Chapter 24 A

He licked his lips and convinced himself, "Haan yahi hoga! Kyuki yehhh to ho ...ho hi ...nahi nahi sakta", he ended stuttering.

Few Hours Later, Khan Villa

Dilshad was arranging her wardrobe when Zoya entered while saying in single breath, "Yeh Tamatar kaha chali gayi...dikh hi nahi rahi aaj hi to exams khatam...", before she continued Dilshad interrupted.

"Bas!! Aram se...I know her exams have ended today and you want to spend a lawwwt of time with her but she has gone for an outing with her friends", Dilshad spilled out stretching the word lot as lawwt.

"But college ka last day bhi hai to pata nahi friends se kab mile..haina", Dilshad logically replied at which Zoya agreed.

"Waise aap kya kar rahi thi?", she hesitantly asked when Dilshad again turned towards the cupboard in search of something.

"Nothing. I was just searching something", Dilshad answered while finding something in the almirah.

Zoya asked immediately, "main help karu apki"

Dilshad turned at the same time, "Nahi!"

Zoya scrunched her brows at which Dilshad said, "Kyuki mujhe mil gaya baba", she smiled looking at Zoya who took a breath.

"Aap bahut darati hai", she pouted when her eyes fell on a box in Dilshad's hands.

Zoya became confused looking at it when Dilshad taunted, "Indian kapde to honge nahi aapke paas...Chand raat me pehenne"

"Nahi ...I will buy them online", Zoya assured.

"Koi zaroorat nahi hai...sit here", Dilshad forcefully made her sit near her and opened the box in her hand.

It has a red net dupatta with sparkle beads on it and a border of zardozi and kudan with a white anarkali suit with a light work and its sleeves neck with a pink border.

Dilshad was smiling and looking at her but Zoya was confused but Dilshad erased her confusion, "Accha nahi hai?"

"Bahut accha hai phoopie par ...", Zoya being hesitant wasn't accepting the dress when Dilshad ordered, "Par war kuch nahi...you are going to wear this and its final"

"Okay Judge sahiba!", Zoya giggled and continued, "Waise why did you bought it for me...main leleti na"

Dilshad became serious at this and started looking here and there and replied, "Mene ye tumhare liye nahi liya tha", and gasped.

"Then...kiske liye liya tha", Zoya genuinely asked.

Dilshad looked at her with wide eyes when she again asked and was searching words as she had bought this suit for the girl to whom she wanted as her daughter-in-law, her son's LOVE. But her dream shattered to gift the suit with a crash done by a vehicle in few minutes with Aseemah's death.

"Nahi...wo bas aise hi banw...banwa liya tha...to bas...", Dilshad lied not looking into her eyes and moved towards the wardrobe and closed it.

At which Zoya nodded in affirmation and said, "thik hai I will wear this...thanks a lot Phuppie"

"Don't say thanks...Ho sakta hai uspar tumhara hi naam likha ho allah ne", Dilshad spilled out looking outside the window.

"Main jaaun? Actually mujhe kaam tha to...", Zoya asked.

Dilshad nodded and called her from behind, "It has shrinked, can you leave the dress in laundry?"

"Sure Phuppie!", Zoya replied.

"And don't forget to take the driver and car", Dilshad strictly ordered.

"Okay baba", Zoya giggled and left.

Dilshad Constructions,

Since the whole day, Asad was absent minded in the office, he has cancelled all the meetings and appointments for today, and in fact he has strictly ordered Prasad to not let anyone enter his cabin and forwarding any phone calls as well.

He was looking from French window of his cabin; he could witness the lake which was roaring like a tiger with its streams. He too was the sailor of stormy streams of a lake called life, with loads of ups and downs in it.

The questions inside him were still constant, that why was hiding such a big truth with her, which was somehow related to her. Why was he caring for her so much? Why ? this was the only word roaming to the core of his mind.

