AsYa ff: Moments in Time: Last Chapter Pg 55 - Page 18

Chapter 9: Trust

It's been a month that everything fell into places in Asad and Zoya's lives. Asad had gone to Paris and Zoya had returned to her old life which suddenly seemed brighter. No media or other person knew about their love as Asad doesn't want Zoya's privacy to be evaded in his absence. Zoya had spoken to her parents about Asad which was of course a shock to them. Even though their initial answer was a 'no' owing to his 'reputation', they eventually agreed to their only daughter's demand. Zoya was happier than ever. But amidst all these things, she missed him like hell. Even though he called her every day, it was not sufficient enough to satisfy a yearning heart. She knew, he missed here as much as she missed him. That was evident from the frequency of the long distance calls he made.

Nevertheless she was happy today. Today was the day Asad will be coming back. Even though he is directly going to Bhopal, he had promised her that he will come to meet her the next day. She really missed him, his hug, touch and kiss… his Kiss… she blushed hard remembering the last kiss they shared in his house…

The clock strike 12 noon breaking her trance. Her eyes widened as she realized that it was time for Asad's flight to reach Bhopal. She jumped in joy and started dialing his number. Despite her several attempts she couldn't get through the call. Disappointed she sat down in the couch keeping the television on. She flipped through the channels occasionally glancing at her phone in expectation of his call. Suddenly her attention diverted back to flash news that was showing in the channel. She felt that her eyes are deceiving her. it was flashing in bold letters,

"Actor Asad Ahmed Khan is arrested for raping a model"

The remote control fell down from her eyes as she felt numb. She rubbed her eyes furiously hoping that her eyes were playing games with her, but it was not. She reached out for the remote control and flipped through channels. She could see the video footage of Asad being arrested from airport. Asad was yelling that he was innocent while all the media personnel surrounded him like honeybees. And the scene changed to the reporter who was giving the description of the case.

"As we are seeing now police had arrested Asad Ahmed Khan, popularly known as AAK under the charge of raping a model. The Mumbai based model, Alina Khanna allegedly claimed that AAK had called her into his hotel room in Paris to offer her a role in his film while she was on a holiday there. The 27 year girl claims that he had raped her evevn after her repeat attempt to let her go. She had provided evidences against him based on which the police had arrested AAK. Even though the genuinity of evidences is not yet identified, the playboy life of AAK requires less proof to believe upon…"

All these while they were continuously showing his photo with other girls, the photos which was once a part of his playboy life, which doesn't defines the present him. Throwing away the TV, Zoya slumped onto the ground crying loudly. The girl who was a happy moment before was completely broken now. She cried and cried until she had left no energy in him. Her heart refused to believe that Asad could do something like that. No… Asad won't hurt her like that. She trust him… with that determination, she wiped her tears and went to pack…

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She sat there in the court bench impatiently looking at the door. The past 48 hours have changed a lot for Zoya. She had flown to Bhopal only to find a completely broken Dilshad. Zoya comforted her while drawing comfort from her. She had then flown to Mumbai where the case was filed. She had obtained a special permission to see Asad. Her eyes watered up as she remembered her encounter with Asad.

***Flashback starts***

She waited for him in the visitors' area, minutes were passing like hours. Finally she looked up only to see a completely broken Asad. She ran towards him only to be held back by iron bars separating them. She kept her face on the iron bar while tears continuously flowing form her eyes. She could feel his fingers wiping away her tears. He kept his forehead near to her while their fingers intertwined through the bars. They stood there for some minutes drawing strength from each other… Asad was the first one to break apart.

"Zoya… Please believe me… I haven't done anything… I would never do that to you…"

"I know Asad. I know…"

"That girl… it's true that she came to my room. But I didn't call her. She had broken into my room in the middle of night telling she want a role in my film. When I denied she started throwing herself upon me… I somehow pushed her out of the room. I swear that's all happened..."

"Why didn't you tell me this before Asad?"

"I didn't want to make you worried…. That's why… I… I am sorry for causing you pain…"

Zoya looked at his face which was bend down with guilt, guilt for not telling her that before. She lifts up his chin using her finger and looked into his eyes reassuring him that everything will be fine…

***Flashback ends***

She was brought back to reality by the sudden noise in the court. She looked towards the door only to be greeted by the most heart wrenching scene. There he was, her Asad, being escorted by armed police into the box. He looked completely broken. She knew he cried a lot as the dark circles around his eyes was enough proof of that.

The trial was a noisy affair with the hustling and buzzing of media people in the court compound. After the rigorous attempt of Asad's advocate he was granted bail much to the relief of Asad, Zoya and his family. As he stepped outside of the suspect box, Zoya ran into his arms burying herself deeper in him. Asad reciprocated with the same force and intensity as he once again found the calmness in the strawberry scent of her hair. She broke apart from him and started showering kisses all over his face only to be pulled back into a hug by Asad.

Their blissful moments were broken by the media as they surrounded them bombarding with questions.

Reporter 1: "AAK, who is this? Is she your girlfriend?"

Reporter 2: "Does she know about what happened in Paris?"

