AsYa SS: T.L.C. Chap 16, pg 100 - Page 26

Originally posted by: anshuls

👏 waiting for the next part.

Originally posted by: abhiyakreya

awsm update!!!

just can't wait to read more

Chapter 10: No more secrets

Asad brushed the fragments into a dustpan while Zoya vacuumed it to be doubly sure no shards were left behind. They couldn't help stealing glances at each other when they thought the other wasn't looking.

As they finished up, Asad queried, "Do you want to head out for a drive, Zoya? We could talk without interruption. Ammi and Najma might be here anytime soon, and it's nearly lunchtime."

Zoya was surprised and her first instinct was to decline, but she quickly contained her feelings. "Ok, but won't they wonder about us?"

"No, I'm supposed to be at work and you had your day planned, didn't you?" he replied.

"Shit! Yes, I was supposed to meet this old family friend two hours ago. Was hoping he'd be able to tell me about my..." Zoya faltered, her face pale, suddenly drained of blood.

Asad reached out, his palm cupping her cheek. "Zoya? You ok? He was to tell you about your?" Asad's curiosity was evident.

But Zoya wasn't sure she wanted to share. But on second thoughts, seeing how this morning had progressed, maybe secrets weren't such a good idea. And it made sense to talk about it when the opportunity had presented itself.

"Biological father," Zoya whispered, as if she wasn't comfortable saying it aloud. She looked at him searchingly, waiting for a reaction.

Asad looked down into her pleading eyes, as he moved closer. Why was she looking at him so intently, as if she wanting a response?

He placed his other hand on her shoulder. "If you're upset about missing the meeting Zoya, don't worry... I'm sure it can be rescheduled. But I take it that's not what's bothering you?"

"Well, I've come to terms with it, Mr. Khan," she sighed. "Ammi and Abbu might not be my biological parents, but they've always treated me like their own, more or less." She lowered her head, and whispered, "But what can they do about the rest of the world? Like Ammi said, duniya hai... I wish they hadn't caved in. I don't think they realized what it meant."

He flicked his thumb under her chin and angled her face to his. "Zoya, I'm sorry but you're not making any sense. What changed? Why should the rest of the world care about whether you're adopted or not?"

"Because it did Mr. Khan, that's what it came down to, finally," Zoya choked over her words, struggling as the tears rolled down her cheeks.

Asad frowned. Someone had hurt her real bad. His Ms. Hoity Toity from New York was nursing a sea of pain under her bright, sunny facade. He pulled her against him, and rested his chin on her head. She let his arms engulf her, taking solace in his warm strength.

"Wanna tell me the rest of it?" he proffered.

Zoya sighed, and stepped back, putting some physical distance between them. "What's to tell my fianc, Ayaan, my friend of many years and the man I nearly married believed he and his family were doing my folks a favor in accepting a poor, orphaned girl with probably questionable antecedents!" she snorted in disgust.

Asad bristled in anger, thinking about how prejudiced society could be. As someone coming from a single-parent home, he'd often heard snide speculation about his parents' separation. "Screw them Zoya, you deserve way better."

"Oh yes, I know... that's why I walked out of our nikaah," Zoya straightened up, her face flushed with indignation. "Apparently, Ayaan's father had negotiated a stake for him in Farooqui Holdings. He was concerned that as an adopted daughter, the extended family might not be so generous, and might exclude me from the inheritance. Bad enough, my family felt there was nothing wrong in agreeing to his demands, what's worse, Ayaan knew about it all along, and even lied to me, when I'd asked him about it before!"

Her statement was like a slap on Asad's face. He'd been so wrong to jump to conclusions this morning.

"Hell! Zoya... I've been such a jerk," he said softly, cupping his forehead unable to face her. "I acted without thinking earlier making all those accusations about you, not knowing the truth. Please forgive me."

Zoya pulled his hands away and looked into his eyes. "Well you nearly made it to my black list Mister, until you walked back in not long ago and apologized so dramatically."

"Dramatic, huh?" Asad cocked an eyebrow.

They smiled. The sound of a rumbling stomach had them grinning at each other. "Was that me?" Zoya asked. "No, must have been you, Mr. Khan. My stomach's more polite," she explained before he could get a word in.

He laughed. She liked it, the deep rich sound enveloping her in a cloud of happiness. She could get used to this.

"Ok, let's not wait longer. Let's go get changed. See you in 10?" Asad asked her, as he turned to head to his room. "Or, umm, will you need longer?"

"Ten's just fine, Mr. Khan," she smiled at him and started to head to hers before his hand snaked out to grasp her arm.

She turned and looked enquiringly. "It's Asad to you, think I mentioned that before," he explained and smiled, letting her go.

"I know... I just like calling you Mr. Khan, that's all!" she quipped and walked away.

***

Zoya found Asad waiting patiently in the living room, in casuals. The man was a sight for sore eyes... the cigarette linen shirt tucked into beige trousers.

Asad's eyes sized her up in appreciation, taking in the understated elegance of her white tee, grey scarf and jeans.

"Head out?" he asked her, gesturing towards the door. As they walked out, their hands brushed against each other on several occasions, and neither acknowledged the quiet delight they felt at that small intimacy.

***

"You're sure you're ok with continental food, Mr. Khan?" Zoya questioned, as she sat at a fancy restaurant scouring the menu for pasta.

"Sure, I'm not a fast food, burger pizza kinda guy. But that doesn't mean I enjoy only Indian cuisine," Asad explained patiently.

After they'd placed their orders, Zoya leaned back in her chair and looked at Asad. "Your turn now," and he immediately knew what she meant.

"Not much to tell, Zo..." he began. "Trust has never been my strong suit, and I learnt the hard way, starting young when my father walked out on us." He tried to sound flippant but the rasp in his voice gave him away.

Their hands connected over the table, and as he drew strength from her, he continued. "It's going to sound cliched but there was a girl in college, and well, when she realized I was not the heir to Rashid Khan's business empire, and only bore his name on my documents, she let me down gently."

Asad smirked. "That about sums it up. You get the drift?"

Zoya smiled sympathetically and nodded. "I think I do. But not everyone has to be like that y'know. You don't lose hope in humanity because there are a couple of rotten apples out there."

Asad smiled back. "I guess not, but being this way has helped me survive, succeed and get to where I want to be, at the top."

"Doesn't it get lonely out there?" Zoya asked softly, her fingers clasping his.

Asad stared intently at Zoya, but refrained from responding to her question.

Chapter 11: All clear. RESET.