COLDPLAY ASYA FOUR SHOT SS- COMPLETE

Hi. Me. Thor aka Vidya again. This is a story I wrote on another couple but once again it can fit Asya too. It consists of four shots which are woven into four Coldplay songs ( hence the title). It is an experiment I tried as a writer to weave a story into four songs that will complement the story. I will post the four shorts soon after making final edits. Thank you 😊

VIVA LA VIDA- 2ND SHOT

Link for song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvgZkm1xWPE

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A year passed and the restaurant was thriving as well as Asad and Zoya could have expected. Over time they had acquired their loyal customers which meant that on particular days they knew which familiar faces to see seated in the room. While the both of them were the main chefs, they hired other chefs and guided them on preparing the meals like how they themselves had been guided to do all those years ago. It felt liberating, for the students had now become the teachers and Asad and Zoya thoroughly enjoyed passing on their knowledge onto the younger generation.

"Boss!" - the young waiter came to a stop in front of the counter where Asad was skillfully chopping the vegetables with quick precision that came from his many years of training- "Two mandarin orange ginger chicken with a side of vegetable salad, hold the lemon."- the young man said as he pinned the paper on the counter.

"Got it.." - Asad said with a grin as he glanced at Zoya next to him who was chopping up the eggplant into blocks with crafty speed and precision- "That looks like a rectangle.."- he muttered teasingly, Zoya grinning at his playful words.

"Then you need to wear glasses, buddy. Why are you chopping the onions so slow? Getting a bit old?"- she replied with equal teasing even as Asad's knife sliced through the onion skillfully and quickly.

"That would mean you are getting old too, buddy.."- he said with a wink and she rolled her eyes at him just as another waiter came to a stop in front of the counter.

"Boss..."- the young woman looked at Zoya and read out the order in a rush- " 1 Asian chicken salad with wasabi dressing, 1 shrimp and noodle salad with ginger dressing and one chicken and broccoli."

"Coming right up..."- Zoya replied and the woman pinned the paper on the counter before hurrying back outside.

"Mr and Mrs Khan.." - one of the female supervisors Zoya and Asad had hired to overlook the activities in the restaurant while they were behind doors came to a stop in front of the working area- "This couple would like to meet the chefs who prepared their meals this evening." -the woman said with a smile. Asad and Zoya nodded at her before glancing at each other with a soft sigh. Even though they were busy, they knew that their customers interests and requests always came first.

As they made their way to the door, Zoya brushed a speck of green celery from Asad's white chef coat and he used the opportunity to grasp onto her hand and place a soft kiss on the inside of her wrist. She silently admonished him for his affectionate actions in front of the employees with her slightly stern eyes but he winked at her with a playful smile while they exited the room and made their way to the table.

"Mr and Mrs Comar, may I introduce you to Mr and Khan who prepared your meals this evening and who are also the owners of this restaurant."- the young supervisor said politely and Zoya and Asad stared at the middle aged couple who smiled at them kindly, the both of them returning the gesture. From the couples expensive clothes and jewelry it was easy to deduct that they were very wealthy indeed.

"Truly remarkable meal. Absolutely delicious." -the man said, his wife nodding in agreement- "We come here every Friday. You can probably say that we are addicted to this place."- the man with continued with a grin.

"Thank you for your kind praise.."- Asad replied politely- "My wife and I are happy that you are pleased with the service."

"Oh I am more than pleased. I would like to propose a business offer to you but... that is a discussion for another time. Here is my business card."- the man removed a card from his pocket and gave it to Asad who took it with a glance at Zoya- "Maybe we can set up a meeting soon and see how things progress from there?"

Asad's eyes lingered on Zoya and when she nodded at him in agreement, he looked at the man- "Yes. Sure, Mr Comar."

"Excellent. Well I would not delay you further. I know you both are busy. Thank you again for this delicious meal." -the man said with a friendly smile and after accepting their gratitude, Asad and Zoya made their way back to the kitchens.

"A business offer.. wow.."- she said to him while they made their way back to their work stations- "I will leave you to handle that. You have always been better at the business aspect of things."- at her soft smile, Asad shook his head and stepped closer to her- "No, we will meet him together. We are partners Zoya, in everything we do.."- he replied with a small smile, a heavy sigh leaving her.

"I am sure you will make the right decisions, Asad. You can set up the meeting with him and I will take care of the restaurant during your meeting. You can tell me all about how it went."

At her stubbornness which he knew he would not be able to break, he nodded slowly, Zoya grinning at how easily she still managed to convince him to accept her requests after all those years of marriage.

"Oh.. looks like we need more broccoli downstairs.."- she muttered, realizing that bowl was almost empty. Noticing that all of the employees were preoccupied, she decided she would have to go upstairs and get the vegetables herself- "I am going to get the broccoli. I will be back in a bit." -she touched his cheek tenderly before making her way to the steps where a sign read "Only employees are allowed beyond this point." Asad's eyes followed her with a small smile and after instructing one of the younger chefs to begin preparing his order, he proceeded to the stairs as well.

She had just finished placing the last broccoli in the bowl on the shelf when a strong hand grabbed onto her arm and spun her around, her eyes widening in momentary fear until the familiar pair of arms lifted her off her feet, the grin spreading across her face as her back hit the wall lightly. Instinctively she wrapped her legs around his waist, her smiling eyes meeting his mischievous gaze as her arms slid around his neck.

"Hello, Mr Khan. I don't think you realize how much work we have to do right now."- she said in fake sternness, Asad brushing his nose affectionately against hers as he bit his lip in a small smile.

"Mrs Khan, you have not kissed me in five hours. That is not fair..." -his warm whisper caressed her skin as he lowered his lips to her neck, her eyes looking to the door where an employee could walk through at any given time. Yet as his lips travelled down her neck, her eyes fluttered close at his touch which only made her desire him more throughout the years. Her fingers threaded through the hair at the nape of his neck, an action which always comforted Asad and he stepped closer to her if possible, causing her back to press further into the wall.

"Asad..."- she said quietly knowing that they were capable of losing control easily- "Someone could enter the room..." Yet even as she spoke, he kissed the underside of her jaw, his lips lingering on her skin, the feel of his warm breath increasing the beats of her heart.

"I need my kiss..."- he replied quietly, his soft gaze meeting hers- " You know that I can't work without it.."

With a small smile she inched her face closer to his but he breached the distance quickly and kissed her deeply and passionately, a soft groan rumbling within him when his wife deepened the kiss even more. When they parted the kiss, she smiled against his lips, the both of them craving to indulge themselves further in each other but knowing they were busy.

"No more complaints now, love. You got your kiss.."- she said softly and he kissed her cheek before hugging her closer and resting his forehead on her slender shoulder.

"I am feeling tired..." - he said quietly, a heavy breath leaving him- "I can't wait to go home and sleep with you in my arms... hmmm... just thinking about it makes it feel like heaven.."

Her expression softened in understanding at his words and she kissed his neck softly, her hand travelling up and down his strong back comfortingly- "Closing time is in 3 hours then we will be able to go home.." -she said softly and he looked at her with a tired smile before kissing her softly once more. Reluctantly he lowered her onto the floor and adjusted the collar of her white chef coat before they made their way back to the kitchens.

Even though the tiredness clung to him like a parasite, he knew that once the woman by his side was with him, he could overcome any challenge that came his way. After labouring so many years, their lives had finally gotten better but to him, his life was already perfect.

