Chapter 30
On a bright, sunny afternoon, the khan ladies were in the living room talking to Nikhat and Zoya. Dilshad was discussing about redecorating the house and asking them about their suggestions. "Accha idea hai Ammi, Imran keh paida hone se phele karwa tha na," Nikhat said. "Zoya, tum bhi chaho toh apna room decorate karlo beta," Dilshad suggested. "Waise Mr. Khan ki taste toh thodi boring hai lekin mujhe nahi lagtha woh mujhe apna room change karne denge," Zoya pouted. "Tum chaho toh main baat karo usse," Dilshad said. "Nahi nahi Ammi, rehne dijiye, main aise hi theek hoon. Bichari abla nari kya karsakthi hoon," Zoya said acting all filmy as Nikhat and Dilshad chuckled. They all didn't notice Asad who was watching them from the stairs. "Theek hai, main kal hi interior designer koh bhula kar baat karti hoon," Dilshad said. After some time, Zoya made Asad's black coffee per his request. She opened the room door and walked in to see him working on his laptop. He was on the phone so she placed the mug on the table. As she was about to leave, Asad ended his call. "Zoya," he called out and she stopped and turned around to see him. "Jee Mr. Khan?" she asked. "Mujhe tumse kuch baat karni thi," Asad told her. "Kahiye," she said. "Tum phele yaha baito," he said as he moved to the side making room for her. Zoya didn't understand what was it that he wanted to talk about. She took a seat next to him and waited for him to say something. "Tume humara kamre kaisa lagtha hai?" he asked. Zoya was surprised at his question. "Accha hai par aap achanak aise kyun?" she said. "Lekin tum toh yeh kamra boring lagtha haina?" he teased. Zoya looked at him stunned. "Aapne humari baatein sunli thi?" she wondered. "Ha par ek baat tumne galat kaha agar meri choice boring hai toh maine tume joh choose karliya," Asad said and Zoya blushingly smiled. "I am sorry Mr. Khan, mujhe shayad aisa nahi kehna chahiye tha. Yeh aapka room hai toh aap usse jaise pasand rak sakthe hai," she told him. "Yeh kamra tumara bhi hai Zoya," he said. She could see that her words have hurt him. "Mr. Khan mera matlab yeh nahi tha, main toh bas," Zoya hesistated not knowing how to explain. Of course, it was their room but she didn't want to change it because she thought it was boring. She liked it because it was his choice. "Yeh sabh chodo Zoya, mujhe batao kya tum humara kamra decorate karna chahogi?" Asad asked. Zoya was astonished at his question. "Par Mr. Khan aapko meri choice toh pasand nahi aayegi," Zoya innocently replied. "Agar tum mujhe pasand ho toh tumari har baat mujhe pasand hai," he thought looking at her. "Zoya, main chatha hoon keh yeh kamra sirf mera nahi humara bankar rahe. Waise toh itne saalon maine kisko iss kamre koh change nahi kiya hai, par aabh main chatha hoon keh tum yeh room redesign karo," Asad told her. "Lekin Mr. Khan, I don't want you change anything because of me," she said. "But I want to," he told her. Zoya broke out into a huge grin listening to his words. "Aap saach kehrahe hai Mr. Khan?" she asked excitedly. Asad nodded in agreement. Zoya's happiness knew no bounds. She threw her arms around Asad and pulled him in an embrace. Asad was stunned at first but then he was happy to have Zoya back. His old Zoya whose actions depended on feelings and impulses, not on what others thought about it. Zoya realized what she has done and they slowly broke apart. She tried to stop herself from blushing but it felt as if her cheeks wouldn't listen to what she had to say.
