Once upon a time, there was a forlorn prince by the name of Asad. He lived in his pristine tower with his mother, Queen Dilshad and Princess Najma. He was a fair man who loved his family dearly and was fair to all his subjects.
He was never the frivolous type that frolicked around and his subjects had rarely ever seen him smile. He was also a man who religiously followed his own set of determined rules to not only keep himself honest but to also keep his heart protected.
You see, he was cynical because when he was just a bright eyed boy of seven, his father King Rashid left their kingdom for unknown reasons and ran off with another maiden leaving his mother Queen Dilshad eternally heartbroken.
Queen Dilshad raised Prince Asad and Princess Najma with as much love as she could so that they would never feel the loss of a father.
Prince Asad had always put on a brave face for his mother but in reality, his heart had never healed from his father's abandonment and as a result when it came to love Prince Asad closed himself off and protected his heart with barbs of anger.
Then one day a beautiful gypsy girl by the name of Zoya happened across his court and she was invited by his mother to stay a while. He was enchanted by Zoya's beauty and could not stop gazing at her as she flitted around his palace.
He watched intently under hooded eyes as she brought rare smiles and even peals of laughter from his mother and sister.
Zoya was loud, vibrant, and happy - the opposite of what he was - and he disliked her instantly, on principle of course. She was carefree and her presence was like sunshine in his dark life.
Just for one moment, he wanted to reach out and bask in her light but his head warned him against the bewitching gypsy girl.
He remained aloof and curt whenever he was around her. He never returned her smiles, was rude with his actions and even harsher with his words. He always reminded her that she was too complacent with herself and not a very responsible person like his family members were.
Yet through all of this, Zoya had remained steadfast in her exuberance and always tried to encourage him to participate in dinners, adventures or even simple conversation.
No one had ever made him feel like the most important person in their lives other than his mother and sister, yet this exquisite slip of a girl who just breezed into his life had completely blown him away as if he was just a feather in a gust of wind.
As the days passed, Prince Asad's interest in Zoya consumed him like a ravaging flame and his addiction to Zoya's warmth grew by leaps and bounds each day. He became very hyper sensitive to her presence and could almost feel her before she entered the room.
Sometimes he felt as though she reacted the same way to him and this pleased him like nothing ever had before.
There were times when she got herself tangled in troubles that could have cost her her life but he always stepped in to rescue her. He loved the way she felt in his arms as he protected her or carried her to safety.
Many times it wasn't necessary for him to carry her but she never protested and he was always too willing to oblige.
He would, of course, then reprimand her about her behaviours, her mannerisms and the way she would do things but she always defied him and marched to the beat of her own drummer.
She was pure at heart and he could never find any malice in her intentions after his initial anger with her had diminished.
His heart started beating to a new tune and it felt as though it was blooming inside his chest. Zoya's smiles, laughter and casual touches became the keys to his existence and he looked forward to each day with anticipation of the new things he would discover about her.
One day his mother announced that he was to be married to the princess from a neighboring kingdom and Prince Asad's heart rebelled so viscously he couldn't breathe.
His eyes shot to where Zoya sat beside his mother and he watched as she withered before him.
The sparkle in her eye faded to a dull glaze while the smile never faltered from her lips. She excused herself a few minutes later and went off to her room.
Prince Asad was so distraught with unknown emotions that he didn't know what to do.
After everyone had gone to sleep, Prince Asad made his way quietly to the garden where he knew she would be. She liked to sit outside under the stars and play her music box to calm her before bed.
Tonight she just sat there, no music just unbearable silence.
Without turning around she said, "I'm happy you came tonight and I hope you can finally come and talk to me."
Asad was stunned. How could she have known he was there when he tried his utmost best to be as quiet as he could?
"I've waited for you each night to come out of the darkness and join me under the stars but you've always kept to the shadows. Will you join me tonight?"
Zoya stood up and turn around.
Asad's mouth dropped open in utter amazement.
Zoya wore a white, satin night dress with full, billowing sleeves and what looked like diamonds that sparkled in thick bands around her wrists and hips.
Her feet were bare in the grass and her hair was untied - just the way he liked it. She was an ethereal beauty and he did not want to blink for fear that she would vanish into thin air.
"Asad" Zoya stretched out her arms for him.
His heart beat furiously in his chest and his mouth went dry. Woodenly, he begun taking those small steps towards her and as he did he felt the tendrils of hope snake around his heart.
Hearing his name from Zoya's siren's voice was like a melody his heart had long forgotten. Her light, sensual fragrance wafted to him on the wicked wind that danced in her hair.
Oh, how was he envious of that wind!
He came to stand before her and she reached for his hand. He knew that one touch would be forever burned into his soul.
