Chapter 2
"Tere Mere Darmiyan Hai Baatein Ankahi..."
Zoya had just stepped out after a long relaxing shower. Thanks to Mr. Khan and his bipolar behavior, she couldn't shrug off the fact that he looked disappointed when he had thought she was leaving. She felt hopeful after a long time.
Maybe he doesn't hate me as much as I think he does. Maybe he doesn't hate me at all!
But then...
He hadn't really looked jealous when she was talking about Laddu. He looked.... nonchalant. Was she merely imagining his disappointment because that was what she wanted to see?
Her brain froze.
She just realized she was such a fool. She had lied to her best friend just because Mr.Khan had decided to ignore her existence altogether.
What was wrong with her?
She had never been the jealous type. Then, why was she acting like one of those overly possessive, crazy girlfriends when it came to Mr.Khan's and Tanveer's friendship... and why were her eyes starting to tear up?
Knock! Knock!
Allah Miyan, please don't let it be Mr. Khan.
"Come in", Zoya yelled from across the room.
The door slowly opened.
It was Najma.
She sighed in relief. She didn't have it in her to look at his face just now.
"Come dinner's ready", she quietly announced.
Zoya was still chiding herself about how stupid and reckless she had been for lying to her bestie just before she walked out and stopped dead in her tracks.
One look and her heart melted.
He was laughing!
Mr. Akdu Ahmed Khan was actually laughing with his head thrown back. The sight warmed her to her toes.
But much to her distaste, he was laughing with his precious Tanu. She blanched in pain. Her mind flashed to the last time she had seen him that carefree and light hearted. That fateful night in the farmhouse drugged under the effect of bhaang, he had let go of his carefully composed —unemotional at all times — demeanour. And yet everything had changed the next day.Damn!
She tried to clear out the negative thoughts that clouded her mind. But Zoya was Zoya!
She unsuccessfully tripped on her own two left feet and bumped her leg unceremoniously with the dinner table letting out a loud shriek of pure agony.
Asad who had noticed her as soon she stepped out had seen the play of emotions. The flash of happiness on her face followed by a dash of anger mixed with a tint of sadness. He watched her as she abruptly bumped into the dinner table and yelped in pain. He had already started shaking his head when he had seen where was she heading. He made her way towards her as soon as he heard her yelp.
Zoya's entire face was crumpled up in anguish. She had twisted her foot and her whole leg felt numb.
Najma and Dilshad rushed to her aid as soon as they heard her cry.
"Zoya, are you ok beta"
" Yes Phuphi, I'm fine", Zoya lied. It didn't help that her voice cracked.
Asad didn't need to look at her face to know that she was lying. He didn't know why but he was getting more and more angry by the second. Why was she always so careless and clumsy? When will she learn to be careful? He didn't even know when he had started voicing his own thoughts out loud.
"If you don't know how to walk, you might as well stop walking. Always falling and spilling things." he harrumphed in annoyance walking back to his room.
Zoya looked at him hurt, her insecurities flooding back.
Dilshad looked at his son in shock. What was wrong with him? And why was he shooting daggers at her bechari Zoya.
Zoya, who was now being picked up by a flustered Najma, thought maybe having Laddu here wasn't as bad as she thought. For once, she would have her best friend by her side to actually pick her up when she falls and not humph at her with distaste. Sure, she lied to him but she knew he would understand. He always did.
"Are you ok Zoya", Najma said interrupting her inner blabbering.
"Yes, I'm fine. Thanks for asking. I guess I twisted my foot. I'll just put on the muscle relaxant aapi gave me."
"Okay, but be careful next time beta", Dilshad added caressing her cheek lovingly.
"Jee", Zoya sulked limping back to her room.
She tried to concentrate on massaging her foot with the nasty smelling cream aapi gave her. Allah Miyan! How could something smell so nauseating? She would have to shower before she goes to sleep.
After muttering her bad-dua to the makers of the splendid cream, Zoya decided to step out of the room. As nauseating as it was, it really helped. The numbness had now faded away.
But being extra careful this time, Zoya had decided to put her entire focus on her sprained foot as she covered the distance to dinner table whilst looking down. She then bumped into someone and watched the same scene unfold in front of her eyes she had experienced herself not even a minute ago.
Deja-Vu!
Except this time, it was Tanveer who had flew in to play kabaddi with the dining table.
That wretched table!
Her mind hadn't even registered the whole thing yet, when she saw Asad kneeling in front of Tanveer massaging her foot simultaneously yelling at her."Watch where you walk Miss Faaroqui", he had said breathing fire at her like a bloody Godzilla.
Wait what! Godzillas don't breathe fire Zoya, dragons do. Ya, but when has Mr.Khan ever acted normal.But that didn't matter right now. The fact was even real godzillas didn't mess with her. And this one was just some multi- breed after all. Half human, Half dragon, half Godzilla and not to forget a gorilla too.
She had expected hurt and tears when he had looked at her with distaste, but nothing but anger clouded her senses. She was stronger than she thought.
Dilshad decided to intervene yet again. She could see the real fury in her eyes. She knew Asad was at his angry best too.
There would be bloodshed now.
Before Zoya could say something, Dilshad interrupted her with "Zoya give your cream to Tanveer please". Her anger vanished replaced by guilt. She had not only managed to twist her foot again but also hurt poor Tanveer in the process.
"I'm sorry Tanveer. Pata nahi mera dhyaan kahan tha. I really am sorry"
"Its ok Zoya. I know you didn't mean to. I am fine", Tanveer said through a smile.
