Chapter 21

Asad gently but quickly released himself from Zoya's tight hold and left the room and tried to leave without making noise. He left but an unusual feeling forced Zoya to take herself back from the slumber. She found herself in her room although she knew that she was last time in the backyard when the slumber engulfed her.

Her gaze fell on the door of the room which was just closed and was waving. She tried to join the dots and finally reached to the result that Asad has took her to the room, so she can sleep peacefully.

Zoya shuffled her hairs and whispered in her mind, "What are you Mr. Khan? Hurt bhi karte hain aur---", she paused for second and rolling her eyes she continued herself, "Aur care bhi", and she finally pressed her lips while massaging her temples.

In the Morning, it was the time for Fazar when Asad was praying, cupping his hands and was sitting on a piece of red cloth in the position of namaaz.

"Ya Allah! Ye mujhe kya ho raha hai? Kyuki main Zoya ki taraf khicha chala jata hoon. Ye jante hue bhi ke ye galat hai", He pressed his lips and paused for a second.

And he finally continued, "I want to know, who she is? Kya uska koi talluq hai Aseemah se ya ye sirf ek co-incidence hai. Please help me Allah! Tell me, what is she for me? Just the face to whom I love, Aseemah's face or is she something more for me."

Asad stopped himself when the last line stroke his mind and rested in the same position with astonishment and confusion that what did come to his mind.

Zoya has completed her namaaz and has just opened the door of her room to fetch some water from the kitchen. But found Asad in his room praying. She was astounded as she has never expected the man of tehzeeb and tameez can pray to God, on the contrary, he has hurts people.

"Double standard behavior!!", she murmured in her mind and sighed, "I don't know how many colors of him are remain to witness"

Zoya shrugged her head and didn't disturb him as she has decided to maintain distance from him and behave normally with other members of the house, as she didn't want to hurt her Phuppie and best friend Najma, just because of Asad.

~~**~~

Days passed, and Asad and Zoya were the two people living in the same house like strangers. Everything was like black and white between them; the clank of knives and forks was the only sound any one could here in the presence of Asad and Zoya together. But if something which was common for them were the two most important ladies of Khan Villa and the ultimate motive to find Zoya's abbu.

Zoya didn't want to take Asad's help to search her abbu, as they were on square 1, even she knew that she couldn't succeed without Asad's help, but being stubborn she rejected his help.And the days were passing in the clasp of fingers.

One Night, Dilshad decided to take the matter in her hold and discuss this matter with Asad and Zoya together.

"Phuppie! I'm sorry, but I can't take", the stubborn Zoya paused in between to take a sigh and continued, "Take help with him", and she passed an angry glare to him at which he lowered his eyes.

"Zoya! Try and understand, without him you can't achieve your goal", Dilshad tried to explain her but she denied while arguing, "Why Phuppie? Why can't I achieve my goal without his help? Pehle bhi main try kar rahi thi na", and she emphasized the word HIS for Asad.

"Haan! Try kar rahi thi but you succeeded to know about your nanu after Asad's help only", Dilshad too argued.

"It was just a co-incidence Phuppie! Aur waise bhi I've clues about my identity", Zoya gave a lame reason.

Dilshad stepped forward in her direction and tried to explain her, "Zoya!! It's not a subject to being stubborn. I know you have clues but Asad have sources"

Zoya pressed her lips and announced, "Aap mujhse kuch bhi maang lein phuppie, but I wouldn't take his help", she finished while glaring at Asad.

Zoya rolled her eyes while taking a deep sigh and said calmly, "Ye mere self-respect ki baat hai, aur beizzat nahi hona chahti main"

Her eyes were moist and couldn't get unnoticeable by Asad, who was feeling ashamed for her tears and on the contrary she was confused that why her eyes get moist, for her insult or for something else.

Zoya with the motive to not show her tears to anyone was about to leave when Dilshad asked from her back, "I know for a girl like you, self-respect matters a lot, but what about the matter of your identity?"

Zoya turned back and kept listening Dilshad who gulped down and moving forward in Zoya's direction. Dilshad rested her hand on Zoya's shoulder and said, "You belong to this city but you don't nothing about it, not even this country. Asad janta hai is jagah ko, yaha ke logon ko, tum nahi janti Zoya"

Zoya closed her eyes tightly and declared after opening them, "I agree. I don't know anything about this city but isse mere mission ka koi connection nahi hai. Nahi janti main abhi but dhire dhire jaan jaungi, iske lie mujhe kisi ki help ki jarurat nahi hai"

"Thik hai I'll not force you, but in future, if you need any help from him then you can ask. And I promise he will never behave as he did before", Dilshad assured her.

"Iski zaroorat nahi padegi Phuppie. Apko baar baar kisi aur ki wajah se regretful hote hue main nahi dekh sakti", she replied as she was commented on Asad and marched from the spot.

