AsYa SS: Winner Takes All ; Ch 7, Pg 66, 23/04/14 - Page 44

• Its been too long for me to remember all the questions. But if there is something u need to know ask again.😃

Chapter 7

After her father left, Zoya was still in shock over the ultimatum he had issued just before he left. She could not believe that her father, always the respectable man, could stoop to this level.

--- Flashback #5 ---

- January 2005 -

--- Meeting place ---

It had been only a couple days since Asad's ammi has passed away and they had been meeting regularly every afternoon, when things were quite at the Khan Villa. Zoya had been waiting for Asad to show up that day, who was later than usual. When he did show up, his face was impassive and he seemed uninterested in conversation. They both sat there for a longtime, just watching the horizon. Zoya held his hand and squeezed it ever so often, urging him to open up and talk to her.

"He is sending me way." Asad said, when he finally spoke up.

"What do you mean?" Zoya was not sure what Asad had meant.

"Exactly what you heard. He has talked to the boarding school and I am to leave this very weekend." Asad voice sounded void of all emotions.

"Why? And in the middle of the school year? We only have a couple more months left for the finals. This makes no sense, plus it will be so hard on you." She argued.

"You think I did not tell him that? I asked him the same thing, but he does not want me around, moping like a girl, apparently. I don't know how he does it, but I cannot live on behaving like nothing has happened. I miss Ammi and I do not see why I have to hide it. My Ammi deserved better, she deserves better." Said a bitter Asad, an angry edge to his voice.

The silence had resumed, as Zoya racked her brain on how to solve the issue at hand. It would be hard for Asad to leave at a time like this, especially in the middle of the school year and catch up in such a short period of time.

"You need to do some yoga to manage that temper of your's." She spoke all of a sudden, giggling a bit.

"What?" a confused Asad looked at her. He checked her forehead to see if she had suddenly developed a high fever that was affecting her brain.

"I am sure when your father made the suggestion, you must have fumed and raged at him. Maybe if you give it another shot, but explain to him the problems with returning now, he may agree. Peacefully?" She explained shrugging his hand off.

"Aur woh man jayenge? [And he will agree?]" He gave a disbelieving look.

"Maybe, maybe not. But atleast give it a shot." She smiled back reassuringly.

"Yeah. Not like it will make any difference whatsoever. As it is I hate living here. I feel like running away never to come back. Ammi ke jaane ke baad yahan mere liye aur bacha hi kya hai? [With Ammi gone, what is there to tie me down here anyways?]"

"Hmmph" was the only sound Zoya made to his statement. Soon after she got up to leave stating that she just remembered she had some work to finish. She was mad at him and at herself for being so affected by what he had just said.

Asad could tell that she was lying, and he tried to get the reason out of her. Zoya had always been stubborn, and getting her to speak what was on her mind, when she did not wish to was something he was getting better at with time.

She had finally admitted to him that she was hurt since he did not consider her a good enough reason for him to visit home and Bhopal. She could not help that a couple of errant tears had escaped her eyes involuntarily. Her tears had been the undoing of Asad, who gently wiped them away and then enveloped her into a hug. Their first hug. *sigh*

He had convinced her that he did not mean it that way and he was only referring to his father and their house. If there was anyone in his life that mattered anymore, it was her. He promised that he would never leave her. He would return, against his own wishes, only for her. That promise had brought back her smile and made her day.

"If you ever again talk about going away or do go away with the intent of not returning, remember this Asad. I will not be waiting for you. I will forget you and move on in my life like you were never there. And I mean it." She pouted making Asad smile.

-Flashback #5 ends-

Zoya smiled as she remembered this memory of her and Asad. And then remembered how despite his promise and her threat, he had gone away. He went away to London for his further studies and broke his promise by not visiting her while he was studying abroad.

-Khan Villa-

Asad was busy working in his room later that night, when he noticed a distant flashing of light. As he stepped out on to his balcony, he saw that lights in Zoya's room were blinking constantly. So she is back in her room, wonder where he had her hidden all these days.

One thing that Asad was sure of now was that both their fathers had put the plan in motion. Rashid had relayed to him the conversation he had with Ghaffur Siddique earlier in the day. And now with Zoya back in her room, it was obvious that Ghaffur was working on his part. The constant blinking of the lights was a clear indication that the girl was in a dilemma and looking for answers.

