Chapter NineAsad stood at the foot of the stairs the next morning and watched as Zoya came down dressed in her red bridal attire. She unable to handle Asad's stare at her, looked down nervously while clutching the end of her dupatta tightly.
Asad tried to avert his gaze, but it was hard to keep from staring at her. He had never seen a sight more beautiful. You...you look nice.' he said, hesitatingly. 'You didn't need to dress up on my account.'
Zoya looked up at him, surprised by the sudden change in his tone. 'Don't flatter yourself, Mr. Khan. I didn't do it to impress you.' She said angrily, and then walked past him.
He watched her go and couldn't stop wondering Why had she done it?
Zoya sat silently in front of Asad half an hour later as the brief ceremony was performed. Kya aapko Asad Ahmad Khan se ye Nikkah Qubool Hai?'
She looked up nervously and bit her lip as it began to tremble. She couldn't utter a word as the guilt of deceiving Asad was weighing on her. She heard the Qazi asking again, 'Zoya Faaroqui, Kya aapko Asad Ahmad Khan se ye Nikkah Qubool Hai.' Even without looking she could feel Asad's glare on her. Taking a deep breath, Zoya closed her eyes and said Qubool Hai three times.
Soon all the legal formalities were done and they signed the nikkahnaama.
For better or worse she was now married to Asad Ahmad Khan.
The reception was little more than a brief lunch with some of Asad's colleagues at a private function centre. After the ceremony she has changed into one of her sister's designer Saree, looking extremely graceful, elegant, and sensuous.
Zoya was just walking away after talking to one of Asad's associates when she felt his presence behind her. Asad stood behind while his hands gently touched her bare waist. She went pale at his touch, her heart sank. She tried to free herself but he only held her tighter.
'W...What are you doing?' She asked softly, almost in a whisper.
Without uttering a word, he started tracing a finger along the neckline of her blouse. Her breath hitched. He reached around her neck and started tying the dori of her blouse.
She was so lost in the passion he's ignited that she didn't realize he wasn't holding her anymore.
Zoya opened her eyes, startled and dazed, to find Asad smirking at her. 'Don't get wrong ideas, Mrs. Zoya Ahmad Khan. I have no interest in touching you.' He said coolly before walking away.
She watched him go with tears gathering in her eyes. She was irritated at herself for craving something she could never have. What was wrong with her? What quirk in her personality made her ache for his desire, his approval, for a smile of affection or even a kind word?
She had no right to desire such things, certainly since it had been her own deception that had brought about their marriage. What would he do if he ever found out?
Once she made her way back out to the last of the lingering guests Zoya found Asad waiting by his car for her, Lily already settled in her baby seat in the back.
He drove to his house, seemingly content not to engage in conversation during any part of the journey.
Zoya used the time to get her head around the fact she was now his wife. His legal wife, she reminded herself with another deep lurch of her stomach. In name only, though. The mental reassurance restored some order to her insides, but then she thought about his touch and her belly did another somersault.
I have given Mary the rest of the day off,' Asad said as he pulled into his driveway. There is a meal already prepared for later.'
Zoya suddenly lost her appetite. The thought of being alone with him in the big house with only her tiny niece as chaperon unsettled her terribly.
I think Lily needs feeding and changing,' she said once they were at the front door.
Asad held the door open and she slipped past him, holding Lily like a shield.
I have a couple of calls to make,' he said. Let me know if you need a hand with anything. I will be in my study.'
She was halfway through feeding her niece a little while later when Asad came into the kitchen. She looked up to see he had changed out of his suit and was now dressed in casual trousers and a long-sleeved dark T-shirt which hugged his broad chest, highlighting his superb physical fitness.
Zoya tore her eyes away to concentrate on Lily.
Would you like me to take over so you can change?' he asked.
No, I'm almost done,' she said. She doesn't seem all that interested in this anyway.' She put the spoon down and got to her feet, reaching for a cloth to wipe up a spill.
She looks tired,' Asad observed as Lily began to rub at her eyes.
