Chapter 23

"I promise Mr. Khan. I promise that I will prove my innocence and bring a smile back onto your face again. I promise," Zoya whispered. The sound of someone humming filled her ears and Zoya made her way down to the kitchen where Tanveer was happily making kheer.

"Let the games begin," Zoya whispered from afar, a small vindictive smile on creeping onto her face.

A few weeks had passed and Zoya had started to feel much better. The bandage on her head had been removed and the dizziness had also alleviated. Things had become a bit more relaxed around the house. What didn't change was the attitude that Asad still held towards her. He wouldn't speak to her nor would he spare her a glance if she was in the same room as him.

His best friend basked in her victory amidst this all but even she wasn't spared from receiving the end of his anger. There would be times where Asad would yell at her for the littlest of things and Tanveer would snap back at him but a few minutes later things would go back to normal when she would go and apologize by offering him one of his favourite dishes.

These simple actions would cause Zoya to burn and fume inwardly, but she waited silently. She waited for the correct time for her to start her game and slowly remove Tanveer from his life. Little did she know that she wouldn't have to wait very long for her Allah Miyaan was watching over her and her Mr. Khan and He had other plans.

It was one of those days where Tanveer and Asad had fought again and the former had decided that she would apologise by making him his favourite kheer. Again.

Tanveer hummed cheerfully as she added sugar to the kheer that was simmering on the stove. She picked up the container and was about to pour in some nuts but her phone started to ring and she answered it. When she couldn't hear the person on the other end, she turned and headed out the kitchen to take the call.

"Hello?" Tanveer asked.

"This is to inform you that you have won a lottery, plea-." Tanveer ended the call in frustration. Stupid automated calls. Tanveer thought as she returned to her kheer. She turned off the stove and waited for it to cool down before taking it out in a bowl.

"Now it's time to apologize to Asad and make him mine again," Tanveer said happily as she made her way to Asad's room.

She knocked on the door and heard his voice asking her to enter. She entered the room, but what she didn't note was the sudden look of annoyance that passed over his face at seeing her. He had been hoping that it would've been someone more time-worthy, but alas, that was not to be.

"Everything okay?" Asad asked, stopping his work.

"Everything's fine. As promised, here's your kheer," Tanveer said placing it next to him. Asad picked up the tray and set it on the table.

"Thanks, Tanu. But I'll eat later," he told her.

"Jammy, are you still mad at me?" She asked chewing on her lip. Asad looked up at her and saw her guilty face. He heaved a sigh and smiled softly at her.

"No. It's fine," he told her. Tanveer's face broke out into a smile and she held out her hand to him.

"Friends?" She asked. Asad looked down at it then up at her before bursting out into laughter.

"Tanu, you're too much," he said accepting the friendly hug that she gave him. But that hug was witnessed by a raven-haired girl who felt her heart breaking again as she saw her favourite smile being directed at someone who was not her.

Zoya sniffed and rubbed her eyes, removing the tears that had gathered there before she put on a more determined yet pained look.

"No, Zoya. You have to be strong," she told herself lifting her eyes to see Tanveer pick up the tray before she turned and fled the sight.

"Then on this note, one bite from my hands," Tanveer urged. Asad smiled again and opened his mouth, letting her tip the spoon into his mouth. He swallowed the desert and nodded.

"It's good. Wow, Tanu. It's been a while since I've had kheer made by your hands. It tastes so different," he told her. Tanveer laughed and fed him another spoonful. All of a sudden, Asad started to cough.

"Jammy?" Tanveer asked. His coughs became more frequent and it wasn't long before he started coughing uncontrollably.

"Jammy! What's happening? Asad!" Tanveer yelled. The commotion had captured the attention of the other three occupants in the house and they all rushed in.

"Mr. Khan!" Zoya screamed panicking at seeing him starting to lose consciousness, his eyes rolling to the back of his head. She rushed forward, pushing Tanveer roughly out the way and took him in her arms.

"Mr. Khan! Open your eyes! Please, look at me!" Zoya pleaded cupping his face and trying to get him to open his eyes.

"Asad! Beta, what's happening?" Dilshad asked as she saw her son's health suddenly deteriorating.

"Bhaijaan!" A stunned Najma exclaimed as she too came forward and took his hands into her hand and rubbed them.

"Tanveer, what happened?" Zoya asked as she tried to get him to wake up. The woman in question was pale and shaking as she stared at the scene in front of her in fear.

"I don't know, Zoya. I made him kheer and he was eating it when all of a sudden he started coughing and..." Tanveer trailed off. Dilshad looked at the bowl filled with kheer and snatched it off the table and took a spoonful. Her eyes went wide and she stared at Zoya with a horrified look on her face.

"Tanveer, why did you put peanuts in the kheer?" Dilshad asked, her gaze snapping over to Tanveer. Zoya's head shot up and she looked at Tanveer with a shocked expression before glancing down at Asad who was wheezing and was losing consciousness against her shoulder.

