Chapter 13
Their Room *I am using present tense (instead of past tense) now because it suits the situation better somehow.*
Asad enters the room swiftly and sees Zoya standing by the large window, lost in her thoughts. She doesn't notice him entering and closing the door gently. The room looks different. More spacious, and more homely. The sofa has been removed. There are tiny bulbs of different colors twinkling everywhere like fireflies, and the room smells heavenly.
Asad leans against the window, watching her. Finally she notices him and smiles warmly at him. This is the first time Asad is getting to observe her directly today, and he can't get enough of it. She is looking absolutely breath-taking. The red dress is like made for her, her hair flowing around with the breeze, her warm smile at him, and those big deep eyes lined with kajal, the atmosphere, every single thing about the moment is just so perfect, so Utopian. It all makes him feel so ethereal that he finds himself speechless and utterly unable to say or think of anything. The moment is too good, too small and too full of emotions...he can't explain it, not even to himself. He just holds her and scoops her in for a hug. She rests her head on his chest and her hands around him. Breathing in the sweet fragrance of her hair, he smiles, content and happy.
Asad: It feels like a dream.
Zoya: I know. I have always dreamt about this day, but never in my dreams has it been so so blissful. It's like...this is heaven, and I am right here with my family.
He places a kiss on her forehead. She leans against the window and he stands facing her, his arms still wrapped around her body.
Asad: What were you thinking about?
Zoya: I was just thinking about Ammi. She would have been so happy if she was here.
Asad makes her turn and face the sky. Standing beside her, he points at the stars:
"You see that? That's where your Ammi is and she is always watching over you. And she is very happy. Plus she won't like it if her daughter gets sad today.
Zoya: How do you know that?
Asad: Because she came to me yesterday, and said this. And I made a promise to her as well. I will never hurt her little Zoya. So, Mrs. Zoya Asad Ahmed Khan...today you are not to be sad, okay? Not today, not ever. You will always stay happy, promise?
Teary-eyed, she hugs him.
Asad: Now now...please don't make me break my promise. Don't cry please!
She punches him.
Zoya: You are so adorable Mr. Khan!
Asad: And uh, she asked you to make a promise to me as well.
Zoya: Oh really? And what is that?
Asad: There are three clauses actually. First one, you will not do any silly thing before informing me. I am not...I mean she's not saying that you take my permission, you just inform me, okay? Second one, I am to be your first priority always...
Zoya: Mhmm...and?
Asad: And third and final one, you never call me with any name other than Asad again.
Zoya: Wow Mr. Asad...and doesn't my Ammi want me to take care of myself?
Asad: Oh that's my responsibility! She knew she didn't have to say it.
Zoya laughs loudly. Pulling his cheeks, she grins cheekily with the Why-Are-You-So-Adorable expression. He smiles and adds:
And she said keep smiling like that, always.
Zoya gives him another smile and squeezes his hand. They stand together, staring at the sky. After a while,
Zoya: You must think that I am never serious...always going on and on about silly things and behaving like an immature kid and all na?
Asad keeps mum, knowing that she doesn't want to be interrupted.
You know, you are right about that. I am not blaming you, I am just really thankful that you kept pointing out my mistakes and stuff, like I did yours. You have given me a lot of time and opportunity for self-reflection and I am really grateful for that. Before, I was actually very immature, and foolish and stuff. I...now when I look back, I realize how irritating and annoying I must have been to you. Of course, you were as annoying to me as well. What I mean to say is that, after meeting you I have become a wayy better person, and so have you. And that is just awesome. It's like I dunno...we kind of bring out the best in each other.
Asad: You know Ammi said that to me yesterday. She said we complement and complete each other. And I know it's true. And don't regret anything, because had we been different...I don't know where we would have been today. May be together, may be not. So let's not dwell over the past, and let's just be happy about the fact that we are together.
Zoya nods.
Resting her hand over his chest, she wipes a black spot on his face. She looks up at him and he wraps his arm around her naturally.
Zoya: Can I ask you something?
Asad: (arching his eye brow) You need my permission?
Zoya smiles.
Asad: Okay go on.
Zoya: Are...are you scared? Scared about what'd happen?
Asad's face goes blank for a second, and his hold on her waist tightens.
