Hope you like it! It's actually one of my favorite chapters to date, don't really know why as I know it's not my best. But New York is one of my favorite cities in the world. Maybe that's why I love the show a little more too 😉
"Mr. Khan," called Zoya cheerily, "aapko pehle kuch khana hai, yah pehli jagay par chalein?" She smiled, thinking of how she'll enjoy this day. Suddenly things weren't looking so grimm.
Surprised by her friendly demeanor he stared at her. Why is she being friendly all of a sudden? She was about to cry not 5 minutes ago. "Woh... actually..." he stuttered, trying to understand what had gotten into her.
"Allah miya, Mr. Khan!. Aap iske liye bhi 'woh' aur 'actually pe atak gay?" she taunted.
He sighed. Might as well go along with it. At least we're not bickering, he concluded. "Ms. Farooqui, humne abhi to nashta kiya. Toh pehli jagay par chalie. Batayie, kahan jana hai, mein hamare liye taxi pakarta hoon."
"Taxi?" Zoya started laughing. She noticed Mr. Khan giving her a look of confusion.
Whats so funny? Isn't New York known for taxi's?, wondered a puzzled Asad.
Zoya composed herself. Let the games begin, she thought with a smirk. "Mr. Khan, phirse ki na aapne wahi purane zamane wali baat. Aap budhe hai, jo aap taxi mein jayenge? Aap New York City mein hai. The city that never sleeps. Woh shair, jis mein pedhal chalna aur transit lene se bohot mazaa aata hai." Zoya's eyes glimmered as she explained this to him. Sure, most of it was for show, but she really did love her New York. How she missed the hustle and bustle, the Gyro's food, the neatly arranged blocks. No place compared to Manhattan.
Asad looked at her with indignation. Again she started with all that 17th century nonsense. Ms. Farooquiii, his brain raged. As he prepared to counter her, he felt his mouth go dry. No. I have to be polite. I need to show her that there's more to me than my anger, my bitter words and my uncanny ability to lash out at her. He noticed the glimmer in her eyes, and decided that he would do whatever he could today to keep it alive. It wasn't enough to make up for the damage he'd done, he knew. But it was a start.
"Theek hai, Ms. Farooqui. Aap yahan reh thi hain, to aap hi bataiye ki kahan chalein," he replied calmly.
A little disappointed at not irking him, she blinked at his response. He's not even reacting to my taunt... what's going on? Whatever. Why do I care? "Chaliye Mr. Khan aaj mein aapko New York ke famous Subway pe leke jaa thi hoon. Aapko pehle buildings dekhni hain, ki Central Park?" she asked.
"Chaliye Park pe," decided Asad. "Yahan se kitna door hai?"
"Yahi kuch 20-30 blocks. Don't worry, we're not walking. Hum Jahapana ko itna thori na chalaenge," said Zoya, laughing at her own joke, as he glared at her.
She led them to the Subway station across from her building. As they approached the stairs, she noticed Asad's expression of nonchalance and calm morph into one of terror. But he refused to mouth it.
Ya Allah! This is so sketchy! How can people travel like this?
"Ms. Farooqui, are you sure this is safe?" he asked, his eyes darting from the trash on the floor to the dozens of people touching the hand railing. This is so unhygienic! I can't go down there!
"Allah miya, Mr. Khan! Kya hua? Aapko darr lag raha hai?" she replied with another smirk. She knew exactly what was bothering him. Lets see how you remain cool and collected now.
"What nonsense? Of course not!" Asad rubbed his forehead, his signature move of frustration, and thought for a second. Ok, Asad. It's just some trash and a few germs. No big deal. You can do it. Just go down the stairs and don't touch the railing. It's not so hard, he thought, as he mentally gave himself a pep talk.
He sighed. "Chaliye," he ordered, unenthusiastically. He robotically took one step at a time, making sure he didn't touch other people or the railing full of germs on his way down. About halfway down, he heard a splash as he put his foot down. He looked towards the floor, and his eyes grew wide. He'd stepped in coffee. His expensive shoes, were now stained with coffee droplets. He groaned.
Zoya trotted down the stairs in front of him. She reached the bottom and waited impatiently for him. But when she looked up towards him, she saw him standing in one place. Allah miya! Is he scared of stairs too? She chuckled and made her way back up to him. She stopped a few steps away, and looked him up and down. Her eyes stopped when she noticed a spilled cup of coffee, right at Mr. Khan's feet. Unable to control herself, she grinned. And slowly her grin turned into soft giggles.
