Chapter 10

                            
       


                                                          Chapter Ten 


This chapter is dedicated to my restless Di, Heena Di (aarzoo50) 


                                                                        ---xxx---

Asad reached the site in haste and found that the minister was already engrossed in planning his dream bungalow with a person of almost in fifties, whose back was facing him. Asad wanted to know, that who was that person with whom, the minister was planning the map, which was supposed to be planned by Asad.

Asad tip-toed towards them and listening the sound of feet, the minister and the other person turned to face him. Asad's feet rooted in the grass, when his eyes fell on the person, who was standing near the client, with an evil smile on his face.

The man in his middle fifties was no one else but Rashid Ahmed Khan, the owner of Ashiyana builders, one of his rivals and unfortunately but the so-called father of Asad and Najma, who left them and their mother, all alone in the huge universe.

Asad was burning with rage and his eyes were the mirror of his entire exasperation and hatred for the man, Rashid Ahmed Khan. Asad was crushing his teeth and tightening his fist to control his anger, whereas Rashid was provoking him with his smirk and the unknown victory smile.

Asad didn't shift his eyes from Rashid and asked the client, "What is this Mr. Singh? This meeting was between you and Dilshad Constructions...", he stopped in middle and continued clenching his jaw, "...then what the hell is this man doing here?"




"Mind your language Mr. Asad Ahmed Khan. Firstly, you are late and now you are misbehaving here", Mr. Singh, the client exclaimed looking at Asad.

"I have heard that Asad Ahmed Khan is known for his punctuality and well-mannered behavior, but now I am confirmed that all these were rumors.", the minister sarcastically taunted.



Asad gulped down the fresh lump of insult, but this was nothing in comparison to Rashid's presence, who was enjoying his own son's humiliation.

"Kuch seekhiye Mr. Rashid se, bina prior information ke bulaya maine unhein, aur wo exact time par yahan pahunche. This is professionalism", Mr. Singh suggested while humiliating him whereas these words of his were piercing Asad's heart and on the other side Rashid was having fun witnessing all this.

Asad was very well aware with the fact that Rashid will now snatch this project from his hands taking the advantage of the situation so he calmed himself and tried to convince the stubborn minister, "Ah! I am so sorry, for the inconvenience Mr. Singh. But this was just--", before he could continue himself Singh interrupted in between.

"See gentleman. I like to deal with those who are punctual, not unprofessional like you. So I have already decided to not deal with the unpunctual person like YOU.", Mr. Singh announced in a sharp and stern tone.

"And this project goes to Ashiyana Builders, because I don't want to take any risk with my dream bungalow.", he continued himself declaring his decision which twisted Rashid's lips aside to take an evil grin.

Asad tried to explain Singh and requested to give him a second chance, but Singh was stubborn dogmatic person who has to visit for a political meeting in next few hours, and to discuss about the project at this hour was compulsory for him.

Asad sighed and pressed his lips to control his rage while seeing Rashid's evil face.  The same time Singh left the spot to attend an important phone call and Rashid earned a chance to humiliate Asad. 

"Well Mr. Asad AHMED KHAN...", he took a pause in between emphasizing his last name as he was trying to reminisce that unfortunately, he was his father.

At which Asad clenched his jaw tightly and shrieked, "You did it intentionally, right? You were looking out for an opportunity to insult me."

"Ab bhai, opportunity doge to uska advantage to main uthaunga hi na.", he winked taunting him and slipped his hands into his pockets.

And Rashid continued himself sarcastically, "Wese he was right. Tumhe mujhse, Apne BAAP se bahut kuch seekhne ki jarurat hai."

"Abhi ki baat lelo, kitni easily maine tumhare hath se ye deal cheen li.", Rashid continued himself smirking.

Asad smiled sarcastically and continued showing him a mirror, "Deal kya hai Janab Rashid Ahmed Khan sahab ... ", and continued with fire of hatred and disgust in his eyes, "Apne to mujhse mera bachpan cheena hai...ye sab to bahut choti cheezein hain."

