AsYa SS: Going Back Thread 2 link updtd on Pg 1

Chapter 1

Mumbai, the city of dreams! People come to this city to fulfill their dreams. Some of their dreams get fulfilled, and for some it's not. Bliss and heights', a business idea grew up in the minds of 6 friends fell into the first category. In the past 5 years Bliss and Heights' became number one in advertisement sector. It was only because of the hard work of those 6 friends, Asad, Ayaan, Imraan, Humiera, Nikhat and Jenny. Their friendship which started in college spread into their life as well.

In that fine morning Asad reached the office early for the meeting. All others were already waiting for them. Giving a quick kiss to his love Jenny he sat down in the meeting.

The agenda of the meeting was a campaign for one of their biggest client. To give their support to their social cause their client wants to conduct some event which will enhance their social image. So Imraan came up with an idea of art exhibition which was readily agreed by the client.

Now the problem was finding paintings with the limited budget.

Humeira: "Erm... I think I have solution for that."

Everyone's attention shifted to her.

"You guys remember Zoya right? She had studied art from Florence Italy and she is now running an art studio in Delhi. I could give her a call if you like?"

Humeira felt a bit uncomfortable as she took in the five shocked faces.

"It... it's just a suggestion you know..."

She murmured to herself. She looked up as she heard a loud squeal.

"It's wonderful Humi. Call her soon. Wow! Zoya and a painter! Soo cool..."

Ayaan said in happiness while Imraan and Nikhat supported her. Humeira looked at Asad who was looking uncomfortable. She felt happy at that. She walked out of the room to call Zoya.

As Asad sat in his cabin occasionally sipping his coffee, he couldn't help but to think about Zoya, her soulful doe eyes, her dimples, her bouncing curls...

He could still remember the day she confessed her feelings to him.

"Asad..."

Asad, who was running late for his football practice stopped in his track at the sound of someone calling him. He turned around only to meet a panting Zoya.

"Yes, Zoya. Are you Ok?"

"I... I wanted to tell you something..."

He didn't fail to notice the nervousness and stuttering in her voice. He really wanted to know what she wanted to tell. But he couldn't ignore the fact that he was getting late.

"Erm... Zoya, I am running late for my football practice. Whatever you want to tell, can you tell it afterwards?"

Sadness and disappointment washed over her face for a moment. But soon it was replaced with understanding.

"Okey. So I will meet you here after your practice?" asked a little hesitant Zoya.

He nodded earning a dimpled smile from her.

After 3 hours of vigorous practice, Asad went to his dorm to freshen up. A cold shower after the sweaty session was a perfect way to rejuvenate the mind and body. As he lay in his bed, his mind diverted back to the day's events. That was then it hit him hard that he told Zoya that he will meet her after the practice. He cursed himself for forgetting such a thing. He looked at his watch, it was almost 8 PM. He knew he had

As he got back to reading suddenly his mobile ringed flashing the name Humeira' on screen. He picked up and greeted her happily.

"Hi Humi. What's up?"

"Hi Asad. Erm... is Zoya with you?"

Her question alarmed him.

"What? Why would she be with me?"

"Well... She told me that she wanted to talk to you and went out of the room in the evening. It's been around 4 hours and still no news of her. Moreover it's raining outside and she don't have an umbrella also. So I was wondering whether she is with you..."

Humeira's words were like a blow to him. He looked outside the window and saw the heavy down pouring. He cut the call immediately. Taking the umbrella, he dashed outside.

When he reached near the tree, the sight in front of him made him guilty as well as angry. There was Zoya, fully drenched in rain, sitting on the concrete slab, her knees cuddled closer to her chest, her body shivering with the cold. He saw her looking up and instantly a smile lit up in her face. He stepped closer to her as she stood up and he held the umbrella over them.

"What childishness is this Zoya? What the hell are you doing in this rain?"

She was momentarily taken aback by the anger in his voice. She hung her head down and whispered.

"I was waiting for you."

As he heard her whisper, his anger faded away and guilt replaced the fury.

"I am so sorry Zoya. I forgot about it totally. I was totally exhausted and I went to my room directly."

"It's okay Asad. I can understand."

Asad was amazed by the girl infront of him. He expected her to raise her voice but never expected her to forgive him so easily.

"Erm. Zoya, what is it that you want to tell me?"

He noticed her cheeks getting redder at his reminder. She bit her lower lip, which he assumed to be a sign of nervousness.

"Asad... I... I Love you..."

Asad was momentarily stumped by her confession. He never thought that she will do that. It's not that he was not aware of her attraction to him. He very well knew that she had a soft corner towards him. But being a shy girl she always was, he never expected her to confess to him openly.

He looked at her expectant face. Her eyes held hope and love.

"Zoya... I... I am sorry. I like you. But just as a friend. I never thought about you as something else."

