Hello everyone!!! 😃 Wishing all my readers a very Happy New Year!! 🤗 Sorry for the late update...my parents are in India and so I have additional work at home...and also my studies...anyway...here are two updates for you for New Year and also dedicated to my lovely reader Ankie who is one of the major inspirations for this story!! ❤️ So here you go, happy reading!! 😳
Asad was sitting outside the closed door of Zoya's room with teary eyes. He looked at the door and slanted along the wall and sat with closed eyes.
After some time, Zoya opened the door and looked out at the living room. She didn't find Asad; while suddenly she looked down and saw Asad sitting nearby the door, having slept off waiting there.
Zoya bent down and looked at Asad sleeping with his tears dried off on his cheeks. Zoya looked at him in tears and placed her hands on his face, while Asad woke up instantly. He saw Zoya next to him, and Zoya stood up and walked towards the sofa. Asad abruptly stood up and walked behind her.
"Zoya!! Zoya, please talk to me Zoya...I am sorry...I agree it was my mistake to hide such a big truth from you...I will go and inform the police now itself and ask them to take action just as they would do with any other common man..."
Asad walked towards the door, while Zoya held his hand and stopped him. Asad stopped and looked at her hand and then at her.
Zoya turned towards Asad, "Why are you going to the police now??"
"To let them take action on me as needed."
"Action for??"
Asad frowned in confusion and said, "Aditi's...murder..."
Zoya walked closer and held both his hands and said with a stern look, "Ehmmm...Asad, I want you to recall that night once again and tell me something...will you??"
Asad nodded his head, "Sure baby...what do you want to know...I will tell you everything..."
"Asad, try to remember what time did that accident happen??"
"Time..." Asad was thinking while he murmured, "I didn't...how will I remember...in that situation..."
"Asad...at least a vague time...approximately...please try to recall something..."
Asad closed his eyes and was thinking when he suddenly opened his eyes, "Zoya...you know...when I was driving back...I was too tensed and nervous...I wanted to have some water...I stopped at a petrol bunk...when I went inside to buy water, the guy said it's 11 pm and the shop is closed..."
Zoya thought over it while Asad added, "...which means...it would have happened around 10:30-10:45..."
Zoya closed her eyes and let a sigh out and moved her hair bangs back and uttered in a low tone, "Thank you Bappa...you saved my Asad..."
"What happened Zoya?? Why do you want to know the time??"
Zoya looked up and came to Asad and held both his hands and said "You need not suffer any sentence for a crime not committed by you Asad!"
Asad gave a perplexed look hearing it, "Zoya??"
Zoya gave a light smile and wiped the tears off his face and said him, "Yes Asad...I don't want my Asad to suffer or be guilty for a crime he never did..." Zoya took a break and said, "Aditi didn't die in your hands!!"
Asad was shocked to hear that and he moved back with a stunned look, "Wh---what?? I didn't?? But..."
Asad moved his fingers through his hair and clutched it without understanding what was Zoya trying to say, while Zoya came to him, "Asad...relax...I am telling the truth...I am sure you didn't kill Aditi...at least I can say this much that she didn't die from your hands...trust me!!"
"But Zoya...how can you be so sure??" Asad asked in a shock, while Zoya said looking aside, "Because I met Aditi after that!!"
Asad opened his eyes wide hearing that, while Zoya was rotating the paper weight which was lying on the table nearby.
Scene shifted back to the day Zoya was leaving Mumbai:
Zoya was sitting in the back seat of the car pressing her eyes with tears flowing through her cheeks, while the car was speeding off to the airport at the dark new moon night.
"More how much time will you take??" Zoya asked to the driver in a grumpy tone, "It's already 12:15...go fast...I don't want to miss this flight...go soon!!"
The driver stopped the car with a sudden jerking halt, with Zoya getting pushed in the front.
"What's wrong with you...why are you..." Zoya shouted while she heard a knock on her window side. She glared looking at a disheveled Aditi knocking at the window and smiling in relief looking at Zoya in the car.
