Passengers started pouring out of an early morning flight at Bhopal airport. Asad Ahmed Khan reached arrivals and started looking for his driver Rafik. There were few people at the airport at 6 in the morning. But, still few play cards welcoming guests were visible. Rafik couldn't be found anywhere. Asad again looked around and one play card caught his attention as it read, "Jahanpanah". Asad's sight followed the hand that held the play card and found Zoya giving her trademark smile. Asad reached to her, grabbed the play card in her hands and said with gritted teeth, "Zoya, what is this?"
"No hellos..how are you...I missed you... Is this how you greet your fiance, when you are seeing her after 5 days?" Zoya answered with a pout.
"Why are you here? Where is Rafik? Wait... did you drive here by yourself? Do you even have licence to drive in India? And, why this play card? You could have spotted me. There aren't many people around at this hour. That too with Jahanpanah".
"Mr. Khan, aap business ke liye Delhi gaye the, ke Coffee With Karan ke rapid fire round main hissa lene? Itne sare sawal?" Zoya grabbed his bag and started walking towards parking lot.
"Rafik was going to come late for work today. When you called last night, Phuphi was going to book a cab for you but then I volunteered. Yes, I drove here by myself. No, I don't have licence to drive in India. But, I did drive in USA, so don't worry you are in safe hands." Zoya answered white hitting his hand which was trying to reach the bag.
"This is a small bag - with wheels. I can handle it and you are tired after journey. Just walk, Mr. Khan."
"And, that play card - I have always seen in movies people holding play cards at airport arrivals. I wanted to welcome someone like that myself once, so I made it. Aur, 'Jahanpanah' - I know aap ko is naam se ego boost milta hain. Itno dino se is naam ko bhi miss kar rahe honge. What better way to welcome you?"
They had reached the car. Asad reached for driver's side.
"Mr. Khan, I am driving. You can observe it yourself that I drive well." Zoya placed the bag in trunk and walked towards car door.
Asad was tired and not in a mood of arguing at this early in the morning so he just gave in. Anyways traffic would be light at this hour, so it should be ok with her driving - he thought.
"There is your coffee in that thermos", Zoya said while starting the car.
Asad poured a steaming cup of black coffee. It was just the way he liked.
As they exited airport, Zoya spoke, "Mr. Khan, you haven't said yet how much you missed me."
"Woh actually, Zoya, I was very busy. I had meeting all days and site visits. Conference calls at night with foreign partners."
"I know Mr. Khan you were busy, but we haven't even been able to talk on phone over last 5 days."
"Your fault. You dropped your phone in water and then wanted to repair it yourself. And, every time I called Ammi you were out somewhere. You could have got your phone fixed in a day, if you had gone to mobile repair shop."
"So, you did miss talking to me, Mr. Khan."
"Woh actually...ye Mr. Khan, Mr. Khan kya laga rakha hain. We agreed that you would call me Asad."
"So, you miss being called Asad, haan...Mr. Khan?"Zoya smiled teasingly looking at him.
"Zoya, pay attention on the road."
"Woh actually...lo mujhe bhi ye bimari lag gayi." Zoya couldn't control her laughter.
"Woh actually, I was handling all your office calls these days as you didn't want to be disturbed with work from Bhopal office. 'Mr. Khan, Delhi gaye hain.', 'Mr. Khan ke aane ke baad hi project approve hoga.', 'Mr. Khan, designs final karenege'. Ye sab kahte kahte, mujhe phir se Mr. Khan kahne ki aadat lag gayi."
"Next time, you go out for business, I am not playing your secretary. Hire someone." Zoya sounded irritated.
"But, Zoya, it is not being my secretary. I had asked office folks to divert important calls to you, and I can't trust anyone else with them. Ammi and Najma can't handle this. Who else can I ask?"
"If you put it that way, ok...I will consider your request next time." Smile was back on Zoya's face.
"And, your flight was in late morning. Why did you pre-pone it? Were you missing me/us so much that you couldn't wait to come home?" Zoya was in no mood of sparing him.
"I could get an early flight, so I took it. Zoya, you didn't show signal while taking left turn."
Zoya rolled her eyes. They had reached Khan Villa by now. Dilshaad and Najma were still in their rooms. Asad and Zoya reached Asad's room.
"You still haven't said that you missed me", Zoya said in a low voice.
Asad moved towards her saying, "Zoya, listen..."
"It's all-right. You get fresh. See you at breakfast", with those words Zoya moved towards door.
She heard bathroom door closing and something falling. She turned around. It was Asad's wallet that had fallen from bed and some papers had fallen out of it. Zoya picked up wallet and papers. She opened wallet to put papers back and she noticed a photograph. It was a photograph of her, Najma and Dilshaad taken with a Polaroid just last week when they had visited lake. Actually, three of them visited, Asad was just dragged there by Zoya. Though it was only a week old photograph, her face in the photograph had finger prints on it, and it seemed that there had even been some attempt to wipe it clean. But, it was clear that a hand had caressed the face in the photograph often. A smile started breaking on Zoya's face. She put the photo back in its place and started putting other papers back. She noticed that those papers were actually neatly folded hotel room service receipts and what had Mr. Khan ordered? Same thing everyday. Coffee with milk and sugar in the morning and Pizza with full sugar coke for dinner. Zoya kept looking at those receipts. Her health-freak Akdu Ahmed Khan had full cream coffee and fatty pizza for 5 days. Just then the bathroom door opened and Asad walked out.
"Zoya, you still here? Ok...tell Ammi, I want something light...", and he stopped because Zoya had reached him and placed a peck on his cheek.
"I too missed you a lot, Asad."
Asad was quickly turning red.
"Asad, aap bilkul tamater ke bhai lag rahe ho.", Zoya said cheekily.
"Zoya...", a voice called.
"That is tamater calling me. I will see you at breakfast. And, I will tell Phuphi that you would take something light for breakfast as well as lunch. 5 din tak pizza khane ke baad ye zarroori hain." Zoya started walking towards door.
"Zoya, don't tell anyone about pizza. Please..", said Asad who could not decide whether to smile or hide his face somewhere.
"Don't worry Asad. I won't tell anyone." With this Zoya turned and left his room singing,
Log chhup chhup ke pyaar karte hain,
Jaane kyon saaf kahte darte hain,
Jaane kyooon...Jaane kyon...
Asad looked at the retreating figure with smile on his face. He had reached home.
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Hola, people! My first ever attempt to write something of this sort...
Udne Ki Aasha
Pushpa Impossible