That night, Zoya was on her iPad going through her Pinterest trying to find room decorations. If she could find something interesting then she could talk to the designer tomorrow and get his or her opinion too. "Mr. Khan, aapka favorite color kyon sa hai?" she asked casually looking up from the screen. "White, par kyun?" he asked. "Bas aise hi," she told him. Asad pinched the bridge of his nose and nodded his head, then went back to continue his work. Zoya smiled knowing exactly what she had to do now. Starting the next day, the house started to get refurbished. Zoya spoke to the designer and finalized some designs for their room. Asad and Zoya shifted to the guest room till the room was being remodeled. Zoya wouldn't let Asad to see anything. She wanted it to be a surprise, she told him. Asad, as usual, pinched the bridge of his nose, and had agreed to her demands. The rest of the house was being restyled as well. Starting from the living room, the designers were moving from one room to the next. Though they were trying to be careful, the house was filled with fumes with all the painting going on. It was a week later and the remodeling was almost over. Nikhat was in her room with Najma and Zoya arranging things back in their places. She was dusting some pillows to place it back on the sofa when she started to gag. She ran into the washroom and Zoya followed her, worried. "Bhabhi...aap theek toh hai?" she asked as she patted Nikhat's back. Najma called the doctor and went outside to inform Dilshad. Zoya returned with Nikhat and made her lay on the bed. Dilshad came into the room, "beta, tum theek toh ho?" she asked worried "ha Ammi, bas achanak se paata nahi chakar aaraha hai aur ulti bhi hogayi," Nikhat replied. Dilshad smiled getting suspicious. At that moment, the doctor came in and informed them to stay outside so she can check Nikhat. Minutes later, the doctor called the ladies inside. "Kya hua doctor, Bhabhi theek toh haina?" Zoya asked. "Ha sabh theek hai...aap sabh kehliye acchi kabar hai. Aapki bahu ma banne wali," the doctor told Dilshad. Everyone broke out into huge smiles. Zoya ran up to Nikhat and pulled her into a hug, "congrats bhabhi," she said. "Shukriya doctor," Dilshad said and the doctor left. Dilshad took a seat in front of Nikhat and kissed her forehead, "hamesha khush rehna," she said happily. Dilshad then called Farhan at the office and told him to immediately come home. A while later, the khan men returned home. They reached Nikhat's room and saw all the ladies sitting there. "Bhaijaan...aap aagaye," Najma said excitedly as she bought Farhan and made him sit next to Nikhat. Nikhat felt blush creep up her cheeks. Farhan looked at her then at the family members, confused. "Kya hua Dilshad...tumne hum sabh koh aise kyun bhulaya," Rashid asked. "Rashid...khush kabri hai. humari Nikhat ma bane wali hai," Dilshad announced. The family was ecstatic to hear the news. Farhan grinned at Nikhat. Zoya quickly left and returned with a plate full of ladoos. "Phele bhabhi khayengi," Zoya said as she stuffed Nikhat with a whole ladoo. Everyone chuckled at Zoya's actions. She then made everyone eat the sweet to celebrate the joyful news. Zoya reached Asad and stopped, "oh..aapko toh ladoo pasand nahi haina...main kuch aur laati hoon," Zoya said. He caught her wrist stopping her, "tumare haath se main ladoo bhi khalonga," he whispered teasingly as he bought her hand to his mouth and took a bite. Zoya looked at him shocked and he just winked at her with a smirk, making her jaw drop.
