Wonder girl (AsYa 2shots)

Khan Mansion was decked up like a new bride exquisitely and elegantly with flowers and lights. The ambience around and inside the mansion was one of festivity. Today was the Jashne bahara ceremony, a ritual that Dilshaad Ahmad Khan, the mother of the owner of Khan Mansion, Asad Ahmad, had kept in honor of the wedding of her only son and her soon to be daughter in law.

The hustle bustle of the guests who had graced the ceremony with their presence was not confined within the four walls of the colossal living room but was also reaching the room upstairs where the bride, Zoya Farooqui, was getting ready for the function.

Zoya was so lost in her own reverie that for a moment she was oblivious to the ambience surrounding her as well as to the hustle bustle reaching her through the slightly ajar door to the room. She closed her eyes and beamed slightly bemusedly.

Zoya st : "Allah Miyan! What's wrong with me? All these should feel so wrong, so unethical. Then why do all these feel so right, as if these are meant to be, as if we are meant to be. (With a jolt, her eyes snapped open as realization about what had just crossed her mind dawned on her) Allah Miyan! What's wrong with me? What am I thinking? I and Mr.Khan? Is it even possible? Come on Zoya. Who are you kidding? That man is doing all these and going through all these just because of his mother. Everything is a big fat lie for him. This wedding and all the rituals connected with this wedding is just a mere sham for him. He doesn't deem you fit for any household and keep singing the same old song of how you are so different ftom him. I really am a fool. But then why does it feel so real, so right? Why I can't deny this wedding and I don't want him to deny too?"

However, the melodious tinkling of a woman's anklets and bangles interjected her in the midst of her rumination.

Zoya turned around and beamed happily to see Nazma sauntering into the room.

Nazma beamed back at her but then frowned: "Zoya! You aren't dressed for the ceremony till now? Get ready fast. Most of the guests have already arrived."

Zoya: "Uff ho tamatar! No fear when Zoya is there! I'll get ready within a blink of an eye. Give me, say, fifteen minutes."

Nazma smiled: "Okay! But be quick ok?"

Zoya: "Sure thing."

Nazma strolled out of the room providing Zoya the personal space she required to get ready as it was a momentous day of her life.

Zoya sighed and ambled towards the closet and yanking it open, she carefully excavated out a blue cardboard gift box. She smiled to herself and uncovering it, took out the soft fabric lying within its confines. She hold it in front of her eyes. It was a beautiful pink saree with elegant blue border lines.

She beamed as she recollected the other day when her 'Jahapanah Six Packs' left this saree in her room with a gift note attached to it which for the very first time revealed a tad bit of his feelings. In the note, he had said that she looks beautiful in a saree as he had noticed when he had previously seen her in a saree once. However, she had read in between the lines and understood his unsaid words which he hadn't revealed, just as clearly as the words written in that note. She had realized that he yearned to see her in a saree and hence had promised herself as well her Dilshaad phoopi when the latter asked her about what she wished to wear in the jashne bahara function that she would wear the saree for the function.

With her heart beating in excitement she hold the saree in front of her. Soon enough the sight she encountered drained her of color as well happiness. There was a big hole right in the centre of the saree as if it had been burnt. A gasp of astonishment left her beautiful, pink full lips.

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Dilshaad's joy knew no bounds today. She had always thought of Zoya as her own daughter and was well aware of the fact that even Zoya thought of her as her own mother. She knew Asad and Zoya, though haven't realized or acknowledged their feelings yet, loved each other. Their love for each other shone in their eyes and the mother in Dilshaad had recognized it before they themselves could reach any conclusion.

She looked at Asad, her beloved son, standing beside her, clad in a gold colored sherwani, who was engrossed in greeting the guests. She could perceive the happiness in his eyes no matter how much he denied and beamed contentedly.

Asad, who was greeting the guests, glanced around and then scooted closer to his mother and whispered to her: "Ammi! Where is MS.Farooqui? She should have come down by now. Almost all the guests have arrived and the auspicious moment to start the function too is ticking off."

Dilshaad couldn't help teasing her ever so sober son a little: "Wow Asad! I didn't know you are so desperate to see my daughter in law! Why didn't you say it earlier? I would have asked Zoya to come down as soon as feasible as my son cant stay put a moment more without seeing her beautiful face."

She giggled as Asad turned crimson and looked away, letting out an embarrassed "Ammi!"

However, on a serious note, Dilshaad realized that the time actually was ticking off. Where was Zoya?

She beckoned Tanveer to come near and when the latter obeyed, Dilshaad enquired: "Tanveer! Where is Zoya? Have you seen her?"

Tanveer did what she was best at, feigning innocence, as she replied: "Khala! I don't where she is. What has happened Khala? Is anything wrong?"

Dilshaad smiled, albeit a bit anxious: "No, nothing Tanveer. Everything is fine. It's just that Zoya hasn't come down till now. I think she must be getting ready. You must know how much time girls take to get ready, especially when it's a function related to their wedding we are talking about."

Dilshaad was looking around for Nazma as she concluded what she had to say and hence missed the scowl that marred Tanveer's features. Excusing herself from Tanveer, Dilshaad trotted away in search of Nazma so that she could ask her to go and fetch Zoya with her.

Tanveer's scowl was replaced by an evil smirk as she thought to her self: "Sorry Khala! But I don't think Zoya is going to come down tonight. How could she when she couldn't keep her promise. How would she show her face? Tch, tch! Poor Zoya! By burning that saree I have burnt your fate too. This is only the beginning."

Pleased with herself, Tanveer beamed and basked in the rapture of her victory.

Dilshaad came across Nazma who had just sauntered into the hall and stopped her.

Dilshaad enquired: "Nazma! Where is Zoya?"

Nazma: "She's getting ready."

Dilshaad: "Go and see if she's ready. Bring her down then. Everyone has already arrived."

Nazma: "Okay Ammi!"

Nazma twirled around and regressed down the way she had come. Dilshaad turned around only to find a frowning Asad walking down the hall towards her.

Dilshaad gulped hard: "Oh no! I so wish this Nazma fetch Zoya as soon as feasible. Or else hell will break loose."

Asad finally stalled in front of his mother and inquired: "Ammi! What happened? Why are you so tensed?And where is your favorite girl?"

Dilshaad patted his strong arm as she replied in an attempt to mollify: "Asad! Just relax okay! I'm not at all tensed. And I have asked Nazma to bring Zoya down. They must be on their way now."

Asad managed a stiff nod, not convinced at all, and was about to walk away when Nazma trotted into the living room.

Dilshaad: "What's wrong Nazma? Where is Zoya?"

Nazma replied breathlessly: "Ammi! I don't understand why but Zoya is not opening her door."

"What!" Asad grumbled and toned down his voice on catching his mother's admonishing glare, "What do you mean she is not opening her door? Now what is she up to? (Directing his next words to his befuddled mother) Ammi! I'm going to go and check what's going on."

Tanveer, on the other hand, was enraptured at her victory and her lips curled up into a devious smirk.

Tanveer (st): "Oh Jammy! I'm so sorry. But Zoya isn't going to turn up. Tch! Tch! Poor Zoya! Now the guests will jibe at Dilshaad khala. That will infuriate Asad and in turn Asad will lambast Zoya. Uff! Tanveer! You are just too good."

Tanveer mentally lauded her iniquitous mind. However, soon her rumination broke at Nazma's voice.

Nazma: "Hey! Zoya has come."

Everybody turned to look at the bride who was sauntering into the room with firm, confident steps.