In Love and War ll_Pt 17, Pg 115_Link to #3 (15/04/14) - Page 10

Hi Everyone! Your girl Shria is here with an exclusive - remember, you heard it HERE first :)

I was lucky enough to be invited over to the lavish engagement party of Asad Ahmed Khan and Zoya Farooqui - that's right... I, Shria Naidu... was RIGHT all along!

I must say, after chatting to them, not only is their love for another visible, but so is their respect for one another. This is one newly formed team that is certainly going to take things to new heights in the future.

Don't know about you all, but I look forward to watching them grow together. Ok ok, enough of my soppiness *sigh*

My first impression of the couple is just a simple, magnificent "WOW". Just going by looks alone, they are striking together. I've known Zoya Farooqui for a while now, and I have to say, there is a definite change in her when she is with her man. We already know the girl is feisty and not one to mess with. But try taking one look in her guy's direction and she looks like she will stomp all over you!

Haha, I'm being serious people! Well, if you didn't know... Asad Ahmed Khan is some fine specimen of man, and well, you know me *winks*

As I stepped forward to introduce myself to the usually introverted Mr Khan, his fianc took hold of the situation, shielding him from me. Oh well - lesson learned, Shria.

As we walk into the allotted room for the interview, the so-in-love couple talk to each other in sweet, hushed whispers.

I sigh again as I watch Asad possessively pull Zoya to him, almost as if he's telling the entire world that she is his - and only his.

While I am getting everything ready for my interview, I notice them sit close together. It's almost as if they can't stand to be more than a few centimetres apart. I glance up to see Zoya lean her head on Asad's shoulder. He looks down at her lovingly. By this time, I am already wondering if this interview is going to take place, what with all the smouldering and loving looks between them.

They did not let go off each other at any time during the interview *sigh*

(Warning, there are quite a few sighs ahead still. Proceed with caution...)

I mean, get a room you two! No, but seriously... the love, the heat, the...tension... throbbed in the confined space so hard, I felt like I was being voyeur to a very intimate situation. I even thought that if I walked out of the room, they perhaps wouldn't even have noticed. It felt almost as though I was invading a sacred space; such is the dynamic between Asad Ahmed Khan and his future wife, Zoya Farooqui.

Once I had gathered my things... and my poor, lonely self, I asked them if they needed a moment. Truth be told, at that point, I think I needed a moment myself, if you know what I mean :)

When we were all ready, I watched as Asad leaned back in his seat while Zoya snuggled further into him. The look of pure contentment on his face changed... a subtle difference occurred when Zoya placed her hand on his chest, under where his heart lay. I was witness to a look on his face that said very clearly "If we were alone right now, Zoya... You'd be in trouble"

Ooh, and what trouble it would've been?!

I started off with the most obvious question, of course. How did this all start?

I mean, first we're celebrating a engagement between Zoya Farooqui and her father, Arjun Sharma's right hand man, Ritesh Kapoor. They seemed happy too, right? Well, let me let you all in on a little secret. I may not have interviewed Zoya and Ritesh... but I have seen them together.

If not obvious to the world, it became very obvious to me during this interview that "that" marriage was a compromise. And I can't say how happy I am that that *censored* got his a$$ caught.

Besides, as Zoya has told the media... He needed to get it where he could, since he couldn't get it up (I still laugh about Ms Farooqui's statement to the media, excuse me!)

"Uhm, we met a couple of times, y'know, due to our families both coming from the same background..." Asad started. "...It took a while, but then we realised..." Zoya said helplessly, but so damn lovingly, it brought tears to my eyes. TEARS. To MY eyes.

Lord! They even finish each other's sentences *sigh*

I need a boyfriend.

I had to ask the obvious question as a follow up. Come on, you have all been wondering too, haven't you...? If you say you haven't - all I have to say to you is, "Liar Liar, pants on fire"

"Was this while you were engaged to Ritesh Kapoor?"

The couple exchanged a little look... nothing that I could read, until both their faces relaxed.

"Afterwards, of course" Zoya answered. She looked at Asad so lovingly; I almost forgot the question I asked. Man, these two have such an effect, it is unbelievable!

"Well, that was quick then? I mean, it's only just been a while?"

Now the look they exchanged... I totally read that. They looked at each other as if they couldn't look away. As if in some kind of trance, Zoya answered "Yes, that's true, but when you know, I guess you know..."

I have to say, Asad looked at Zoya as if it was the first time he'd heard her admit to that so openly. I could tell that his heart rate sped up as he looked down to a smiling Zoya.

*Sigh*

I need a boyfriend.

And then it was time to the political ground with my next question.

"Asad, do you feel this is a good move for your newly joined party"

I smiled at the lucky souls in front of me as he pulled her close to him, an effort to get his point across to me, no doubt; but it also felt like an excuse to have her closer to him again.

"Of course. Zoya is not just good for me, but she will be for the NC as well" he answered, smiling easily at his lucky fianc.

*sigh*

Mission: Find Shria a man immediately after this interview.

And then like verbal diarrhoea, I mentioned the a$$ again.

Note to self: Get a brain to mouth filter, Shria. ASAP.

"What about Ritesh Kapoor? I have heard rumbles of him forming his own party?"

Yes, I wanted to smack me too.

"To be honest, he doesn't matter in our lives... political or otherwise" Asad piped up. "That's true" Zoya reiterated, smiling at him.

Goodness me, they smile at each sooo much - don't their cheeks start hurting at some point?!

I know, I know... I'm just jealous. Mind me.

"I must say though, Zoya... that was a nice move you pulled with the media when those pictures were leaked. Do you ever think about how that happened?"

