Chapter 8

               

                                                         Banner Credits -Raz



                            Chapter Eight

Asad was fuming with anger about Zoya's late arrival in the house at the night which was unacceptable for him. He has always been so particular about the rules and terms made for a girl of his culture. The only thing which was striking in his mind was, SHE had just Aseemah's face not her inner soul and qualities.

After taking thousand twist and turns, his mind was coming back on one dot that Zoya owes the face of Aseemah, the girl to whom he loved and he wasn't able to divert his mind from comparing both of them. He was assuming that Zoya was laparwah, azaad khayal and badtameez ladki', but the reality was that he was trying to judge her on Aseemah's criteria.

"Ek choti si baat samajh mein nahin ati unke. Agar ghar 7 baje ana hai to anaa, ismein itna bahas karne wali kya baat hai.", he clenched his jaw sitting on his bed.

"Zill-e-ilahi kahin ke! Raat...no sham ko 7 baje tak ghar lauto...ye bhi koi rule hai? Abhi tak Babur ke zamaane mein reh rahein hain, Mr. Babbar sher!", Zoya shrugged her neck and tied her hands on her chest with a pout.

Zoya too was in a bad mood and was blabbering in her room, because in her first search of her identity, she failed and Asad made it worse after screaming at her because she was merely few minutes late in returning home, and for her it was an useless reason to scold a guest, that too so pitilessly.

Both Asad and Zoya were extracting their annoyance for each other in their either rooms but in their own style which was exactly opposite.

"Ek simple sa rule manney ko taiyar nahi hai wo ziddi ladki.", he sulked.

"Rules ki to pata nahi poori list hai janaab ke paas.", Zoya opened her mouth with a pout and continued by expressing through her delicate hands and her dramatic face, "Meri Chair pe mat betho, western kapde mat pehno, sab kuch kaanch jese saaf hona chahiye, Ghar time pe lauto. I mean...Allah miyan what the hell is wrong with this man?"




"Na kapde pehanne ki tameez hai na baat karne ki tehzeeb. Aisi badtameez aur Azzadkhayal ladkiyon se sakht nafrat hai mujhe.", whispered Asad but with red angry eyes.

Zoya confusedly blabbered, "Aur to aur mere kapdon se bhi problem hai!"

"I mean what's wrong in these clothes, this is the fashion and I look perfect in these.", she glared herself from head to toe and smiled while saying perfect.

 

Asad pressed his lips and decided, "If we aren't interfering in her privacy, it doesn't mean, ke jo man mein aye wo karengi wo. Jab tak iss ghar mein rehna hai tameez se rehna hoga."



"Tameez ke naam pe na jaane or kitni pabandi lagane wale Mr. Akdu Ahmed Khan. What does HE think of himself?", she sighed.

"What does SHE think of herself? Tehzeeb ko pabandi samajhti hain...huh! Baddimaag ladki.", he whispered frustratingly.

Zoya amused, "Unhein lagta hai mere paas, matlab Zoya ke paas dimaag nahi hai!" and completed it with twisting her lips, "Incredibly Foolish."



"Bewakoofi ki bhi had hoti hai. Jo kaho uska opposite karti hai, aur khud apne aap se koi sahi decision liya nahi jata.", he tilted his head with hopelessness.



And he continued himself, "Bina soche samjhe kuch bhi karna aadat hai unki. Aur phir apni galati accept bhi nahi karti. Confused ladki.", he whispered.

"Bina soche samjhe kisi ko bhi judge kar lete hain.", she blinked her eyes with irritation.



And sulked biting her each word, "Kabhi samajh nahi ayega mere to ke, cheez kya hai wo. Complicated man."



Asad said in moist eyes, "Takleef to bas iss baat ki hai ke wo chehra uss chehre se milta hai jo mujhe sabse zyaada azeez hai.", but he ended with angst, "Aur WO ladki mujhe sabse zyaada naapasand."



"Mujhe samajh nahin ata ke kabhi bhi meri taraf dekhte kyon nahin hain. Aise behave karte hain jese main koi alien hoon. Pata nahi problem kya hai unki.", she sulked.

"Duniya ki sabse badi problem to Zoya Farroqui hai.", he stated.

