It had been two hours since Asad had brought Zoya home. Her friends knew that Zoya wouldn't be in the mood to talk to anyone. And she definitely wouldn't reach out to them. Neeru and Kareena had long ago learned that Zoya was the type to hide her pain from the world. She would only allow people to see her happy, glowing and vibrant. Never had they seen her reach out to them when she felt low, or lean on them unless they insisted.
Neeru ended up going to Kareena's house with her. They needed to help their friend. Whether she wanted it or not. Something was going on, they knew, between this mystery of a man, Asad Ahmed Khan and their bubbly and happy go lucky friend, Zoya Farooqui.
And if Zoya wouldn't talk, they'd get it out of her gentleman caller.
* * * * * * *
Asad was sitting on the bed in his room, rewinding all the events of the last week in his head. His cold and bitter words rung in his ears like gongs. He made her feel ashamed. He made her feel guilty. He made her feel undeserving of parental love. Of that love that no child in the world should be deprived of. He cringed as he recalled his own painful past. He of all people knew what it was like to grow up without a father. But at least he had a happy family for a few years. Zoya didn't even know who her abbu was, what he looked like, what he was like as a human being or why he left her mother all those years ago.
It pained him. It pained him to know that he was the reason for her sorrow at this very moment. She was right. He had never trusted her. He had always jumped to conclusions with her. But why? Because he was afraid? Of what?
Of falling in love, his heart began.
He clenched his fists. It was true. His fear was his biggest weakness. And time and time again it manifested itself in the form of anger. In the form of misplaced anger, of which Zoya inadvertently became the target.
As Asad kept pondering all this, he heard the landline ring. It's probably someone for Aapi and Jeeju, he thought, making his way to the cordless outside his and Zoya's rooms.
"Hello?"
"Hello! Is this Asad?" replied a female voice.
"Um, yes, but how do you know who I am?" he asked, baffled. I don't know anyone in this city!
"Hi Asad! It's Neeru, Zoya's friend. From the tour earlier?"
"Oh right. Hi how are-" started Asad, only to have her cut him off.
"Look, I don't have time for pleasantries. There is something going on between you and Zoya. And I need to know what. We both do. Meet us at Met in half an hour. We need some answers. Zoya may not want us to get involved, but she's in no state to handle any more emotional turmoil. So DO NOT tell her you're meeting us. Got it?"
Asad was dumbfounded. He thought Zoya was nosy. Looks like it's a common trait in New York.
"Um, where is that?" he asked, finally. He'd have to meet them. He had no choice. As of now, he was able to show Zoya that he felt remorse over his words. She saw he was sorry. But she still didn't believe that he trusted her. And rightfully so. But maybe these girls could help him? Then again they could also murder him when they find out why Zoya came back to New York, he thought as his heart skipped a beat.
"Oh right, I forgot you're new here. It's the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Just tell the cab driver to take you the Met, he'll know where to go. And don't be late." With that she hung up.
Asad took the phone away form his ear, and stared at it, still dumbfounded. The women here have some nerve, he thought grudgingly, his old judgmental self resurfacing for a split second. He sighed. Well, here goes nothing.
He freshened up, and checked on Zoya, before leaving. Relieved to see her sleeping, somewhat peacefully, he softly closed her room door, and headed out to meet the girls. He had no idea what he was in for, but he figured only time will tell.
* * * * * * *
Meanwhile back in Bhopal...
A restless woman was pacing back and forth in her room. Twisting her dupatta in her hand, she stomped from one end of the room to the other, as her mind ran wild with scenarios that displeased her greatly.
Tanveer hadn't heard from Asad, Najma or Khaala in two days. She didn't know if that was good or not. Images of a heartfelt reunion between the foursome made her restless and sick to her stomach. She was already over a month pregnant, and would start to show soon. But Asad was not only not interested in her, but he wasn't even within reach.
"Kya zaroorat thi uske peeche peeche jaane ki? Badi mushkil se usse rukhsati mili, ki ab Jammy usse yahan wapas lekar aane ke chaakar mein padge." She smirked. "Magar woh kambhakhat to wapas aa hi nahi sakhti. To Jammy kya kar sakh the hai?" She laughed triumphantly, satisfied.
But as she celebrated her victory, the phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Tanveer! Salaam Walekum!" a cheerful Dilshad greeted her. Her happy tone worried Tanveer.
"Walikum Salaam, Khaala. Kaise hain aap? Zoya mili?" she asked grudgingly, dreading the answer.
