Hi Hi, sorry for the delay... Secondly, I'm not thrilled with this chapter... I have been writing it in between doing lotsa work :(. I hope it's up to everyone's high expectations.
Part 17:
"Right boys. Time to hit him where it hurts most, it would seem" Ritesh said to the group surrounding him. They all muttered to themselves. "So again, just to be clear. I want him out of action. You know what to do" he said quietly with a smirk.
"We'll meet later" he said, patting one of the guys' backs, before pulling his cap down low and walking off.
**********
"Asad!" Tanveer called anxiously, knocking on his door. The door was flung open abruptly, surprising her and so she stepped back a bit. The look of surprise on her face didn't vanish though. She'd never seen Asad look like this.
He looked... a mess. His eyes were puffy and red-rimmed, indicating that he'd been... crying? His hair was a mess; clear his hands had been dragged through it many, many times. And most of all, the look in his eyes; it showed defeat.
No, this wasn't the Asad she knew.
"What is it?" he barked, surprising her even more. "I need to talk to you" she said firmly, walking past him and into his room. Thinking of everything that had come to pass, he left the door wide open and stood at its entrance while she went to sit on his bed.
"I don't know what you think I'm here to do..." she said, eyeing his suspiciousness of her sadly, "... but I'm here to talk about Zoya... about this rally" she said.
It was his turn to look surprised. "What do you mean?" he asked, eyeing outside of his room once more, before taking a seat on the couch in his room.
**********
Zoya woke early, if you could call it that; she'd barely slept all night after visiting Asad's room. When she'd done that and the realisation of just how deeply she loved him had hit her, she'd stayed awake all night trying to make a decision.
Damn him. He was always ordering her around. And he expected her to just bow down to whatever he wanted?
"Well, he just doesn't know Zoya Far- I mean, Zoya Khan then!" she thought, correcting herself by using her new name.
Now why should she leave just because he had told her to? What were his words again? "I don't deserve you... I'll let you go... to find someone who does"
Bloody arrogant fool! Who the hell was she going to go "find" now? Not now... not ever. She had showered and changed, then put the suitcase she had tried to pack at the very back of Najma's cupboard... hopefully to never see the light of day for this reason ever again.
The more she thought about his letting go of her so easily, the angrier she became at him. There was no doubt in her mind now that even though he had been wrong, so was she to some extent.
Why did she try to protect Asad from Ritesh? She should've told him right at the get go. Whatever confrontation she had been trying to avoid had happened anyway, after a whole lot more that should never have happened.
She and Asad should be basking in the afterglow of their marriage. Right now, if none of this had happened, she'd have been in his room... in his bed... next to him. No, not next to him. She'd be wrapped all around him, with his arms entwined around her body.
Instead of reaching out to feel nothingness next to her when she woke, she'd have opened her eyes to the divine sight of Asad smiling in his sleep.
They were both at fault... and now, Asad was so wrapped up in his guilt that he was willing to let her leave.
No bloody way.
**********
Asad frantically changed into a suit after he'd spoken to Tanveer. He had to be at the rally today, because on top of everything else, if things went wrong and someone met the same fate as Zoya's mother, he'd never forgive himself.
"Wait, Zoya!" he said out loud to himself and ran to Najma's room. Nothing. Everything was gone. She was gone. He dragged his hand through his hair as tears stung his eyes. She had just left.
On his insistence, but still... she came into his life like a whirlwind and now there was only silence. But no calm... no peace. No... without her, there was none of that.
**********
"Ammi..." Asad sighed when he saw her sitting sadly at the table. He went up to her and kissed the top of her head.
"Asad, Zoya is gone..." Dilshad said, her voice breaking at the end. He slumped into his seat. "I know. I told her to leave" he said softly. Dilshad's eyes flew to his.
"You did what?" she asked incredulously. "I don't deserve her, Ammi... I had to do this... for her sake. She deserves a better man than me..." he said painfully.
Dilshad got up and went to her son. She stroked his cheek as tears filled his eyes. "Asad... Why are you doing this to her?" she asked.
Asad whipped his head upwards to face his mother. He was surprised at her question. "Ammi, I don't get you... I mean, I'm doing this FOR her, not TO her" he explained.
She sat next to him. "No Asad. That's what you're trying to make yourself believe. The fact is, you love her and so yes, you may think you're doing the right thing, but through all of this, have you thought just once about how Zoya feels about all of this?" she asked him.
"She'll be fine. She doesn't feel... nevermind, Ammi. I'm sorry, but this is for the best" he said, and walked out of the house.
