HERE'S THE CONTINUATION...
PART 19B:
"Mashallah!! Kitni khoobsurat hain yeh mohtarma!! Aur who jisne inhe banaya...uska toh jawab nahi!" Ayaan dreamily looked at Zoya's portrait in her bridal attire. This didn't go well with Asad. He felt another unknown emotion pent up which he wasn't able to cope with. He just wanted to punch Ayaan for looking at his Zoya like that but thanks to Mr. Will who called his name which broke his chain of thoughts and distracted him from doing anything nasty.
"Meet Mr. Khan once again. He's the talented boy I was implying towards. This masterpiece is his creation. If you all want...you can ask him more about it." Mr. Will announced proudly.
The room bursted with the sounds of clapping and cheering. One after another, all of them asked Asad about his skills...when did he learn to paint? Did he join some institute? Asad asked all of them aptly.
He again saw Ayaan looking at Zoya, dazed and this time he drew his attention towards himself.
"Ayaan! Don't you want to ask me something?" Asad said sharply while others laughed on seeing a stumped look on Ayaan's face...as if he just fell down from his bed while sleeping.
"Uh..ya..oh...I mean...Who's she??" he asked in a flirtatious voice, winking at Asad.
Asad smiled a little. He remembered Zoya and his eyes sparkled with love unknown to him, "She's the one who brought me to life." He declared proudly.
"She's your mother?" Ayaan asked disappointed at the prospect.
"No! Usually a mother is the one who holds her child and help him to face the world bravely. She is the one who makes him face his fears while assuring to be there for him forever. But I lost my Ammi at a very small age and this woman in my life, brought me out of my miseries...she herself spent many sleepless nights to give me the peace that I needed. I was once the man whom a girl could never accept as her own but she came into my life and transformed me. Her every deed is to make me smile, when I was coming here, she was sad...not because she'll be alone, but because she was worried for me. I owe whatever I have to her. She is my life...my angel...my Zoya!!" he said a bit emotionally while the others looked at his despair. He seemed so much in love with the lady he was talking about. Mr. Will himself grew curious and asked him...
"Is she your girlfriend?"
"She's my wife..." he announced finally while Ayaan literally slipped off the chair that he was sitting in.
"You are married?" Mr. Will asked surprisingly.
"Yes...she's my Zoya." he answered proudly.
All of them had too many questions about what Zoya did for him but before they could ask, it was the time for their practicing sessions and so they'd to make a move towards their halls. Asad and Ritu were in the same hall while the rest of them shared the other.
Asad and Ritu mutually opted for painting a scenery today under the guidance of their coach. Asad was thinking of the options about what to paint while Ritu brought colours, canvas and other requirements.
"What have you decided Asad?" she asked curiously.
"Lake!" he suddenly exclaimed.
"Lake? Oh! You'll paint a lake?" she confirmed.
"Yes. I went to a lake with Zoya...she took me there." He smiled remembering how Zoya and he competed for throwing the pebbles at a greater distance while sitting there.
"You love her so much!!?" Ritu asked as a matter of fact.
"Love?" he asked uneasily. He was confused why others always asked this question whenever he talked about Zoya.
"Yes, love! I can see that you love her very much..."
"I want to see her happy. I want to give her anything and everything she desires." Asad said.
Ritu smiled at him, "Silly, that's love only. See! You always talk about her...you miss her...you think about her all the time and want to make her smile. This is love!!!"
"Okay..." Asad trailed off, not knowing what to answer.
They busied themselves into painting, occasionally talking in between and remarking about each others work. They finished when it was almost 7 in the evening. Asad went to the waiting room and saw Ayaan dozing off in an absurd manner. He smiled at his childish behavior and woke him up lightly.
They bid farewell to others and took a cab to their apartment.
---------------------------------
Next few weeks passed like this, Asad and the others immersed themselves in their training. Their routine became tougher with each day. Sometimes, their coach disapproved of whatever they did and they'd to start it all over again from the beginning. Asad was slowly adjusting into the surroundings. For first few weeks, he'd problem in sleeping at a new place...darkness terrified him but he acted all brave.
It was one such night when Asad dozed off after much effort but his screams in the midnight broke Ayaan's sleep. He rushed to him and woke him up. He was confused when he called for Zoya again and again.
He offered him water and calmed him down. He sat beside him and put his arm around his shoulder. Asad opened up about his illness and told him what had happened with him all those years back. Ayaan felt sorry for the man sitting in front of him. He just kept listening to him while he told him how Zoya came into his life and made him a better person.
From whatever Ayaan heard, he admired Zoya more and more. Not in an inappropriate manner of course, he developed respect for the woman who endured so much in such a young age for bringing her husband out of the darkness. He complimented Zoya while Asad's chest puffed on hearing someone praising his Zoya.
