FF: All the Right Moves - Chapter 14, page 129 - COMPLETE - Page 85

Originally posted by: Linsie

Welcome back...

Originally posted by: Linsie

hmm i still have doubt... so who is in asad's office
try to delete the file...

and then what is it... with the poster... in front najma college...
all this diversion... to the real problem...

Originally posted by: PalyGirl

Thank you! I had a wonderful time in India and didn't want to come back. It was such a shock to be back in the cold and the snow after the lovely warm, sunny weather and lazy days. I'm getting my balance back now and will work on the next chapter.

Take care!

Originally posted by: PalyGirl

The poster was only for this story. It was to show how crazy and devoted Rohan's fans were. The deleted file is the entry to the mystery in GHOST IN THE MACHINE. Say tuned!

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Later that afternoon, everyone is gathered in the living room of the Khan Villa. Asad, Dilshad and Rohan are all on their cell phones while Zoya and Najma talk quietly. Dilshad finishes her phone call and comes to join them on the sofa.

"Police Commissioner Reddy says that Arun Sharma has been taken into custody," she reports. "He assured me that they will be as discrete as possible about their investigation."

"Even so, people will find out soon enough." Rohan comes to join them. He's back to his usual polished perfection, clean and well-scrubbed, wearing another one of his blindingly bright white shirts and crisp, new jeans. He sits on the chair adjoining the sofa, his eyes cloudy and grey. "I've spoken to our team captain, the sports commissioner, and the orphanage director. They're prepared for tomorrow's news."

"What about your friends?" Dilshad reaches out and covers his hand with hers. "Do they need to know before the story reaches the media?"

"No." Rohan looks down. "I don't have friends. I have acquaintances and people who hang around me for my fame and popularity but none of them really care about me."

The ladies exchange anxious, worried glances. Dilshad is about to speak but Zoya shakes her head. She takes a deep breath and puts on a bright, happy smile.

"That's not true, Rohan." Zoya lightens her voice deliberately. "Mrs. Reddy would have dragged Arun into the police station herself if her husband hadn't stopped her. She definitely cares. Didn't you see the way she kept jumping up and patting you on the head?"

"True." Rohan sighs but nods. "I guess that's an improvement over her constantly asking me how I stay so fair when I'm always taking off my clothes in the sun."

"You and Mr. Khan both!" Zoya laughs with genuine amusement. "Why is it that the men in this house can't keep their shirts on?"

Najma and Dilshad both look startled, then join in her laughter. Even Rohan's lips curve into a smile. Asad comes over to them.

"What's so funny?" he demands.

He's neatly - and fully - dressed in grey slacks and a black dress shirt. Even so, the ladies look at him and burst into fresh peals of laughter. Asad looks to Rohan, his eyebrows drawn together in a questioning frown.

Rohan shakes his head, but his lips are still curved in a reluctant smile. "Don't ask."

"We were just discussing tameez and tehzeeb, Mr. Khan." Zoya swallows her laughter but her eyes are still sparkling with mischief. "We were wondering why only the women in this house exhibit them. I guess the men are too busy exhibiting other things."

Dilshad and Najma both gasp at Zoya's boldness but Zoya merely smiles. She looks meaningfully at Asad's shirt then raises her eyebrows, challenging him.

He crosses his arms over his chest. "I did what was necessary."

Asad holds himself very straight and tall but he can't control the color sweeping up his neck and into his cheeks. Dilshad and Najma stare at Asad in shocked amazement. Zoya's smile widens but Dilshad speaks up before Zoya can go further.

"Did you make all the arrangements, Asad?" she asks quickly. "Is everything secure?"

"Secure?" Najma repeats. "Do you mean around the house?"

"Not just the house, Tamatar." Asad explains. "The police have increased patrol in our neighborhood but I put my office security on high alert as well. The press will be all over us once this gets out." He exchanges glances with Dilshad then turns to Rohan. "I also assigned guards to the lot. The police will do their best to be discreet but I want someone I trust to watch over Rohit until we can have a proper funeral for him."