He needed to get to the rally, and put that Kapoor in his place.
Dilshad shook her head sadly. This couldn't be the end of Asad and Zoya. It just couldn't be. Not when they were two people who felt so strongly towards each other.
Neither had admitted it to her, but the love in their eyes was unmistakeable. Even when they were being pulled apart by circumstances, their eyes didn't hide their love, or their pain.
Looking upwards, she prayed a little prayer to keep them safe and help them see that they needed each other. Not for the sake of the party, or society... but for each other and only each other.
**********
Asad didn't want to go to the rally as it began... he didn't want to have Ayaan chase him off from there.
So instead, he drove around the area by the park where the rally was to take place, just so he could see if anything suspicious was happening.
He sent a silent prayer thanking Allah that Zoya was safe and sound in her home. For now. His mother's and Tanveer's words rang in his head. "World's biggest idiot, Asad" he said to himself.
He asked her to leave and she just did? "Since when did Ms Zoya Far- I mean, Mrs Zoya Khan, ever start listening to me?" he asked himself, exasperated by himself and her in equal measure.
He groaned out loud as another thought hit him. He hoped that none of this would affect his sister and her newfound happiness with Karan.
As he drove around, he noticed more and more supporters milling around. His thoughts again went to what Tanveer had told him this morning.
**********
"I just got back from taking an early morning walk... and well, I saw and overheard something I think you should know about the rally today" she said.
Now she had his full attention.
"Well, what is it?" he asked impatiently. "I overheard Ritesh Kapoor with a couple of other guys. He was saying something about wanting someone out of action... wanting to hit him where it hurts the most', I believe, were his actual words. And he was obviously talking about you" Tanveer said worriedly.
"He can't touch me..." Asad muttered. "Still, I think you should be careful and let Zoya and Ayaan handle this" she said.
His eyes narrowed. "How do you know that Zoya and Ayaan were supposed to handle this?" he asked.
Tanveer sighed. "It's nothing malicious, Asad. Look I know you don't trust me... but I went to the kitchen to get some warm milk last night and I overheard Ayaan saying that Zoya should head up the rally and you refusing. I just went back to my room, ok?" she defended herself.
"Ok" he said.
"So just let them do this" she said again, getting up... trying to get through to him. "No... Zoya is gone. She... I didn't want her to do this anyway. Thanks Tanveer, I will sort it out" he said. She walked up to him.
"Despite everything that has happened, I still want the best for you. I know now that Zoya is that best'. Don't let her get away, Asad. Fight for your love. I told you before, you are capable of love. Prove it... not to me or anyone else. But to yourself" she said touching his arm lightly.
She turned to walk away. "Tanu?" he called. She turned back. "Thanks" he said softly, smiling a small smile at her. She smiled back and left his room.
**********
"You know he's going to kill me after this rally, right?" Ayaan asked Zoya. He'd decided to let her tag along to the office, where he was going to send her right back to the Khan Villa.
He saw the crazed look in Asad's eyes last night - he didn't want to be on the receiving end of that.
"I don't know why you just won't go home" he said to her earlier.
"This is part and parcel of our lives, Ayaan. Don't think just because you and Mr Khan think it's a bit dangerous, that I'm going to sit back and not be a part of things. I've been involved in these kinds of things before. Just let me do my job. And you know as well as I do that I am in no danger here... It's more important that Mr Khan stays away from this" she said adamantly.
Ayaan couldn't argue her points. Whatever she said made a lot of sense. She'd grown up in a political family; she'd lost her mother to a violent protest... she knew what this life was all about.
He wasn't about to belittle her by suggesting she give it all up to sit at home now.
"OK, let's do this then" he said, making Zoya smile. Ayaan looked at her as they stepped out of the office. "Are you sure you're going to be able to get up onto the truck in that?" he asked, eyeing her choice of attire; a beautiful white sari with simple dull silver work on it.
"Ooh Ayaan, you don't know me yet, do you? There's nothing in this world that Mrs Zoya Khan cannot do!" she replied cheekily, making Ayaan chuckle. "Mrs Khan, eh?" he asked lightly.
She stopped opening the car door and looked at him intently. "That's absolutely correct" she said smiling.
Ayaan smiled back. So what if his Bhaijaan had no sense sometimes? His wife more than made up for it. Feeling somewhat relieved at Zoya's implication that she wasn't leaving after all, Ayaan whistled along to the tunes on the radio as they drove to the park.