He started with scorn, "Uski saubat ka kitna bura asar padega Najma pe. Pata nahin ammi kya sochke--", but stopped when the word Ammi came to his senses.

"Babbar sher! Phoopie ne naam kya Asad rakh diya bahut seriously le gaye ye to", She disbelieved.

And she continued herself with pride, "Par Jahapana ko pata nahi hai ke kisse paala pada hai unka. Do din mein line pe ley aungi unhe to. Aur waise bhi duniya mein esa koi kaam nahi, jo Zoya Farr--", but she stopped when she realized that Farooqui was her mother's identity, that too before marriage and it didn't belonged to Zoya. She was in Bhopal to search that who was she, who is or was his father, does she had any family, loads of questions were suffocating her and on the first day of her search, she lost.

-X-

Dilshad was sitting on the bench in the backyard of Khan Villa, sipping her coffee. Her open hairs were blowing in the drift of air and the color of her cheeks was turned into the crimson, just like the apples of Kashmir, due to cold breeze. It didn't seem that she was the lady in her last-forties and a mother of two children of twenties; she was looking like a bloom of tulip.

Dilshad's eyes were moist but still she was smiling, sipping her coffee. She felt that the footsteps were tip toeing in her direction from behind.

She said without turning, "Aao Asad. Sit with me.", and she indicated the left over seat near her.

Indeed, Asad was there in a crisp white kurta pyjama, his left was behind his back and in the right, he was holding the coffee mug.

 Asad took the seat and pressed his lips forcing himself to not smile at which Dilshad creased her brows.

"Bachpan mein bhi aap mujhe aur Tamatar ko ese hi pakad leti thi, even with blindfold.", and he sipped his caffeine.

"Ammi ko ankhon ki zarurat nahi hoti Asad.", she stated with a smile.

Asad nodded his head positively and complained, "Ap humesha mujhe kehti hain, raat ko coffee mat piya karo. Aur khud yaha akele bethkar coffee pi rahi hain."

Dilshad didn't answer him; in fact she wasn't in a state to answer because the guilt was digging her soul that she has hurt Asad.

Asad pressed his lips and asked, "Aap thik hai na ammi?"

"Main bilkul thik hoon. Tumne dekha nahi main subah se kitna muskura rahi hoon.", she denied and gave a fake smile.

Asad too smiled, "Hmm! Tabhi pooch raha hoon Ammi."

He clarified that he knew, "Aap jab jyada pareshaan hoti hain, tab jyada muskuraati hain."

Dilshad again muted and sipped her coffee. The cold breeze again started blowing with the chain of conversation of mother-son duo.

She grabbed her strength and said, "Mera maqsad tumhein taqleef dena nahin tha Asad. Main to bas--", but he interjected in between.

"Aap kabhi mujhe taqleef nahin de sakti Ammi.", he said confidently as was indicating her that he wasn't at all disturbed with her decision.

"To phir, kab tak yun tanha rahoge? Khud ko aur mujhe taqleef dete hue?", she complained with the chocked throat.

"Aap ab tak apne mazi [Past] ko bhula nahin payi?", he questioned an completely unexpected part of their life. He was asking in reference of Rashid Ahmed Khan, his so-called father who left them for another family and money, when Asad was 8 and Najma was merely 1 year old, alleging Dilshad as a characterless woman.



"Kuch cheezein bhulana namummkin hota hai.", but she answered gulping the fresh lump.

Asad asked glaring in her eyes with his moist eyes, "To phir main kaise bhula doon apne mazi ko?"

Dilshad took a long pause and her eyes automatically shifted on the stars as she was looking at Allah for his blessings and said, "Aqsar hum kahin aur jane ke lie nikalte hain, aur kahin aur pahoonch jate hain. Main nahin chahti key tum meri tarah--", she started indicating Aseemah and somewhere in her heart for Zoya but she herself stopped in between, thinking that how will Asad react, if understand the real meaning of his mother's saying.

Asad sighed, "Par ap hi to kehti hain, har kisi ko muqammal jahan nahin milta."

"Par mere bacchon ko milega Asad.", she retorted back.