Rohan's smile dies. "I did everything, put up with Arun, lied to you, and tried to steal from you, to protect Rohit's memory. But I caused you so much pain and embarrassment in the process." His eyes fill with resigned tears. "You must hate me for all I've put you through."

"No!" Dilshad says immediately. "Of course we don't."

Zoya and Najma also shake their heads vigorously. Asad crosses his arms behind his back but remains silent.

"You had no choice," Najma agrees. "You did the best you could under the terrible circumstances. You endured so much pain and humiliation yourself to honor your brother."

"He was your family," Zoya adds. "We would all do whatever it takes to protect our family."

"Even so, you must be angry with me." Rohan's head remains bowed. "I came into your home under false pretense."

"No, we're not." Dilshad says firmly. "We understand why you did it."

"Well, not fully," Zoya bursts out. "I still have questions."

"Zoya!" Dilshad rebukes.

"No, Zoya's right." Rohan finally looks up and wipes away his tears. "After everything you've done for me, you deserve to know the full truth. Ask me anything."

Zoya and Najma exchange glances. For a moment, they are silent, organizing their thoughts, then Najma speaks first.

"Where were you the first night? We know you were here until midnight because you spoke to Bhaijaan when you came out to get a glass of water. Where were you after that?"

Rohan stares at them, eyes wide. "How did you know I didn't spend the first night here?"

"The water was our first clue that something was off," Zoya recalls. "We thought it was strange that you came out for water when we'd given you a full jug for your room."

"Then the next morning we saw the bed hadn't been slept in the night before," Najma adds.

Rohan stares at them. "How did you know that?"

"Najma had made up the bed with fancy pleats the first night," Zoya explains. "They were still in place the next morning and the bed smelled fresh and unused."

"You didn't sleep here the first night?" Dilshad stares at Rohan. "Where did you go?"

"I wanted to go to Rohit's grave," Rohan admits. "I hadn't visited him since the night I buried him. I first went out the bedroom door, thinking everyone would be asleep, but Asad was still working in the living room."

"You should use the patio exit," Zoya explains. "It's very easy to get from my room to the back garden. Then you---"

She stops abruptly when she sees Asad glare at her. Zoya clears her throat.

"Not that I've ever done that, of course," she finishes hastily.

Rohan nods. "Yes, that's what I did after I got back into the room. Arun was waiting for me near the main road. He tried to drive me to the lot but we couldn't find it. We drove for hours but it was dark and the area had changed after all these years. Arun drove me home before dawn and I snuck back into my room."

"What's Lucky's part in all this?" Dilshad asks.

"I couldn't find the lot on my own," Rohan explains. "That's why we had to bring Lucky in, to find the property based on its location to the orphanage and my memories."

"But why did his men attack you if they knew you were interested in the property?" Zoya asks. "They would have hurt you badly if we hadn't been there."

Rohan shakes his head. "No, they didn't know about me until last night. They only knew Arun was making inquiries. As usual, Arun pushed too hard and Lucky became suspicious. Then I showed up and they had a chance to squeeze me directly."

"And they almost did." Zoya holds her cut arm close and shivers.

Najma bites into her lower lip and rubs Zoya's other shoulder comfortingly. Then her eyes brighten.

"Why did Arun authorize the billboard and the SportsMaXXX advertising?" Najma asks. "We could tell you were shocked by that picture. That's what clued us into following Arun to find the truth."

Zoya turns her attention back to their conversation, forgetting her injury in her eagerness to hear the full story. She relaxes her arm and leans forward.

"Arun knew I devoted a lot of time and energy keeping up with orphanage events. He complained about my drinking but I was a lot easier for him to control when I was drunk and stupid." Rohan's voice becomes sharp and bitter. "I felt better about myself every time I wrote a letter or did a video-chat with the kids. Dilshad-ji was a threat to him because I became stronger under her influence and less tolerant of his abuse."