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The next week he scheduled the meeting with Mr. Comar thinking the business proposal would be one which concerned expanding the restaurant business into a chain of restaurants. That was indeed the proposal... But the man presented him with another offer as well which shocked Asad to the core and almost caused him to throw the man out of the office. To Asad's great surprise, Mr. Comar was actually a drug dealer and one of the most feared underworld Dons which he had no knowledge off until the man started speaking. Knowing that Zoya was downstairs along with his employees and customers, Asad listened to the man in silence and shielded anxiety for he understood that if he were to anger the man in any way, Mr Comar could very well kill anyone in that building.

Comar spoke about how he had been observing Asad for sometime and saw that he was an ambitious man. He told Asad that not having any children of his own, he was looking for a protege to take under his wing so that his business will not fall into the wrong hands. He told Asad how he had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and with only a few months to live, he wanted to die peacefully knowing that someone competent will take his place, someone whom he had trained personally. He had many enemies, he informed Asad, and all of them wanted his position. After Asad had listened intently to his tale, he opened his mouth to inform the man that he was going to have to decline his offer since he was perfectly satisfied with the business he had now. However, the man interrupted with one sentence that made Asad pause.

"You can give your family the world now. Nothing will ever be out of your reach. Money, mansions, all of it will be yours. Think carefully before you answer Khan.."

The man's words resounded in Asad's head and he was taken back to the small apartment all those years ago, when he was a teenager holding the love of his life in his arms and promising her the same thing.

"I am going to give you the world someday.."- He had told Zoya on that rainy night more than a decade ago. Yes they had achieved their dreams and owned a restaurant but a greater part of him knew he could never give her all that he wished to give her with the income they were earning now.

Half an hour later Mr Comar left the office and a few minutes later Zoya entered the room, pure hope dancing in her eyes- "How did it go?" -she asked expectantly, Asad looking up from the desk at her innocent delivery, his eyes lingering on her beautiful brown eyes. With a small smile he nodded and she covered her mouth, the laughter leaving her as she walked around the desk, sat on his lap and hugged him close.

"He wants to expand the restaurant, truly?"- she asked excitedly, Asad grinning at her liveliness as his eyes met hers once more- "So now Khan restaurant will be a chain of restaurants?"

"Yes..."- he replied as he cupped her cheek but there was something about his tone that alerted her that he was hiding something from her.

"Did he say anything else, Asad? You seem quite... calm considering what is happening.." -she looked at him curiously and he shook his head with a slight laugh.

"I guess I am still in a daze. I can't believe this opportunity was presented to us."- he replied, Zoya grinning at his words before she hugged him close once more.

"You deserve it all, Asad.." - she said quietly as he pulled her closer to him in a firmer embrace- " You worked so hard. I am so happy our business is going to improve even more now.."

Even as the words left her lips, his heart tugged in guilt that he was now going to have to keep a dark secret from her. Yet, the redeeming thought in his mind was that now he was going to give her the life she had known before her parents died, the one of luxury which he knew she deserved all along.

The months passed in a blur and the new restaurants were being constructed but Asad knew all of that was just an image to convince Zoya and the world that the relationship between him and Mr Comar was based on that alone. Beneath the surface however, Asad moved up the ranks of the drug ring and Mr Comar expressed his satisfaction on how he was performing well and earning the fear and respect of the other members in the circle. As the days moved along, Zoya noticed he spent less time working at the restaurant and usually made the excuse that he had a meeting with Mr Comar concerning the construction of the other restaurants which he could not miss. Since she was unaware of his involvement in the man's drug circle, she always told him she understood and assured him that she would take care of the activities there in his absence.

However, soon their lifestyle started to change even more. She realized he would return home with expensive gifts for her and when she questioned him how he was able to purchase the jewelry he would inform her that his business with Mr. Comar was booming and he bought the objects with the money he obtained from his share of the contracts. From expensive jewelry to expensive clothes, he soon bought them new luxury cars, all the while telling her with a gleeful smile and joyful expressions that he had promised her the world and he was going to give her it.

Zoya grew concerned about his behaviour for she noticed he hardly slept and would spend hours on the phone speaking to persons he claimed were the contractors for the restaurants. At night he would return home late and apologize profusely for missing dinner or not visiting their restaurant. On those nights she could not help but be reminded of her father whose behaviour mirrored that of her husband. It was then that a chilling fear began to brew in her heart and more than once she considered the possibility of Asad being involved in illegal activities but as soon as the thought came into her mind she would dismiss it. Asad was a good man, she knew. He was ambitious and everything he had achieved so far, he had secured purely through hard work and dedication.

For Asad, he was slowly losing himself to the underworld he had willingly become a part of. At the beginning, his main aim of joining Mr Comar's circle was to secure a better life for his Zoya. However, the more he got pulled into the deeper depths of the drug circle, the more he realized he was living the lifestyle out of the selfish desire to revel in the power that he was gaining. He relished in the power. He loved that everyone respected him and he loved that with a word from his lips, he could take a man's life for disrespecting him. His life was threading down a dark path, but consumed with the desire to be the most powerful Don, he did not even realize he was slowly destroying the life he had worked so hard to build.

The day eventually arrived when Comar died and with his death, Asad ascended to his position and became known as the Don of the Underworld, the most feared and respected drug leader in the state.

On an overcast night, with the thunder rumbling overhead, he brought Zoya to the front of a mansion and with arms wide open he declared in a loud voice that it was now their new home. To say that she was shocked would have been an understatement. She stared at the majestic building and with the thunder rumbling overhead, she felt a storm shadowing her own heart as he came to stand in front of her and lifted her in his arms.

"This is yours Zoya, all yours..."- he said with a bright smile but he frowned when she stared at him in concern and anxiousness- "What's wrong?"- he touched her cheek as he lowered her to the floor and she bowed her head, her childhood memories of the time she lived a lavish but sad life in a mansion rushing back to her mind- "Zoya, aren't you happy? We are finally having everything we ever dreamed of and more. I am giving you the world, love, just like I promised."- he said with a smile but she looked at him, her hand touching his cheek tenderly, a hint of sorrow tinting her gaze.

"You are my world Asad.." -she replied, Asad sighing softly at her words- "I never desired this.. I was happy with home we had.." - she glanced at the mansion and stepped closer to him, Asad's hand sliding down to her neck as he observed her quietly- "Where is all of this coming from Asad? In a matter of months our lives have changed so much. What's happening?"- she questioned and he shook his head with a small smile as he cupped both of her cheeks and stared into her eyes with a tender gaze.

"This is coming from the success of our restaurant chains.."- he replied, no longer feeling guilt for the lie he had told her so many times now- "All of this is happening because we deserve it. Your last memory of living in a mansion was a horrible one, I know, love."- he said quietly, pure understanding in his eyes- "But we are going to make happy ones here. Ok?"

She stared at him and after a while she nodded slowly before he hugged her close in his strong protective embrace. Yet even at his reassurance, she still could not help but feel that he was hiding a dark secret from her.

Asad smiled into her hair before he leaned away slightly and kissed her deeply. With the thunder echoing above them he lifted her in his arms and carried her into their new home, the mansion that was now his palace and his Zoya's, his queen, for he was now the king of the drug circle and everyone bowed before him.