"Najma! His last drawer in his cupboard! He keeps his EpiPen in there! Quick!" Zoya ordered Najma. Najma nodded and went to his cupboard and found the EpiPen.

"Zoya! Here," Najma said thrusting it forward into her hands. Zoya uncapped it and injected the dose on his outer thigh. He was still for a while before he took several gasps of breaths and opened his eyes slightly.

"What the hell happened to me?" He said hoarsely, looking around the room.

"Are you okay?" She asked him worriedly. He sat up with her help and she poured him a glass of water from the jug on his side table. Zoya held the cup to his lips and he drank heavily. Once done, he leaned against her and placed his head on her shoulder where she gently ran a hand through his hair, soothing him.

"Asad, beta, are you okay now?" Dilshad asked placing a hand on his head.

"I'm fine, Ammi. But what happened?" He asked.

"Actually, Bhaijaan. The kheer that you ate had peanuts in it," Najma offered. Asad looked at her with confusion.

"Peanuts?" He asked.

"Yes, Asad. There were peanuts in the kheer Tanveer made for you," Dilshad said, smiling inwardly when she saw him entwine his fingers with Zoya's absentmindedly. Asad's gaze snapped to the woman who was standing in the far end of the room, shaking in fear.

"Tanu? But you know I'm allergic!" Asad said.

"Jammy, I didn't put peanuts in! I promise, I put nuts!" Tanveer said.

"Tanveer, there are peanuts in the kheer. I tasted it myself," Dilshad said.

"No way, Khaala. I refuse to believe that I put peanuts in the kheer," Tanveer said in denial. Zoya looked at her with an exasperated look.

"Tanveer, it's fine. Just admit it that you did and we won't speak of it again," Zoya said, shifting so that she could properly put her arms around him. Tanveer's gaze snapped to her and she glared coldly at Zoya.

"You want me to admit it so that no one would accuse you, right Zoya?" Tanveer asked. Zoya suppressed a groan and looked at Dilshad who, along with Najma, was glaring at Tanveer coldly.

"Tanveer, I'm just saying," Zoya started but Tanveer wouldn't hear anything.

"I got a phone call while I was making the kheer and I'm sure when I left, you added the peanuts and left before I could come. You wanted him dead, didn't you? You've always wanted him dead!" Tanveer lashed out at Zoya.

"TANVEER!" Asad roared, scaring everyone out of their wits and causing poor Zoya to jump a foot in the air at his sudden outburst. The poor girl had been sitting with him on her shoulder and had almost suffered a heart attack at hearing him shout.

"J-Jammy, I j-just," Tanveer stuttered.

"What is wrong with you?" Asad asked glaring at her.

"Everything that has been happening in this house, every bad thing, you've been blaming it all on Zoya," Asad stated, his eyes narrowing.

"Because it is her fault!" Tanveer protested.

"Please, Tanveer. I don't want to hear anything. The fact that whenever anything bad happens, you're always there as the sole witness is even more suspicious," Asad observed.

"Bhaijaan, you're right!" Najma said suddenly. They all turned to look at her.

"Whenever something does go wrong, Tanveer is always the first witness and Zoya is always the culprit," Najma said thinking back to the events that occurred.

The four turned to look at Tanveer and she suddenly felt very exposed. She had to do something and she had to do it fast.

"Wait here," Tanveer said before rushing out the room.

"I want to stand," Asad said. Zoya looked down at him sharply when he tried to stand up.

"Oh no you don't," she said to him. He looked at her with surprise and she held a finger to her lips, shushing him.

"But."

"But nothing, you will stay in bed," Zoya admonished him. Asad looked helplessly at his mother.

"Ammi!" He said. Dilshad smiled and looked at Zoya, sending her a small nod. Zoya spluttered but reluctantly helped him to stand up.

Asad looked down at her and was met with her chocolaty gaze. He held her around the shoulders as she held him around his waist and when she realised their position, a pink blush spread across her cheeks causing Asad to smile inwardly.

Tanveer returned carrying the container from which she had added the nuts. She shoved it into Dilshad's hands and looked at Asad.

"See, Khaala. This is what I added," Tanveer said, sending a glare towards Zoya when she saw the two lovers wrapped in each other's embrace.

"Tanveer," Dilshad started handing over the container to Najma.

"It's okay, Khaala, you don't need to apologize," Tanveer said crossing her arms in front of her chest.

"No, Tanveer," Dilshad said again while Najma passed the container to Asad and Zoya.

"I'm telling you Khaala, it's okay," Tanveer huffed. Asad and Zoya looked down at the container before looking at each other, rage reflecting in each other's eyes. Zoya handed the container to Asad and told Najma to hold onto him as she stepped away.

"Coming to beg for forgiveness of your sins, Zoya?" Tanveer asked haughtily. Zoya pulled her hand back and smacked the woman across the face.

"Instead of using this fat mouth of yours to accuse me, you could've at least used your eyes when making this kheer," Zoya told her sharply. Tanveer grabbed her stinging cheek and glared at her. Zoya grabbed the container from Asad's hands and held it in front of her face.

