Sorry I know I'm late…
But here it goes…
Chapter 4
He ran down the corridor on the right, opening every door hoping she would be sitting there will her infectious smile. His concern increased with every door he opened and didn't find her. So where is Zoya Farooqui? He retuned back to the reception, hoping that she might still be standing there as he left her in the first place. His concern was turning into anxiety. He scanned every part of the office, thinking maybe there will be something that will lead him to find her. The left corridor was dark, except the conference room lights were on. Why? His heartbeat slowed down, as his head connected the dots thinking that may she was there. He walked up to the conference room, ready to burst his anger out.
"Ms. Farooqui, are you out of your mi…," Asad stopped halfway as he opened the door to the empty room.
Disappointed, he turned back to leave the room but stopped as he heard, "Mr. Khan, main yahan hoon." Asad glanced over the room again but he still couldn't see her. He just heard her voice then where did she go. A hand stretched up in the air from underneath the table, "Main yahan hoon." Asad rolled his eyes as he rubbed his forehead. So this is where she was and he was going crazy trying to find her. He calmed down getting his heartbeat getting back to normal but normal soon followed rage.
"Ms. Farooqui, get out right now. I told you to wait by the reception. Can't you just listen to me for once?" said Asad with hands on his hips.
"Mr. Khan it would be better if you would help me rather than screaming from there?" Zoya answered in much heated voice than his, shutting him up.
Asad walked around the table to find Zoya sitting underneath the desk with both of her hand on her ankle. Just as He was about to question again, his eyes were caught by thick, dark red liquid slowly oozed out of the top of her foot. As soon as his brain enumerated that it was blood and she was definitely hurt and probably in lot of pain; stream of emotions swept his heart. He keeled down next to her to examine the wound.
" Ab dekh kya rahe hai, help kariye meri," Zoya said as he took a glance at her face trying to read her. "Let me get first aid. I will be right back," Asad said as he got up and walked towards the door but stopped when he heard Zoya yelped, "Aahhaa." She was trying to get up but her pain was clearly visible on her face accompanied by a tear that broke from her eye flowing down her cheeks. "Ms. Farooqui, what are you doing? Are you out of your mind?" Asad scolded running back to her. "I was just trying to sit up in a chair," Zoya answered with a helpless look. She tried once but the pain was hard to overcome. Asad extended his hand to her offering her help. Zoya looked back and forth between his hand and him. Mr. Asad Ahmed Khan is being nice to me, Zoya thought. She took his hand and tried to get up. But halfway through her attempt, she lost balance expecting to return back to the floor but felt a pull against her waist holding her up. Asad had wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer. Zoya also grabbed him tighter will her hand over his shoulder and clasping the back of his collar. With her face rested on his collar bone, Asad could feel her breath against his face. Zoya turned to look at him, only to find him staring back at her. His eyes clearly said don't worry. I'm here. As much as Zoya wanted to dive deeper into his eyes, her pain spurted back up and she again gasped, "Aahhaa" extending her hand to her foot. Asad supported her as she hopped to the chair next to her. After she was settled, he ran to go get first aid from the reception.
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Asad pulled a chair opposite to her; carefully removed her sandal and placed her foot on his thigh to bandage her wound. "Ms. Farooqui, this will burn a little," warned Asad before he started cleaning her wound with a wet cloth. She didn't say anything but her tight grip on the hand of chair revealed the extent of her pain. He blew some air on her wound while cleaning, hoping this might help. After that, he pressed a clean cloth against her wound with extreme pressure that she felt her foot go numb. "Mr. Khan what are you doing?" questioned Zoya even though she knew exactly what he was trying to do. It was the pain that was responsible for this sudden outburst. Without loosening up his grip, Asad answered, "I'm trying to stop the blood flow because the wound is pretty severe," rolling his eyes. "First tell me, how did you get this cut? And Why did you come here. I thought I told you to wait at the reception" Asad questioned as his senses and heart returned back to normal. "What can I do if your office chairs love me that much that they didn't want to let go of me. I was getting bored," said Zoya sarcastically. "I'm sorry. What?" Asad totally confused. "See Mr. Khan, after you left I was getting bored so just thought I would walk around and so I ended up here. As I was walking towards the window to see the view, my foot got strangled in the rollers of the chair and before I knew it this happened." In response, Asad gave me her you-are-stupid look and went back to the task at hand. There was no point in arguing with her now. He should known that it wouldn't be a good idea to leave her alone. He carefully pulled the cloth to find blood flow finally coming to an end. Zoya, who was still lost in her thought of how everything happened, returned back to reality and a very aching reality when Asad wiped her wound with antiseptic. "Mr. Khan. Can't you warn me ahead of time?" Zoya screamed as her pain turned into anger and her hands on to his collar pulling him closer. As the irritation decreased, Zoya' pain did too and so did her grip on Asad's collar. "Mr. Farooqui, this is antiseptic. It is meant to burn a little," Asad said stating the obvious and Zoya retuned back to her normal position.
"Mujhe pata hai. It is because of the Hydrogen peroxide in the solution," Zoya said to which Asad raised his eyebrows in surprise. "What? I have masters in pharmacology," Zoya said with BTW tone. Asad, with no intention to get himself into one more argument, decided to continue to finish dressing her wound. He carefully applied antiseptic cream and then bandaged it by wrapping the cloth around her foot. Finally he placed her feet on the floor, "Now if your adventures for the night are over then can we go home?" Zoya nodded and then looked around as if she was looking for something. "Ms. Farooqui. What are you looking for?" Asad asked with genuine concern. She was actually scanning the room to see if there was enough furniture around the room which she can use as a support to walk. "Nothing. Let's go," said Zoya gesturing him to go first.
