AsYa Story-UNRECOGNIZED EMOTIONS-Thread 5- Parts 18-19 - Page 72

Zoya felt a soft hand touch her shoulder. The touch was known to her, she had felt it before. Her instincts were inclined towards only one person. She took her own leisured time to turn around and see the person standing right in front of her with arms opened to embrace her in a hug.

"Zoya!" Dilshad called out to her when she turned around.

Dilshad was partly shocked and partly amused to see the changes in her attire. Anyone who would meet her after these six years could certainly observe the notable changes that had taken over her persona. Clad in a sari, her more refined sense of style made her look more graceful now. Dilshad could not help herself from embracing her in her awaiting arms. Even after being there in the same city, she had never met Zoya in the last few years.

"I am so happy to see you! How are you beta? You look as beautiful as you were before!", she said while touching her face and placing a soft kiss on her forehead.

"I am doing good Aunty. How are you?"

"I am fine too. Asad told me that you have turned a professor now. That's so good to hear. I am really very proud of you", she said with sincerity. Zoya could feel the same motherly touch from her that she had felt yeas back. Her eyes were affectionately bestowing love on her and her hands caressed her charming face.

Zoya's eyes wandered, to and fro, searching for the person who she wished was here, but to her disappointment, there was no one. She quickly masked the disappointment in her eyes and reciprocated the love that she was receiving with respect.

By the time Zoya and Dilshad got busy filling in each other with their recent whereabouts, Zeenat had reached the parking lot. She was shocked to see Zoya at so much ease with a lady who was unknown to her. She went towards them and stood there to let her presence be acknowledged.

"Aunty, meet my mother, Mrs. Zeenat Farooqui; and Ammi, she is Dilshad Aunty, Asad's mother. Zeenat had met Asad a number of times during his regular visits at her house during those months. Though she was not much in her senses, but she remembered Asad to be the person who stood by Zoya in her tough time. She smiled looking at Dilshad and shook hands with her.

In a matter of just few minutes the mothers got busy praising each other's children. Zeenat thanked Dilshad for Asad's immense help and support whereas, Dilshad told her how much she admired Zoya as a daughter and a human being.

"Zoya, you are going for the wedding right?", Dilshad asked her.

"I guess I am. Aafreen Baji would slaughter me to death if I don't", she laughed thinking about the warnings that she has received several times from her. Aafreen and Farhaan's wedding was scheduled after 10 days.

"That will be very good. You should definitely go. May be Asad is coming too", Dilshad added with uncertainty in her voice at the end. Asad's name and the probable news of his arrival made her shiver a little. The thought of seeing him again had almost taken her back to the good old days spent with him.

"Why hopefully? It's his friend's wedding after all. He should be there!", Zeenat replied as she was also actively involved in the conversation.

"My boy is a little unpredictable! He keeps changing his mind. He just needs someone to guide him all throughout. I am sure Zoya would know that.", Dilshad answered looking at Zoya who was now looking everywhere but her. She realized what she said and immediately switched over the topic leaving a perplexed Zeenat ponder on it.

"I think I should leave now. I will be leaving for Dubai tomorrow. We have a deal to finalize there. Just came to grab a few last moment requirements." Dilshad said with a smile. After a series of good bye and hugs, she finally left from there leaving the mother-daughter pair to place the last few shopping bags inside the car.

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Reliving old memories had become Zoya's new hobby in these years. Wasn't that how it was supposed to be? Memories were the only things now that she was a rightful owner of. There was nobody to invade them; they were hers. She could relish, cherish and relive them whenever she wished to. She wasn't answerable to them; neither there was any need to pretend. She put a halt to her vivid thoughts and got hold of her phone which was vibrating mercilessly on her wooden table. She had a bright smile on her face when she saw the name of the person flashing on the screen.

"Hey would-be-bride!", she greeted her in a chirpy voice.

"Don't you dare talk to me!", Aafreen replied angrily.

"I guess I am going to have a tough time pacifying someone!", she sighed.

"YES! But this someone can make things a little easier for you", Aafreen replied giving her an option.

"Okay.. And What is that?", Zoya asked her expectantly.

"Just come for the wedding; be a host and not a guest. Then you can expect me to forgive you for not attending our engagement. And I am not taking a NO! ", she half-persuaded and half-ordered.

Zoya could not attend Aafreen and Farhaan's engagement as it was held in Mumbai, their current work place. She could by no means be a part of the function as it was the end of the semesters and her leave was also not granted. Much to Zoya's good luck, the wedding was planned to take place in Bhopal.

"Are you even listening to me?", Aafreen yelled when she didn't get any response from the other end.

"Yea.. yeah... I am...Of course I will Baji and I will be there with you for the whole wedding week. But I was just wondering... Ummm...", The words stumbled and her mouth refused to ask what she wanted to.

"What is it?", Aafeen asked with concern when Zoya suddenly went low in her spirit.

"I am not sure about Asad. He said he will let me know.", Aafreen answered her unasked query, sensing very well what she wanted to know.

"Oh...okay..." Zoya was losing her hope again.

"Don't worry Zoya. He will because I am going to threaten him! If he doesn't come, then I am going to cancel the wedding! He will never say no to this!" Aafreen formed an evil plan.

"No... No.. please don't do that. Don't force him...He will if he wants to. It should be his own choice, not ours." Zoya tried to remain stuck to her commitment.

"As you wish!", Aafreen sighed heavily. "But, I don't want any excuses from you!", she warned her again.

