Chapter 15
When Zoya woke up, the rays of the sun were streaming in from the window, licking up her shoulder and providing her the warmth from a morning sun. Zoya glanced down to find herself in a spooning position with her bed partner. She turned to face him slowly, making sure not to wake him up. One arm was wrapped around her waist while the other was tucked under the side of his face, cushioning it as he slept.
Zoya studied him while he slumbered on. It is said the sleep erases any masks on a person face and Zoya understood exactly why people said that. Asad's face was relaxed and calm. Something that was very difficult to see in the day when he was piled with work or other family issues. He looked like an innocent schoolboy and Zoya smiled softly at the thought. Strand of hair had fallen over his eyes as he slept and she reached a tentative hand towards them, pushing them away softly and halting. When he didn't stir she let her eyes roam, right from his high forehead, down past his high cheekbones, resting on the beauty mark under his left eye before stopping on his lips.
Her cheeks flushed when memories of how soft those lips had felt against her plagued her mind. Zoya had the strongest of all urges to lean forward and press her lips against his, but she held back. Knowing that if she did, he would wake up and she wouldn't be able to watch him.
After the moment of distraction, Zoya's eyes wandered down the column of his throat and stopped at his broad chest. This time she couldn't help herself; her hand reached out and rested on his chest, right in the middle. She skimmed his entire torso with light brushes, memorising every rise and dip of each muscle before coming to rest her hand right over his heart.
"It belongs to you."
Zoya's hand fell away with a gasp and her eyes snapped up to meet his drowsy ones. Asad had woken right when she had brushed his abs and had let her continue her ministrations. It wasn't long before she rested her hand over his heart that he felt the need to speak.
"After last night. You hold it in your palm," he told her softly. His voice was still laced with sleep but he pulled her back against him, burying his nose in her raven hair, inhaling the sweet aroma of vanilla that resided with her. It was the scent that he had come to crave over the past few weeks. It was her scent.
Zoya let him pull her close and she sighed contently. His embrace was something she started to look forward to. It always gave off a sense of security and cherishment. She felt him kiss the top of her head and she turned her head to press her lips against the crook of his neck.
"Zoya? Where are you?" Najma's voice came.
"I'm in here!" Zoya hollered back. Asad clapped a hand to her mouth but it was too late. Zoya's eyes went wide her mistake dawned upon her. Asad cursed under his breath and glared at her.
"Zoya? Why are you in Bhaijaan's room?" Najma's voice asked from the door as the knob turned slowly. Zoya felt a warm hand in her hair and the next thing she knew, she was roughly being off of his chest.
"WAIT!" Asad hollered quickly when, the doorknob stop turning.
"Bhaijaan?" Najma gasped from the other side of the door. Asad hurriedly located his pants and pulled them on before he turned to Zoya who was frozen in shock. There was a look of fear on her face and Asad groaned before grabbing her arm and shoving her under the bed.
"Bhaijaan? Is Zoya with you? Why is she with you?" Asad strolled over and threw the door open. Najma's curious face peered at him before she craned her head to look into his room.
"Where's Zoya?" She asked. Asad's heart was ponding in her chest and he prayed that she didn't see anything.
"Why would she be in here, Tamatar?" He asked, surprising himself with how strong and calm his voice sounded. She looked at him and then cleared her head as if the notion of Zoya being in his room was absurd.
"I heard her say she was here," Najma replied. She walked into the room and set his morning coffee down on the small table next to the settee.
"Bhaijaan, Zoya's door was open and her bed looked as if she didn't sleep in it at all," Najma told him. Asad gulped and looked at his baby sister who looked as clueless as anything.
"Asad? Have you seen Zoya?" Dilshad asked coming into his room. Asad's blood went cold when he heard her voice.
"Ammi," he squeaked. Dilshad and Najma gaped at Asad, whose face resembled that of someone who was just about ready to pass out.
"Are you okay?" She asked. Asad nodded mutely and picked up his coffee, taking a nice big gulp of the scorching hot liquid and choking.
"Bhaijaan! I just made it! It's obviously hot!" Najma said horrified while he spluttered and coughed.
"Oh yes," he said, praying that they would just leave.
AACCHOOO!
Asad squeezed his eyes shut as Dilshad and Najma looked around the room bewildered at where that sound came from. So Asad did the only thing he knew.
"Achoo! This cold is just annoying me!" He said, grabbing a tissue and rubbing his nose.
"Asad, why didn't you tell me you have a cold?" Dilshad asked worriedly.
"So that's why you drank the coffee!" Najma said, slapping a hand to her forehead.
"It's nothing, Ammi," he said, rubbing his nose and sniffing.
"I'll make you a soothing concoction," Dilshad said as she turned and headed out the room.
"Najma, go and find Zoya," she called. Najma smiled at her elder brother and headed out the room, shutting it behind her. Asad let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding and pulled Zoya out from under the bed. Zoya rubbed nose and sneezed again.
"What was that for?" Asad hissed at her. She glared up at him through watery eyes.
"Allah miyaan! What's wrong with you? It's not my fault that I sneezed!" She snapped. Asad growled and made a move towards her, she took a step back but her feet got stuck in the sheets that were wrapped around her and ended up falling back. His arms shot out to grab her around the waist.
"See. I leave you alone for three seconds and you're sneezing and falling," he told her. Zoya didn't know whether he was teasing her or scolding her, so she settled on glaring at him.
"So romantic!" Someone said clapping their hands. Zoya shrieked and scrambled up onto her feet.