"That's right. Ammi reminded him of that when we were in the lot." Najma shivers. "He became so angry then."

"Arun authorized the photo and the billboard in hopes that it would embarrass Dilshad-ji and the orphanage to the extent that they'd drop me as their sponsor." Rohan smiles at Dilshad. "He couldn't understand the depth of your kindness and forgiveness."

"That's because he doesn't have the capacity himself," Asad snaps. "The police are going to tear apart every falsehood he's told in his life. I'll make sure of it."

"Arun said I couldn't risk asking you for the lot," Rohan continues. "Asad is a sharp businessman. He'd be suspicious the second he found out I wanted it. Arun said the only way I could protect Rohit was to steal the deed and have it falsely transferred into my name."

"So you searched for the deed in our living room and Bhaijaan's room when he went out for his morning run," Najma finishes.

"And how did you know about that?" Rohan demands.

"Bhaijaan is very particular about things," Najma explains. "He notices right away when things are out of place."

"Plus you knew Mr. Khan had a boxing set," Zoya puts in. "He's very neat. You would only have known he had it if you'd gone into his closet."

"Speaking of closets, why is everything you own new?" Najma asks. "Everything in your suitcase still had tags on it."

Rohan stares at them. "You went through my suitcase?"

Najma blushes and looks away but Zoya refuses to back down.

"You went through our house," she counters.

"True." Rohan nods then looks down again. "It's because I can't re-wear clothes. I dug my brother's grave myself, using the wooden boards they beat him with to break the ground. No matter how much I wash or how new and unused my clothes are, I'm always covered in his blood."

Zoya and Najma exchange stricken glances. Dilshad takes Rohan's hand again.

"No, Rohan. There is no blood on you." She runs her hands over his to illustrate. "You've just never had a chance to come to terms with the terrible trauma. You know your heart is good. Allah has a greater purpose for you and guided you out of your darkness. Don't allow your memories to drag you back into the shadows."

"We knew you were searching for the lot deed," Asad speaks quietly. "What did you plan to do with the lot once you got it?"

"Nothing," Rohan says simply. "I was afraid that someday, something would happen to Rohit's resting place. You could sell it or tear it up. I wanted to protect Rohit in death the way I couldn't in his life."

"We didn't even know about the lot," Asad says. He clenches his hands tightly. "Najma and I want nothing to do with it."

"Asad..." Dilshad begins but Rohan puts his hand up.

"Will you sell it me?" he asks quietly. "You and Najma have no value for the lot but it's precious to me." His voice cracks. "Name your price."

Asad turns away. "There is no price. I will not accept money from Mr. Rashid Ahmed Khan or any of his ventures."

"Asad!"

"Bhaijaan!"

"Mr. Khan!"

All three ladies jump up in protest.

"Asad, you mustn't take your anger against your Abbu out on an innocent soul," Dilshad pleads, putting her hand on his arm. "Rohan has nothing to do with our past."

"And he's is truly sorry for his mistakes, Bhaijaan," Najma adds, putting her hand on his other arm. "Don't punish him like this."

"Allah miya, what's wrong with you, Mr. Khan?" Zoya circles around to face Asad. "He was only trying to protect his family. You, of all people, must understand that."

She ducks down to see his expression. Asad's face is composed and shuttered but he looks up and meets her eyes. He nods and turns back to Rohan.

"We won't sell you the lot," he says quietly.

Rohan's hopeful expression fades. Najma cries out in frustration and Dilshad gasps in dismay. Zoya remains quiet, her attention fixed on Asad.

"It would be wrong to take profit from an immoral man's penance," Asad continues. "But it would be equally wrong to deny a good man's plea."

Najma and Dilshad both tighten their holds on Asad, watching him with bated breath. Rohan's face flushes with color. Zoya's mouth curves into a half-smile as she looks at Asad, her eyes warm and soft.

"Najma and I will donate the lot, and all the surrounding land we own, if you agree to develop it in honor of your brother's memory."

