Hi guys! 😃 So the update is here as promised! I haven't really got much to say so I'm just gonna cut to the chase. So, here goes the 14th chapter:
Shattered
Tanveer's declaration hit Asad like a storm. Asad staggered back a few steps, till he hit the car, "Y...you're lying." "Why should I lie? You can get a DNA test done, if you want." Asad felt like someone was choking him, words refused to leave his mouth. Asad managed to let out, "How...how do you know?" Tanveer smirked, she replied, "Well, Razia bi did need someone to thwart Zoya's hopes of finding her father and obviously she wanted Zoya to believe that her abbu was no more so that she would quit searching for him and well, I think you can tell the rest of the story yourself." Something inside Asad broke, he stared at Tanveer, as tears made way to his eyes. Tanveer clicked her tongue, feigning sympathy. "Life is so unfair, na? Fell in love with the daughter of the man who ruined your family and you didn't even know it. That's a little cruel." A huge lump formed in Asad's throat. He dabbed at his eyes furiously, forcing away tears that threatened to spill. Asad knew more than well that Tanveer was an untrustworthy brat, she could get away with the biggest of lies, but he knew that she couldn't possibly be lying, this time. The very glint in her eyes depicted her joy in seeing Asad's heart shatter. For once, she looked satisfied with herself, for ruining two lives with just a simple truth. Tanveer sighed exaggeratively. "Well then, my job is done, I should get going now.", she announced. She smiled triumphantly. That one was for insulting me, Asad, she thought. She cast one last glance at him before turning and walked away. Asad stood there, aimlessly, watching the sun disappear below the horizon. He noticed a couple walking by, hand in hand, smiling and laughing at each other, while another sat in a bench beside him, snuggled up next to each other, watching the sunset. Every little gesture and action going on around him seemed to be mocking his fate, they reminded him of everything he couldn't have in his life anymore. Those moments that he was yet to cherish, all destroyed in the wake. He didn't know how long he stood there, time seemed to be distant. Finally, Asad straightened himself up. He swallowed the lump in his throat, his voice was hoarse, he whispered into thin air, "Zoya was never mine and never will be."
"Phuppi, did you notice? Mr. Khan has been in his room since he came home, last night. He didn't even come out for dinner, or breakfast this morning. What's got into him, now?", Zoya asked, genuinely worried about Asad. Dilshaad nodded her head, she replied, "Yes, I noticed. He must be really upset about something, I've never really seen him like this. Now, do me a favour. Go give this tray to Asad and get him to eat." Dilshaad handed over a tray to Zoya. Zoya took it, she nodded, "Ok, I'll get him to eat."
Zoya tapped her knuckles on the door. "Mr. Khan?", she called out, softly. No reply. She knocked again and failed to get a reply, yet again. She turned the knob, slowly and to her surprise, the door was unlocked. She peeked in, there he was, sitting in front of his window, staring into emptiness. There were dark circles around his eyes, clearly indicating that he hadn't slept in the night. His hair was out of place and his face unnaturally pale. To sum it up in a sentence, he looked absolutely disheveled. Zoya's heart broke, seeing him in that condition. Whatever was bothering him, she needed to talk it out of him. Zoya stepped in to the room and closed the door behind her. She walked towards Asad, she knew that Asad still hadn't acknowledged her presence. "Mr. Khan?", she called out to him, placing her palm on his shoulder. She could feel Asad flinch. He refused to meet her eyes, but she could make out clear anger in his voice. Asad growled, "What are you doing in my room?"
Zoya was slightly taken aback by the harshness present in his voice. She replied, "Woh...mein...I knocked on the door but you didn't respond so I just opened the door myself. You didn't come out for dinner, yesterday and you didn't join us for breakfast as well, so phuppi told me to give you this." She held out the tray, for him to take but he turned away. Zoya furrowed here eyebrows as she exclaimed, "Arre! You're being so childish! Ok, I know you're upset about something but at least eat something!" "I don't want to, just leave me alone.", he snapped. Zoya rolled her eyes and sat down next to him. She sighed and gave in, "Ok, you don't wanna eat but you can tell me what happened." Asad's muscles tightened, he hissed at her, "Don't you understand the meaning of leave?" Zoya huffed, crossly. "Why're you snapping at me now? What did I do?", she asked, folding her arms against her chest. "I said leave!", Asad yelled, losing his patience. "But Mr.Khan-" Asad pulled her up and pinned her against the wall, he snarled, "I told you to leave. Don't come back in here. I don't want to see anyone. Especially you." Zoya gulped, as tears brimmed in her eyes. "Mr. Khan...you're hurting me.", she whispered, as his nails dug into her arms. Asad let go of her, "Leave."
Zoya rubbed her eyes, keeping her tears in control. She knew there was no point in arguing. Asad turned away from her. She gathered her guts and her voice choked, as she asked, "Mr. Khan, I'm leaving but can you just tell me, are you angry because of me?" Asad refused to answer her. "I'll take your silence for a yes. I honestly don't know what I did to hurt you, but I'm sorry for whatever I did." Asad clenched his fists. Zoya quietly slipped out of the room, shutting the door behind her.