"Haan, Tanveer. Allah ka lakh lakh shukar hai ki humein, na to sirf Zoya mili, balki ab hum uske yahan reh parein hai. Meine tumhe iss liye phone kiya, taaki mein tumhe yeh khush khabri de sakoon." Dilshad was happy. Both her children we're a little ways from fully coming to terms with their feelings (although Asad had). But she knew that with time, and a little push, they would be able to work out their issues. She truly believed they were made for each other.
Tanveer froze. They already found her? And now they're living with her!? She started panicking. What if Asad finds a way to bring her back? No, no, no... NO! This cannot be happening! All my hard work will be ruined!
She talked to Dilshad for a few more minutes, before they ended the conversation. As she put the phone down, Tanveer's anger resurfaced.
"Kambhakhat, tumhe iss mulk se kya nikal diya, ke tumne Asad ko khud ke mulk mein bulaliya! Kitne koshish ki thi meine, tumhe yahan se dapha karwane ki. Lekin nahin, tum to hili bhi nahin. Aur ab jab meine uss immigration officer ko bi bataya tha ki tum illegally rehna chati ho, aur tum finally yahan se chali gayi thi, tab Asad Ahmed Khan tumhe wapas laane par thula gaya." She ranted and vented out all her frustrations, as she paced back forth in the living room.
The sound of ruffling leaves caught her ear, as she came out of her angry trance. She walked over to the garden, trying to figure out the source of the sound. Seeing nothing, she shrugged and walked off to her room, mumbling another slew of profanities directed at Zoya.
Once they was sure Tanveer was out of sight, the shadow who caused the noise came out into the moonlight, dumbstruck by what they had just heard. All this, was Tanveer's fault?
* * * * * * *
Back in New York...
Asad paid the cab driver, and got out to search for the girls. He thanked Allah he remembered to stop by the bank to get some American dollars, or he would've been stranded again.
He looked around, and admired the massive stairs leading to the entrance of the museum. Dozens of people were lounging on the stairs. Some enjoying ice creams, each other's company, while admiring the view and others just sitting and reading peacefully on their own. He smiled. New York may be a busy and different city to him, but somehow he managed to find a place he liked, and actually saw himself spending time in.
As he pondered this thought, he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around to see both Neeru and Kareena standing before him, Neeru with her arms crossed over her chest, and Kareena with her hands on her hips. These girls meant business. Asad gulped, as he registered the looks of disapproval emanating from their eyes.
"Five minutes early. Not bad," started Neeru. "Now lets see if you can show the same promptness in telling us exactly what is going on between you two." She glared at Asad. She wasn't exactly mad at him. She sure as hell didn't hate him. But something was wrong. Zoya would've told her friends if she was excited to come back to her beloved New York. And she sounded so happy in Bhopal. Then why would she suddenly come back, with no notice?
Asad gulped again. Here it goes, he thought, dejectedly. The last thing he wanted was for her friends to hate him, too. But Asad's principles would never change. He always faced his mistakes, and he would do the same now. He trusted Allah, and he knew that repentance on his sins was the only way to get past them. He took a deep breath.
"Woh... actually...," he rubbed his temples, cursing himself yet again for his inability to express himself. "Mein... mein Miss Farooqui se... nahin, mein Zoya se... mein unse... unse... m- mo- mohabbat- mohabbat karta hoon."
Neeru and Kareena both put a hand on their mouths, both from shock and in an attempt to stop themselves from laughing the poor guy. Zoya was right, he really did seem challenged. But not emotionally, more like verbally. But he loves her? So that's why he came after her here. But that also meant that she was running from him. Why?
"Agar aap usse pyaar karte ho, to phir woh New York wapas kyun aayi? Why did she come without telling us? What happened to make her want to be so far away from you?" Kareena fired her questions at Asad, getting impatient now.
Asad looked down, replaying his frigid and cruel words to her in his head. They may have pushed her into leaving, but she was pushing him away for a whole other reason.
And so he began his saga. Being Asad, of course, he stuttered, blushed, and rubbed his temple in embarrassment and self-loathing as he explained to them how he had wrongly accused her, and her intentions. He explained to them how he realized his mistake, and in turn, tried to stop her, to no avail. He even went as far as to explain to them that he only realized his mistake, how big it was, after he thought he'd lost her, and also just how important she really was to him, and for him to breathe.
Both the girls faces mirrored all sorts of emotions. Shock, at his accusation on Zoya. Anger, at his lack to confidence in Zoya's intentions. Understanding, as they tried to process what Zoya and Asad both must have gone through when tried to stop her. Confusion, as to why Zoya was accused in the first place. Something was missing. Who wanted to make Zoya look guilty? She could never harm a fly!
