Asad broke the hug and cupped her face. "Are you hurt?" he asked her, looking deeply into her tearful eyes. She shook her head and took his hands in hers.
"Asad" she breathed "I was so scared. I thought- I thought they'd killed you. Thank God you're alive! I don't know what I would've done, Asad. Even if they had managed to save me, I would have died without you. I can't imagine spending a single minute of my life without knowing that you're safe and alive" she sobbed and hugged him again.
"Shh, Zoya" Asad said, patting her head and holding her close to him "we're fine. Everything's going to be okay". He slowly disentangled himself from Zoya and turned towards his waiting family, where each person wore a different expression. Ayaan's family, except Nikhat and Ayaan- who were grinning from ear to ear, looked shocked and angry at the same time, while Dilshaad and Najma looked happy. Like they had been waiting for him to say it. Asad tried avoiding his mother's knowing gaze as he made his way towards them, with Zoya.
But mamujaan was a totally different story altogether. He stood frozen to the spot, his eyes flickering between Asad, Zoya and the kidnapper who was now being dragged away by the police. Asad could tell he was looking for a way to escape before anybody realized what had truly happened here.
"Just a minute, inspector!" Asad called out "your job isn't over yet". Zoya put a hand on his arm to stop him. She knew what he was going to do and even though it was the right thing, her father did have a family after all. They would be shattered if he got arrested. Asad gave her a 'let me do this my way' look and turned to look at mamujaan.
"I didn't think you would be so stupid" he told him "setting kidnappers after your own daughter, on her wedding day, expecting me to sit around, twiddling my thumbs and then coming here with the police to get the kidnappers arrested so that you didn't have to pay them? Seriously? Even a 5th-grader could chalk out a better plan than this one".
"Asad!" Rashid, his father, cut in sharply. "Do you have any idea what you're talking about and whom you're talking to? Stop this nonsense at once! We should all go home, now and discuss this later on."
"Mr. Rashid Ahmed Khan. For once, let others speak before you just dump your decisions on them, will you?" Asad snapped at his father. "Anyway, as I was saying. Inspector!" he called.
"Yes, Mr. Khan?"
"This man" Asad said, gesturing towards Ayaan's mamu, "is the one you should be arresting. Along with those kidnappers, of course. He's the one who asked them to kill her." The inspector looked nervous. Asad Ahmed Khan was asking him to arrest one of the most influential businessmen of the city, and that too without any proof.
"But, sir. You don't have proof-"
"Of course we do. Bring in the man you arrested just now, and ask him. He's the one who narrated the whole story to us. I'm sure he's got lots to tell the others here, as well. Bring him inside". The policeman nodded and asked one of the constables to bring him.
The truth was soon out in the open. At first, mamujaan refused to sit and listen to the 'allegations' the kidnapper was making against him. Then it turned out that the meetings these two had had and their phone calls had been recorded by the kidnapper so that they could be used as a means of blackmail, in case mamujaan acted smart. And the recordings were shocking.
Mamujaan had known for a long time that Zoya was his daughter, even before she's found him. He'd been planning his moves since the very beginning. His motive was to kill Zoya in such a way that no one suspected him later on. Those tapes also revealed why Zoya had agreed to marry Ayaan. Taking advantage of Zoya's love for Asad, the man had threatened to destroy Asad and his family if she didn't marry his nephew, thus forcing Zoya to say yes. and since Zoya was supposed to die on her wedding day, mamujaan was going to ask his daughter Humeira to marry Ayaan, like he'd always wanted. Nothing could stop his arrest now. The police had enough proof against him and his accomplices to keep them in jail for the rest of their lives.
"Ayaan, I'm sorry" Asad began, once the police had left.
"For what, bhaijaan?" Ayaan asked, feigning innocence.
Asad cleared his throat. He knew he had to do this, since obviously, he wasn't going to let Zoya marry Ayaan. And he knew Ayaan liked her.
"About- about Zoya. You see, I never wanted to hurt you. I know you like her and you were very happy about getting married to her. But, I- I don't think it would be possible' I mean, Zoya doesn't want to marry you' No, no. What I'm trying to say here, is that-"
Ayaan couldn't control it any longer and he burst out laughing. Seeing the arrogant, introvert and perpetually angry 'Mukka Ahmed Khan' stutter in front of his younger brother over a girl was like a dream come true for him.
"What? Why are you laughing?" Asad asked him, both embarrassed and angry at being mocked at, in front of everybody.
"He's laughing because his bhaijaan is blushing like a love-struck teenager in front of him, asking permission for something which is completely unnecessary" piped in Najma, who'd been eavesdropping nearby. Nikhat burst into giggles beside her.
"Excuse me? Love-struck teenager? What the hell, tamatar?!" Asad cried, growing more embarrassed by the second. This was so not fair! All his siblings teasing him together.
"I'm so happy for you, bhaijaan!" she cried, and hugged him. "I knew you were in love with Zoya! I'd been waiting for days now, hoping you'd say it sooner, or later. And you finally said it!". Asad smiled at her and winced as Najma's hugs caused his injuries to flare up and sting. He began to feel a bit lightheaded; thanks to the several hundred blows he'd received a while ago.
"We should get going" he told his younger brother and sisters and made his way to where his Ammi was standing with a blushing Zoya, Shireen and his father, Rashid.
"Ammi" he said, ignoring the other two elders completely. "We should go. It's been a long day". Dilshad nodded and whispered a small 'Allah Hafis' to Rashid and Shireen before leaving. Asad held out his hand to Zoya.
"Shall we?" he asked her, softly. She smiled and took his hand. Asad stumbled slightly as he walked, his vision now getting hazier with each step.
"Asad?" Zoya asked, her voice full of concern. "Asad, are you allright?". He nodded stiffly.
"Lets go, Zoya. I need some rest, and so do you".
They'd barely made it out of the building, when Asad fell, his body now no longer in sync with his mind. He heard people calling his name and heard Zoya's frantic voice in his ear. He wanted to tell her he was okay, but his muscles refused to move. The voices grew fainter and fainter, till he could no longer hear them.
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