Hi My Beautiful and Handsome Buddies,
Welcome to the second thread of "Love Happens".
Want to thank all my readers for their love and support and bringing my story to its second thread. Looking forward to the same kind of love on the second thread too and loads of valuable feedback. It really boosts my confidence and encourages me to write more. Thanks for all the love that each and everyone of you have shown towards my story. I really appreciate it.
Please find below Chapter 10 for the story. Hope you like it.
Chapter 10
Asad spent the afternoon trying to get things moving, he got a call in the evening that he had been waiting for. He quickly got up and informed Dilshaad that he was going to the police station as he can now meet Anwar and his lawyer was on his way too.
"You are going to bring him back Asad? See I told you he is innocent and they have already let him go. Anwar will come home soon." Zeenat was so happy to hear that Asad was going to the police station that she couldn't contain her happiness and blurted out.
Asad saw relief wash over Zeenat at the mere mention of him going to the station. He didn't know how he would tell her the truth. "Aapi... Aapi I'm going to the station so that the lawyer can talk to Jiju and ... and to try and get more information... as to who could be behind all this... Aapi today is Sunday, there is no way we will get bail today." Zeenat's face fell as she realized what Asad said was true. "But I promise Aapi, I will bring Jiju home as soon as I can. Please trust me and please have faith in Allah. He is only testing us. We have to stay strong." Zeenat nodded and both her and Dilshaad wished him luck before he left.
Asad was just about to step out the house when he heard Zoya calling out to him. "I'm coming with you Asad. I want to meet Jiju too and want to know the whole truth...I need to be there for him." She said in a choking voice clearly trying to stop her tears.
"I'm not going to the park Zoya, I'm going to the police station and I don't think that is a place you should go."
"But Asad..."
"No Zoya, NO. ARGUMENTS. HERE." The finality in his voice made her realize there was no point arguing with him.
Reluctantly she turned around but spun around immediately taking him by surprise. "You will call me immediately after your meeting with Jiju." She pointed a finger at him authoritatively.
He caught her finger nodding his head in agreement. Both shared a faint smile and he left.
As soon as Asad reached the station he saw his lawyer, Mr. Reddy, already waiting for him. They exchanged greetings and were soon ushered towards the cell where Anwar was.
Anwar saw Asad and a lawyer enter the cell area. He immediately got up and walked up to the partition.
"I'm innocent Asad, I didn't do anything." Anwar pleaded holding onto the bars.
Asad held his hands "I know Jiju. Don't worry we will get you out of all this." He said trying to pacify Anwar. "You need to be strong and tell Mr. Reddy everything you can. Oh sorry, Mr. Reddy is the head of the legal department at my office and he will be handling your case."
Anwar looked at Asad with wide eyes and Asad saw the same expression in them that he had seen in Zoya's a few hours ago.
"Jiju please. Not you too, I've already gone through this with Zoya, now please you don't start." Asad said exasperated.
Anwar smiled at Asad that conveyed he understood what Zoya must have said and then just nodded his head to give his consent too.
"Mr. Farookhi. Tell me whatever you can. I mean who could have done this, why anyone would frame you and is there any animosity that you share with someone at your work place." Mr. Reddy said coming forward.
Anwar shifted his weight from one leg to the other trying to put words together and trying to gather the courage and reveal the truth to Asad. He didn't know what to expect, what his reaction would be but he knew Asad would not spare the culprit.
"Akram. Mohammed Akram." Anwar looked up to see two pairs of eyes staring at him with confusion. "He works in my office and he is the one responsible. He is the one who framed me." Anwar said with frustration and anger. Asad didn't understand how Anwar was so sure. Anwar looked at Asad and continued "Asad, he told me he would do this. It was like an open challenge. He had been threatening me with dire consequences if I ... if I didn't do as he wanted." Anwar finished in a whisper.
"But what was it that he needed you to do Jiju. What was so important to him that he openly challenged and threatened you and you didn't fight back or report him? Why did he want you to do it, why not someone else in the office?" Asad put forward all the questions that were running in his mind.
Anwar sighed and in a whisper said "Zoya." This one word knocked the daylights out of Asad. Anwar looked into his eyes and nodded his head to confirm what he had just said.
Asad was too numb to react initially. But as soon as he realized the meaning of Anwar's words his anger knew no bounds. He tightly gripped the iron bars, his grip so strong that his knuckles turned white. Just the thought of another man wanting Zoya made his blood boil and Asad could literally hear his blood running through his veins. His eyes turned red with fury and he looked at Anwar, his eyes asking him if what he thought was true. Anwar nodded in confirmation.
Mr. Reddy couldn't understand what Anwar meant and asked him to explain.
