Chapter 1
The force of his hit made her stumble and fall back, as she held the side of her face that stung with pain she felt blood trickle down her lip. His venom, his anger didn't scare her anymore, she looked back at him without having shed a single tear, she had no more tears to shed.
Zoya, an orphan who was adopted by her aunt and uncle was brought from one life of hell to another. She knew that the only reason that Razia had adopted her was for her never ending wealth that she would inherit at the age of 21.
At the age of 18 she was forced to be engaged to Razia's son, Abdul. A 22 year old womaniser, an alcoholic and a total fool. Abdul treated Zoya with nothing but callousness, she was his trophy girl, someone who he showed off to his useless group of friends. He would abuse her and treat her with hate only because she refused his advances.
There wasn't a time or a moment she wished for her life to end, she couldn't withstand the torture anymore and there was no escape. Abdul and Razia were well known, a strong and influential family that no one could escape.
When Zoya first met Abdul he came across as the most kindest and gentle of people, but it was her own beauty that had become her enemy. The attention that she got from the outside world drove him crazy, so much so that his jealousy would bring him to physically harm her and keep her in solitary confinement for days on end.
Zoya stood up and wiped away the blood from her lip, which had quickly started to swell and change colour with the bruising. Abdul would have stepped forward and continued with his brutality if it hadn't been for Razia who intercepted 'Abdul, that's enough. Do you forget we have Mr Khan coming with his family in a few days, the last thing we want is for her face to look like a squashed tomato'.
Mr Rashid Khan was Razia's late husbands friend and old business associate. He along with his wife Dilshad and son Asad were coming to Mumbai for a a short period of time and were going to be staying as Razia and Abdul's guests. Abdul and Asad used to be good friends but when Abdul started going around with his new found friends Asad stepped back, they had nothing in common anymore.
Razia looked towards Zoya 'go and put some ice on your face...how many times have I told you not to upset him...see what you make him do...now go and don't come out of your room until you look normal again'.
By the time Asad and his parents arrived Zoya looked as beautiful as ever, the marks she wore of her oppressor had disappeared.
Zoya heard the visitors come in, the way Razia greeted them made her cringe, she couldn't understand how someone could be so two faced. Zoya put on a simple black shalwaar kameez and prepared herself to go downstairs. She had been warned beforehand not to say anything, she didn't understand the point of meeting them seeing she wasn't allowed to interact with them. Zoya took her first step down and as she did she felt a wave of cold air wash over her, she instantly looked up to see him looking straight back at her as if he had just felt the same thing too. Keeping her eyes locked with him she continued to descend down the stairs.
The closer she came the faster her heart beat, she had never seen someone look so handsome, his eyes were so intense, like they spoke a language of their own. As Zoya took the last step Razia stood up 'Dilshad, Rashid Bhai, this is Zoya, my niece...Zoya please come and say hello' Zoya took a step closer 'Assalam O Alaikum' Dilshad placed her hand over her cheek and stroked it gently 'Wa Alaikum Assalam Zoya, Masha'Allah, you are beautiful...may Allah bless you, please come and sit with us'.
Zoya looked at the two people who stood before her nervously 'Zoya, please meet our son, Asad' Zoya turned around to meet his angelic face 'Hi' he said holding his hand out. Zoya hitched a breath as she looked down at his extended hand, she felt her stomach twist as she didn't know what to do. Seeing her hesitation Asad looked up at her 'promise I won't bite' he said trying to lighten the tension he could so clearly see. Zoya gave him a faint smile and then extended her hand to take his. The moment their hands came into contact they both felt a strange sensation run through their bodies as if they had connected, but what was this connection and that to with a total stranger.
Abdul looked on with a twitch wanting to go and snatch her hand away, Zoya wasn't oblivious to him, she could see how his body and eyes were reacting to her and Asad. Zoya sat down next to Dilshad with Asad on the other sofa facing her. As much as he tried to initiate conversation with who was probably the most beautiful girl he had ever seen all he got back in return were small nods and one syllable answers. What Asad didn't fail to notice was her reluctance, her hand kept fidgeting, like she was on edge, her eyes roamed the room and her lips quivered as if she was scared, but what of?
Zoya busied herself in the kitchen avoiding being anywhere near Razia's guest, as nice as they were she knew that their stay was short and the further she stayed away the better it would be for her. Zoya was about to pick up a tray when she felt a firm hand squeeze her elbow, she winced in pain as she turned around 'next time you even think about touching him I will break your hand' he shot out 'you are hurting me...let go' 'this is nothing as compared to what I will do if you go near him again Zoya' Zoya pulled her arm back with force 'I didn't go anywhere near him he is the one who extended his hand to shake' Abdul was just about to retort back when he heard Asad's voice 'Hey Abdul, any chance of a refill?' he said holding out his glass. Without looking towards him Zoya turned her back to him and carried on with what she was doing 'Zoya, please bring Asad some more juice, we will be outside' he said in an unusually calm voice, a voice she had not heard in a long time.
Zoya brought out his glass and walked up to the table 'thanks...are you not joining us for dinner?' he asked 'I am not hungry, please go ahead' she simply said and walked off towards her room. That evening Asad sat down with everyone, he had never felt his hearts skip so many beats as he heard Razia tell his mother about Zoya, his heart went out to her, she had suffered such a great loss at such a young age, but at the same time was happy that Zoya was being taken care of by Razia and Abdul, little did he know how far from the truth he was.
Over the next two days Zoya kept herself hidden, Asad couldn't help feeling restless, he kept searching for her like he needed to see her, but how and more importantly why? 'Ammi Abdul has invited me to a party I guess we will be back a little late' 'that's fine...have fun...wait Asad why don't you take Zoya with you, she is always at home, it may be a nice change for her' as soon as Razia and Abdul heard this their bodies stiffened 'Zoya doesn't like parties, she will get bored, she is more of a home person' Abdul was quick to say 'even so, Razia I am sure you won't mind?' Razia plastered on a smile 'of course not, Abdul I think you should take her' Abdul gave his mother a stern look 'wait I will go and get her' Dilshad said.
Dilshad walked into Zoya's room to see her looking out to the open sky 'Zoya' she called out in a soft whisper. Zoya turned around and gave her a heart-warming smile 'Zoya, get ready you are going out with Asad and Abdul' Zoya's face dropped instantly, a cold shiver ran down her spine 'no...no aunty I can't...I..' 'it's ok Zoya I asked Razia and Abdul, they agreed that you should' Zoya knew that they had only agreed on the face of it, and if anything happened she would bear the repercussions of it all.
It didn't matter how much she insisted Dilshad managed to get her ready, Zoya came down wearing a lilac and silver dress with a delicate scarf that adorned her neck. Where Asad was completely mesmerised by her beauty and innocence Abdul stood there thinking everything vile.
As Abdul was about to get in the car Asad called out after him 'let me drive' Abdul threw the keys towards him 'it's all yours'. Asad purposefully asked to take the driver seat so he could use the rear view mirror to his advantage, he would get to see her and to try and read her beautiful eyes, her face that always seemed to look so occupied and lost. There was very little of what Abdul said Asad managed to hear, his eyes were fixated on her, the lines that ran across her forehead, the involuntary shivering of her torso bothered him, he wanted to stop the car and turn around to ask her what was wrong but he knew he could, not right now.
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Please do let me know what you think, look forward to being here š
Edited by Saima-Syed - 11 years ago
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