Hello People,
Please find below Chapter 8 for this story. Hope you like it. Happy Reading.
Chapter 8
The next few weeks saw the bond between Asad and Zoya grow. From just friends they were fast becoming best friends. Where Asad was enjoying the time he was spending with her, Zoya too was getting used to his company. The night Asad went to her house was the best thing that had happened to him. He was thankful to his mother that she had made him realize exactly why he wanted to go to Zoya. He had soon realized his "Ji Ammi" was not just a slip of his tongue but was what his heart truly felt for the dimpled lady. How he always wanted to touch the hollow that formed on her cheek when she smiled and how he always found himself trapped in the depths of her dimple. Only he knew how he was holding onto the urge to touch her dimple every time he saw it.
Zoya though had friends both male and female, had never had anyone from the opposite sex as a best friend, found she immensely enjoyed Asad's company. She realized it wasn't as difficult to talk to him. Rather he would catch the slightest discomfort that she felt and would immediately change the topic or would apologize for making her uncomfortable. She found him to be extremely witty when he wanted to but not crossing the unsaid limits of their friendship.
Spending time together was becoming a habit that they both couldn't resist. Almost every evening either Zoya would walk into his office to share their evening coffee or Asad was at her place. Though the two didn't realize why this was happening, Dilshaad and Zeenat did. If they went out for coffee they would spend hours talking not bothered to check the time and would always be late for dinner at home. Whenever Asad was at their home Zeenat would walk into the living room with their coffee and snacks but would not get any acknowledgement from the two. Most of the times she had to literally make her presence frlt to the two who were so engrossed in their talks trying to know each other better, sharing their childhood memories and stories and laughing their hearts out at funny instances shared.
Like Asad and Zoya it had become a ritual for Zeenat and Dilshaad to discuss the progress report on the two every night before bedtime. Both friends were happy to see the growing bond between them and wanted nothing more but this friendship to convert into a lifelong relationship for Asad and Zoya. One such night Zeenat called Dilshaad to update her about the evening that Asad had spent with them.
Dilshaad couldn't believe when Zeenat told her how much Asad laughed with Zoya.
"Are you sure Zeenat that he was laughing and not just smiling?" Dilshaad asked surprised.
"Yes Dilshaad he was laughing so hard, this was the first time I saw him laugh with no inhibitions and he had to press his cheeks to control his laughter. I saw tears rolling down his cheeks." Zeenat laughed remembering what had happened a few hours back.
"But Asad doesn't laugh that much...I mean he does laugh but only very rarely." Dilshaad was shocked as she knew that Asad did smile when he was happy but it had been a long time since she had heard her sons roaring laughter. She was very happy with the changes Zoya was bringing in him and with every passing day Dilshaad was getting determined to get the two married. She didn't want to let go of the girl who was able to bring her son out of his shell. "But what was the discussion all about?" Dilshaad asked getting curious. Zeenat burst into laughter and went ahead to explain.
"Vo Dilshaad what had happened was, it's about when Zoya was working at Burger King to earn her pocket money after she had turned 18. There was this boy in the same outlet as hers, who used to really like her. Dilshaad that boy was a good 6 feet 4 inches tall and well built too. She never had boyfriends in that sense, my Zoya has always been innocent in the matters of the heart. Even at school she had always been popular for having a short temper and everyone knew she would not tolerate any boy harboring such feelings for her. She used to literally beat them to pulp in her initial years and so no boy ever tried to approach her with a proposal but she was the best girl to be friends with. She always had so many friends that it used to be difficult for me to manage them all in my house for parties. She always had a large group of friends. So this boy really liked her and wanted her to be his girlfriend." Hearing this Dilshaad gasped.
Zeenat ignored her and continued "But Zoya being Zoya was a tomboy in those days. She was an absolute jhalli. Uski chaal dhal, uthna, baithna even her way of talking was like a boy. She just was not the sharmana types. So after a long wait this boy finally told Zoya his feelings and she was so angry at this poor little soul. Initially she didn't know how to react as it was her work place. But as days passed this boy just wouldn't understand her signs. Finally she very rudely told him to back off as she was not interested. But that boy just didn't understand and kept nagging her for days together. One such day when Zoya was on her break and was sipping her soda this guy approached her again and very conveniently took a bite off her burger and snatched her soda and took a sip off it too, you know trying to act you are mine types. Zoya saw so angry and just couldn't control her actions. She got up on the chair she was sitting on and literally stuffed the remaining burger into his mouth." Both Zeenat and Dilshaad burst out laughing imagining what the scene would have been like. They laughed their heads off and after quite some time were able to stop their laughter.
