AsYa SS The Secret Between Me & You Chap 3B & 4 Update Page 8 - Page 2

#2 ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE'

Difficult or easy, pleasant or bitter, you are the same you: I can't live with you-or without you.

Martial, Epigrammata.

NEXT DAY

Zoya wakes up with a headache. She washes her face that looks like a disaster. After freshening up, she feels a bit better. But no matter how much she tries, she can't seem to remember last night clearly. There was Asad. And she somehow ended up drinking. Shit! I hope I didn't do anything stupid around him.

"Belle!"

"You are up? Sit down. I will make you some hangover soup."

"Belle what did I do yesterday? I can't remember anything."

"You can't? Wow."

"Seriously Belle, tell me."

"Zoya you were drunk yesterday! YOU...Zoya Farooqui was drunk! Do you know how shocked we were?"

"Did I say anything? Did I-"

"Thank God that we got over the shock pretty soon, and got you home right after you threw up!"

"I threw up?"

"You don't remember? You threw up all over Chris...four times."

"Shit!"

"Yeah...and you were not willing to come back home. We had to somehow drag you here. Thank god you slept off then! Yesterday was so hectic Zoya! I swear I will never ask you to drink again!"

Zoya holds her head in her hands. "Did Asad...see?"

"Yes that! Didn't you say you were over him? After getting drunk, you were adamant on seeing him. You shouted at Jason when he forbade you from seeing him, and you almost hit me when I told you he had left."

"So I didn't see him?"

"Is that all you are worried about woman? Here we all suffered, and all you are worried about is Asad?"

"It's not like that Belle. I am sorry, just tell me if he saw me like that?"

"No, he had left just then. Thank your stars, or else it'd have been so embarrassing. Imagine if he had to bear it all and bring you home in his arms? Poor him!"

"What?"

"Just imagine!"

Zoya sighs.

"My head!"

"Here, your soup is ready. Drink it, you will feel better."

"I have never seen you drink this."

"Because you have never seen me drinking for the first time. Come on, please don't argue and just drink it."

Zoya takes the soup. "Ewww I don't like it."

"Zoya please...yesterday was enough torture, just drink it please."

"I am sorry, but aren't you being over melodramatic?"

"What Zoya? God you-"

"Okay okay I am sorry, I will drink it! Here...overrr! God give me some water! It tastes disgusting. Now...happy?"

Isabelle smiles.

"By the way Belle, if I threw up, why didn't I feel it when I woke up?"

"Because A...I made you wash your mouth. You insisted on washing it."

"I?"

"Yes, you said wash it right now, or I will throw up right now, on you. You pointed at me like that."

"Belle, you are not lying right?"

"Why would I lie? Go ask Chris and Jason if you don't believe me. Even Luke was there. Go!"

"Alright...alright, I believe you. I just...Allah Miyaan! I need to take a shower."

She gets up and hugs Isabelle. "Thanks Belle, what'd I do without you? I am sorry for yesterday...I love you sooo much!"

"Love you too Zoe! Now go take bath! We will decide on lunch then."

After an hour, Zoya feels way better. She offers to go over to the shop and get things for lunch. Unknown to her, Asad lives just opposite the shop. As she comes out of the shop, she bumps into him.

"What are you doing here Asad?" Seriously, today as well Allah Miyaan!

"I live here. How are you...I mean how come you are here?"

"I live nearby. Bye."

"Yeah."

"Zoya...whatever our issues, let's keep those between us. I don't want this to affect our professional relationship. I don't want people to talk about it. So can you please behave normally around people?"

"How can I forget that your father destroyed my family? Every time I see you, I am reminded of him. I hate the sight of you Asad. I see you killing my Dad instead."

"ZOYA!"

"I am sorry! I-"

"Well you forget that he killed my Dad too. Your Dad destroyed my family too. And you know how much I loved him. You remind me of the injustice done to him as well. Still I am offering a truce, right? Even though I hate your family, even though I very much want and aim to take revenge for my Dad, I am still being reasonable, right? But you, you are impossible! And just so that you know, I didn't ask my Dad to kill yours. I knew my Dad very well. He would never kill anyone just like that. He is not a murderer." He seethes in anger, and hurt-about his Dad, and her.