When her back hit the silk sheets of their new king sized bed, he crawled on top of her, his body hovering over her beautiful form while he stared into the beautiful brown eyes of the woman whom he had lost his heart too for as long as he could remember. - "My Zoya..."- his quiet husky voice seemed to echo in the large room, the storm raging outside while the thunder continued to rumble ominously. She stared at her husband with pure affection in her eyes, while he tenderly traced the line of her jaw before his thumb caressed her lower lip- "You were always mine... and you always will be mine. Mine to love, mine to pamper, mine to spoil... All mine.. "

The dark possessiveness which tainted his tone was one which Zoya had never heard before but she did not even get the opportunity to ponder on it for his mouth immediately covered hers in hungry desire. Soon they were entangled in each other in the passionate heat of their love making but there was something different about their union that night and Zoya felt it to the core. That night her husband made love to her as though he was afraid he was going to lose her.

In Asad's heart he knew he had everything he ever wanted then. The love of his life was in his arms, he owned the mansion, the luxury cars, the successful restaurant and he was king of the Underworld drug ring, something he never saw coming his way.

I used to rule the world
Seas would rise when I gave the word

But he only rode the wave of power and dark success for a while. Soon his life took a turn of despair, once which left him damaged and riddled with such loneliness that he never felt in his life.

Now in the morning I sleep alone
Sweep the streets I used to own

In the mansion he still called his home, he spent sleepless nights in the dark desolate room where the scent of her lingered, where every inch of the place reminded him of her. The silence of the majestic house only echoed his own failures in his ears for he, a man who once had everything, now had nothing.

I used to roll the dice
Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes
Listened as the crowd would sing
Now the old king is dead long live the king

The alcohol burned his throat when the memory of the night he became the Don of the underworld replayed in his mind. The cheers had resounded in his ears and he had felt joy in that moment, absolute joy for he knew he had accomplished what he hoped to achieve. He was now king of the drug ring, king of all those who sang his praises that night.

One minute I held the key
Next the walls were closed on me
And I discovered that my castles stand
Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand

Yet he should have known that those who stood by his side as colleagues would also stand by his side as enemies. When the business hit its obstacles, many people left. They did want to drown in the corruption that the drug ring was becoming. There were so many back stabbers, so many deceivers that he realized Mr Comar did not want to train him to take his position, Mr Comar truly wanted to leave the position because he realized what was going to happen eventually.

I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringing
Roman cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field

There was no one he could have called his friend and for over a month now he had lost the company of the woman who had been his best friend for most of his life. He still remembered that cursed night when he had returned to the mansion in the thick darkness of the haunted night. He had been betrayed by most of the members of the drug ring that night after they had left the country after declaring the downfall of the business will never be a success again.

With the heavy weight of failure weighing on his shoulders, he had returned home, drowning in despair to meet the anguished eyes of his love staring at him in complete hurt, the broken pieces of trust mirrored in her sorrow riddled brown gaze.

For some reason I can't explain
Once you'd gone there was never
Never an honest word
And that was when I ruled the world

The memory continued to replay in his mind and he remembered seeing her standing in front of the table where she had laid out the many bags of cocaine and marijuana which she had found in the safe of the study. The small key to the safe was lying next to the bags and he realized that morning when she had kissed him so passionately before he left the house, she had removed the key from his pocket while he had momentarily lost himself in her.

Flashback

"Drugs..."- Regardless of the blatant evidence lying in front of her, Zoya still stared at him in disbelief, silently hoping and praying that he would tell her it was all a lie- "Drugs Asad?"- she muttered in disbelief and he held her gaze as he stepped further into the living room and tossed the jacket on the couch.

Wordlessly, he walked closer to her but as he reached out to touch her arm, she stepped away from him as though his touch would scorch her skin. It was the first time she had refused his touch and the simple action was enough to shatter Asad's heart to a million painful pieces.

"Did drugs buy all of this?"- she questioned firmly, a raging fury infiltrating her gaze- "Were you lying to me this whole time, Asad? WERE YOU LYING TO ME!"

"I just wanted you to have everything you deserved Zoya! I wanted us to have everything we wanted!"- he snapped at her, the stress of everything dominating his actions in that moment. She stared at him, shocked by his immediate confession before she bowed her head, her fingers sliding into her hair while the quick breaths of sorrow intermingled with anxiety left her.

"Oh God no... please... let this be a nightmare.."- she muttered to herself, the tears breaking the boundaries of her eyes and dripping onto the carpet. Unable to bear the distress he had caused her, Asad moved closer to her and touched her arms but she immediately pushed him away, an angry scream leaving her.

"HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO US! HOW COULD YOU DO THIS AFTER ALL WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH TOGETHER!"-she shouted, his own anger growing at her words- "You know my past Asad..."- she continued, her voice lowering as her shoulders began to shake- "You know what my father was. You know everything and yet you chose the path to become the man he was. Because of his lifestyle, I lost my family Asad! YOU KNOW THIS!"

"That is not going to happen to us Zoya! Nothing is going to happen to us! I will take care of everything!"- he shouted back but she only looked away, her hand gripping her hair in absolute frustration.

"Can't you see you have already divided us Asad? You are walking down a path I can't follow. All these years we tried to build our life together and when we were finally living our dream you built this bridge to separate us!"

Her words were like daggers to his heart and he looked away from her and closed his eyes, his anger nearing boiling point.

"I cannot live this life with you Asad. This is not us..."- she said painfully, his hands balling into fists by his side at her words- "This is not our life.."

"THEN LEAVE THEN!!" - he roared at her, Zoya's face paling with shock as he rounded at her, his expression thunderous- "IF YOU DO NOT WANT THIS LIFE THEN LEAVE! LEAVE ME ALONE TO LIVE IT!! JUST LEAVE!!!"

No sooner had the words left his lips, he immediately regretted it but with the rage his emotions had become he looked on as Zoya stared at him, the blinding hurt in her gaze palpable.

"You want to live without me?"- she said quietly but he looked away from her, the words like bricks caught in his now restricted throat- "You broke your promise...you said nothing will ever separate us... but now /you/ did.."

It was a wicked and wild wind
Blew down the doors to let me in
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
People couldn't believe what I'd become

The broken pieces of his heart bled at her sorrow drenched words but still he did not look at her for a part of him was ashamed of what he had done. He heard her footsteps retreating from him and 10 minutes later he saw her descending the stairs once more, her hands swiping at the tears from her eyes while she held onto a small bag filled with clothes. The sight was enough to leave him in paralyzed fear. Since he was eight years old he had never spent a day away from her and now he was watching her leave him to live life alone like how he had shouted at her in his rage.

When she exited the door, he felt his heart sink in dread and he rushed to the doors, his panicked eyes following her as she made her way to the car.

"Zoya!!"- he shouted but as much as it hurt her, she ignored him and threw the bag into the back seat before making her way to the driver's seat- "Zoya no! Wait! You can't leave me! Zoya!!!"

He rushed to the vehicle but she entered the car and slammed the door shut, pure grief overcoming her as he slammed his hands on the window, his frantic eyes lingering on her tear stained face while she started the car.

"Zoya! No! Don't do this Zoya! It's always been me and you! Nothing will change that! Zoya cut off this f**king car!! You cannot leave me! Zoya!!"- he slammed his hand against the glass but in that moment she drove off, causing him to fall back onto the ground, his agonized eyes following the car before it disappeared from his sight.