"Maine nahin...tumhari pyaari Ammi Dilshad ne, kuch jyada hi bewakoof thi naa...", he retorted back with a devilish and cheap laughter.

These words of Rashid for his mother Asad couldn't tolerate and his inner lava busted in the form of aggression, which automatically forced him to capture Rashid's collar tightly.

And Asad bawled, "How dare you? Himmat kaise hui tumhari meri Ammi ka naam apni gandi zabaan se lene ki?"

Asad kept shouting at Rashid with despise which grab the whole attention of the guards present their including the minister, who were assuming that they were having a rivalry conversation as they weren't audible to them. 

But now Asad has become violent towards Rashid for his Ammi's honor, which caught everyone's attention and somehow guards become successful to rescue Rashid from Asad's tight hold and the incognizant minister ordered Asad to leave from the spot.

Asad was burning with rage and he left the site, stumping his feet on the ground.

Khan Villa

It was the time of lunch and Dilshad was cooking with the help of Najma, when the doorbell buzzed. Dilshad noticed her arrival and said, "Arey Zoya aaona."

"What are you cooking phuppie?", she asked with excitement.

"Hmm! The healthy food, which you always avoid.", Dilshad scolded as she was her own daughter.

Zoya smiled and holding Dilshad's hand said emotionally, "You know what phuppie, I feel very special when you scold me like a mother."

"I feel ki agar who hoti to bilkul apke jaisi hoti.", Zoya said with chocked throat and teary eyes.

Dilshad smiled and engulfed her in a motherly hug. The tears rolled down from Zoya's eyes and Dilshad parted to wipe them, and again wrapped her in a hug.

"Mujhe bhi chahiye hug.", Najma complained with a pout to tranquil the mood.

"Ajaa tu bhi aaja meri naughty tamatar, nahin to gusse mein aur laal ho jayegi.", Zoya giggled to tease the childish yet sensible Najma.

And they all shared a group hug.

After parting, Zoya started blabbering, "Well isi baat pe ek sher arz kiya hai."

"Nahin!!", Dilshad and Najma said in unison.

"Haw! Accha to I will help you both in cooking.", Zoya pouted and declared.

"Bilkul nahin.", The khan ladies again stopped her in unison.

At which she pout and pretended to be sad but she too didn't remain without laughing out loud.

-X-

Asad left the site scratching the wheels of his SUV on the road in wrath for his so-called father, Rashid Ahmed Khan. Asad was fuming in fury, not because he lost the deal but because the man to whom he hated most in his life since the childhood, again humiliate not only him but he dishonor his own wife and Asad's Allah, his mother.

Asad was trying to control himself and his anger but the words Rashid used for Dilshad were echoing in his ears, fiercely. His mind has stopped working now and he was just sticking to one dot that why Rashid did get a chance to insult him and use the false words for his mother, and the only answer he got was, because he was late.

Asad's whole concentration was on the reason of his late arrival at the construction site, which echoed something in his mind.

"Sir!! We have to re-schedule the meeting with Mr. Singh, he has some important meeting in Delhi."

""Allah Miyan what's wrong with you? Kal to aap bade keh rahe the... Ms. Farroqui kuch aap meri suniye kuch main apki sununga. Then what happen now?"

"It's okay! Jaiye aap apna IMP Meeting kar lijiye pehle. Wese bhi kisi aur se apko kya farq padta hai."

And the car stopped with a thud, Asad was in anger and without even thinking once concluded that all was Zoya's fault and she was the guilty in this whole scenario.

Asad wrapped up his decision that if Zoya hasn't entered his house and life as well, he might be alerted in the conference hall and concentrated on Prasad's information about the meeting, and on the contrary, if she hasn't stopped him while leaving the home for the meeting for her silly and meaningless conversation, he hasn't arrived late, which resulted into his and his mother's insult.

Without thinking with a cool mind he assumed that Zoya was the only reason for all mishaps, but the reality was, he wanted Zoya to leave home because if she would be in front of his eyes, she will always been a mirror of Aseemah, which would hurt him and the irony was that he too was incognizant with this fact.

