"How many times did I tell you that this meeting was of utmost important for Dilshaad Constructions?" I barked into the phone. "Sir, actually--" came a timid voice from the other side of the phone. I cut him off. "Enough, Prasad! I want it rescheduled and no arguments!" I threw the Bluetooth off my ears. Why can't Prasad do a single thing which is told to be done properly?
But who am I kidding? I know my anger is not because of this stupid meeting. It is towards those people, those filthy people, and, in Ayaan's words, that Bhainseena bi who insulted my Ammi. My eyes well up thinking of him..Ayaan. His oh-so-interesting shayaris, his smile, the way his eyes lit up when he saw me. I wish none of this had happened. Allah Miyaan! What's wrong with me? Why am I thinking ab--wait, did I just say Allah Miyaan? A smile fought its way on my lips. God, Ms. Farooqui is all plaguing my mind as always. Shit, I didn't even say a proper goodbye to her.
I came out of my reverie when the car in front of me halted. Oh, signal. I glanced out of the window. What will she be doing right now?
Zoya's POV
I sniffed.
Sniffed again.
Allah miyaan! What's wrong with this mamujaan and mumani? How could they accuse me of something I never did. I looked at the now crumpled poster for the umpteenth time. It's not me. How can it be? But how am I to prove my innocence? The picture has been morphed so well, it's impossible to tell the difference.
But I'm not the one who gives up so easily. No. I'm Zoya Farooqui, I can do anything. And I'm SO gonna teach that monster of a mumani a lesson.
I quickly switched on my iPad. Umm...so what to do?
My eyes widened in amusement when I saw the icon. An evil grin spread on my face. Hmm...now that's something.
Mentally doing a happy dance on her new discovery, zoya lay down on the bed, Asad's bed to be precise. Inhaling his deep scent, she didn't realize when sleep overtook her.
***
Meanwhile, Asad while glancing out from the window noticed the poster stuck to the glass. He averted his eyes as soon as he saw the image on the poster. He rolled the window open in order to remove that vulgar poster off his car when his eyes caught the face of the woman in the poster. Zoya? Saying that Asad was shocked would be an understatement. He didn't know what to think or do. He knew zoya, he trusted her. But then what was this picture all about? He caught hold of the poster and took the first U-turn he saw. He was off to Siddiqui Mansion.
AT SIDDIQUI MANSION
ASAD'S POV
I rushed inside the house. Ammi received me at the doorstep.
"Asad beta, tum to Indore jaane wale the na?"
"Ammi, Ms. Farooqui kahan hain?" I asked her impatiently.
"Asad, hua kya? Tum itne pareshan kyu lag rahe ho?"
"Ammi, Zoya hai kahan?" I repeated. I was losing my temper.
"Asad, tum--" she stopped and her eyes widened when she saw the poster in my hand. "To ye tumhare haath bhi lag gaya."
"Mere haath bhi matlab? Ammi yeh paheliyaan bujhane ka waqt nahi. Just tell me where Ms. Farooqui is, I want to get this straight. Woh aisa kaise kar sakti hai? Jeans pehanna ek baat hai par ye modeling karna woh bhi in kapdo mein. I just.." I took off in seach of zoya, trembling with rage.
"Asad, asad, meri baat to suno beta. Us bechari ki koi galti nahi hai. Woh to--"
"Ammi for the last time, Woh. Bechari. Nahi. Hai." I started to walk again.
Ammi grabbed me by my arm."Asad! Enough. Tumhara dimaag thikaane par hai. Paagal ho gaye ho tum. Tumhe sach me lagta hai zoya aisa kuch karegi? Bas itna sa yakeen karte ho tum us per. Yahi hai tumhari mohabbat?"
"Par Ammi--"
"Abhi meri baat khatam nahi hui hai Asad." She was tears by now. It broke me to see her in this state. "Tumhe sach me lagta hai ki ye zoya hai? Main tumhe saboot deti hu ki ye zoya nahi hai. Ghaur se dekho is tasveer ko. Kuch galat nahi lagta isme. Koi aisi cheez nahi dikhi jo nahi honi chahiye, ya koi aisi cheez jo honi chahiye phir bhi mawjood nahi?"
My eyes widened as I realized what she was implying on.
The scars.
Zoya's scars.
The marks which are a proof for her bravery. Which define her. Which make her who she is.
I can't believe I overlooked such an obvious fact. Now that I realize it, I feel horrible. Shit! I certainly don't deserve zoya. I'm such a useless person.
"She's in your room. Shayad so gayi hai. Bahut pareshan thi bechari. Is tasveer ko lekar bahut bada tamasha kadha kar diya tha Razia bi aur Siddiqui sahib ne." And with that Ammi walked away.
***
I knocked on the door of the guest roo--uh, my room. No answer. I quietly opened the door and got inside. I shut the door behind me.
And then I saw her, sleeping on my side of the bed. I took in her form. Her nose red, her raven hair spread wildly across the pillow, her mascara smudged. Yet, the sight was breathtakingly beautiful. I can watch her sleeping all day and every night and never get tired.