Zoya paced her room, trying to remember everything that had occurred that could have possibly stirred Asad into the rage he was in. Zoya groaned and flopped down on her bed, unable to remember of anything that she could have done to make Asad angry. "Why does he always do this to me?", she asked herself. Just then, she heard the click of her door knob being turned. She sat up straight, as Asad burst into the room without any warning. Zoya opened her mouth to speak but Asad held up his arm in disapproval. "I'm not here to waste anyone's time, a minute is all I need and we can keep this conversation short if you let it be.", Asad said. Zoya scrunched her eyebrows. "Go on, then.", she urged. Asad inhaled a deep breath. There were so many emotions surging through his body right that moment. It wasn't as easy as he made it sound. It was taking him every bit of his will to bring himself to say it, he finally breathed, "This nikaah is not going to happen." "Which nikaah?", Zoya asked, innocently, pretty clueless of what he was talking about. Tears reformed in Asad's eyes, he whispered, "Our nikaah."
It took Zoya a while to process what he was saying, confusion clearly written on her face. Zoya's throat became constricted. "W...what are you talking about?", she asked, her voice almost inaudible. "We were never meant to be together.", he said. His face was as stoic as ever, except for his eyes, you could see the pain etched into them. "Mr. Khan, if this is some kind of joke, then-" "I meant whatever I said. I don't need to joke."Zoya felt panic rising up her chest. "But what did I do?", she asked, trying to contain her anger and terror, that was accumulating in her. Asad gritted his teeth, he couldn't bring himself to tell her what the truth was. It was unfair, definitely, but he wasn't able to say it. "I don't need to give you any reason. I was just here to tell you that nikaah is not going to happen. Just forget everything that happened between us. For me, this was just a nightmare and I'm not gonna waste any of my time or energy on this." Zoya clasped her mouth with her palm, as tears streamed down her cheeks. A nightmare. Everything that had happened between them was a nightmare. That's what he'd said. The one man she loved was basically saying that she meant nothing to him. "How could you even bring yourself to say that? Are you trying to say that I don't hold any importance in your life?", she asked, her voice choking with tears. "I don't think it matters anymore."
He turned away and squeezed his eyes shut, he'd thought that breaking off their relationship would make him feel better, but he was wrong. Now, he felt like he was carrying a ton of weight on his chest. He cast one last glance at Zoya, she looked shattered. A myriad of emotions were being displayed on her face. It ranged from confusion to agony. He sped out of the room, before he could have the chance to regret anything that he'd done, or said to Zoya. He'd destroyed a relationship so beautiful, that could have made just about anyone wonder if there had ever been a couple who loved each other so deeply. He'd murdered their love.
Zoya burst into tears the second Asad left the room. She wept, holding her head in her hands. "What did I ever do to deserve this?", she asked herself. There were so many questions in her mind at that moment, that she couldn't think straight. Asad had made her see heaven. He'd given her everything and more than she'd ever expected from him. He'd gone out of his ways to see happiness on her face. But now, everything had changed. He'd snatched away all the happiness he'd given her over a period of months, in a matter of seconds. She wiped away her tears, "He's not gonna get away with this without telling me what actually happened."
Asad rammed his fists on the wall, his eyes were bloodshot. He slid down onto the floor, exhausted. His gut clenched, he whispered, "I hate her, she means nothing to me." And he'd said the biggest lie on the planet. He could never hate her. His heart knew that Zoya was innocent, she didn't even know what made him do whatever he'd done, but he couldn't accept her. Gaffur Ahmed Siddiqui. He'd ruined his, his sister's and mother's life." Asad shut his eyes and massaged his forehead. A bitter memory flooded back into his mind. He felt himself getting lost in time, as he went back to the day that had ruined his whole life.
Dilshaad fell to her knees, clutching Rashid's hand. Her eyes brimmed with tears. "Rashid.", she whispered, as her voice broke, "Please, I'm begging you, don't leave me. I will do anything you want me to, but please, don't...don't leave me." Rashid gritted his teeth, he growled, "You heard me, Dilshaad. I have another family now. They're my responsibility." "Then what about me?! What about Asad and Najma? Aren't they your children? What did they do? Why are you doing this to them?!" "Because I don't care! I don't care about you! I don't care about them! Shireen is my wife and Ayaan is my son and there is nothing you can do about it!", he retorted. Dilshaad wiped away her tears with her thumbs, she replied, "Cross your heart and tell me that you're not doing this just for the sake of money." "Maybe I am doing this for money! What did I get from you? Nothing. But what am I getting from Shireen's brother? Everything. Money. Power. Status. Did you give me any of that? No, right? Then stay out of it!", he snapped. Tears escaped her eyes, yet again. "Rashid, is this even...you?", she asked, her voice barely audible. "Yes, this is me! This is who I am! This is the last and final time I'm gonna be saying this. This relationship ends here. You don't mean anything to me, anymore, neither do your children.", he sneered. He shrugged his hand out of Dilshaad's and turned away. A seven year old Asad watched his mother shatter, in front of his eyes. "Bhaijaan, what is abbu saying?", asked a five year old Ayaan, tugging on Asad's hand. Asad didn't reply. Rashid made his way towards them. He knelt in front of Ayaan, stroking his face gently. "Ayaan, we're going to go home, now. To our home.", he said. Ayaan furrowed his eyebrows. "But abbu", he said, "Is bhaijaan, Najma and badi ammi coming with us?" Rashid balled his fists. "No.", he replied. Ayaan tilted his head, in a puzzled manner. "Why?", he asked innocently. Rashid's eyes rolled back into their sockets, as he shut his eyes. "Don't question me, Ayaan. I'm your father." Asad spoke up, "But abbu..." His voice trailed away as Rashid glared at him, hate evident in his eyes. "Don't call me that.", he snarled. Asad's eyes teared up. As much as he couldn't comprehend the situation, he knew that something was going to change his life and he aslo knew that it wasn't going to be pleasant. His life was about to shatter.