---Flashback #6 ---

-Meeting Place, May, 2007-

"Zoya? What's wrong with you? Why were you so agitated last night?" Asad asked her, panting as he came to an abrupt stop besides her. He had sped up once he had seen her sitting at the pier.

Zoya did not respond to him, but instead just turned away from him.

"Ab kab tak mooh chupaogi? Bata bhi do. [For how long are you going to hide from me? Speak up now.] We both know that you cannot hide it from me for too long, so you might as well blurt out whatever it is that is bothering you?" Asad tried to pull her towards him and she just shrugged him away.

Since she was too adamant about ignoring him, he did what he was sure would get her to talk. He stood up to leave only to be pulled back in place.

"What makes you think I am worried?" He was relived to finally hear her speak.

"So I was right?" he asked, smiling.

"No." She frowned at him.

"Then why were you up late last night playing with the lights in your room. Don't tell me it is some new way you have found to bother your Abbu. Zoe, I know you enough to know some of your habits now." He coaxed her to speak.

"Bas yuhin.[Just like that.]" she sulked.

"Pakka? Toh thik hai, tum sadti raho yahan. Mujhe bahot saare kaam hai, main chalta hoon. [Sure? In that case, you sit here and sulk . I have a ton to do, so I will get going.]" he said irritatedly.

"Pehle toh mahino tak apni us school mein gayab rehte ho. Phir jab yahan rehne lage to Ammi ki wajah se milte nahin the. Ab to board exams bhi khatma ho gayi hain aur mujhey laga ki tum shayad yahin koi college join kar loge. Par nahi, tumhe to mujhse door rehne ka bahot shaukh hai na? Isiliye to tumne mere sar par London jaane ka bomb phod diya. Ab puchte ho roothi kyon ho? Roothu nahi to kya karu, khushi se nachu? [First, you spend months at your school. Then when you moved here, Aunty was unwell and hence we could not meet. Now even exams are over so I thought, maybe we will be able to hang out together some more. But no, you go ahead and break the news of going to London. And then you ask me why I am upset? If I don't get upset, should I dance around in joy?]" Zoya mumbled, but loud enough for Asad who just chuckled at her childish rant.

"Zoe...I had told you before...it's not like I surprised you with my decision." He started to say only to be interrupted.

"Don't Zoe me, Asad. At that time, I thought with the turn of events you were just talking about moving away from home. And then you had gone ahead and promised me that you would never go away from me. But guess what, you not only broke the promise, but have already got admissions to a college in London. Have you even considered how this decision affects me?" She gave him an imploring look that baffled Asad.

"Zoya...please yaar. I expected you to understand. You know how stifling it is for me to be home? I would like to be as far away from my father as possible, and you know that well. Infact, I can bet that if given the opportunity, you would grab it too. So why are you blaming me so? It's not like I will be away for the first time." Asad explained, as he drew her closer in a side hug.

They both sat like that for a few seconds, before Zoya's sniffling caught Asad's attention.

"Zoya?" he asked, concern lacing his voice.

"No Asad. I know, I am being weepy for no reason. But having you around these past couple years had made me hopeful. I was looking forward to having you around for good. But yes, you are right. You have to do what you have to. I will be fine." Zoya spoke up, looking him in the eye to give him the assurance he needed.

"Are you sure? I mean...woh..you know I would hate to go if you are not okay with it, right?" Asad still asked remembering the tears she had shed just a few minutes ago and her agitation from last night.

"If I say I am not fine, will you not go? Will my stopping you work? I don't think so Asad. So it's best that you go away. Live your dream. Just come visit and stay in touch."

Asad made her the promise she asked for and being caught in the moment they had even sealed it with a kiss. A teary eyed, smiling Zoya had called it a "Kiss of Promise", a promise for the tomorrow and a kiss that had sealed their relationship today. They had basked in the glory of their newly proclaimed love and looked forward to their future together.

-Flash back#6 ends-

Asad had promised her that he would come see her as often as he could. But then studies and work had got in the way every time he made plans to visit India and it so happened that they met only once he had moved back to India for good.

The memory of that day, the look of disbelief on Zoya's face, her pleading, everything was etched in his memory as if it had just happened yesterday.

He once again questioned his most recent decision and all that had happened in the last few days one more time. He was confident that he was doing what was right, yet his conscious gnawed at him. Seeing the lights in Zoya's room flashing today, had Asad worried. He needed to know what was going on with her and soon. He also knew that there was no backtracking now. Each one of them just had to follow through with whatever it was that had been set into motion.