Chapter 2
Asad and Zoya sat in front of the each other on the mats on the floor surrounded by close family and friends. They both didn't know what they were supposed to be doing. In front of them sat a bowl of kheer on a tray with two spoons next to it. Asad turned to his mother, "yeh kya hai Ammi?" he asked. "Asad, aabh tume aur Zoya koh ek dusre koh khana khilana hai," she said with a smile. "What?" Asad said, his tone giving his surprise and annoyance away. "Asad," Dilshad said sternly, eyeing Zoya's gloomy face. "Chalo Asad, Zoya koh kheer khilao," Dilshad encouraged with a smile. Asad picked up the silver bowel filled with the semi solid white dessert. He took one of the spoons, dug a small bite of kheer, and offered it to her. Zoya's eyes lifted from the floor to him. He was offering it to her? For real? Her mind recalled a similar incident just 2 days ago on their mehendi.
After the ladies had finished drawing the henna on her arms, Zoya felt a tingle run through her hands from keeping them so still for all that time. She looked around the room trying to find someone to fetch her something to drink. But, everyone was busy with either getting their hands adorned with henna or talking to friends. Zoya got off her seat and walked towards the kitchen. Walking in, she saw a tray sitting on the counter with one glass of water on it. She walked closer and glanced down at her henna, it was still wet. Zoya didn't want to spoil the design that the lady had so dedicatedly drawn. She stepped closer to the counter and decided to pick up the glass with her forearms instead. Zoya struggled for a few seconds but couldn't get the glass. Suddenly, she felt a hand wrap around the glass. She turned to see him and stepped back. What was he doing here? She wondered. She saw him contemplate about something. The next second, the glass was near her lips. Her eyes met his, and he motioned his head telling her to sip the liquid. Zoya bent her head closer to the glass and drank. She couldn't believe that he was helping her. Zoya broke out her trance as she felt his warmth diminish from around her. Before she could even thank him, he was gone.
"Oh bhabhi, aap bhai koh kitna wait karayengi," one of Asad's cousin teased making Zoya return to her present. "Oh...," was all she managed to say. Asad bought the spoon to her lips. Zoya opened her mouth and took a small bite. "Now your turn Zoya," Dilshad stated. "Main?" she said surprised. "Ha bhabhi, aur kyon," Nikhat, Asad's sister said. Though Asad hated his father, he was coordinal with his siblings, especially his brother Ayaan. Zoya just smiled nervously. Her orbs drifted up towards him, then down to the spoon that still lay in the tray. She picked it up and he handed her the bowl of dessert. Zoya took a bite of kheer in the spoon. As she bought the spoon closer to his mouth, he could see that her hands were shaking. Was she nervous? He thought. Or maybe just scared of him? His ego pointed out. Zoya wasn't even sure if he ate anything from the spoon, possibly just licked a tiny bite off, she thought.
"Bahut accha. Naziya woh gehene rake haina mere kamre mein, woh ley aao beta," Dilshad said excitedly. "Aabh kya hai Ammi?" Asad asked. "Ek minute Asad, sabar koh karo," Dilshad chided. Zoya could see his nostril flare and his eyes shoot draggers at her. Why is he looking at me like this is my fault? She wondered. I didn't tell Ammi to do anything like this, she consoled herself. Within a few minutes, Naizya returned with a rack full of bangles. "Asad, yeh sabh main lekar aayi hoon. Iss mein se kohi tume pasand aaye, tum Zoya koh deh do," Dilshad explained. Asad looked at his mother like she had grown two horns. When has he ever chosen bangles for anyone? And now Dilshad expected him to choose jewelry for Zoya out of all people. She is your wife now, came a constant reminder from his conscious. "Dekhte hai Asad, tum kitna jaante ho apni biwi koh, kya tum uske pasand keh kangaan chun sakthe ho?" one of the aunts teased. Zoya looked up at Asad. He was going to choose something for her? The man who didn't even choose her as his wife, was going to choose her a gift? She thought sadly. Her eyes drifted towards him who was now glancing at his bride, and then to the jewelry. There were variety of bangles, thin one thick ones, gold, diamonds...Dilshad had bought the whole jewelry shop here. What caught her attention was a pair of gold bangles, designed like one flower stacked next to the other. Each flower was adorned with either pink, yellow, and lime green sapphire stones. In between each flower was a diamond filling the space. They were beautiful, Zoya gushed to herself. Asad on the other hand sat there confused. The rack filled with bangles was a lot more confusing that any deal he had ever worked on. He didn't know which ones to choose, they all looked nice, he thought. At that moment, Asad wished that he could just ask Zoya what she liked. He could give those to her and get this over with. But, of course it wasn't going to be that easy, especially for him. Asad looked at the bangles and glanced up to her. That is when he noticed how her eyes seemed to have stuck on a certain set of gold bands. Asad agreed that her selection was unique, pretty. Wait...why did he care? They could be a piece of crap and he would still give it to her. It's not like he had to wear