Chapter 19
Next Morning
Zoya woke up early in the morning, finding herself in an awkward position. She rubbed her eyes and found herself sitting on Asad's bed. She immediately looked to Asad who was sleeping peacefully beside her. She had replaced his head when he was in deep sleep at the late night. She observed his face carefully and silently came out to her room. After her namaz she remembered last night's conversation with Asad.
"Is that true? Or it is his nightmare? Should I ask him about it? What if he again shouted on me? No, I can't ask him. If it hurt him again then he will never talk to me. Better I keep as the way it is. If he thinks he can talk about this to me only then I will handle this. Otherwise I need think about my mission "Mission Irritating Jahapana" Zoya thought all. After all she is Zoya.
It was a Sunday morning and Zoya new today doctor will come to change his bandage. For this reason Asad cancelled all his works. Only Prasad will be here with some file for his signature. Thinking that, she again made her way to Asad's room.
After completing her work successfully she returned to her room. Smiling herself..."Not bad Miss Farroqui...Sorry Mrs. Zoya Asad Ahmed Khan"
---------------------------------
Asad woke up an hour later and looked around his room. "Is it a dream or she was here?" He thought remembering his nightmare. "Ya Allah!! I hope I told her nothing about him. Otherwise it will be difficult. Should I ask her about it? No! If she asks about anything then I will tell her it was just a nightmare because if she knows it then definitely Ammi will know it and she will be shuttered. I manage to keep out this truth for so many years but now I can't just let it out and made my Ammi shatter." He took the decision and sat in the bed. With a few minutes Dilshad will be here to help him.
Asad looked for his cell phone when he saw a white paper on his side table. He took it, furrowing his eyebrows and opened, it reads
"I am really sorry Mr. Khan. I wanted to tell it from last three days directly but you did not give me a chance. You busied himself in works and went to sleep early that I can't even try for it. I did not mean it what I told you that night. Please Mr. Khan, I know I hurt you and I am really sorry. Please give me a chance to explain. Please!!Please!! Pretty please, I am begging now."
Zoya
He stroked his hand on her name which was attached with a smiley unitentionally and a genuine smile was on his face but he controlled immediately when Dilshad came to his room. He kept her small letter in the drawer and went to get ready for the long day ahead.
----------------------
He was already and waiting for his breakfast when Zoya barged into her room and said "Good Morning."
Asad did not answer her back and literally snatched the tray from her hand with a stern face. Actually he was enjoying in this game.
"Mr. Khan I said sorry. Now, please forgive me, na. This is too much now" She became angry.
"No one said sorry to me" Asad said blankly looking at the ceiling while chewing his bread jam. There was also a smiley on the bread made with jam.
"Aaagghhh...okay I did not say it before. But I wrote it to you. Look I placed it here and watching the letter was not there" Zoya told him, confused.
"You read it, don't you?" Zoya told him with a scrutinized eye. Asad did not answer her again. He concentrated on his food.
Okay I am telling now...I AM SOORY. Is that okay now?" Zoya pleaded but Asad glared at her.
"You will talk to me Mr. Khan, I promise you" Zoya warned him and stomped out from his room.
Asad smiled inwardly. "Okay we will see."
-------------------------------
Two Hours Later
Zoya was waiting for the arrival of Prasad and for starting their work.
He came about half an hour ago but she did not listen any shouting from the living room. She was waiting for her name to be called but it never came.
"This is not done. Why is he not shouting yet?" She muttered to herself. She peeked from her room and can see Asad's grumpy face. He was trying to type something on his laptop but failed terribly. He tried many times but anything did not work. Being frustrated he slammed the laptop on the couch.
She went to make some coffee for them, actually she want to listen their conversation. But Asad took his cell phone and called someone. She could not hear his conversation over the phone. She sighed sadly. Maybe her plan failed.
She went to serve coffee to them where Asad was sitting there with worried face and then she can see Prasad's eyes became bright remembering something, looking at her. She got the sign that maybe her plan worked and hurried to get out from there. When she turned to left them Prasad's called her back "Mam, can you please see this laptop and tell us what happen to it. It is not opening."
