Chapter 11

Dilshad glared Asad and ran towards Zoya's room and knocked, after knocking thrice, she didn't get response. Asad came near the door to break it, but Dilshad showed her hand in denial and ordered to leave at which he obeyed.

"Zoya beta! Please open the door. I am worried", Dilshad said in tears and when she was about to knock again, the door opened.

Zoya opened the door; her hairs were wet as she has taken a bath.

Dilshad cupped her cheek and asked, "Are you okay?"

"Yes Phuppie I am. Mujhe kya hoga. I am fine and don't worry.", she chuckled and consoled her.

"Then why did you take so much time to open the door? Do you have any idea how scared I was?", Dilshad complained in tears.

"Oho! Meri senti phuppie, I was in washroom, shower ke kaaran awaaz nahin ayi, that's It.", she replied casually, as nothing happened.

Dilshad held Zoya's hand in hers and apologized on the Asad's behalf, "Beta! I a-am sorry. Asad scolded you unnecessarily, without any fault. I-I am ashamed of that.", and a tear rolled down Dilshad's cheek.

"Don't cry! He has just scolded me, koi gun se shoot nahin kiya. And ab to mujhe aadat ho gayi hai.", she smiled casually and replied wiping Dilshad's tears.

Dilshad cupped her face in her hands and kissed her forehead and then wrapped her up in her embrace.

While leaving, Najma mouthed a thank you at which Zoya smacked her cheek lightly and hugged. They took a departure, leaving Zoya alone, when a hidden tear rolled down her eyes.

"I am doing all this for you Ab-Abbu. Please ab to mil jaiya na.", she stuttered and gulped the fresh lump of wound.

Asad's Room

Asad was brokenly seating on the floor of his room. Dilshad's crying face and Zoya's disgusting glare was knocking the door of this mind, rapidly. The whole day passed and Dilshad didn't even look at him, as she has decided to punish him with her hatred and angst.

Asad was well aware with the fact that this time, he was the culprit, neither Zoya nor Dilshad. The guilt was shattering him from inside, to hurt his God, his mother and the innocent girl, Zoya.

He was holding a photo frame in his hands, it seemed that he has held Zoya's photo, but no it was Aseemah's.

In every good and bad, since his childhood, Dilshad has been his best friend with whom he could share his virtues as well as sins. But this was different, his Allah was upset with him and he could understand her reasons.

Asad caressed Aseemah's photograph to find his answers.

"What should I do now? I have ruined everything.", he whispered with guilt.

"Ammi ... Ammi is upset with me...", he stopped in between and continued, "Because...because I deserve that.", he pressed his lips.

"Tum hi bolo na kya karu main? I - I know I was at fault.", he accepted and said with choked throat, "But-But uski itni badi saza, Ammi mujse naraaz rahe...I can't bear that.".

And a lone tear fell on the beautiful smiling face of hers. He closed his eyes in agony and came to senses when a familiar voice called him.

"What did I said? Ammi is always right. Stop hurting her.", the voice belonged to Aseemah whose vision was clear on the mirror of the dressing table.

"Then what should I do sweetheart tell Me.", someone said with the masculine voice and Asad realized that it was the reminiscence of past, and the male voice was owned by him.

"I have an idea.", she winked and the beautiful memory disappeared from the mirror, he realized that, it wasn't on the mirror, they were in his heart.

Asad's lips automatically curved into a smile and his eyes become moist, "You are the solution of every problem."

Backyard

If, Asad was restless, than Zoya's condition wasn't different. In the shade of umpteenth stars and a beautiful moon, she was sitting on the French chair of the backyard. Since the day, she has arrived in Khan Villa, noting was perfect, in fact everything was a mess.

Her inner turmoil was boiling, whenever she reminds about that Haveli or Asad's behavior towards her, but today was a limit. If on the one side she was failing to search about her father, than on the other, her host was punishing with his rage and bitter words.

Zoya's eyes were moist and she was sitting with a gloomy face, when a hand with a coffee mug in it, came in her direction from behind.

She pushed it aside and said sternly, "Please Najma. I want to be alone for some time."