it. So, he didn't care about it, at least that what he told himself. When Zoya saw Asad take the bangles off the rack, her heart started to speed up. He liked the same ones that she did? Zoya was surprised. His eyes turned towards her and she met his caramel colored orbs. He prodded his head at her telling her that he wanted her wrists. She shyly put her hand out. Asad placed his palm beneath her wrist and pulled her closer. For some reason, her hands seemed different than in the past when he had held her. No doubt they looked beautiful adorned with the dark maroon henna, but there was something else. Her hands seemed delicate. Maybe because this was the first time he was holding her wrist without any anger, he presumed. Asad slid one bangle on each of her wrist. Zoya smiled admiring them, "thank you," she said. He just nodded his head in acknowledgement. This was the first time he had given her a gift. Her heart swelled up with that thought. But why? Her thoughts were interrupted when Dilshad told her that she could go into Asad's room, their room, to relax for a bit. "Don't worry bhaijaan, hum aapko jaldi hi entry deh denge aapke dulhan keh paas," Naziya teased, causing Zoya and Asad to go red with embarrassed.
Almost an hour later, Zoya sat on his bed which was decorated with strings of white lilies and roses. On the side, there were netted cloths hung connecting one pillar to the next. The room's lighting was dimmed and the only radiance she saw consisted of the candles that were placed all across the room. Ushering the girls outside, Dilshad walked up to her. Taking a seat on the bed, Dilshad smiled at the girl she had come to love as her own daughter. Taking Zoya's hands in hers, "Zoya, main jaanti hoon beta keh tumne aur Asad yeh shaadi kehliye meri aur Zeenat ki wajase ha bola hai. Beta, mere aur Rashid keh beech joh bhi hua uske baad Asad koh shayad rishto se baroosa uthgaya hai. Usse logo koh accept karne mein bahut zyada samein lagtha hai," Dilshad told her as a faint smile graced her lips. "Main chathi hoon keh tum usse thoda waqt doh beta. Agar main tum dono mein se sabar ki umeed kissi se karsakthi hoon toh woh tum ho Zoya. Main jaanti hoon keh tum samaal logi," the mother in Dilshad said hopefully. Zoya just nodded not knowing what to say. Dilshad stood up and bent down placing a kiss on her forehead. After Dilshad left, Zoya looked around the empty room. This was it! This was going to be her life. Tonight was their suhaagraat. Allah miyan, no way! She said horrified. Asad wasn't expecting her to be his wife in that way, was he? No! He couldn't! He will not, her heart told her. But he was her husband, what about that truth will she change. As she sat on the bed waiting for him, Zoya felt like her heart would jump out of her chest anytime with the speed it was beating at. Her body felt stiff and her palms were sweating as stared at the door.
It seemed liked eternity before the door knob twisted and he walked in. Asad's heart skipped a few beats seeing the sight in front of him. There she sat...his dazzling bride. The glow of the candles and the luminance of the moon were making her look ravishing. They say that a girl looked best on her wedding day; at that moment, Asad felt like it was true. All through the evening, Asad has ignored her and tried to focus on other things. He had not spared her anything more a glance. But now, to be in his room and not have anything else that he could possibly distract himself with, her beauty hit him. She sat on the mattress with her knee pulled up to her chest. Dressed in a tomato red and gold lehenga, her hair was loosely curled to her shoulder. She had a matching ruby necklace and earrings along with a maang teeka that adorned the center of her head. She looked...she looked beautiful, breathtaking beautiful. His feet walked on their own accord as his eyes peered into her stature. Zoya sat there waiting. What was taking him so long? When she lifted her lashes up, Zoya saw something in his eyes that made her uncomfortable. Their orbs locked with each other and neither was able to look away. Asad was walking towards her when his feet staggered due to tripping over the carpet. "Mr. Khan," Zoya said shocked as she got off the bed and ran up to him. Thankfully, Asad managed to balance himself. However, as Zoya was walking up to him, her foot got entangled in her lehenga and she fell forward. Her arms snaked around his neck and his went to wrap around her waist. Zoya felt her temperature rise thousand folds when his hand touched her bare waist. Asad's eyes widened in realization as they both hit the ground with a thud. Her face hidden in his neck made him ticklish. She was about to break apart when a strand of hair locked around his sherwani's button prevented her from doing so. "Ouch," she said trying to pull the hair away. "Wait!" he scolded. He moved his head down so he could look at the joined hair and button. Zoya closed her eyes afraid of how close he was to her. His breath fanning her cheek making it turn pink on its own accord. When he said, "hogaya," Zoya quickly broke away and stood up fixing her dupatta. "Thank you," she mumbled stepping back from him, her heart still racing from the encounter seconds ago. "Aapko change karlena chahiye," he firmly stated. She just nodded her head as she turned on her heels and went towards the closet.