That night, when he went into their bedroom, he hastily removed a few of her clothes from the closet and tossed them onto the bed, his bloodshot eyes lingering on the garments as he climbed onto his side of the bed. With a teary gaze, he lowered his head onto the pillow, his palm brushing the sheet where her warm body usually lay next to him before he picked up one of her shirts and brought it to his nostrils. Her scent invaded his senses and soon the tears broke the boundaries of his eyes, his shoulders shaking as his anguished scream echoed in the vast room- "ZOYA!!!"

End Flashback

He knew where she had gone. All those weeks he knew where she was but he did not go there. He called her about a thousand times but she never picked up his call. He knew he deserved it.. he deserved her anger, her hate. He deserved it all.

Revolutionaries wait
For my head on a silver plate
Just a puppet on a lonely string
Oh who would ever want to be king?

The remaining four men of the drug circle would come for him soon. He knew that. They blamed him for the millions they lost even though it had been caused when so many people decided to leave the business. But he didn't care anymore. He had already lost the love of his life, his very reason for living that he knew there was nothing else he could lose in life that would hurt him anymore. His life was now shadowed in loneliness and he craved and wished to go back to the days before he had accepted the offer from Mr Comar. Driven by a desire to become rich and powerful, he had unconsciously sacrificed a life which was already perfect regardless of the fact that they did not live in a mansion or drive luxurious cars. His life then had been filled with happiness and he wished so much he could go back to that moment when he was cutting the vegetables next to his Zoya, when her smiling eyes had held so much love for him.

I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringing
Roman cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can't explain
I know St Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world

Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh [x5]

The night he left his lonely home and somehow found himself standing inside a church, his gaze lingering on the crucified form of Christ before him. In the space of a few months he had sinned so much that he wondered if there was now a place in heaven for him. His greatest sin, he knew, was his deception to Zoya. He had lied to her and robbed her of a life she had worked so hard to build and he knew regardless of how many times he asked and begged for her forgiveness he would never be truly deserving of it.

While he stared at the cross, the silence of the night was broken by heavy footsteps and he glanced back, a frown playing on his face when he saw the four men approaching him, their guns drawn to their sides.

He knew they would come eventually. And so they had.

I Hear Jerusalem bells a-ringing
Roman cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can't explain
I know St Peter won't call my name

His bloodied face hit the floor hard when they dragged him out of the car and slammed his hurting body on the ground. He coughed up blood, his sides pounding in pain from the many kicks they had delivered to his body. After a few seconds, he realized that there was a scorching heat brushing against his face and with somewhat blurry vision, he glanced up and saw that the restaurant, the restaurant which was the dream of his Zoya and him, the restaurant which they had laboured for years to build was now engulfed in flames, the rising fire reflected in his raging eyes.

"NOOO!!!!!" -he screamed and he scrambled to his feet, another agonized scream leaving him while the fire completely destroyed the sign that once read "Khan Restaurant and bar"

The men jeered at him, telling him that he had now lost everything in his life, just like how they had lost everything but he did not hear their words. Pure murderous rage overcame him and he turned on them before he quickly removed the gun which was hidden in his jacket, which he had not cared to use until now. They had destroyed the building that was his wife's dream so now he was going to destroy them.

The gunshots echoed in the night as he emptied the bullets into their bodies which fell one by one in a lifeless heap on the floor, the blood of his victims trickling to his feet.

Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world

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SCROLL DOWN FOR 3RD SHOT

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The remote control slipped from Zoya's hands with a light thud on the carpet, pure fear and panic infiltrating her paled, anxious face. Only a few minutes ago she was listening to the music videos on the tv with some level of distraction while she held Asad's t-shirt in her arms. Even though it had been a month since she left the mansion, she still missed him terribly. Regardless of his actions and the agonizing hurt and despair his betrayal had dealt upon her life, every second without him was equivalent to standing on a bed made of needles. On that cursed night when she had left the home his drug dealing had bought, she had sneaked one of his t-shirts into her bag and every night she found herself hugging the cloth, the tears pooling in her eyes every time she breathed in his familiar scent. It felt as though half of her was missing and she knew that was exactly what had happened. Asad had been her other half from the moment he sat next to her on the floor in the orphanage and without him, her life would forever feel incomplete.

Now, in the loneliness of the 2 story house they lived in before he had shifted them to the mansion, she looked in complete horror at the breaking news which narrated that their restaurant was on fire along with the buildings of the other restaurants he had been constructing. The spokesperson on the news kept emphasizing that the incident seemed to be driven out of spite but Zoya knew the real reason why the restaurants were on fire and it was enough to make her heart sink in dread. The firemen at the site were trying desperately to stop the fire but even the rainfall was doing little to extinguish the raging flames. Zoya knew that the restaurant was completely destroyed, yet regardless of the fact that she was seeing her dream which she had laboured and struggled to build burn to the floor, only one thought was preoccupying her mind and riddling her crying heart with concern.

"Asad..."- she muttered, her fingers gripping her hair in distress- "Oh God no... did they hurt him? Did they kill him? GOD NO!!" -she screamed as she hastily tried to remove the phone from her pockets. She quickly rang his number, hoping against hope that she would hear his voice on the other end but instead the call went straight to voicemail- "No please. No no no... please.. Asad you can't do this to me.."- the mutterings left her lips in shaky breaths while she redialed his number but yet again she was met with the voice message.

Without hesitating, she hurried out of the house and rushed to the car, ignoring the rain that was beating on her skin. With her thoughts and emotions in a carnage, she arrived at the hospital 20 minutes later and rushed into the ER, her eyes frantic, her heart thundering against her chest.

"Was Asad Khan brought here? Is he here? I am his wife!" - she told the receptionist in a rush, the woman frowning at her while she looked at the list of patients that had been brought into the ER that day.

"No, Mrs Khan.. we don't have a patient admitted with that name." -before the woman could continue, Zoya rushed out of the room, her every intention focused on visiting the other hospital that was in the area.

The lights go out and I can't be saved
Tides that I tried to swim against

With the rain raging around him, Asad found himself on his knees in the church where the men had found him, his shirt covered in blood. The rain had washed away the blood from his hands and his face but the bruises on his skin was still visible. His body ached but the pain from the shattered pieces of his bleeding heart was the cause for the unshed tears in his blood shot eyes. With his own hands and his own corrupted desires and intentions, he had ruined his life completely. From the moment Zoya had left him, he realized that the greatest treasure in his life had always been her and he further realized that in his quest to make her life a paradise, he had destroyed the paradise they had been already living.

Have brought me down upon my knees
Oh I beg, I beg and plead, singing

His breaths were ragged as he gripped his head in anguished despair, his shoulders shaking as the tears broke the boundaries of his eyes- "I want her back. Please. Return her to me. She is mine. She has always been mine."- his agonized voice cut through the sounds of the raindrops hitting the roof of the church- "I want her back!" - his raging eyes met the cross but soon the anger dimmed and he averted his gaze, his hand gripping his heart which was paralyzing him in pain- "I lost her because of my own actions. I know I did. But I want my Zoya back. I want her back.. I need her. I need only her. Nothing else. My Zoya..."