The next day, the family was in the front garden having tea, snacks, and playing volleyball. Nikhat and Dilshad were sitting on the chairs while najma, zoya, haider, farhan, and Imran were playing. Rashid and Asad weren't back from work yet. Haider served the ball and Zoya was going to hit it back but Imran ran in the middle, and hit the ball causing it to fly towards the gate. "Imran," Zoya scolded as she ran towards the gate. The gate was open so the ball slipped out to the street and Zoya too followed. Asad was returning from work when he saw his wife walk out of the house gate. He stopped the car at the street and went behind her to see where she was going, that too on foot. Zoya saw the ball roll out to the middle of the street. She walked forward to get the ball and failed to notice the car that was heading towards her. She picked up the ball and turned. Seeing the car head towards her, she froze! The accident that occurred during the internship flashed in front of her eyes. She tried to move but her feet felt limp. The car was an edge away from her when someone caught her arm and pushed her. She fell on one side of the road. She dusted her clothes and cringed at the wound on her elbow. Zoya then turned to see who had helped her. Someone lay on the other side of the road, with their back towards her. She ran to the other side and turned the person. Her heart stopped seeing the sight in front of her. "Mr. Khan!" she said shocked as she cradled an unsconscious Asad in her arms and placed him in her lap. "Mr. Khan...Mr. Khan, utiye, please," she said but he just lay unresponsive. "Nahi Mr. Khan, please please utiye," she cried as tears rolled down her cheeks. Her life seemed to have snucked out of her seeing him like that. Suddenly, his eyes opened and he winced in pain. "Aap theek hai?" she said, as air seem to circulate through her again. He sat up and nodded. "Aapne aisa kyun kiya? Agar aapko kuch hojata toh," she said, getting angry at him. "Aur agar tume kuch hojata toh?" he said, with pain evident in his voice. When he had seen her in front of the car, he couldn't think about anything except saving her from the danger. Zoya felt more tears roll down her cheeks. He did this for her! He put his life in danger, for her, she thought. When she felt his body move away from hers, she broke away from her trance and looked up at him, standing. "Chalo," he said, offering her his hand. She took his hand and stood up. That is when she noticed his forehead was bleeding. "Allah miyan, yeh kya hoga? Chaliye, first aid karna hai," she said worried. "Zoya, main theek hoon," he said. "Ha, woh toh dikh raha hai. chaliye," she scoffed as she pulled him towards the house. Asad smiled though his head was hurting. Seeing her worry for him, made her look cuter, if that was even possible. Zoya though couldn't explain the fear that had sprinted through her body when she had seen him unconscious. The thought of losing him made her tie thousand times a second. "Allah miyan, aap ka lakh lakh shukur hai. Aapne Mr. Khan koh kuch nahi hone diya," she said, silently thanking the one above.
It was the last day before graduation. She stood in the hallway, anxiously waiting for him. "Haade ghante se wait karahi hoon...paata nahi kaha rehagaya," she thought to herself. She had planned to tell him her deepest feelings today and was really nervous. She held a rose in her hand. "Woh ha toh kahega na?" she asked herself, looking at the rose. Just then, he ran up to her, "sorry yaar...woh last day haina sabh bye bol rahe the," he explained. She quickly hid the rose behind her. "That's fine Haider, I understand," she said. "humaira, tume kuch baat karne thi na?" Haider asked. "ha woh mujhe...woh...main...zaroori baat thi," humeira mumbled. "humeira, theek se bolo...kuch samaj nahi aaraha hai," he told her. Humeira took a deep breath, trying to relax herself, "dekho Haider, main tume kuch zaroori kehne jaarahi hoon lekin agar tume woh baat theek nahi lage toh tume vaada karna padega keh humari dosti nahi tootegi," she said. "Tum kaisi baat karahi ho, main humari dosti khabhi nahi thodunga," Haider said. Humeira slightly smiled, "Haider, jab hum mile toh hum dost bane. Lekin dhere dhere jab main tume jaane lagi toh paata nahi kyun tumse ek rishta sa bandgaya hai. Aur mujhe kuch waqt laaga yeh ehsaas karne mein keh yeh rishta kya hai. main tumse pyaar karne laagi hoon Haider, I love you!" she declared. She saw his face for some kind of a reaction but it was just blank. She felt tears fill up her eyes. He didn't like her, she thought. She turned to leave when she was stopped by a hold on her wrist. He turned her to face him. "Its ok Haider, mujhe tumara jawab paata hai," she said sadly. "Aree maine kuch bola bhi nahi aur tumne sabh faisla karliya," he teased. That is when she looked up and met his hazel eyes. "I am sorry humeira, tumne achanak aise kaha toh maine shock mein react nahi kiya. Par humeira agar meri acchi dost meri saathi banjaye toh zindagi khushi se beet jayegi," Haider said. "Matlab tum bhi," she said as her cheeks started to turn red. "Yes, Humeira Siddiqui, I am in love with you, my best friend!" he told her as her cheeks flushed with color, turning them bright red. He wrapped his hand around her waist and pulled her closer. Her coffee brown eyes met his hazel ones and they saw their new set feelings for each other. He leaned in meeting his lips with hers. Humeira felt her heart flutter with butterflies as she felt his touch. They stood in each other's arms, in the dark hallway, as they began their new relationship.