Dilshad massaged her temples when she heard Asad's voice at which she turned, "She has clues, how will I get to know about her link with ---", and he stopped in between without taking Aseemah's name.

~~**~~

Next Noon, Zoya was trying to connect a phone call but her phone get hang a day back so she was in the shopping mall to buy an another one. She checked few cell phones and collected some other stuff and was about to leaving the mall, being lost in the last night conversation with Dilshad, she collided with someone and her stuff destined to the floor.

"Oh I'm so sorry Ma'am!!", the guy apologized.

"It's okay I too wasn't in my senses", she replied back and they lifted up their face to pass a gentle smile and Zoya replied, "Thank you for helping me to pick the bags"

She left and the guy who was none else then Ayaan, Asad's step brother, was numb after seeing her. He couldn't even replied her and left aghast but when she left he whispered, "Aseemah!!"

Zoya was leaving the spot casually when Ayaan ran towards her and blocked her way at which she scrunched her brow and asked, "Excuse me!!"

"As-Aseemah!!", he again mumbled this much and was standing like a stone in front of her.

Zoya creased her brows again and said, "I'm sorry but I'm not Aseemah, I think you are mistaken", and she was again about to leave finding a way but he again blocked her path and replied, "No I'm not!"

Zoya pressed her lips and exclaimed, "Dekhiye! Main apse keh rahi hoon main koi Aseemah waseemah nahi hoon, ek baar mein baat samajh nahi ati apko"

"No it's not possible. The same face, I can't be mistaken in recognizing you", Ayaan tried to explain her and cupped his face. He held her hand and said, "Come with me--"

But before he could continue, she jerked his hand off and yelled, "Stop it! Main koi Aseemah nahi hoon main Zoya hoon, have you lost it Mr. Loafer"

Her loud voice forced the guard of the mall approached her and warned Ayaan to let her go and she left with the bulk of anger.

"How is it possible? I've to contact Bhai!", Ayaan mumbled in his mind.

~~**~~

Zoya entered Khan Villa in annoyance and threw the shopping bags on the couch and picked a glass filled of water and gulped it down in a single go.

"Loafer kahi ka!", Zoya muttered in regards of Ayaan and shrugged her head while pressing her lips.

Najma noticed that and asked, "Woho!! Calm down why you are burning with anger. Kisne aapki shaan mein Gustakhi kar di ab", and teased her a bit.

Zoya passed a glare to Najma and rested her hands on her belly and asked, "Yeh Bhopal ke sare ladko ne kasam khayi hai mujhe pareshan karne ki?"

"Hahahah! Nahi you are a special case", Najma taunted and chuckled.

"Teri to!!", Zoya replied.

"Accha sorry sorry! Tell me what happen now", Najma asked and rescued herself from her anger.

Zoya rolled her eyes and narrated the whole incident of shopping mall and ended herself, "I know he was a flirt loafer, they used to call any girl with random names and annoy them", and twisted her mouth.

"Name?", Najma asked obliviously.

"Yeah!! What was he saying...ya Aseemah", Zoya informed her recognizing the name which vanished the colors from Najma's face and it became pale.

"Ab tumhe kya hua hai?", Zoya shrugged her shoulder to take her back to senses at which Najma licked her lips.

"No-nothing! By the way who was he?", Najma tried to skim whole information from Zoya.

"How do I know yaar", Zoya answered.

"I mean kaisa dikhta tha wo, uske kapde wagerah", Najma again tried.

"Loafer types, black jacket, long and messy hairs eeks!!", Zoya replied but she continued to ask, "But why are you inspecting about him Madam?"

"Nahi bas aise hi", Najma said and changed the topic, "Zoya you must be tired na, have some rest"

"Yeah! You are right", Zoya smiled and collected all her bags from the couch and marched.

"Wo zaroor Ayaan Bhaijaan they. I've to inform Ammi and Bhai", Najma mumbled in her mind and pressed her lips.

In the Night, Najma informed Asad and Dilshad about Ayaan's and Zoya's co-incidental meeting and how Ayaan called Zoya as Aseemah.

Asad connected a phone call to Ayaan, "I want to meet you"

"Me too. I wanted to let you know something", Ayaan seriously said.

"I know about that", Asad answered.

Ayaan scrunched his brow and grab the nearby bean bag to have a seat, "But how?"

"Ayaan meet me at our place!", Asad replied.

"And yes don't discuss about this with anyone", Asad continued and was about to disconnect the phone call when Ayaan asked, "But Bhai"

Before he could complete Asad ended the call while saying, "I'll tell you everything but not now. Got it?"

"Yeah! Allah Hafiz", Ayaan bided a goodbye.

"Allah Hafiz", replied back while disconnecting the call.

Asad kept the phone on his table and caressed his temples, "Thank god Ayaan hasn't informed her anything about Aseemah. And thank you Allah, that he was just Ayaan.", he looked at the skies and thanked to the god.