Come out of things unsaid
Shoot an apple off my head and a
Trouble that can't be named
A tiger's waiting to be tamed, singing

For a few minutes he remained on his knees, the sobs which he had kept imprisoned in him leaving his body until the tears could not fall anymore. As the time ticked by in silence, he looked up, a silent anger shimmering in his eyes. Wordlessly, he stood and wiped the tears from his bruised face, his eyes lingering on the cross. It was by his own actions he had lost his Zoya and it was by his own actions he was going to get her back. And if he didn't... he knew what was going to be his fate..

You are
You are

She was his everything, she was his world, she was his heart, she was his soul, she was his very reason for living. With a sigh, he walked out of the church, the drops of the rain beating against his skin. He knew where he had to go...

Confusion never stops
Closing walls and ticking clocks

Zoya rushed up the winding staircase of the mansion, her panicked voice echoing in the empty haunted halls- "ASAD!!! ASAD ARE YOU HERE!" After her visit to the hospital yielded no results, she prayed and hoped she would find him here. However when she was only greeted with silence, her hope was beginning to crack, the pieces joining those of her already shattered heart- "ASAD!!" -she rushed into their bedroom but the room was empty. When she saw her clothes littering the side of the bed she slept on, she covered her mouth, a frustrated scream leaving her. "ASAD I AM HERE! ANSWER ME! WHERE ARE YOU!" -she shouted, her panicked eyes surveying the room but all that greeted her was silence and emptiness.

Gonna come back and take you home
I could not stop that you now know, singing

Feeling her hope crumble to bits, she covered her face and took a few steps back, her shoulders shaking with the cries that were leaving her lips. Where could she look for him? Where would she find him? Did those monsters take him away from her? Was he already away from her reach? The dark thoughts kept circulating in her mind and she lowered her hands, her own desire to live dimming within her. With a heavy sigh, she turned around to leave the room when her eyes landed on the tickets that were on the dresser. The tears pooled in her eyes once more when she saw he had bought tickets for them to go to Canada and from the date, they would have left the country that morning. Picking up the receipt, she noticed the tickets had been purchased the day before their big argument and she remembered him telling her that morning how he had a surprise for her after she had kissed him so passionately in an attempt to slip the key to the safe out of his pocket. With a heavy heart she pocketed the receipt and left the house.

Come out upon my seas
Cursed missed opportunities
Am I a part of the cure?
Or am I part of the disease? Singing

Half an hour later, she entered her house, the door closing quietly behind her, her entire body drenched from the rain that was still raging outside. In the quiet of the house, the tears trickled down her cheeks, masked by the raindrops clinging to her skin. She had not only lost the restaurant that was her dream that night but she had also lost her best friend forever. She had lost him completely and she had no clue where he could be and if she would ever see him again if he was alive. Her feet felt like lead while she forced herself to walk to the living room but upon arriving there, she noticed a familiar form sitting on the couch, the person holding the white t-shirt she had held in her own arms every night for the past 4 weeks. Wondering if her eyes were deceiving her, she walked further into the room, her heart thundering against her chest as she came to a stop next to the couch. He did not look up at her entry, but from his bowed head she could still see that he had suffered bruises to his face and his shirt was spotted with blood.

Immediately the tears pooled in her eyes and she dropped to her knees, her hand covering her mouth while the tears trickled down her cheeks, both in relief in seeing him alive and distress for his appearance had reopened the raw wounds in her heart which continued to torment her.

You are, you are, you are
You are, you are, you are

"I killed them all..." -he said quietly after a while, his fingers gripping the t-shirt tighter while he continued to speak- "They were going to kill me and I wasn't going to fight them. I was going to let them take my life because I knew I deserved it after all that I did. I knew I deserved all the pain and torture this world could have dealt upon me for destroying your life and bringing tears to your eyes. But when I saw that they had destroyed our restaurant, the restaurant which was your dream, which I watched you struggle to make a reality, I killed them. I killed them for destroying my Zoya's dream... I killed them all and I threw their bodies into the fire they created..." -he muttered more to himself but in the silence of the room, the words echoed in Zoya's ears.

With anguished eyes, she stared at him, the beats of her heart increasing while he withdrew the gun from his pants and rested it on his leg- "I had one more bullet in my pocket and now it is in this gun." -To Zoya's great surprise, he stood and walked over to her, his knees dropping to the floor before he finally met her eyes. The torment and regret with riddled his gaze made Zoya bow her head but he did not move away from her. Instead, he lifted her hand and placed the gun in it before he made her point it to his heart.

Zoya looked up in shock at his action but at his steel grip on her hand, she could do nothing but stare into his face in agony while he continued speaking- "I died the moment you walked out the door and left me alone." -he said quietly, his anguished voice causing the tears to flow freely from her eyes- "I know I don't deserve you now. I pushed you away by my own corrupted actions, I know. You have every reason to hate me yet I still... I still wish I could still be a part of your life again. If I can't then.."- he pulled the hammer down, Zoya's blood running cold from the horrific scenario that was playing out in front of her- "Only you have the right to kill my heart because you are the one who owns it.."- he said quietly, his grief stricken eyes holding hers- "Do it. I will leave you forever."

"Asad..."- she said through the tears while she tried to remove her hands from the gun but he only gripped her hand firmer- "Stop it... stop this... STOP IT!!" Channeling all her strength she managed to pull her hand away and knock the gun aside, her body trembling from the trauma as he leaned forward and pulled her into his arms. He wrapped his arms tightly around her, her fingers gripping the back of his bloodied shirt while they cried in each other's arms.

And nothing else compares

In her anguish, she beat her fists against his back, her cries seemingly resounding in the room until Asad leaned slightly away from her and touched her hand which he hit against his face two times before he brought it to his lips, his tears travelling down onto her palm- "Hit me, curse me, tell me whatever you want but please, please do not leave me Zoya. If you cannot take my life then don't take yourself out of it. Please don't leave me..."- he said, Zoya's ragged breaths leaving her while she stared at him in silence- "I was walking a dark path, I know. I sinned, I know. I am drowning and you are the only person who can save me.."- he covered his face with his hand, his shoulders shaking from the quiet sobs that were leaving him.

Oh nothing else compares
And nothing else compares

Her eyes lingered on his crying form and for some reason she was transported back to the day they met in the orphanage when he had extended his hand of friendship towards her. Back then, she was also walking a dark path created by her father and even if she did not know it at the time, she needed saving as well. She knew, if he had not offered her his hand, her sorrow would have eventually consumed her and if he had not stood by her side all those years, as her strength, encouragement and love, she would never have achieved her dreams alone.

The smiling face of the 8 year old boy shone in her mind and she knew somewhere within the man who was on his knees, defeated and shadowed with despair, that boy was still alive and now he needed her to extend /her hand/ and /save/ him.

You are
You are

Wordlessly, she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him close, her hand touching the back of his head comfortingly as he held onto her like a lifeline.

"Don't leave me Zoya... Don't leave me.."- he continued to say and she closed her eyes, the words leaving her lips softly.

"I'm here... I am not leaving you Asad. I am right here.."- she said comfortingly and he buried his face in her hair, his tears touching the damp strands - "We will work through this together.."- she said quietly- "Like we always did before."

"Don't leave me.."- he said quietly again and she realized he was in a state of anguish which made him a bit delirious- "I need you, please don't leave me again. Please Zoya, I'm sorry... I am so sorry..."

His fingers dug into back of her shirt and she hugged him closer if possible and uttered words of reassurances to him hoping that he would calm down.