"So you mean to say that my Dad is a murderer? You are wrong, he isn't. I know him very well Asad. Just...just go away. Try take your revenge, then I can take mine too. I...I just don't want to discuss this. Why the hell did you have to come here and screw my life all over?" She shakes her head.

"I too wonder why God wants me to go through hell all over again!" He curses aloud.

"Asad!"

"Zoya...think about it rationally. Since we are going to be working together, I won't expect this kind of childish behaviour from you in office at least. Grow up, and get over me. Goodbye. See you tomorrow in office, Miss Farooqui."

He leaves.

"What the hell did he say! So be it, Mr. Khan! I will show you how to have a professional relationship...and I will show you that I am over you."

Back at Zoya's house

"...so he just nodded and left. God I swear I have never seen love that deep! They totally hate each other, but they can't stay away as well! Today all Zoe wanted to know was if Asad saw her like that. Guys, we have to help them. Let's get the full story. I can't see them like this."

"You are right Izzy, now I realise why Zoe used to go silent sometimes when we talked about love. Remember?"

"Yeah man, this is totally f**ked up! By the way, shouldn't she be back by now?"

"I am back!"

"Zoya!"

"Hi guys! Wow, four of us for lunch? Great! So what are we having today?" Thank God they are all here, I won't have time to ponder about that idiot now.

"Ma'am first come here and sit down. Don't you think there is something you should be telling us first?"

"Well that...I am sorry about yesterday. I am really sorry, especially Chris." I can't imagine throwing up on anyone, eww Zoya! Four times! You have taken disgusting to another new level. I just hope these people forget about it ASAP.

"What? Why are you-"

Isabelle nudges him.

"Oh, oh that...I don't want to talk about it yet. Zoya how could you? I mean how could you get drunk, and throw up on me? Why me? I need a proper apology for that. This...just sorry and all...it's not gonna work."

"Okay! How about a treat tomorrow?" What would I have done yesterday without these guys? They are my lifesavers.

"That sounds good ma'am!"

"Excuse me Miss Zoya Farooqui, what about us? It's not like we didn't do anything for you, hmm? Why only him?"

"I never said only him! I meant all of you of course! In fact how about today's dinner?" She grins at them. I won't think about him anymore.

"Perfect!"

Jason: Alright Zoya, now tell us about you and Asad.

Chris: Look we know you don't want to talk about it, but Zoya after yesterday we need to know. Yesterday you wanted him like he is your drug, you understand what I mean? If you were over him, I wouldn't give a shit.

Izzy: But clearly, you are not! So we need to be told.

Zoya: Okay I will tell you. But please keep it a secret, okay? I don't want people to know. They deserve to know. And who knows, maybe I would feel better after putting it out. Okay, just one last time.

Jason: Of course Zoya!

Zoya: I don't want to delve into the details right now, so I will just tell you guys the overall thing okay. Just don't go on talking about it again. We are from Bhopal, and his family and mine have always been enemies. In business, and also some personal issues from past. So we were absolutely not allowed to even talk. We met in college, we were in the same class for three years, and we fell for each other. We kept silent for some time, but in our third year in college, we confessed to each other. Some close friends knew, that's it. Then everything was going well, and suddenly one day we found out that ours Dads had been killed. We rushed home. And the truth came out. His Dad had killed my Dad, and my Dad killed him in self-defence may be...because he died too. It was all chaos...we happened to meet after a year, but we didn't like each other anymore. I blamed his Dad, he blamed mine. It was very...anyways so that's where it ended.

Izzy: Oh Zoe, I am so sorry. Did you two never try talk again?

Zoya: No, whenever I see him...it reminds me of my Dad, and it's painful. I am sure it's the same for him as well.

Chris: Jesus! But Zoya have you never thought like it's not his fault? That it's not your fault? You two didn't do anything.

Zoya: Except fall for each other. And that's our fault. You don't know how badly I wish for his Dad's family to suffer, but because of him, because of Asad I can't even wish for that. I can't even think of Asad being in pain. I want him to be happy and safe. I love the son of my Dad's murderer, what can be more pathetic than that?