She took a deep breath and slowly tried to get up avoiding to put any pressure on her injured foot. It couldn't be that bad, Zoya thought after successfully standing up. But her first step forward and an immense pain shot up her foot making her knees weak causing her to fall back into the chair. Asad ran back to her as the tears made their appearance again on her cheeks. "Mr. Khan. I can't do this." Zoya said totally helpless.
She never gave up on anything but if she is quitting then her pain has to unbearable. Asad looked back down to make sure the wound was still completely secured by the bandage but instead found blood slowly making its way through. She should not put any pressure on her foot as it will result into more bleeding and she has already lost enough blood. Zoya decided to go for another attempt and got up from the chair. She carefully lifted her non-injured foot and was about to take the step forward when Asad formed a tight grip on her upper arm pulling her back. Zoya looked at Asad with her eyes asking what are you doing. Asad moved his face left and right, indicating not to try walking. Before Zoya could understand what he wanted to say, he lifted her up with one arm under her knees and around her back. Zoya's heart sank with sudden change in elevation, as if she was on a rollercoaster. Asad held her close to his chest trying to not crush her. Her body felt like glass, something so fragile that if he used even a little bit force he might end up crushing her. He glanced at her quickly to make sure she was okay. With Zoya's arm around his shoulder and fully secured in Asad's arm, they made their way out of the room.
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"Wait!!!" Zoya screamed to which Asad stopped and immediately observed her foot to make sure everything was okay. "There is no way I'm going again in that elevator, Mr. Khan. I almost died in there," Zoya said clutching hard to Asad's shirt. Even though she acts tough all the time, seeing this side of her is also a treat, Asad thought as a smile made its way to the corner of his mouth. "Ms. Farooqui, so you trying to say that you want me to carry you down through stairs?" said Asad giving her are-you-out-of-your-mind look. "Mr. Khan, main itna janti hu ke main fir se elevator mein nahi jaongi. If you don't want to carry me then I will walk down all by myself," threatening Asad. He knew there will be no way out of this but seeing Zoya afraid of elevator was really hilarious and he was totally enjoying this site. Asad took one step closer to elevator and came the scream again, "Mr. Khan!!!" This was too funny for Asad to control his expressions and his face lightened up with a big grin. Zoya grabbed on to his shirt a little more tightly and shot up to look at his face, finding him enjoying her anxiousness. Oh so this funny for Mr. Khan. Ab toh aap hi mujhe neeche tak uthake le ke jayege, woh bhi stairs se, determined Zoya. " Kya Mr. Khan. Agar aap mujhe utha nahi sakte toh keh dijiye na. I know, log biceps bana toh lete hai but what's the point if they can't even do a little extra work with them," taunted Zoya squeezing her hand on his shoulder. This was enough to give a little push to Mr. Asad Ahmed Khan's ego and next thing he was on his way down the stars with Zoya and her 1000 Walt smile even in pain.
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When they finally reached the car, Asad carefully put Zoya back on her feet but still supporting her with one arm around her waist. He opened the passenger side door and bent down to again lift her put stopped at Zoya's gesture. She placed her right non-injured foot in first and then pulled herself up into to seat with the support of his shoulder because her arm was still around it. After settling in her seat, she slipped her hand from his shoulder letting go of him. Asad made sure everything was secured, closed her door and took his seat next to her. "Ms. Farooqui, you need to have a doctor take a look at your foot. It is still bleeding." concerned Asad as he started the car. "Oh don't worry. I have coagulation cream in my luggage. I will put it on once we get home. I don't need any doctor," Zoya said showing that she got everything under control. It was refreshing to see this concern side of Mr. Khan, who was always so uptight. This bought a smile to Zoya's face as she watched out of the window. The blood loss, pain and suffer took up so much of Zoya's energy that just five min into the ride and she was off to sleep. She was so tired that there was no way she could help it.
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Finally home sweet home. It was going to be morning soon. Asad parked the car and looked at zoya trying to control his yawn. "Ms. Farooqui, we are home." Asad said hoping that would be enough to wake her up but there was no response. He made couple more attempts along with poking her arm but she was in deep sleep. "Sleepyhead," Asad said finally giving up. There was no option but to carry her inside and since it was still early morning no one will be up. Asad decided that he will just quickly but quietly carry her to the guest room. He walked towards the passenger side and opened the door and quietly unbuckled her seat belt. How can anybody be so unresponsive during sleep? Now comes the hard part. How is he going to lift her? After thinking for couple of moments, he slowly slipped his head in front of hers and carefully grabbed both of her hands and wrapped them around her neck. After securing her hands, he slipped one arm behind her back, just below her skinny yet curvy waist. Another arm underneath her knees, he lifted her out of the car and proceeded towards the door.
Just as he reached the door, it struck him. How is he going to open the door with Zoya in his arms? He can't ring the doorbell because then everybody will be up but just then the door opened.
Wonder who opened the door? 😲
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This will be the end to this night because I need to get the story moving…. 😉
I will try to update asap...
Let me know what you think… Hit like, comment and give any suggestions for improvements…Everything from jootas. Chapals and tamatars are kindly accepted.
Thank you so much for reading!!!!
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