"I am not leaving again. I will always be with you."- she said softly. At her words, a knock came from the front door and she glanced up, her eyes widening when she saw the police lights flashing outside. The panic returned to heart and she leaned away from Asad, her hands cupping his cheeks as she stared into his distressed eyes.

"Asad look at me.. look at me.."- she pleaded and at her words he seemed to snap out of his daze as he stared back at her- "The police is here. If they see you like this they would suspect some fowl play in all of this. You could go to jail for a long time if they know what you were involved in. Come on. Get up.."- she encouraged and slowly he rose to his feet, the words she had uttered barely registering in his mind.

"Zoya... You wouldn't leave me again would you?"- he asked quietly as she led him to the broom closet.

"No... no I won't. And I don't want you to leave me either.."- she said as she pulled him into the room.

"I'm not going to. I would never want to be apart from you.."- he replied as he touched her cheek but she held onto his hand and lowered it.

"Then stay here and don't make a sound. Please Asad, do not come out of this room until I come to get you. Understand?" -she searched his face and even though he nodded, a small frown creased his forehead.

"You are coming back?"- he said hopefully and she nodded at him before she quickly stepped out of the room and closed the door. Praying that Asad did not leave the room, she made her way to the front door and opened it, her eyes landing on the two police officers that were standing in front of her.

"Mrs. Khan. I apologize for the late visit. We visited your other home but no one was there."- one of the man explained and Zoya gave him nod of understanding.

"Sometimes my husband and I stay here as well."- she said simply which the men did not question.

"We are truly sorry about the unfortunate incident that occurred tonight. We are trying to find the perpetrators of the crime but as of now there is no lead. We can only say that it must have been a prank gone horribly wrong.." -the other man said, a soft sigh leaving Zoya.

"Yes. I was just there. I saw the destruction."- she said with a hint of sorrow, indirectly offering an explanation for her damp appearance.

"Again we are deeply sorry for the losses you have suffered."- one of the officers replied- "We were wondering if we could speak to your husband. I understand this is a difficult time for him as well."

"He isn't in the country."- she replied without missing a beat, the men frowning at her words- "He left for Canada this morning. I spoke to him and as you can expect he is very distressed about the current situation. I was supposed to join him on the trip but something came up.." -she explained convincingly but the men still stared at her with a slight frown- "Listen. My husband and I just lost the very thing our livelihood was built on. Look.." -she removed the receipt for the tickets she had picked up in the mansion and held it out to the men, a silent anger raging in her eyes- "He is in Canada. This is the receipt for the tickets."

The men took the receipt quietly and after looking it over, they stared at her apologetically- "I am apologize Mrs Khan. It is just part of our job to analyze the situation before us."

"Well I hope something comes out of it and you find the people who are responsible for this."- she replied with annoyance, knowing perfectly well that they would never discover that all this had happened because Asad was involved in a drug circle. After all everyone who was involved in it had died or left the country, except him- "Is that all? I am expecting a call from my husband soon."

The men nodded at her- "Yes Ma'am. We will inform both you and your husband if we have any leads. Good night."

With that they walked away and a sigh of relief left Zoya as she closed the door. After she was certain the police car had driven out of the compound, she rushed to the broom closet and opened the door, her heart crying when she saw Asad sitting on the floor, pure anxiety in his every expression. When he saw her, he immediately rose to his feet and hugged her close, Zoyaa returning the hug as she touched his back comfortingly.

"You're back.."- he said quietly and she broke the embrace slightly, her hand touching his cheek tenderly.

"Yes.. now come on. Let me help you treat those bruises on your face. Ok?"-she said softly and he nodded. She knew it will be a while before his emotions calmed down. Whether it was going to be days or months, she did not know. She vaguely wondered if he would need to see a psychiatrist but she knew that would be too risky. She would cure him by herself, she resolved. She would help him to overcome his nightmares just like how he had comforted her during hers over the years.

Home, home where I wanted to go

After she had led them to the room which had been their bedroom, she began to cleanse his wounds, Asad's eyes never leaving her face while he stared at her in somewhat disbelief that she was willing to give him a second chance after all he had done. A great fear was now clinging to him that he would lose her somehow, that he would wake up and see that he was still alone and that she was never going to be by his side anymore. It was the fear which was making his mind slightly unstable and Zoya saw it in his eyes but she knew with time, he would get better. She /will/ help him to get better.

Home, home where I wanted to go

After she had seen that he had showered and worn clean clothes which had remained in one of the drawers, she finally got him to drift off to sleep. As she stared at his sleeping face, she brushed the dark strands which feel across his brow, her expression softening at how peaceful he looked in his sleep. The early morning rays were beginning to trickle into the room and she realized he would be hungry when he woke up. After trying for a few minutes to remove her hand from his, she finally left the room and returned downstairs to the kitchen where she began to prepare a light breakfast of pancakes and eggs.

Home, home where I wanted to go

She had just finished the pancakes when Asad's voice echoed in the house, causing her to drop the frying spoon as she rushed out of the kitchen and up the stairs.

"ZOYA! ZOYA! ZOYA! NO!! ZOYA!!!!" Her heart thundered against her chest at his anguished screams and she rushed into the room, her panicked eyes connecting with his frantic gaze from where he was stood in the middle of the room, pure panic defining his every expression. Upon seeing her he rushed to her and pulled her into his strong embrace, his shaky voice causing the tears to bite Zoya's eyes.

"I didn't see you. I woke up and you weren't here. I thought it was all a dream. I thought you were still away from me. Don't leave me.." he said in a rush, Zoya touching his neck as she leaned away from him and held his gaze, pure sincerity in her eyes.

"I'm here Asad. We are both here together. I told you this. I am not leaving you again. Ok?"- she said again but he remained quiet, the anxiety still tinting his gaze. Wordlessly she held onto his hand and led him back to the bed where she made him sit. He buried his face in her chest and she hugged him close, her lips brushing the top of his head as she rubbed his back comfortingly.

"It will be ok... you will be better soon. I'm here for you now. We will never be apart again. Nothing will ever separate us again."

"Promise?"- Asad muttered quietly and she could not help but smile at the mirror question she had asked him all those years ago when he had told her the same thing. Quietly, the reply left her lips.

"I promise. We will always be together in our home."

Home, home where I wanted to go

****************************************************************

SCROLL DOWN FOR FOURTH SHOT

EVERY TEARDROP IS A WATERFALL - 4TH SHOT

Link for song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyMhvkC3A84

*****************************************************************

A year passed and slowly but gradually Zoya and Asad rebuilt their lives. Even though it was a struggle at times, they found that they were able to bear the obstacles like they always did because of each other's company. Asad had donated all the money he had acquired through his drug dealings to charity, even the mansion. The both of them considered it to be blood money, tainted and polluted but still they decided to direct it to a good cause instead.

After the night of their reunion, Asad's mental health required healing. The scars of his polluted actions and the traumatic fear of losing Zoya shadowed him in nightmares for many days. There were so many nights where she awoke to the voice of his agonized screaming shouting her name from the prison of his dreams. During those times she would spend hours trying to calm him until eventually he would drift off to sleep in her arms.

After a month, he began to feel better and he knew his recovery was only possible because of his love, his Zoya. If she had not extended her hand of support when he needed it the most he knew he would have drowned in his despair until it eventually consumed him completely.