But the hand again came in her direction with a open pizza box, she pushed it aside to without glaring at the hand and pizza.

"I said Najma please go.", she ordered.

"Najma nahin hai yahan. To kaise jayegi wo", the answer came which forced her to turn her head.

And she found Asad there, with a tray of two coffee mugs and a pizza box. Her expressions changed in irk from confusion and she sharply ordered, "I don't want to talk to you. Please leave."

"I will, but before that, you have to listen me", he announced.

"Is that also any rule of your rule book?", she sarcastically commented at him and glared him sharply.

"Nah! But I am not going to move, if you will not listen me.", he declared as a stubborn 5 year old kid.

"Kahiye.", she helplessly allowed.

He took a seat near her and placing the tray in between, he intertwined his finger in a fist, he glared to the grass with the feeling of shame and said hesitatingly, searching the words, "Ms. Farooqui I know what I did in the morning was wrong but and now what I am going to say is enough. But I still wanna say...", but she interrupted in between.

"Please Mr. Khan say it fast.", she ordered.

He closed his eyes tightly and grabbed his strength to say in a single breath, "I am sorry."

She smiled and said sarcastically, "Do you really think, ek sorry se sab thik ho jata hai"

"Nahin, but koi tha jo kehta tha key...sorry bolne se dil jarur halka ho jata hai.", he said with moist eyes, remembering Aseemah.

"Really? Chaliye kisi ki baat to samajh ayi apko.", she said with smile.

And continued herself, "Wese jo kehta tha, sahi kehta tha, aur jo bhi kehta tha na... use kahiyega ki...sirf uski baat ke liye maine apko"", she cut herself in between.

"Just for that person I am accepting your apology.", she said with a relaxed smile.

"Yeah she can never be wrong.", he said in her mind and came to sense when she clasped her fingers in front of his face, and asked shrugging his hand, "What happen?"

He nodded his head negatively and tried to change the topic.

He sighed and Dilshad's words stroke his mind to treat her as ZOYA not Aseemah, "No. but you are my responsibility, subah se khana nahin khaya apne, bimaar ho gayi to ek problem aur badhayengi meri, Ms Problem magnet."




Zoya rolled her eyes and denied nodding her head negatively.

"Okay mujhe kya? Main hi kha leta hoon.", he picked a pizza slice from the box and mocked, "Umm! Yum. I didn't know that pizza itna tasty hota hai."

Zoya licked her mouth watering lips and made a pout.

He asked, "Abhi bhi time hai, kha lijiye nahin to sara khatm ho jayega", and he twisted his lips aside.

She quickly grabbed a slice and gobbled it, "Phuppie ne bola tha khane ko mana nahin karte. That's why I am having, don't try to take credit.", she lied Whitely.

At which Asad chocked with disbelieve and sipped his coffee. Meanwhile she finished the whole pizza and when she sipped it she chocked it.

"Kisne banayi ye coffee?", she fumed with anger and screamed.

He indicated towards him and said, "Maine. Why are you asking?"

"Accha to apki batein hi nahin, pasand bhi kadwi hai", she stated in rage.

"Haan toh? I like bitter, sugarless and milk less coffee. Any problem?", he replied sheepishly.

"Nahin problem kya hogi, aap iski jagah zeher bhi pila dein to koi difference pata nahi chalega.", she mocked and glared him with irk.

"Bol to aise rahi hai jaise peeke dekha ho. Zeher.", he whispered under his breath.

"Did you say anything?", she asked cocking her brow up.

He nodded his head in denial and pressed his lips and tried to change the topic, "Well aap kuch poochna chahti thi subah mujse."




She came to her senses and nodded her head in affirmation and showed the picture of the Haveli, "Do you have any idea, where it is? I mean in Bhopal."

"Ah! Not exactly, photo bahut puraani hai. Kya pata ye ab yahan exist karti bhi hai...ya shayad nahin.", he replied creasing his brows which fell Zoya's face but it again blossomed like a fresh rose when he continued himself, "But I will try to find it out."

"Really? Thank you so much Mr. Khan", she replied as a bundle of excitement with a new ray of hope.

"Wait! But ap ise kyu dhundh rahi hain?", he questioned with  in-cognizance.