Jason hugs her. "Hey, it's not your fault okay? It's not anybody's fault. Let it go Zoe, you are not the kind to hold a grudge...the person who did the crime is dead as well. He got his punishment. And Asad...he has been suffering too Zoya. He lost his Dad as well, and more than that he lost you at the same time. How do you think he takes it?"

Zoya: He doesn't love me anymore. He told me to get over him today. He asked me to stop being childish and get over him. He doesn't care. All he cares about is his profession, and his revenge.

Izzy: That's not true! He loves you more than anything. If only you remember him from yesterday-

Zoya: What do you mean?

Izzy: I...I mean did you see how he looked at you? I could see from his eyes how much love he has for you.

Zoya laughs, a hollow laugh. "He is not my Asad anymore."

Isabelle keeps silent.

Zoya: I will cook. And guys, it's been six years. I can deal with this. Please don't do anything stupid.

They nod, their brain working in circles, conjuring up plans.

Next Day In Office

"Good morning Mr. Khan!"

Asad stares at her dumbfounded. What's up with her now?

"Look at this hypocrisy! Giving me such long lectures about being professional, and can't even reply to a greeting!" Zoya murmurs.

Asad sighs.

"Good morning to you too, Miss Farooqui."

Zoya gives him a professional smile.

"I hope you had a pleasant sleep. Here, the documents you need to look through. Mr. Saxena, our boss, asked me to hand it over to you. Please go through them, and in case you have any doubts feel free to ask me or any of our team mates anytime. By teammates, I mean me, Isabelle, Jason and Chris. You met them yesterday, remember? I almost forgot, welcome to our New York branch! Hope you will have a very good time here!"

Asad runs a hand through his hair. He nods, "Thank you very much Miss Farooqui."

"You are welcome."

She turns and goes over to her desk, that's directly opposite his. Cupid yeah! Chris. Izzy and Jason are staring between her and Asad. Speechless. Zoya gives them a what-the-heck-happened look. "What are you guys looking at?"

Izzy: Well...wowww!

They look at Zoya as they go over to their desks.

Yesss! On your face Asad! I did it!! Aren't you awesome Zoya Farooqui?!

Then their boss comes and gives them work. In no time, it's lunch time. Zoya takes a deep breathe, and with a mental "Fighting!" she goes over to Asad. "Mr. Khan we are going out for lunch right now, would you like to join us?" Asad stares at her expressionless face for a bit, and then his eyes move down to her fidgeting fingers which she hides quickly. Asad suppresses a smile, and looks up at her again. Getting up, "Sure Miss Farooqui, thanks for inviting." Zoya pulls a face at him, thinking he won't see...but of course he does, and he mentally sighs at her childishness. Lunch is awkward.

Zoya: So Mr. Khan how was your experience at the Mumbai branch?

Asad: It was nice, very nice.

Zoya: That's good to hear. How are the sales in India right now? Is it still-

Jason: For God's sake, what the f**k is happening? Zoya can you please stop behaving so weirdly and just be normal?

Zoya: Jason I-

Jason: Just stop being so professional type, we are not in a f**king company meeting!

Zoya: Well Mr. Khan wanted me to be professional, so I am just doing that.

Chris: Stop calling him Mr. Khan! It's creeping me out!

Zoya: Well-

Chris: Zoya you have loved him from college, how can you-

Asad: Shut up! I won't have anyone discuss my personal life here. Please respect my privacy. And I have no problem with Miss Farooqui being professional with me, and calling me whatever she wants!

Zoya: What?

Asad: I mean call me Mr. Khan, it's alright. Now have your lunch, I am leaving.

Isabelle: Hey Asad, sit down. Listen we are sorry...it was just weird and they spoke their minds.

Asad: I understand.

Jason: Dude sit down, sorry I will just take time getting used to it.

Chris: Yeah, have lunch with us. That way we will be used to it in no time.

Zoya: And Mr. Khan you only said you won't let your personal life affect your professional life. So why are you run-going away when we are your professional team mates?

Asad sighs. This girl! He sits down. They have lunch with Jason and Chris telling Asad about different sports clubs, bars etc. in their neighbourhood.

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