Asad was quiet surprised with her sudden provocation and she continued as statement, referring to Zoya, "Mere Asad aur Najma ko wo sab kuch milega. Shauhrat, Kamyabi, Mohabbat, Sarey jahan ki Khushiyan sab kuch."



And she finally disgusted, "Wo sab cheezein jo abbu hone ke nate Rashid ne to nahin di, par phir bhi. Mere bacchon ko sab kuch milega. ", she said mere bacchon' with pride every time.

She closed her eyes and tried to control her emotions and continued herself tenderly looking at Asad, "tum apni manzil dhoondhlo Asad."

"Aap meri fiqr na karein Ammi. Main thik hoon.", he assured her.

She smiled and nodded her head in to and fro motion and said anxiously, "Lekin Asad! Iss kadar yun tanha rehna, raaton ko jaagna, khud ko taqleef dena. Yeh nainsaafi hai."

But he didn't allow completing her and retorted back gently, "Aap bhi to jag rahi hain."

She sighed, "Mere manzilon ke rastey to dhundhle ho gaye hain Asad."

And desired, "Magar main yeh nahin chahti, key tum apni manzil na pehchano. Zindagi ka safar bahut lamba hota hai."

He smiled and sheepishly answered, "Manzilon ka safar bhi to humsafar ke sath taye kiya jaata hai na ammi. Aur yeh aap se behtar kaun samajh sakta hai."

She left without any answer and was concluded that he was really upset so she tried to console him by touching his palm with hers and said, "Huh! Bahut naaraz hona mujhse? Main Zoya ko iss ghar mein laayi, sab kuch jantey hue bhi."

He smiled and clarified, "You know it very well. Main aap se kabhi naraaz nahin reh sakta."



She nodded her head in agreement and asked, "Janna nahin chahogey Asad, main usey kyun leke aayi iss ghar mein?"

He nodded his head negatively, "Aap se aaj tak koi sawaal nahin kiya maine, aaj bhi nahi karunga."



 But she answered with a riddle, "Kyunki humsafar ka safar mein hone ya na hone ka matlab...mujhse behtar koi nahin samajh sakta."



"Matlab?", he asked confusingly.

She nodded her head as she was trying to say nothing'.

And she tried to change the topic to know his inner feelin to know his inner feelings, "Aseemah aur Zoya, ayena hai na ek doosre ke?"

"Bilkul nahin.", he stated and disgusted at Zoya.

She smiled may be because she was aware of his answer and he replied, "Ammi. I am sorry."



"For what?", she scrunched her brows.

He licked his lips and apologized to explain, "Pichle kayi dinon se bahut rudely baat ki maine apse. Aur abhi bhi apko apki purani taqleefon ke barey mein yaad dila kar, main b--", but she interrupted.

"What happen in last days was natural Asad. Aur rahi baat purani taqleefon ki, to unhein main humesha yaad rakhna chahti hoon. Kuch zakhm humesha yaad rahein to accha hota hai. Nafrat karna aur asaan ho jata hai.", she said with hatred her eyes were piercing the moon as she was looking at her so-called husband, Rashid Ahmed Khan.

He too stand with her and asked taking her hands in hers, "Main sab bhool jaunga Ammi. Apni tanhai, gumnaami, andhere, yahan tak ki Zoya ki museebatein bhi...", he chuckled and completed himself, "Badle mein ek wada karengi mujhse?"

She nodded and he asked, "Aap apne beete hue kal ko bhulaane ki koshish karengi."

She thought for a while and for the sake of his son she nodded in agreement.

"Promise?", he asked.

"Promise.", she agreed.

And they shared a moment sipping coffee under the roof of umpteenth stars, a moon and the cold breezy night.

-X-

In the morning, Asad entered the dining Area for the breakfast, the Khan Ladies were still doing the same, arranging the table according to Asad and he was pointing out their faults in that, when Zoya entered.

Zoya shrugged her head and sighed, "Inka kuch nahin ho sakta."



She opened the gate of refrigerator and was trying to search something, which she found after a lot struggle. The whole Khan Family was noticing her with confusion, including Asad.

It was a pizza slice, Zoya glared it with crave and was about to eat when Najma rose the question, "Pizza? Yeh Kab aya?"

