HKKMJNM: Part 24a, Pg 145 - Page 20

Here is Part 11. Finally got time for this.😊

Buddy me if you want me to pm you for updates. Enjoy and don't forget to comment. Also suggest any scenes that go with the story if you can think of any. I may incorporate them into the next part.

Jerry

Recap

"Twenty miles from here, there is a village. The people there are way too conservative. You are supposed to walk there and persuade them to bring their sick ones here to this camp to get them treated. According to our sources there are five sick girls they are not sending here due to their rigid beliefs. So Zoya do you think this time I am not killing the greatest doctor in the making with this punishment."

Part 11

"Not making any more efforts to expose him anymore? So now you agree he had no hand in all this."

Zoya asked Asad as she sat beside him.

"I am sure it was all his doing but now that I am going to spend a whole day away from him, why should I spoil things for myself?"

Z: "Hmmm! So it's all about you."

A: "No. Actually I'"

He started to say but Sajjal called Asad from the back.

"Asad, can I talk to you for a second?"

A: "Sure."

When Asad kept sitting where he was, she added.

S: "Alone."

Z: "Oh sorry. That means I should get going."

A: "Is it about you or me?"

S: "You."

A: "Then stay Zoya. It's okay."

S: "Are you sure you read the file correctly? There was no mistake on your part."

A: "Absolutely, but I can't understand how'"

S: "In the morning,' err Dr. Sapna asked me to give you Mr. Dhawan's file. I was in a hurry and the first person I saw was Zain. I gave the file to him to pass it on to you. I suspect he has something to do with all this. I don't mean to arraign anyone and I am not even sure but I thought you should know this."

Asad turned towards Zoya and cocked up his brows and said.

"See, what did I tell you?"

Z: "Oh my God! How could he? We should tell Dr. Sapna."

A: "And that may bar him from practicing medicine for life."

Z: "Deliberately messing up with a patient is a crime and it's completely against the basic clauses of the Hippocratic Oath as well."

A: "I think I should talk to him directly about this. Turning him out would ruin his whole career. The patient was not harmed anyway."

Z: "I would have told Dr. Sapna if I were in your place."

A: "If I had done something like this'"

Z: "You wouldn't have."

S: "I think Asad is right. Talking to him directly would be a better option."

A: "And making him apologize to Mr. Dhawan would be even better."

Ishan came up to the three of them and interjected.

"Hey guys! Dr. Sapna asked me tell you people to get your things ready. You will have to leave early tomorrow. The village is quite far away."

Asad and Zoya got up and left for their respective tents. Ishan sat down beside Sajjal and commented looking at their backs.

"He is not very angry with the punishment even though he was quite sure about not being wrong."

S: "You can talk to him about this directly."

I: "I don't know why but I have a feeling, Zain may be involved."

S: "Hmmm."

I: "Leave that. Why do you think he is bearing the brunt of something he didn't do?"

S: "May be because he thinks one of us may get punished if it's not him. May be for the greater good."

I: "Nah. It's because Zoya is going to accompany him."

S: "Is something going on between the two of them?"

I: "I don't think so. Not yet but there is a possibility for this in near future."

S: "I think they are good friends. Like he said he gets really close to his friends, probably he is just close to her and cares for her."

I: "He does care for her but he doesn't get close to his friends. That day when we were playing the rapid fire game, he didn't want me to tell anyone whatever I inferred about him. He obviously doesn't like anyone taking pity on him and probably had a disturbed childhood. He has trust issues with people. He becomes a friend to other people but never considers others as his friends. There is a difference between the two."

S: "Looks like you have done quite a research on him. But he trusts Zoya. That much I inferred from your game."

I: "Yes he has started to. May be not completely but yes, he trusts her."

S: "Why especially her?"

I: "Dunno! The human brain works in the weirdest of ways."

"Stop! This is it. I can't walk any more. We have been walking non-stop for about two hours. I am tired."

A: "If we keep stopping we won't be able to reach there today. If you can't walk why did you even bother coming?"

Z: "Excuse me? You are the reason I am here and you didn't even thank me."

A: "I did! How many times do I have to thank you? Right now I am seriously thinking it would have been better if you had not intervened. Going back home was better than this at least."

Z: "O really? I don't remember you thanking me sincerely even once. You are right I shouldn't have tried to be your knight in shining armor. If it were not for you, I wouldn't be rotting here like this."

A: "Nobody asked you to do anything."

Z: "Yeah right. I won't do anything for you ever again."

They stopped for a while. Asad saw a man passing by. He stopped him and asked him the shortest way to the village they had to go to. The man replied

"The shortest way is through the jungle but it's not safe. There are many wild animals in there. Just keep walking along this road and you will be there by nightfall."

When he left Zoya turned towards the jungle.

A: "Hey, where do you think you are going?"

Z: "We are taking the shorter route. I have no plans of keeping on walking for the whole day."

