AsYa ff: Moments in Time: Last Chapter Pg 55 - Page 21

Chapter 10: The search

"I don't think it's a good idea Ayaan… We may get caught…"

Said a nervous Humeira. Ayaan rolled his eyes at her.

"Do you want to know the rest of the story or not?"

"I do. But…"

"No buts and ifs… we asked Mr. Sidhique about his daughter politely. But he refuses to give us any information. Breaking into her room is the only option available for us. So now just shut up and climb along with me…"

Humeira and Ayaan had gone to Mr. Gafoor Sidhique who was Zoya's father as per the old man's instruction. But he refused to reveal any information about Asad and Zoya's love story. Being the stubborn ass, Ayaan had decided to break into Zoya's room from the window. Even though Humeira was against this idea, she had to give up because she wanted to know what happened to them.

After some attempts they successfully reached the room which they assumed to be of Zoya's. There was a huge photo of her in the wall.

"Wow… she is really beautiful…"

Exclaimed Ayaan.

"And innocent too…"

Added Humeira.

They looked at each other for minute and they get into working. They went through Zoya's stuffs hoping to find some information but to no avail. Feeling disappointed Ayaan kicked one of the boxes lying in the corner causing it to open and a photo peeked out of it. Feeling curious, they walked towards the box. Ayaan bet down a little and picked up the photo. It was a photo of Asad and Zoya in each other's arms while dimpled smile adorned their faces. They looked really happy in those photos. As if in a trance, Humeira's eyes reach out to touch the photo. Her fingers trailed through their face. A small smile appeared in her face. All these while Ayaan was looking at her intensely. His heart somersaulted seeing the smile in her face. Suddenly Humeira looked up. To hide his embarrassment for getting caught, he started rummaging through the box to find any info and he found a diary, precisely telling, Zoya's Diary… Ayaan twirled Humeira in happy while Humeira tried her best to suppress the giggle. Humeira took the diary from Ayaan and decided to open it. But before they could do that light spread in the room. Startled, they looked at the door only to find Mr. Sidhique near the switchboard with his arms cross across his chest. They gulp3ed down in fear thinking what will happen to them now. Humeira went and hold Ayaan's arms and hide herself behind him while he patter her arms as if assuring her about her safety.

Mr. Sidhique looked at the duo in front of him.

"I knew it. I knew that you will break into this house… I could see the determination in your eyes…"

He then looked Humeira and his gaze fixed on the diary she was holding.

"I see, you have got the diary…Hm… This had to happen one day or the other day… Follow me…"

He sighed and walked away leaving a flabbergasted Ayaan and Humeira behind. They thought he'll lash at them but he was calm as ever. After the initial shock they followed him. They reached in front of another room. Taking a deep breath he opened the door and get inside with Ayaan and Humeira following him. They gasped as their eyes drown in the sight in front of them. It was a beautiful room decorated in red and white. There was a huge bed with white satin sheets and red blanket. All the pillows were red in color. But what caught their attention was the photos hanging in the wall. There were several photos of Asad and Zoya, Asad and Zoya in beach, in a cuddling position, Zoya in Asad's lap etc etc. amidst all these there was huge photo on the wall near to the bed rest which showed Asad and Zoya in wedding attire. Zoya was wearing a beautiful red lehenga while Asad had worn a matching shervani. They looked breathtakingly beautiful. Ayaan and Humeira's eyes wide open seeing this. Their trance was broken by Sidhique.

"This was their room… the room which once filled with their laughter and happiness… the room which witnessed the most beautiful moments of love… my Zoya's love…"

He choked on his words as tears a lump formed in his throat. Ayaan and Humeira looked at him while tears forming in their eyes too.

"Mr. Sidhique, is… is Asad and Zoya are married to each other?"

Mr. Sidhique looked ta Ayaan as if he had asked the most ridiculous question in the world as the photo itself was the answer to his question.

"Yes… They were married in a simple ceremony conducted here. We didn't publish the news of it as it was not the best time… I hope you have heard of the rape case against Asad?"

Ayaan and Humeira nodded in affirmative.

"Well… After that they wanted to marry each other as soon as they could. And we elders knew they required each other's strength to surf through that difficult time. So we made them get married. But held it as a secret as they wanted the air to clear first…"

Curiosity overcome for Ayaan as he asked the next question,

"What happened to them then?"

Humeira glared at to him for interrupting the conversation while Mr. Sidhique let out a sad smile.

"The answer is in your hand Beti…"

Humeira looked at her hand perplexed. Did he mean Zoya's diary? She raised her head to ask her doubt but she could only see his retreating back. Sighing she turned to Ayaan. Ayaan nodded his head in confirmation and sat in the couch making her sit near to him. Taking a deep breath slowly and gently she opened the pages of the diary. In the front page itself it was beautifully written "ZOYA ASAD AHMED KHAN" in cursive handwriting. Their heart skipped a beat reading that. They had an unknown fear inside them as they turned the pages, an unknown fear about what had happened to the beautiful love story…