Aiyaan laughed heartily from where he was perched on the window frame, Humaira giggling by his side. Asad glared at his younger brother and pushed Zoya behind himself. She grabbed his shoulder to steady herself and peeked out at Aiyaan and Humaira.
"Seems like you guys had a good night," he teased jumping down onto the floor before helping Humaira down. Asad crossed his arms in front of his chest and watched him.
"What are you doing here, Aiyaan?" Asad asked.
"We actually came to see you. But it seems that luck was on our side today for it looks like our bet has been settled," Humaira explained, smiling warmly at the peeking Zoya.
"Bet?" Zoya asked.
"How long it would take for both of you to sleep together," Aiyaan said, ignoring the blush that stained his Bhaijaan and Bhabhi's cheeks.
"Who won?" Zoya asked her face flushed.
"Me. Humaira said you would wait until your wedding night, I told her that they wouldn't last that long," Aiyaan replied smugly.
"But don't worry. Your secret's safe with us," Humaira said, coming around to stand in front of Zoya.
"You guys shouldn't be here. Ammi will be coming back any moment now," Asad said glancing at the door.
"Speaking of which, you did lock the door didn't you?" Aiyaan asked strolling over the door and flinging it open. He slammed it shut then locked it before turning back to them with a horrified expression.
"You really must've lost control," he said, his eyes wide.
"Hmm, and judging by the nail scratches on Asad Bhaijaan's, Bhabhi also lost control," Humaira said giggling.
Asad grinned sheepishly but sobered when Zoya smacked him upside the head.
"I'll be right back," Zoya said, slipping into his bathroom to emerge a few minutes later with her nightie and her shawl around her shoulder. Meanwhile, Asad had also pulled on his shirt and the four of them sat down for a quick chat.
"What did you want to talk about?" Asad asked.
"Well, we wanted to invite you," Humaira explained. Zoya and Asad glanced at each other.
"Invite?" Asad asked.
"Ok maybe not invite. Ask. Bhaijaan, Humaira and I want to get married," Aiyaan said. Zoya shrieked and enveloped Humaira in a hug, only to note the hesitancy in Aiyaan's voice.
"But?" Asad asked, catching onto his brother's emotions. Aiyaan glanced at Humaira before standing up and taking his hands in hers.
"We want you to come," Aiyaan said looking at the couple sitting before him. Zoya noticed Asad's gaze harden and his body stiffened. She placed a soothing hand on his arm and he glanced at her before relaxing a bit.
"I can't," Asad replied.
"I had a feeling you would say that," Aiyaan said dryly. Humaira came forward and kneeled down in front of Asad and Zoya.
"Asad Bhaijaan, Aiyaan and I have decided that unless you come, we won't get married," Humaira said. Asad's gaze snapped to her and Zoya's eyes widened.
"No," he said again firmly. Humaira stood up and looked at Aiyaan.
"Then we won't get married," she said simply. Zoya stood up and took the girl's shoulders in her hands.
"Humaira, listen to yourself. You know the tension that lies between our families. Please don't beat yourself over it. You two get married. You have our blessings," Zoya tried to reason. Aiyaan shook his head.
"It's our deal. Mamujaan and Mumani were ready to get us married next week, but we declined," he said, taking Humaira's hand and walking to the window. Asad watched him, his face a battle of emotions.
"This wedding won't take place until you come," Aiyaan said, before the couple slipped out the window. Zoya turned to Asad and pointed to the window.
"He's mental!" She said. Asad looked up at her and her heart melted at seeing him look so helpless. She wrapped her arms around him and he buried his face in her stomach, inhaling her vanilla scent and drinking in the comfort she was providing.
Thoughts plagued his mind. Aiyaan was being stubborn, as usual. But he wasn't marrying Humaira because of him. Asad knew that if he went, he would hurt his Ammi. If he didn't go, then he was breaking his brother's heart.
"I wish I could say something, but I'm just as lost as you are," she said to him softly. He pulled away to look at her.
"You should go to your room. Najma's looking for you," he said to her, standing up.
"Don't push me away," she said to him sharply. He sighed deeply and touched her cheek.
"I'm not. Najma's looking for you and now so is Ammi. They're already suspicious and I don't want any more trouble right now," he said. Zoya knew it was pointless to argue with him so gathering all her courage; she reached up and placed a soft kiss on his lips.
"I'm here for you," she assured him before she slipped out of his room, leaving him to his thoughts.
*****
"Zoya? Where were you?" Dilshad asked when she came in for breakfast.
"I went out for a jog," Zoya said sitting down and giving a warm smile to Najma. Dilshad nodded and sat down as well.
"Good Morning," Asad said walking in to take his place. Zoya swallowed tightly as she drank in his form greedily. His muscular frame was adorned in crisp black pants and a black button-up shirt, with a few buttons at the top undone from where the alluring crook of his neck peeked out. Zoya had to fight the urge to kiss him senseless and focussed on her toast, praising herself for dressing nicely today.
Asad had seen her reaction and he grinned devilishly at the sudden darkness of her chocolate eyes. He had to admit, he liked what she was wearing. A semi-sheer chiffon shirt with a deep v-neckline and cascading ruffles with high and low hems along with a pair of black jeans. The outfit clashed perfectly with her raven tresses and the blush that was spread across her cheeks. His grin widened when she looked up at him.
Zoya's heart started to beat three times as fast when she saw the grin on his face. She swallowed again and turned her head away from those dark orbs that peered straight into her soul.
What the hell had she gotten herself into?
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