Reporter 3: "Madam, do you till believes him after all these? What's your opinion about the case?"

Asad held her closer to him as he tried to walk out of the court premises. Police came for their rescue as they tried to escort them out of there, but the increasing crowd was proving it to be difficult.

Zoya was getting angrier as the minutes passed. She was brewing like a volcano and the volcano did exploded when she heard a reporter addressing her Asad as a cheater.

"What you want to know huh? You want to know why do I support him? Or you want to know why can't I believe the evidences against him? That's what you want to know, right? Then hear me out… I don't care whatever the crap you media people has to say about him. I trust him more than I trust anyone… even myself… I love him and I know he loves me more than I love him… he will never ever betray me… you understood?"

She paused for a minute trying to control her tears and confronted the reporter again.

"You will never understand what is going through me… For you, this is just another spicy story which will increase the rating of your channel, but for me, this is my life, my love… you are pointing your fingers towards the person who is most precious for me… I know he has a bad image in front of everyone… everyone makes mistakes, he also did. But it doesn't mean that every time you will make mistake… and you asked me why I believe him blindly… People usually tell that when you are in love, you tend to show only your positive side. It may be true in case of so called 'time pass love'. But when you are in true love, you understand the other person in and out… true love is nothing but selflessness… sacrificing everything for the other person's happiness… when you see you love smiles, even if you are in your worst circumstances, you tend to smile.. That one smile is enough to lift your spirit. And when you see your love cries, you breaks down and vows to protect your love from any harm comes in the way... when you truly love someone, you don't want words to understand what the other person want to say… one look at each other's' eyes is sufficient to understand the unspoken words and unspoken feelings… it's not some complex procedure. Love is just a simple tale of two hearts who vows to be bound as one soul. When you get your true love, you will understand what I mean…"

By now she let her tears to stream down freely. All her pent up emotions, anger and pain surfaced through her eyes in the form of tears. She looked at the crowd around her. Everyone was silently listening to her. She looked up to see her Asad looking at her with equal pain which was evident in his eyes. She leaned to his chest and he wrapped his arm around her protectively. Slowly wiping her tears she once again turned to the reporter, her head still resting over Asad's chest.

"And I got my true love… whatever may be the circumstances, I know, my Asad can't betray me. I believe in him… I was betrayed by the person I loved once… I was devastated… left completely heartbroken… then Asad came into my life… he mend my broken heart with utmost care and patience… he was there whenever I needed him… even he was ready to sacrifice his career for me… he believed in me…. He believed that I will be the old Zoya once again and will become his forever… he believed in us… in our love… And he won… now this is my turn to believe… I believe my love… I believe him… I know this too will pass… I know he will prove the entire world that you are wrong and our love was right… even if the entire word conspires against us, I won't stop trusting him… because the love which me and Asad shares is strong… I love him… no… I heart him…"

With that she hugged Asad tightly while Asad reciprocated with equal force… Asad didn't know how to express his feelings… Zoya believes him… trust him completely even after all these things happened. He didn't know how to thank God for sending Zoya to his life… he was glad that she was by his side… he patted her head with his one hand while with his other he started rubbing her back. Slowly wiping his own tears he looked at the crowd who were looking at them silently. Some were wiping their own tears while some had their head hung low…

Holding her in his embrace tightly he walked through the crowd towards his car. Opening the passenger seat of the car he got in along with her ordering the driver to take them home. She was still in his embrace. He slowly parted herself away from him. Wiping away her tears he kissed her forehead and whispered a 'thank you' before pulling back to embrace her once again…

The crowd stood there transfixed as the couple walked away towards their car still hugging each other. They could see the love shared by the duo in each other eyes and gestures… they were amazed by the depth of feeling they have just witnessed. Those who thought about their love is to be yet another fake story had their head hung low. Those who thought that true love exists had tears in their eyes, because they got more reason to believe in what they believe… True love… just like Asad and Zoya's…

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The old man stopped telling the story and looked at the two teenagers sitting in front of him. Tears were streaming from Humeria's eyes whereas Ayaan was trying to hide his bloodshot eyes behind a shade. He chuckled getting the expected reactions from them. Asad and Zoya's love story is such an enchanting one!

Humeira: "What happened then uncle?"

Old man: "They proved to the world that their love was right. They found out evidence as to Asad was trapped in that rape case, that too by his ex-wife… "

Ayaan: "I have heard about that rape case. But never heard about this love story. Can this be true? Is true love exists? Can there be someone who truly loves you?"

The old man chuckled at his question. He gazed back and forth at Ayaan and Humeira. He had a slight hint in his eyes.

"From where I look, I can tell you that there is a chance… Rest is for you to find out…"

With that he started walking away leaving a confused Ayaan and Humeira behind. Ayaan called out to him.

"Hey, wait… you didn't tell the full story… you didn't tell what happened to them…"

Old man turned towards them.

"Meet Mr. Sidhique. Here is the address. He has the answers to your questions…"

And once again he walked away.

The return journey was quite silent as both were digesting the facts that they have listened. For one, it was a reassurance that whatever she believed in is true and for the other, it was an eye opener that there is a girl waiting for him who will turn his life upside down...