#ISUPPORTMYSELF# ;) Chasing Dreams - Chapter 1 Pg 2 (20/2) - Page 2

loved the prologue.
its always a pleasure to read your work.
can't wait for the update.

Lovely prologue
Add me in ur pm list
Continue soon
Thanks

Heyy people,

Chapter 1 is up. If you want PMs, no point sending me a friend request as i won't send PMs through that. You can send me friend requests at Sanaa-PM. (It's an old account that I had made, but I re-boost it, so all my old contacts on there were deleted which means now I can accept you guys, and make it my AsYa pm-account.That way I'll not irritate other friends who don't want to read AsYa stuff) Without further ado, here's chapter 1.

Chapter 1

The nice thing about being away from home is the feeling of excitement when returning to it!' - Mehmet Murat Ildan

Whoever said that, got it right, was the first thought in her mind as she stepped outside Heathrow airport and was met with a gush of icy cold, fresh wind that January morning. The smell of nothing in particular, just freezing coolness, wafted through her nose, sending a tingling sensation down her spine and into the pit of her stomach.

"Here I come London!" She whispered to herself, shaking out her long hair from the ponytail and letting the breeze sift through it. The looseness in her scalp freshened her up slightly as she checked her jeans pocket for some cash she had just managed to exchange at the airport bureau.

"Rip offs." She muttered as she remembered the exchanged rate from American dollars to British pounds. "Anyway," a dimple embedded itself on her right cheek as she smiled heartily, remembering her Aapi's screech when she'd given her the news of her arrival over the phone. Five years was a long, long time. And she had hated being away from her family. Her Aapi and Jiju. But now she was back, she planned to stay. For an equally long, if not longer, time.

"Uhmm, excuse me, are you Miss Zoya Farooqi?" A man addressed her, in heavily accented English. She turned to see a man, probably in his fifties, wearing a turban and a beard with tufts of grey in it looking at her. He was decked up in dark green winter coat, black jeans - or were they trousers? She couldn't be sure - and black boots.

"Yepp. That would be me." She smiled back at him, and he nodded, returning her smile.

"I've got a taxi waiting round the other side Ma'am. I was sent by Anwar and Zeenat Farooqi."

"Oh, wow. I had no idea they'd send me a taxi! But sure," She picked up her big black suitcase, her rucksack and quickly texted her Aapi to confirm the man's words.

The man led her to a black taxi, helped her with the bags, then got inside the driver's side as she got into the back. Pretty soon, the heater was a full blast, making up for the bitter weather outside.

"Oh London, how I missed you." Zoya sighed as she looked out of the window at the passing shrubbery and vegetation. "And I cannot wait to see you!" Her excitement knew no bounds, but she managed to contain it, as it was still seven am in the morning, and the driver probably did not want to hear her constant chatter first thing in the morning. And then again, she'd had a really long plane journey. Closing her eyes, she put her head back on the head rest and sighed contentedly. US had been a whole new experience in itself. And though many people compared her home town to New York, she knew nothing was the same.

New York gave you the feeling of a busy, bustling place where people rarely had time for themselves, let alone others. However London gave off this fresh, traditional aura about it. When you walked through some areas, say the Tower of London, you could feel yourself walking amongst people from a different century altogether. It was as though they had left their mark, and nothing could erase that. Of course, there were parts of London that were rumbling with machinery, hustling with busy bodies, and constant chatter of couples which was much like New York. But she was sure if she looked carefully, she would find an old Cafe right there, in the middle of the street, selling amazing tea and coffee - Starbucks had nothing on it -with a dated feel and look about it.

Of course, New York wasn't half bad. Almost as good actually. But home was home. And home was London. The dimple back on her face, eyes still dreaming of the place she used to know, she awaited desperately the end of her journey.

* * * * *

"Princess wake up." A soft voice of a man's sounded in someone's ear. That someone turned to the side, ignoring whoever was ruining her precious sleep.

"Najma, you're not five years old anymore." The man reprimanded, with a hint of affection as he tousled her hair.

"Bhaijaan, too cold." Najma murmured as she slid further into her warm pink and white duvet.

