Chapter 20

"Bhaijaan, how can you not trust the woman who completes you?" Humaira asked. Ayaan shook his head at her, but Humaira silenced him with a glare.

"Humaira," Zoya repeated, her head was now spinning.

"Don't stop me, Ayaan. I'm just wondering how the person that I never thought would fault in judgement, failed to stand up for his inamorata," Humaira said, visibly shaking with rage.

"Hum..." Zoya didn't get to finish as a thick blanket of darkness suddenly consumed her world.

She did not feel the strong arms that surrounded her before she hit the ground, nor did she hear the deep panicked voice calling her name.

Asad knew she was about to collapse; it took him exactly three long strides before he had her in his arms, unconscious.

"Zoya!" He called out, panicking when she didn't stir.

"Zoya! Open your eyes!" He said to her, shaking her gently but wildly.

"Zoya!" Humaira and Ayaan exclaimed as they quickly rushed over to her. Dilshad and Najma came rushing down the stairs and shrieked when they saw Zoya passed out.

"Zoya," Asad whispered. He was going hysterical, she wasn't responding to him and looked like a corpse in his arms. He scooped her up and sprinted to his room, gently laying her down on his bed.

"Zoya, wake up!" He told her urgently. Asad was losing it; he needed to see some form of reaction from her.

"Out of the way," the doctor said as he rushed into the room. Asad didn't even know who called him or when he got there but nonetheless, he moved out of the way. After a few minutes of examination, and panicking on Asad's part, the doctor finally turned to Dilshad with something close to disapproval.

"Mrs. Khan, I have been telling you for so long that she needs rest. It's a head injury and we cannot afford any carelessness. The slightest indifference towards her can either lead to a coma or to her death," he told her. Asad went numb when he heard the word "death". A hand gently encircled his arms and steered him away from his Zoya. He reached out to her, desperately wanting to touch her, but the force kept on pulling him away. He wanted to call out to his Zoya to wake up, but his words were stuck and his voice was lost. All he was aware of were the arms that wound around his torso and a soothing voice telling him that everything would be okay.

Ayaan gently patted his elder brother's back as Asad clung to him for dear life. Ayaan had gotten his proof that Zoya was innocent and that somewhere deep inside, Asad believed her to be too. The only problem was that it was too deep inside.

"Bhaijaan," Ayaan said gently. Asad looked up at him and Ayaan felt his heart reach out to his elder brother. The usually stoic and arrogant man looked scared and lost beyond repair.

"Ayaan, sh-she wasn't waking u-up," Asad stuttered. Ayaan opened his mouth, but nothing made sense to him. What could he say to calm down his brother?

"Bhaijaan, she needs you," he said after a few seconds. Asad looked at him blankly. Ayaan let out a deep breath.

"Zoya needs you Bhaijaan. She needs your strength, your assurance, and most importantly Bhaijaan," Ayaan said placing both his hands on Asad's shoulders, "she needs your love."

Asad let out what could only be described as a mixture of a scoff and a sob.

"She doesn't need my love. She already has it," Asad said hoarsely.

"But she doesn't have your assurance," Ayaan added. Now that Asad looked like he had calmed down considerably, Ayaan felt that he needed to knock some sense into him.

"You don't trust her, Bhaijaan," Ayaan said, "you never have."

Asad looked at him. It was true. He had never trusted Zoya. Never.

"You know Ayaan's right, Bhaijaan. You never trusted her yet you say you love her. How can you love her but not trust her? You can trust Tanveer, can you not?" Humaira said. Ayaan and Asad turned to see her standing in the doorframe with her arms crossed in front of her chest with a forlorn expression on her face.

"I know I have no right to tell you these things. But Zoya is like an older sister to me, I love her more than I love Nikkhat Baji and seeing her in so much pain just kills me," Humaira said walking into the room. She stood in front of Asad and looked up at him dejectedly.

"How can you trust your best friend so blindly but cannot trust the woman you love?" Humaira asked with incredulity.

"I have known Tanveer since my childhood. She would never lie to me," Asad replied.

"And Zoya would?" Tanveer asked. Asad fell silent. He was torn. Torn between the word of his best friend and the woman he loved. How was he to choose whom to trust without hurting either of them?

But something clicked in his head. There was proof, was there not? There was proof that Zoya had tried to kill him. Solid proof. The pain in his chest morphed into anger and he looked at Humaira sharply.

"When there is proof against her, then why are you so keen on trying to prove her innocence?" Asad asked quietly, but dangerously. Humaira's eyes widened a fraction but she said nothing. She could not, for she saw her old Asad Bhaijaan returning. The same Bhaijaan who refused to let anyone come near him, the same Bhaijaan who once lost faith in someone, had a hard time trusting them again.

"What proof, Bhaijaan?" Ayaan asked, noticing Humaira's sudden silence.

"The video clip that shows her putting the store room on fire," Asad replied, his hands fisting by his side. Humaira's gaze snapped to him and she stared at him disbelievingly. Everything clicked together now, why he refused to talk to her, why Zoya didn't want to be called Bhabhi. It was clear now. Ayaan and her looked at each other before she looked back at Asad.