"That's not all Dilshaad she even poured the large glass of her drink on that boys head drenching his hair completely and most of his shirt." Another round of laughter followed when both the friends laughed at Zoya's antics.
"But she is not like that now." Zeenat added feeling a little embarrassed as Dilshaad could be Zoya's mother in law in the future.
"Don't be embarrassed Zeenat as I love her the way she is. She has been able to bring Asad out of his shell and there is nothing more I want in his life partner."
As soon as Dilshaad disconnected the call she heard some noise in the kitchen and went out to check. She was shocked to see Asad sifting through every drawer and cabinet in the kitchen.
"Asad do you want something beta? Can I help you?"
"No Ammi, I'll be ok. You please go and sleep its way past your bedtime." He stopped what he was doing and looked at his mother "But why are you awake at this hour. You will fall sick if you don't take proper rest."
"Nothing will happen to me beta, but what are you looking for in the kitchen?" she asked again.
Asad looked at her from the corner of his eyes "I'm feeling hungry so was looking for something to eat."
Dilshaad looked at him confused "But you said you already ate a heavy snack at Zoya's and that was the reason you skipped your dinner."
Asad looked at her sheepishly "Ammi I did eat but am still hungry, can't I eat in my own house?" he said trying to coverup what he had done.
Dilshaad crossed her arms across her chest and started tapping her foot on the floor drilling holes in him with her fierce gaze. When she got no reply from Asad she arched her eyebrow at him asking him to clarify.
"OK fine... I will tell you." He said looking everywhere but at his mother. She smiled at him waiting to hear what he had to say.
"Ammi... I did eat but not as much as I told you..." he trailed off.
Dilshaad looked at him shocked but before she could say anything he spoke "and then Zoya...she wanted...she wanted to talk more...and had ordered me...no no...requested me...no no...asked me to call...call her as soon as I reach home. So I was on Skype with her..."
He looked at his Ammi who had a shocked expression on her face. This was the first time Asad had lied to his mother and that too all for Zoya. She tried to hide her smile but just couldn't. She smiled at him and said "Lagta hai aag dono taraf barabar ki lagi hui hai." Saying that she winked at him and walked to her room with a wide smile on her face.
Asad stood there dumbstruck. He didn't know how to react to his mothers comment. He stood there looking at the closed door to her room and not knowing what to do next. He was trying to understand the complete meaning of his Ammi's words when his stomach growled reminding him that he was hungry. "What? Can't you wait? I' am trying to understand what Ammi just said." He said looking at his stomach and running his hand over it. Finally he settled in his room with a big bowl of popcorn and a tall glass of cold coffee.
While eating and flipping through the channels on his TV he realized he had a lot of changed habits because of his growing closeness to Zoya. He smiled thinking the dimpled lady was rubbing of on him and slowly but steadily making him loosen up and enjoy life more than he had in a long time. He looked at his midnight snacks and shook his head at his behavior. He was eating one of Zoya's favorite midnight snack, popcorn and cold coffee. He shook his head smiling at himself feeling like a teenager.
Zoya was too in her kitchen looking for something to eat. She saw a fridge loaded with things she could eat and she would have loved to eat but just didn't want them. She turned around when she heard her Jiju walk into the kitchen.
"Arre Zoya what are you doing in the kitchen? Oh am sorry I forgot, it's time for your midnight snack. Am I right?" he asked her trying not to laugh at her silly habit.
"Jiju" she whined "Please don't pull my leg... already I don't find anything to eat and then you..." she pouted.
Anwar came around her and stood infront of the fridge. He looked at the fridge then at her and then back at the fridge. "Zoya, the fridge has all the things that you normally eat at night. Take anything you want."
"But I don't know what I want. I don't want to eat these chocolates, nor am I hungry for this stale and cold pizza. I don't want to drink this coke and neither do I want to eat the cake or the icecream" she said.