"Is it?" her Bhaijaan wondered, then continued in a whisper. "Well, I guess I know just the way to warm you up."

The man got off the bed, with a twinkle in his eye, and removed his navy blue coat to reveal the white shirt, blue waistcoat and blue trousers he was wearing. He made sure to place it neatly on the classy, clean, working desk to him, before turning back to his sister who seemed to have disappeared off back in her dreams. Pushing his semi long fringes aside, he put one knee on the bed, ripped the duvet off his younger sister and started tickling her, both shocking her immensely and scaring her out of the deep sleep she had begun to drift into!

Laughing hard, Najma tried to push her brother's hands off her but to no avail. She continued trying to squirm free, and get the duvet back over her, but her drowsy state would not allow her the upper hand at all!

"Okay, okay! I give up! I'm coming down!" she gasped for breath as he withdrew, a rare smile playing about on his clean shaven face that gave a hint of two dimples. One on each cheek. Najma on the other hand frowned at her brother, her round face now red from excess laughter.

"Ammi!!!" She screamed, whining with her eyes closed.

"Asad!" A chastising voice sounded from the bottom of the stairs.

"Hah! Got you! Ammi will lecture you again!" Najma gave a cheeky grin to her brother who shook his head while he wore his coat again.

"Whatever. You're still awake. And oh look, it's only eight O'clock." Giving her an affectionate kiss on her forehead, he made his way out of her room as she groaned in defeat and slumped back down on her bed. True to his word, sleep was now far from her, and she had no choice but to get up.

"Maybe I'll go to the gym," she muttered to herself as she took a look at her slightly plump body, coated in her favourite grey pyjamas, in the mirror on her polished dressing table just opposite the bed. Getting out of the bed, she lifted the blinds on the window to welcome the greyish weather into her room.

"Hah, not a chance." She murmured lazily. All thoughts of going for a workout were dismissed after seeing the weather and she finally grabbed a towel and made her way the bathroom across the hall.

Meanwhile, Asad had already come down and had settled himself at the head of the table, a paper ready on his side.

"Why do you keep upsetting her, Asad?" Their Ammi, Dilshad, asked as she set the plate of fruit on the table, and kept his favourite cereal next to him.

"I don't mean to. She should wake up early. No point in wasting the whole day by sleeping till noon." Was the curt reply.

"But she's not working at the moment, let her be."

"Even so. She can be a lot more productive if she decides to be. "

"when will you stop acting like you're over twenty years older than her?"

"When she starts acting like she's only three years younger than I am."

Dilshad sighed as she pushed her long, straight hair behind her. She wouldn't win against her son, she was sure of that. But she was so proud of him and the man he had become. After having almost nothing, he had stood up and looked after her and his sister, saving every penny, to provide them a life of comfort, which they were living at the present moment. Her children were her pride and joy. And after all the struggle they'd been through, to see them so well and happy, she probably wouldn't have it any other way.

Settling herself down next to her son, she picked up a slice of bread and began buttering it. It was another normal day in the Khan household. And even though Dilshad was content with the way life was, she wished there would be something to make their days brighter. Something to make her son smile with all his heart. God knows he deserved it after all he'd been through.

* * * * *

Zoya struggled with her phone in her hand turning it around, wondering what happened to the internet connection. She was pretty sure the radio on her phone was fine. Well, it had worked really well back at home, when she had it on constantly for the past week, relaxing and enjoying the love received from her Aapi and Jiju. Plus, she it had also worked brilliantly as she swam through central London, it's shops, cafes and restaurants. Looking up from her phone once more, it suddenly hit her.

Of course! She was in a residential area. Her phone was catching signals from probably every single household! She'd never get a clear station here unless she stopped in one place! Sighing, she put the useless gadget back into her jeans pocket and stuck her gloved hands in the pockets of her wheatish coloured winter coat.

Really, there was no beating this winter! The wind howled around her, sending her straightened hair into 'sedusa' mode as she desperately tried calming it down -all to no avail! Giving up, she plugged out her ear phones and stuffed them inside the pocket as well.

