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Happy Birthday Zoya.
I despised that sentence. I felt as if someone's mocking my existence. Because when your parents are least bothered about you, why will the rest of the world care?
I'm Zoya Sidduiqui, the only daughter of Gaffur and Razia Sidduiqui, a well known name in business industry. I've grown up with all the luxuries but what I've been deprived of is love. My parents have time for every thing except me.
As always, I was sitting in my room, studying, while my parents were conducting a business party down there. And as always, they had no clue it was their daughter's birthday. I did not expect them to, but like everytime I had that little hope in me dashed again.
Feeling tears seep into my eyes, I kicked away my books in anger and walked out of my room into the terrace. The slow, soft breeze did calm down my anger a bit but tears begin to flow down my face. I did not expect much from them, they never did any such thing for me that made me expect more from them.
Was it my fault that I was unwanted? My fault that my mother didn't want me because she was so busy in her own social life? My fault that my father wanted a son to lead their business? And when I was born, they did not even spare a glance at me. Keeping me with them was just name sake, but it would've been better if they had thrown me into an orphanage or something, it was better than the indifference.
"Hey" I heard a deep, concerned voice which brought a halt to my monologue. "You crying?"
I turned to see an extremely handsome face, that would be an understatement. His beautifully sculpted face, those deep ocean blue eyes could put any Greek God to shame. As I realized I was shamelessly ogling at the handsome stranger, I reluctantly drew my gaze away.
"The party's downstairs" I spoke, and I saw what he was wearing and turned away.
"I know. But I hate such boring business parties, so I thought to venture" He replied and stood beside me and saw me wipibg my tears.
"And why are you not in the party?" He asked
"I was not invited" I replies through gritted teeth.
"But you're the daughter of Mr. Sidduiqui"
"Yeah. For namesake" I mumbled But I'm sure he heard me.
"Why are you crying?" He said after a while, His voice grew so soft that it was almost inaudible.
"That shouldn't be your business Mr..."
"Khan. Asad Ahmed Khan" He spoke and forwarded his hand towards me. I did not take his hand and he had to retrieve.
Asad Ahmed Khan. I've heard that name somewhere.
"You know, you can share your problems with me. I am a good listener" He said with a sweet smile.
"Please, Mr. Khan, it would be better if you go downstairs and stop disturbing me" I replied. I knew I was being rude, which was so not me, but I wanted to be alone and the presence of this handsome stranger was distracting.
"You're already disturbed, I just want to make you feel better" He said in a gentle voice and I could feel my heart melting. No one had ever said that, forget doing. No one made any effort to make her feel good and special but here this handsome stranger was offering it.
Sighing, I turned to face him, "Why? Why the hell are you so interested in me? In making me feel better? I'm fine the way I am" I spoke bitterly, as tears slipped from my eyes.
"I can't see you in tears" He mumbled to himself but I heard it. I whipped my head and met his eyes which were locked on me. I felt myself loosing into them. I saw him lifting his hand and softly wipe away a stray tear on my cheek. The feeling of his touch made my heartbeat faster and I had no idea why.
I looked away, breaking the connection and folded my arms across my chest. A while of silence, after which I started to speak.
"It's my birthday today" I spoke
"Really?" He looked at me, excited. "Happ.."
"Don't" I stopped him, "Don't wish me." He looked at me confused.
I broke into sobs "I hate when someone wishes me. It's like mocking me, I hate it. I hate my existence, I hate..."
"Hey..." He cupped my face, "Sshh...Don't say that" He pleaded softly as if my words were hurting him.
"Then what should I do?" I cried, "My parents themselves don't remember the day their daughter was born, they're least interested to remember it. Because I wasn't something they had planned and my existence ruined their plans. They don't love me neither do thay hate me, because they just don't know me. They never bothered to know about me!" I was shaking with sobs now as the handsome stranger held me.
"Normally when a child comes to the world, it is showered by love, care and attention. But I don't remember any such thing showered on me except indifference. I was deprived of all these feelings..." I sobbed as tears kept rolling down my cheeks.
"No one gives a damn about me. They'd probably be rejoicing if I left them, if something happens to me..."
He immediately placed a finger on my lips, forbidding me to say anything more. I looked at him and met his eyes which were red, holding a sea of emotions.