Asad heard her giggling and realized she was closer to him. His mind suddenly forgot about the stains on his shoes. How he loved seeing her like this. Happy, laughing, and that spark in her eyes shining brightly. He watched her intently, as his gaze lingered on her lips. He was so lost in her, that he didn't notice a woman coming to his left. She shoved him hard, and he started to lose his balance. Falling in Zoya's direction, he wrapped his arms around her and steadied himself, to keep them both from rolling down the stairs.
Zoya felt his arms around her waist and immediately stopped laughing. She shuddered under his touch, and felt his breath fanning her face. Her eyes were closed tight. She slowly opened them, and once again got lost in his chocolate eyes. Asad looked her mesmerizing kohl lined eyes and tightened his grip on her waist. Her scent intoxicating him and blurring his thoughts.
Feeling him tighten his hold on her waist, Zoya snapped back to reality. Her eyes darted here and there, and she tried to free herself of his grip. Asad noticed her sudden withdrawal, and slowly loosened his grip. He steadied her on the stairs, and reluctantly slipped his hands off her waist.
The coffee stain forgotten, and the awkwardness evident, they both silently made their way downstairs. Asad looked around the platform, and immediately felt even more uncomfortable. All around him there were different types of people. Some average, some kids, some teens and some adults.
But what caught his eye the most was a group of girls in the corner. They were four girls, probably in their early twenties and Indian, all talking to each other. There was nothing extraordinary about them. But what made him uncomfortable was the way they were dressed. How... How can they wear clothes like that? So disrespectful!
All these girls were either in mini skirts or shorts, with spaghetti tops, backless tops and even low cut tops. Asad was enraged seeing them. He wasn't used to seeing women dressed in such a skimpy and provocative manner. They seemed to be Indian, and that thought irked him even more. But he decided to let it be. He didn't know them, and he was in a new city. The last thing he needed was more drama. However, one thought was nagging at him. Zoya grew up here, still she covers herself completely. How come she never dressed like these girls? Maybe I don't know about her upbringing as much as I thought. He rolled his eyes, frustrated with himself. This was yet one more thing he was adding to the list of ways he had misunderstood her.
Zoya looked at her feet, replaying the fall in her head on a loop. Once again she had felt that tingle when he touched her, and got lost in his eyes. She didn't dare look his way, afraid he might melt her with those chocolate orbs of his. She had to stay firm. She admitted he had an effect on her, but his words still echoed in her ears. Out of the corner of her eyes, however, she noticed his hand balling into a fist. What's bothering him now?
She followed his gaze to the group of girls and smirked. That was too easy. And I didn't even plan it, thought Zoya.
"Kya hua Mr. Khan? Aap aise unn ladkion ko ghoor ghoor ke kyun dekh rahe hai? Ab kya hua aapke tameez aur lehaaz ko?" asked Zoya, trying to get a reaction out of him.
Asad blinked as he realized he'd been staring at those girls. "Woh... actually... nahin... aisi koi baat nahin hain. Ms. Farooqui aap galat samaj rahi hain. Aap aise kaise keh sakhte? Aap mujhe jaan the hain. Mein aisi harkatein kabhi nahin karta hoon," he let out in one breath, defending himself.
But by the time he was done, Zoya had already walked up to those girls. Now what is she telling them? She doesn't even know them! He watched intently as he tried to decipher what she was doing. They seemed to be agreeing to something she was telling them, and the next thing he knew they were all walking towards him, leaving Zoya standing in the corner they once occupied.
Why are they coming this way? Are they leaving? Wait a minute... why are they staring at me like that? Like they... like me? Oh oh...
Next thing he knew all four girls were surrounding him. Three girls had black hair and one was a brunette. All four of them were looking at him with lustful eyes, and lightly touching him... well, everywhere. Asad felt hands on his shoulders, hair, face, chest and even his abs. To say he was feeling extremely uncomfortable would be the understatement of the century. What the hell did she say to them to make them act this way!?, he thought.
Zoya watched the show she'd skillfully planned unfold before her. She was enjoying a squirming Akdu Ahmed Khan. What Mr. Khan was unaware of, was that these girls were actually her friends. She'd wanted to hug them immediately, but wanted to confuse Mr. Khan as to why they would listen her. And it worked like a charm. Her friends we're making him uncomfortable to the point of breaking a sweat.
