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Part7:
They were still arguing as he parked the car outside her gate. The argument had moved on from Zoya using chivalry to her benefit when need be to boys vs girls to girls vs boys to a men-free world would have been peaceful to only-men world would have been even better.
A: "Finally! Get out. Now I can be at peace in my Zoya-free car."
Z: "Hunh. I am going. Even I don't like being around you."
She got out and banged the car's door making Asad wince.
A: "How many times do I have to tell you how to shut a door properly. God knows how many lessons you need."
Z: "Right now its only you who needs to shut his m-o-u-t-h."
As she started to walk towards the gate of her house to go in, Asad called her gently this time.
A: "Zoya."
She turned towards him confused at the sudden change of tone.
A: "Thanks. For being there tonight."
Zoya smiled and replied
Z: "What are you thanking me for? I did what I came for. Had dinner and cherry on the cake, I had ice cream too. That too from your money. I can sleep in peace tonight."
He smiled and extended his hand through the car's window.
A: "Friends."
She moved ahead, shook his hand, smiled and replied.
"Forever."
Then she laughed at her cheeky, filmy reply.
Sarah saw the exchange from the window of her room upstairs. Though she couldn't hear what they were talking about but the mere thought of Zoya with Asad brought a smile to her lips. She liked that boy rather she had grown to love him as her own son. How great would it be if he became her son in true sense by... but maybe its too early to think that way.
"May Allah bless them both with all the happiness in the world." She sighed and moved out of the window.
As Zoya entered the main hall, Sarah who was descending down the stairs asked her.
"So how did the celebrations go?"
Z: "Ammi I 'll tell you later. Right now I am really tired and sleepy so I am going to my room. Where is baba?"
S: "He has gone to Pune for some conference. Oh and Zoya, Guddu bhai called and said he wants you and Hammad to spend a day at his place. There are having some sort of family get-together."
Zoya groaned and replied.
"What a perfect day... ruined! Ain't you going? Take Hamza along. I don't want to go there."
S: "I have to go to Hamza's school tomorrow for parent-teacher meeting. He will go with me. Zoya please, you know them na. They'll make such a fuss about it and your Baba will feel bad."
"Okay." Zoya replied dejected.
She walked up to her room as she talked to herself.
"There! After such a good night I have an equally messed up day in store for myself. Maybe Nani was right when she used to say a person has to cry as much as he laughs. I think I should laugh less... What non-sense are you thinking Zoe! This Guddu uncle family is a real bad influence. Gawd help me!"
Zoya was really bored as Haseena made her meet hordes of aunties introducing them as your-guddu-uncle's-grandfather's-sister's-son's-daughter-in-law or my-bhabi's-brother's-friend's-cousin-who-has-just-come-back-from-Amreeka. Finally it was time for dinner. The seat on Zoya's left was empty. The Aunty-from-Amreeka sat on her right. Hammad quickly grabbed the seat when he saw Akram making a move to sit next to his sister.
Hammad smiled cheekily and said to Akram.
"That seat is empty too."
Akram made a face and moved away.
"Thanks." Zoya mouthed to him.
H: "What? I just didn't want to see you get lovey-dovey with him in front of everyone."
Z: "Yuck! Go to hell."
Guddu, who was sitting opposite to both of them interjected.
"Bhai you both have come to meet us not to whisper to each other. Our Zoya is really talkative. Normally she just keeps blabbering about this and that all the time."
He laughed foolishly after saying this. Most of the people joined in with him while Zoya turned red with embarassment.
At this Hammad replied in a sugar-coated tone.
"Yah Guddu uncle. By the way, forget about Zoya. Do you remember our trip to Shimla last year and the policeman who fined you extra for not stopping giving explanations when he caught you breaking a signal. He gave you a lecture on blab..."
Haseena laughed foolishly and tried to cover up for her husband.
"Hahaha... kids these days! Trust them for coming up with an interesting answer for everything you say. The dinner is getting cold. Asiya bhabi try this nihari, I made it myself."
Hammad choked at this. She had made him buy everything from a resturant nearby. He had to stand in queue for about an hour. Zoya patted his back and offered him water.
Z: "They can never change! You are in for chastisement later for that cheek of yours."
H: "Somebody ought to be thankful."
Z: "I am but stop playing with fire dude. You know the result."
H: "Next time I bring anything for them to eat I'll make sure I put in a cockroache or two."
Z: "Thank you very much. I am done eating this."
Haseena did make a lot of fuss about Hammad's comment when she visited their place after Zubair came back. After she left he called Hammad to "talk" to him about this. Zoya saved him from Baba's wrath as it was no fault of his.
"Zoya we are going to the beach. Wanna tag along?" Hammad called out to her.
"Na I don't want to go. I prefer the sea at night or in the evening." Zoya replied.
H: "You hopeless romantic! Hamza lets go."
"Bhai what is a hopeless romantic?" Hamza inquired.
H: "What? Err...a boring person."
