An AsYa TS - The Co-Passengers. Updated - Last Part - 28th Oct. '13 - Page 9

They could feel it. The soft teasing touch on their lips which stirred pure bliss. The moment when the fireworks would explode and time would stop. A moment... short lived?
The surreal encounter was broken by crazy honking of bus horns and blinding lights.

They broke apart, wide eyed and too shocked to register what had just transpired. They looked everywhere but at each other.
While doing so, they noticed an incoherent image which finally formed a human figure.

They found themselves standing in front of an old lady in each other's arms. She certainly did not look very pleased.

"Tauba Tauba! Ram Ram Ram..", she chanted while striding towards her bus.

Did she just witness them kissing?

The long forgotten coffees now made way to their mouth, mostly out of embarrassment. Quickly gulping it down and throwing the coffee cups in the nearest dustbin, they made their way to their bus, avoiding each other as badly as they could.

The conductor counted the number of passengers as everyone settled themselves in their seats.

Zoya closed her eyes and sighed. Touching her lips to relive the momentary pleasure, she resumed her inner monologue.

Really Allah Miya? THAT was your plan? You need to sort out your issues buddy. This can't go for long. It's unfair!

She certainly was NOT happy with her so called first kiss. Hell, even a peck on the lips would've been better.
The most unbelievable moment replayed in her head.

She used her side vision to look at the man, correction, the amazing man who had reduced her to a quivering mess. She saw him contemplating about it too, and felt relieved at the fact that he was equally affected.

Deciding to break the iceberg, Zoya finally spoke up.

"Asad?".
He looked at her as if he had been waiting to listen to the melodies since the beginning of time! Okay, maybe he wasn't that impatient.

"Hmm?". "I, woh... can I have the coffee bill please?" . "Huh?".
Asad had expected her to confront him about his ingenious stunt and the Treat Station, and he wanted her to do the same. But here she was, asking about a stupid.. no, no, not stupid.. just a coffee bill.

"It's okay Zoya, no need to pay me back."
"When did I say that I'm paying you back? I just want the bill, yes, that paper", she replied while pointing towards a small piece of paper peeking out from Asad's pocket.
Bewildered, he handed her the bill.

Hunting for her wallet in her backpack, she took the bill and carefully placed it inside it.

She then handed over a 10 rupee note and a 5 rupee coin to him.

"Keep it, please. I don't like being in debt."

Some days are special and some extremely special. This was one such day for Zoya Farooqui and this meant that its record had to be in her journal.
She had decided to mark this beautiful day in her life with this coffee bill.

She had this insane habit of telling her diary about everything special that had happened with her. Be it her first ever Bicycle, or her first Dissection and in some rare cases, her Crushes.

Before she could stop herself, she blurted out.

***

"Asad?" He felt her lips tickling his earlobe which sent tingles down his body. She was close, so close.
"I need to click your photo. I mean, our photo...only if it's fine with you, of course. I mean, I don't want to be pushy or..."
So what if it didn't work out? Did she not have the right to savior the moment, and bury it in her deep treasures?
She certainly did not want to forget this beautiful piece of art beside her.

"Zoya!" He shook his head amusingly , clearly enjoying a fumbling Zoya , shaking with nervousness.
"Yes, I would love to! Send it to me as well."

Zoya took out her phone and set the timer as she held it at an arm's distance. They were so close, yet so far. It was hard concentrating on the camera lens.
They looked at each other, then at the lens and then looked at each other again, unconsciously staring at each other's lips.

They didn't even realize when the timer went off. They had been busy in their intense eyelock which was rudely interrupted by the clearing of throat.

It didn't take them long to decrypt who was the bad fruit.

Zoya stared at Pink Ex till her eyes bore into her skin.
Get a Lozenge bitch!

Her gaze shifted to Asad who had been transformed into an extremely hot laughing stock, with dimples!
Oops! Maybe she said the bitch part out loud!

Reprimanding herself for her loose concentration at the matter in hand, she resumed.
"Yes, Aditi?" Zoya asked Pink Ex in the same sickly sweet and cold voice.

"Asad! Baby! Where were you? You know, I was so scared when the lights went out! I tried so hard to find you, but then I bumped into someone. I thought that it must be you, because my seventh sense is very sharp! When the lights flickered on, I realised that I was leaning against a 6 feet 3 inches tall, well built man. But he was scary too! It's not entirely my fault Asad, blame that hot body of yours!", Aditi said as she bluntly ignored Zoya and turned her attention to Asad.
She winked at him, which was followed by her horrible pout.

Woman, you think you look cute while doing that? And for Allah Miya's sake, couldn't you make out the height difference between the man and Asad? Considering the fact that you were practically sticking to him at the Counter. I would've memorized his body if I would've been at your place. Dumb.