And the same time a second thought came to his mind, "What if it was someone else?"

He hid his face in his palms with stress and left like this.

~~**~~

On the other side, Zoya who has forgotten about Ayaan's incident, taking it as a usual flirt guy's words. But Dilshad's last night words were echoing in her ears constantly.

"Was Phuppie right? Am I not able to search my Abbu alone?", Zoya thought in her mind and stepped towards her window.

She could easily admire the full moon, her best companion from the window. The moon, who has always answered her, fulfilled her wishes and supported her.

"Nanajaan ko Abbu kyu qubool nahi they? Aur ye baat janne ke liye mujhe nanajaan ke bare mein pata karna padega. I don't is he even alive or not. Nahi, to koi to hoga--", Zoya tried to join the dots but couldn't get answer.

"I don't even know my Nanu's name", she smacked her head and rested her elbow on window sill.

Thinking, for few minutes she tilted her head up and thought, "Registrar office! Yes, through registrar office I can know my nanu's name, who was he", a wide smile curved on her lips with tears in her eyes and she thanked to Allah Miyan chanting some hymns looking at the skies.

~~**~~


Next Morning, Zoya was standing outside the registrar office to know about the real and the first owner of the Badi Haveli, who was none else than her Nanajaan.

She found the watchman outside the office so she asked, "I wanted information about the real owner of the bungalow. I mean his name and where does he live now. Can you help me?"

"You can meet the clerk but hatheli garam karni padegi", he said while rubbing his palm.

"What?", Zoya amusingly asked.

"Ab pata lagana hai to thoda--", he indicated towards his pocket as he was asking for the bribe.

Zoya opened her mouth knowing what he wanted to say. She being astonish asked, "You are asking for bribe"

"Madam! Bacchon ki mithai ko rishwat nahi kehte. Thoda sa nazrana hai bas", he said with grin.

"Allah Miyaan what's wrong with you? Andar complaint karu tumhari", she threatened him.

He laughed and informed in a low voice, "Madam andar to aur jyada lagegi, apki bribe"

She threw the money on her face and knocked the door of the officer's cabin.

"Yes!", he allowed her.

Zoya entered inside the cabin and said while handling over the address of the Badi Haveli, "Hello Sir! I wanted to seek some information about the real and first owner of this bungalow."

She scrunched her brows when she noticed that the officer caress her palm while taking the paper and photograph from her. She took it as a mistake and tried to concentrate on her goal.

"Years back; my nanajaan was the real owner of this haveli. I'm here because he has transferred the registry of the bungalow to someone else. But registrar office keep the records so I can know about m---", she stopped in between when she noticed that the registrar officer kept stepped forward to her and leaned on the table resting his palm on the table near Zoya's.

"Excuse me!", Zoya left the chair immediately and exclaimed.

He took back his arm and kept coming forward to her at which she screamed loud, "Kya badtamizi hai ye!!"

"Aap jaisi khoobsurat ladkiya kam hi aati hain yaha. Ab ayi hai to thoda jee bhar ke dekh lene dijiye", He grinned with a mischievous smile and kept moving forward but her eyes fell on her bag she hit his head from the bag and ran as fast as she could.

"Someone stop her!!", he yelled and ran behind Zoya but she succeeded in coming outside the registrar office and kept running in the crowd.

Zoya has left the watchman of the registrar office behind with her tricks, but still she was scared. The tears were still flowing from her eyes; even she knew that they have stopped following her. But her hands were still shivering, tears were flowing from her eyes, and she was gasping loudly.

She inspected that she was in a crowd park she took a bench to hide herself as she has suffered something like this first time. She rested her head on the bench and with shivering hands she dialed a number to call.

~~**~~

"What Look alike?, Ayaan exclaimed when Asad narrated the whole scenario about Zoya.

"It's such a filmy story", he continued.

"Hmm!!", Asad agreed but Ayaan asked, "But I didn't get one thing, why didn't you inform her about Aseemah?"

Asad pressed his lips and said, "I can't. tum unhe jante nahi ho, jante to tum samajhte, how curious she is"

"Okay!! And she rejected to take your help in this process, then how will you come to know about her...I mean is she related to Aseemah or not", Ayaan asked confusingly.

"Huh! I hope this time Ammi's belief in miracle comes true", Asad has just answered him when his phone buzzed.

He scrunched his brows as it was unexpected to get the call from the caller.

"Hello! Ms. Farooqui!!", Asad received the call and whispered.

And a voice filled with cry and fear reached his ears, "Mr. -Mr. Khan!!"

A/N: Phew!! Not proof read so pardon!! After writing the update even I was not at all confident, because I'm writing after a month approx. So Criticisms are welcome with open arms  and feel free to point out the faults. 

Aditi