Zoya twisted her lips and closing her eyes a little she answered, "Well! I bought it tomorrow for all of us, but when I reached home nobody noticed it, because--", she stopped her in between as she knew that she has already indicated towards Asad's behavior.

"Anyways, when nobody noticed it, I myself had it. Aur phir maine ek slice bacha liya.", and she continued with mouth-watering expression, "You know why?"



But nobody asked her that why she didn't saved that pizza slice so she herself said, "Arey poochiye na kyon bachaya?"



"Jaise nahin poochengey to ye batayengi nahin.", Asad mumbled behind his newspaper.

"Suna liya maine.", she informed at which he rolled his eyes.

Dilshad changed the topic and mocked, "Kyun bachaya Zoya?"

"Apko pata hai phoopie, Mujhe na basa left over pizza bahut pasand hai."




Asad disgusted behind the newspaper, he was silent because he doesn't want her mother to get upset because of his any mistake, plus to create any scene in his house.

"But stale food is unhealthy.", Najma confused.

Zoya get seated on the chair near Najma and informed, "Arey nahin Tamatar! Just have it. Bahut tasty lagta hai. Aur hum healthy kyon rehna chahtey hain? Just because we want to enjoy our life, and pizza, it is my life.", she offered the pizza to Najma but Asad eyed her to not eat so she left it.

Zoya rolled her eyes and made different faces.

"Incredibly Foolish.", Asad whispered under his breath.

"Maine phirse suna.", Zoya replied while chewing her pizza.

Whereas, Asad left the Khan Villa "Sunane ke lie hi kaha tha.", for his office. Firstly she pouted then and got busy in enjoying the only piece slice for hours.

-X-

Zoya was leaving in the search of the Haveli which she has noticed in the photograph of her Ammi and Khala, and Najma's words stroke her mind.

"May be! Bhaijaan ne dekha ho. He is an architect aur Bhopal mein shayad hi aisi koi jagah ho jo Bhaijaan ne na dekhi ho."

Zoya blabbered in her mind, "Kya karu? Phoochu kya Akdu Ahmed Khan se?"

She bit her lower lip and concluded, "No. Not now at least, Kal hi to itna gurraye the mere upar. Kahin, dahaad maarte-maarte attack hi na kar de."

She hung her bag vertically on her shoulder and left the house for searching the Haweli.

-X-

In Dilshad Construction, Dilshad's gloomy face was revolving around Asad's eyes. After the betrayal of Rashid Ahmed Khan, Asad has always seen his mother engulfing all the strength of hers and working hard with a genuine smile, even with the harsh words of society which never impacted on her, because she always spent her life for Asad and Najma.

But from few days, she was upset, thinking herself the guilty of her own son Asad, and Asad was assuming himself as the guilty, because in the whole world, he has always loved her mother the most.

-X-

This was the second day of Zoya's search and she again failed, she thought that may be now this haweli has crashed or something, so no one knows about it, as it was at least, 20 years old photograph and there were many possibilities of inexistence of this Haweli.

The piece of paper came in her mind in which some scattered haze words were written with blue ink, which were supposed to be an address. She tried various methods and techniques to identify it but again failed.

-X-




About a week passed in this chaos, Asad was worried for his mother and was anxious regarding the similarity of Zoya and Aseemah, Zoya was in search of her identity, Dilshad was in guilt to hurt her son and Najma was helpless to see the whole house in the agony, some were known and some were not.

Zoya was shattering from inside, she was guilty that when her ego became so important for her that it was over her own identity and father. She decided to clear her differences with Asad for some extent.

Asad was not dissimilar for the first time with Zoya, he too agree that in the first time after her father's arrival, he became the reason of his mother's guilt. He cursed himself that how he can be so mean, that he took his past above than his mother. The mother, who sacrificed her whole life's happiness for him and Najma, and chose to survive with her bitter past.

He too decided to shake the hand with Zoya, just for his mother's sake and to reduce her guilt, but in the limits, and with terms and conditions.

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A/N: A cliffy Update, that I know, but what do I don't is that I don't at all have any idea that it did work or not. So here you all are to tell me.

I really hope that you liked the story! Please do hit the like tab and leave your feedback as comments. I will wish to have the descriptive comment.

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Aditi