Chapter - 8
Is it Anger... Love or Confusion???
"WOW, I love the internet, especially facebook!!!" Asad said enthusiastically.
They were in the study room of her father, looking up for Humaira Qureshi in the search pages on the Facebook. Zoya was disappointed when no one by that name was found who matched with the age group criteria.
Finally, they decided to broaden their search and looked for the name Humaira and Qureshi separately. They found 35 Humaira and 95 Qureshi, Next step was to filter the persons by the age, the only other information they knew about her half-sister.
After that, the search drilled down to 3 Humaira and 5 Qureshi. Their strategy was to first eliminate the Humaira before starting to look for the Qureshi's. It was more probable that her half-sister had changed her last name than her first name. Even if they weren't sure, they had to start somewhere. Problem was two out of the three Humaira aged twenty four lived in two different cities.
The nearest one was Humaira Abdulla who lived in Indore. Zoya could stop on her way back home to meet her and tried to gather maximum information. She told Asad so.
"Okay. Get ready to go back to Mumbai. I am coming with you."
"There's no need for that Asad. I will go there and try to..." but she stopped as she saw him shook his head determinedly.
"I said I'll come with you. Or rather you come with me. In me car."
"Don't you have anything better to do?" Zoya couldn't help asking feeling dismayed. She had wanted to meet her half-sister first.
She wanted to spare her the same destiny as hers. She knew Asad enough to believe that he would carry on with his plan anyway. It was not ruthless as she had first thought; Zoya felt that he was more desperate. She could understand him. Getting the mansion back would be more like getting back some of his lost honor, he was trying to make a point.
When Asad told her that he was ready to marry the other half-sister for the mansion, Zoya had understood two things. One that he would stop at nothing to get what he believed was his due. And he had not loved her those few years back. Not that she had doubted it but she had always hoped that Asad had fallen in love with her along the way. But for him, she was only the daughter of the man who had caused him so much pain. Just like her other two half-sisters.
Hell, he had even been prepared to marry Tanveer having seen her tantrums at the funeral.
That was one of the reasons why she had been willing to help him to find Humaira Qureshi. She was going to stop him to marry her no matter what, she did not want Asad to ruin someone else's life like he had done with her own.
Not that she was going to reveal her thoughts to Asad. If he knew about her intentions he would go against her and was so headstrong that he would blackmail her sister right away. That was why she had preferred to ally with him so that she could watch his every move.
How she hoped that Humaira turned out to be a nice person. Zoya also wanted to meet her half-sister having had no family all her life. Hopefully they will bond to provide each other some support.
Asad replied her question with a wave of his hand as if to ward it off. "Don't worry. We'll reach there within a couple of Hrs and it will be easier to make the connection right away. Then I'll drop you to Mumbai so that we can work on our next destination."
She slumped her shoulders in defeat; it was difficult to deter him when he got in his "autopilot" mode.
"Ok then let me get my things from Uncle Feroz's house and I'll meet you at your house."
Their visit was futile. Humaira Abdulla was daughter of Dr. Abdulla and she had all the proof of the same. It was kind of disappointing and relieving for Zoya. She couldn't name the emotion but somewhere in her heart she still couldn't come to terms with the fact that Asad was going to get married to some one else.
"So what is our next move going to be?" he asked and Zoya gave him a look.
"I have to get back to Mumbai to settle some pending business meetings first. Then next Thursday we make a move for Hydrabad to meet Humaira Khan."
Asad agreed and dropped her back to Mumbai. Zoya had not asked him about his plan so she assumed that he would be getting back to Bhopal to attend to his business too. Zoya had purposefully postponed the trip for next Thursday so that she had time to get to Humaira before Asad left Bhopal. She was going to be there before him to meet the next Humaira so that she would be able to warn her.
She would start off tomorrow itself on her own and will be back before Thursday so that when they went together, Asad would have no clue about her plan. He would be furious with her if he found out and would refuse to make her a part of his quest anymore.
Sighing, she had no time for herself as she would be absent for more than a week and had to give instructions to everybody about the ongoing of her company during her absence. Thankfully, Nikhat agreed to take the reign and Zoya asked her to appoint an assistant for the next week to help her complete any unaccomplished assignment.
Nikhat convinced her that she would manage fine without her but asked her if whatever she was doing had anything to do with Asad. Her friend was aware that her fianc had left her al the altar because of a business deal gone wrong with her father. She also knew everything about her past and family, mother included.
Zoya owed the truth to her friend, so she told Nikhat about the affair with the mother of Asad and the suicide. When she got to the lost sister, her best friend was speechless.
"Nikhat, I don't know what to make out of this whole thing anymore. Sometime I feel I am in a movie and all that's happening around me is part of a show. Having a father like mine is really a life sucking experience and I don't blame Asad anymore."
"Don't be silly, Zoya," Nikhat scolded her immediately. "You should know better than that. You are not responsible for your father's actions, honey."
"I know but he's also not responsible for his mother's actions but still we are both paying our parents' mistake."
Nikhat sighed. "Life is so unfair sometimes."
"Tell me about it." Zoya delivered ruefully pinching her nose to ward off any unwanted thoughts.
"So, are you going to be at the launching ceremony of Lakme Cream tonight?" Nikhat asked her to change the subject. Lakme cosmetics had invited Zoya for the launching of some new product. Thankfully, she was not the brand ambassador and could manage a miss.
Zoya shook her head promptly. "No, I need to leave for Hydrabad tomorrow and the party will end too late. I am going to visit the Madarsa this afternoon and relax after that. I had promised the Mrs. Rafiq that I would hand her the check before the end of the week. The kids needed some material for some new educational project or something.