A: "Didn't you hear? It's dangerous. Besides I have no plans of dying in the near future."

Z: "Oho come. These things are what make life adventurous. and exciting."

A: "Miss Faruqi I am not coming. You are not going that way either."

Z: "Mr. Khan we are taking the shorter route and that is final."

A: "Zoya."

Z: "Asad."

He started to walk along the road expecting her to follow.

She panicked for a second when she didn't see him following her into the jungle. She stood there for some time and then decided to go back and look for him. A smile lit up her face when she saw him huffing towards her angrily.

A: "You are so damn stubborn."

Z: "I knew, eventually you had to follow me."

A: "Do I have a choice?"

Z: "No."

Hammad hit the door with his foot and barged into Zoya's room.

H: "Wanna grab a coff'"

Najma, who was sitting on the bed stood up instantly and looked at him utterly flabbergasted.

"Oh I am sorry! I forgot Zoe is not here. Carry on. I am really sorry."

He awkwardly looked at her and stuttered. Then he turned back on his heels and moved out.

As soon as she sat on the bed again, he poked his head into the room through the half open door.

"Ummm are you busy?"

N: "No."

H: "Good. Then come outside on the terrace. Such a beautiful cool weather demands a coffee. I am brewing a cup for myself. Come and thou shall be blessed too."

Najma smiled and replied

"Okay. Where is aunty?"

H: "She has gone to her friend's place. Even worse she took Hamza along. Isn't this week way too long? It seems like ages since I last saw Zoe. I am getting so bored. Oh I am sorry. Didn't realize I was boring you with my rant. Come on get up already! I'll be there in a jiffy."

She went outside and sat down on the steps leading to the terrace. She was enjoying the calm atmosphere when a red mug came in front of her eyes all of a sudden. Startled, she turned towards her right and saw Hammad sitting beside her.

H: "Do you want my hand to freeze in that position?"

N: "Oh I am sorry."

She smiled and took the cup from his hand.

He waited for her to take a sip and then asked.

"Ever tasted a better coffee than this?"

N: "It's really good."

H: "I know I am good."

N: "I said the coffee is good."

H: "Who made the coffee?"

N: "You."

H: "So that means I am good."

N: "You are so much like Zoya."

H: "Nah. I am better than her."

When she didn't say anything he said.

"You don't talk much? Why?"

N: "I talk as much as required. It's not necessary to keep on blabbering non-sense."

H: "Now that is so much like that uptight brother of yours."

N: "I think the phone is ringing. May be its Aunty."

H: "I'll get it."

Asad: "I knew it. How can you stay out of trouble for long? Now we are lost in this good-for-nothing jungle all thanks to you."

Zoya: "I told you to keep walking straight. You were the one who told me to turn to the right."

A: "I told you to keep following the path the villagers have marked."

Z: "But trees on both ways were marked. You decided to turn to the right."

A: "And after that you decided to turn to the left."

Z: "Urrgh. It's all your fault."

A: "How is this my fault? Who decided to take the jungle route?"

Z: "Who got into this whole mess in the first place?"

A: "That was not my fault and you know this very well."

Z: "Whatever."

A: "Now think. How are we supposed to get out of here? It has been three hours since we are trying to find a way out. It's evening already. How are we supposed to reach the village till tonight?"

Z: "Do something. Allah Miyan if I don't get home safely, it would be his fault. Convey my message to Ammi and Baba somehow."

A: "And if I don't get back in one piece, my murder would be on' ZOYA."

He swiftly got hold of her hand and pulled her behind himself. Zoya's heart rate accelerated seeing a snake where she had been seconds ago. Asad picked up a log lying nearby and tried to hit the snake. It escaped and lunged towards Zoya. Scared, she tried to make a run for dear life. Her foot got entangled in a vine and she slipped. Asad hurriedly moved towards the snake and managed to throw it a few feet away from her. Finally he managed to kill it in one swift motion.

Zoya kept sitting still for some time completely flabbergasted by the events that had transpired just a few moments ago. Asad walked up to her and offered her his hand to help her stand up. Both of them didn't say a single word to each other for the next five minutes.

Zoya looked upwards towards the sky and said

"Allah Miyan please help us."

Right at that moment the clouds above thundered loudly and a few seconds later it started pouring cats and dogs. To make matters worse strong wind also started blowing.

"Oh no. Allah Miyan I didn't ask you for this help."

She put her dubatta over her head in order to save her hair from getting spoiled.

"Oh my God! The weather is turning uglier and uglier. Any news?"

Dr. Sapna commented, her tone completely worried, looking at the hailstorm outside.

"No luck but I heard there's been a land slide and the road is blocked now. We have no idea where they both are."

S: "We shouldn't have sent them in the first place. If something happens what am I going to say to the authorities? Send someone to go look for them."

A: "It's not possible. Owing to the weather there won't be any locals around here. We have two buses only. We cannot use those to go look for them. The roads here are so risky. If anyone goes to look for them on foot, he himself would get lost."