It was a good thing Zoya's phone had started ringing the next instant because apparently a single sorry hadn't went down well with Jahapanah. Well too bad Mr. Godzilla Ahmed Khan, she seemed to pass on the message with her eyes when she caught him glaring at her.
She tried to focus her mind more on the call rather than Mr. Khan's hand at Tanveer's foot.
It was Ayaan and he was pareshaan. Too. It seemed like the whole Khan family was dukhi nowadays.
"Kya hua Raabart", Zoya asked agitated. Her foot was really starting to bother her now.
Asad almost groaned out loud. Not again! Kabhi Raabart, Kabhi Laddu. Make up your mind woman!
Zoya had assumed Ayaan being tense over some silly matter but it turned out he was actually really upset. He had met Asad the day before and it hadn't went well. She kicked herself for being so ignorant. How could she forget? The case hearing with his Abbu. Was that the reason Mr.Khan was glaring at everyone. Because he had been upset with Ayaan.
"Mona? Mona? You still there."
"Huh oh yeah I umm..nothing. Its ok Raabart don't worry, everything is going to be just fine ok!"
But she could still feel tension on other end of the line.
"Well Isi bast par ek sheyar arz kiya hai", Zoya started in hopes to thaw some stress out
"Don't worry Raabart everything will be fine,
Don't worry Raabart everything will be fine.
Tumahri ye Mona darling,
Laga degi Mr. Six Packs ko on line."
Ayaan cracked a smile on the other end. Yes! Mona darling was surely something else.
"Tum sirf apne Abbu ko protect karne par focus karo, the rest will follow. And don't worry too much about Mr. Muscle head, we will handle him together. Okay!"
"Okay." There was a long pause and then Zoya heard him say thank you in a hushed tone.
She could understand his state of mind, so she didn't force it.
"You take care Raabart"
"I will"
"Over and out"
"Over and out"
She heard her Phuphi asking for the cream again.Oh damn! She had totally forgot about that .
She grabbed the cream from the bed and ran as best as she could with a limp, to hand the cream over to Tanveer who was now sitting on the sofa in the living room.
Zoya couldn't help but notice with a tinge of jealousy that Asad's hand was still rubbing circles on her ankle. She felt her eyes well up again. She broke the silence to distract her mind.
"How are you feeling now?"
"Just fine. Hows your foot?"
"Much better now, Aapi's cream works wonder, although it smells real bad" she added crinkling up her button nose.
"I think you should rest Tanu, I'll send the dinner to your room", Asad said helping her stand up.
"No jammy Its okay, I am fine really."
"Stop it! Stop arguing. You hurt it pretty bad. Come I'll take you to your room."
Asad put a hand around her waist as he supported her on the way to her room. He tried not to look back.
The truth was he had wanted everyone to eat dinner in their rooms so Zoya would stop jumping up and down like a bunny and give her feet some rest. She just wouldn't stop running all over the place with a limp. Why can't this girl be more careful? Always hurting herself in the process.
He didn't know if he was thinking about just her hurt foot anymore or the direction she was heading in. They were heading in. Don't hurt yourself over me, Zoya! I might not be worth it.
Zoya on the other hand couldn't stifle her sobs anymore. She had practically ran back to her room–best that she could–as soon as Asad was out of sight. After washing her foot clean first to get rid of the hideous smell, she dumped herself on the bed and let the tears flow silently.
She had felt a loss back there when no one had paid heed to her pain. This is why she sometimes hated being strong. Nobody pampered her.Not even when she needed it the most.
She had wanted Asad to massage her foot gently, rub gentle circles along her ankle. She had wanted him to carry her to her room in his arms, tuck her in bed and kiss her goodnight. She didn't want to ask herself what she felt for him and why. This pain right now was unbearable. The fear of losing him to someone else was excruciating!
Zoya didn't even realize when she had fallen asleep crying. She woke up disoriented feeling the now familiar pain in her foot. She noticed a plate full of food and a bowl of steaming hot soup, with a smiley face note attached to it just beside her bed. She picked it up and instantly recognized the messy scrawl.
Najma. That cute munchkin!
"Finish the soup full , Ammi says it helps with muscle injuries.She has also sent a muscle relaxant tablet.Its just beside the water jug. Do not throw it away. Eat it. I'll be back to inspect :D"
Zoya cracked a smile in spite of herself. She loved them. There were no two thoughts about it. Feeling much better, she plopped herself out of the bed to freshen up. When she came back , she couldn't help but notice her foot felt much better than before. She could smell the nauseating smell of the cream again. She didn't remember re applying it.
Phuphi or Najma must have reapplied the cream. But she knew better what her heart was exactly hoping for.
It ain't gonna happen Zoya! Don't fool yourself! He is busy rubbing circles on someone else's foot.
And the tears were back again.
Her stomach growled.
She laughed out loud.
She can pity party herself later but there were important things to take care of first.
As she sat down to eat, she noticed she didn't have her cellphone on her. Shoot! She had left it in the living room when she had sped to her room hiding her tears. Aapi would officially kill her if there were any missed calls. She hurried outside her room ignoring the slight throbbing of her leg. She was about to retreat back to her room when she heard a strange noise coming from the backyard.
As far as she knew Ayaan wasn't visiting today, who could that be then?
Allah Miyan! CHOR!
Where was her pepper spray when she needed it the most! She picked up the tv remote and used it as her weapon just in case she needed to hit someone in the head.
Zoya then silently tiptoed to the direction of the noise only to freeze at the sight in front of her.
"Tanveer", was all she said.
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