After they left, Zoya went to the backyard where her parents were sitting.
Z: "What's up?"
B: "Nothing. So where did you go with your friends that day? Did you enjoy?"
Z: "I went with a new friend I made. Rather we became friends after we went."
B: "So who was this friend?"
S: "Asad."
Z: "How do you know?"
S: "I saw him when he dropped you. Why didn't he come in?"
Z: "I didn't invite him."
B: "Asad, Najma's brother? But you two don't get along!"
Z: "We didn't get along rather we still don't. Its just that actually he needed someone to be there for him that day. He was sad. I told you about his mom na."
S: "What happened to her?"
Z: "She died of cancer when they were very young. Najma was five so he must be about seven."
S: "Oh my God! Poor kid. What about his father. I have never seen him around."
Z: "Mr. Khan and Najma don't get along with him well. Rather they don't meet him at all. He cheated on their mother when she was alive."
S: "What kind of family life did these poor kids have then!"
B: "Where do they live and how do they make a living?"
Z: "Mr. Khan works after college with some old friend of his mother. They live in their mother's apartment. Don't tell them I told you this. Mr. Khan doesn't know Najma told me about their parents."
B: "How does he manage that with his studies? Must be really difficult."
S: "He is a really intelligent kid. Zoya I think your phone is ringing. Go and check."
Z: "Ammi you have a terrific auditory sense!"
Zoya got up and went inside.
Later that evening Zubair was working on his laptop when Hamza came to him.
"Baba come watch cartoons with me. I am watching Iron-man."
Zubair looked at him, smiled and replied
"Baby I have a lot of work to do. I am busy."
H: "Fine I'll watch them alone. I am a big five year old boy now and you are a hopeless romantic!"
He walked out while Zubair looked at his back flabbergasted.
Asad and Najma were at Zoya's place as her mother had called them for dinner.
S: "I have decided something."
When everyone looked at her she said
"Asad and Najma will have breakfast with us every Sunday."
Hamza replied
"Cool Asad Bhai then Hammad bhai, you and I will play on my X-box all day."
"Asad after you are done with dinner come to my room." Zubair said before leaving the dining table.
A: "Uncle you called me."
Z: "Yes. Have a seat beta."
When he settled on the sofa near him Zubair continued.
"Don't you dare deny this as we have had this talk already. You are going to stop working at the Mittals and take this."
He handed over a cheque to Asad which he placed on the table and replied
"Uncle I can't take this."
Z: "Asad when you have agreed to be a part of this family, when you have said you are my son, act like one. Take this and write your account number here. Next time I will directly transfer them to your account. Once again you are not going to work from now on. concentrate on your studies."
A: "Thank you uncle."
Z: "I don't need any thank yous. Five years from now I want to be a proud father of the best cardiologist in this country."
"One whole week, you are sending a girl alone. Zubair bhai are you out of your mind? If something happens who will be responsible. Girls shouldn't be given so much freedom. I am telling you." Haseena blabbered on. She had just heard from Hamza that Zoya was going on a medical camp for one week.
Zubair sat there quietly and let her rant on. He knew there was no use reasoning with her.
"Bhabi we will think about this. We havn't decided yet."
Sarah told her.
After she left Sarah said to Zubair
"Zubair for the first time in my life I agree with her. I can't let my daughter go alone for one whole week."
Z: "What is wrong with you Sarah. She is not going alone. There are so many other students and doctors there too."
S: "But Zubair! They are taking them about five hundred miles away to some small village in the mountains. We won't even be able to talk to her. Mobiles don't work there. Its such a backward area. No one knows what kind of people are there."
Z: "Don't worry she'll be fine. Its going to be a very good learning experience for her. She wants to go. The people there are very poor. This will instill a spirit of helping the needy in her. Besides only a few bright students get this chance. If this gives you some sort of comfort Asad is also going."
Sarah sighed and replied
"Fine if you think there is nothing wrong with sending her there. Who listens to me in this house anyway."
Sarah came to the dining table holding a plate which she placed in front of Asad.
"Here take it. Hot hot Alu ke parathay. I made them especially for my son."
When she came back to the stove she saw Zoya, still in her pyjamas with a red face. As soon as Zoya saw her she whispered harshly.
Z: "Why did you make aloo ke parathey?"
S: "But you like them, don't you?"
Z: "I like them for myself, not when they are made especially for someone else."
S: "Zoe what is wrong with you? Don't be jealous."
Z: "I am not. I am just angry because you made them because he likes them not because I like them. You didn't make them last week when I asked you to."
S: "What kind of argument is that? I didn't make them last week because Hamza was not well. Now go freshen up and have your breakfast."
Z: "I am going but that doesn't mean I am not angry with you."
S: "Allah! This girl is crazy."
Precap: The medical camp.
Z: "Mr. Khan."
A: "Asad call me Asad."
Edited by Jaren93. - 12 years ago
Kumkum Bhagya
Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