Even before he finishes speaking, Dilshad, Najma and Zoya envelope Asad in a group hug, laughing and crying at the same time. It takes them a moment to realize that Rohan is still sitting silently in the chair in front of them, head bowed. Dilshad is the first to notice and breaks their embrace.

"Rohan?" she asks quietly. "Isn't that good news? Wasn't this what you wanted?"

She lifts Rohan's chin. His face is awash in unchecked tears but his pale blue eyes are clear and bright.

"Th...thank you," he chokes out. "I...I..."

His mouth tightens in frustration and he shakes his head, unable to express the emotions inside of him.

Zoya smiles and gives him a quick, one-armed hug. "Don't worry. We understand what you can't say. We live with Mr. "Silent-and-Uncommunicative" himself."

She gives Asad a sideways glance. He frowns back at her as Dilshad and Najma embrace Rohan. Rohan rises from the chair and wipes away his tears. He crosses to Asad.

"Asad, I...I..." Fresh tears fill his eyes and Rohan can't continue.

Asad sighs and pulls Rohan in for a brotherly embrace. "You're going to be okay, Rohan. You just need to make peace with your past."

"Good advice," Dilshad says softly. "He's not the only one."

Rohan steps back before Asad can respond.

"Thank you, Asad," he says. "Up until now, my life has been about the things that were taken from me. But from now on, I'm going to make it about all the wonderful things I've been given and earned. I'm going to be happy because I deserve my happiness."

Dilshad smiles approvingly. "The past is behind us and cannot be changed. Happiness never lies in looking back at what we've lost but looking forward and seeing the joy Allah has placed before us."

She glances at Asad and Zoya but refrains from saying more. She and Najma both smile at Rohan and embrace him. Zoya remains focused on Asad, Rohan and Dilshad's words hanging heavy in the air between them. Her eyes are soft and warm as she smiles up at him.

The look Asad gives her in return is full of such heat and intensity that her cheeks flush with color. She shivers visibly, ensnared by his gaze, trapped by the invisible bonds that grow tighter with each passing day.

"Asad!"

Dilshad pulls on his arm, demanding his attention. Asad looks to his mother, breaking the fierce connection with Zoya. She stumbles back, disoriented, and loses her balance.

"Careful, Zoya!" Rohan catches her easily, his reflexes instant and instinctive, honed sharp from hours on the cricket field.

Instantly, Asad, Dilshad and Najma surround her.

"What happened?" Asad demands. He guides her to sit on the sofa.

"She was fine one second then she lost her balance in the next," Rohan reports.

"It's from the blood loss," Dilshad says worriedly. "She shouldn't have jumped up like that. It probably brought on dizziness."

"Should I bring her a chocolate bar?" Najma asks anxiously. "She asked for one earlier."

"No! No chocolate, no sweets!" Asad orders. "It'll spike her blood sugar. Bring her prune juice."

"No! No prune juice!" Zoya's eyes widen and she struggles to get up from the sofa. "I'm fine, really. I don't need prune juice!"

"Zoya, drink it if it helps," Rohan pleads. "You've suffered too much for me already."

He, Dilshad and Asad all look pointedly at her wounded arm. Zoya sighs and tucks it back.

"Please stop staring at me like that," she pleads. "I know it wasn't smart of me to distract those men but I had to do something."

Najma sits down beside her to wrap her arm around Zoya's shoulders.

"Of course you did," she says loyally. "You wouldn't be our Zoya if you didn't. We all know your generous and selfless nature."

"But she shouldn't do things impulsively." Asad glares at both of them. "There should be limits and logic to her actions."

"So I'm impulsive and illogical?" Zoya's eyes are dark and wounded. "Is this another way of calling me an idiot?"

Asad opens his mouth but closes it without speaking. He takes a deep breath and his eyes narrow warningly. Najma tightens her hold on Zoya while Dilshad grabs Asad's arm. Rohan shifts closer, equally ready to protect Zoya from Asad's wrath.

