Chapter 8

Asad "Don't go."

Zoya "Asad."

Zoya in an impulse flings her arms around him and moves back when he yelps.

Asad "You got excited again?"

Zoya "I am sorry. Are you ok? I'll go call Zaroon."

Zoya without hearing Asad's reply runs to get Zaroon.

Zaroon "It is a miracle you survived."

Asad "All thanks to you, doc."

Zaroon "It wasn't I alone this time. Captain, Matthew and Arjun went to Ice Island to get you The weed of Life'."

Asad "That was very brave of them."

Zaroon "And Zoya here was worried about you. It was she who told us about the weed and she even insisted on getting it on her own. Also, she hasn't moved from your side ever since even though she herself is unwell."

Asad "Zoya, you should go get some rest."

Zoya "I am absolutely alright."

Asad "No you are not. And you will use this an excuse to avoid work."

Zoya "I..."

Asad "Leave now."

Zoya (He has the energy to shout at me even in this condition.)

Zoya (But why am I not furious like always but hurt this time.)

Zoya leaves the room not wanting to stress Asad.

--

Zoya rests for a while and when she wakes up she finds Asad by her bedside.

Asad "You were worried for me?"

Zoya "No, I stayed by your side for these many hours just to avoid working on the ship."

Asad "I can sense sarcasm in your tone."

Zoya "Really? But I just said the fact that you had stated."

Asad "I didn't mean it in that way."

Zoya "So in what way did you mean it?"

Asad "You are not used to the sea and your condition could have worsen if you didn't get any rest."

Zoya "So, you were just looking out for me?"

Zoya (He is not looking at me now. But I can see him nod slightly.)

Asad "All this doesn't mean that you can now relax on the ship. You still got to work hard else I'll feed you to the sharks."

Zoya (His threats don't seem frightening any more.)

Asad "I do have a reward for you though."

Zoya "Reward?"

Asad "We are stopping at a port tomorrow. Here are some postcards. Write to your family back home."

Zoya "I don't know how to thank..."

Asad "You don't thank people for giving you a reward which you earned."

Asad keeps on the postcards on Zoya's bed and leaves.

--

*Next Day*

Zaroon "Whoa! The air of the town."

Haider "It is so cheerful with all the stores and people."

Asad "Zoya, has Riya gone shoping?"

Zoya "Yes. She said she wanted a new dress."

Asad "Why didn't you go with her?"

Zoya (He's been kinda cold since we got to the port.)

Zoya "Arjun went with her and I didn't want to be the third wheel."

Captain Jack Sparrow "Let's go get some rum."

Zaroon and Haider excuse themselves saying they got some work.

--

Zoya (This bar is way bigger than I used to work at. Also it is storming with people.)

Asad "You should go to the hotel."

Zoya "Let me just have some juice."

Asad "This isn't a place where a kid like you should hang out."

Zoya "Excuse me... I used to work in a bar?"

Asad "Suit yourself."

Asad walks away from there and is soon surrounded by women just like the captain.

Matthew "All they want is our money."

Zoya (Both of them look like they are clearly enjoying this.)

Zoya "Looks like it is just you and me."

Matthew "Do you really want to stay here?"

Zoya (I just want to be near Asad. He hasn't looked at me properly today. I wonder what I did to upset him.)

Zoya "I am stocking up on candies and chocolate with the pay I got. I guess I should carry on with that."

Zoya (Also, I can't see Asad with women like this.)

Matthew "Some pay... yer quite a crew member now."

Zoya (Crew member... It's great to hear it from Matthew.)

--

Zoya steps out and finishes with her shopping.

Zoya (I should go to the hotel now or I could head back to the bar to check on Asad.)

Zoya is about to enter the bar when someone stops her.

Zoya "Asad."

Asad "I said Go back to the hotel', didn't I?"

Zoya "I have a question."

Asad "Be quick."

Zoya "Don't you like me anymore?"

Asad stared at Zoya for a while.

Asad "I have never liked you, even once."

Zoya "That may be so... but, you have been kinda cold to me since we got here."

Hearing this Asad grabs Zoya's wrist abruptly.

Asad "Do you want me to caress you right here?"

Zoya "No. I mean..."

Asad "Then what do you want?"

Zoya (He is hurting me. I have never seen Asad like this before.)

Asad pushes Zoya against the wall and moves close to her.

Zoya "Stop. Please don't do..."

Asad "You got that? We are different."

--

Zoya is crying in her hotel room remembering the day's events.

Zoya (It was the first time that I was really afraid of him.)

Zaroon enters her room and find her curled up in a corner.

Zaroon "Did Asad make you cry?"

Zoya "It's not him. It's just that I can't understand him."

Zaroon "Asad's cold to you because he doesn't want people to look upon you as one of us."

Zoya (My mother used to tell me to stay away from Pirates.)

Zaroon "He believes you should not get involved."

Haider enters the room and Zoya wipes away her tears.

Haider "I am heading to the post office. Doc, do you have anything that you want to post?"

Zaroon "Haider, I already have sent my postcard. Zoya, do you want to send anything back home?"

Haider "Asad gave me a package to mail for her."

Zoya "Package? All I have was an envelope."

Haider "Oh!"

Zaroon "Can I look at the package?"

Zaroon carefully and slightly opens the package.

Zaroon "They are gold coins."

Zoya "Gold coins?"

Zaroon shakes the package.

Zaroon "I assume about hundred of them."

Zoya (Hundred gold coins? They can help the orphanage a lot.)

Zaroon closes the package and hands it to Haider.

Zoya "I am going to speak with Asad."

--

Zoya is frantically running to the bar.

Zoya (I am really stupid. Asad's been caring for me so much...)

Two men block Zoya's way and one of them grabs Zoya's hand.

Man A "Oh, hey!"

Man B "Where are ya going in such a hurry?"

Man A "Why don't ya have some fun with us?"

Zoya "Let me go."

A gun shot is heard and Zoya looks in that direction.

Zoya (Asad...)

Asad "Get your dirty hands off her."

Man A "Look at the tattoo! He's one of the Sirius."

Man B "Sirius?"

They turn pale and run away.

Asad "See? I told you. It's dangerous around here... come."

Zoya "I am sorry."

Zoya pulls Asad in a bear hug and apologises to him for being afraid of him earlier.

Zoya (I shouldn't mention the coins. He won't like it.)

Asad touches her cheek softly.

Asad "I shouldn't have behaved like that either."

Zoya "You're talking straight into my eyes now."

Asad "Your eyes are crystal clear and beautiful."

Asad "that is because you are so pure."

Zoya (So are you. You just don't let it show.)

Asad "Didn't I say that you and me are different?"

Zoya "We both are Sirius crew members at present so that makes us kinda the same."

Asad "You should stay away from all this as much as you can."

Contrary to what he says, he offers Zoya his hand which she takes.

--

*Next Day*

The Sirius Pirates are leaving the port to continue on their journey.

Matthew "Where are Arjun and Riya?"

Zaroon "They didn't return to the hotel yesterday."

A few minutes later, Zoya sees Arjun carrying Riya in his arms and walking towards the ship.

Haider "So you both finally officially together?"

Arjun "She has twisted her ankle and can't walk."

Zoya (Riya's eyes are stained with tears and Arjun is back to being rude. Something must have happened.)

Captain Jack Sparrow "Zoya, you can go if you want to. I am setting you free."

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