The next afternoon, Asad was in his office lost in thoughts about what has happened just a couple minutes ago. Baskar has been successful. He has found out where Zoya's mother was buried along with some disturbing information. He sat in his chair looking at the file that baskar has handed to him. Closing his eyes, Zoya's laughing face flashed before his eyes. "Ya Allah, main Zoya koh kaise baataunga. Lekin woh apne Ammi keh baare mein jaane kehliye kitna pareshaan rehti hai," he thought. He remembered the times that she had woken up from sleep screaming for her mother. The times she cried for the whereabouts of her mother. She needed to know but the hard part was how was he going to tell her. He looked at the picture of his wife that he had placed on his desk a few months ago. "Paata nahi tume kaise baataunga aur tum kaise react karogi," he thought as he lovingly caressed the portrait. He grabbed his phone and car keys and left his office. Time passed and he reached home. He was quickly climbing the stairs, "aree Asad, Tum? Iss waqt yaha?" he heard his mother wonder behind him. He stopped and turned around, "woh Ammi kuch kaam tha," he replied. "Lekin tumare kamre mein toh no entry hai, Zoya kabh se school se waapas aayi hai toh room decorate karne mein lagi hai," Dilshad told him. Asad nodded as he headed upstairs. He knocked on the room door, "kaun hai?" he heard his wife ask. "Zoya, main hoon, mujhe tumse kuch baat karni hai," he said. There was no reply. Few minutes later, the door opened and she peaked out. "Zoya, bahar aao, mujhe baat karni hai," he said. "Mr. Khan sirf kuch aur kaam baaki hai. Hum baad mein baat karte hai, please, ok," she said as she closed the door before he could say anything. "Zoya," he called out. "Doh ghante aur Mr. Khan," she told him from behind the closed door. Asad pinched the bridge of his nose, "yeh ladki bhi na," he mumbled as he walked away.
Couple hours passed and Zoya came running down the stairs. "Bhabhi...Mr. Khan kaha hai?" she asked seeing Nikhat in the living room. "woh shayad bahar garden mein hai," Nikhat said munching on the slice of apple from the plate that Dilshad had just handed to her just a few minutes ago. Listening to that, Zoya ran out of the house and into the front garden. Asad was sitting on the plastic bench in their garden. He still wasn't sure how he was going to tell her. Asad Ahmed Khan could do anything but being a bearer of bad news was something he wasn't way too fond of. His thoughts were disturbed when he heard footsteps behind him. "Mr. Khan!" she called. He stood up and saw her running towards him with her bright, dimpled smile. "Mr. Khan..chaliye. mujhe aapko kamra dekhana hai," she said as she pulled him forward, taking his hand in hers. "lekin Zoya, mujhe tumse baat karni hai," he firmly stated. "Mr. Khan maine itne ghante meinat karke room decorate kiya hai aur aap hai keh baat koh lekar mujhe intezaar kara rahe hai," Zoya pouted. Asad chuckled at her actions. "chaliye," Zoya said as she pulled him with her. Zoya excitedly walked up the stairs and Asad followed. Reaching the room door, "one minute," she said as she went behind him and covered his eyes with her hands. "yeh kya hai Zoya?" Asad whined. Zoya just giggled at him. She opened the door and led him in. "ok Mr. Khan...ready 1, 2, 3!!!" she said as she uncovered his eyes to view the room. As his new room came into view, Asad forgot to breath for a minute. He was pleasantly astonished at the new view. The room was painted in accents of white and sea green, with a splash of gold here and there. The bed was fitted with white sheets and green pillow covers and comforter. On the pillows, one had Mr written on it and the other had Mrs. Asad smiled looking at that. Above the bed, the wall was decorated with a collage of images, their images. She had collected images from their engagement, wedding, family moments, the new year's party, all their best moments so far. The collage even had empty spaces which he understood were saved for their future moments together. The old couch now had a white leather sofa accented with green pillows. And the coffee table in front of it contained a golden vase with white lilies and pink roses. The night tables on each side had pictures as well. On one side was a portrait of Rashid and Dilshad and on the other, was a picture of Zoya's mother holding a small Zoya. All this while, Zoya stood next to him, observing what he felt about the new room. "kaisa laaga?" she asked when he didn't say anything. He turned to look into her eyes, "I love it!" he said honestly. Zoya broke out into a smile, happy that he had liked the room. She had put in so much thought and effort into all this from the past two weeks. But, the smile on his smile made all that worth it.
