Chapter One
"Nikalta chand sabko pasand aata hai
Doobta suraj ko kaun dekhna chahta hai
Toot'ta hua taara sabki dua isliye poori karta hai
Kyuki use tootne ka dard maalum hota hai'"
Zoya re-read the shayeri she found online. The poem touched her heart. Tonight she felt a deeper empathy towards the unlucky star. "Woh kehte hain na..dusro ke liye khud khatam hone ki chah sirf ek toothe huae tare mein hi hoti hai"
"Allah Mia! Wish I had the strength to do the same" She prayed. She was on the terrace watching the preparation for Asad's engagement which was going on in the lawn, with a full swing. No matter how much she tried, she couldnt bring herself to help Poophi and Najma with the event planning. Every person has a limit to how much pain they can endure. And planning a wedding for the man she loved; was hers.
Instead she stood there quietly in the dark hoping to catch a glimpse of the ill-fated star so that she could ask for another wish. That thought made her think of the last time she asked for a wish. It was the night Asad came to Hill top garden to take her home. God! How much she had annoyed him that night. Then, right before they could walk away she had wished that he would fall in love with a girl who wore jeans, who was independent and broad minded and who would refuse to live by his rules. She had unconsciously wished that he would fall in love with her. But looks like their fate wished otherwise. For Asad was definitely not in love with her. She winced remembering the incident when she had accidently over heard Asad and Poophi arguing with each other'
"Asad, Zoya is perfect for you; son. She comes from a very good family and we all love and adore her. Why won't you agree to marry her?"
"Ami, she might come from a nice family but she is very undisciplined and stubborn. She does not listen to anybody and I don't think she cares about anyone but herself. Why would you want such a women to marry your son is beyond me" Asad replied in disgust.
"That's precisely why I think she is perfect for you. She is the only person who stands up to you, who can make you do things you don't want to do and who has the inane ability to push you out of your comfort zone, beta. That's exactly the kind of girl you need. Not a submissive one whom you can dominate."
"Inane ability?" Asad was exasperated, " Ami, you must mean insane ability, coz that's what she is insane. I can't stand her and you want me to marry her! I cant believe this! Ami few days ago you brought the proposal of Hashim Aziz's daughter Aaliya. Woh mujhe pasand hain. Why don't you proceed with that proposal. Main unse nikah karne ke liye razi hu. "
"Par Asad, ek bar toh'
"Nahi Ami'She is brought up in a different culture. Her lifestyle, her opinions and her outlook is completely different then ours'Woh kuch din ke liye yaha aayi hain'Aur unhe please apna kaam kar ke jaane di jiye. The sooner she leaves the better I will feel."Asad had walked away that day leaving Poophi very disturbed. Nobody bothered to notice Zoya standing in the corner with tears in her eyes.
Tonight those tears were back in her eyes. She didn't realize that Asad hated her so much. If she had, she would not have made the folly of falling in love with him. That Impossible Man had stolen her heart!
And now, she had to watch him marry another woman. A woman who was flawless and perfect.
Before she met Asad, she never thought that she was lacking in any way. But now she felt like she was totally flawed and unsuitable. "Jahapanah is definitely not good for my self esteem" she muttered to herself. And if she had one more wish she would hope that she could fall out of love so that she wouldn't have to feel the pain of her heartbreaking. But she was having no such luck. Tonight, for the first time in a long while she felt lonely. She wished her mom was alive so she could hug her and cry in her arms. Cry for the love that would remain incomplete.
"Allah Mia! What's wrong with me? If M.r Asad Ahmed Khan thinks that he is so much better than me then he is delusional. He would be ever so lucky if I give him any time of my day. Waise bhi'I may not be in love with him, after all it could be just a crush an infatuation'Hota hai sab ko aisi khatarnak bimari apne life time main kabhi na kabhi'Aur maine haali main internet pe Desert Syndrome ke bare main pada tha..Desert syndrome mein jab do log saath rahte hain toh unhe ek doosre ke liye pyar vyar jaise ehasaas ho jaata hai. But that's not real love. That's it! Zoya you are not in love'Its just Desert syndrome. May be if I concentrate on finding Abu I won't feel so bad. That's it kal main woh purne khandar ke baju wali building ki owners ka pata laga thi hu. Once I find my abu I can leave this country and Asad Ahmed Khan forever" Zoya spoke to herself in quiet determination as she watched the hustle and bustle of planners running around to do the decoration for tomorrow.
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Asad was watching the same scene from the window of his study. No matter how much he tried he couldn't concentrate on his work tonight. Everything was happening just like he wanted. He was marrying a girl who was cultured and was inbred in their tehzeeb. Aaliya would make him a perfect wife. But then why was his heart getting so restless at the thought of marrying her? Why was Zoya so constantly on his mind? He cannot be in love with her, could he? No. No way. He had to admit to himself that he may be slightly attracted to her'but that's it. He cannot make her his life partner. The girl had no respect for traditions, culture or even marriage. Hell! She even ran away from her own nikah. Admittedly Akram and his family were totally wrong. But still a woman, who can run out on her nikah without so much as by your leave, can run out on her marriage, her husband without any remorse. Just like Rashid Ahmed Khan.
And he would be damned if he let another person run out on him. No his decision was right. Zoya was not for him at all. And like he told his Ami, it is better if she finishes her work and leave asap.
He turned and spotted his earlier-broken-but-now-fixed cellphone on the table. He picked it up and all the moments he spent arguing with Zoya flashed before his eyes. He recalled every word, every look and every touch that passed between them. He could still remember how she felt when he had held her in his arms. She fit him perfectly.
"Stop it! Stop it! Stop thinking about Zoya. You are getting engaged to Aaliya. That it!" he lectured himself and got back to his laptop with high hopes to try and work for the rest of the night.
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