Zoya lowered her window and Aditi asked in a shivering tone, "Zoya...can I get a lift Zoya???"
"What do you want Aditi?? What else do you want, haan??" Zoya asked in a shouting tone, "Aren't you satisfied with the havoc you created in my life?? Now go enjoy with As..."Zoya stopped and said looking at her, "Listen...I am leaving Mumbai once and for all...let me leave this city at least in peace...Driver, you go!!"
"No...No Zoya!!! Please don't go...Zoya, please give me a lift Zoya...please Zoya..." Aditi said in tears and looked towards her right and said, "Zoya, those people will kill me Zoya...please..."
Zoya looked at Aditi with blood oozing out of the side of her head which she was stopping with her palm, and her dress all muddy and hands bruised.
Zoya stepped out and looked at the direction Aditi was pointing at.
"Who is trying to kill you?? Where??" Zoya asked while Aditi pointed towards direction where there was no presence of any man.
"Zoya...they were chasing me Zoya...trust me..." Aditi said looking here and there, while Zoya stared at her, "Trust you?? Trust Aditi Sawant??"
Aditi looked at Zoya with a helpless look, while Zoya added, "Your story seems very true...but you have taught me a huge lesson that never trust anyone's tears...but I had to pay a very big price for that lesson...I am not interested in falling for your fake drama again..."
Aditi shook her head in denial, while Zoya said pointing at her forehead, "Use this red paint and try to fool someone else...I am done with you for life...!!"
Zoya got in the car, while Aditi protested, "Zoya...please believe me Zoya..." she fell down and held Zoya's legs while Zoya tried to push her away in irritation, "Zoya, please I beg you...just drop me at the nearby railway station...I will go back to Lucknow...to my mom and brother...please..."
Zoya pushed her and sat in the car and looked at the clock and said the driver, "I am getting late...you start the car!!"
The car sped off, while Zoya heard faint cries of Aditi behind shouting not to leave her there and save her.
Scene shifted back to the present:
Asad couldn't believe his ears after listening to that story, while Zoya looked at him.
"It means...Zoya...she just fell unconscious?? You mean...Zoya you mean...I...I didn't kill Aditi??" Asad asked in an emotional happiness,
Zoya cupped his face with a tearful smile, "No...you didn't kill her Asad...you need not have that guilt...she was just injured and maybe fell unconscious in that fiasco...but she didn't die in your hands..."
Asad heaved in relief and hugged Zoya tightly and vented, "Zoya...baby you don't know how relieved I am...after several months of guilt...I feel light!! This guilt was killing me every day...that I killed someone...now I am glad...I didn't do any murder...Zoya...I didn't do any murder Zoya...your Asad hasn't committed any sins!!"
Zoya hugged back Asad, while her mind halted at a point, as she thought, "When Aditi didn't die in Asad's hands, whose death formalities did Rashid Uncle do?? How did he manage to prepare a person's death certificate when she was alive??"
Asad broke himself from the hug, wiped his face and looked at Zoya. He knelt down and held his ears, while Zoya looked on.
"Zoya...I know I was too harsh at you today for enquiring about Aditi...I manhandled you a lot...I shouldn't have...I know I don't try to control my anger at all...I am sorry for that too..."
Zoya folded her hands and looked at him, while Asad said, "I have always given you equal rights in my life...be it punishing for mistakes too...you can slap me too if you want..."
Zoya raised her eyebrows and raised her hand to slap, while she stopped at Asad's cheek. She knelt down, put his hands down from his ears, and extended her hand at him, while Asad didn't understand.
"Asad, as much as I love you...I also hate this anger of yours...anger always leads to loss and destruction Asad...now look at Aditi's case for example...your anger made you manhandle her...that's why you pushed her and you lived with the guilt for a murder you never did...why this much anger baby??"
Asad looked down, while Zoya said in a soft tone, "Asad, just as my words hurt you, your aggressiveness hurts me too right?? How much happiness you give me when you show your love to me, that much pain you give me when you show your anger at me..."
