Here you go peeps...CH 4 for u...
split in 2 posts...enjoy..
Also..this is how long the chapters are in the book..so if u want a shorter upadte lemme knw...n I'll split 1 ch in 2 and post accordingly.
Ch4
Zoya awakened to the sound of pounding. A crash followed. She thought the roof had caved in. She bolted up in the bed just as the door opened. Asad walked inside. She grabbed hold of the covers and pulled them up to cover her chest.
She knew she looked a sight. Her hair hung down over her face, obstructing her view. She clutched the covers with one hand and brushed her hair back over her shoulders with her other hand.
Zoya-"Good morning, Mr Khan."
He found her attempt at modesty amusing, considering the fact that he'd stroked every inch of her body during the night. She was blushing, too.
Asad-"After last night, I don't believe you need to be embarrassed with me, Zoya."
She nodded.
Zoya- "I will try not to be embarrassed," she promised.
Asad walked over to the foot of the bed. He clasped his hands behind his back and frowned at her.
She smiled back.
Asad"It isn't morning," he announced, "but afternoon."
Her eyes widened in surprise. "I was exhausted," she blurted out in defense of having slept half the day away.
Zoya- "I'm usually awake early, Mr Khan, but the journey and everything else was very tiring. What is that pounding noise I'm hearing?" She added the question in an attempt to turn the topic away from her laziness.
Asad-"The men are working on the new roof above the great hall."
He noticed the dark circles under her eyes. Her skin was pale. He was sorry he'd awakened her. Then the hammering started again, and he realized that noise would have shaken her awake anyway. Asad decided he shouldn't have allowed the work on the roof to begin today. His wife needed rest, not distraction.
Zoya-"Was there something you wanted, Mr Khan?"
Asad-"I just wanted to give you some pointer for the house
She smiled again, an indication, she hoped, of her willingness to take on whatever duties he wanted to give her.
Asad-You'll only wear the clothes that have been picked for you by a personal shopper.The closet is full of it.
Zoya-"I will?"
Asad-"You will."
Zoya-"Why?"
Asad-Beacuse you are my wife'Understood?
He believed he'd been very specific.
Zoya"No," she replied. "I don't understand.
"Asad-I have a reputation to maintain and I want to you look every bit the part.Mr Asad Ahmed Khan's wife.
He sounded terribly arrogant. He looked arrogant, too. His presence was... commanding. He fairly towered over the bed. And yet he'd been so incredibly gentle last night. The memory of their lovemaking made her sigh.
Asad-"Now do you understand me?" he asked, perplexed by the wide-eyed stare she was giving him.
She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts.
Zoya-"No, I still don't understand," she confessed. "If you're..."
Asad-"It isn't your place to understand," he announced.
She hid her exasperation. He seemed to want her agreement. He wasn't going to get it. She simply continued to stare at him and wait for his next outrageous remark.
Asad-"There is one more instruction I would give you," Asad said. "I don't want you to concern yourself with work of any kind. I want you to rest."
She was certain she hadn't heard him correctly.
Zoya- "Rest?"
Asad-"Yes."
Zoya"In heaven's name why?"
He frowned over her incredulous expression. It was apparent to him why she should rest. Still, if she needed to hear his reason, he would give it.
Asad-"It's going to take you time to recover."
Zoya-"Recover from what?"
Asad-"From your journey here, and everything before and after it."
Zoya"But I've already recovered, Mr Khan. I slept the morning away. I'm fully rested now."
He turned to leave.
Zoya-"Asad?" she called out to stop him.
Asad-"I asked you not to call me by name."
Zoya-"Last night you demanded I say your name," she reminded him.
Asad-"When?"
She immediately started blushing.
Zoya- "When we were... kissing."
He remembered.
Asad- "That was different," he told her.
Zoya-"What was? Kissing me or demanding I say your name?"
He didn't answer her.
Zoya-"I like the name Asad'
Asad-"I am through discussing this," he announced.
She didn't know what to make of his behavior. She decided to put the matter of his name aside for the moment. He was reaching for the door latch and she wanted to ask him something before he left. Zoya-"May I go out this afternoon?"