Khan Villa

The Khan Ladies were engaged in doing all the gossips after lunch, along with Zoya who was cracking jokes, her meaningless shayeris and most importantly mimicking the ladies of colony, including the Lion of Khan Villa, Asad Ahmed Khan.

And the same time Asad opened the door, Zoya was facing her back to him when he arrived and being so lost in mimicking Asad didn't realized his arrival. Dilshad and Najma tried to indicate her that Asad has arrived but she wasn't bothering to listen them

While, Zoya kept blabbering, "Pata hai tomato, tumhare bhaijaan matlab angrezon ke zamaane ke jailor..haha"

"Rules ki poori book hai unke paas, I guess dictionary se bhi badi hogi. Khud sabse kaam karwate hain, aur unhe koi bole to...", she stopped her in between and completed while mocking.

"Ms. Farooqui jaldi kahiye aaj meri bahut important meeting hai.", Zoya said sternly mimicking Asad, at which he was clenching his fist tightly and Dilshad was trying to signaling through eyes and to turn and look behind.

Zoya pressed her lips and said, "Tch! Arey aap kya baar baar peeche turn ko keh rahi hain...koi Mr. Babbar Sher to honge nahin na pee..", and she turned her head and found Asad burning in anger.

The ladies left their seats and Dilshad tried to defend Zoya by changing the topic, "Arey Asad! Tum aa gaye, aaj to tumhari meeting thi na.. How was it?", and smiled.

Zoya bit her tongue and was about to leave silently, when Asad said, "Ha Ammi meeting thi, aur har cheez ki tarah inhone use bhi spoil kar diya.", Zoya stopped when she realized that Asad was indicating her.

"I didn't get it Asad.", Dilshad asked.

"Aap kaise samjhengi ammi? Apko to kuch samajhna hi nahin hai. Aap janna hi nahin chahti ki ye...apki bechari Zoya, har jagah ke liye misfit hain.", Asad shrieked in high pitch at which Zoya creased her brows and came near to him.

"Why don't you spill it out clearly, itni riddles ki aur tanon ki koi jarurat nahin hai Mr. Khan", Zoya clearly announced.

"Aapko sunna hai to suniye... thi meri meeting, aur apne last time mein mujhe apni useless batein sunane ke liye roka...jiski wajah se mere hath se wo project chala gaya.", he squealed sharply.

Zoya replied with disbelief, "Come on Mr. Khan what is your problem? Aap har cheez ke lie much responsible kyon mante hain?"

"Kyunki agar aap mujhe nahin rokti to main late nahi hota aur Janab Rashid--", he uttered in a single breath but stopped when realized that Dilshad will get hurt with this name.

"Aap late pahunche Mr. Khan, that's your problem not mine. Agar aapko apna kaam sambhalna nahin ata hai, to its not my fault.", she declared for her self-respect.

"Sab apki fault hai Ms. Farooqui, jabse aap iss ghar mein ayi hain tab se sab bigad ke rakh diya hai apne.", He argued illogically whereas Dilshad almost faltered after hearing Rashid's name and witnessing all this nonsense.
So Dilshad took the charge, "Apni bakwas band karo Asad", and scolded him.

"Nahin phuppie. Today let him speak, jitna sunana chahein sunane dijie  inhein, after all inhone hi kaha tha...kuch meri sunaiye kuch main apki sununga...", she replied sarcastically looking into his eyes.

Asad gulped down and perceived that what the hell was he blabbering without thinking for a while, because of his inner turmoil he hurt an innocent girl with whom he has decided to make a truce, just for his mother's sake. He ruffled his hairs with mixed emotions and with no words.

"Tell Mr. Khan, I am listening.", Zoya taunted and he lowered his eyes being ashamed.

Whereas, Zoya left the drawing room in tears, which he clearly noticed and with guilt he didn't replied.

Zoya ran inside her room and locked herself in the washroom to forget the mishap and cry out loud.

"What the hell were you saying Asad?", Dilshad screamed loudly when Zoya departed.

"Ammi woh...", he tried to justify himself but she interrupted.