"See this? These are peanuts, Tanveer! Peanuts!" Zoya said to her, shaking the box in front of her face. Tanveer stared at the box in shock.

"And what were you saying? You refuse to believe that you could put peanuts instead of nuts, well believe it because you did," Zoya said to her angrily. Tanveer looked at Asad helplessly but he made no move to stop Zoya, instead he crossed his arms in front of his chest and glared at her stonily.

"Jammy, you don't think I could've done this on purpose?" Tanveer said.

"I asked you a question few weeks ago as well, but I am yet to receive its answer," Asad said, his voice flat. Tanveer's eyes widened.

"What question?" Dilshad enquired.

"The question as to how the knife got into Zoya's room when she supposedly tried to kill Tanveer," Asad informed them. Zoya and Tanveer glanced at each other but Zoya stayed mum. She wanted to say something, she truly did, but something was stopping her.

"Wow, Zoya, I didn't know you were on a killing spree which Tanveer was the only witness to," Najma said sarcastically. Zoya eyes went wide with horror while Dilshad bit her lip from smiling.

"Talk about coincidence," Najma stated.

"That's enough, Tamatar," Asad said, but even he looked like he was trying to hide his smile.

Tanveer fumed at being mocked so openly. She glared at Zoya hatefully and only received a smile in return.

I hate you, Zoya. I hate you. Tanveer thought venomously.

"I'm still waiting for the answer," Asad said.

"I, I, Jammy," Tanveer said faltering.

"Leave it, Tanveer. It's okay. Right now, Mr. Khan needs rest and we all could do with lunch, right Phuppi?" Zoya asked looking at Dilshad. Dilshad nodded and turned to look at Asad.

"Zoya's right. Mistakes happen, rest for a while then come down to dinner," Dilshad told him.

"Tanveer will help me set the table," Najma perked up before dragging Tanveer out the room.

"Ammi, I don't want to eat," Asad said.

"Yes you do," Zoya snapped. Asad looked at her irritated and then at his mother.

"Please take her with you," he begged her. Dilshad smiled as she saw glimpses of her old Asad and Zoya.

"Zoya, I'll leave it to you to bring Asad down for lunch," Dilshad said, sticking to her plan of making the two spend as much time together as possible.

"Okay Phuppi," Zoya chirped while Asad groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose. Dilshad shook her head and took her leave.

"Did you hear? You're under my care now," Zoya told him. Asad opened his mouth to protest but found himself being shoved onto the bed.

"Rest for now," she told him firmly.

"No, I've got work to do," Asad said. She held onto his shoulder firmly and glared at him. He huffed but leaned back against the headboard, folding his arms and glaring at his duvet.

"You're such a child," Zoya said laughing.

"Me? You're the one who's imprisoned me," Asad replied.

"Imprisoned? I like that," Zoya said. Asad rolled his eyes and returned to glaring at his duvet.

"Why are you scaring the poor duvet? What has it done to you?" Zoya asked snatching the duvet off of the bed and taking it to the settee where she spread herself out and made herself comfortable with the duvet laying over her legs.

"Give me back my duvet," Asad said.

"Child," Zoya muttered rolling her eyes.

"I heard that."

"You were meant to."

The next few minutes were spent in silence as Asad had closed his eyes and leaned his head back while Zoya watched him with a smile on her face. She studied him as he lay there. After three weeks, they were finally spending time together and Zoya was holding onto every second.

He was truly a remarkable man. Sure he was a douche from time to time, but he was remarkable nonetheless. A while ago, if someone had told her that she would fall hopelessly in love with the Asad Ahmed Khan himself, then she would've laughed in their face. But today, things were different. She had indeed fallen madly in love with him.

There were so many things that she loved about him. Whether it was his care for the wellbeing for his mother and sister, or the intelligence he carried with him. But his eyes always got the better of her. They were dark pools that captivated her from the beginning. Eyes that peered straight into her soul and made her feel so vulnerable. They held a sense of wisdom and pride but they were eyes that she had never seen ever before.

Zoya was pulled out of her reverie when she realised he had opened his eyes and was watching her.

"What?" She asked.

"Nothing," he replied.

"Come, let's go have lunch," Zoya said standing up.

"I don't want to," he replied.

"You have to," Zoya said grabbing his arm and trying to pull him out of bed.

"No, I really don't feel like eating anything," Asad said. He tugged his hand back but his tug was so strong that Zoya ended up being pulled down on him. She yelped as she fell onto his lap, his arms immediately wrapped around her shoulders and Zoya looked up and froze when their gazes connected.

Before things could get heated, Zoya cleared her throat and stood up, brushing herself off as he ran a hand through his hair.

"Please, let's go," Zoya begged. He shook his head and returned to leaning back against the headboard.

"Fine," she said before whirling around. Asad watched her whirl around and then freeze. Her hand went up to her head and she swayed suddenly.

"Zoya!" Asad exclaimed jumping out of bed and rushing to her. He caught her just as she slumped in his arms.