S: "Then what are we supposed to do?"

A: "Let's just sit and pray that everything turns out fine. We can't do much right now. We will have to wait till tomorrow morning."

Asad: "Only this was left to make our jungle trip more exciting and adventurous!"

Zoya: "Shush! I think I heard some locals talking nearby."

Soon they heard footsteps nearby. A bulky old man accompanied by a middle-aged man came into view. Asad called out to them.

A: "Excuse me."

The old man saw him and walked up to them. When he came closer, Asad continued.

"Please help us. We are lost."

"Not a problem son. You can come with us. We came for hunting but the weather ruined our plans. Heading back now. You from a city?"

A: "Yes."

They sat with them in their tonga horse cart. Fortunately they were from the same village that Asad and Zoya were supposed to go to.

When they reached there, the cart stopped outside an ancient looking Haveli.

"Son, this is the Chaudary's (Village leader) house. All our guests stay here."

They entered the haveli with the two men. An authoritative looking old man came out into the porch when they reached there.

"This is our Chaudary Saab. Chaudary G we found them in the jungle. They needed some place to spend the night so we brought them here."

The Chaudary replied

"What do you know about these people? After all they are from city."

The old man bent towards the Chaudary and whispered

"Chaudary G they are good children. I talked to them on our way here. Besides look at the girl. She has her head covered which means they are not like those wayward city people. They are cultured people."

The Chaudary turned towards them and said.

"Beta welcome to our haveli. You can live here as long as you like."

After they had freshened up and changed into the clothes given to them by the villagers, they sat in the main hall of the "Haveli" with the Chaudary and his wife.

C=(Chaudary) Cw(Chaudary's wife)

C: "So which city are you from?"

Z: "Mumbai."

C: "That is so far away. What are you doing here?"

Z: "We'"

A: "Actually we have heard a lot about this place. It is so beautiful. So we came to see this piece of heaven on earth."

"What is he playing at?" Zoya thought to herself but chose to remain quite.

The Chaudary beamed and replied

"Yes, yes our village is very beautiful. I don't understand why people run to the good-for nothing cities."

Cw: "How is the city? What kind of place is it?"

The old man shook his head and said

"There is nothing special about these cities. And these city people! They have no manners at all! I tell you. Girls and boys move around together and talk to each other shamelessly when they are not even married. Lord save us from such waywardness. Beta you are married na?"

Asad: "Yes yes uncle, we are married."

The Chaudary's wife asked Zoya

"When did you get married?"

"Just now." Zoya replied.

Cw: "What?"

A: "Uhh Aunty she means not long ago. We recently got married."

Cw: "Oh okay okay. Now I get it. You are here for your honeymoon! It is good you came here. This is the best time for newly-weds to get to know each other."

C: "So beta what do you do in the city?"

A: "I treat peoples' diseases."

C: "Oh so you are a hakeem."

A: "Yah sort of. Actually we have worked a lot on the herbs and now we have managed to crush them and make small tablets out of the herbs. Believe me uncle, they work even faster."

C: "O really? I am glad you are working on the herbs. Only the herbs are the true medicines. God knows what these city doctors put in whatever they call their medicines. I have heard they don't even work. They fool the poor people to buy their fake medicines. This is why I did not allow anyone from my village to go to those city doctors who have made a camp nearby. I don't trust them at all."

The Chaudary's wife turned to Zoya and said in a low voice

"Oho leave them. Men! Always talk about the boring stuff. So haven't you thought about a kid yet? You know kids strengthen the bond of husband and wife. We ourselves have twelve. Don't get fooled by those city people who say wait for two to three years before having your first kid and limit your children to only two to three. Bullshit! The more the number of children, the more the love."

Z: "G I agree. We plan to have as many as we can."

Cw: "Good girl. I am glad there are still such sensible girls in cities. From what I have heard the city people are not cultured at all! They have no respect for relations. You come, I will introduce you to my daughters."

Precap:

"Aunty I will sleep with Shegufta and Heena tonight and Asad G will sleep outside. You don't need to get the guest room cleaned especially for us."

Cw: "Are you mad? In the initial days of marriage the husband and wife should always sleep together. You know what I am saying. Right? After you have children you just don't get time for each other. You are a sensible girl but you surely need some lessons for the betterment of your married life. I will talk to you about this tomorrow."

OMG!!

ASYA's bickering is simply mindblowing..

This part was beautiful..

I'm glad that Zain's truth came out.Ishan and Sajjal's convo was nice and so was Hammad and Najma.Am I smelling something b/w the latter two in future😆?

ASYA's journey to the haveli thru the jungle was quite eventful.Ahan!! so they said that they are married.I love Asad for acting so sensibly.

The precap is sooo interesting.Zoe is going murder Asad for sure.

plz update the next part ASAP.

This ff is outstanding.I love it soo much

You are a wonderful write dear.

Take care!