Rashid's eyes burned with rage as he noticed Ayaan holding Asad's hand. He pulled him away from Asad. "Bhaijaan!", Ayaan yelped, as Rashid dragged him away from Asad. Asad ran behind them. "Ayaan! Abbu!", he yelled. Rashid picked Ayaan up, as he tried to break free from his grip. Ayaan kicked his feet in the air, screaming and yelling, rebelliously. Asad slipped and fell down. "Ayaan!", he called out, stretching his arm out. At that moment, he knew, his father was an animal. He scrambled back on to his feet and ran behind them. Rashid quickly shoved Ayaan into the car and got in. "I hate you, abbu! I hate you!", he yelled, as Rashid drove away.
"Asad.", Dilshaad called out to him weakly. Asad turned towards her, she looked heart broken. She gestured him to come over to her. Asad ran towards her. Dilshaad pulled him into a bone crushing hug, sobbing into his shoulder. She pulled away from him and caressed his face. "Asad.", she wept. "Ammi, why is abbu doing this?", he asked. Dilshaad stifled a sob, she ran her fingers through his hair and managed to smile slightly. "Asad, sometimes, people who we love, leave us. They betray us. We can't always have everything that we want in our lives. We have to make sacrifices at one point of our life, or the other. We can't run away from destiny.", she explained, trying her best control her tears, but failing miserably. Asad wiped away the tears from Dilshaad's cheeks. "Ammi, I won't let anyone ever harm you, or Najma. Never ever. Be it abbu, or anyone else.", he promised. Dilshaad smiled, proud of her son. She didn't know whether he could keep up that promise, but hearing those words come from his mouth, made her heart soar with pride. She took Asad's hands in hers and kissed them, "That's my son."
Asad had learned the pain of betrayal at the tender age of seven. He'd kept his promise; he'd protected his ammi and Najma. He'd worked day and night to bring them the happiness they deserved. He'd seen what the world truly was at an age so young that you could barely understand what treason truly was. But he'd stood up high and tall against all those negative forces that had shrouded him throughout his childhood.
Asad slammed down the chest drawer next to him, as the memory ended, like a video tape, in his mind. He stood back up and punched the wall, again. Just then, Zoya barged into his room, with tears in her eyes. "I need an explanation, Mr. Khan.", she said. "Didn't I tell you to keep your distance from me?", he snapped. "How can you do this to me?! What did I do?" "Get out of this room before I make you!" "Do whatever the hell you want, but answer me first. What on Earth did I do?!" Asad gritted his teeth. "Get out of this room, right this instant.", he snarled. "You suddenly come and shove crap into my face and I have to shut up and listen to whatever you say? No way, Mr. Khan! I deserve an explanation!", she yelled. "I don't owe you, or anyone else, any explanation! Just get out of my room!", he retorted. "Mr. Khan, you have to answer me, what did I do?!", screamed Zoya. "What didn't you do?", Asad bellowed, as his his fist met the wall, yet again. Tears formed in Zoya's eyes, tears of pure anger. She wiped them away, as she spoke, her voice barely audible, "So you're basically telling me that this relationship is not gonna happen." Asad gritted his teeth, his eyes fixated on the floor. "Don't worry, Mr. Khan. I'll be gone. Gone forever."
~-~-~-~-~Precap: "You really want to know why I did this to you?", Asad asked, bracing himself for the worst. Zoya stared at him, through teary eyes, she nodded, slightly. Asad clenched his fists, he whispered, "Your father is alive."
~-~-~-~-~Hehe, cliffy! Sorry guys, I couldn't help it! I know there wasn't much progress in this update, it was kind of a filler, but a much needed one. There'll definitely be more progress made in the next update. Hope the update was ok! Thnx for reading! Plz do leave ur reviews behind! Next update will be on Friday or Monday.
Ramya 😊
Note:- Plz buddy me for PMs. :)
Edited by ..Ramya.. - 11 years ago
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