"Sorry Zoya...I just turn out to be one of the male chauvinists who think manhandling can shut a woman off, while in anger...I know I must not do that...I am sorry..."
"I don't want to hear your sorry Asad...I need a promise from you today..."
"What promise Zoya??"
"Promise me, that whatever happens, whatever is the situation, you will never be aggressive or take any action in haste...even if I am wrong, make me realize my mistake rather than getting harsh with me...I am your Zoya!! If Asad tells from his heart, Zoya can listen to it...we are soulmates...who share a single heart...!!"
Asad smiled hearing it and placed his hand over hers and said, "I promise!!"
Zoya moved to him and hugged him with her face in his chest, while Asad hugged her back contently.
"Thank you for getting rid of my guilt Zoya...and sorry for behaving that way with you..." Asad said and kissed on Zoya's forehead, while Zoya smiled and said, "That's what I am for in your life!!"
The next morning,
"Asad!! I said you to have a watch over Ayaan's closeness with Zoya...now see what has happened!!" Tanveer said with a tensed look, while Asad was at Tanveer's flat looking at a mobile article which read:
"Growing closeness among actress Zoya Khan with ace cinematographer Ayaan Mohammed: Hubby Khan's Reaction?"
Asad just kept looking into the mobile, while Tanveer checked out Asad's reaction.
"Asad, such rumours will tarnish your reputation...it will even affect our movie...what do you have to say about this?"
Asad stood up and gave Tanveer's phone back to her, "Find out who posted the article, and get him meet me..."
"Haan?? For what??" Tanveer asked, while Asad took his car keys and said, "Listen Tannu, we are from movie industry, celebrities...such rumours and paparazzi stories are very common for us...you expect me to sit and react for all these and separate Ayaan and Zoya's friendship for this stupid article??"
Asad smirked and walked towards the door, while Tanveer said, "But what if the article is true??"
Asad stopped his steps, while Tanveer went behind Asad with an evil smile, " What would you do if I tell you that this article's contents are true...that Ayaan indeed loves Zoya???"
Asad turned at Tanveer with a shocked look, while Tanveer said with a stern look, "Yes Asad!! You know or not...Ayaan has been loving Zoya before your marriage itself...and he still has that intentions towards her and that's the reason he makes up excuses and roams around with her...he is fooling you smartly under the pretext of calling you bhai and such...wake up Asad!!"
Asad called up Ayaan on his phone and said, "Ayaan, stay home...I want to talk to you right now!!"
Asad stormed out of Tanveer's flat, while Tanveer gave an evil laugh and sat in her rocking chair and took her wine glass and said with a smile, "Cheers Tannu!!'
Asad was sitting at Ayaan's flat tapping his foot on the floor and resting his head on his intertwined palms.
"Asad, what happened?? You are sitting like this for the past 15 minutes silently...what's the matter??"
Asad looked up and said, "I came to know something today...from Tanveer!!"
"What??"
Asad gave a stern and angry glare at Ayaan and said with gritting teeth, "That you loved Zoya before me itself and you are still having those feelings for her!!"
Ayaan stood up in horror listening to it and tapped his forehead, while Asad looked up at him in anger.
"Asad...I..." Ayaan said while puzzled on how Tanveer came to know that, while Asad wiped his face and looked at Ayaan, "Ayaan, are you seriously stupid??"
Ayaan gave a confused look at Asad, while Asad stood up and asked him, "Don't you know what to share and whom to share with?? Are you a complete idiot that you went and said this secret to Tanveer?? Are you crazy Ayaan?"
"Dude...I didn't..." Ayaan said while Asad interrupted, "Listen...what did we decide...you confessed this to me the day after Zoya and I confessed our love for each other...and I had said you that this truth; that you loved Zoya would stay among me and you only...not even Zoya should know...right??"
"Yeah...but..." Ayaan said, while Asad added, "When you stepped into a relationship with Humeira, you said you wanted to be honest to her and wanted to tell this to her too...now you went and said this to Tanveer too??"
