to meet me, I have something to discuss with you,' said Aunt Ivana who gave a side smile looking at Leo.
Knowing Aunt Ivana Zara could hardly guess what her next agenda would be, that is to introduce her with someone but surely she will avoid meeting her or she caught the angry guy staring at her or whatever went between them.
She just nodded and started to walk away when she heard the mascular guy calling her,
'Hey Zara, can i have your number,' said Martin
Zara stopped and looked back rather uncomfortably at him. It seemed he was part of the group and said ," Yeah sure," and suddenly heard Leo say" Ash," and something which she could not hear and left as soon she had given her number to Martin.
It had started to drizzle outside but she had no time to wait it out and started walking hurriedly towards home.