Please find below Chapter 3 for this story. Hope you like it. A humble request to all of you to please leave comments below as that is the only encouragement I would get to continue the story.Please hit the like button if you like this chapter.
Chapter 3
As the days went by both Dilshaad and Zeenat rebuilt the bond they had shared many years ago and in the course of it had realized that they both were looking for a match for their children. As soon as they realized this they agreed to get Asad and Zoya meet and then they would take things forward. Dilshaad had seen Zoya a couple of times when she'd met Zeenat and had liked her, the only thing that bothered her was the hint of sadness that she noticed in Zoya's eyes which Zoya always was able to hide behind a faade of her bubbly and chirpy character. She realized it was what she saw in Asad's eyes. Only difference was that Asad would hide his sorrow behind the no nonsense attitude that he carried.
Zeenat on the other hand had never met Asad and had only heard about him. Before asking Zoya to meet him Zeenat wanted to meet Asad and so had visited Dilshaad's house one Sunday afternoon. Zeenat instantly liked him and gave a slight nod to Dilshaad indicating her approval. The same evening, both the mothers decided to talk to their children.
Dilshaad approached Asad with the proposal. She told him that Zoya was Zeenat's sister. She had been living in New York for most of her life but then the family had migrated back to India a few years ago. Zoya had a degree in Software Engineering and now Zeenat was looking for a groom for her. Dilshaad told him she had met Zoya a couple of times already and that she liked her and was thinking if he would meet her too. Asad agreed instantly as Dilshaad had already met the girl and liked her. Dilshaad told him everything she knew about Zoya and though he hadn't seen her he felt an instant connect with her. Zoya was reluctant but with what she knew about Dilshaad, she agreed knowing that Dilshaad was an angel in disguise and would not let any harm come to her. She agreed to meet Asad and then would decide if she was ready to take the plunge. Finally a meeting was fixed for Asad and Zoya for next Sunday afternoon. They were to meet at a caf which was center point for the two.
Sunday Meeting Day:
On his way to the caf Asad witnessed a site that he fell in love with. He wanted time to standstill so he could keep looking at the delicious scene in front of his eyes. He had never felt this way before. A mere glimpse of her stopped him in his tracks. He didn't know when he jammed the brakes of his SUV and had caused the traffic along the road to a standstill. He was oblivious to the blaring horns of the vehicles behind him and kept his eyes fixed on her trying to memorize every expression he saw on her face and in her eyes. He noticed the bright smile and the twinkling of her eyes as she ate one gol gappa after the other and how she slowly closed her eyes to relish every bite she put in her mouth. Asad heard a knock on his window and looked at a traffic cop asking him to roll it down. Asad let out a sigh and did as was asked to.
He tried to explain to the officer "Sir. Car problem kar rahi hai. Jerk marke ruk jati hai. Garage hi lejaa raha tha theek karvane ke liye."
The officer looked in the direction where Asad had been staring and then pointing a finger in the same direction said " Dikh raha hai kya problem hai gadi mein. Do minute se toh mein hi knock kar raha hoon wondow pe."
Asad almost choked on the air he had just taken at being caught red handed by the cop. He tried to explain again but the officer dismissed him with the wave of a hand and handed Asad a ticket. To avoid any further hassle he paid the amount due on the ticket. Asad cursed this meeting because of which his Sunday was ruined but then thought again and smiled at the memory of the girl. He thanked his Allaha to have let him witness such innocence and let him etch those few minutes in his memory. Glancing at his watch he realized he was late for his meeting with Zoya and he rushed towards the caf. As he entered he made his way directly to the counter and asked which table had been booked in the name of Mr. Asad Ahmed Khan. He was led to the table and found it empty. Annoyed at not finding her there he slumped in one of the chairs and mumbled to himself for Zoya not being in time. A little voice in his head told him that he was late too but he shrugged it off and started thinking about the girl he had just seen. Asad was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't realize there was someone standing at the table looking at him. He heard a female calling his name and looked up.
Asad froze in his seat with his eyes wide open. He saw her saying something but couldn't hear a word. He saw her very hesitantly raise her hand and gently tap his shoulder. That was enough for him to come out of his shock and he got up. The girl looked confused at his reactions and let her hand fall to her side.
"Errm... Assalam O Alaikum. I'm Zoya. I believe you are Asad, Mr. Asad Ahmed Khan."
"Wa Alaikum Assalam. You are Zoya, Zeenat khaala's sister?" he asked surprised. He couldn't believe he could be this lucky. The first girl ever who had been able to mesmerize him was standing right in front of him. She was the same girl he was to meet. He was more than sure now what he wanted and was more than happy that he would be marrying her. There was no way under the sun he would let her go.
Zoya nodded her head and saw a myriad of expressions on his face, from confusion to realization to happiness, all in a fraction of a second. Zoya also noticed the small smile that was building on his lips. She couldn't understand what the whole issue was about and what had been going on in his head before she brought him out of his thoughts.
Asad smiled at her and gestured her to sit. As the two settled at the table a girl came to take their order. Asad asked her preference and then gave his order too. One look at the girl and Zoya could make out that she was exaggerating her smile and expressions only to please the customer she was attending to. Zoya didn't understand what she felt in that instance when Asad too smiled back at the waitress. She quickly shrugged the unknown feeling scolding herself in her head to have forgotten the reason of the meeting. As soon as she remembered the sparkle in her eyes and the smile on her lips faded.
Asad turned around to see Zoya fidgeting with her phone on the table looking lost. He looked at her, smiled and blurted out "You can call me Asad. And if that's all right with you can I call you Zoya?" Zoya nodded her head and smiled back at him. Asad noticed the smile was not as heartwarming as he had seen earlier. He asked her if everything was ok to which she first nodded her head in a yes and then lowered her eyes and shook her head saying no confusing Asad. He looked at her sitting with her head down waiting for her to say something. He waited patiently for the longest 2 minutes and couldn't hold back anymore. He placed his hand over hers on the table. She looked up immediately and Asad saw tears floating in her eyes. He quickly changed sides and sat next to her holding her hand firmly in his and squeezing it to give her assurance.
Zoya looked in his eyes and said "It's been a very difficult decision for me to agree to get married."
Asad felt his heart breaking listening to her "Do you love someone else?" he asked her in a low voice.
Zoya shook her head in denial and he saw tears forming in her eyes. She looked very uncomfortable sitting in the middle of the caf discussing something so important. Asad too felt that they needed to move to a quieter place where they could talk without being disturbed or attracting too much attention as he could see Zoya was on the verge of a breakdown. He suggested they go to a quieter place and she agreed. Placing some bills on the table Asad grabbed hold of Zoya's hand and pulled her along out the caf and to the park across the road.
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