"Bhaijaan," she whispered. Asad looked at her and Humaira let out a gasp when she saw the pain in his eyes. It wasn't hard to miss because it was the same look that haunted Zoya's eyes. The same misery reflected in Zoya's eyes. This situation had hit them both hard. So hard that it had shattered them to the core.

Humaira didn't know what to do. So she did the only thing she knew. Stepping forward, she placed her head on his chest and hugged him tightly. Asad was shocked beyond words when he felt Humaira embrace him, but he returned her hug, letting her comfort him.

Ayaan watched from afar. He knew it was killing Humaira at seeing Zoya in so much pain; she loved the girl like an older sister even though they had met only a handful of times. Hell, it was killing him to see his Bhaijaan so upset. What made things worse was that Ayaan was at a total loss for what to do. He looked at his brother who held out his other arm and Ayaan rushed forward to embrace him.

Together, Ayaan and Humaira enveloped their Bhaijaan in a hug. They knew both Asad and Zoya needed them, all of them. So when Humaira looked up at Ayaan, they both had a silent agreement that no matter what happens, they wouldn't rest until they got the two back together.

* * * * *

Zoya smiled as the warm hand caressed her cheek. She snuggled into it and sighed deeply. She felt like she was floating on the clouds, her body was so relaxed. A voice was calling her name and she was being pulled down from the clouds. Her body became heavier and heavier and the hand that was caressing her cheek was now gently prodding her awake.

"Mr. Khan," Zoya murmured, knowing that he was probably trying to ruin her slumber. Her eyes fluttered open and a gasped escaped her lips upon the vision that greeted her.

"Ayaan!" Zoya said shooting up in a sitting position. A torturous scream tore through her lips as a sharp pain shot through her head.

"Bhabhi!" Humaira yelped gently pushing her back down on the bed, giving an apologetic look to Zoya when she glared at her for calling her "Bhabhi".

"Sorry," Humaira replied cheekily.

"What happened?" Zoya asked.

"You fainted," Ayaan replied. Zoya groaned and let Humaira gently stroke her hair as she lay on the pillow. Zoya had to blink away the tears that were forming in her eyes as she replayed the whole scenario in her head.

"I hate Tanveer," Zoya whispered. Humaira heard her loud and clear and looked up at Ayaan with a concerned expression on her face.

"Mona, what did she do?" Ayaan asked. Zoya opened her eyes and looked at them. She then slowly sat up, Humaira helping her.

"Everything was going perfectly. Perfectly," Zoya whispered.

Humaira and Ayaan listened to the whole story with patient ears. When they reached the part with the video, Ayaan asked to see it. After watching the video, they were both horrified, but could not bring themselves to believe Tanveer's accusations. It was impossible. If Zoya had indeed tried to get rid of Asad, she wouldn't have looked so broken.

"Now he won't even talk to me. Let alone look at me," Zoya whispered as her tears rolled down her cheeks, her head resting on Humaira's shoulder.

Ayaan meanwhile was watching the video over and over again. There had to be some sort of clue in there. There just had to be.

"Leave it, Ayaan. Her plan was brilliant," Zoya said, sighing. Ayaan looked up at her with a determined look on his face.

"I'm taking the video with me. I feel like this is the only thing that will prove your innocence," Ayaan said.

"But-."

"Ayaan's right, Zoya. There has to be a loophole," Humaira assured.

"We'll take this and you take care of yourself," Ayaan said as he slid Zoya's iPad into Humaira's bag. It surprised both of them when Zoya didn't protest. If there was anything besides their Bhaijaan that Zoya couldn't live without, it was her iPad.

"You don't worry about anything. We'll handle it from here," Humaira said hugging Zoya.

"There's a lot to worry about, Humaira. Specially my..." Zoya broke off and hugged Humaira tightly. Ayaan knelt down next to her bed and took his hand in her own.

"As your devar, it is my duty to keep you happy," Ayaan said. Zoya wanted to laugh and smack him at the same time, so she settled on ruffling his hair and smiling at him.

The two stood up and left, leaving Zoya to her thoughts.

* * * * *

Asad stopped in his tracks when he saw the door to Zoya's room open. Curiosity killed the cat indeed and Asad couldn't help but make his way to her room. He peaked inside and was greeted with the sight of her leaning against the headboard of her bed, her eyes closed and her hands folded in her lap.

The sight of her bandaged head tore at his already broken heart. The desire to take her into his arms was too strong and in order to avoid doing something he may regret, Asad turned on his heels and fled.

A few seconds after his departure, Zoya's eyes snapped open and her gaze went straight to the door where Asad had stood. She could've sworn she had felt his gaze on her. His presence prickled her senses. He had been there. He definitely had been.

"Stop it, Zoya," she chastised herself. There was no way he would come to see her now.

