4th Shot: This is my I mean our room, Asad.
Asad comes to Zoya's farmhouse wid his luggage. Zoya welcomed him.
"Welcome Asad, I was waiting for u only. Shyam, take Sir's luggage in d room I told u. Mrs. Stewart, plz arrange tea n snacks for Sir," said Zoya.
Shyam was a young Indian servant in his late 20s while Mrs. Stewart was an American servant in her late 40s.
After they had their snacks, Zoya tuk Asad to a room where there were separate 2 big beds but common washroom.
"This is my I mean our room, Asad, "Since we both will be uncomfortable in d starting to share d bed I decided dat we will live in dis room. Take whichever bed u want," said Zoya.
"Thanks Zoya," said Asad.
"No need to says thanks to ur live-in partner. U get changed," said Zoya.
She left d room.
"Lets see how much u have really changed," said Zoya to herself.
After some time, Asad n Zoya were in d hall having tea n snacks.
"Wat sud I say to my family wen they call me as I was supposed to have 2day's flight back home?" asked Asad.
"U can say dat u have some work here in New York. And since u have office in New York also I am sure u won't have any problems in doing ur work," replied Zoya.
"Dats great idea," said Asad.
Zoya went to her room n started reading a novel sitting on bed. Asad came after some time in d room n saw her reading. She did not lukd at him. He sat on his bed n started doing some office work on his laptop. Zoya did not lukd at him even once till they remained there for 4 hours before they left d room to have dinner.
During dinner also, Zoya ate silently. Asad was not understanding why she was avoiding him.
"Zoya, why r u not talking wid me?" asked Asad.
"Cuz u love silence only na. Now, I also love silence cuz I had a bad past. Do u even have any idea wat u made ur mother n sister n then me go thru wid ur silent behaviour most of d times? U even did not liked us talking while eating," replied Zoya.
Asad felt guilty as he was reminded of how he was earlier.
"Its not wrong to feel bad abt our past or not cry over it. But it does not mean dat we sud always stuck in our past n trouble ourselves as well as others around us. U r not able to take just 4 hours of silence of me 2day then do u even have any idea how ur silence affected ur mother n sister for so many years. Wat wud have happened if someday u married someone n had kids? Wud u be d same wid them?" asked Zoya.
Asad was speechless.
"Well, stop thinking much abt wat I said n have dinner," said Zoya.
They started having dinner.
"U have changed so much," said Asad.
"I think u said more than 100 times earlier. According to u, I am changed. Do u want to say dat u want me like old Zoya who always tolerated ur shit?" asked Zoya.
"I did not meant dat," replied Asad.
"Its better if u did not meant dat," said Zoya.
Asad saw Zoya eating normally widout making any mess.
"U r not eating like before I mean eating messily," said Asad.
"Dat was one of my negative points which I decided to change unlike u who did not paid attention to ur negative points of hurting others," said Zoya.
Asad was shocked n did not knew wat to say. They were silent for d rest of d dinner.
After dinner, they went to their room to sleep. They changed into their nighties.
"I hope u remember dat we r supposed to even share d workload of house," said Zoya.
"I remember," said Asad.
"Good u remember it," said Zoya.
"2mrw, u will have a test. Lets see if u pass," thinks Zoya.
"Well, Good Night," said Zoya.
"Good Night," said Asad.
Both of them slept.
Next morning, Asad got up at 6. Zoya was still sleeping. He lukd at her sleeping n smiled. He was abt to touch her face but stopped thinking how she does not loves him like before. After 30 minutes wen he is don bathing n changing, he gets a call 4m Mrs. Stewart teln him dat she is sick so she will not come 2day. He then got a call 4m Shyam teln him dat he will not come 2day as he is in d hospital for his wife's delivery. Asad realized dat 2day d housework has to be done by him n Zoya only. He lukd at Zoya who was still sleeping.
"I sud not wake her up. I will tell her later abt d calls," said Asad.
He cleaned their room widout making any noise which will disturb her sleep. He then went into d kitchen n made coffee, orange juice, veggie pizza n paneer paratha. He then cleaned d mess in d kitchen. As he was setting d table, Zoya entered d kitchen. It was 7:30.
"U woke up," said Asad.
"Yes, I woke up at 7," said Zoya.
Asad then told her abt their servants not cumn 2day n how he cleaned their room, made their breakfast n then cleaned d kitchen. Zoya smiled inwardly. She did not expected Asad to do so much work widout her. He passed dis test. Yes, it was her plan to make d servants call Asad n tell him dat they won't come 2day. Mrs. Stewart is not sick n Shyam is done wid having kids 2 years ago after which they had their tubes tied.
"Not bad, Asad," thinks Zoya.
"U sud have woke me up to help u," said Zoya.
"I did not wanted to wake u up," said Asad.
"Okay, lets have breakfast," said Zoya.
"Yes," said Asad.
They sat at d dining table n started eating.
"U made tasty foods," said Zoya wid a smile.
"I am glad u liked it," said Asad wid a smile.
After some silence into eating, Asad asked, "U changed into wat I was like 2 years ago."
"But I am modern not wid backward n orthodox mentality like u," said Zoya, "And I don't keep on firing my employees for silly reasons. Also, I don't keep on going on anyone's parents to insult them. So, I may have bcum like u but not entirely."
"I am not like dat anymore," said Asad.
"I can see," said Zoya.
After breakfast, Zoya asked for Asad's clothes to iron them along wid hers.
"Zoya, u don't need to do dat," said Asad.