But Asad doesn't lash out at Zoya. He merely crosses his arms and shakes his head at her. "Nice trick, but it doesn't work anymore."

"What trick?" Dilshad looks between them as she slowly removes her hand.

Asad raises his eyebrows. "Ms. Farooqui learned to distract me from issues she doesn't want to discuss by making me angry and defensive."

Najma, Dilshad and Rohan all stare at Zoya. She blushes very pink and ducks her head.

"However, I understand her trick now," Asad continues calmly. "So, no, I didn't call you an idiot. I know you're very clever but you're also emotional and impulsive."

Zoya's head snaps up and she opens her mouth. Asad holds up his hand before she can speak.

"You do it because you care." Asad looks at her, holding her gaze captive. "But we care as much for you as you do for us. Think about how much it hurts us to see you in pain and not be able to do anything about it. Your actions don't just affect you, they affect us all. Why are you so willing to allow us to suffer?"

"I...I'm not!" Zoya wails. "I only want to protect you, take care of you." She looks around and tears fill her eyes. "I love you all so much!"

Dilshad sits beside her and wraps Zoya in her arms. "We love you, too, Zoya. That's why you must be more careful in the future. You are so precious to us. After experiencing the joy of having you in our lives, we can never live without you. Please don't ever put us in that position again."

Zoya lays her head on Dilshad's shoulder. "I don't mean to put myself at risk, Phupee. It just happens."

"Well, we're all going to work hard to help you avoid it in the future." Dilshad kisses her temple. "You're ours now, Zoya. We'll never let you go."

"Ammi's right, Zoya." Najma tightens her embrace and kisses Zoya's other temple. "We love you, too."

Zoya smiles and looks up at Asad. He remains silent but his eyes say more than words can express. She looks away from his dark intensity but her smile never wavers. She relaxes, safe in her family's embrace.

***

Later that night, Zoya knocks on Asad's door and opens it. He's seated at his sofa, frowning down at his laptop screen. He looks up when she enters the room.

"I knocked," she says.

"I noticed." He looks back at his laptop to hide his small, secret smile.

She crosses to stand beside his sofa. "Are you still working?"

He shifts over, inviting her to sit beside him. "Yes, I have an appointment with the building commissioner for final approval of the Center Park project."

She sits down and glances at his screen. "Have any more images disappeared from my storage system?"

He stiffens. "No, not that I'm aware of."

"If they have, I'll find them. I'm almost finished loading all the current files. Once I'm done, I'll run a full system scan to compare the redundant drives. I'll also start coding to search the system for anomalies and duplicate images."

He stares at her. "You lost me after loading the current files."

She giggles. "Sorry, geek speak. I'll have the system check every drive on the server to make sure the same information appears on each drive. The system will tell me if any files have been added, changed or deleted."

"I changed my password so whoever used my login ID can't use it again." Asad leans back thoughtfully. "I also sent a memo to the staff to change their passwords. So whoever is been fooling with the system will have to stop now."

"My other step is to create code that will look for anomalies and duplicate images. Anomalies are image files that don't follow coded patterns. Duplicates are images that have been scanned multiple times. We tried to catch all the copies during the manual scanning process but I'm sure we missed a few." She flexes her hurt arm slowly.

"Don't do that!" he orders. "You'll pull on your stitches."

"My arm is stiff from me holding it still," she complains.

"Here. Rest it against my chest." He shifts so she can lean into him. "I'll massage it."

"Thank you." She smiles and settles in, placing her arm in the natural groove between his pectorals.

His fingers are firm but gentle as he rubs her sore bicep and strokes along her arm. She relaxes under his ministration, her body becoming heavy and pliant. He curls his arm around her so she can lay her head on his shoulder.

"Thank you for what you did for Rohan, Mr. Khan." Her voice is soft, intimate in the quiet night.

He stiffens noticeably. "I didn't do anything. You, Najma and Ammi did all the work."