He said a small prayer for everyone's safety at the rally.
Violent protesting was something both the NP and the DC had been totally against... but with the addition of whatever party Kapoor had formed, and knowing the kind of person he was and the tactics he used, made Ayaan slightly nervous.
Still, they were prepared for any kind of chaos Kapoor might throw at them on the ground.
"Here, it's Humeira" Ayaan said, passing his phone to Zoya. "Hello! Ok ok... just stop shouting... " she said, glaring at Ayaan. He'd told Humeira that Asad and her had had a fight. He shrugged.
He had been worried about the both of them and Humeira was the only person he could confide in. "Everything WILL be fine, just stop worrying" she sighed.
She looked at Ayaan out the corner of her eye but he wasn't paying attention to their conversation now and was rather looking around in awe at all their supporters that had come to the rally.
"Humeira, I'll call you later. There's lots more to it than what you've heard. I-I... I won't leave him... I can't" she whispered. "Great, I'll see you later then. Love you" she said and disconnected.
Zoya looked around in wonder. "Wow... so many people" she said. "I know, right?" Ayaan said happily, knowing that it was his hard hitting work at getting the word out there that made it seem as though the rally was going to be a resounding success.
"Lots to be done after this too. Harder work, in fact... like forcing Mr Khan's brain to work!" she muttered almost to herself. Ayaan laughed openly then. "Say what?" he asked.
She looked at him. "Your Bhaijaan..." she coo'ed insincerely "...is an idiot. He needs me to make up for his idiot-ness, so good luck to him if he thinks I'm leaving his a$$" she said, sounding might frustrated.
"Haha! Quite fitting language for a future First Lady" Ayaan laughed. Zoya joined along. "I have my own style, Ayaan... Besides, I'll balance Mr Khan's rigidness" she chuckled, her thoughts drifting to the future... her and Asad's future... together.
**********
Ayaan parked near where the NC truck was. It had been decorated with flowers, flags and banners. This rally was supposed to be a sort of "coming out" for both Asad and Zoya. Head of the NC and future Head of the Women's League.
They were meant to sit atop the truck and parade through the streets for a bit before heading back to the park to speak. Arjun was also supposed to speak at it, but only once Asad and Zoya had.
Now the plan had changed. Ayaan would ride with Zoya and only she and Arjun would speak to the crowd. Ayaan helped Zoya onto the truck.
She stumbled as her hand slipped from his, and shut her eyes, thinking "Great! At least we know what the headlines will read tomorrow"
But before she could hit the ground, she felt the security of two strong arms wrap around her waist as she fell back on a rock hard wall. Gasping, she turned around and her eyes widened.
Those two strong arms belonged to her husband and the rock hard wall? Well, that was his toned torso.
"Mr Khan... what are you doing here?" she asked, surprised. "I could ask you the same question" he answered dryly. She looked at him indignantly, her eyes narrowing.
She lifted her hand to point to him and was about to say something when Ayaan called them from the truck. "Now isn't the time! Asad, you're so stubborn! But since you're here... get up here" he said.
Asad looked at Zoya. "I'm not the stubborn one here" he muttered. Ayaan rolled his eyes at them. Zoya couldn't say anything. She was lost in Asad. His eyes... the feel of being in his arms. Her body burned with the ache of wanting to be there again. Then she realised what he said.
"Look, Mr Khan. I already told you-" she started but was cut off by Ayaan. "Get. Up. Here. Both of you!" he commanded.
Zoya turned back to Asad. "Help me up, will you?" she asked, feigning irritation but just wanting to feel his touch on her again. Shaking his head in defeat, he placed his hands on her bare waist to hoist her up. Zoya's breath hitched at the contact.
Asad's hands felt like they were on fire... the good kind, if there was such a thing. In one swift motion, he lifted her up as though she were light as a feather and she stepped on the truck. He got up next and sat down on the bench next to her.
They plastered on smiles as the crowds around them roared. "You're so damn stubborn!" he grit out, the smile not leaving his face. "So are you! You're not supposed to be here!" she bit back, her smile still pasted on as she spoke.
The truck started moving. Ayaan could hear them muttering to each other, but as long as they were smiling for the people; he didn't really care at this point what they were talking about.
**********
"Why didn't you go home?" he finally asked. "You think that just because you order me to do something, that I'll just do it?" she retorted. "No... I should've known" he muttered under his breath.
"Wait, so you're not leaving just because I told you to?" he asked, surprised. "Who said I'm not leaving?" she asked, looking into his eyes. They flashed hurt and Zoya was immediately remorseful for the words that had just left her mouth.
