Through The Monsoon: Part 3
Zoya sensed that Asad had entered her room, for the second time too. She'd successfully managed to trick him into believing that she didn't know he was there the first time, so she tried to do that again. Her reasoning was that doing that would make him leave, but deep down inside she knew that she wanted him to stay. Zoya kept her eyes fixed on the slanting grey lines trailing down her window pane as she waited to see what Asad did this time.
"Miss Farooqui, are you okay?" Asad finally asked, breaking the silence in the room. Zoya wiped her tears and turned to him, her face showing no signs of surprise. He suddenly realized that she had known all along that he was there. He walked up to her and stood directly in front her, crossing his arms over his chest and tried to peer at her face as she looked listlessly at the ground between them.
"Main theek hoon Mr Khan, just a little flu because of the rain and all," Zoya answered, as she tried to hide the shakiness of her voice. She sniffed loudly just to add on to the effect, and then looked up at him through her lashes. Now not only were his arms crossed, he even had an eyebrow raised. Zoya bit her lower lip in worry. Asad was definitely not buying it.
"Mujhe sab pata hai Miss Farooqui," Asad stated, leaving no room for argument. Zoya raised her head this time, curious to know what Asad had apparently figured out. She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion and tilted her chin up and then back down, by way of telling him to go on.
"Don't tell me you spend this day every year wasting your tears on a man who couldn't be bothered to find you after all this time," Asad said cynically, the words escaping out of his mouth before he could stop himself. He flinched when he saw the confusion in Zoya's eyes turn into anger. He'd stepped out of line. He quickly reached out and placed his hands on Zoya's shoulders before she could turn around and walk away from him.
"Leave me alone Mr Khan. You don't always know everything so stop acting like you do. I don't need your stupid lectures right now okay. I'm fine on my own, I've always been," Zoya snapped at him, as she struggled to remove his hands from her shoulders. She really did want to believe that she was fine on her own. But she had to admit that after staying in Asad's house for this long, she'd become very dependent on him. She had never expected to be. And it scared her too. If there's something she knew for sure, it is that people always leave in the end. Her parents were a prime example. That's why she always made it a point not to get too personal with or dependent on anyone. But she'd still become dependent on Asad subconsciously, despite her personal promise not to. She couldn't lie to herself, but she could still lie to him. So she'd still tell him she was fine on her own, even if she wasn't. It'd make things easier to handle.
"Okay wait, wait. I'm sorry. I remember you told me before that you don't want to jump to conclusion about your father until you actually meet him and find out his side of the story. It's very big-hearted of you, and very insensitive of me. But anyway, wherever your father is, I don't think he'd want to see his daughter in tears like this, so…" Asad tried to make amends, but got cut off when Zoya burst into sobs and threw her arms around his shoulders, burying her face in his neck.
He had noticed that her eyes were brimming with tears when he started his silly speech, which is why he had tried to tell her not to cry before she actually did. But evidently, he had achieved the very opposite of what he had intended to do. He raised one arm and wrapped it around her back, his fingers lacing through her hair and patting her head softly. He figured that's all she needed to do, let it all out. He didn't understand why she had a habit of keeping things to herself. Sure, she's independent, and keeps insisting that she doesn't need anyone. But everyone needs someone someday. No one is truly fine on their own. And he was always around, if only she'd let him in more often… like today.
Zoya calmed down in the warmth of Asad's embrace a lot faster than she had anticipated. But despite the fact that her sobs were fast subsiding, she still hadn't found it in her to let go of him. Earlier, she had absolutely no intention of breaking down in front of him. She had decided that she would answer curtly and dismiss him from the room, then cry when she was alone. But it was so difficult to make plans like that when dealing with an unpredictable man like Asad Ahmed Khan. She was still amazed that he had not only managed to figure out what was bothering her without her saying anything, but also apologize to her, and attempt to comfort her all in one breath.
Zoya knew it had to be pretty awkward for a distant person like Asad to comfort anyone, much less physically, but she still didn't let go of him. It wasn't her fault he smelt so good. Besides, she noted that Asad hadn't let go either. His hand had gone from patting her head to stroking her back, not that she was complaining. She sighed softly and snuggled further into him, the ticklishness of his stubble on his chin against her forehead making her smile to herself a little.
Asad was fully aware of the fact that the hug was becoming a lot longer and closer than a friendly hug, but he found himself doing nothing to stop it. It felt good to know that he was one of the few people that Zoya opened up to. He found himself smiling as he leaned in and rubbed his nose against her hair, his lips just grazing the tip of her ear, throwing all rational thought out of the window for now.
XXXNext part soon too (:
Pati Patni Aur Panga
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