"No Asad!! Trust me dude...I never said anything to her...am I mad to go and tell Tannu that I loved Zoya?? And why would I even tell now, when I have a girlfriend and Zoya is married to you??"
"Then how did she know?? Humeira said her?? But you said she had promised you right?"
"No Asad...Humeira wouldn't say this...I am sure...she is feeling a bit insecure with Zoya these days...but...but she is someone who doesn't break promises even if it costs her life..."
"Then who Ayaan??" Ayaan was all tensed, while Asad placed his hand on Ayaan's shoulder, "Ayaan, I just said this to you to just make you aware that someone knows your secrets...maybe you should be careful."
Ayaan looked at Asad hearing that, while Asad said, "Today Tanveer was telling all nonsense and I just don't like hearing such sick stories on you and Zoya...be it she is my family friend...but when it comes to you and Zoya, I don't tolerate such nonsense...chuck the article...but just be careful...okay??"
Ayaan nodded his head, while Asad left the place. Ayaan sat down and pressed his temples in tension.
"How did Tanveer get to know this?? And why did she go and tell it to Asad all the way, that too adding her own spices to it??"
"When will you come back??" Zoya asked helping Asad pack his things, while Asad was trying to select a shirt.
"3 days babe...will shoot the song sequence at Ladakh and come back quickly..."
Zoya zipped the trolley bag and came to Asad and hugged him from behind, "Asad, take me also nah...I will get bored without seeing you...and if I come I can see your song shoot too..."
Asad smiled and turned back at her, lifted her and sat at the bed seating her on his lap, "Actually, I don't want you to see this song shoot now."
"Why??"
"Because...this song is special for me and you!!" Asad said moving back Zoya's hair, "I have written this song myself, sang it myself and will be shooting on that...I want you to see this on screen...with the perfect effects...!!"
Zoya smiled and nodded her head, "Okay Director Sir!! Your wish!!"
Asad smiled and kissed on her cheek, while he heard the doorbell ring.
"Must be Ayaan..." Zoya said and proceeded, while Asad stopped, "No...this is your secret crush!!"
Asad smiled and walked outside while Zoya lifted her hands in doubt, "My secret crush??"
Zoya heard barking sound and she opened her eyes wide in excitement, "Bruno??"
Zoya came running outside and saw Bruno in Asad's arms.
"Bruno Sahab...you came back?? Haan??" Asad laughed looking at Bruno, while Bruno jumped towards Zoya.
"Asad, we sent him back nah?? We couldn't take care of him properly, and we thought he would be better in Panchgani itself right??"
"Yes...but seems like your Bruno missed you so much...he went on a hunger strike there...so Ramu Kaka dropped him back here..." Asad said patting Bruno's head, while Bruno whined in a low sound.
"Awww...my baby!" Zoya said kissing Bruno and caressed its head, while Asad walked to his room, and Zoya followed him with Bruno is her hand.
"At times I feel I could have born as Bruno..." Asad said holding a smile, while wearing his watch, "He gets to spend more time in my wife's lap than me..."
"Shut up Asad!!" Zoya said laughing, and dropped Bruno down and Bruno walked to the living room.
The doorbell again rang, and Asad said, "Now it must be Ayaan...talk to him...I will check my baggage one last time..."
Zoya went and opened the door and let Ayaan with a smile.
"Ready??" Ayaan asked with his shades on, and checking his mobile.
"I am not coming...only Director Sir is coming with you!!" Zoya said pretending a dull face.
"Why?? You aren't coming??"
"Haan...he wants me to watch this song on screen only it seems...it's a long wait...but what to do...I will have to wait..."
"Woww...first time in life I am gonna witness something before Zoya in Asad's life...not bad!!" Zoya beat Ayaan playfully while he laughed and said, "By the way...read the article??"
"Ayaan and Zoya's closeness??" Zoya asked as they both broke into a laughter giving a hi-five to each other.
"These days I feel scared to meet Asad too alone...who knows they might start gossiping Ayaan is interested in men..." Zoya laughed hearing it, and as she stopped laughing she looked at Ayaan, "Did you patch up with Humeira??"