Zoya gave a triumphant smile and the turned to them "Yes, of course Prasad. Give it to me". She went near them and asked "what is it saying" looking at Prasad.
"It says the pass ward is wrong" answered Asad with gritted tone knowing very well who did this.
"Oh, is it? You changed your pass ward and forgot it, Mr. Khan" Zoya asked him smiled mischievously.
"I did not change it" Asad snapped back at her.
"Then who did it? This is your laptop and only you knew your pass ward, no? Zoya looked at him. He was bounded to talk to her. She raised her eyebrow looking at him which sayid "How can you not talk to me now, Mr. Khan?"
Asad clearly can understand what is happening but he can't tell her something infront of Prasad.
Zoya immediately give her pass ward and changed to his again. Then handover the laptop to them earning some extols from Prasad. Asad growled at him and started his work.
---------------------------------
Doctor came at Khan Villa and checked Asad. He changed Asad's bandage and observe the wound, it was almost recovered. He gave the permission to Asad to walk by himself but not giving any weight to the wound. Asad needed to have small steps and also take sit immediately if it felt any pain. Asad felt relieved and thanked him, where Dilshad , Zoya, Nazma were so happy. Nazma made a cheerful sound and immediately stopped when Asad glared at her. His eyes locked with Zoya's eyes and he can see the there the real happiness in those chocolate brown doe shaped eyes. His heart missed a beat and then raced wildly right then and there.
-------------------------------------
Zoya again barged into Asad's room after lunch when Asad was doing some work. Her mission was not accomplished till. So she was on her new plan. Asad rubbed his forehead trying hard to not to talk.
"Mr. Khan, I need your help" She said loudly batting her eyelashes, clutching her I-pad on her chest.
Asad remained silent.
"Allah Miyan! What's wrong with you, Mr. Khan? You talk to me in the morning. Then why you are not talking to me now? Why you are doing it? Stop being childish" Zoya blurted.
"Look who is calling about being childish" Asad mumbled to himself.
"I heard that Mr. Khan, I am not a child okay" Zoya pouted.
Asad grinned inwardly. "What you need now? Please tell me quickly. I have many things to do and don't flatter yourself. I am only helping you, that's why talking to you otherwise no talk. You should know what it feels when you are ignoring anyone without any reason" Asad told her angrily.
So, you are taking revenge on me?" She narrowed her eyes and asked him.
"Do you tell me why you are here?" Asad ignored her.
"I need to rearrange my office room, please help me on this as I can't decide anything" Zoya told him nonchalant whereas Asad was shocked listen to her nonsense excuse.
"Zoya I am an Architect not an Interior Designer. Go to Tamatar for this" Asad said and got back to his work.
"Nazma is not here and I need to do this now. I know you also designed the interior of this house and it is quite interesting...no ..no it is very interesting. So I want you to help me" She exclaimed looking to his irritating face.
"Okay give me the picture of your office." He gave in finally.
"Okay...here... wait it is in sleeping mood." Zoya said looking to her I-pad.
"So, give your pass ward and wake it up" Asad chuckled.
"I too know that, Mr. Khan" She said, irritated and she placed her I pad on the side table. Asad get irritated hearing bhangra music and looked up to her with wide eyes. She was dancing.
"What are you doing Zoya?" He asked her angrily as she was dancing infront of him.
"Huh!! It is my pass ward, Mr. Khan" Zoya smiled. She came near him and showed him that a brightly colored parrot dances across the screen to bhangra music as a pass ward. Then she had a little dance to unlock her I-pad.
Is she really for real???!! Asad was really confused.
-----------------------------------------
Same night, Dining hall.
The dinner was a quiet one. After many days Asad was with them but they all remain silent. Even Zoya was silent for some reason. Knowing no reason Asad felt bad. He was habituated with the "patter patter queen" but looks like she is in other world. No shayaries, no jokes, no bakbak. He sighed heavily but she did not even look up to see him.
"What happened now? All the day she made me irritated and made me talk with him. I also help her to rearrange her office. It became all normal between us and now all she is quiet not even trying to crack some jokes" he thought in his head and make an attempt to talk to her
"Ahem! Zoya can you pass the salads" Zoya did not listen to him. She was nibbling with her food, ducking her head.