Dilshad had moved her things into the room yesterday itself so Zoya wouldn't have any trouble after the wedding. Zoya picked up a change of clothes and was about to walk into the bathroom when she realized that she had all this jewelry to get rid of. She turned to see him by the closet trying to get his own night clothes. "Mr. Khan?" she called out. He stopped what he was doing and looked towards her. "Aap change karlijiye, mujhe yeh sabh nikaal na hai toh main room mein change karlongi," she told him. Asad just silently nodded and went into the bathroom. Zoya pulled the dupatta off the head and took a seat in front of the dresser. She felt exhausted from everything that has happened through the past couple days. It was like life has taken a turn on its own will and she had no control over it. Zoya saw her reflection in the mirror and wasn't sure she knew the girl that was staring back at her. She was someone who made her own decisions. She has always been strong, independent. Zoya wanted to marry, have a family but she wanted the reason for her marriage to be love, not her mother's declining health or emotional blackmail. But, what's done was done? She can't change it now. Zoya was someone who fulfilled each relationship with her heart and she will try to do the same with this too, she decided. But, was it going to be that easy? To make a marriage last with no love or attachment with her husband? She thought as her eyes moistened. No, she wasn't going to cry. If Allah has chosen this for her, then there must be some good in all this, she consoled herself. Closing her eyelids to contain the tears, she started to remove her jewelry. Zoya was about to remove her bangles when her gaze fell on the two kangaans he had gifted her. His touch seem to linger in the air encircling the bands that adorned her wrists. Wait...why was she thinking about him? She should change and fall asleep before he returns, she thought. Zoya quickly wore her loose lime green salwar kameez, wrapped the lehenga and stuffed it in the cupboard, and made her comfortable on the sofa bed with the extra pillow and blanket on the bed. Asad, on the other hand, was sitting at the edge of the bath tub trying to comprehend what his life has become. A week ago, he was a free man who lived life according to his own way for the two important people in his life: his mother and his tamatar. However, now he had the responsibility of Zoya, who was his wife. Asad wasn't sure if he could fulfill the duty as a husband. Each man probably learned how to be a good husband or father from their own father. However, he had a bad example to look up to. Asad knew he could never become what his father was but somewhere deep down he was scared that he might. His father, rashid had been in love with his mother yet cheated on her. And he didn't even love Zoya. For some reason, he felt a sharp pain in his chest as a result of that thought. This is what life is Asad, you just have to learn to live with it, he assured himself.
When he returned to the room, Asad saw her sleeping on the sofa. Why was she sleeping here? He wondered. Was she uncomfortable in being in the same room as him? Of course she was Asad! When have you ever made her feel welcomed in this house, let alone in your room? Each time she had barged into her room, he had given her a lecture about tameez and thrown her out. Then, why was he upset that she has slept on the sofa bed. Wait...he wasn't upset! He was just being considerate, his brain retorted. Yup, just thoughtful, he assured as he lay down on the bed. When his gaze fell on her serene face, she looked so normal when she slept. Why couldn't she always be like this? Only if he was that lucky. Ever since Zoya had stepped into this house, his life was taken by a storm. She was a little mouse that needed to be constantly moving. She couldn't keep her hands still or her ideas to herself. Asad recalled her trying to bake a cake for his mother and how she had dropped his important CD in it. Or how she was securing the house, and in the process had made the living room a maze of wires, causing him to trip and break his phone. Or when she had outright disobeyed him and left at night to watch the meteor shower. She had challenged him at every end. And he hated that! All his life, Asad had been in control of his life and others in his house, well that is until he met her. She did something to him that was unexplainable. And now, he had signed up to deal with that unexplainable feeling for his life. A sigh escaped him as he closed his eyes, her face the last remembrance before he fell asleep.