Yes.' Zoya twisted the cloth in her hands, lowering her gaze to avoid his studied look.
Zoya...'
She turned away, pretending she didn't hear him and scrubbed at the bench once more. I think I'll give dinner a miss, if you don't mind.' She tossed the cloth in the sink and turned back to reach for Lily in her baby chair.
Before she could unbuckle the clasp Asad's hand closed over hers and she had no choice but to meet his eyes.
She edged her hand out from under his and straightened to her full height but he still towered over her.
Even if you do not choose to eat I have things I wish to discuss with you,' he said.
W-what sort of things?'
Ground rules, that sort of thing. I do not want you under any delusion as to our Nikkah.'
'I'm not sure what you mean by that.'
Living in the same house will mean we will, by necessity, be sharing a certain level of intimacy. I would not want you to get the wrong idea.'
She elevated her chin and injected her tone with sarcasm. Who exactly are you reminding of the terms of our agreement"you or me?'
His eyes hardened as he tried to control his temper.
From what my brother told me, it appears you do not always play by the rules. It would do you good to remind yourself of them just in case you are tempted to act outside the boundaries I have laid down.'
While we're speaking of breaking the rules, I thought your touch was a little inappropriate at the reception,' she put in crisply.
His dark eyes hardened as they held hers. There will be time when we will be required to keep up this charade.'
What do you mean?'
We will have functions to attend occasionally and as my wife you will be expected to act in a certain way towards me.'
You want me to do the whole obedient wife act.'
All I am asking is for you to show some level of maturity when we are in the company of others. Apart from my housekeeper and of course my Abbu, everyone else assumes this is a normal marriage.'
I'll try my best not to bring shame to your family name.' she said sarcastically.
Good.'
He turned away and left the room, the door swinging shut behind him.
Zoya looked down at her niece, who was staring up at her with dark eyes bright and round with interest.
Men,' she said, scooping her up into her arms. Who can work them out?'
Lily gave her a wide toothless smile.
Maybe I should try that,' she thought as she cuddled Lily close. It seems to work for you. You only have to look at him and he melts.'
She buried her face in the soft down of the baby's dark hair and sighed.
Once Lily was asleep later that evening Zoya had a shower and changed into one of her simple churidhar suit. Her damp hair hung down around her shoulder. Her face was make up free and looked so serine and innocent.
She was on her way down the stairs when she collided right into him. As he held her waist, Asad leaned over and stroked a piece of hair away from her face. His eyes taking in her casual appearance in a sweeping glance. zoya tried not to fidget as she met his gaze.
You look different?' he commented, looking mesmerized.
I'll go change if you want?' she said as she untangled herself from his hold.
No.' He said quickly grabbing her hand. You look fine. Better, in fact.'
Thank you,' she said simply, clutching the small compliment to her gratefully, hoping he wouldn't see how much he had affected her.
Would you like a drink?' he asked.
Something soft,' she answered.
No alcohol?'
I don't drink.'
He gave her an assessing glance as he handed her a glass of sparkling mineral water.
'A reformed drinker?' he observed. How very commendable of you.'
Zoya wished she had the courage to tell the truth.
There are a lot of things I have changed in my life lately,' she said instead.
He took a leisurely sip of his drink before responding. I wonder if Ayaan's death has made some sort of impact on you to bring about these changes?'
If only he knew how it had impacted on her!
It would be an insensitive person indeed who wasn't in some way affected by the untimely death of another,' she answered.
Do you miss him?' He asked in a wounded tone.
Zoya stared into the contents of her glass, wondering how Zoe would respond.
I try not to think about it,' she said.
No, of course not,' he said. If you thought about it you would have to take some responsibility for it, would you not?'
She kept her eyes down, unwilling to face the venom in his. I did not have anything to do with the death of your brother.'
She heard the sharp chink of his glass as he set it back down and stepped backwards instinctively as he came towards her, his eyes narrowed into dark slits of wrath.
Do you think by saying that enough times it will change what you did?' he asked.
So badly at that moment Zoya wanted to tell him the truth. The words hovered on her tongue but every time she opened her mouth she thought of Lily and swiftly closed it again.