Asad: You know, before I lived for Ammi, Tamatar, Ayan and Ashok. I am sorry I didn't mention him before. He is kind of a secret agent, and with your detective skills, well you know! *she smacks him* Okay so before I never thought about myself. But after you, after I realized that I had fallen for you, I was scared, and angry. I was always worried to death whenever you weren't around. I...I couldn't explain my thoughts. I couldn't control them, and it was driving me crazy. So I used to take it out on you, which I am really very very sorry about. I can never see you hurt, yet I was always the reason you got hurt. And that drove me more crazy. With time, I came to slowly accepting my feelings...and then you decided to leave. I didn't want you to go, but I couldn't say it as well. The two months you were gone...it was like so many centuries for me. That's been the worst part of my life. And then the day you came back, I couldn't believe it. I was so happy, I was in heaven literally. I decided to tell you everything, I decided I wasn't letting you go again...and then one day, out of nowhere I have cancer. You can't imagine how it felt. It was...devastating. That day, keeping it all in, having you so close yet so far...I was a broken man. Now I am happy that we are together, that you are my wife, but I am scared when I think of the future. I am not scared about me. I am scared about all of you. I don't want any of you suffer. And you, I haven't spent any time with you. We have so many things to do...so many memories to make. But most of all, if anything happens to me, what would you do? You will be shattered, and there will be no one to ease that pain. You were gone to New York only for two months, and I died thousand deaths everyday. So I can't even imagine what it would be like for you if I will be gone forever? It scares me to death Zoya. I...I can't even think about it. My Ammi, Tamatar, Ayan, Ashok...they will all be so hurt and broken, I...I don't know.
Zoya wipes away the tears rolling down his face and kisses him, slowly.
Zoya: Asad...let's start making our memories.
She wants to take all his pain away. She can't see him like that. Their tears come together and leave a salty taste in their mouths...but they are beyond caring now. Asad has her pinned against the wall, as their lips savor each other...
o.O.o
The After-Party
*Here, Asad is dressed in a black suit and she is in a red simple saree.*
Ayan: Bhaijaan aur Bhabhijaan abhi bhi kitne tired nai dikh rahe Ashok Bhaiya?
Ashok and the girls laugh as Zoya blushes.
Asad: Ayan!!
Ayan laughs and hugs his brother.
Ayan: I will miss you Bhai. Take care, main har waqt Allah se aapke lie dua karunga. Bahut jald main aapke paas hoonga, and bahut jald aap yahaan wapaas honge, mujhe Mukka Ahmed Khan ki dhamki dete hue! A
sad hugs him hard.
Asad: Take care Ayan. And remember, I will always love you. Just...don't worry, okay?
Ayan: Bhaijaan...please don't cry. Aapko kuch nai hoga, I can guarantee that. I-Bhaijaan-
He breaks down.
Asad hushes him like a baby.
Asad: Shh...don't cry. I will be okay, okay? Ro mat...
Nikhat, Najma & Nuzhat join in the hug and everyone is teary-eyed.
o.O.o
Zoya hugs Humaira tightly.
Zoya: Humi...I love you little sister. Take care, okay? Take care of Ayan also. Okay?
Humaira: Appi you don't worry very much and take care. Asad Jeeju is very good amd strong, unhe kuch nai hoga. And I will call you everyday, theek h? Aap tension mat lena.
Zoya kisses her on her forehead.
Zoya: Yes my baby girl!
And in some minutes, Ayan, Nikhat, Nuzhat, Humaira and Rashid leave with the four kids crying endlessly. Asad walks away, followed by Ashok. And Zoya walks off in another direction. Najma goes after her.
o.O.o
Zoya: I am okay. I will go find Asad.
Everyone hears her call him Asad, but nobody comments. It's just not the time. Zoya goes off to look for him in the house.
o.O.o
Asad: ...so you see, I am 100% sure that Razia & Gaffur Siddiqui, her Abbu only killed her Ammi and left Zoya to die with her Ammi. But we need proof, I want them to suffer. Promise me Ashok, even if something happens to me, you will still make sure that they pay for it.
Ashok: Shut up Asad. Nothing will happen to you. And we will make those bast**** pay. What they have done is just unbelievable and so inhumane. Allah, Zoya doesn't know right?
Asad: No...and I hope she never gets to know about it. She has already suffered so much, this would be the ultimate shock. She won't be able to stand it. Ashok: Shit man, people like that deserve to rot in hell. You take of yourself and Zoya, I will take care of this, okay?
Asad nods.
Ashok: We've been here long enough, let's go.
They turn to leave, and they see Zoya standing there, shell shocked. Asad flinches at all of their bad luck and Ashok moves to leave. The couple needs their lone time.
Zoya stares at him, her eyes stone cold.
Zoya: Is it true?
Asad pleads with his eyes.
Zoya: Is it true Asad? Did my Abbu...did Gaffur Siddiqui kill my Ammi?