The rays of the morning sun and the chirping of the birds broke her slumber. Zoya stretched her arms and sat up. Her neck felt uncomfortable with sleeping in the awkward position. She tried to twist her neck and slightly winced. Zoya got off the bed, took the pillow and blanket and placed them back on the bed. Grabbing a new set of clothes, she left for the bathroom to freshen up. Asad woke up when he heard the water in his bathroom running. Who was in his bathroom? How dare they? He thought alarmed. But as the tiredness weaved off, Asad remembered that he was married. "DAmmit! Main bhul kaise saktha hoon?" he yelled at himself as he threw the blanket off of him and got off the bed. Just then, the door of the bathroom opened and Asad saw an angel step out. She was dressed in a baby pink anarkarli. Her wet hair was dripping droplets of water down her left shoulder where her tresses lay. Asad was mesmerized seeing her so simple yet beautiful. Zoya looked up at him and something in his eyes stopped her in her tracks. She saw something that made her heart flutter. Lost in each other, they both failed to notice that someone was banging on the door. Zoya was the first one to realize that someone was at the door. "Lagtha hai kohi darwaaza pe hai," she told him quickly walking towards it. Zoya opened the door to notice Asad's cousins. "Wow Bhabhi...itni dher darwaaza khol ne mein, kya baat hai?" they teased. Zoya's cheeks instantly turned crimson while Asad uncomfortably ran to the bathroom. "Bhabhi...aap kya breakfast par intezaar horaha hai," they informed. "Main almost ready hoon, bas thodi dher mein main aur Mr. Khan aajayenge," Zoya told him and they left after a little bit more teasing. "Mr. Khan na bahut helpful hai! Jaise unke cousins koh dekhte hi bhaag gaye, Allah miyan what's wrong with him?" Zoya said to herself as she looked at the closed bathroom door. After drying her hair, she added some matching earrings and placed the dupatta around her neck. At that moment, Asad returned after taking a shower, dressed in a pair of black pants and a navy blue shirt. He opened the closet and was greeted by Zoya's bridal lehenga on his feet. "Ms. Farooqui, yeh kya hai?" Asad asked as he picked up the dress and walked out to Zoya. "Kya hua hai?" she questioned turning to him. "Aap cheeze samaal kar nahi raksakthi?" Asad said irritated. "Woh main kal raat aise hi rakh diya, main tired thi," Zoya explained. "Aise kaise cheeze kahi bhi rakhar aap chod dehti hai," he said getting angry. "Aap, ek kaam kijiye, bas daz minute kehliye yeh lehenga peheniye aur phir main dekhti hoon keh aap iske saath kya karte hai," Zoya retorted. "What?" Asad said shocked. "Kuch nahi, yeh mujhe dijiye main rakh dongi. Aur aap ready hojayiye, Ammi intezaar karahi hongi," Zoya informed as she snatched the lehenga from him and walked off. Asad couldn't believe she could be so rude. He just fumed and walked off to get his tie and suit.
After getting ready, they both walked out to the dining room for breakfast. Dilshad came up to them, "Bahut hi pyaare lagrahe ho," she exclaimed looking at the newlyweds. "Aajao," she told them ushering them to the table. Before they could walk further, a girl in a black and gold salwar kameez walked up to the couple. "Jammy, congratulations!" she said happily as she hugged Asad. Zoya felt a burning sensation rise up in her chest seeing the girl so close to Asad. "Tanu, humari shaadi kal thi," Asad told her. "Hume paata hai lekin kal tum itne busy the toh mujhe mauka nahi mile," Tanu replied. Zoya was staring at the two figures in front of her. She knew that Tanveer and Asad were childhood friends but she always felt awkward with Tanveer. The girl just didn't give her the good vibes. According to Zoya, she was just a little too chipkoo to everything. Though Tanveer lives in the Khan mansion half of the month and the rest back in her village where she ran her factory, she always made it seem that she was doing the Khan family a huge favor by living here. But, her Jammy only saw the best in his Tanu, her mind stated. Of course, she mumbled. "Aapne kuch kaha Zoya?" Tanveer said. "Nahi, kuch nahi," Zoya retorted. "Zoya, tume bura toh nahi lagraha haina keh hume aise Jammy se," Tanveer said referring to the hug as she broke apart from Asad. "Nahi Tanveer, main jaanti hoon keh tum aur Mr. Khan bachpan keh dost hai. Aur ek raat mein rishton keh naam badal the hai, dil mein joh ehsaas hai woh nahi," Zoya told Tanveer but her eyes were on Asad.
Thanks for the awesome comments, looking forward to your feedback on this chapter. Didn't really have time to proofread, so please ignore the mistakes 😃
Edited by asyasahil928 - 10 years ago
CID
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Cricket
124