"Should I go see him? To try and explain at least?" Zoya wondered. But then she shook her head. What was left to explain?

"Zoya, Zoya, Zoya," a voice said. Zoya looked up and her gaze went cold as she stared at Tanveer standing in the doorway.

"I did warn you. Don't mess with me," Tanveer said walking into her room and sitting down on Zoya's bed. Zoya's eyes narrowed at her.

"The fact that you're so full of yourself still surprises me," Zoya replied harshly. Tanveer raised an eyebrow at her.

"Tanveer, no matter what happens, you will never be able to take Mr. Khan away from me," Zoya said. Tanveer chuckled.

"I already have, Zoya. I already have. Asad doesn't want to talk to you anymore. He doesn't want anything to do with you," Tanveer said.

"You're digging your own grave, Tanveer. I hope you realise it," Zoya said. Tanveer leaned towards her and Zoya's eyes went wide when she produced the silver blade in her hand.

"Zoya, if I can't have Asad, then no one can. And if I am digging my own grave, then I will make sure to take you with me," Tanveer said running the blade of her knife on Zoya's arm. Zoya's anger ripped through her and she leaned forward so the blade dug into her arm just enough to bring out a drop of blood. The silver metal sliced through her skin but not a single sound escaped Zoya's lips.

"You won't last to take me with you," Zoya said in a low voice. Tanveer felt an uneasiness settle over her. She had wanted to scare Zoya but it seemed that it hadn't worked. She stared at the small wound that had been created on Zoya's arm.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. What is this Tanveer? Is that fear in your eyes?" Zoya asked mockingly. Tanveer looked at her sharply.

"If you warned me, then I also warned you. If you ever so much as try to hurt any one of the members of this house, you will have me to answer to," Zoya said and mustering up all her remaining strength, Zoya pushed Tanveer.

Tanveer screamed as she fell of the bed, the knife she had been holding in turn ended up slicing her own arm. Zoya smirked but quickly leaned back against the headboard when she heard footsteps rushing to her room.

"ZOYA!" Asad yelled as he burst into the room. He rushed over to her and took a stunned Zoya into his arms.

"Are you hurt? What happened? Should I call the doctor? Have you been resting?" He rambled as he looked over her. Zoya was too astounded to give any form of reaction.

"Zoya, please tell me you're okay," Asad said as he scrutinized her from head to toe. Dilshad and Najma had heard the scream and came running into the room. The sight that they were met with shocked them but no one noticed Tanveer on the ground with a bloodied arm.

"Jammy, it's not her that's hurt," Tanveer said whilst everyone was too busy fussing over Zoya.

Zoya could only watch Asad as he froze when Tanveer's voice interrupted them. Something cleared in his eyes and he looked at her with a blank gaze. As if realising what he was doing, Asad jerked away from her and stood up, letting his Ammi and sister take care of Zoya. He quickly walked over to Tanveer to help her, ignoring the sudden annoyance towards Tanveer. Out of all the times she could've cut her arm, it had to be now?

"Tanveer! What happened?" Dilshad asked when she saw the blood running down her arm.

"Khaala, this Zoya pushed me," Tanveer said as Asad helped her stand. He froze when he heard those words and glanced over at Zoya, who was watching him silently.

"Are you mad, Tanveer?" Najma asked.

"I'm not mad, Najma. She pushed me and tried to stab me with this knife," Tanveer said. She glanced at Asad. If she could get him to believe that Zoya was after her as well as him, then her plan would be set.

"Tanveer, Zoya is sick. How can she...I think you need to see a doctor Tanveer," Dilshad suggested kindly. Asad snorted but had to cover it up with a cough.

"Jammy, look. How can I just end up injuring myself?" Tanveer asked shrilly.

"Phuppi, please," Zoya rasped. Asad's gaze snapped towards her and he almost reached out to her when he saw her holding onto her head.

"Zoya, beta, what happened?" Dilshad asked. Zoya groaned in pain and Asad jerked towards her.

"The loud noises, Phuppi. My head," Zoya groaned. The doctor's words rang in Asad's head and he knew he had to do something.

"Ammi, you take care of Ms. Farooqui. I'll take Tanveer outside," Asad said as he grabbed Tanveer's arm, ignoring her hiss of pain.

Asad dragged Tanveer out the room and took her to the kitchen where he handed her a wet towel and told her to clean the wound. Tanveer waited for him to start helping her but he moved away and leaned against the counter.

"Will you not help me?" Tanveer asked.

"Tanu, how could Zoya have tried to hurt you? Did you see how she couldn't even handle loud noises?" Asad lost control of his temper and ended up lashing out at Tanveer, leaving her shocked out of her wits.

"Jammy, I-."

"Enough is enough, Tanveer. Zoya isn't feeling well and I hardly doubt she tried to kill you with that knife," Asad said turning around to leave. He stopped in his tracks as a thought struck him. He turned around to look at Tanveer with a puzzled expression on her face.

"If Zoya has been feeling weak and hasn't been able to stand up, where did the knife appear from?"