She had awakened. He wasn't there when her eyes had opened, and she deduced he might

have left long ago. She sat up. A feeling of a lingering kiss on her forehead got to her, making

her rub her forehead frantically when her eyes fixed on the ring on her finger. She had

never dared take it off after that trauma of being thrown down from a building.

"I hate you," she said to herself, "I hate you so much, Shehryaar," and rubbed her forehead

again until it turned red. "Change my name if I marry ...