Chapter 9
Dilshad got out of the car and sighed. She had wanted to talk to him but she knew that if she gave him a chance, he would run away again. He would run and hide into his dark hole. Rashid walked up to her, "tume shayad usse baat karleni chahiye, bahut gusse mein hai woh," he said. "Thodi dher woh akela rahega toh usse sooch ne ka mauka milega phir main usse baat karongi," she replied. They all headed inside and everyone retrieved to their room to change and freshen up. Dilshad gave some time for Asad to calm down. She knew that when he was angry he wouldn't listen or understand anything. She knew it was wrong to accept the proposal on his behalf but she had to. If not, she knew that Asad would come up with some reason to say no. Before today, he would reject even the idea of a proposal or meeting someone. The fact that he had agreed to meet Zoya was a big relief for her and she didn't want to him to reject this proposal as well. As much as she had heard about Zoya from Nikhat and seen her today, she seemed like a very good girl. She seemed like a girl that could make Asad move forward his life. She was sure that Zoya was the perfect companion to her son and she will make sure that she brings them together.
Asad barged into his room and removed his coat and threw it on the bed. His OCD didn't bother him when he had too many other things to worry about. He paced from one end of the room to another trying to figure out what had happened. Why did he stay quiet? He should have just yelled to everyone that he hadn't said yes. He should have been an honest man and confronted his family right there but why didn't he? Did he want this to happen? But what about her choice? It's her life too! His mind told him. He sat on his couch and closed his eyes and all he saw was her. His meetings with Zoya right from the one at the dargah, then the school, then the accident, and today at her house all flashed in front of his eyes. He couldn't understand why he was thinking about her. He opened his eyes trying to find answers but all he was answered with was an unknown silence. He rested his head on the couch and closed his eyes again. Moments later, he felt a loving caress on his forehead and he knew who it was. "please ammi...I don't want to talk right now!" he said still angry. "hua kya hai Asad?" she asked innocently. He opened his eyes and sat up, "ammi, itna sabh hone keh baad bhi aap yeh pooch rahi hai? Maine iss rishte ko ha kabh kaha ammi? Aap kaise karsakthi hai aisa?" he asked now sounding more upset than angry. "aisa nahi hai Asad, accha yeh batao, tum maante ho keh Zoya ek acchi ladki hai?" Dilshad asked. "jaha tak main unne jaanta tha hoon woh mujhe acchi lagi," Asad replied. "toh problem kya hai Asad? Tum yeh rishte koh ha kehna wale the na?" Dilshad said. "ammi, woh actually...," Asad mumbled when Dilshad chucked, "tum khabhi iske aage bolege, ha ya na?" she said. Asad thought hard, "shayad," he said. "That wasn't an option Asad," Dilshad said smilingly at her emotionally challenged son. There was no doubt he had a big heart and he loved everyone and anyone who he welcomed into his heart but when it came to expressing his feelings, her son was extremely challenged and shy in that department. But she knew his heart. The way he had looked at Zoya today when she had descended down the stairs. There was glint of happiness in his eyes that she hadn't seen in a long time. "jab tum ha hi kehane wale the toh aap gussa kyun ho?" she asked. "meri chodiye, aapko Zoya keh baare mein bhi toh sooch na tha?" he said. "matlab? Tum kya kehna chathe ho Asad?" Dilshad said confused. "Zoya ki bhi toh marzi aap sabh koh poochni chahiye thi," Asad explained. "Zoya ne toh ha kehdiya tha issliye toh hum ne rishta pakka kiya," Dilshad told him. "what? Aise kaise hosaktha hai?" Asad wondered out loud. "Zoya ki ammi ne hi hum se kaha keh Zoya ne iss rishte kehliye ha kehdiya aur aabh hum faisla kare, mujhe laaga keh tume Zoya pasand hai toh maine ha kehdiya," Dilshad said. Asad was confused. Zoya told him that she needed time and her mother said she had said yes. "ammi, aapke paas Zoya ka number hoga?" Asad said. "uh-oh number kyun chahiye Asad?" Dilshad teased. "ammi please, mujhe Zoya se zaroori baat karni hai," Asad replied. "main Nikhat se pooch thi hoon," Dilshad said and Asad nodded. "main bahut khush hoon aaj, Allah ne meri dua qubool karli," Dilshad said as she placed a kiss on his forehead and walked out with a smile on her lips and relief in her heart.
