"When deep down in the core of your being you believe that your soul mate exists, there is no limit to the ways he or she can enter your life."
- Arielle Ford
Chapter 3
Asad had a good life. He had always had his mother and sister to support him, to care for him and to stand by him during the bad times. But he had always craved that special someone, who would be there for him and love him like no one ever had, always and forever; someone to share all the happiness with, someone to lift the burdens of darkness together and someone who would be all his, just his.
Zoya had that special someone in her life. Someone who was all hers, someone who doubled her joy and chased away the fears and worries. She had all of it and suddenly, she did not anymore. Now, all she wished was for someone to lean on, someone who would tell her that it was going to be alright.
Destiny grants all yearnings, in its own unique way and gives something that goes beyond those desires.
It was a very normal and usual day. Nothing out of ordinary had happened. Asad had gone to work, dealt with patients, filled numerous papers, and answered calls - routine.
On his way back home, Dilshad called him and asked him to run a couple of urgent errands. As he reached the grocery store, his heart started pounding. As a man of medicine and science, he knew that it was not caused by any imminent threat, danger or excitement.
Just as he was turning into one of isles, he stopped dead in his tracks. There, pushing a cart full of groceries was Zoya. Zoya, who had invaded all his thoughts and dreams over the past five months. He had not seen her or heard from her again ever since she had come into the clinic five months ago but she had never left his thoughts.
Asad stood there, just looking at her. She looked a lot better than the last time he had seen her. He skin was glowing and he could make out the outline of a six months old baby bump even in the loose clothing she wore. She looked healthy. Asad felt a knot loosen in his chest. Unconsciously, he had been worried about her all this time. He felt an inexplicable sense of relief by just looking at her, and seeing her safe and well. Asad frowned when he saw the irritated expression on her face but chuckled when she started whispering something, presumably talking to her belly.
Zoya was trying to finish her grocery shopping. Trying being the key word. All her regular favorites were suddenly repelling to her. The baby had obviously different tastes from the mother.
"You need to cooperate with your Ammi, here, okay? Do you not find anything interesting?" Talking to her stomach, she patted her belly and turned her cart around and looked up from the shelves. A soft chuckle made her turn her head. There stood that man who had crept past all her walls and defenses she had put up since Atif's passing. Asad. What were the odds of meeting him, in a grocery store of all places?
Both of them looked at each other, unsure of how to approach. Asad thought of biting the bullet and going for the concerned doctor manner, "Zoya! It's nice to see you. How have you been?"
"Hello, Dr. Khan. Honestly, I have been better, but I am doing alright, much recovered than our first meeting." She gave him a shy smile.
"Please, call me Asad. I am not your doctor anymore, remember?" Asad tried to get the formalities out of the way. This woman had reduced him into a teenager, the least he could do is get to know her better.
"Um, alright, Asad."
"So, you look good. Everything is okay, I take it?"
"Yes, I had my ultrasound the other day. It's progressing very well. Only if this baby had my food preferences." She joked lightly.
"Weird cravings?"
"Mmm hmm"
They stood there for a few moments, silence filling the space between them. Then, before he could stop himself, the question tumbled out, "Do you know what you are having?"
Zoya looked at him, surprised. "Um.."
Asad immediately backtracked, "I am sorry. That was inappropriate. I shouldn't have asked that."
"It's alright."
They looked at each other awkwardly, the conversation coming to a halt again. Asad mumbled something about getting a few things and Zoya also went ahead to finish her shopping. Going down their opposite ways, they ultimately met again, at the cash counter.
Timid smiles and side glances passed as they proceeded to get their things rung up. Asad, having lesser items, was done quickly and sadly, moved out towards his car. As he put away his things, he saw Zoya approach her car and try to unload her cart.
Swiftly, he went over to her and started helping her keep her bags inside her car. What kind of a person would he be if he let her down all that lifting? Yeah? Keep telling yourself that, Asad. Ignoring his rational inner side, he helped her and together, they were done in a jiffy.
"Thank you, Dr. Kh- I mean, Asad."
"No worries, I couldn't have let you do that lifting by yourself. Um, Zoya?" Asad softly questioned her.
"Yes?" came her equally soft reply.
"I don't mean to overstep my boundaries, but I have been worried about you. I mean are you doing okay? Do you need any kind of help? I know this is a very vulnerable time for you." He looked down as he said.
Zoya looked at the man standing in front of her. He was a good man, she thought. Most people would have considered it overstepping - they had only met once after all, but she couldn't help but feel cared for and not alone for a moment. She did have friends, who had been her life support over the past months, but Ayaan and Humaira too had their own lives and she could not depend on them too much.
"Thank you, Asad. It feels good to be thought of, you know. But, I am doing fine. I was more emotionally unstable at that time than my physical condition. I know I had looked terrible that day, you probably though I was homeless!"
Asad looked at her and blushed a little. She really was something else. They chatted for a couple of minutes, standing there in the grocery store parking lot, talking about random, nonsensical, mundane things. Just when Zoya was about to take his leave, Asad - gathering the courage that even he did not know that he possessed - held her wrist and asked her, "Zoya, I know that you have recently lost your husband, and please feel free to say no, but would you like to go out with me? For a coffee sometime?"
Zoya looked at him, and saw how a confident man was now wringing his arms and fidgeting. Humaira's words suddenly came back to her.
*flashback*
They were sitting on Zoya's couch sorting out baby magazines, trying to figure out what needed to be done at the earliest.
Humaria had looked at Zoya with a tender expression and said, "Zoey?"
"Yes, Humi" Zoya replied in the same tone.
"Do you ever think what your future is going to be like? I mean, you know, with this baby. I know it's very very early, but you don't possibly think of being alone all your life, do you?" she asked with wide eyes.
Zoya stopped what she was doing and sighed, "I know, Humi. I know.
"You know that when I found out that I was pregnant, it felt like my world had crashed down again. I mean we were supposed to have babies and raise them together. I wasn't supposed to do this alone. But now, I have realize that this baby is a miracle, it's given me a reason to live when I was feeling like the walls were closing on me. Humi, I know life is long road, and no, I don't want to be alone forever. I have done being alone, and it's very scary."
*end of flashback*
She smiled at Asad and said, "Thank you for asking me, Asad. I am still a little raw, emotionally. I know that it is very presumptuous of me to think that you will wait, but will you ask me some time later? I think that I'll have an answer then that you'll like. I am a packaged deal, Asad." She touched her stomach. "You should think over it too."
Asad looked at the young women in front of him, she really was incredible, "I know what I am saying, Zoya. Keep safe, we will see each other again, and I'll get my answer." He leaned down and very softly, pressed his lips to her cheek - a peck of promise.
This time, when he was leaving, she held his wrist and said, "The answer to your other question - It's a girl."
A/N: Here is the next part! One more to go!
I would really love comments! This story is very different from what I have ever written, so any kind of responses would mean the world to me.
So please leave me lots of love!😃
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