This girl had to be sick.

No one tests Zoya Farooqui's patience, ever.

***

As Asad stressed his mind to reply something equally dumb for her to understand, he felt a soft, warm hand on his palm which in no time had interwined its fingers with his.
He looked at the clasped hands and then at its owner.

Is she jealous? For me?!

He saw Zoya shooting daggers at Pink Ex which were being returned with equally dangerous fireballs. Not in a sane condition, she was.
Prioritizing his life over his erupting doubts, he saved himself from Zoya who looked ready to strangle anyone with bare hands.

He had a crazily possessive girlfriend! Wait, girlfriend?

Zoya was the first one to break the budding cold war, leaving a fuming Aditi behind.
She proudly looked away, and out of the window.
Shoving all of her second thoughts aside, she freed her hand from his grip, linked her arm with his and interwined their hands again.

Now content, she rested her head on his shoulder, not caring a speck about their beautifully awkward encounter and the Treat Station and the encounters which could follow.

"Zoya, you asleep?" "Nah." "Great! I too need the photo, Your Highness!", Asad asked a half asleep Zoya who chuckled at his lame attempt to lighten her mood.
As he extended his hand to take her phone, she whipped her head towards him and drew her hand back.

"I'm so stupid! Asad, do you have any acquaintances in Indore? No! You don't! Here, have my number. And please don't hesitate to call. I'll always be at your service... except from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays. I'm usually free besides that", saying so she snatched his phone from his hand and started typing her number.

"Done! Ah, yes. Switch on your bluetooth", she said while handing him his phone.
"Actually, even I haven't seen it yet!" She exclaimed.

Exchanging the multimedia files, Asad checked his newly received message.
Both blushed crimson while looking at it.

Both were shamelessly staring at each other's lips, the desire evident in their eyes.

He quickly switched off his phone and kept it back.
What could be the epitome of embarrassment, seriously?

Keeping their dirty thoughts aside, Zoya finally arranged her backpack and so did Asad. They were all set to arrive in Indore.
Resuming the position they were in, they fell asleep within no time, with Zoya's head on Asad's shoulder and his head on Zoya's. The arms were linked and hands clasped.

The jerking of the bus broke their blissful slumber.

The inevitable had dawned. It was 11:05 p.m. and it was the time so say the final goodbyes.

Collecting their backpacks and other necessary stuff, they stepped out of the bus with heavy hearts, unable to face the reality, to come in terms that the journey had finally ended.

It was dark and calm outside, unusual for a city like Indore.
It appeared as if the universe was gloomy too.

They went to the bus boot and gave their tokens. The other passengers had already dispersed. Pink Ex was nowhere in sight, and they couldn't care less.

Dragging their luggage and their feet in silence, they both abruptly stopped under a dimly lit streetlight.

They stood facing each other as the words failed to verbalize themselves.

***

Unable to control the overwhelming emotions flooding inside her, Zoya stepped forward and kissed Asad on his cheek, a lone tear falling from her eyes in the process.

Asad instinctively wrapped his arms around her as she held onto his neck for support.

"Oh God, Zoya! Don't cry, please. Look at the bright side, I'm in Indore for the next 6 months. Wouldn't it had been worse if I had to board a bus for someplace else?", he tried pacifying her. Her sobs gradually quietened.

Sobering herself up, she lifted her head and looked into his eyes.
She was glad they didn't kiss back then, otherwise she wouldn't have been able to look at those beautiful orbs which held nothing but pure affection for her, and her alone.

They both inched closer slowly, trying to tease each other with the snail's pace.
But being the stubborn kind, they were, both refused to take it any faster.

And then it happened. With eyes closed, their lips finally met.

It turned from a playful, feathery kiss to a passionate one as they continued to deepen it further.
It was ferociously desperate, yet not demanding.

All they could feel were Blues beats and slow Jazz rhythms, mingling with the fireworks and their erratic heartbeat.

As they stood there, in the middle of nowhere, under the soft golden light with cool breeze washing over them, they could feel each other smile against their lips.. and the dimples deepening.

Zoya Farooqui finally agreed that Love Stories weren't that bad, afterall.
But the color pink still was!

X-X-X

A/N - I did it! Finally!
BTW, just so you know, while writing the 'Arrival in Indore' part, I was laughing like crazy!
I was like, seriously Zoya, why are you even crying woman?!
He's STAYING there for 6 months, Good Lord!

But frankly, I couldn't think of playing it out any other way.

Liked it?
I could've done better.
Do let me know your views!

And Thanks for Reading and Patiently Waiting for My Lazy Updates! \(^O^)/