"Never" He spoke in a firm voice, "Never say that again"
I kept looking at him, confused why my words were affecting him so much. He didn't even know my name, I was just a stranger for him. He gently cupped my face and wiped away my tears, as I closed my eyes.
"You have no idea how much your presence matters to someone" He spoke in an extremely gentle tone.
"Huh...you're lying" I shrugged
"I'm not" His voice was firm and determined.
I looked up at him and could see the honesty in his eyes. Was there really someone to whom my presence matters? Why was my heart compelling her to believe this stranger?
"Why is there so much hatred in your heart for yourself...you have a beautiful heart, which is only capable to love. So what if no one loves you? You love yourself, that's the only thing that should matter, right? You know you can never satisfy every person you know. You've spent your whole life in hope to finding love from your parents that you've forgotten to love yourself. You're a beautiful person, inside and out. Learn to love yourself"
I was completely lost in his words, and hating to admit it but he was damn right. All my life, I did things such as fighting from boys at school, or getting an A grade was all to get my parents' attention, but to no avail. And in all this mess, I rarely used to get time for myself and I was coming to realize that now.
"I'll be back" He blinked his eyes and releasing his hands from me, he started to go.
I immediately looked up, wide-eyed. "No. Don't go" I shook my head, I didn't want him to leave yet.
He smiled, "Just a second" and dissappeared while I was left to collect my thoughts.
I was not the expressive one, I rarely used to show my emotions, I had them locked in my heart. But this handsome stranger had started to make a place in my heart only by saying a few words. What was happening? There was never anyone to say such words to console her. She never had shared her sorrows to anyone but him, a stranger, a rather handsome one. Why?
"Hey" I heard him and looked up smiling as I saw him entering again but what surprised me was he had a chocolate pastry in his hands with a small candle on it. I was overwhelmed with emotions on this gesture, he had brought it for my birthday.
He came and stood in front of me with the pastry in his hands, a dimpled smile playing on his lips. "Happy Birthday Zoya"
Tears sprang into my eyes, but this time they were because I was so overwhelmed with happiness. I kept looking at him with blurry eyes until he reached out and wiped my tears before they could fall.
"Come on, blow the candle and make a wish" He spoke excitedly, "And wish for yourself" He added with a wink.
I nodded and closed my eyes, I wished for some miracle to happen that this handsome stranger never leaves my side, that him to be always there with me. His presence made me feel better, alive.
I opened my eyes and saw him smiling at me, as if he knew what I'd wish for. "Blow the Candle" He whispered and I blew the candle while he clapped and sang a birthday song for me. Since there was no knife, I took a piece of the pastry and offered it to him as he ate it. He took a small piece and offered me, as I was about to eat it, he rubbed it on my cheek and laughed.
I stood there with my mouth wide open. "You!" I screamed and rubbed the whole pastry on his face as he tried to run away. He took some of it from his face and threw it on me as I giggled. Laughing at each other and our madness, we were trying to clean ourselves.
I kept giggling as I wiped the remains of the cake from my face when I looked up at him, he seemed mesmerized and his eyes held a soft emotion. Coming closer, he placed a hand on my cheek and whispered, "Keep smiling Zoya"
"Who are you? Why are you doing this? We're merely strangers. And..." I asked naively.
He laughed at my innocent question and replied, "I might be a stranger to you Zoya, but you're not a stranger to me"
"What do you mean?" I asked, confused. Did he knew me before?
He was going to reply when I gasped, "And how do you know my name? I never told you"
He chuckled, "Because...you're not a stranger to me" He replied naughtily and winked.
"Tell me na" I frowned and he smiled at my expressions. He lead me to the swing on the terrace and made me sit as he sat beside me, taking a deep breath he started to speak.
"Actually Zoya, I saw you first at your Dad's office, I had been there for a meeting with him when I saw you at the reception, you were smiling and talking to the receptionist and I was mesmerized by your smile, I wanted to come to you, talk to you but my feet were jammed. After a while you entered your father's cabin and I waited for you to return and when you did, I was shocked to see the eyes which were sparkling with happiness a while ago were filled with tears. They pinched my heart Zoya, I wanted to do anything and everything to erase the pain They held."
I looked at him in awe. The incident he was talking about was a few months ago when I had topped my exams and wanted to share them with my father but all his response was a 'hmm' and nothing else other than 'you've come here to disturb me for this' and my heart was broken. I remember rushing out of his building in tears and placing myself on the bench on the garden, as I cried.