"Around a year and a half back Zoya had had a big argument with Zeenat. Both the sisters had not been talking to each other for almost a week." Anwar remembered and started telling Asad and Mr. Reddy. "I remember it had almost been a week, both Zoya and Zeenat had not spoken, it was obvious that they wanted to but their ego's got the better of them. It was only time before one of them gave in and it was Zoya, she couldn't take it anymore and she came to my office to make a plan so that both the sisters would break their silence but not at the cost of their egos being hurt. We were in the middle of talking when Akram came in, he sat by my side and introduced himself to Zoya and then reminded me that the meeting was in the next 10 minutes. I told Zoya to go home and that we would talk after Zeenat goes to bed. As soon as Zoya left Akram came running to me and started enquiring about her. I told him she is my sister in law, rather more like my own child. As days passed he kept enquiring about her, small details like schooling, what college she was in, what her likes and dislikes were. Initially I thought he was just curious as no one in my office had ever met the small family that I have. But after some time I realized there was more to it all as he never enquired about Zeenat. I confronted him and he... He said he was in love with her, from the moment he laid eyes on her."
Asad's anger was uncontrollable and he kicked the stool that lay on their side, smashing it into the wall. "Asad please, control yourself. I know how you feel, you love her and what I am telling you...I know it can't be easy". Asad looked at Anwar with shock in his eyes. Anwar nodded and continued "That is exactly how I felt because I know Akram. He is the type of guy no parent would give their daughter to. I have seen him misbehaving with the female staff in my office. He has had so many affairs in and out of office and the only thing he wants from any of his girlfriends is...is sex." Anwar finished his sentence in a whisper.
"He even came back after his escapades boasting about them in the men's room... When I know what scumbag of a man he is, how could I let him near Zoya? I told him to stay away from her but he said he was truly in love with her and he would leave all his habits for her. But I know him too well and so I got Zoya to change her college moving her to one which is only at walking distance from home. I also set a few restrictions on her, only to keep her protected from Akram. Understand that it was for Zoya's betterment as she would be closer to home. Both the ladies protested but I made them understand it was a good decision, not telling them the actual reason behind it all... They still don't know anything...As soon as Akram found out that Zoya was not in that college anymore he started following her and got to know where she was studying. He came back mocking me on my face telling me all my efforts would be in vain as he will get Zoya. That is the time he openly challenged me and started threatening me that I should get Zoya married to him or he would..." Anwar trailed off.
Asad was pacing the small cell like a caged lion. Only if he could lay his hands on that man he thought, he didn't know what he would do. He spoke to the lawyer "Mr. Reddy, I want you to do whatever you can, and get Jiju out first thing in the morning...I don't care what it takes...it gets done, understood. I want Mohammad Akram behind bars immediately. Hire a detective, spread your men out to investigate him and his background, both personal and professional, but I want him behind bars immediately." The tone that Asad used told his lawyer that there was no scope of error in this case. Mr. Reddy nodded his head and left to start work on both the points his boss had mentioned.
"Jiju, don't worry, you'll be out of here in no time. And regarding Zoya's safety, we will stay there for the night so she and Aapi are not alone."
Anwar looked at Asad with tears in his eyes and thanked him.
"Jiju please don't thank me. I am doing this because of my selfish reasons... I won't be able to sit peacefully let alone sleep in my house knowing what danger lurks near her." Anwar smiled at him and told him to go back and stay with the ladies as Akram could do anything to get near Zoya and she doesn't even know she has to stay away from him.
After all the information that he got from Anwar, Asad's mind just wouldn't rest. He kept thinking about what all Akram had done only to get to Zoya. It made him sick to his stomach thinking a man could stoop so low and was capable of treating women in such a manner. Thinking about all this Asad drove to Zeenat's house completely forgetting he had to call Zoya.
As he pulled into the driveway he saw another car parked there. He made his way into the house and stopped in his tracks. He saw an unknown man sitting in the living room with Dilshaad, Zeenat, Najma and Zoya. All looked at him at the same time and Zeenat called him over to the couch she was sitting on. "Asad meet him he is Akram, he works with Anwar and came to meet us as soon as he got the news of Anwar's arrest." Zeenat said in a low voice.
Asad's eyes immediately shot up to see Akram who looked most concerned for Anwar and his family. He immediately looked towards Zoya and saw her talking in a hushed voice with Najma. Akram followed Asad's eyes and soon the expression of concern was replaced by anger and hatred and he looked at Asad in the eye as if challenging him. Asad reciprocated the feelings and then smiled a devilish smile at Akram and called out to Zoya.
"Zoya, can we please talk in your room alone?" Zoya nodded and then led Asad to her room. Before Asad started climbing the stairs to her room he looked back once and saw Akram spitting fire at him. He just smirked at him and turned around to follow Zoya.
P.S. Please hit the like button and leave your comments, they are the only reward I get after spending hours wrecking my brain to pen down something decent. Silent readers it's high time I get to read your thoughts too. Please leave your love behind.
INDEX
Chapter 16
Thread 3
Itti Si Khushi Sab TV
Cricket
Bigg Boss 19
4