Asad-"I've just explained I want you to rest. Don't make me repeat myself."
Zoya-"But you aren't making any sense at all, Mr Khan."
He turned around and walked back to the side of the bed. He looked irritated, but only mildly so. He didn't intimidate her. The realization popped into her mind all at once. She smiled in reaction. She didn't understand why she felt that way, but she did. She was actually speaking her mind, too, and that was a pleasant first in a long, long while. It felt... liberating.
Zoya-"I've already explained I've recovered from my journey here," she reminded him.
He clasped her jaw in his hand and tilted her head back so she would have to look into his eyes. He almost smiled when he saw how disgruntled she looked.
Asad"There is another reason I want you to rest," he announced.
She gently nudged his hand away. She was getting a crick in her neck looking up at him.
Zoya-"And what might your reason be, Mr Khan?"
Asad-"You're weak."
She shook her head.
Zoya-"You mentioned that opinion last night, husband. It wasn't true then and it isn't true now."
Asad"You are weak, Zoya," he repeated, ignoring her protest. "It's going to take you time to build up your strength. I'm aware of your limitations, even if you aren't."
He didn't give her time to argue over his decision. He leaned down, kissed her, and then left the chamber.
As soon as the door closed behind him, she threw off the covers and got out of bed.
How could her husband form such unbending opinions about her character so quickly? He couldn't possibly know her limitations. He hadn't known her long enough. It was unreasonable for him to draw any conclusions about her.
Zoya continued to think about her husband while she washed and dressedHer sister had explained what she would be expected to wear as a newlywed. She put on a aqua blue saree, a matching blouse and skirt, then donned jewelry and accessories from the closet. She fashioned perfect pleats around her waist, tossed one end of the long strip of material over her right shoulder and secured the saree with a pin
She thought about unpacking stuff and then going out for a stroll then changed her mind. Open defiance probably wouldn't sit well with Asad. She had already learned he was a proud man, and she didn't believe she could achieve anything by challenging his decision.
Still, there was always more than one way into a house. Her mother used to tell that to Zoya when she argued with her father. Zoya's mother was a smart woman. She was loved her husband, , but over the years she had learned how to get around his stubborn moods. Zoya had learned from her mother's example. Her mother was full of clever sayings she'd passed down to her daughter. She never tried to manipulate her husband, she explained, for manipulating was not the right thing to do, and the end, after all, didn't always justify the means. She was very clever, though, and usually found a way to placate everyone in her household.
Unbeknownst to her mother, Zoya's father frequently took her aside when she was bickering with her mother as well. He too had advice to give regarding the delicate methods he employed to get along with his wife when she was in one of her stubborn moods. Zoya's mother's suggestions made far more sense than her father's recommendations. She learned something more important from her father, however. He loved his wife and would do anything in his power
to make her happy. He just didn't want his wife to know it. The two of them played a game of sorts where both were the victors. Zoya thought their marriage a bit strange, but they had been very happy together, and she thought that was all that mattered.
Zoya only wanted to live a quiet, peaceful life. In order to achieve her goal, she would simply make certain she stayed out of her husband's way. She wouldn't interfere in his affairs, and she would definitely try to get along with him. In return, she expected him to try to get along with her and stay out of her way. After the past few years Zoy believed with all her heart that being left alone would make her happy.
She turned her attention to straightening up the room. She made the bed,and rearranged the sitting area, finally deciding to unpack her clothes and put them away in the closet, and then put all her everyday requirmants by the bed. She was in a hurry to get outside, for it had turned out to be a wonderful day. When she tied the curtains covering back from the window, sunlight flooded the chamber. The scent of the sea filled the air. The view was breathtaking. The garden below was as colorful as can be. The hills close by were lush and green with trees. Splashes of color dotted the landscape; red, pink, and purple wildflowers clustered together along a winding path that seemed to lead all the way to heaven.
After having the breakfast sent for her in her bedroom, Zoya decided to take Ali with her on a walk across the gardens and up the path beyond. She would get the gardeners to get her some fresh flowers to put in her room.