Later, Dilshad asked Nikhat for Zoya's number and gave it to Asad. Asad felt weird calling her like this but he had to. It was important that they talk. He had committed the mistake of rushing into things before and he wasn't going to repeat it again. He dialed the number and saved it in his contacts before dialing. After crying her heart out, Zoya didn't know when she fell asleep on the floor. The ringing of her phone woke her up. She jerked up and took a minute to compose herself. She dug up her phone which was lost in her blanket somewhere. She found it and answered. "hello!" she gasped. "Zoya, aap theek toh haina?" asked a worried Asad on the other side. "Mr. khan?" she said surprised. Realizing her surprise, "ha woh sabh kuch itni jaldi hogaya, mujhe aap se baat karni thi," he replied. "ha kahiye," Zoya said. "main sooch raha tha keh kya aap kal mujhe coffee shop mein milengi?" Asad asked thinking it was better to discuss things in person. "main? Mr. khan agar mere ghar mein kisiko paata chal gaya toh problem hosakthi hai," Zoya told him honestly. "kya aap thodi dher bhi nahi aasakthi?" he asked hopefully. "main kuch karti ho. Kabh milna hai?" Zoya asked. "kal shaam paanch baje sweet dreams coffee shop par. Aap aayengi na?" he said. "ha Mr. khan main aajaungi," Zoya said. She didn't ask what he wanted to talk about. She didn't want to. He was probably going to reject her. May be he found out the truth about her. After knowing the truth, who on this earth would want to marry her. If the people she considered her family didn't accept her for the past 22 years then what could she expect from a stranger. That night, both Asad and Zoya were lost in the thoughts of one another. Asad wanted to clarify everything and let Zoya take her decision; on the other hand, Zoya was ready for his rejection.
The next evening, Asad left work early so he could reach on time. Zoya on the other hand was trying to leave the house without having to answer any questions. She didn't want to lie and she knew that they wouldn't let her go if they knew that she was going to meet Asad alone. Gaffur was not back from work and Humaira was still at college so all she had to deal with was razia. As razia was on the phone with one of her friends, Zoya tip toed out of the house and left. It was 5:15 and Zoya was still not here. Asad kept glancing at his watch and then at the entrance. Suddenly, he heard a thud and looked up to see her apologizing to the waiter whose order had fallen on the floor due to her mistake. She was dressed in faded blue skinny jeans, a pink kurti, and a black scarf around her neck. She ran up to the table, "sorry sorry sorry Mr. Khan, woh ghar se nikalte nikalte thodi dher hogayi, aur phir taxi bhi nahi mile aur" she blabbered running out of breath. "it's ok, baito," Asad said. She sat down and took the glass of water and gulped it down. "aap kuch leyengi?" he asked. "caramel cappuccino," Zoya replied with a smile. Asad ordered her cappuccino and a black coffee for him. "black coffee...ewww!" Zoya thought. Asad looked to make sure she was ready to listen to him and started to talk. "kal joh bhi hua uske kehliye I am sorry Zoya," he said. "aapne rishte kehliye ha kehdiya tha phele se hi?" she asked confused. "nahi woh actually bahut baada confusion hogaya tha," Asad said and Zoya waited for him to explain. "ammi koh laaga keh tum mujhe pasand ho iss liye unone ha keha diya aur phir aapki ammi ne bhi sabh se kaha keh aap ne iss rishte kehliye ha kehdi hai toh," Asad said. Zoya was shocked. Her parents lied about her decision. How could they? she thought. "dekho Zoya, main jaanta hoon keh tume time chahiye tha and I completely understand. main nahi chatha keh tum yeh nikaah kissi dabav mein karo. Tumara joh bhi decision hogaya, I will support you. Mujhe yeh rishta qubool hai lekin kya tum yeh rishta karna chathi ho?" Asad said. Zoya looked at him surprised. For the first time in her life, she didn't have to fight for what was hers. He was giving her the right to make a decision and telling her that he would support her. That meant a lot to her. But, she didn't know what to say. Asad, on the other hand, had decided to say yes.