You have guilt written all over you,' he said. I can barely look at you without thinking of my brother's final agonising minutes trapped in that car while he bled to death.'
Zoya felt sick.
Asad swung away to refill his glass and she took the chance to draw in a ragged breath, her hands twisting in front of her in anguish.
She knew he was still grieving and was entitled to feel the whole spectrum of human emotions, including anger, but it didn't help to have it directed solely at her. She didn't have the stone heart of her twin to deal with such heavy criticism. Each time he criticized her she felt as if another part of her was dying.
She turned to leave the room.
Where do you think you are going?' he demanded as he put his own drink aside.
She bit her lip and gestured to the door. I think it's better I go back to my room.'
He closed the distance between them in two strides, grasping her upper arms in his strong fingers, his eyes glittering with fury as they clashed with hers.
You think you can get off that easily? I will not let you escape unscathed. I am going to do everything in my power to make you pay for the destruction you have brought to my family,' he snarled down at her, his fingers tightening cruelly.
Zoya did her best to appear unfazed by his anger but she was failing miserably.
Are you trying to frighten me?' She said, giving him her best fake smile. 'All the best, I can hardly wait to see what all you have planned.'
As soon as the words were out of her mouth she regretted saying it. Asad roughly pulled her against him, his mouth crashing down on hers.
Zoya's gasp of shock and surprise was silenced by the warmth of his mouth. She tried to use her hands to push against the hard wall of his chest but felt imprisoned by his hold, his body rammed up to hers.
His kiss became arrogantly intimate, taking all the fight out of her. She felt her legs begin to buckle beneath her and the hands that had pushed him away began curling into the fabric of his T-shirt to keep her upright.
The moment she started melting against him, he deepened the kiss, shocking her senses when his tongue touched hers.
Suddenly it was over. He stepped back from her so abruptly that she almost stumbled, her body not quite up to the task of standing without his solid support.
His dark eyes glittered dangerously as he wiped the back of his hand over his mouth in an action that intended to inflict shame and
embarrassment.
She looked up, trying desperately to control her emotions.
Forgive me,' he said heavily. I did not intend to go so far.'
'How far did you intend to go?' She asked and he noticed a hurt tone in her voice.
His mouth hardened. I have no intention of doubling your allowance. I told you before"our marriage will not be consummated.'
The hurt went through her eyes as she stalked past him towards the door, but before she could open it his hand came from over her shoulder and slammed against the door to keep it shut.
She could feel him behind her, the heat of his body seeping into hers as surely as if he were touching her again. She kept her gaze fixed on the door in front of her, unwilling for him to see the bright glitter of unshed angry tears in her eyes.
Let me go, Asad. I want to check on Lily.' To her dismay her voice sounded defeated, nothing like her usual defiant tone.
His hand left the door to touch her on the shoulder, the gentle but firm pressure turning her to face him.
He was so close that she couldn't even breathe. She raised her eyes to his, doing her level best to control the tremble of her chin as she fought to bring her wayward emotions under control.
Don't make me hate you,' she said, her voice not much more than a thin whisper of sound.
He held her gaze for so long that Zoya felt as if he were seeing right through her flesh to who she was underneath.
To whom she really was.
To what she really felt.
Just as her composure was threatening to crack he dropped his hand from her shoulder and stepped away from her. She watched in silence as he turned to his discarded drink and, tipping back his head, downed the contents in one deep swallow.
Zoya took an unsteady breath and eased herself off the flat plane of the door.
Asad?'
He turned to look at her, his eyes unreadable as he removed a piece of paper from the pocket of his jeans and silently handed it to her.
She took it with nerveless fingers, unfolding the paper to find it was a bank receipt documenting that several thousand dollars had been deposited in her account that day.
Her allowance.
She stared at it for a long time without speaking, not even noticing when Asad left the room, shutting the door with a soft click behind him.
š„³ š„³ š„³ Happy New Year Everyone š„³ š„³ š„³
Edited by iluvasya - 9 years ago
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