Hello People,
I know I have been a very bad writer to have kept you all waiting for so long for the next part, but really, trust me things have not been in my control with so much happening around me that I really didn't have time for IF. If I would have sat down and replied to your lovely comments, I wouldn't have had time to write. So I chose the latter and am here with the next part to this story. I really really hope you all like it as I wrote it in bits and pieces and then just put it together.
This one goes out to all you lovely people who remembered my Mother in this time of need. All your prayers have been answered and she's coming back home today all hail n hearty.
I will try and reply to your comments this time. But am not promising as life has just been too mean this past month. Don't know how it will treat me in the coming days. Hope you all will understand.
Chapter 13
It had been almost a week that Asad and Zoya had been working in collaboration on the project. After the initial read through on the details, they had both prepared a presentation on what they thought they could do on it. They had together given the presentation followed by a question and answer session with the board members of both the companies. Everyone seemed impressed with the teamwork that they had put in. Though Asad openly accepted everyone calling them a powerhouse team, Zoya always tried avoiding such comments. Asad had never enjoyed his work so much, he got to spend all his time with her around and talking to each other like they had at the seminar. But for Zoya it had been mixed feelings. She had enjoyed his presence around herself, his little comments, indirect flirting and sometimes direct approach had made her experience so many emotions that she felt giddy sometimes. On many occasions she had found herself biting her cheek to stop her smile. She had on many occasions felt her resolution weaken because of the increasing closeness and that is what she was scared of.
As they both wrapped up their belongings after the presentation they saw Mr. Kapoor quickly walking in their direction. "After this brilliant presentation, I want you both to take the rest of the day off. I can see the hard work that you both have put in. So, now quickly gather your things and off you both go". They both looked at him stunned and then back at each other. "But where will we go?" He heard Zoya say. Asad felt the corners of his lips moving up almost ready for a smile to break out. "Now! Are you both kids that need to be told what you're supposed to do when you get a day off?" "But Sir, I really don't need the day off" Zoya protested. "Yes you do Zoya, I have seen how hard you have worked on this initial presentation and trust me girl, there is much more that needs to be done later. You will need all the rest you can get now. Once the project is on, then don't expect any leniency" Mr. Kapoor said walking away from them.
Understanding this to be one of his attempts to let them have some time alone, Asad looked at Zoya who looked back at him with equal confusion. "So! What do you have in mind that we should do as we have all evening" "Head home and sleep, didn't you hear Mr. Kapoor said we both will need all the rest we can get now" saying so Zoya picked her belongings and started walking towards the door when she felt a tug. She turned around and saw Asad holding onto one side of her handbag preventing her from moving ahead. "Now don't be such a bore Zo. Let's go some place. Nothing fancy or intimate, I know you don't want any of that. But am sure something as simple as a coffee should be OK".
"Zo? Where did that come from? And why are you trying to be so chummy with me?" Asad chuckled at her expression "Zo came from Zoya, you see I would like to call you that, my personal nickname for you" he said sincerely "and about me getting chummy, well, we are friends, I haven't forgotten our bond from three years ago and I won't let you forget either" he said smiling brightly at her. "I can't go Asad, I'd rather spend time at home with Ammi" "So I can have coffee with you and Ammi, I wouldn't mind that". Zoya looked at him trying to say something but could only manage to move her lips with no sound. Huffing she pulled at her bag and walked out the room with Asad laughing behind her. He too quickly made his way out the room and in the direction of the elevators. He caught up with her and seeing her expression he too stopped with his teasing. As they stepped out the elevator and walked side by side out the building Asad noticed that she was very serious about not going out with him.
Zoya had taken just a step away from him when he called out to her "Zoya!" She turned around hearing the urgency in his voice. "I understand that you don't want to acknowledge anything that happened between us three years ago, don't want to remember any of it. But now, I mean today we have succeeded as a team, am sure celebrating with your partner should not be an issue with you". She was just about to decline his offer again when she saw how sad his eyes looked right at that moment. She cursed herself for causing so much pain to him and then for the first time in three years she did as her heart wanted and gently nodded her head agreeing to go out with him. She saw the widest smile spread across his lips which did soothe the constant pain her heart had been feeling. That one smile easing her heart of so much pain as her whole body felt a sense of relief wash over it.
"Thanks you" "For what?" "For agreeing to celebrate our success" "Don't be silly, I realized that we could, rather we should celebrate our first success" smiling at her Asad asked "So where do you want to go?" "There's a cafe just round the corner if you don't mind a local outlet rather than the fancy ones that would cost a bomb as compared to this little place" she said looking in the direction of the cafe. "Anything will do as long as you're with me" Zoya looked back at him and saw pure love in his eyes, that one sentence causing her heart to pick up pace. She took a deep breath to slow her heart down and then nodding her head she started walking in the direction of the cafe. Asad sighed, letting out the breath he was holding. Both walked in silence thinking about what the other felt right at the moment. They knew that they both had very different feelings about spending time together like this.
As they neared the cafe Asad stepped forward and opened the door for her. She faintly smiled at him and entered then looked around for a table for them to sit at. Asad stood next to her admiring the cozy cafe and felt satisfied with her selection. This definitely was way better than what any leading coffee chain could offer them. It was small and by the looks of it seemed to be run by a family. Every thing looked personalized. Unlike the walls of a big cafe that were usually brightly painting, the walls here were covered with floral wall paper in creme and pink which was a relief to the eyes and even the chairs and tables were low sitting where one could truly lounge and enjoy their coffee rather than plush couches and straight back chairs that one found in the newer cafe's.