"Zoya!!" He asked loudly this time.
Zoya was startled. Her fork fell down to the plate with a clunk sound. She looked at him horrified this time. Asad could see the brimming tears.
"Zoya, why are you crying? I only said to pass the Salads!" Asad was concerned.
"Oh! I am sorry! I did not hear it before. Here it is. Do you guys mind if I go as I am finished with dinner?" She asked it to Dilshad.
"Of course not, beta, you can go but you barely eat anything. What's wrong?" Dishad asked her.
"Nothing Ammi. I think I am tired." She went to her room. Asad looked at Dilshad asking her the reason with his eyes but Dilshad shrugged.
"Maybe she is thinking about her parents" She whispered and Asad nodded.
---------------------
Asad was becoming restless again. What is wrong with her again? He came to his window and looked Zoya was sitting there burying her face into her knees.
"Is she crying, but why?" Again she is not waering any warm clothes." He mumbled.
He went to her room to take a shawl and came out but something caught his eyes. He took the paper cutting from floor and read it. His eyes went wide; he looked around and found some other cuttings and some pictures.
----------------
Zoya was crying silently in the garden when she felt something warm around her; someone draped her with a shawl. It was Asad. She wiped her tears quickly and sit straight. Asad sat besides her keeping a gap between them.
"What are you doing here I this chilly weather, Zoya. I told you every time put on warm clothes when you are going at out. Why don't even listen to me once." He asked her, tried to irritate her with his questions.
"I forgot" She said with her hoarse tone.
"Yes, I can see that" Asad chuckled.
"Why are you here Mr. Khan? I am not irritating you from now" Zoya said
"I know, but I like to be irritated by you" Asad winked at him
"But I will not irritate you. I tried Mr. Khan. To make you understand that I did not meant anything what I told. I tried to tell you why I was angry on you. But you need to take revenge on me. So you ignored me. I know I need to be punished. So I gave up Mr. Khan. I gave up from everything." Zoya said bluntly, looking at the black velvet sky.
"You can't give up from everything Zoya. We always need to have hope for everything." Asada gin tried to talk.
"You know I believe it from my childhood but after all the incidents I am tired. I have no strength to fight for anything'. Zoya sobbed.
He wounded his arms around her and comforted her "Ssshhh Zoya. Don't cry, just pray for them."
Zoya shot up to his face and he nodded his head that he knew the reason.
"How do you know?" Then she looked at the shawl and understood how he found all of the treasure she had saved for her, the memory of her Ammi-Abbu. They had an accident in this date.
He hugged her..."Oh Zoya, why you did not tell me this before?"
"I wanted to tell you but so many things had happened in last month I just could not say it. Then I made up my mind to tell you that day but ended up hurting you" She sobbed uncontrollably.
"Tell me everything now." He ordered.
She told him. She trusted him and that's why she told everything she knew including her fear. She cried and cried but told him all the failure steps of her. He rocked her, comforted her and gave strength to tell everything.
Her story went on and on. When she finished the end bit, it was dawn. He felt something wet on his cheek. He touched and realized he cried. He cried with her. He can feel her every pain. They sat their silently. When he heard the Azaan he snapped back to the reality and felt hot breath near his shoulder. He felt goose bumps on his body. She was fast asleep. She was exhausted after these hard revelations. He gently took her in his arms although doctor told him to not do these things but how can he left her here alone? She was with him all his pain and happiness then how can he leave her hand in her way of life. No, he can't.
He gently placed her on her bed and tucked her under the blanket. She stirred and smiled a little finding the warmth of the blanket. He looked at her tears stricken face and rubbed then with his thumb. "I will find this Zoya, you don't worry at all. I will help you in all possible way. I will go to it's end. I will be your strength" He promised silently to him more than to her.
---------------------------------
A/N - That's all for today.😊 I want to thank all of you who encouraged me through their comments. That really means a lot.😃
Do like and leave comments if you want to read more.😳
If anyone wants Pm then please buddy me and drops a comment below about it. Thank you all.😊
Lots of Love🤗
Swapno
Bindi
Udne Ki Aasha
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
55