"I have to do dat, Asad. Since Mrs. Stewart is sick n Shyam has taken a leave for 2day for his wife's delivery, we only have to do all d house work. Since u already cooked d breakfast & cleaned our room n kitchen I am left wid ironing ur clothes, doing laundry n washing dishes. It's a matter of just a day," said Zoya in a blank tone.
Asad was amazed wid her statement. He gave her his clothes to iron.
"I am glad u have not done anything to disappoint me otherwise it will not take me a minute to call airport office to deport u like u did 2 years ago," said Zoya wid a sarcastic smile.
Asad was hurt at her statement. He recalled how he called Mr. Bhatawdekar to deport her while revealing d lie abt d engagement. He recalled how he told Zoya to leave d house several times or threatened to throw her out of d house weneva he got angry wid her.
"Ab tumhe pata chalega ki jab koi tumhe baar baar ghar se nikalne ko yaad dilaata hai to kaisa lagta hai. Now, u will know how u had hurt me," thinks Zoya.
After Zoya was done wid all d work, she got ready for office. Asad had already left an hour ago. Zoya thought abt all d things Asad did 2day.
"U have passed 2day's test but still u can't have me so easily," said Zoya.
A week passed, Asad n Zoya had started talking more wid each other. They have bcum friends but Zoya was still not ready to accept his love as she did not wanted to be hurt again by him. They talked like friends, watched movies 2gthr n like earlier had late night coffee on d park bench. Asad found dat Zoya no more spills chips n other things while eating n she no more keeps d foods on d bed to eat them n wiping her hands on d bed-sheets(These were some of d times I hated Zoya doing. Even 5 year old kids don't make so much mess). Asad wud talk to his family weneva he wanted but he wud never mention anything abt Zoya as she told him not to mention anything abt her. So, his family did not even had any idea dat Asad had met Zoya again in New York. Weneva Zoya's family wud come to meet her, Asad wud hide 4m them or leave d house before they come.
Asad saw a pack of Stayfree pads n got embarrassed. Just then, Zoya came out of d washroom n got amused seeing him lukn embarrassed at d sight of sanitary pads.
"Sorry, u got embarrassed," apologized Zoya.
"Its okay," said Asad, "I am not used to seeing sanitary pads on someone's bed."
"U were in d study room so I did not bothered to keep it in d cupboard so early," said Zoya.
"I came to take a file 4m d room. Well, I don't think I sud be embarrassed so much as u r my live-in partner not my mother, sister or any other girl," said Asad.
"I did not expected him to be so calm abt it. If he was old Asad he wud have got irritated n left d room. Dis was not some plan of mine but got to know Asad's reaction," thinks Zoya.
Zoya kept d pads in her cupboard.
"Mrs. Stewart, bring green tea for me," called out Zoya.
"Green tea is good for stomach pain during periods. U need sumthn?" asked Zoya.
"No," replied Asad.
She got on her bed to rest while Asad sat on his bed.
"Did u got into any relationships after I left?" asked Zoya.
"No," replied Asad, "After dat night, I realized wat a jerk I was. Wen u left, some relatives suggested me to marry n some even brought recommended proposals for me but I can't marry anyone. I always thought dat I don't deserve any girl."
"U always said to Dilshad aunty dat u wanted a woman like ammi & u will marry anyone only for ur ammi. Its not necessary dat all woman will be like ur ammi but can be different 4m her. U always easily said dat u will marry someone only for ur ammi but wat abt d girl u wud have got married. She wud have got miserable dat u only married her cuz of ur ammi not cuz u loved her. Its necessary for love to be there for each other before marrying someone. Widout love, a marriage is not a marriage but its sumthn like prostitution cuz people sleep wid prostitutes just for pleasure widout any love n in marriage cases just cuz they want to produce babies out of their wives," said Zoya.
Asad was shocked wid wat she said. In dis way, she called their suggested marriage plan by his mother a prostitution cuz he did not confessed his love to her n always hurt her.
"Wat abt u? Did u had any relationships in these 2 years?" asked Asad changing d topic.
"No," replied Zoya, "After my bad experience wid Akram & u, I did not wanted to get into any relationships. I did not wanted to have any heartbreaks for d 3rd time."
"Oh," said Asad n asked, "How did u thought of opening ur business?"
"It was my dream of doing it wen I was doing my MBA. I wanted to be a businesswoman after working for some other company for work experience. Even a woman can do business. U did not let Najma or aunty outside d house after 7pm just cuz they were women. Dis shows u did not wanted Najma to work but only stay at home even after marriage. I wanted to tell u abt my business plan but before dat aunty came wid dat 10 day challenge. If I wud have told u then u wud not allowed me to open a business," said Zoya.
"I am not like dat anymore now, Zoya. I realized how I wud think like a stupid wen it came to working of women or them staying out late at night. I realized how women needs to independent. Also, girls sud be taught to face d world instead of setting ridiculous deadlines for them as someday they will have to stay away 4m their family n be on their own. As for Najma, she has now joined my business along wid Ayaan," said Asad.
"Good to see u changed so much. I wish u were like dis earlier," said Zoya.
"I too wish dat," said Asad.
"Hope u don't back to ur old self again," said Zoya.
"I won't," said Asad.
Mrs. Stewart knocked on d door.
"Come in," said Zoya.
"Dinner is ready," said Mrs. Stewart on entering.
Asad n Zoya went to d kitchen wid her.
Next Shot: "You were just a toy to me?"(Who will say to whom-Guess)
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Jhanak
Shiv Shakti
46