Ayaan's laugh disappeared while he shook his head in denial, "No...she spoke a lot Zoya..."
"Because she loves you a lot Ayaan...give her a chance...she is a very good girl...maybe she is feeling insecure regarding your first love...do one thing...get your first love interact with Humeira...maybe she might feel comfortable after that..."
Ayaan looked up at Zoya hearing that, while he said with a smile, "Don't worry...I will talk to her once I am back from Ladakh...I need to talk with some more people on this..."
Ayaan's mind went to Tanveer, while Asad came there with his trolley bag, wearing his leather jacket.
"We will leave??"
"Yeah..." Ayaan said and he looked at Zoya, "Send off your hubby while I wait down!!"
Ayaan walked down with a smile, while Asad looked at Zoya.
"Shall I leave?"
"Yeah...don't miss me so much!"
"Why will I miss you...I have you in me!!"
Asad said and pulled Zoya by her waist towards him, while Zoya blushed, "No wonder you have got awards since a debut director itself...you are good in romance!!"
Asad laughed and wore his sunglasses and asked, "What does Mrs. Asad want from Ladakh??"
"Hmmm..." Zoya thought while she said, "Yeah...get me apricots...I have heard they are the best in Ladakh."
"Done...what else??"
"Turquoise jewelry set!!"
"Done...then??"
"Then..." Zoya released Asad's hold and pushed him, "Go to airport now...Ayaan is waiting down!!"
Asad smiled and gave her a hug and kiss on her lips, "Take care!!"
Asad patted Bruno too as Bruno lingered around his legs.
Asad walked out with his bag, while Zoya kept looking out watching him walk.
Zoya attempted to call him, but stopped and smiled looking down, while Asad called out to her.
"You called me??"
Zoya smiled shaking her head in disbelief as how did Asad always listen her heart sharply.
Asad came back to her, with a smile. He looked at her for some time and asked, "Are you coming with me??"
"What??" Zoya asked opening her eyes wide, "What happened suddenly??"
"Don't know...I am feeling disturbed leaving you alone..."
"Come on Asad...it's not the first time you are going for an outdoor shoot leaving me alone...I will manage...you go..."
"Sure?? I will try coming as soon as possible...okay?? You will take care of yourself yeah??" Asad asked caressing her cheek.
"Asad, you are reacting as if something is going to happen to me and you are leaving me forever!!"
"Shut up Zoya!!" Asad said with an angry look, and put his head down, "You girls love to tell such stupid jokes and ruin our mood, when we guys are happy right??"
"Okay...sorry...I just said looking at the way you are getting emotional...sorry Asad!!"
Asad took his bag again and hugged her, "Don't tell such words Zoya...I will come soon okay...take care...be in touch..."
Asad kissed her cheek again and left the flat, while Zoya waved her hand looking at him with a smile.
Asad entered the lift, while Zoya stood by the door itself looking at the lift after the door closed too.
Bruno looked up at Zoya standing there motionless, while tears brewed up in her eyes unknowing to her.
Bruno barked at her, while Zoya looked at Bruno, gave a smile and closed the door. She sat at the sofa, while Bruno climbed up on her lap and looked at her face.
"Why am I feeling so bad Bruno??" Zoya asked stroking Bruno's body softly, "Why am I feeling a lump on my throat and feel like crying...Asad has gone for a month too before...now it's just 3 days and why do I feel bad...??"
Zoya looked at her Ganpati idol and dropped Bruno down and walked towards it.
She knelt down and lit the diya, and prayed with folding hands.
"I am having some sort of fear since Asad left...be with him Bappa...I never care about me much...I just want my Asad to be safe...!!"
Zoya prayed with closed eyes, while Bruno looked at the sofa with scowling eyes and barked looking at the sofa, while Zoya woke up from her prayer and looked at Bruno.
"Quiet Bruno!!" Zoya took Bruno and walked inside, while Bruno vigorously barked looking at the sofa on the corner. As Zoya went in, the sofa released an impression of someone leaving that place.
CID
Kumkum Bhagya
Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
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