Asad turned away from her. "You asked me to go!" she hissed, her anger at him for letting her go coming back full-force. He turned back to her. "I did" he responded smoothly, pretending that he didn't care.
If she still wanted to leave, who was he to stop her?
"I just want one thing from you, Ms... I mean, Zoya" he whispered. "What?" she asked, too annoyed with him to act civilly right now. "I want you to tell me you believe me about... the other night, about... our wedding night" he said, swallowing the lump in his throat that formed as he thought of their wedding.
Zoya's eyes softened. "I do... I know, you're not that type" she sighed.
She wanted to turn his face to her, so she could look into his eyes and tell him how much she loved him. But this wasn't the time or the place.
Hearing that, Asad shoulders relaxed in visible relief. He wanted so desperately to tell her how much he loved her, how he wouldn't let her leave even if she wanted to; that he was an idiot and that he'd changed his mind. He wanted to fall at her feet and beg forgiveness; and he would. Just not right now, at the rally.
They had just re-entered the park. "Ok, I need you both to stand up. Once we stop, Asad you take the mic and start talking. When you're done, it's Zoya's turn. Ready?" Ayaan called from behind them.
They both turned back to face him, but ended up facing each other instead; their eyes locked in a heated gaze.
"Ok, I'll take that as a yes" Ayaan spoke, fully into "organiser" mode.
**********
"It's almost time, boys. Stay alert" Ritesh ordered into the two-way radio he held as he sat inconspicuously in the bleachers of the park.
**********
Asad and Zoya looked at each other as the truck came to a halt. He looked out to the crowds ahead and all around them and held his hand out to her. She placed her hand in his and squeezed it reassuringly.
Taking a deep breath, Asad started addressing the crowd. Zoya watched and listened proudly. He really could overcome everything when placed in front of people, relishing in his true role.
"I know many of you have come over to support me, after having supported my father in previous years. I promise you here and now that I will stand true to his ideals and that I will never let you down" he said, causing the crowd to erupt in cheers and applause.
He held his hand out to Zoya then, who took it and stood next to him, smiling at the crowd. "And now, please allow me to introduce... the next speaker, Mrs Zoya Asad Ahmed Khan" his voice boomed through the large park.
Zoya was stunned. Hearing him address her by that name had melted all her irritation at him. She almost smiled thinking that he would have enough opportunities to annoy her in future as she stepped up to give her speech.
Asad had halted for a second in his introduction of Zoya. He didn't know what to call her; his wife... Ms Farooqui, or... and then inhaling deeply, he called out her full, married name as if he was announcing it to the world.
It was the first time, and he hoped it wouldn't be the last time. Just saying it out loud with so many witnesses had caused his heart to swell with pride.
But... he suddenly yearned to be able to not scream her name out, but whisper it... only to her. He closed his eyes momentarily, hoping against hope that his stupidity hadn't ruined his chance of being able to do that.
How he longed to be able to call her Mrs Khan... seductively. He wondered if she would like it. Again, he prayed that he would be afforded the chance to find out.
Asad took a seat next to her as she took the mic. There was silence in the crowd as Zoya began speaking. Asad watched her intently as she spoke; his eyes snagging at her lips as they moved, over and over again.
He couldn't wait for this to be over. He'd make her come home with him after this. Hell, he couldn't wait until they got home and he knew it. He would make his point before they left here.
He needed her, and he needed her to know that.
Zoya, oblivious to Asad's staring or his thoughts, continued with her speech and the crowd roared with laughter as she good naturedly ribbed her husband.
Asad smiled. He'd let her make fun of him for the rest of his life if she wanted to.
She looked at him then and the crowd hushed. Even they felt it...
"He WILL keep his promise to you all. I am so sure, I'd bet my life on it" she said confidently. Asad had to stop himself from clamping a hand over her mouth for uttering something so nonsensical.
She would bet her life on him?! "Stupid girl" he thought, annoyed at the statement she'd just made.
Suddenly, someone screamed and all hell broke loose as the sound of a raging gunshot rang through the crowd in the park. People screamed, they ran, they collided into each other.
Zoya swayed in shock, the mic held in mid air as she held her breath. "Get DOWN!" Ayaan screamed. Asad's eyes widened as he looked left and right into the crowd. He spotted something just below them and before he could think further, he stepped in front of Zoya as another gunshot rang through.
"ASAD!" Zoya screamed, coming out of her shock as Asad slumped backwards into her tiny frame. She wrapped her arms around him and her eyes widened as her hand got wet.