"Then I saw you rushing out and I followed you. I saw you crying while sitting on the bench of the garden and all I wanted to do was to wipe your tears. I was about to walk towards you when my father called me and we had to proceed to the meeting. When I came back you were gone. On inquiring the receptionist, I got to know you were Mr. Sidduiqui's daughter Zoya. I decided not to inquire much becuase I believed if meeting you again is in destiny then I'll surely find my w ay towards you" He smiled at me as tears began to seep into my eyes. I was about to sat something when he continued,
"A couple of days later, when I was visiting the orphanage for some work, I saw you playing with the kids there and it seemed as if the world had stopped. I had wished and prayed To Allah to see you again and I couldn't believe that my prayers were answered. You were laughing as you played with them and I realized it was something more than just attraction what I had started to feel for you."
He spoke with soft eyes and tone and I felt myself blushing as I realized what he meant. Did he really start to admire me so much?
"Then I occasionally used to visit the orphanage in hope to see you and sometimes when I got lucky. You had completely took over my mind and heart Zoya. I just couldn't get your beautiful face out of my mind, not that I wanted to. My family thought I had lost my mind" He chuckled making me chuckle too.
"I never realized when I had fallen in love with you" He whispered looking at me.
I gasped and my eyes shot towards him. This was crazy. A guy whom I had seen for the first time, knew me from a couple of months before and, was here holding my hand and confessing his love for me. His eyes weren't lying and I could see that clearly but still...
"I know this might sound crazy to you but this is the truth" My eyes widened as he spoke what I was thinking.
"I had even sent a proposal for you after telling to my family who were over the moon to hear that." He smiled and shook his head.
Wait a second. Asad Ahmed Khan. Ya Allah! He was the same man my father told me about, him and his proposal which I had outright rejected.
"But you rejected my proposal and even though I was hurt I decided that maybe we were not meant to be together" He sighed.
"Abbu told me about your proposal" She spoke and he looked at her.
With tears in her eyes, she spoke, "I had rejected your proposal without knowing anything because I was afraid, afraid to be treated as a commodity. I knew Abbu could do anything for money, even if it includes putting me at stake. I was afraid, because all my life I've seen my parents who are married in the eyes of the world but they don't really care for each other, forget love. Busy in their own worlds, they don't even have time for each other, I didn't want such a life. I wanted a normal life, I wanted someone who even if is not well off, but loves me the way I am, not just marries me for the sake of it"
I could see the pain mirroring in his eyes, I knew he could feel each and everything I spoke. He gentl y lifted my hand and placed a tender kiss on my Palm. My breath got stuck in my throat as I felt his lips grazing my Palm.
"I love you Zoya. Only you, forever" He promised me as he confessed his love yet again.
"And I can never think of treating you like that. You're a princess Zoya, my princess. And I want to shower you with just happiness and fill your life with joy so much, that there would be no place for sorrows" He spoke as he wiped my tears away. We sat there, looking into each other's eyes for a while, when he spoke,
"But there's a problem Zoya..."
"What?" I asked.
"I'm a wealthy businessman" He pouted. I narrowed my eyes at him and we burst out laughing.
"No problem. I can deal with that" I commented and he raised his brows.
"So, is that a yes?" He asked, excitedly.
"For what?" I asked, blushing as I realized what I had spoken. He chuckled.
"About my proposal" He whispered huskily, sending shivers dowm my spine.
"Asad..." I whispered and he looked at me with love. "What?" I asked.
"I love the way you say my name" He said lovingly and smiled, making her blush.
"Asad I...actually.. " I stuttered when he placed his hand on mine, pressing it.
"I know Zoya. You can have all the time in the world. I'm not going anywhere and neither am I letting you" He spoke mischievously and I stared at him in awe at how well he understood me.
"I love you, birthday girl!" He spoke and pulled me towards him, placing his arms towards me. Giggling, I hugged him back.
"This is the best birthday ever" I whispered against his chest and could feel it vibrate as he chuckled and snuggled further into me.
I knew it was a long way for us, but in my heart I knew, he was my soulmate.
Life is crazy. It can make you feel hopeless in a second and it can give you the world in a moments as well. Zoya had no idea how her life will be changed in just a few moments. Well, that's life. If it takes something away, it gives something better to you. You just have to have faith in the Almighty and yourself.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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