Asad thoughtlessly drops down to sit, dragging Zoya along with him. This causes a cut injury on her handcuffed hand. But Zoya does not utter a word. Is this the same Zoya who accused him to appeal to his chivalry even when he had not hurt her really in the past? Something about the moment has caused the chatterbox to quieten down.
Asad looks at her with a hint of apology, he will not say it with his words. Zoya is not looking for an apology- she is sober with something else on her mind. They both look away- Asad still feeling sorry and becoming aware of the uncomfortable feeling that was growing now and Zoya lost in her feelings. She cannot name this feeling, all she can say is, she is not used to this tug at her heart. She did not want an apology from him for the way he treated her. She was craving for some understanding and this confused her. There was definitely something wrong with her for her to wish for care and understanding from a person like Akdu Ahmed Khan. Yet, this was not the first time her feelings had caught her unaware. Had she not dreamed about Jahapanah 6 packs? Did she not expect him to be her knight in shining armour? What was between them? Did he even know about the storm that was brewing in her heart, while he sat around accusing her carelessly? While he refused her the respect to listen to her point of view- the right to a 'conversation' in its real sense?
For a second, Asad interrupts her thoughts. He lifts his hand along with hers, but he slows down when he realises he might hurt her again. The discomfort had got to him too- he was not able to watch the couple in front of them passively. And these feelings were totally alien to him. Why did he want to protect Ms. Farooqi, the troublemaker? Why did the thought of her in danger make his heart stop? Who was this girl to him?
He steals a glance at Zoya, she looks at him too...their eyes meet for a second and then he looks away. Can they read it in each other's eyes? Did they fear letting the other person know their fears and doubts? Zoya looks on at Asad and swallows. She was definitely not brave enough (or foolish) to bring this up. As she watches Aarti and Yash, Zoya becomes self- conscious and adjusts her duppatta. Asad gives a shy look, he dare not meet her eyes right now.
The couple grows increasingly uncomfortable as the romance blossoms in front of them. Once again, Asad forgets their bondage and jerks his hand to hide his discomfort at the feelings that were becoming alarmingly clearer to him.
Zoya loses her balance and half- lies on his lap. She collects herself- Asad notices her duppatta had fallen off and unthinkingly, he covers her as if it was his right to do so. He wonders if he should be honest about his feelings and looks at Zoya, but Zoya is not brave enough to face her feelings right now. She looks away.
What just happened? They were two people who were poles apart. How could they even think about each other this way? Was it the night? Was it the proximity and enchantedness of a mature love in display in front of them? Was it the shared burden of what they had just gone through- the fear of losing their lives? Was it worth it, to acknowledge these feelings when in reality, there were too many differences in their worlds? How could they ever fit into the other person's world?
Cricket