Asad stepped closer and took her hands in his. "Honestly Zoya, jab maine kaha keh tum yeh room design karsakthi ho toh mujhe laaga keh tum humara pura room yellow, orange, or pink kardogi," he said and they both chuckled. "lekin tumne mujhe galat mehsoos kara diya hai and I am glad about it. aabh yeh humara kamra lagraha hai aur aise hi lagna chahiye. It feels perfect!" he told her looking around. Zoya felt her heart with happiness. Hearing him say that, it felt good, somewhere deep inside she felt complete. She had never been appreciated for what she does and she had kind of gotten used to that. But, for the first time, someone was praising her and that too with all honestly. "thank you Zoya, thanks for making this room from mine to ours," he said. "you are welcome Mr. Khan," Zoya said with a smile. "and Zoya, mujhe kuch aur bhi bolna hai tumse," he said. She looked at him giving him her attention, "main chatha hoon keh aaj se tum sofa par nahi bed par soh. Main jaanta hoon keh humara rishta waha tak nahi gaya hai aur maine phele bhi kaha tha aur aaj phir se keha raha hoon keh main khabhi tume force nahi karonga. Jab bhi main tume yaha sohe huwe dekhta hoon toh mujhe accha nahi lagtha so please aaj se tum bed pe sohgi?" Asad asked. Zoya nodded a yes, and Asad pulled her into an embrace. "thanks Zoya, aaj main bahut khush hoon," he told her. "aap itne acche kyun hai Mr. Khan?" she wondered out loud as tears filled her eyes. "aabh yeh baat toh mujhe Ammi Abu se poochni chahiye," Asad teased as she giggled through her tears. They broke apart and he was surprised to see her crying. "Zoya yeh tum," he said wiping her tears. "Main theek hoon Mr. Khan, bas itne acche lavz sunkar, dil bhar aaya" she told him. Asad understood what Zoya was feeling. By now, he had realized that she has had a troubled childhood. Other than humeira, no one in her house really cared or loved Zoya. He knew how strong she was. Even after all she had been through, she spread joy in other's life. She was the sunshine of his life, he knew that and wished that he could tell her. Asad moved closed and cupped her face in his hands and kissed her tears away. She felt lightening run through her body as she felt his contact. He then saw her rosy lips which were slightly parted. He leaned in closer in a desire to taste him, but stopped just an inch away from hers. After what happened the last time, he wasn't sure how she would react. She looked up at him and foran unknown reason, decreased the distance between them. Zoya closed her eyes in bliss and shivered under his touch. She wrapped her arms around his neck. At first, the kiss was delicate. But when she responded to the kiss with the same passion as him, Asad bit her lower lip. She opened her lips to let him explore her. Their lips entwined with each other and their kiss deepened. Minutes later, they broke apart and Zoya hid her face in her palms to prevent Asad from seeing her blushing cheeks. Asad smirked at her actions and she hid herself in his chest. The rest of the night Zoya showed other things she had done with the room. Asad noticed how she was so excited when she talked about the details. This was going to be really hard, he thought. How was he going to tell her? How was he going to take that smile away from her lips? Allah, meri mujhe himmat dijiye, he prayed. That night, Zoya slept on the bed for the first time. Asad was glad that their relationship was moving forward. At least, he had gotten her to accept to sleep on the bed and she even responded to the kiss today, he thought. He saw her sleep peacefully with a big smile. May be she was thinking about him, his heart said. A strand of hair disrupted his view by falling on her nose. He slowly moved it and tucked it behind her ears. Watching her, he didn't know when he too fell asleep.
So one more kiss? This time she responds...what do you guys think? Can't wait to see your comments 😊 Edited by asyasahil928 - 10 years ago
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