Finding the little boy turned out to be quite a challenge. She went downstairs and stood at the entrance to the great hall, waiting for someone to notice her. There were four men tearing at the far wall and another three high up on the roof, working on the slats and some staff working around the entrance..
Everyone seemed to notice her at once. The pounding stopped. Since they were all staring at her, she made a curtsy in greeting before asking if they knew where Ali might be.
No one answered her. She was feeling extremely self-conscious. She repeated her question but kept her gaze centered on the old mand standing in front of door. He smiled, scratched his beard, and then shrugged at her.
Finally Calum, the head of the home staff came to her rescue.. "They don't understand you, Maam
She turned to Calum and smiled.
Zoya-"They speak only Mexican?
Calum-"Yes," he answered. "They speak only Mexican. Please let me take you to Mr Khan,he is out back.
.
She turned back to the men watching her and asked them her question in Mexican. She frowned with concentration. The language was difficult, tongue twisting in fact when she was so nervous inside, but when she'd finished her question, only one of the older men openly winced. The others smiled.
Still no one answered her. They all turned to stare at the hem of her saree. She looked down to see if something was amiss. Then she turned to Calum, hoping for an explanation. His eyes, she noticed, sparkled with amusement.
Calum- "You asked them if they'd seen your feet, Maam'
Zoya-"I meant to ask if they'd seen Asad's son," she explained. Calum gave her the proper word to use. She again turned and repeated her question.
The men shook their heads. She thanked them for their attention and turned to leave. Calum hurried ahead of her to open the door.
Zoya-"I must work on my language," she announced. "I could tell from that one gentleman's expression I was making a muck of it."
Yes, she was making a muck of it, Calum thought to himself. He wasn't about to agree, however, because he didn't want to injure her feelings.
Calum-"The men appreciate the fact that you're trying, Maam
Zoya-. "I haven't quite captured it yet. It's a very challenging language," she added. ""How?" he asked.
Zoya-So have you seen Ali?"
He shook his head. "He might be down at the stables," he said. He pointed in the direction of the stables.
She registered what Calum had said, blurted out her thank you, and went running across the garden towards the stable.
Getting there she looked around, excited to see so many horses in the stable. She just loved horse riding and she couldn't wait to take one of them for a ride.
In her excitement she forgot her whereabouts suddenly finding herself in the middle of a fencing exercise. Calum grabbed her by her shoulders and pulled her back just in the nick of time. The sword nearly slicng her down the middle.
One of the person let out a loud expletive. Asad had been watching the fencing, whilst on the phone from the opposite side of the ground. He saw his wife's near miss and immediately shouted a halt to the training session.
Zoya was horrified by her own behavior. Such inattention was shameful. She picked up the sword the person had dropped and handed it to him. His face was flaming red. She didn't know if he was embarrassed or furious.
Zoya-I am so sorry. I wasn't watching where I was going."
The dark-haired guyr gave her a quick nod. Calum still had his hands on her shoulders. He gently tugged her back.
She turned to thank him for his quickness in coming to her aid. She spotted her husband coming her way. Her smile faltered when she took in the look on his face.
The people were all staring at her. Some were smiling, and some were frowning.
That mixed reaction confused her. Then Asad was standing in front of her, blocking her view. His attention was centered on Calum. He didn't say a word, just frowned at him. Zoya realized Calum still had hold of her. The hereleased his grip, Mr Khan turned his attention and his scowl on her.
Her heart started pounding with her fear. She desperately tried to hold onto her composure. She wasn't about to let him know how frightened she was.
She decided not to give him time to berate her.
Zoya-"I was very inattentive, Mr Khan, sinfully so. I could have been killed."
He shook his head.
Asad-"You could not have been killed. You insult Calum by suggesting he would have allowed you injury."
She wasn't going to argue with her husband.
Zoya-"I meant no insult," she said. She turned to Calum. "Please accept my apology. I wished to soften my husband's anger with me by being the first to acknowledge my stupidity "
Asad-"Do you have a problem with your sight?" Asad asked.
Zoya-"No," she answered.
Asad"Then why in God's name didn't you see these men were fighting with weapons?"