Pretty soon Zoya found herself at the entrance of a beautiful house, not big enough to be called a mansion, but not small enough for a cottage either. She didn't need to look at the house number to know she'd got it right. She'd been there a lot. And everything was just as it was before. The small gate opened up without a creak and suddenly, a very nervous Zoya stepped forward, following the small pathway that led up to polished wooden doors. What if they weren't at home? Well, it was a little past six, early for dinner, too late for lunch and just about the right time to get back from work unless.. well she didn't want to think of that. What if they'd moved? Five years was a long time. But she would have been informed, a rational side of her reasoned. Taking a deep breath, she rung the door bell outside, and waited.

A minute later, the doors swung open, revealing the kind face of Dilshaad, as she looked upon her visitor with mild confusion, then realisation, then ultimate joy.

"Zoya!"

"Assalamalaikum Phoopi!" Was the equally excited reply, and before Zoya knew it, she had jumped onto Dilshaad, hugging her with all her might, almost knocking all the breath out of her! But Dilshaad didn't care. Zoya was back! A girl almost like her own daughter, whom she'd not seen for five years!

"Walaikumsalaam. How are you beta?"Dilshaad asked, ushering her inside, away from the wind. Zoya's eyes shone with glee as she looked at the hallway.

"Wow Phoopi! I'm great, but look at how you've changed the interior! Last I was here, the wall was a boring white wasn't it? I love this pastel blue you've given it."

"It's been five years Zoya. You're not the only one changed." Dilshaad replied, her eyes twinkling in amusement.

"I've not changed Phoopi!" Zoya pouted playfully, frowning.

"Really? From that nineteen year old girl to the woman you are today?"

A grin formed once more on Zoya's face

"Well, if you put it that way," and once more she hugged Dilshaad putting her whole heart into it. "I missed you sooo much! You have no idea."

"Ammi, who is it?" Najma called as she came down the stairs, dressed in a pink chooridar suit. Rounding the corner, her eyes widened as she just stood and stared, dumbfounded at the sight in front of her.

"Surprise!" Zoya flashed her dimples as she looked at Najma.

Mouth open, Najma just stood staring for a few seconds, before she ran forward and grabbed Zoya into a tight bear hug.

"Zoya!!!! I can't believe this! It's really you!"

"Of course it's really me fatty!" Was the reply as she hugged Najma back with equal force.

"All those facebook messages, those whatsapp conversations, Skype calls, okay maybe not those, and you didn't tell me?!" Najma pulled back, shock still evident on her face.

"Of course not. Kind of beats the point of 'Surprise!!' doesn't it?" Zoya asked cheekily.

"Ammi, Najma? What's going on? What's the entire racket about?"

A third person, came out into the hallway inquisitively, a slight scowl etched on his handsome face. Slightly ashamed, Zoya clamped her front teeth together and looked at Najma slightly confused. Upon seeing Zoya raise her eyebrows questioningly, Najma came out of the trance she was in.

"Sorry, I just still can't believe you're actually here!" She exclaimed, giggling. "Zoya, my Bhaijaan Asad. Asad, Zoya. Remember my friend who studied in US?"

Zoya saw Asad nod and she took her chance to take a good look at him. He was dressed in a brown suit, a shade darker than her coat, but a shade lighter than his chocolaty deep brown eyes which were fixated on to her. She took a look at the lean body, the gleaming black shoes which suggested he'd probably just come back from work. Her gaze travelled back to his face, noticing the fringes dip right onto his forehead, just above those smouldering eyes. Eyes that were now locked onto hers!

Blushing at being caught staring, she averted her gaze slightly before fixing it on his again and smiled, greeting him. He replied curtly, and without so much as a second look or welcoming glance for that matter, turned, going back to where he came from.

Slightly amazed at such behaviour, she gave in to a smile of amusement before turning to Dilshaad.

"So, where can I keep my coat? I'm going to be here for a while."

* * * * *

"I still remember how you insisted on calling me Phoopi after a few times we met." Dilshaad recalled fondly, then questioned. "Do you still have that 'Aunty' notion?"