"Then what does my princess want?" Anwar smiled and asked.
"I want to eat something healthy...ummm like a salad." She completed smiling from ear to ear.
Anwar started coughing hard as this was the first time he had heard Zoya asking for something healthy to eat. He took a step closer to her and touched her forehead to check if she was suffering from fever "Are you OK Zoya. I mean SALAD... You never eat that princess."
"I know Jiju but if I have been doing something wrong all my life doesn't mean I have to keep making the same mistake and I cannot correct myself."
Anwar looked at her with his mouth agape. They both turned around at the sound of Zeenat giggling. "Now what has gotten into you?" Anwar asked.
"Nothing much was just listening to someone preach about healthy habits" she said looking at Zoya from the corner of her eyes. Anwar caught her cue and both burst out laughing making Zoya uncomfortable. Seeing the change in her expressions Zeenat continued "Seems someones good habits are rubbing off on someone." She said while literally pushing Zoya out of her way and pulling out a bottle of water that she had come for. Zoya looked at her Aapi with her mouth agape and stomped her feet.
"Aap log meri tang khichna bandh kariye. When I used to eat fast food you guys used to stop me and now that I want to eat something healthy, you are making fun of me." Zeenat gave her a side hug and apologized for pulling her leg and told her to go to her room and she would make a quick salad for her and bring to her room.
"No Aapi. I want to learn how you make it so that next time I don't have to disturb you in the middle of the night."
That was the second shock Zeenat got in less than 15 minutes and she stared at Zoya wide eyed. Zoya rolled her eyes at her Aapi and nudged her towards the worktop to start preparing the salad.
"Aapi please stop staring at me now and make the salad. I'm so so sooo hungry."
As soon as Zoya got her snack she rushed to her room and shut the door. She looked at the bowl in her hand and sniffed at it. It did smell good but the look of it made her scrunch her nose. Not believing herself she took piece of lettuce and put it in her mouth. As she munched on it she did find the salad tasty and she started stuffing her mouth with it. Munching so much vegetable became cumbersome and she wanted to spit out whatever was in her mouth.
As she got up her phone buzzed and she saw Asad's name flash on it. Without thinking she picked up the phone. Asad heard her muffled voice and immediately got worried thinking she was crying again.
"Zoya are you crying again? What happened? Tell me now?" he said concerned.
Zoya smiled listening to the concern in his voice. "Nofong afod mm fnn" she said.
"WHAT??" Asad literally yelled into his phone. He heard Zoya chuckle and say something which he again didn't understand. "Zoya I really can't understand what you are saying. He heard her spitting something and waited for her.
"Allaha Miyan, how do you eat all that all the time Asad? I couldn't eat one bowl."
"What are you talking about Zoya I don't understand? What do I eat and what are you eating that you can't eat but I eat all the time. What kind of a stupid riddle is this?"
He heard her laughter echo in her room and then there was no stopping. Both laughed as if there was no tomorrow. As soon as Asad stopped laughing Zoya would stop too and immediately they would start laughing again. They laughed like 5 year olds who had been let loose in their favorite candy store to eat all they could. Deliberately both kept the other going, loving the sound of their mingled laughter.
After what seemed like hours when the two couldn't take the pain in their cheeks anymore they stopped laughing, begging the other not to start again.
Finally Asad asked her "By the way Zoya what did you say to me that we started laughing?"
Zoya giggled again and said "When you called and thought I was crying again I had said I'm fine Asad and why we started laughing was because I went in for my famous mid night snack and didn't want to eat the things I always eat so I asked Aapi to make me a healthy salad. I was eating that, stuffing my mouth with it because I was veerrryyy hungry and couldn't chew all that I had stuffed in my mouth."
Asad chuckled at her explanation "You know what, you are crazy." He said smiling from ear to ear.
"Less than you though." She replied smiling.
"By the way you ate salad because I eat it and I always nag you to eat healthy stuff?"
"Hmm" is all she said.
Asad smiled to himself "I had a bowl of popcorn and cold coffee as my midnight snack tonight." He confessed earning a gasp from her.
P.S. Please do hit the like button and leave your comments they really encourage me to continue.
Jhanak
Shiv Shakti
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