I had to ask this question... I couldn't help myself. You all know how impressed I was with Ms Farooqui's statement. True to form, she laughed it off.

"I have no idea how that happened... It was a horrible time, but I still think at least I found out before I made the biggest mistake of my life"

Quite a telling statement by Ms Farooqui, I would say. Considering the happiness she and her forever man exude... marrying that *censored* would've been the biggest mistake of her life, as she so aptly put it.

I was done with talk about the *censored* a$$. Onto much more exciting little questions. *Claps hands in glee*

"Ok, enough about him then. These are the last few questions. Zoya, you first. Tell me what attracted you to Asad in the first place... I mean, besides the obvious" I had asked, as I gestured to her fianc's... uhm... Well, you get it. You've seen what the man looks like, right? Yes...I didn't learn my lesson, so sue me.

The charming Ms Farooqui's face told it all. All that was missing was a low growl from her, alerting me to the fact that she was going to bite my head off if I so much as looked at Asad sideways. Oh well, two time's a charm. Learn your lesson, Shria, I beg of you...

*sigh*

I need to have a man by my side that makes me want to go all cave girl on another girl if she even looks at him.

Mission: Find Shria a man immediately after this interview.

And there it was... Another side to Zoya Farooqui. Her eyes closed for a second before she opened them up in an almost dream-like state. She remained as unfocussed as she revealed the following:

"Hmmm, there's so much... his sincerity, his integrity... his concern for what I want, his willingness to do whatever it takes to make me happy... and his eyes. His eyes are beautiful. Oh, and his smile when he's shy... it's so endearing..."

"I'm impressed! That's quite a list!"

Zoya Farooqui blushes. A LOT. She looked as though she'd just been caught shoplifting. Hmmm... seems she hasn't told her man exactly what she thinks of him before this, because the look of pure surprise on his face astounded me.

Well good. I think couples who don't know every single bit about each other grow well together. Lots to learn - and forever to do so :)

Next, Asad Ahmed Khan answers the exact same question put to his fianc. He looks much more in control and pulls her close to him again (*sigh*), and then closes his eyes for a second.

... But his control slips as he starts talking about her. His eyes sparkle and he becomes almost playful with his answer. He doesn't catch his fianc looking at him in awe, waiting with bated breath to hear what he really thinks about her. A sight to behold...

I want a relationship like these two have.

Note to self: Give them some peace and quiet, Shria, and go find yourself a man. This is an engagement party, for goodness' sake - there must be some eligible bachelors around.

Focus, Shria, focus!

"Your turn, Asad. What is it that attracted Zoya to you?"

"She's fiercely loyal, and very honest. She's strong and independent. A bit crazy at times, but I've learned to deal with that" he had chuckled, making his cave girl look at him like he wouldn't get any dessert later if he carried that nonsense on.

"I like that actually, it's a refreshing change for me" he says, recovering well, knowing that he definitely needed his dessert after this. (Clever, clever man)

"She challenges me, so I know I can always count on her to tell me when I'm going wrong. And most of all, I think she's the most beautiful woman... Inside and out"

The man sighed...SIGHED, as he looked down at Zoya. I swear, it is taking some other kind of strength from these two to not bridge that millimetre gap between them and fuse themselves to each other. Even I'm feeling hot just watching them *Fans self*

And that answer of his? All I could say was "Wow"

Warning: I'm about to sigh again. They are making me crave love.

And now the juicy bit. Anjali Sharma and Dilshad Khan, two most elegant ladies (I want to be like them when I grow up), confided in me that they are all set for the wedding - NEXT WEEK!

Eeek! I'm so excited about this; you'd be forgiven for thinking I was talking about my own wedding (No darlings, not just yet. I need to find a man before that)

"Any chance of a little Asad or little Zoya running around anytime soon?" I asked.

This question was on my list - no brain to mouth filter issue, I promise. Hell, don't you want to know when this is going to happen?

I love seeing beautiful people procreate - just to see the melded result of beauty clashing with beauty. Now you can go ahead and call me a voyeur. Granted, I wasn't great at biology and the sensible part of me does know that 1+1 does not always equal 2. Still. I want to know if we'll be seeing babies in the near future. Beautiful, beautiful little babies... *sigh*

I'm not going to lie; they look absolutely horrified by my question. Asad looks away and massages his temples as if he has the worst migraine in the world suddenly.

Zoya looks wide-eyed into space and then shuts her eyes tightly.

Ooh... so they're waiting until they're married then? How sweet!

"Uhm... not anytime soon" Zoya finally managed to get out.

"Yes, what she said" Asad stuttered out.

They are so innocent, so sweet... so cute!

I want to be like them. This interview needs to end. I need to go mingle with their guests.

Besides, it looks like they're waiting for me to leave so they can get started on that baby - well, that's how hot it is in this room... *winks*

Then I remember I promised the lovely editor of this magazine pictures. There goes their plan - and mine.

I think Zoya wants to say something to me about the photos I request, but through a silent conversation between the couple, she says nothing on Asad's veto.

They pose dutifully... at first. Then, the heat in the room starts building again as they get closer and closer. It's almost too much to bear. My heart is racing just watching them. Again, I feel drawn into their world; again I feel like I am trespassing on scared ground.

I should leave.

"Thank you so much! We got it" I pipe up when it looks like we're at the point where they've forgotten they're not alone.

The happy couple bid me farewell, and I give them my well-wishes. Zoya shakes my hand, but gives her man a silent glare as I step to him, stopping him from taking my hand in his.

Cave girl, Zoya Farooqui - I like her SO much!

*sigh*

That's me Shria, signing off for now