Of course she hadn't elaborated too much on who he was, because she knew, all four of them being hopeless romantics, they would try to get them together and tell her to forgive him since he flew half way around the world for her. She wasn't even sure about how she felt about him, so the last thing she needed was four more people telling her she was in love.
After a few minutes of his eye rolls, forehead creases and pleading looks towards her, Zoya decided to let him be. She walked up to the group, put on her most mischievous smile.
"Mr. Khan! Kya baat hai! Aap New York do din kya rahe, aur aapko ek nahin, chaar chaar girlfriends milgay? Wow. Aur mujhe lagta tha ki aap bohot hi unromantic hai. I was so wrong!" Zoya tried her best to stifle a giggle, as she looked him straight in the eyes.
And that's when reality dawned on him. This was a plan. It was a set up. She's trying to, not only irritate him, but actually torture him all day! But who are these girls? And why are they listening to her?
As if reading his mind, all four of the girls burst out in laughter, and took a step away from him, giving him space.
"Relax, Mr. Khan. We're all friends of Zoya. We were just messing with you. Hi, I'm Neeru. And this is Kareena, Sangeeta and Diviya," explained one of the girls, as she introduced them to him. Seeing his face relax a little, Neeru went and stood next to Zoya.
"So Zoya, tell us. Who's the hunk, and why were we seducing him?" she inquired winking at him. Asad smirked at first, hearing himself being referred to as a hunk. But immediately blushed and looked at his feet as remembered how uncomfortable he had felt with the girls' hands all over him. So she wanted to torture me, and revel in my discomfort. Alright, then. If that's what it takes for her to see that I can trust her, then so be it. He sighed loudly, and looked at the girls teasing Zoya again.
Zoya blushed. Despite achieving her goal, she wasn't comfortable with her friends teasing her about him. Especially because she herself wasn't sure what she felt for him. Not to mention, he had deeply scarred her, and that made it painful to think of him caring for her. Zoya stared into a blank space as her thoughts got the best of her again. She felt a nudge and realized Neeru had been trying to talk to her.
"Zoya? Where were you lost?" she asked laughingly. She knew full well why she was lost. She could see it in her eyes. Zoya was indeed in love with this man. And he was in love with her. But what she didn't understand was why they were so formal with each other. "Ok, so have you taken him to see any sights yet?" asked Neeru curiously.
"No, were going to Central Park just now," replied Zoya. Asad was too lost in Zoya to answer. Kareena noticed this. She whistled.
"Wow, Zoya. Your boyfriend is so in love he can't keep his eyes off you!" she cooed.
Zoya looked at him and once again got lost in his eyes again. But as the girls all giggled, she was brought back to reality. "He's not my boyfriend," she replied curtly, looking away from him.
Asad's heart sank. Ya Allah, I can't bear to see her like this. It pained him to hear be so cold towards him. He mentally cursed himself for the thousandth time. He had a long way to go before he would be able to mend the wounds he'd caused.
Kareena looked at them both curiously, taken aback by Zoya's words. You may not be officially together, but both your eyes speak volumes, she thought to herself. "Oh. Well, my mistake then. Look we don't have work today since it's a holiday. So how about we come along with you guys? Show your boy-" she started, but immediately stopped, seeing Zoya glare at her, "sorry your friend the sights and just how wonderful New York City is." Kareena looked at both of them for a reaction. "Unless you'd like to be left alone," she finished with a mischievous smile.
Asad and Zoya both blushed, but Zoya responded first. "If I stay alone with him, I might as well fall asleep." She glared at him. "Lets go, as it is I haven't seen you guys in so long!" squealed Zoya, relieved at not having to spend the day alone with him. Oh, but she'd still take every opportunity to make his life hell. Now she just had help. She smirked evilly to herself.
And so all six of them waited for the subway. The five girls chattering away, and Asad just giving yes or no answers whenever a question was directed toward him. His heart swelled seeing her back to her bubbly self in a matter of minutes, and realized how he had misjudged these girls. Despite their attire, they were friendly, respectful and polite. Of course he was still a tad uncomfortable around them, because of their PDA on him earlier. But he was slowly getting past it.