She mistook his exasperation for anger.
Zoya- "I have explained, Mr Khan. I wasn't paying attention."
Her husband didn't show any reaction to her explanation. He simply continued to stare at her. He was waiting for his temper to calm. Seeing his wife come so close to death had frightened the hell out of him. It was going to take him a long while to get over it.
A full minute passed in silence. Zoya thought her husband was considering some sort of punishment.
Zoya-I am sorry..and you can hit me or whatever, but if you do I wont stay here even for a second"
Calum couldn't believe what he'd just heard.
Calum-"What Maam
He was stopped from saying more when Asad raised his hand for silence.
The second his hand moved, she backed up. It was a protective action learned from past lessons. She realized what she was doing and immediately moved forward again.
Her husband had best understand she wasn't going to let the past repeat itself.
Zoya- "I would warn you, Mr Khan. I cannot stop you from hitting me, but the minute you do I'll leave this place."
Calum-"Surely you cannot believe our Mr Khan would..."
Asad-"Stay out of this, Calum."
Asad gave his command in a hard voice. He was furious over the insult his wife had just given him, but damn it all, the fear was real. He had to remind himself that she didn't know him well and, therefore, had only jumped to the wrong conclusions. He took hold of Zoya's hand, started up the steps, then heard the pounding and immediately changed directions. He wanted privacy for this important discussion.
She tripped over the step when her husband turned, righted herself, and hurried to keep up. Calum shook his head as he watched his Mr Khan drag his wife behind him. It wasn't Zoya's awkwardness that caused him to frown but the paleness that had come over her complexion. Did she believe Mr Khan was going to take her someplace private so he could hit her without an audience?
Keith, the red-haired security manager, walked over to stand next to Calum.
Keith-"What has you frowning?" he asked.
Calum"Zoya maam," Calum answered. "Someone has filled her head with crap about Mr Khan. I believe she's afraid of him."
Keith snorted. "Some of the women are already saying she's afraid of her own shadow. They've given her a nickname," he added. "After just one look at her, they're calling her Courageous. It's a shame..that they are not even giving her a chance to show who she really is.
Calum was furious. In calling her Courageous, they, of course, meant just the opposite"they believed her to be a coward.
Calum"Mr Khan better not hear of this," he warned. "Who started this?
Keith wasn't about to give him the name.
Keith-"Who it was isn't important," he argued. "The name has caught on. The talk about the way Zoya maam trembled at the sight of the Mr Khan's dog at the tournament started some of the women smirking, and the frightened look in her eyes each time Asad spoke to her made them conclude she was..."
Calum interrupted him. "She's timid, perhaps, but certainly not a coward. You better tell me who spread the story of the tournament in the house and I'll take care of it..
Keith nodded but he knew better.His wife that worked in the house had discussed how the women staff already hated her and had planned not to cooperate with her.They found her to be a threat, who would hinder with their work.The women were set against her, and he couldn't imagine what he could say to change their opinions.
Both men kept their gazes on Mr Khan and his wife and watched until they disappeared down the hill.
Asad and Zoya were quite alone now, but he still didn't stop. He continued walking until they reached the field. He wanted to rid himself of his anger before he talked to her.
He finally stopped. Then he turned to look at her. She wouldn't look at him. She tried to tug her hand away from his, but he wouldn't let go of her.
Asad-You have insulte me today by suggesting I would harm you."
Her eyes widened in surprise. He sounded furious enough to kill someone. Yet he felt injured that she thought he would hit her.
Asad-"Have you nothing to say to me, wife?"
Zoya-"I interrupted your training session."
Asad"Yes, you did!"
Zoya-"I almost caused a manr to harm me."
Adas-"Yes!"
Zoya"And you appeared to be very angry."
Asad-"I was angry!"
Zoya-"Asad? Why are you shouting?"
He let out a sigh.
Asad- "I like to shout."
Zoya-"I see."
Asad-"I had thought that in time you would learn to trust me. I have changed my mind. You will trust me," he commanded. "Starting now, this minute."
He made it sound so simple.
