Chapter 3

Asad "Zoya can... can live."

Everyone looks at Asad in shock.

Captain Jack Sparrow "So its decided. The girl stays."

Zaroon "Welcome abroad, Zoya."

Arjun "She will be nothing but a burden."

Zoya (A burden? That really hurts.)

Zoya "One chance and if I am unable to prove my worth, I'll jump."

Haider "Zoya, you will not be a burden but a joy to have around here."

Zaroon "I totally agree."

Matthew "And where will she stay? We no longer have a spare cabin."

Captain Jack Sparrow "Zoya, I know that you wish to stay with me but you see I love my rum and you are the reason that it is gone."

Zoya "Huh?"

Matthew "If you are thinking that one of the guys will abandon their cabin for you then that is not happening."

Haider "Its kind of a pirate rule."

Zoya (Weird rules they have.)

Zaroon "I would love to have you in my cabin and I promise that you will face no problem."

Arjun "That can't be possible doc. Your cabin is used by the other pirates if they are injured so she can't stay there."

Haider "I wish you could share with me but my room doesn't have space for two. I am just an apprentice here you see."

Zoya (Oh no! That leaves just Asad, Arjun and Matthew. I hope they are just having fun with me and I don't have to stay with anyone of them.)

Matthew "She is not staying with me at any cost."

Captain Jack Sparrow "Zoya will stay with Asad."

Asad "What?"

Captain Jack Sparrow "There comes a time when one must take responsibility for one's decision."

Asad "You, Zoya come with me."

Saying so, Asad garbs Zoya's arm and drags her with him.

--

They enter a room and Asad leaves her arm.

Asad "What's going wrong with the world that I hafta have a girl in my room."

Asad "You. Get in the bed."

Zoya "B...Bed?"

Asad "It's late. Do you have something you got to do now?"

Zoya (Are we... gonna sleep in the same bed...?)

Zoya "Umm.."

Asad "Why are you behaving like that?"

Zoya "Cause..."

Asad "Ya...stupid."

Zoya "Excuse me!"

Asad "Who's gonna even try to hit a kid like you?"

Asad rolled up a blanket and laid it on the floor.

Zoya "Er...Asad?"

Zoya (Is he giving up his bed for me?)

Asad "Don't make me repeat myself. Go to bed."

Zoya "But, you're gonna catch a cold if you sleep there..."

Asad "I said go to sleep."

Zoya (He looks scary... but, is he actually a sweet guy...?)

Zoya "But, I think it's not fair for just me to use you bed..."

Asad "Didn't you hear me?"

Zoya (Shit...He's got a gun in his hand!)

Zoya puts her hands up by reflex.

Zoya "I got nothing! Nothing!"

Asad "You dumb or what?"

Zoya (Well he is laughing at least.)

Asad "You better go to sleep. You have to lot of work tomorrow.)

Zoya "What kind of work will I be doing, specifically?"

Zoya (He hasn't replied. Didn't he hear me?)

Zoya "You are a member on the ship, right? What's it like to..."

Asad "I'll throw you into the sea if you keep talking."

Saying so Asad lays on the floor and covers himself up and Zoya stares at him for a while.

Asad "Stop staring."

Zoya "I need to use the washroom."

Asad "Great. Couldn't you have mentioned it earlier? You can use the restroom on the deck. It would be clean and fine for you."

Asad started to get up to lead the way.

Zoya "I know where the deck is... You need not to come along."

Saying so she hurries out of the room.

--

Zoya (This ship is like a maze. Also, it is too dark here.)

Zoya suddenly bumps into someone.

Zoya "Who's that?"

The person she had bumped into flashes light on her face so that she can see him.

Zoya "Arjun, I..."

Arjun "Shouldn't you be in bed by now?"

Zoya "I just wanted to use the restroom. Asad said there was one on the deck and I..."

Arjun "And you can't find your way around."

Zoya "Umm... yes."

Arjun "Follow me."

Zoya quietly follows Arjun to the restroom. She uses it while he waits outside for her.

Zoya "Thank you."

Arjun "I'll lead you to your room now."

Zoya "Ok."

Zoya (He is less arrogant at present. Well that is good.)

Arjun "I am sorry for earlier. I shouldn't have called you a burden without giving you a chance. You had ended up on a pirate ship by mistake and I was being really harsh."

Zoya "It's not your fault entirely. I did mess things up for you all."

Arjun "Hmm..."

Zoya "How long have you been a pirate?"

Arjun "Forever. Ever since I was born. Everyone in my family has been a pirate."

Zoya "Where did you learn to fight like that? With the swords?"

Arjun "My father who was taught by his."

Zoya (Looks like a family tradition.)

Arjun "Enough of your talks. You should sleep now."

Zoya "Yes..."

They reach Asad's room and Zoya quietly slips inside and tip toes to bed trying not to wake Asad up.

--

Asad "Get up. You, kid!"

Zoya "Hm?"

Asad "Gosh... you're half asleep."

Zoya opens her eyes and stares at Asad in daze.

Zoya "Good morning."

Asad "I don't see anything good about this morning."

Zoya "Umm... somehow. You don't look well."

Asad "... You woke me up many times."

Zoya "What? I did?"

Asad "You were grumbling in your sleep. And you fell off the bed..."

Zoya "What? Fell out of bed?"

Asad "You made a huge sound. I jumped."

Zoya "But... I'm in bed now."

Zoya (Did he... by any chance, pick me up from the floor?)

Zoya "I don't remember, but thank you very much."

Asad "Go and get ready."

Zoya "I don't have any spare clothes."

Asad "I got some clothes from the doc for you. He buys stuff for his sister at various ports."

Asad hands her three sets of tees and shorts. Zoya gives him a huge smile.

Asad "Remember, never expect to be a freeloader here."

--

After getting ready, Zoya goes to the altar as instructed by Asad.

Zoya "Oh, wow. It's bright."

Zoya (The sun has just come out. Everyone else is sleeping still. It's so quiet on the ship...)

Asad "This is where you steer the ship."

Zoya "Whoa! Haven't seen this before."

Asad "Have you ever been on a ship before?"

Zoya "I actually have never left the land."

Asad "I had thought so."

Zoya "So how does this work?"

Asad "You change course a little bit depending on the wind direction. Also, one has to take in consideration where they have to go."

Zoya "Sounds complicated."

Asad "You'll never understand for the rest of your life."

Zoya watches as Asad steers the ship slowly.

Zoya (He has a beautiful profile.)

Asad "Don't stare at me like that."

Zoya "Huh?"

Asad "Why don't you clean around here today?"

Zoya "Ok."

Zoya takes a mop and rag and gets to work.

--

After a few hours, Zoya is done cleaning with the deck. She yet hasn't seen anyone else around.

Asad "Wooo... You really went at that cleaning. You must be good at this, huh?"

Zoya "I used to clean everyday at the bar."

Asad "Why were you working at the bar?"

Zoya "Because we're poor."

Asad "I didn't know you got a reason like that to work at the bar."

Zoya "There aren't many jobs. We need money to run the orphanage. Also the bar pays really well."

Asad "Orphanage?"

Zoya "It is run by a few widowed ladies. I grew up there too when my parents died. Now, I help the ladies in gratitude for what they did.

Asad "I see..."

Zoya "A job is a job no matter what you do."

Asad looks at Zoya and then stares at the sea.

Zoya "What about you? How did you become a pirate?"

Zoya (He is glaring at me now. What did I say wrong?)

Before Asad could shout at her they hear footsteps.

Captain Jack Sparrow "Oh my... oh my ship... my Black Pearl'."

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