They were sitting around the dining table, Zoya digging into the scrumptious pakodas and samosas Dilshaad had placed in front of her.

"Of course, Phoopi. It still makes someone sound just as old, just as nosey, and just as gossipy."

"See Ammi, she's so straightforward. That's what I like about her when we first met in college for our A levels!" Najma put in. "I was so nervous. And bhaijaan was at Uni too in Scotland, so even he couldn't calm me down."

"I remember the first time I saw you. And because I'm me, I always knew we'd have a long lasting connection!" Zoya flashed her cheeky dimples, winking at Najma.

"This time, you aren't leaving to go anywhere! I missed you like crazy after college."

"Awhh Fatty, so did I." Zoya gave her a sideways hug, before returning to her plate, full of enthusiasm. "So, how's the interior decoration work coming along?"

"Can't you see my work?" Najma questioned slyly.

"No way!" Zoya looked around the house in astonishment, eyes round open. "This is all you isn't it? Of course, the soft pastel colours, the matching curtains instead of blinds, it meets your taste. So beautiful! I can't wait to see your room!"

"You should have been here when she was trying to re-do the living room. Allah! Her and Asad fought over it as though fighting for territory in some world war!" Dilshaad added.

Laughing, Zoya lifted her eyebrows up.

"Of course I won." Najma displayed proudly. "But Ammi, he wanted it plain old boring white. I gave it a more homely look."

Dilshaad smiled warmly at her before she got up to take Zoya's plate away.

"Let it be-" Zoya tried to stop her but was shot down immediately by one glare from the older woman.

"You've just come. I'll make you work some other day." Smiling, she took off to the adjacent open kitchen.

"I'll show you all the changes. Come." Najma said excitedly, but at that point Zoya's gaze fell on the wall clock.

"Allah Miyan!" she exclaimed jumping up. "It's eight already. I have to go. Aapi hates it when I get back home late. Phoopi, I really have to go, Najma, I'll come back tomorrow early and we'll go out or do something together! If you're free on Saturdays that is."

"I'm free every day these days." Najma gave her a cheeky grin.

"Brilliant. We can both be jobless together then." Zoya giggled as she made her way towards the main hallway.

But Dilshaad would not have Zoya go back alone in the middle of the night, no matter how much Zoya herself insisted that she was fine. Pretty soon, Asad was called onto to drop their guest back, and Najma, who was helping with dinner decided to stay back.

They were going to meet tomorrow anyway. It was fine. Zoya persuaded her.

So here they were, Asad and Zoya, standing outside the main door, waiting for..? She had no idea.

"Shall we go, Miss..?" He stuttered until Zoya filled it for him, putting on her James Bond accent.

"Farooqi. Zoya Farooqi." A dimple carved itself in each cheek as she winked at Asad, hoping to break the ice between them. Asad however, was not amused as he just nodded once.

Okaaayyy.

Didn't he get her James Bond reference? Come on. Either that, or he was just plain rude to not even acknowledge it.

"Bond. James Bond?" She questioned, hoping he would see it, or at least deny knowing it.

No such luck.

"I know James Bond, Miss Farooqi."

Slightly taken aback, Zoya frowned. This was the first person that hadn't even cracked a smile at that reference. Despite the fact his words initiated it. He had a silent look on his face, as he set off towards his car. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she just rolled her eyes inwardly at his behaviour and set off after him. Was he adopted? How come Phoopi and Najma were completely opposite to him? Either he didn't share the same genes, didn't know basic conversational skills, or was plain rude.

Akdu kahinka!

*****************************

I know I said I'll post it on the weekend, but I finished it earlier. What to say, writing is my stress buster.

Click the like button underneath if you enjoyed it and don't forget to leave comments! 😊

Sanaa

An AsYa love story!

loved the update.beautiful start.
cont soon.

p.s-love you hashtag;-)

Res! :D

PS. Lovin' the hashtag! ;) #ISupportMyselfToo B)

Awww love it...
Love the bond between zoya,najma & dilshad 😛
Hmmm as per norm,asad will always be the akdu 😆
Look forward to ur next update

interesting story... fairytale... with modern twist..

zoya is going to tell her story...