She pulled it off his chest to reveal her own blood-soaked hand. She laid him down, oblivious to the crowd around her, the police that were dragging away the gunman from just below their truck, or Ayaan and Arjun's frantic screaming from behind them.
"Mr Khan... wake p. Open your eyes! Don't you dare ignore me. Wake p right this instant!" she screamed and cried as she slapped his cheeks lightly. His shirt was oozing crimson and her saree became blood-stained as she held him up against her with a strength she didn't know she possessed.
Ayaan came running to them.
She looked up at him, her tears streaming down her face. "Hospital" she cried. "The ambulance is here Zoya, Step aside, let them do their job" Ayaan coaxed her as he led her out of the way.
She looked at the paramedics working on her husband. And then down to her blood-stained saree. "Save him, Ayaan... I can't... live without him" she cried.
The paramedics put him on a stretcher and started carrying him off, past Zoya. She followed them, breaking out of Ayaan's hold.
"Mr Khan, stop this! You're not much a joker, please stop. Wake up! Open your eyes right now. Why isn't he opening his eyes? Ayaan, why isn't he listening to me? He's doing it deliberately, you know. He's so angry with me. But Ayaan, tell him... tell him..." she burst into hysterical sobs as Ayaan made his way back to her.
He walked her to the ambulance quickly and they got inside. He sshh'd her and tried to soothe her, but even he knew... she would only calm down when she knew Asad was alright.
Zoya held Asad's hand tightly in hers the entire way to the hospital. She'd somehow found it in her to calm down but then leaned down to him, her mouth close to his ears.
"Mr Khan, I can't do this thing called life without you. You have to wake up. For me. For us..." she whispered to him, crying softly as she laid her head on the stretched next to his shoulder.
Her heart broke looking at him. He had an oxygen mask on and he looked so tired... blood oozed from wound and she found herself reaching out to stop it but the paramedic stopped her. "We're here ma'am. He'll go straight into surgery" the kind young man said to her.
Ayaan's phone rang and he listened intently as they stopped by the hospital. He got out with Zoya, before the stretcher was lifted off. Zoya took one look at Ayaan and he nodded as if telling her to go ahead, before she ran along with the doctor and nurses beside Asad.
As they pushed him through a set of swing doors, the nurse stopped and held her hand out to Zoya. "This is as far as you can go, ma'am. I'm sorry. You can take a seat here and the doctor will come to speak to you" she said kindly.
Zoya sank to a bench in the small waiting room. That bullet was meant for her. Thinking so let forth a fresh set of tears. Ayaan ran to her then and she stood up. "Surgery" she croaked out. "Do you know... I mean, what the hell happened?" she asked, finally finding her voice.
"The gunman sang his heart out. It was all Kapoor..." Ayaan said ominously. Zoya's eyes burned with rage and she clenched her fists; her nails digging painfully into her palm. "I'm going to kill him..." she said in a low voice.
"Zoya, the police have him. He was at the rally and tried to flee but he was found with another one of the accomplices. They have him... it's alright, it's alright" he whispered soothingly, trying to calm a frantic wife down.
"Nothing's alright, Ayaan! That should be me in there, not him... not him... If something happens to him... Ayaan, I can't live without him!" she cried, sobbing in his arms.
Just then, Arjun, Anjali, Dilshad, Najma and Karan came running into the waiting room and everyone surrounded an almost, once again hysterical Zoya. Anjali and Dilshad held onto her.
"Mom, Ammi. Tell them to do something!" she'd screamed. No amount of anything could calm her down.
The thought of losing her love, knowing it was all her fault... broke something inside of her.
A doctor came out then and Zoya removed herself from her mothers' embrace. Dilshad wiped her tears. So soon after losing her husband, she would go crazy if...
No, she couldn't even complete her thought and scrunched her eyes to banish it from her mind.
"I'm sorry... he's still in surgery. I am not sure how long more we will be. The bullet is lodged... in a difficult place. We need to be very careful about how we proceed. I just wanted to give you an update" the doctor said calmly to the room and to Zoya especially.
Zoya had wanted to slap him for his detached manner, but held herself. She knew she wasn't thinking clearly and at least he had come to update them.
Sinking back between her mother and mother-in-law when the doctor had patted Ayaan's shoulder and left, she started crying again.
Asad had to be alright. He just had to. She didn't even want to think of what would happen if he wasn't.
Edited by Tamara27 - 11 years ago
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