"Woh what Asad? For Allah's sake us bechari ko beijjat karna band karo.", she requested him joining her hands but Asad stopped her to do that, holding her hands which she snatched away.

"Tumhara to pata nahin Asad, par jab tum use bina kisi baat ke beizzat karte ho, tu mujhe bahut sharmindgi hoti hai. Khuda ke waste aur sharminda mat karo mujhe.", Dilshad said in cracked voice at which tears rolled down Asad's cheeks.

"Ammi aap nahin janti aaj uss insaan ne phir apko...", he tried to justify himself indicating Rashid but she again cut his words.

She gulped down, "Unhone job hi kaha ho Asad, par isme Zoya ki kya galati.", and she continued herself, "It doesn't bother me what did that man used for me...mujhe farq padta hai to apne bacchon se.", she said wiping her tears.



"Par Asad aaj tumne bahut hurt kiya hai.", she announced with hopelessness.

"Ammi listen to me, aap mere lie sab kuch hain ammi aap mujhse naraz rahengi to main nahi jee paunga.", he muttered and a fresh tear drop rolled down his cheek.

And he continued himself holding her hands, "Ammi I know maine Ms. Farooqui ko unnecessarily hurt kiya par, main khud nahin janta why did I do this to her.", he said with helplessness.

"Really? But I know tumne aisa kyun kia.", Dilshad jerked of her hands from his.

Asad looked at her with bewilderment and she shouted, "Yes Asad I know.", she pointed his finger on his chest and continued, "Because YOU are comparing her on Aseemah's criteria."

Asad was shocked with this and calmly requested, "Please Ammi, don't drag her in all this."

"Why Asad? Why should I stop? I'm not dragging her in all this, YOU have already dragged her in this.", Dilshad showed him a mirror but he didn't tried to accept the fact.

"No Ammi. SHE can't be Aseemah, unke paas sirf uski soorat hai, seerat nahin. Wo uske jaisi kabhi nahin ho sakti.", he denied to accept the truth.

"That's what I want to say Asad. Please stop judging that poor Zoya with Aseemah, she has gone, years back and you have to accept that.", Dilshad crushed her teeth.




"Ammi please. Stop all this.", he said calmly and turned his back towards her.

Dilshad snatched him holding his arm and asked, "Kyon? Bolne ka haq sirf tumhe hai? Kis baat ke lie tum use saza de rahe ho?"



She kept questioning in a single breath, "Iss baat ki, key tumhare hath se ek silly deal chali gayi? Iss baat ki ke Rashid ko ek chance mil gaya tumhe sunane ka, ya iss baat ki ke uske paas wo chehra hai jisse tumne pyaar kiya tha?"

A fresh tear drop fell from his eyes and destined to the floor. Dilshad gulped down and said controlling herself, "For god sake Asad, just once...sirf use ek baar ussey Zoya ki nazar se dekho Aseemah ki nahin, sab badal jayega. Uski kamiya bhi aur galatiyan bhi."

"Ammi main uss chehre ko nahin dekh sakta main?", he denied to accept again.

But she retorted back, "Kyun sirf Aseemah ke chehre se pyaar kiya tha use nahin?"

"Ammi maine apne pyaar ko ...", he tried to say but she interrupted in between.

"khoya hai? Bahut log khote hain Asad. Maine bhi khoya tha. Par tumhari tarah ek jagah nahi rukne di maine apni life.", she completed him immediately.

"Badal ek baar bina barse chale jayein to iska matlab ye nahin hota ke hum barish ki aas hi chod dein...life mein chalte rehna padta hai.", she tried to explain him and cupped his cheek.

But they stopped their argument in between when Najma, gasped coming back from Zoya's room, "Ammi!! Zoya apne aap ko lock kar liya hai. Please chaliye."

Dilshad ran in haste with Najma, glaring Asad in angst whereas he kneeled down with helplessness.

     

              Please Do Read the consecutive Post For PMs


A/N: So here is the update, I am really sorry for the delayed update. I hope you all can understand. If you have liked the post please leave your feedback as comments and hit like button.



Love you All,
Adi