Her iPad was clutched to her chest. I went over to her and prying her fingers off the iPad I took it in my hands. My eyes widened in horror when I saw what she had done. Oh god, Zoya.
"So, how's it?"
I looked down, confused.
"You're awake?" I asked startled.
"Umm...Yeah and I heard your conversation with phoophi outside too." She said sheepishly.
"Ms. Farooqui, I'm sorry I didn't--" I began
"Shhh...Mr. Khan." She got up and places a finger on my lips. Her finger is soft against my lips. "It's not your mistake. This picture been morphed so well ki koi bhi dekh kar dokha kha sakta hai"
"Hmm...wo sab to theek hai but even your work ain't half bad." I smiled mischievously motioning towards the iPad.
I looked towards the iPad. Razia Bi was standing in the middle of a desert wearing old fashioned and somewhat comical clothes grasping a young man's hand who was wearing a floral shirt and a cowboy hat.
On the top was written in bold letters 'Tera Bina Zindagi, Zindagi Nahi'. Below was inscribed 'Colaba street. 7 pm onwards'
"Thank You, Mr. Khan." She smiled. "Think Mr. Khan. Kitna maza aayga jab logo ko pata chalega ki Razia Siddiqui, Ghafoor Siddiqui ki Begum play me act karti hain." She grinned.
"Ms. Farooqui, who do you think is going to believe you? They can even cross-check and find out that this kind of play is not even going to be held."
"Obviously I know no one will believe me, Mr. Khan. Do you think I'm that stupid?" She smacked me playfully on my arm.
"Then?" I was totally in the dark.
"Arey! That's how I'm going to counter them. That if Razia Ghafoor Siddiqui cannot act in a play that is not even going to be held anywhere then even Zoya Farooqui soon to be Zoya Asad Ahmed Khan can't model for a lotion that is nowhere to be seen in the market." She finished triumphly.
"Hmm...baat me dum to hai." I smiled. Zoya and her antics.
"Accha, but tell me how are you going to remove this Photoshop watermark from the picture?"
She raised an eyebrow. "Mr. Khan shayad aap ye bhool rahe hain ki main Zoya Faroo--" I cut her off. "Haan haan aap Zoya Farooqui hain. Aur Zoya Farooqui kuch bhi kar sakti hai." I finished her sentence.
"Correct! Chaliye isi baat per ek sher arz hai." She chimed.
No. Not again.
"Mr. Khan..." she wined "Kahiye na Irshad'. "
I sighed. I'm never going to win. "Irshad Irshad"
"Ahem Ahem" She cleared her throat dramatically.
"Arz kiya hai...
Sunti hain kisi ki nahi par sunati hain sabko apni kahani,
Sunti hain kisi ki nahi par sunati hain sabko apni kahani,
Wait and watch how I'm gonna get back at you Miss Evil Mumani.
Shukriya, shukriya, shukriya."
"Mr. Khan!" she glared at me.
"Oh ya...Waah Waah Zoya" I said
"Good."
She yawns.
"Bahot neend aa rahi hai Mr. Khan. I'm gonna sleep now."
"Aur main kahaan jaun?" I asked her.
"Jahaan jana ho jaiye, mujhe sone dijiye." She closed her eyes.
I grinned and got onto the bed with her and drape my arm over her petite waist form behind.
I heard her gasp.
"Allah miyaan what's wrong with you Mr. Khan?"
"Shh..." I kept my finger over her lips imitating her gesture she had done a while back. "Why? What's wrong? I was just cuddling my soon to be to Mrs. Asad Ahmad Khan."
She smiled. Her dimples flashing."Do you realize we will be in trouble if someone sees us like this?" she kissed my nose playfully.
"Darwaaza ander se band hai." I say sheepishly.
"It's always the quiet ones" She mumbled to herself.
"Jee? Kuch kaha aapne?" I asked her.
"Nahi kuch nahi. I'm soo sleepy."
She hugged me back and buried her face in my chest. And I in turn buried my nose in her hair inhaling her vanilla scent which had become my own personal heaven.
"I love you, Zoya" I mumbled in her hair.
"I love you too, Mr. Khan"
I draped the comforter above us and we lay in the comfort of each other's arms not knowing when sleep overtook us both.
THE END
Tada!!!! I'm done.
I so hope you all liked it. And ya i don't know whether there is any Photoshop watermark on a picture after getting edited in Photoshop but i just had to put it in there. So bear with me =P
Accha and as for the Oh-So-Important Author's Note:
I SOO want to write an FF or SS on Asya. It's like my dream or a very very ardent desire. That's the reason why i wrote this one-shot cuz i wanted to know how my work actually is.
But there's one more problem. I don't know what should i write on or where should the story start. I want to write something similar to the actual QH. I mean the same setting, same characters, same drama ;)
So i want you guys, if you'd like, to give me suggestions.
All your reviews and comments will mean A LOOTTT to me since this my very first work and i want to know should i continue writing or not.
Please Like and Comment.
So till then, Adieu, Good-Bye, Allah Hafiz :D
Current Affairs
Suggestions / Comments
Avatar and Signatures Shop
7