Zoya remained with a question mark and was searching a reason to hide the reality and suddenly she hid it with her old reason, "Thesis. You know about that. Right?"

He nodded his head in agreement and said, "Okay Please give me a copy of it, I will find it out."

And he continued himself, "Waise raat bahut ho chuki hai, let's go inside." At which she agreed while holding the tray.

When they were parting their directions, she called him, "Ek baat poochu Mr. Khan?"

"Yes.", he allowed.

"Aap mujhe dekh kar baat kyu nahin karte. I have noticed it infinite times, aap kahi aur hi dekhte rehte hai, except me. Why so?", she questioned with astonishment at this point.

"Aise kuch nahin hai Ms. Farooqui.", he replied to avoid the question.

She smiled and replied while shrugging, "Aap batana nahin chahte to baat aur hai."

And she continued herself, "Well I have to accept, Itne bhi khadoos nahin hain aap", and smirked.




He too grinned and said, "Aur aap bhi uttni badtameez nahin hain."

Listening that from each other's mouth and busted in laughter which was witnessing a pair of eyes from the staircases, with which they were unaware.

And finally they parted their directions, Asad for his bedroom and Zoya after leaving the tray in kitchen to hers.

Asad entered inside and while looking at Aseemah said, "Sach mein, Ammi sahi keh rahi thi...jab maine use, uski identity se dekha...", he stopped in between.

And he confessed, "Tab samajh aya...itni buri bhi nahin hai.", and smiled.

Next Morning

Najma and Dilshad were arranging the dining table, when Najma pouted, "Ammi! They both haven't arrived yet to have breakfast."

"They will come soon", Dilshad replied casually.

The scared Najma said, "Ammi I think Kal jo hua uski wajah se to nahin?"

"I said na, they will definitely come.", she said with smile.

"Accha! Do you really think Ammi ke aapko Bhaijaan ko itna daantna chahiye tha?", she asked confusedly.

Dilshad sighed, "Kal jo hua wo shayad bahut pehle ho jaana chahiye tha.", and declared looking at something but nothing.

"Why Ammi? Kal itna sab kuch ho gaya and you are still.", Najma asked with amazement.

Dilshad pointed behind her own back and said, "See. Aa gaye na"

Najma remained with a pout and asked, "How do you know?". At which she winked and narrated that how she has witnessed them,  laughing together.

-X-

Asad arrived and then late-lateef Zoya came first time at the correct time as rats were running inside her tummy.

Asad was nervous, when his eyes fell on Dilshad's gloomy face and he was searching a way to persuade her. He knew that Zoya has accepted his apology but for him, his mother's forgiveness was everything.

He came near Dilshad but she indicated to have a seat for the breakfast. His face fell down when he thought that she was not even wanted to talk with him.

Dilshad was enjoying his nervousness and anxiety and she too sat to have the breakfast, but not near him. She took other chair, not her usual one. Najma was amused that why did Dilshad's behavior changed suddenly but she said nothing.

Asad tried a lot to talk to her but with one or another excuse; she avoided him and was enjoying his condition.

Finally, after losing he was about to leave the house for the office, after taking the copy of photograph from Zoya.

Dilshad called him from behind and pretended to scold him, "Ghar jaldi aa jana. Kal ka khana waste gaya. Magar aaj ka waste nahin jaana chahiye."

She smiled and continued, "I'm cooking Kheer for you, your favorite."

"Matlab, you forgive me?", he excitedly asked.

"Naraaz thi main? I didn't have any idea about this. Najma what do you say?", she mocked.

"Hahahha", the ladies laughed in unison looking at anxious Asad but Zoya stopped her in between with moist eyes when Dilshad said, "Ammi apne bachchon se kabhi naraz nahin hoti", he holding his ear, as he was a kid of 5.

Zoya became serious and her eyes filled with tears which got unnoticed by everyone, but not Asad.

-xxx-

For PMs : Please see the Post # 3

A/N: Appreciation and especially Criticisms are welcomed with open Arms. Please do read the next 2 posts they are IMP. Hit like and comment your views if, you have liked it. 

Loads of Love

Adi