AsYa SS: T.L.C. Chap 16, pg 100 - Page 16

Chapter 7: Complicated

As the rest settled down at the table, Dilshad put her mind off the recent episode to serve breakfast. "Zoya, I've made pancakes - Najma mentioned you love them. And there's no maple syrup, but there's honey and chocolate syrup."

"Aww' that's really sweet of you, Phuphi," Zoya reached out and hugged Dilshad and helped herself to some.

Najma hurried through breakfast. The sound of a car horn in the driveway alerted her and she took off, "Sorry, I'd love to stay but I have an early class that I can't afford to miss. I'm hitching a ride with Naina." She hugged her mother and waved her goodbyes to the rest.

The phone rang, and Najma stopped in her tracks. "Don't worry, I'll get that," offered Dilshad and headed to the living room.

Not one to miss an opportunity of having Asad all to herself, Zoya asked sweetly, "Hope you're not allergic to bees, Mr. Khan!" before bursting into laughter, thinking about last night.

Asad scowled initially and then smiled back. "Fortunately not; I don't know if bees are allergic to me though?" he responded, arching an eyebrow.

"Huh?!" Zoya looked back at him, confused. What was he trying to say? Was he asking her how she felt about him?

Trying to change the subject, she passed him the dish containing pancakes and asked, "Pancakes, Mr. Khan?"

"Sure, I'd like some fresh honey with it though," Asad replied, and smiled wickedly, before moving closer to whisper in her ear, "Would you have some, Ms. Bee?"

His breath fanned her cheek, teasing her senses, and Zoya angled her face away from him. Asad seized the opportunity and bit her neck gently.

The pain was so exquisite, Zoya nearly dropped the dish but Asad was quick. He took it out of her hands, and placed it on the table with one hand, while using the other to flick back Zoya's hair, before cradling her head as he nipped the slender column that now lay exposed to his gaze.

Zoya was trapped ' every nerve ending was on fire' her heart pounded in her chest. She was scared they'd get caught and that only added to the excitement.

"Asad' please'" she moaned, unsure of what she really wanted.

"Mmm' Zoya'" he replied, and looked at her heavy-lidded eyes, the naked desire in them so evident. He knew she couldn't resist him, and now he felt like a jerk for taking advantage of that. For all her bravado, Zoya was like any other girl - a believer in fairy tale romances, and he was too broken inside to be her Prince Charming. He had to put an end to this.

"There, we're even' now try explaining that bruise to everyone," Asad whispered in a sardonic tone and released her.

Stunned, Zoya's jerked her head towards Asad and inhaled a deep breath, gathering her wits. Then her hand made contact with his cheek. "Now, try and explain that," she hissed, and rushed out, tears in her eyes.

Asad controlled his rage ' he had asked for it. He smirked, pretending like his cheek didn't sting at all. If this was going to keep them apart, he'd just made his life a whole lot easier' maybe they could go back to being indifferent, in time.

Dilshad returned to find her son pensive, stroking his cheek and jawline, looking past the window. "Asad, where's Zoya?"

"Don't know Ammi," he answered and turned to find his mother looking unusually hassled. "Is everything ok, Ammi?" he asked.

"Umm' I don't know. That call was for Zoya' her family wants her to return to New York. They think she's on a wild goose chase here and she will end up heartbroken. Her fianc, I mean her would-have-been husband is really regretful of what happened, and wants to make amends."

"Whaa'. What do you mean by would-have-been?" Asad snapped, and recovered quickly realizing his mother wasn't the one he should direct his ire at. For all her seeming innocence, Zoya was one helluva player!

Dilshad let it pass, and responded calmly, "Well, remember Zoya's Jiju had called and asked if she could stay with us. At that point, he'd only mentioned that she'd been through tough times, and a break from New York might do her good. It didn't seem like he wanted to share more, so I didn't badger him with any questions.

But today, her mother' her adoptive mother told me about what the poor girl suffered. Maybe, now that the man she loves has come to his senses, she'll finally find true happiness. I believe he's coming here soon, and hopefully they'll patch up."

Asad felt like somebody had punched him hard in the gut. Why was this affecting him so much? Until yesterday, Zoya had been nothing more than a super attractive woman with highly annoying habits. He did admire some of her qualities. And then last night, he'd felt desire, and even seen it in her eyes. At some point, he'd thought maybe there was more' was he wrong? All this while, she had a fianc! Was he being played' again?!

"Hmm' I better get going," was all he could say to his mother, as he straightened up from his chair.

Dilshad was surprised at her son's reaction or lack of it. He hadn't bothered to ask her for more information about Zoya's troubles ' did that mean he didn't care? Had she read him wrong? Was she imagining things just because she felt Asad and Zoya were perfect for each other?

As Asad passed by Zoya's room in the corridor, he heard her sobbing. For a minute, he felt terrible but he remembered his conversation with his mother, and the anger came back. He wanted answers, and he was going to get them now.

Without bothering to knock on her door, he turned the knob and entered, slamming the door shut so it would startle Zoya.

She was seated at the edge of her bed, the flowing maxi dress touching her toes. She looked more beautiful than ever. The tears streaming down her face as it rested on her knees, drawn close to her by her trembling hands.

She looked like she was going to scream and to stop her, Asad rushed to the bed and muffled her with his hand across her lips. "Don't scream ' I'm here for answers, nothing else' and it's time we spoke ' I know why you're really here."

Chapter 8: Doubt