Asad: Zoya I am not sure, I-
Zoya: I heard everything. Whatever you told him, is all of that true? Mr. Khan I am asking you something!
Asad gives a slight nod.
Zoya takes a deep breathe.
Zoya: Well then we will wait for it to be proved, and if it is proved, I want them to suffer just like my Ammi did. I want him to die.
Asad is alarmed at her cold behaviour. This is worse. She can't bottle it all up and become like what he used to be. It'd be terrible for her. She needs to express her grief.
Zoya: You wonder why I am not crying, right? That's because I have already cried my whole life for a guy who doesn't deserve even a drop of my tear. I am not going to cry for someone who killed my Ammi, who wanted to kill me. He destroyed my Ammi, I will destroy him.
Asad: Zoya--
Zoya: Let's go. Guests are leaving, and they are looking for you.
Asad grips her hand and stops her from leaving.
Asad: This is not you. Don't bottle it all up, that's not the way you do it. It hurts way more that way.
Zoya: Honestly I have nothing to say. I have no tears left to cry, no regrets left except that I craved for this kind of man my whole life. But I don't regret that either because hadn't I craved for him, I would never have been here or known the truth. He would never have paid for his sins. So I am okay. Absolutely fine. You need not worry.
Asad: Zoya-
Zoya: Let's go Mr. Khan. We will talk about this later.
Asad watches her walk away like a zombie, straight and emotionless. He shoots his accusing eyes upwards at Allah, and goes after her.
The whole time outside, she smiles, talks to everyone like nothing is wrong and doesn't let anybody even guess that something is wrong.
Asad watches her go around normally like a robot, and with every smile she throws, every laugh she laughs, he feels himself getting more panicky. Even the last of guests leave,
Ashok leaves promising to return tomorrow. When he tries to talk to Zoya, she says she wants her Ammi's murderers to suffer, and that they would talk about it later because she doesn't want anyone else to know that she knows.
Zoya: I will request you guys only this thing. Don't tell anyone the fact that I know about this, please. They have already got enough worries in their plate...I don't want them worried about me as well. Can you two please do that?
Ashok nods.
Asad: Only on the condition that you will talk to me about it...freely.
Zoya (sighs): Okay.
And when everyone retires into their rooms, wishing Asad and Zoya goodnight and already thinking about what awaits them the next day,
Asad Zoya enter their rooms. There is an awkward silence.
Zoya's POV
I just can't believe it. How can someone be so evil? So cruel?
And why me Allah Miyaan? Why should anyone ever face something this disturbing?
My head is spinning. What am I to do? Everything I have believed my whole life is gone. Broken with the hands of the same man I have always craved for.
F*** him. F*** this damn life.
And...I can't let anyone worry about me. Everyone is already shit scared, this will only make it worse than it ever can be. I wish Mr. Khan didn't know that I know. I wish I had hidden myself or something. But my brain wasn't working. Anyways what's done is done. He knows. And he is confused and panicking. He has never seen this being this cold...this emotionless. He...I have to assure him that I am okay. I can't let him worry about me. But what should I do?
They look at each other awkwardly.
Asad comes to her and takes her hand in his. He rubs her fingers and tries to ease the tension in her. She stares at him silently having no clue what to say.
He makes her sit on the bed and hugs her close, patting her hair and saying sweet nothings to her.
He tells her about what Dilshad told him about their childhood. How Rashid had left her near the orphanage, how she was in the hospital, how Dilshad found her, took care of her, how Zoya called Dilshad her Ammi and wouldn't let go of her. He tells her how they fought for Dilshad, and then he tells her how she cried when she had to leave without Dilshad, and about all the things that happened in their life afterwards.
At some point, tears roll down both of their eyes, and they hold each other tight, crying for each other, soothing each other. And holding each other, they lie down and...
o.O.o
A/N:
Was it good? Okay? Lemme know :)
Many of you might be thinking that I am just dragging the story & haven't started on the main plot of Asad's caner yet, but trust me, these are all the main points and the loose ends that need to be taken care of before they leave for New York.
Also I have rushed few things like the interaction between Asad & his siblings, interaction between Appi, Zoya and Jeeju and stuff. So you guys are free to imagine those things, because if I write all of that this story would take double the time to go on.
The story after this point is going to get a bit depressing, with everyone facing severe emotional distress and everything...you will see. People change a lot under that kind of tension. So don't be surprised by anything (anything that is logical enough psychologically)...I can at least guarantee that they will be together at the end.
Next update will be on Sunday hopefully.
I'd like to take leave with this quote which I always try to stand by:
Take care ❤️
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