"But Asad, why were you pained earlier? When Zoya was crying. Sirf issi liye, ki woh roh rahi thi, ya phir koi aur baat hai?" Neeru probed. Asad's head bowed down in shame, as those words replayed in his head, and her uncontrollable sobs earlier flashed before his eyes. Her words echoed in his mind:
...sach to yeh hai Mr. Khan, ki aap mujh par bharosa nahin karte hain...
His hands balled into fists. The girls both noticed this.
"Asad..." Kareena urged.
He looked up at them, his eyes brimming with tears. He took out his wallet. He couldn't voice those horrid words again. He wouldn't. Never again would he utter them, or anything like them, he vowed. To her, to himself, or to anyone else. He took out an old receipt, and with the pen in his shirt pocket, he proceeded to write those words down. Once he was done, he put away his wallet, and stared at the piece of paper in his hand.
"Meine... meine unka dil dukhaya hai. Meine unse aisi baat kahi, jo maafi ke layak bhi nahin hai. Lekin uno ne... uno ne phir bhi mujhe maafi ke layak samja," he explained, as he realized the girls were waiting for an answer. Dejectedly, he handed them the receipt.
"Yehi woh baat hai, jo, jo meine kahi thi. Aur zindagi bhar iski zaaza bhogata rahoon ga," he said, his jaw clenching, as he tried to stop his tears.
Kareena took the paper from him. She read the words, and tears formed in her eyes. How could he... of all the things in the world he couldn't taunted her for... how could he...
She handed the paper to Neeru, as she looked up at Asad, her eyes filled with questions. But Asad refused to look up. He knew what they would think. He knew they would hate him. And his only chance of winning Zoya back would be gone. But he stood rooted. He deserved whatever he got.
Neeru looked at the words. Her mind raced with a dozen questions. But one thought stood out. Why is he showing us this? Why would he tell us what he said to her, when he knows we'll hate him? She realized it was pointless to hate him. This man had guts. Indeed he had hurt Zoya, and had already paid dearly for it. It was clear from his pained expression. And the way he took care of her, and protected her from Deepak, she knew his love for her was true.
"Agar Zoya ne tumhe inn lafz ke liye maaf kar chuki hai, to phir aisi konsi doosri baat hai? Jiski wajese woh tumse ab tak naraaz hai," said Neeru finally, after what seemed like eons of silence.
"Neeru, what are you saying? Why else would she be mad at him! Did you even read the paper? How could anyone say that? And that too to Zoya, of all people. Of all the things he chose to taunt her where it hurt the most!" Kareena yelled, exasperated and angry.
Asad stayed quiet. He was confused. One of them was angry at him, which he had expected. But the other, Neeru, was not? Why was she asking him that? Didn't she hate him? Didn't she want him far away from his friend?
"Kareena, socho. He didn't have to tell us what he said to Zoya. He could've just told us that he hurt her, and that she was mad at him. But no. He chose to not only be honest with us, but to even risk being hated by Zoya's best friends," explained Neeru. "Two of the people who love her dearly. Almost as dearly, as he loves her."
At this Asad's head shot up, to meet Neeru's eyes with his. She looked at him, and nodded, closing her eyes. She understood. She'd heard from Zoya about his anger. About his taunts to her. But she had also told Neeru about how he apologized, and how he had stopped her from leaving. How he had somehow managed to tell her that he wanted her to stay. But that also meant that if Zoya had forgiven him for the words, something else was bothering her. Something bigger. And since Asad was in love with her, and Zoya seemed to feel something for him, she knew that it ran deeper than a few words said in anger.
"Batao, Mr. Khan. Agar Zoya aapse un baaton ke liye naraaz nahin hai, to phir kis baat ko lekar woh ab tak itni pareshaan hai?"
Kareena digested her friends careful analysis, and realized she was right. He may have made a grave mistake, but he owned up to it, fully and proved just how deep his love for her was earlier that day. But still, she wanted to know what was bothering Zoya.
"Kyunki meine unn par bharosa nahin kiya," he said, as he looked at both of them in the eye this time. "Lekin ab mein karta hoon. Mein jaanta hoon it sounds crazy. And convenient. Lekin, I- I trust her more than my life. That's why I didn't question her about Deepak. Mujhe ajeeb zaroor laga. Lekin mein yeh bhi jaanta hoon, ki Zoya nikaah ko lekar bohot serious hai. Aur apne abbu aur ammi ko lekar to usse bhi zyada. Tabhi mein-"
"Tabhi aapko bura laga," Kareena interjected. "Jab Deepak ne aisi hi baatein ki thi. Aapse Zoya ka daar dekha nahin gaya. Hai na?" All Asad could manage was a nod.