Thanking her friend for her support, Zoya drove to the orphanage where she knew she would be having a nice time. Which she did. The kids were lovely as usual loving her like nobody had even done.
When she got back home, she started to pack her things for her trip to Hydrabad.
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"What the hell have you been thinking?"
Zoya winced at the harsh tone on her phone. She had been fast asleep when her phone had rung and she had picked up without even looking at the caller ID. What now? She wasn't even in Hydrabad yet, was she?
Groggily, she peeked at the clock at her bedside and got up with a start. Hell, it was ten o'clock. She must have overslept. She was going to have to leave for her trip without any further delay.
But, why was Asad angry?
"What's wrong?" she asked her voice still husky from sleep.
She heard Asad curse and cut off the phone with an angry "I am coming over".
Coming over? To her apartment? He is in Mumbai??? How come??? At that, all sleep flew out of the window and she was trying to figure what had happened. Why was Asad coming over to her apartment right now?
Her phone rang again and this time she checked the ID. It was Kim, her PR. Sighing, she cut off the phone and made her way towards her bathroom. She had to get ready before Asad arrived, she could hardly greet him in her pajamaaja's. She would call Kim back after her meeting with Asad.
Preparing breakfast for herself, she heard her doorbell ring and went to open the door. A furious Asad stood outside her door looking as her as if she was a piece of shit. Oh-oh. He got to know about the trip to Hydrabad.
She was about to offer an explanation when he flung a piece of paper in her face. She stepped back for him to enter and snatched it from his hand. It was a newspaper; of this morning. And her picture was on the front page. Hugging a man with her clothes half off. At the party of the launching ceremony stuff. The party she had skipped last night.
How come? It was the showbiz. They twisted everything to their own benefit, the thing was that she was a famous model and had to attend the party last night. So, if she had decided to skip, her agent must have sent her double to replace her. That was what Kim had been calling her to inform her about.
Damn! As if her life wasn't complicated enough. How would she explain that to Asad now. He had no clue what went on in the showbiz and would most probably chose not to believe her as he had done earlier.
"Couldn't you have waited for a night before getting yourself all over another man?"
"Look, Asad. This is no business of yours, okay. We had an arrangement about finding my sister but.."
Without warning, she was spun round and before she could think of anything, she felt Asad's lips on hers. Like a starving woman, she responded back kissing him with all she got.
It was no gentle kiss but something deep and passionate. They were like two hungry souls having missed the taste of each other for far too long. Zoya cradled his face between her hands and brought him closer. She groaned when he pressed his body closer to hers in response and deepened the kiss if that was possible.
They came up for air, both panting wildly and eyeing each other warily through desire filled eyes. Asad released her abruptly and did not look affected by the kiss except for his short breaths. How could he not be affected by that burning kiss? It was almost impossible or maybe he was damned good at hiding his feelings.
"What the hell was that for?" Zoya asked when she got her back her voice, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. Her heart was still beating erratically though as it always did whenever Asad was around. But this time, she feared it would rip off her chest.
"I didn't see you protest earlier," he argued back and helped himself for some breakfast, casually as if he had every right to.
"That's my breakfast by the way."
"Mine now," he replied after he had chewed the food in his mouth. Zoya knew he was angry even if he was trying to be casual and she was scared.
Not that Asad was a violent man, not at all. The problem was when he got angry, he went out of control and said things he didn't mean. Zoya was making her mind whether she should tell him the truth about the picture or not.
"So, how many lovers have you had since me?"
His question threw her off balance. What the hell? How dared he ask her such a question? He was the one who had purposefully tricked her into believing that he loved her. He was the one who had left her. He was the one who was ready to marry another sister like they were some kind of business.
Her control snapped. She was a fool to feel sympathetic for such a man. Cold settled in her heart, the cold she was used to and she felt her mannequin personality take over.
"What do you mean since you? We never slept together. And what does a number matter to you?"
She could see him clenching his jaws at her answer. Good for him. What did he expect? That she wait for him all her life? That she would mourn her lost love forever?
"You're right. What's in a number? But what amazes me is that you couldn't even wait for me to be out of Mumbai before you start gallivanting with your lovers?"
"Why would I wait for you to be gone, Asad? What do I mean to you?"
"You mean nothing to me."
Five simple words. Which had the power to hurt her like nothing had before. She felt an excruciating pain in her heart as if someone was driving a knife through it. Why did he still the power to hurt her? She was over him. She no longer loved him. Upon hearing his story, she had stopped hating him and had tried to help him.
She should have known better. She should have protected her heart better this time. She had vowed to herself that no one would hurt her as Asad had done years ago. Not even her father had caused her so much pain as this man had done. And was still doing.
When he had clearly told her he had every intention of passing on to another sister without preamble. What kind of man that made him? A vengeful and bitter one. And she was getting too involved in his pursuit.
"Then what are you doing here at the sight of me in the arms of another man? If I mean nothing, why are you so angry?"
"I am not angry at you. I am angry at the woman you've turned out to be."
"I hope you know that the credit goes to you," she spat back with venom.
"I disagree. I won't take the responsibility for that. Life throws challenges your way but ultimately you chose who you want to be."
"Like you? Choosing to marry a complete stranger?"
"My case is different," he barked through his clenched teeth.
"How?" she challenged. He could be so dense. How was he different from her? Couldn't he see he was destroying his life going after something that was not even going to make a difference in the end?
"I am never going to heal till I get back what I lost. Even then, I would never be able to wipe off from my mind the picture of my mother's dead body hanging from the ceiling."
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