"Asad", Zoya began in her lilting voice. "Do you feel anything for me?"
"Wh - wh- what do you mean?"
"I mean, after all this time do you feel me in your heart?"
"I don't know what you're talking about" Asad put his hands behind his back and glanced everywhere but Zoya.
Zoya knew she didn't have much time left so she held his face in her hands, "Asad, do you want me to be with you? Do you love me?"
Asad was all choked up and he turned away from Zoya. "L - l - love? N, No. You just annoy me with your silly antics. You have no common sense and you are always getting yourself into some sort of trouble. I could never fall in love with someone like that."
Zoya was quiet for several minutes and Asad turned to steal a glance at her.
In that moment, she looked like a heart-broken, porcelain doll and Asad's heart shattered with guilt for causing her even an ounce of pain. Yet Zoya wore a wistful smile on her face.
She came closer to him and his heart took flight. She rested her hand on his arm for support and reached up on her toes. She cupped his face with one hand and gave him a sweet kiss on his cheek.
Her hair fell like a velvet curtain across his shoulder as she whispered in his ear, "Thank you for giving me the sweetest moments of my life." Asad felt her hot tears splash against his shirt and its heat seared his skin.
Zoya slowly withdrew from him, turned and walked away from him without looking back.
Asad was speechless. He didn't know what to do. He wanted to go to Zoya, take her in his arms and never let her go but he would never betray his mother's request of marrying another and knew there was no way they could be together.
He stood out there under the stars for what seemed like hours feeling lost and cruel for hurting Zoya. He wanted to keep her happy and he knew the only way to do it was to admit his feelings to her as well as himself.
He closed his eyes and lifted his face to the heavens.
"I love you Zoya" Asad whispered into the night sky and as if in reply, he saw a shooting star when he opened his eyes.
Asad smiled and knew then that Zoya was the answer to every question in his heart and that she would be the one to help him overcome all barriers.
Asad's heart filled with unspeakable joy as he dashed towards Zoya's room. He wanted to scoop up in his arms as he had done so many times before and confess the inner feelings of his heart to her.
He found her door slightly ajar and panic gripped his heart. He called out to her and dashed into her room. Everything was neat and tidy but there was no sign of Zoya anywhere.
Unbridled fear swallowed Asad as he tore the room apart looking for some sign that she had been there.
He ran back to the garden to see if maybe he had missed her in passing and there he found a note with his name on it and her music box.
His fingers trembled as he opened her note and his heart stopped at the words she had written in it, "Asad, you've made me come alive with your warmth and affection and for the first time in my life I felt like I truly belonged somewhere - a home. Unfortunately, my love alone was not enough to keep me with you and now I have to go.
Please take care of my mother and sister for me - I have always considered them my own - and I pray that you find your love one day. I will take your beautiful memories with me and they will keep me warm on my coldest of nights.
If the Fates are kind I shall learn about your love and the tales they will tell of the great King Asad. Yes King, because you will always be the king of my heart. You are the light in my darkest hours and I will never forget you.
I love you Asad - more than any words could ever say."
Hot, salty tears coursed down the broken hearted prince's face. He sank to his knees, threw his head back and screamed the one word that was his soul.
"Zzzoooyyyaaa"
Asad screamed into the night waking his household. His mother rushed to his side and after reading the note she understood what had occurred.
"Asad" she cooed as she tried to calm him down. She held him in her arms as great sobs wracked his body.
"She's gone mumma." Asad's voice broke. "She's gone"
Queen Dilshad steeled herself to tell her son probably the most important thing she even had to tell him in her life.
She wiped away Asad's tears, held his face in her hands and looked softly in his eyes. "Asad, Zoya is special. She's not like any other girl. There is something different about her and I know it seems as though she's just vanished into thin air but she told me her secret a little while ago and I know what we can do to get her back."
Asad went completely still and he slowly pulled himself back from his mother's arms.
She saw the love shining for Zoya in her son's eyes and prayed that he would be strong enough to fight the battles he needed to in order to win his love back.
"Asad, do you love Zoya?" Dilshad asked, knowing fully well what the answer would be this time.
"Yes, I love her. In all my life I will love only her. She means everything to me." Asad breathed.
"Then look to the sky and use what she gave you and you will find her."
Asad looked over to the music box and when he opened it that hauntingly beautiful melody filled the silence of the night. He looked up at her stars and murmured, "I love you Zoya and I will find you."
A bright star shot across the sky and Asad knew it was no coincidence this time.
It was her message to him.
Hope exploded in his chest as he wiped his tears,
"I'm coming for you, my love, my Zoya, I'm coming for you."
CID
Ishaani
125