Now they understood. They had both grown up without a father, and with less than their fair share of parental guidance. But yet they both turned out to be different. Zoya needed to see, not only that her Mr. Khan did indeed trust her, but also, how deeply he was in love with her.
Their encounter soon turned around, and the girls began teasing Asad, who blushed mercilessly. They knew he felt guilty enough. And the fact that he had come half way around the world to show Zoya what she meant to him, was enough for them to realize he was serious about making amends.
Soon they were all plotting and planning on how Mr. Khan could manao his Ms. Farooqui, with the help of her best friends.
* * * * * * *
Asad went back to the apartment, his heart a little lighter. He wasn't sure of what Zoya felt, but the girls kept assuring him that she felt the same way about him. He realized that what he had realized a long time ago, and wanted to tell her since he landed on her turf, as she called it, was no longer meant to be kept secret.
He went to Zoya's room to check on her, and saw that she was still asleep. He gently closed the door again, and went out to the balcony. He looked out at the view before him. New York was truly beautiful. The Empire State Building's lights shone brightly, as he scanned his Miss New York's skyline.
It was still the middle of the afternoon, and for the first time in a long time, Asad felt like singing and strumming his guitar. He didn't have the guitar with him, but that wouldn't stop him. He spent too much time depriving himself of his wants, and that's what had gotten him in this mess in the first place. From now on, he promised, he'd follow his heart. Just like Zoya did. He smiled to himself, and started singing the only english song he knew. The irony of how well it fit his situation was not lost on him either. And it soon had turned into one of his favourite songs.
"And I'd give up forever to touch you,
Cause I know that you'd feel me somehow.
You're the closest to heaven, that I'll ever be.
I don't wanna go home right now.
And all I can taste is this moment,
And all I can breathe is your life
Cause sooner or later, it's over,
I just don't want to miss you tonight.
And I don't want the world to see me
Cause I don't think that they'd understand.
When everything's meant to be broken,
I just want you to know who I am."
He closed his eyes, and as he opened them again, he saw her. Zoya, his Zoya was swaying to his words, right in front of him, as she looked at him lovingly. She was clad in a beautiful anarkali suit, red under tones, with a royal blue net drapped over it. Intricate work shone brightly on the pleats of her dress, matching her radiant dimpled smile.
She beamed at him, and extended her hand out. Asad smiled back at her, and took her hand in his. He placed a soft kiss on the back of her hand, as he guided her into his arms and twirled her around several times.
Zoya stopped twirling and ended up facing him, her hands on his broad shoulders, as his hands caressed her cheeks. He placed another soft kiss on her now fading bruise, and then on each of her eyes. He looked down at her lips and back to her eyes, as he felt himself getting lost in them again and continued his serenade.
"And you can't fight the tears, that ain't coming.
Or the moment of truth in your eyes.
When everything feels like the movies.
Yeah, you bleed just to know you're alive.
And I don't want the world to see me,
Cause I don't think that they'd understand.
When everything's meant to be broken,
I just want you to know who I am
And I don't want the world to see me,
Cause I don't think that they'd understand.
When everything's meant to be broken,
I just want you to know who I am
I just want you to know who I am
I just want you to know who I am
I just want you to know who I am..."
Asad felt Zoya's hands caress his dimples, and realized he was smiling while singing. He looked on, as they both lost themselves in each other's eyes. He looked down at her lips again, and leaned in a little. He looked back up at her eyes, and seeing the glint of mischieve in them, he smiled even bigger and leaned in further.
And then she was gone. Asad almost fell over. He looked at his surroundings, whipping his head right and left. It was a dream. A day dream. But a wonderful dream. He chuckled to himself and smacked himself in the head, smiling like a buffoon.
What was Zoya doing to him!, he thought, his smile growing bigger.
A/N:
Yes I know.. it was kind sad for the most part, but I added the last bit in to show you guys that the sad bits are basically over 😃. There might one or two parts here and there, but it's all uphill from here. Asya nok jhok, romance, wooing and of course, in true Monica fashion, a twist 😆. Please comment and like! Love you guys!
Edited: Also if anyone wants to know, this song is Iris by Goo Goo Dolls. 😳
Ufff Yeh Love Hai Mushkil
Jhanak
Bigg Boss 19
Bade Achche Lagte Hain Naya Season
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
124