He was waiting for his answers and the night on which he was going to disclose the truth of Aseemah in Zoya's eyes. He has always believed that moon was his strength and he was waiting for his strength. And somewhere in the heart, to know the feeling he has in his mind for her.

Somewhere On the Road,

Zoya was passing the deserted area of the city, which was more or less a forest kind of place and she was sitting inside the car on the back seat.

"Phuppie ne pata nahi wo dress kiske liye liya tha?", she confusingly thought and continued, "Anyways! Liya hoga kisi ke liye...maine to laundry pe daal diya"

She bit her lower lip and thought, "Is chand raat mujhe mera jawab milega na?"

"Ya Allah! Where you have taken me? Kuch nahi pata mujhe na abbu na ammi in fact ab to khud ko bhi nahi jaanti jaise main"

She closed her eyes tightly and thought, "Mujhe abbu ko dhundhna hai bas...", and she completed, "Aur Chand raat ka wait karna hai"

She was looking here and there when the car stopped with a thud.

"Why did you stopped the car?", Zoya questioned the driver.

"Shayad kuch problem hai car mein main check kar leta hoon", he replied at which Zoya nodded in affirmation.

The driver opened the bonnet to check the car and after examining it came to the window where Zoya was sitting.

"Ma'am engine oil khatam ho gaya hai...koi mechanic nahi milega aaspaas", he said.

"Oh no!! tumhe check karna chahiye na pehle...", Zoya replied and frightened Zoya tried to call Asad so he can send the car for her but the deserted area hasn't had the signal.

"Huh!! Ab kya karu main...", she cupped her mouth being frightened and due to extremely fearful, she blasted on the driver "What are you doing here? Go and search the mechanic"

"Ma'am I can't leave you alone at this place", He replied.

"I'm ordering you ...Go!!", she roared, so he left her alone and ran to search mechanic and come back soon.

Khan Villa,

"What?", Asad become numb as Dilshad has called him to come home because Zoya hasn't come back from so long and on the top of that, at such a late hour.

He rubbed his face and Dilshad worried, "Kaha ja sakti hai...meri galti hai mujhe nahi bhejna tha"

"Isme aapki kya galati Ammi! Wo to waise bhi ja hi rahi thi", Najma consoled her.

And the same time they all heard the car has stopped in the parking lot they took a deep sigh of relief and came at the main door. Asad was furious at her irresponsibility to not inform anyone at home about coming late in the night but when they came outside Zoya was nowhere. They could only see the driver.

The driver was gasping heavily when Asad asked, "Where is Zoya?"

He lowered his eyes and didn't answer but Asad held collar and clenched his jaw, "I'm asking you something where the hell is Zoya?"

"I don't know", he grabbed the strength to spill it out.

All the three pair of eyes widened and Asad shrugged him holding his collar, "What the hell are you saying?"

The same time the phone inside the house rang and Najma left thinking it might be Zoya's call, may be to inform where is she.

The driver narrated everything and completed, "Aur jab main mechanic lekar aya Madam waha nahi thi", when he ended Asad again shrugged him from his collar, "Tum use akela chodkar gaye kyu?", he was about to punch the driver when Najma stopped him and said, "Zoya ka pata chal gaya hai", this might be a satisfactory news but the red puffy eyes of Najma were saying an another story.

"Kaha?", he asked.

Zoya was roaming here and there waiting for the driver but the dim sky was indicating her that night was in the way and she couldn't let herself alone in such a deserted place especially after the Registrar office incident. So waiting for about half an hour she decided to walk.

She walked few steps in the evening the darkness was over lapping the sky and she kept walking but the light was so dim and the same time a ray of headlight beamed on her face which dazzled her eyes. She put her arm on her face and the car hit her leg. She rolled down on the floor and her head hit the nearby tree which helped her to stop rolling down too.

A/N: Late And Short Update? Yes!! Because my College has started and I've to pay attention more on my Post Graduation and the constant assignment more  But It doesn't mean that I will Not be updating, indeed I'll update all my stories but may be in a long intervals.

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Thank You

Aditi