Now a year later, the sunlight touched his face from the golden rays which trickled through the window of their bedroom and he opened his eyes to greet a new day, a smile automatically gracing his face at the feel of the warm body which was curled up to his side.

I turn the music up, I got my records on
I shut the world outside until the lights come on

With a soft sigh, he glanced down at his sleeping Zoya, her head resting on his chest, his arm draped comfortingly over her waist. She was wearing his white t shirt and with a soft smile, his fingers travelled through the silky locks of her long black hair. At his touch she stirred but she did not open her eyes and he grinned at her playfulness before he swiftly rolled them over on the bed, Zoya protesting at his action as he pinned her hands on either side of her head.

Maybe the streets alight, maybe the trees are gone
I feel my heart stop beating to my favorite song

"Asad..."- she complained, her sleepy eyes opening to meet his- "It's early still. Ten more minutes.."- she whined but he stared at her with a fake frown before he kissed her forehead.

"Time to get up Zoya. It's Monday, love. You slept for most of the weekend."- he said teasingly and she grinned at his words.

"Liesss..."- she countered- "You kept me awake for most of the weekend.."- she replied with a mischievous gleam in her eyes. He bit his lip in a small smile before a soft sigh left him.

"Hmmm.. that is true.. guilty as charged.."-his eyes flashed playfully and he released her wrists, Zoya's arms wrapping around his strong shoulders as he lowered his head to her neck and caressed her soft skin with affectionate kisses. His scent lingered on her from their passionate lovemaking and he smiled against her skin before he raised his head and kissed her deeply, a soft moan leaving him when he felt her fingers threading through the hair at the nape of his neck.

And all the kids they dance, all the kids all night
Until Monday morning feels another life

"I love you buddy.."- he whispered against her lips and she kissed him softly once more, her hand touching his bearded cheek, pure love shining in her beautiful gaze.

"I love you too buddy.."- she replied and he brushed his nose affectionately on hers before he left the bed.

"Get up Zoya!" - he called out as he made his way to the washroom but she groaned in response and turned over on her stomach on the bed before she buried her head in the pillow once more. After he exited the washroom, he shook his head when he saw her still lying on the bed and with a soft sigh he left the room and made his way downstairs to make breakfast. With a grin, he put on the music and turned the volume up, the laughter bubbling to his lips when Zoya's voice echoed from upstairs.

"ASAD TURN IT OFF!! YOU WILL REGRET IT IF I COME DOWN THERE!!"

At her words, he raised the volume a little bit more and tossed the remote aside- "GET UP ZOYAI! WE HAVE TO LEAVE IN AN HOUR!" -he shouted even though he knew perfectly well that they would never leave their house at that time.

"NO!!" - she shouted back and he touched the back of his head with a joyous grin as he entered the kitchen began to prepare breakfast. After he placed the pancakes on the plate, he washed his hands and made his way upstairs, his eyes narrowing at his wife when he saw that she had pulled the covers over her head to shield herself from the morning light.

I turn the music up
I'm on a roll this time
And heaven is in sight

A gleam of mischievousness coated his eyes and he walked over to the bed and pulled the covers off, a shot of protest leaving Zoya as she picked up a pillow and tossed it at his head- "5 MORE MINUTES ASAD!!"

"No!!" - he countered and with a grin he pulled her off the bed and threw her over his shoulder, Zoya hitting his back lightly as he carried her to the bathroom. When he lowered her to the floor, she hit his chest lightly but he simply touched her head and turned it to face the mirror while he removed her toothbrush and placed it in her hand- "Brush your teeth and come down for breakfast, my little monster. You look like the Grinch right now."- he said teasingly, Zoya whacking him over his head lightly at his teasing.

He laughed at her antics before stealing a kiss on her cheek and running out of the bathroom before she threw something at his head.

I turn the music up, I got my records on
From underneath the rubble sing a rebel song

After he had finished the eggs and sliced the strawberries, he prepared the plates just as Zoya came strolling into the kitchen tiredly, a light yawn leaving her. He shook his head at her while he arranged the strawberries on the pancakes, his smile tugging at his lips when she wrapped her arms around his waist and kissed his back softly.

"Thank you for breakfast, love.."

"My pleasure.."- he turned around and kissed her softly, pure joy dancing in both of their hearts at the simple satisfaction of being in each other's loving arms. When they parted, he took a seat and pulled her onto his lap, Zoya kissing his cheek playfully before she sliced a piece of the pancake and brought it to his mouth. He ate in silence, his affectionate gaze lingering on her face while she ate some of the food.

"Are you ready for today?"- he enquired softly as he brushed a few strands of her hair behind her ear.

"Yes!" - she replied enthusiastically, his smile growing brighter at her exuberance- "I also a bit nervous... do you think we will do well that this?"- she looked at him expectantly and he nodded with a confident smile.

"Yeah.. I think we will be alright." -he kissed her cheek, his words fueling the hope and confidence in her heart while she fed him more of the pancakes, their laughter gracing the surroundings of their home at their playful antics while they ate breakfast.

Don't want to see another generation drop
I'd rather be a comma than a full stop

By noon, they found themselves sitting in the office of the Head of the Orphanage, Zoya holding a Minnie mouse stuffed toy in her hands while Asad held onto a Mickey Mouse stuffed toy. While the minutes ticked by in silence, they stared at each other, anxiousness intermingled with joy dancing in their gazes. When they were 28 years old, they were hit with the cruel news that Zoya would be unable to have children. The news had been a devastating blow to them because they both craved to have children of their own. However, they were not keen on fertility treatments and instead spoke about the possibility of adopting a child instead.

The discussions became less unfortunately when they became busy with their restaurant but after the trauma they had suffered, they finally decided that the time had arrived for them to expand their family. Their lives could not be any better at the moment, and they felt as though the presence of children would only increase their joy even more. A greater part of them also knew what it meant to live in an orphanage and they hoped they could make a child's life better and filled with love and less struggle than what they had to endure in their own lives.

Maybe I'm in the black, maybe I'm on my knees
Maybe I'm in the gap between the two trapezes

"Mr and Mrs Khan.." -at the voice they immediately stood, their smiles growing brighter when they saw the woman standing in the room with the four year old twin girls in front of her.

Zoya glanced at Asad with an encouraging smile before they both approached the children and knelt in front of them, their gazes lingering on the pretty brown eyes of the twin girls. They had met the children before obviously and grew to love them as their own before they decided that they truly wanted to adopt them.

"Hello Kiran. Are you ready to go home with us now?"- Zoya asked one of the girl's softly, the child staring at her with a small smile before she nodded slowly.

"And you Kiah?"- Asad questioned gently, the girl who was the older twin, grinning at him since she had already grown fond of him when he and Zoya visited the orphanage- "Are you ready to come home with your sister?"

"Yes.." -Kiah replied with a bright smile. Asad grinned at her and lifted her off her feet, Zoya mirroring his action with Kiran as they both stood.

"Can I call you mummy now?"- Kiran asked Zoya whose heart melted at the child's innocent request. For a moment the reply was stuck in her throat and she looked at Asad, the tears biting her eyes while he stared at her lovingly.

"Can I call you daddy now?" Kiah enquired of Asad, his head snapping back to her, his heart skipping a few beats at his daughter's words.

"Yes.."- Zoya replied quietly as she hugged Kiran close and touched Kiah's face- "Yes you two can call us mummy and daddy now."