Zoya"I do not know if that is possible, Mr Khan. Trust must be earned."
Asad-"Then decide now that I've earned it," he ordered. "Tell me you trust me, and mean it, damn it."
He knew he was asking the impossible. He sighed again.
Asad "No man is allowed to beat his wife. Only a coward would mistreat a woman, Zoya. You have nothing to fear from me or anyone else here. I will forgive you your insult because you didn't understand. I will not be as tolerant in future. You would do well to remember that."
She stared into his eyes.
Zoya-"But if I do insult you in future? What would you do?"
He didn't have the faintest idea, but he wasn't about to admit it.
Asad-"It will not happen again."
Zoya nodded. She started to turn around to go back to the courtyard, then changed her mind.
Her husband deserved an apology.
Zoya-"Sometimes I react before I have had time to think it through. Do you understand, Mr Khan? It seems to be instinctive. I really will try to trust you, and I thank you for your patience."
He could tell from the way she was wringing her hands together that her confession was difficult for her. Her head was bowed and her voice sounded with bewilderment when she added,
Zoya-"I don't understand why I expect the worst. I never would have married you if I'd believed you would
mistreat me, yet there seems to be a tiny part of me that has difficulty believing."
Asad-"You please me, Zoya."
Zoya-"I do?"
He smiled over the surprise in her voice.
Asad- "You do," he repeated. "I know the confession was difficult for you. Where did you think you were going when you tried to run through a fencing match?" He added the question in an effort to change the subject. His wife looked like she might start weeping at any moment and he wanted to help her calm her emotions.
Zoya-"To find Ali. I thought we could take a walk to look around the acreage ."
Asad-"I ordered you to rest."
Zoya-"I was going to take a restful walk.
."
Her husband took hold of her hand and started back up the hill.
Asad-"Zoya, Ali isn't here. He went back to boarding school this morning.He only comes back home once a month for 4 days.."
Zoya-Oh but why. "A son needs his father, Asad."
Asad"I'm aware of my responsibilities, wife. You don't need instruct me."
Zoya-"But I may give my opinion," she countered.
He shrugged.
Asad. "Also I don't want you walking in the hills without a proper escort," he added with a frown. "It's too dangerous."
Zoya-"Is it too dangerous for all or just for me?"
He kept silent. She had her answer then. She held her exasperation.
Zoya-"Tell me about these dangers..
ASad-"No."
Zoya"Why not?"
Asad-"I don't have the time. Simply obey me and we'll get along quite well."
Zoya"Of course we'll get along if I obey your every command," she muttered. "Honestly, Asad, I don't believe..."
Asad-"The horses are sound."
His interruption turned her concentration.
Zoya- "What did you say?"
Asad"The horses that you were so lost looking."
She let out a sigh.
Zoya-"We're through discussing obedience, aren't we?"
Asad-"Yup'
She laughed.
He grinned.
Asad- "You should do that more often."
Zoya-"Do what?"
Asad-"Laugh."
They'd reached the edge of the courtyard. Asad's manner underwent a radical change. His expression hardened. She thought the serious look was for the benefit of his audience. Every person was watching.
Zoya-"Asad?"
Asad-"Yes?" He sounded impatient.
Zoya-"May I offer an opinion now?"
Asad"What is it?"
Zoya"It's stupid to use the courtyard for your fencing training session as well as dangerous."
He shook his head at her.
Asad-"It wasn't dangerous until this morning. I want you to promise me something."
Zoya-"Yes?"
Asad-"Don't ever threaten to leave me."
The intensity in his demand surprised her.
Zoya- "I promise," she answered.
Asad nodded, then started to walk away.
Asad- "I won't ever let you go. You do understand that, don't you?"
He didn't expect an answer. Zoya stood there for several minutes watching as her husband rejoined the training session. Asad was proving to be a complex man. Ayaan had told her the Mr Khan would marry her to secure the property. Yet Asad acted as though perhaps she were important to him, too.
She found herself hoping her guess was true. They would get along much better if he liked her.
Continued in the next post!!
Edited by starslinedup - 11 years ago
..and Asad is a bit arrogant but I like him too😆 
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