The rest of the day went by like this. The girls, who learned from Zoya that he was an architect, showed him all the famous buildings and asked him non stop questions about their construction and what he might have done differently. Again he was surprised by their questions, as he didn't expect them to be interested in such a mechanical profession. They took him to the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Centre, Ground Zero (where the memorials now stand in place of the World Trade Centre), and even the Plaza Hotel. Then they moved on to the more fun things to do in New York.
They wanted to take him to the Statue of Liberty on Ellis Island, but Asad wasn't keen, as he was afraid of getting seasick. Zoya smiled a little. This was new to her. She was used him not being afraid of anything but emotions. But she pushed the thought away.
They went for lunch in Times Square, where they all oohed and ahhed at his explanations about the lights and how the electricity used in that ten block radius could power a whole town for a week. When they got to the lunch spot, Asad rubbed his forehead. Pizza...
Zoya was delighted. Her friends knew how much she loved pizza and wanted to treat her as a welcome home gesture. Zoya was touched. She had indeed missed her friends, too, and was glad she had bumped into them that morning. Asad just started at his piece, and continued to make a face. All the girls laughed at this, even Zoya. Seeing her smile, he decided to just try it. It's one time, what's the harm?, he thought.
As he took one bite, he realized it wasn't so bad. It was actually really good. But after about ten seconds of enjoying the taste, his mouth started to tingle, followed by his throat. Within a few more seconds, his eyes had grown wide and he was turning red. Zoya was smiling evilly. Before he took his piece of pizza, she had asked the lady behind the counter to add an extra layer of their most deadly chili sauce. Asad hadn't noticed, assuming it was an excess of tomato sauce.
He tried to keep his composure, as he didn't want to look weak in front of all these girls, but after a while he couldn't take it anymore. He stood up and ran to the bathroom. Zoya's friends looked in his direction and then at each other with confused looks. Neeru and Kareena, who had been friends with Zoya the longest, looked at each other and immediately understood. They both turned their eyes to Zoya and gave her a knowing look. Zoya looked at them innocently, as if to say "what?" and then giggled. They both shook their heads, smiling at her antics.
When Asad came back he was awkward again. His embarrassment knew no bounds. But he wouldn't complain as he was quite sure of who was behind his agony. Kareena and Neeru were pleasantly surprised by the lack of an outburst from him. This didn't seem to be the same judgmental and angry man that Zoya kept telling them about. Maybe she was exaggerating, they both thought.
After lunch, they all headed to Serendipity, Zoya's favorite dessert shop, to end their meal. Asad didn't complain, and thought he'll just watch them eat. Asad and Zoya were very quiet as they waited in line for a table, both of them remembering their last encounter there. Fate really had a twisted sense of humor. Once inside, they all settled in their seats and started perusing the menu. Neeru and Kareena started grilling Asad about what he wanted to eat. They frowned and looked at each other when he said he'd just have a small cup of coffee. That's when Neeru got an idea, and decided that he and Zoya would share her favorite coffee drink. Zoya looked horrified, while Asad was blushing with embarrassment. He couldn't help but smile, however, as he recalled how coffee was their thing. Well, it is to me, at least, he thought sadly.
They all waited for their respective desserts, and the girls kept grilling Asad about whether he'd had a girlfriend and how he keeps so fit. Asad being Asad was uncomfortable with these questions, but answered them politely and indulged them for Zoya's sake. He wanted to show her that he could be normal. That he wasn't as emotionally and socially challenged as she thought him to be.
Zoya noticed his efforts to be friendly with the girls, and sighed. She liked that he was getting along with her friends. Why? She didn't know. But at the same time, she felt a pang of jealousy. Why couldn't he be normal with her? He'd always shout at her and accuse her. Never giving a second thought to what he said to her, until it was too late.
She turned away from the group and scanned the shop. She liked people watching and making stories for couples she saw sharing desserts and drinks. She saw a couple on the far end, who had finished their dessert, and were dreamily looking into each other's eyes. She closed her eyes for a second, and as she opened them again, she saw her and Asad, where the couple was sitting. She looked on at the scene before her. At how he had his fingers intertwined with hers, and how he was caressing her chin with the other.
The clang for a fork falling to the floor brought her out of her daydream, and when she looked toward the source of the noise, her eyes grew wide.
Precap: A blast from the past 😛
Hate me? 😛
Next one will be long too! Promise 😊
Another twist coming your way! You know how I love twists 😆
Please leave your lovely comments! I really enjoy all your feedback! 😳 And if anyone new would like a PM, please buddy me! I send out PM's to all my buddies LOL
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
124