And that hope in her eyes vanished. The love in her eyes replaced with pain and hurt. Asad felt all the more guilty. He knew he had to tell her the truth after everything.

"I should have said you this early when I clearly knew you are attracted towards me. But trust me; if I knew you loved me, I would have surely said this to you earlier. The thing is, I love your roommate, Jenny"

He saw shock written all over her face with his revelation.

"Je..Jenny?"

He nodded in confirmation.

"And as far as I know, she also loves me. I didn't propose to her. But I know it. I can feel it. You know Zoya, I never believed in love, but meeting her made me realize that what love is. She was there for me whenever I needed her, as my own personal angel. She did everything for me without even asking. She used to write my assignment, makes notes for exams staying overnight sacrificing her sleep. She is the perfect love anyone could ask for. And I am crazily in love with her..."

He sighed dreamily. He mentally slapped himself for saying all those when he looked at Zoya. While he was carried away in expressing his love, he didn't think about the fact that Zoya's heart was breaking hearing the man she love praises another girl.

"Zoya...I..."

She raised her palm to stop him from saying further. Wiping her tears, she stepped back into the rain. Putting a smile, she told him;

"It's okay Asad. I can understand. Jenny is really good girl. Please do tell her your feelings as soon as possible... I...I am fine. You don't have to feel guilty. I wish you all the happiness... I... I got to go now. Humi must be waiting for me..."

He could see her whole form shaking. As if Rain gods are on her favor, rain poured on her heavily masking her tears and pain from Asad. She turned on her heels and walked away in rain. He stood there till her form disappeared from his sight.

That was the last time he have seen her. The next day he came to know that her father came to pick her up and she left the college. He was all the more guilty hearing that. As the time flew by, her memories also faded from his mind and he totally forgot that a girl called Zoya ever existed in his life once. He proposed to Jenny and got the love of his life. Once Humeira told him that Zoya got married and the last bit of guilt in him vanished to thin air. So now after 5 years, he was not guilty of facing Zoya, yet he was uneasy after all he knew she once loved him and he was sure that Jenny also knew about this.

While everyone was busy remembering their memories with Zoya, Humeira was no less. She could still remember that wretched day.

Humeira was waiting impatiently for Zoya to comeback. It was already half past 8 and it was raining heavily. She was really worried when she came to know from Asad that Zoya was not with him. She decided to wait for 10 minutes more. She prayed to God for Zoya's safety and her love. Suddenly, the door opened startling Humeira. She heaved a sigh of relief as Zoya's form came in. the relief was replaced with worry as soon as she took a careful look at her. Zoya was fully drenched form head to toe, tears flowing freely from her face, her once soulful eyes staring into vacant space. Humeria rushed to Zoya.

"Zoya... Ya Allah, what happened? Zoya..."

She started shaking her but was met with no response. Humeria pulled her into a hug. It was then Zoya's emotions broken. She started crying bitterly while Humeira held her closer patting her head.

"Zoya... please tell me what happened?"

Zoya started hiccupping.

"Humi.. As...Asad... he... He doesn't...love me... he loves... Je...Jenny..."

Humiera was shocked to the core with this revelation. Anger coursed through her veins as she heard this. She felt like strangling Asad to death. But soon was brought back into reality as she heard Zoya's sobs grew louder.

"Humi... I lost him... I lost Asad... I am jinxed. I am all alone. When I thought that someone is there for me at last, God snatched away that person also from me... Humi... Mera pehla pyaar adhura rah gaya..."

Her heart broke seeing her best friend in that condition. She knew how much Zoya loved Asad. Asad was the only solace for Zoya in her terrible life. He was her only hope before her father takes her away the next morning. And that hope also vanished into thin air just like it never existed.

Humeira remembered how much they cried holding each other when Zoya's father came to take her. Only she was there to see off Zoya as per Zoya's strict instruction. After all it's only she who knew Zoya's miseries and pain. She still couldn't forget Zoya's face from that day. She looked defeated and void of any life.

Several times she wanted to confront Asad. But the promise Zoya took from her held her back. Humeira was still in awe of the love Zoya had for Asad. Even after everything, she loved him the same.

Even though she never asked anything from Asad because of Zoya, she couldn't help but to be a little distant from Asad as always in back of her mind she held him responsible for everything. He claimed to be Zoya's best friend yet knew nothing about her. For him she was just a bridge to reach his destination. In the process of achieving what he desired he unknowingly crushed Zoya's life. Humeira let out a sigh as she knew that her thoughts are taking her back to those days and she is slowly losing her control. She walked to the washroom and splashed water on her face. Looking at herself in the mirror she decided she was not gonna let those painful memories affect Zoya again. She was seeing her friend after a long time and she will make sure that she was happy.