Seeing her silence, "agar tume time chahiye toh tum le sakthi ho," Asad told her. "kya aap ke paas thoda time hai?" she asked. "yeah!" Asad said confused at her question. "kya hum dargah chal sakthe hai please," she said. Asad was confused at her sudden request but he agreed. Asad paid the bill and they headed outside to the parking lot. He opened the door for her and she got into the passenger seat mumbling a small thanks. He got into the driver's seat and they headed towards the dargah. The drive was quiet as Zoya was contemplating what her answer was going to be. Asad wanted to let her be and didn't want to interrupt her thoughts. He had thought a lot about Zoya last night. If this girl could put her life at stake for a stranger then she could possibly do anything for a family she considered own. If a girl had to come into his life, the only thing he wanted was for her to keep her family happy, especially his mother. If everyone liked her, he had decided to accept her for the sake of everyone. She seemed nice but he didn't know much about her to decide anything else. Soon they reached the dargah. As she got out of the car, Zoya took the scarf from around her neck and covered her head. Asad too covered his head with his hand kerchief and they both walked inside. Asad was reminded the first time he had seen Zoya here and a small smile played on his lips. Zoya was too lost in her own world to notice. They walked in and went to their respective sides for men and women. Asad could still see Zoya in between the dividing. She raised her hands in prayer, "ya Allah miyan, aap kyun hamesha mujhe kohi na kohi uljan mein dal dehte hai. Main hamesha se chathi thi keh main tabhi nikaah karo jab mujhe mere ammi aur abu miljaye lekin itne saal kosish karke bhi main na kaam rahi hoon. kya aap mujhe kuch samajana chathe hai? Kya aap chathe hai keh main zindagi mein aage badjao apne ateet koh bhula kar? Main kya karoon Allah miyan? Kya Mr. khan ko ha kardo. Woh ek bahut acche insaan lagthe hai aur unki family bhi toh. Shayad joh family main hamesha chathi thi wohi aap mujhe dehne ki kosish karahe hai, "she said. Finishing her prayer, she walked up to the wall and tied a thread thanking Allah for whatever he had decided. She had always believed that whatever happens, happens for a reason and that is what she was believing now too. If Allah had decided to bring Asad into her life, maybe he had decided something good for her. He had saved her from trouble twice before, maybe he would always help her in life. And he could also give her a family that she had always yearned for. Suddenly, her fingers touched someone's hand and she looked up to see Asad on the other side. "main jawaab dehne kehliye ready ho Mr. khan," she said and they both walked out to the area in front of the dargah. They stood facing each other and Asad waited for her to speak. "first of all, thank you Mr. Khan, aap ne mere baare mein soocha aur mujhe faisla karne ka mauka diya, it means a lot to me. Kal joh bhi huwa usse main thoda shock toh huwi thi lekin yaha aakar aur apne dil ki baat Allah miyan se karkar main samaj gayi hoon. mere jawaaab ha hai Mr. khan, mujhe bhi yeh rishta qubool hai," Zoya declared. "Zoya, kohi dabav toh nahi haina?" he asked making sure. "nahi Mr. khan, main apne dil se ha karahi hoon, sach!" she told him and he could see that she was right. Her eyes had this serene sense of acceptance for him that was visible. Asad told Zoya that he would drop her home and she accepted.
As they were driving back, Zoya's eyes fell on something on the side of the road. "kulfi!" she exclaimed. "Mr. khan, please rokiye na. mujhe kulfi khani hai," she said. "Zoya, yeh sabh mat kahiye, bahut unhygienic hoti hai," Asad said without stopping the car. "mr. khan, main bachpan se khati aarahi hoon, kuch nahi hota. stop the car please!" she pleaded. He nodded and parked the car on the side of the road. Zoya quickly got out and was about to cross the road when he pulled her back. She turned back and landed on his chest. He stumbled back but composed himself wrapping his hands around her waist. "samaal ke Zoya, road peh cars bhi hoti hai," he said scolding her for her carelessness. "sorry!" she said feeling guilty. As they were about to broke apart, "aahh!" she yelled and he looked down to see that her hair had gotten stuck in his shirt's button. He held her arm and moved her closer to him. She felt a tingle down her spine as she felt his arm touch hers. As Asad was removing her hair from his shirt, Zoya felt his breath on her cheeks. She felt her cheeks turned tomato red. It was the first time some guy was so close to her, she thought. Asad removed the hair and caught her staring at him, "Zoya," he said bringing her out of his thoughts. She felt awkward on getting caught, "chaliye na Mr. khan, mujhe kulfi aaj hi khani hai," she said as she took his arm in hers without even realizing it and went across the road. "bhaiya doh badam kulfi dehna please," Zoya said excitedly. "Zoya, mujhe nahi chahiye," Asad told her. "mr. khan, ek baar taste toh kijiye, kuch nahi hoga," she requested and he nodded. The guy handed them the kulfis and Zoya started to feast on hers while Asad stood looking this, still not being able to eat it. "what's wrong Mr. khan, ek baar taste toh kijiye," Zoya said as she moved his hand with the kulfi to his mouth. Asad took a small bite and actually liked it. Zoya smiled and continued enjoying her kulfi. Asad watched her eat. She was like a little kid, he thought. The way she had this eagerness to eat it and the enjoyment in her eyes reminded him of Imran when he got it favorite candy, he smirked. How can someone be so mature and childish at the same time, he thought. They finished eating the kulfi and Asad dropped Zoya home. Before getting out, "I had a good time Mr. khan, bye," Zoya said and stepped out. "me too Zoya, bye!" he said. He waited till she opened the gates and got in before heading his way.
So some positive developments...Asad and Zoya have said yes to the rishta, let me know what you guys think! Thanks for all your comments and support 😊
I have updated the PM list on page 1, please let me know if I missed your name and you would like to be added to the list.
Edited by asyasahil928 - 10 years ago
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