Asad smiled at Zoya telling her he liked the place and then nodded his head towards the counter for them to place their order. As they ordered their coffees they heard the door open followed by a lot of noise. They both turned around and saw a large group of boys and girls enter. Not thinking much of it they turned back around waiting for their order. As the lady at the counter assembled the order she gave a disapproving look at the group who didn't seem to care a bit about their surroundings. Asad too followed her glance and noticed two of them staring blatantly at Zoya. He looked back at her and saw how uncomfortable she was. Quickly taking their order he held her hand and tugged at it for her to follow. Trying to take the table farthest from the group, Asad took her to one of the tables at the far corner of the cafe and as they settled he looked back at the boys who still had vicious smile on their faces.
Asad turned around and saw that Zoya was very uncomfortable with them staring constantly at her. He placed his hand over hers drawing her attention to himself. "Are you OK? I mean do you want to go back?" Zoya looked at him feeling overwhelmed with his little gesture. She felt a sense of protectiveness, something she'd felt when her father was around. She shook her head in the negative and picked up her cup. Inhaling deeply she let the aroma of her coffee sooth her senses and then exhaled in a woosh. She opened her eyes and saw Asad looking at her intently. Raising her eyebrows she asked "Why are you looking at me like that?" "Nothing. Haven't seen anyone do that before" "I love the smell of coffee, it somehow soothes me from within making me feel happy and relaxed" "Will remember for future reference. If nothing else would work, I would still have one way to make you happy".
As he said that, Zoya looked at him realizing that the man sitting in front of her would not give up. "You won't give up is it?" Asad smiled at her question and looking deep in her eyes he shook his head in the negative. What followed was complete silence that was thick with emotions. By now both knew for sure that the feeling of love was mutual but one was ready to embrace it with all his heart all his being and the other was still trying to run away from it. Not able to contain his curiosity anymore Asad asked her "Can I ask you a question?" Zoya nodded her head "Why are you denying what's between us? Am sure it's nothing to do with me or there wouldn't have been what I see in your eyes. Then what is it?" Zoya looked out the window trying to gather her thoughts, she didn't want him to believe that these small outings and this whole working together thing would get him what he wanted. She looked back at him but before she could voice her thoughts she looked over his shoulder and noticed those boys sitting right behind Asad and staring at her. She felt uncomfortable and shift her chair to the side trying to block their view with Asad between them.
Asad noticed her sudden discomfort and looked over his shoulder. He noticed that the two boys had taken seats right behind him whereas their group was seated on the other side of the cafe. They were again ogling at Zoya with absolutely no shame. He stood up and turned around, pushing the chairs aside with one sweep of his hand, he bent forward and placed both his hands on their table. Glaring at them menacingly he said "Is there anything I can help you with?" As soon as the boys saw the buldge of his biceps, the throbbing of a vein in his temple and the look in his eyes they both shook their heads vigorously in the negative. Asad continued "Good! I want you both to get up, apologize to her for the discomfort you have caused and quietly walk back to where your group is". The boys got up in a haste and stuttering their sorries scurried away towards their group not once looking back at Asad and Zoya.
He turned around and saw Zoya looking at him with a worried expression. "Are you OK?" "Yes I am. But what did you just do? What if they'd done something? What if they were not these college boys but some goons? What if there was a fight and something happened to you? Did you not think about anything before doing what you just did? What would I have done?" Asad looked at how scared she was. He realized, that as much as he was successful in scaring the boys away, he had scared her too. He took a step closer to her and kneeled down beside her. Holding her hand he squeezed it reassuringly and said "Nothing will happen to me Zoya. Don't worry so much... I... I couldn't stand how they looked at you, how uncomfortable they made you. I couldn't have let them go on with it. No one! No one has the right to look at you like that" "But you can't take on everyone who does it. This is such a common thing around Delhi Asad. How many people will you stop? How many people will you scare away and most importantly, how many people will you take on?"
Asad looked at her for a few seconds before he answered in a whisper filled with so much emotion that she felt her body break out into goosebumps "For you... Everyone" Zoya gasped and a whisper of his name escaped her lips. Trying to smile to lighten the mood that had become tense Asad got up pulling at her hand a little making her stand too.They walked towards the door and looking one last time over his shoulder at the boys Asad led Zoya out the cafe. Neither realized they were still holding hands, they started walking back towards their office. All along Zoya felt a sense of belonging taking over her mind and soul. It had been three years she had been looking after her Ammi and herself. She felt relieved at the thought that there was someone who would look after her too. Though she knew that it was wrong to depend on Asad for this as she had been pushing him away, but what he did today did manage to warm her heart to the extent that she felt happy that they had met once again. From the corner of her eyes she kept looking at him, her heart fluttering every time he looked back at her and her mind telling her that maybe this wasn't as bad an idea as it seemed.
P.S. Please hit the like button and do leave me some feedback guys. If I can take time out from looking after 2 ill parents, then am sure you guys too can spare 2 minutes to leave me some feedback. Hope to get a better response this time around.
P.S.S. Next update after I get 85+ likes
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