"Phupee always believed in him but Rohan needed to see someone actually fight for him." She opens her hand so it lays flat over Asad's steadily beating heart. "I watched Rohan when you picked up Arun and ordered him to stay out of our lives. It was the first time Rohan had seen anyone stand up to his abuser. You freed him."

"Rohan brought Arun down himself when he learned how you had saved him the night before." Asad is no longer massaging but now idly stroking her arm. "He wasn't strong enough to stand up to Arun for his own sake but he could do it for you and Ammi."

"He'll have to be even stronger to face the press tomorrow," Zoya frets. "The story will be front page news all over the world."

"He'll be fine," Asad assures her. "He's handling it the right way. The news conference will allow him to tell the full story. The evidence supports him. His fans will rally around him."

"Perhaps he'll even win new fans once he announces his plans to build a charity sports center on the land you and Najma donated." Zoya relaxes even further, molding herself into Asad's side. "Thank you for also donating Dilshad Construction's resources to the sports center, Mr. Khan."

"Many people will volunteer time, manpower and materials for the complex. Rohan won't know who's honest and who is trying to use him." Asad shakes his head. "Arun really messed with Rohan's head. He'll need guidance to avoid those kinds of leeches in the future."

Zoya reaches up and kisses Asad's cheek. He leans into the kiss as if unwilling to break their connection.

"You're a very good man, Mr. Khan," she whispers, her breath a soft caress against his skin.

"You're just figuring that out now, Ms. Farooqui?" A half smile pulling at the corners of his mouth as he echoes her own words. "And you call yourself an intelligent woman."

Author's Notes: As always, all mistakes are mine and made accidentally. This story is not intended to hurt anyone's feelings, culture or beliefs. Much thanks to my wonderful beta readers for their support, assistance and endless patience! I know I drive you to distraction with my endless questions and rewites. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for making my work so much better!

I'm sorry I was late in posting this chapter. Life got in the way as it always does. I hope you all enjoyed this story. Thank you for all your wonderful replies and private messages. They have made writing these stories worthwhile. I don't reply to every post but I do reach each and every one.

I'm taking a break from QH fanfiction to work on my original character novel. However, I will leave you with a teaser to the next story. This is actually a piece from an OS I wrote called "What's in a Name." Sadly, Mr. Zoya Farooqui won't be this sweet and accommodating in GHOST IN THE MACHINE but he will appear!

Thank you,

Paly

Asad is standing at the kitchen counter, wearing slacks and a black pullover shirt with a frilly white apron tied around his waist. Zoya sits at his usual seat at the table, sipping coffee and reading the newspaper. She puts down her cup and Asad hurries to refill it, carefully adding milk and sugar, then taking a sip from the spoon to make sure it's perfect.

"How was your breakfast, darling?" he asks in a loving voice.

"It was fine, thank you." Zoya responds, sipping the fresh coffee, her focus on the morning news.

"Is today a busy day for you, dearest?" he asks.

Zoya puts the paper aside and gets up from the table. She is wearing a dark business suit and high heels.

"No, not too busy." She twists her hair into a bun. "Why do you ask?"

Asad smiles at her adoringly. "I thought I'd make something special tonight to celebrate our one-month anniversary."

"Oh, I see." Zoya smiles back but her expression is more amused than adoring. "In that case, I'll try to be home early."

Asad's face lights up. "That will be wonderful, my love."

He picks up her briefcase and walks her to the front door. "Ammi and Tamatar are going to a play this evening so we'll have the whole house to ourselves." He looks at her from under his lashes. "I'll plan something very special."

"You are so sweet." Zoya pats his cheek. "I'll be home as soon as I can."

Asad closes his eyes and puckers his lips for a kiss. Zoya's cell phone rings. She answers the call and walks out. Asad is left there, mouth puckered. Finally he opens his eyes and looks around. His face falls and his eyes fill with tears.

"Darling, wait!" He rushes after her. "You didn't kiss me good-bye!"