5 MONTHS LATER:
Asad had almost completed his training. He was appreciated by his coaches and colleagues who always stood dazed in front of the colours that came out of his paint brush. Asad was on the moon everytime someone complimented his work. His personal life was going well too. From a buddy, Ayaan had turned into someone very close though they were poles apart. Asad had also made friends with others in their group who obviously adored him due to his innocent behavior.
One thing or rather the person he always missed was Zoya. He was happy that he was achieving something on his own but his success ultimately dwindled without Zoya. The only thing that gave him satisfaction was that he was doing it all for Zoya...for being a better man for her. Along with his training he had also joined a correspondence course for completing his graduation in which obviously, Ayaan and Jeremy helped him a lot. Asad was on the way of becoming someone who the world admires but he always looked up to Zoya for whatever he did. Zoya got angry when he demanded to complete his education but ultimately gave in seeing his zeal.
But chatting with Zoya was like a ritual to Asad...how much tired he returned from the gallery, he always made it a point to contact Zoya who was getting ready for office at that time. Seeing him made her day worth living while Asad was able to sleep properly...free from his haunted dreams which accompanied him for many weeks initially when he came abroad.
This night, when he returned, he logged in to see an impatient Zoya waiting for him. He was happy to see her jumping on her own and her twinkling eyes told him that it was something worth listening...
"Zoya!!" her called out to her.
"Asad, Asad...I am so happy." answered a cheerful Zoya.
"Kya hua?"
"Asad...I am going to be a Khala!!!" she shouted in glee while Asad scrunched his brows, not quite understanding the riddle.
"Huh?"
"Buddhu Ahmed Khan!! Humi is pregnant!!!" she squealed again and this time Asad covered his ears with his hands.
"Pregnant??"
"Yes, you remember Najma!! How she carried the baby?? And our Anjum...same way, Humi will also get a baby!!" she explained in simple words.
"Oh! That's great!!" he replied thoughtfully.
"Only great?"
"No...Yes...I mean...that sounds good!!"
"Asad? What's wrong?"
"Zoya can't you get a baby too??" he asked hopefully while Zoya was rooted for a second. Her eyes went wide and then she looked down immediately when she saw Asad's expectant gaze on her.
"No...no..." she replied in a low voice.
"You don't like babies?" he asked incredulously.
"I do!"
"Then? I too want my personal one...with whom I can spend as much time as possible!!" he whined like a child demanding for a toy.
"Asad!!!" she said exasperated at his demand and blushing at her inability to explain to him that she can't bring a life into existence without him.
"Zoya!" he said in the same tone.
"I can't...because you are not here." She said this time, in a low tone.
"Matlab?"
"Find out on your own!!! BYE!!" she said and disconnected the call immediately.
Asad was sulking during whole time while having dinner and Ayaan couldn't get a hold of the cause.
"What happened Bro? Any problem?" he asked finally, unable to see his sad face.
"Zoya doesn't want to have a baby." Asad told causing Ayaan to splutter the food he had eaten.
"What? She said this??"
"Yes!! I asked her to get me a baby and she denied!!" he pouted.
"What the conversation was like, actually?" Ayaan asked knowingly and hence Asad started telling him word by word about what happened between him and Zoya. As soon as he finished, Ayaan was already on the floor, doubling up with laughter while Asad pouted some more.
"YOU ALL DON'T CARE ABOUT ME!!" he screamed in frustration.
"No Asad! Seriously..." Ayaan again burst out laughing.
"Ayaan!!" he whined.
"Okay...ok!! I'll help you here. See, she was right. Actually, erm...umm...ya...we need a mom and a dad for a baby. So...umm...mom is there but dad is not...you understand? I mean, you are here...then who'll be the dad?? Right?" Ayaan was still feeling like laughing at any moment, so he quickly explained and ran towards his room.
Once inside, he peeped out and said, "You can browse the net, in case you want to know more. Good night!!"
Asad made a weird face, "Fine!! Don't tell...I'll look on my own." He marched to his room and sat in front of his laptop.
"Ya...what was that? Yes...pregnant!!"
He frowned when the page displayed many options...he quickly clicked the first one and read the first few lines...
"Uh!! I can't get anything!!" he sighed.
"Okay!! Let me try this...HOW TO GET A BABY...yes..." he clicked on enter and browsed through various options displayed there. His eyes widened each time he saw or read something relevant. His naive self wasn't able to accept what was being displayed. He frowned and said to himself flabbergasted on what he learnt,
"Do I have to do this with Zoya?? Oh No!! How the hell could I do this with her??"
EVIL SMILE!!😈
ASAD KNOWS HOW THE BABIES COME...🤣
DID YOU ALL LIKE THIS PHASE OF ASAD'S GROWTH??
DO TELL ME...YOUR VIEWS ABOUT THE UPDATE!!
CYA SOON...
~SRASHTI
P.S- If u want pms for the story please buddy srashti21...not my real account.
I DON'T WANT TO BOTHER THOSE WHO ARE NOT READING!!😳
Edited by -Crazy4AsYa- - 11 years ago
Tum Se Tum Tak
Ganesh Kartikeya
127