They had a heart-to-heart chat for another half an hour discussing dresses, jewelry and all other wedding stuffs. In the last 6 years, Aafreen had proved herself to be a real friend to both Asad and Zoya. She respected their every decision and let them be the way they wanted to, but she silently remained beside them every time they needed her.

At first the unexpected meeting with Dilshad and later Aafreen's call had left Zoya in wonderment of the day's events. It was not exactly any of the two, but it was the little information that she gathered from them. Asad was also probably coming, but he had told her nothing about it. How would he? She had spoken to him almost 8 months back and his latest mail in her mailbox was that of her last birthday's. That mail had taken away all her rights to hope but also gave her a new reason to wish for more.

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Flashback starts

Hi Zoya,

I know I am sending this email to you a day earlier than your Birthday. But what to do? Tomorrow is going to be a busy day for me as I have been given an opportunity to lead the new project team and the work has to kick start tomorrow.

Happy Birthday Zoya! This is the fifth time in a row that I am missing your birthday, but trust me, I never wanted to. I would lie if I say that I didn't give a thought of coming back, I did. I have tried hard, but every time I failed miserably. I am not exactly enjoying my life here, but yes, I have learned to complicate things less now and accept them the way they are when there isn't any way to change them. I guess my loneliness here gives me enough time to find my lost self.

I don't know why I am even saying this now...It might not be the right time, but it is also not right for me to give you false hopes every day.

You have never stopped me from doing anything, neither did you ask anything in return, and that makes me feel guilty; guilty of ruining the happiness that you could have been a proud owner of. I know that you are still waiting for me and I feel ashamed of myself to disappoint you everyday!

I may not be a selfless person like you, but I am not selfish either. Your expectations from me might take away all the least happiness that you have now. Move on Zoya and make a life of your own, where you won't be in a constant fear of any loss. We might end up being nothing together. I will need more time, and I cannot be so self-centered to think only about myself.

I must be giving you the worst birthday gift ever and that is because I want the best for you. Don't wait for me Zoya, accept love and also the person who would love you unconditionally; not a person like me who has always put forward conditions before love.

Bye... Have a good life ahead, free of any hardship.

Asad's message had left her angry as well as hurt. It was true that even after trying a lot harder, she could not mask her expectations from him, but her intentions were never to make him feel guilty for anything that was not his fault. She mentally scolded, slapped and kicked herself for not being able to hide her emotions. She was angry with herself for her callousness as she was supposed to be the one resisting her feelings for their nameless relationship. But it was also true that Asad had misunderstood her.

She decided to reply to him. It was just a simple "Thank You for everything Mr. Khan". It neither showed gratitude, nor appreciation.

Zoya ignored almost hundred of his calls and didn't bother to read a single message before deleting them. Her hopes were stamped ruthlessly by the person she had it for.

After 4 months of continuous ignorance, Zoya finally gave in to one of his calls.

"Yes", she answered, keeping aside her sentiments.

"Zoya...", he sighed, finally being happy to hear her voice.

"Please be fast Asad.. I am on my way to work", she answered pretending to sound busy.

"Can you please spare a few minutes?", he pleaded.

"Fine!", she gave in.

"I am really sorry for what I said or wrote...I..."

"I am in a hurry Asad... Do you have something important to say? You know, I have to 'move on' with my work?", she mocked him stressing more on move on.

"Zoya... please.. just two minutes more. I will never ever bother you again."

She preferred to remain silent which meant that he had got his chance.

"Thanks... I know I was wrong... I wanted to apologize, but you never took my calls..."

"So that was my fault again.. I see...", she interrupted angrily.

"No.. It was never your fault... I didn't mean to say that... Zoya... I...What I want to say is... that...", his jumbled words made no sense to her.

"I guess you need to reframe your thoughts Mr. Khan. Call me when you are sure enough of what you want. Till then, Bye and Take care!"

She disconnected the call. That was the last time when she had heard his voice. Never did he call her again, nor did she make an effort to hit the green button after staring at his name in her phonebook for several minutes!

Flashback ends

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Zoya was again staring at her blank laptop screen. How she wished to hear his voice, how she wished to talk to him and listen to what he said. Perhaps, it is something that was not going to happen, she thought.
But her Heart was never a slave of her Mind. It had desires that revolved around one person; it loved only one person, and would continue to do so. She was now more determined to attend the wedding. She could never particularly move on, but she was ready to face Asad, if he was ever going to come.

A/N: So, many of you had asked me why weren't they in contact? I hope I could give you all an answer to that. They were not out of touch all this while. But 6 years is a LOT of time and many things can happen in that time.

These were the few possibilities-

1. They could be in contact, then Asad would come back, get married to her and then lived happily ever after. This was a big NO! This would mean love to bloom between them, but a long distance relationship would never be so easy to work out. One would be sleeping while the other would be awake... 😆 They would have eventually broken up.

2. They could have been friends! But Asad was never just a friend even when he was leaving. So that was not even in the option. 😉

3. Losing contact! 😲

Nah! Never! 😉

4.This is the last option that I chose. They tried to hide their emotions, but failed. Both tried to stick to what they had once decided. But matters of heart keeps changing with time.

I want realizations for them, not resentment... 😊

I hope I didn't disappoint you..😊

Last update got 130 likes. Thank you so much to all of you for that!! 🤗

Will wait for the likes and comments this time too. 😉😃