Chapter 1

Hello guys,

This is a new Short Story idea that popped up in my head. Do let me know your feedback. Thanks!

Index:

Chapter 1, 2, 3 - Page 1 (below)

Chapter 4 - Page 3

Chapter 5  - Page 4

                                                                           Chapter 1

It was the day Zoya learnt her Abbu had passed away long ago. She was wondering when to return to New York. Her heart ached when she imagined leaving everyone, especially, her Mr. Khan. The thought of leaving him was unbearable but what reason did she have to stay?

Her one-sided crush doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. True, Mr. Khan was with her and supported her, especially in the last few days but the other times he just acts indifferent to her. She had tried asking him directly about whatever was between them but he didn’t seem interested in talking about his ‘feelings’. “As if he has any, Akdu Ahmed khan”, she muttered to herself.

After a few days

“I know Aapi, the reason I came here is done and I have to come back”, Zoya told her Aapi through Zoom. “I think you should stay a little while Zoya”, Zoya was shocked at this as her Aapi is always trying to make her come back.

 “What are you planning”, she asked suspiciously. Her Aapi rolled her eyes, “I’m not planning anything, your jeeju has a business trip so we will be coming to India next week”. Zoya squealed happily, “Allah Miya why didn't you say that first! Aapiii I am so excited, I miss you guys so much”, Zeenat’s eyes softened at her excitement and she hoped her plan would work out at least this time.

Later that night

Everyone were having dinner at the Khan villa, with Tanu fawning over her Jammy and others having random conversations. “Phupi, my Aapi and Jeeju are coming to India next week”, Zoya chimed in excitedly. This caught everyone’s attention. 

“Really Zoya that’s wonderful. Why are they coming back so soon?” ,Dilshad asked Zoya. “Well, Aapi said Jeeju has some business meeting so they are planning to stay on a bit longer”, she informed her.

 “So will you be staying with them Zoya”, Najma asked sadly. “Tamatar, don’t worry even if I did, I will come running even if you just think about me”, Zoya said smiling widely while squeezing Najma’s hands. Both girls fell silent as each knew they will have to part ways some day but still couldn’t take the thought of never seeing each other. 

Zoya saw Asad giving her sidelong glances but wasn’t sure what to make of it. She could sense the longing and sadness in his eyes but as long as he keeps denying it, there’s only much a she can do. She had a feeling her Aapii is going to talk about marriage as she had promised her she would marry as soon as she found her Abbu. She has to decide soon about what to do with these feelings she has for Mr. Khan and the only definite way to do that is speak to the silly lion himself. She had a feeling it’s not gonna go well.

...........................

Zoya knocked on Mr. Khan’s door that night. He opened his door looking surprised. “What are you doing here Ms. Farooqi?”, “We need to talk Mr. Khan”, Zoya said seriously. “We can talk tomorrow, it’s late, go and sleep”, Asad said looking uncomfortable and tried to close his door. 

Zoya blocked the door and gave him a pleading look, Asad sighed and asked her to come in and shut the door behind her. Asad crossed his arms across his chest and looked at her. “Mr. Khan, you know I will have to leave this house soon”, she began hesitantly in a soft voice, “I mean, are you sure Mr. Khan you didn’t feel anything shift between us after Mangalpur,…”, she trailed off, “After that bang night,” she looked him in the eye.

 Asad avoided her eyes but looked uncomfortable and by her wistful thinking sad when she mentioned her leaving. “No”, he said firmly looking into her eyes. Zoya was consumed by sudden anger at his blatant denial as it was obvious he felt something for her, if not no way in hell would Mr. Akdu Ahmed Khan dance that intensely with her with or without the bang. 

She grabbed his arm and said angrily, “ Enough Mr. Khan. I felt something change. After all those times you saved me, protected me, I, I…”, she trailed off looking overwhelmed, then said resolutely, “I felt jealous and hurt the day when you hugged Tanveer and didn’t even look for me. I feel sad every other day since then when you all but ignore me. I am trying to please you, cook for you, be as tidy as I can be”, she gave a pained laugh at that. "My heart ached every time you judged me without even listening to my side of the story when I didn't care much what you thought of me before. My mind knows you are a male chauvinist, but my heart...", she trailed off clutching her hands to her chest looking lost.

“Why, why am I feeling all these suddenly Mr. Khan, why. The thought of leaving you makes me want to rip my heart to make it stop hurting, why Mr. Khan, why”, she asked him tearfully in a pained whisper. Asad was silent. “I like you Mr. Khan I think. Not as friends but something more. I know you feel something for me too. Why won’t you accept it”, she asked sorrowfully.

Asad looked at her for a while then removed her hands from his arms and said, “I like you Ms. Farooqi”, he started. Zoya looked at him hopeful but he raised his arms as if stopping her from saying something more, “I only like you as a friend and nothing more. That night I don’t know why I did all that but I have never been intoxicated before, so that might be the reason. Besides, what are you expecting to happen even if I had felt something, do you really think I would marry you”, he asked in a incredulous voice. Zoya felt as if he slapped her.

“Ms. Farooqi our characters are like water and oil, nothing between us works, we always fight. And most importantly I will never marry someone who always behaves carelessly and creates problems for everyone. I want to marry someone who’s calm, patient, quiet and cultured”, he finished.

 Zoya felt disoriented listening to everything he was saying, his words felt like someone was stabbing her repeatedly in the heart. “So someone not like me”, she added in a whisper. “Someone like Tanveer”, she thought to herself mentally. Zoya was lost for words and felt utterly drained. She mumbled a distracted ‘Goodnight’ and walked out of the room.