"Look what we brought for you.."- Asad told Kiah and Kiran as he placed the Mickey mouse in her hand, Zoya placing the Minnie mouse in Kiran's hand- And we have lots and lots of more toys at home for you." -he said with a bright smile, his daughters grinning at his words.

But my heart is beating and my pulses start
Cathedrals in my heart

With pure joy shining in their very soul, they left the orphanage that day with two little angels who made their family complete. It was another new beginning for them and they knew they were going to enjoy every moment that their lives had in store for them from that moment on.

As we saw oh this light I swear you'll,
Emerge blinking into to tell me it's alright

That night, joyous laughter rang in the living room while they played with their children, Zoya's eyes watering with the laughter that was leaving her body while Kiah and Kiran had Asad giving them rides on his back. When he finally collapsed onto the floor in exhaustion, they pulled at his hair playfully, the laughter vibrating in his chest at their playful antics.

"I think you two take after your mischievous mother."- he said teasingly, as he turned over on his back and lifted Kiran above his head, the child laughing at how he made her feel as though she was flying.

Zoya lied next to him, her hand resting on Kiah's small back from where the child was lying on top of her- "It looks like our daughter is already feeling sleepy.."- she said with a smile when she noticed Kiah's eyes were drooping.

"And this one is still wide awake!"- Asad exclaimed gleefully, Kiran's laughter ringing out around them. When he finally lowered her onto his chest, she gripped his shirt, her eyes eventually drooping as he touched her back comfortingly. He kissed the top of her head softly before he looked at Zoya, the woman who was his angel and saviour, the woman who had brought the light back into his life when he had placed himself in darkness.

"You're beautiful, love.."- he said quietly, Zoya smiling at his words as she braced her head on his shoulder while he draped his arm above her head.

"I love you..."- she kissed him softly and he smiled into the kiss, a soft sigh leaving him before they gradually drifted off to sleep on the floor in the living room with their children resting on top of them.

As we soar walls, every siren is a symphony
And every tear's a waterfall
Is a waterfall
Ah
Is a waterfall
Ah ah ah
Is a is a waterfall
Every tear
Is a waterfall
Ah ah ah

On the Friday evening after they picked up Kiran and Kiah from pre-school, they brought them to their workplace, their children's innocent eyes surveying the colourful sign which greeted their vision with bright smiles even though they could not read the words there.

"Mummy, daddy, you work here?"- Kiah questioned curiously while she lowered the lollipop that she had been snacking on.

"Yes sweetheart..."- Asad replied as he held her protectively in his arms- "This is mummy and daddy's place."

"You own it too, mummy?"- Kiran questioned Zoya and she smiled at the child while she cleaned the little mess on her daughter's cheek from the lollipop she was eating. She had told Asad again and again that they would mess themselves up with the huge rainbow coloured lollipops he had bought for them but he was still persistent about giving it to them until she finally gave in to his request.

"Yes Kiri..."- she replied, her eyes meeting Asad's smiling eyes momentarily- "Your daddy and I worked hard to build this. It was our dream, like how you two were our dream as well.."

Asad grinned at his wife's response as they entered the two storey building, the evening sun casting a golden glow on the sign that read "ASYA'S RESTAURANT AND BAR"

So you can hurt, hurt me bad
But still I'll raise the flag

They could not remember the last time they had so much fun working. Their daughters were excited about how quickly they chopped up the vegetables from where they had placed them on the counter next to them, their little laughter's causing the grin to linger on Asad and Zoya's face throughout the evening. All of the staff adored Kiah and Kiran and they were certain in a few weeks, their employees would spoil their children with snacks and presents. After all they had only brought them there for a few hours and already, their employees had presented their children with new toys and sweets for meeting them the first time.

As usual, Asad stole kisses from Zoya while she prepared the orders that came her way until Kiran blurted out that her daddy was kissing her mummy which caused the kitchen to erupt in laughter.

So much joy...so much happiness... and they valued it completely for they knew what true sorrow felt like and now that their lives were brighter, they reveled in the rays of happiness that was shining upon them.

It was a wa wa wa wa wa-terfall
A wa wa wa wa wa-terfall

Every tear
Every tear
Every teardrop is a waterfall
Every tear
Every tear
Every teardrop is a waterfall

And yet regardless of the successes that came their way, Asad never forgot about the promise he had made her all those years ago on that rainy night.

"Where do you want to go? I promise I will take you there.." His teenager self had enquired while he held her in his arms.

"We should go to Canada to see the Niagara falls. I love waterfalls..." Her reply was still crystal clear in his mind after all those years, after all the trials and tribulations they had endured.

"I promise you, we will go there together.." It was the promise he had made her and it was a promise he was going to keep.

Every tear
Every tear
Every teardrop is a waterfall

Every tear
Every tear
Every teardrop is a waterfall

A month later, Zoya was standing behind the railings overlooking part of the magnificently luxurious vision that was the Niagara falls, Asad's arms wrapped around her waist while he placed a soft kiss on her neck. Kiah and Kiran were pointing at the waterfall and speaking amongst themselves happily but Zoya remained quiet, pure joy dancing in her eyes while she looked on at the beautiful creation of nature which she had dreamed and wished to see on those lonely nights in the orphanage. And now because of her best friend, her love, her companion, her soulmate, another one of her dreams had come true.

"It is so beautiful..."- she said quietly, Asad's eyes following her gaze while he stared at the gorgeous vision in front of him. However, despite the loveliness of the waterfall, in his eyes it was nothing compared to the mesmerizing beauty of his wife in his arms.

"Yes.."- he replied with a smile, his eyes focused on her face- "Absolutely beautiful."

She looked at him with a bright smile but realizing he had been staring at her while the words left his lips, she touched his cheek and bowed her head, the blush colouring her cheeks- "After all these years you are still crazy as ever.." -she said teasingly, Asad touching her hand on his face and placing a soft kiss on the inside of her palm- "Thank you, love. Thank you for bringing us here. I love waterfalls."

He stared at her, the palpable affection which was burning in his eyes, mirrored in hers- "I know, love.."

With the stunningly beautiful backdrop of the waterfall, he captured her lips in a passionate kiss, the sounds of their children's laughter intermingled with the sound of the falling water dancing in their ears while they deepened the kiss, their friendship a paradise, their love a paradise, their life forever a paradise in each other's loving embrace.

Every tear
Every tear
Every teardrop is a waterfall

****************************************************************

THE END

GREAT GREAT 👏
I LOVE COLDPLAY ❤️
AND POTRAYING ASYA SO BRILLIANTLY YOU GO GIRL.
INNOVATING IDEA 😃
waiting for the two remaining

This was amazing dear

Just read the last part too

Wow
That was absolutely beautiful
I loved it sooo much
Their story was full of varied emotions
They shared their pain, fought it together
They loved each other and didn't let anything come in between them at the end
It was such a noble idea to adopt kids
They were so cute
This story was very gripping and interesting
Very well written..:)

Marvelous, awesome, brilliant story. So intense and passionate one. At one time I thought someone going to come between asya when they start college or thought their success will create riff between them. But it turn out to be asad choosing wrong path thinking he will able to give world to zoya. When third part end I thought it will be end like zoyas father. But u again made me wrong by making them fight for their life. U know its harsh reality of life to become successful, to become powerful people choose wrong path and destroy their lives by their one hands. Only few able fight back to the darkness their drowning to and some give up.

Wow this was amazing