AsYa FF: Only in the darkness can you see the stars THREAD #1 - Page 63

A/N: Here is the next one! A big turn! :D

Not proof read, so excuse the mistakes!

Chapter 14: When the walls came tumbling down

Life had taken a good path. It felt as if things were getting back on track. It seemed just fine.

It had been a couple of days since Asad and Zoya had come from meeting Ghafoor Siddiqui. While their meeting had gone better than how she had expected it to go, Zoya was still a little apprehensive of having him in her life as a permanent feature. She had had people treat her badly all her life, and it was still very hard for her to grasp the fact that there had always been someone in the world who had cared for her all these years and still did.

Asad understood her uncertainty and understood where she was coming from, but even then, Asad had pushed her into exchanging contact information with her father. Unlike any other pair of boyfriend and father of the daughter duo, it was funny how Asad and Ghafoor had struck up a friendship of sorts. That did not mean that he had not down well on his promise to embarrass her. The friendship between them had struck after her father acted like a father of a teenage girl whilst meeting her first boyfriend.

Ghafoor had launched the Spanish inquisition on Asad when Zoya and him had returned back inside from the patio after their emotional talk, but Asad had managed to answer the questions gracefully.

"Well, Asad Khan, right? I think we should officially meet. I am Ghafoor Siddiqui. Zoya's father." He stood there with a rigid posture.

Asad cocked an eyebrow and then nodded at him, "It's very nice to meet you, Sir."

"Lets get straight to the point. You see, Zoya is my only daughter and I am very concerned by the kind of guys she gets involved in." he stated in a matter-of-factly manner. Zoya groaned in embarrassment beside him.

She however flushed when Asad pulled her close to him and looked into her father's eyes and said, "Sir, I care very deeply about your daughter. I will never hurt her. With due respect Sir; while you are her father, I think that we are both consenting adults. Her safety is my priority."

That had been enough for Ghafoor Siddi qui. After Zoya had opened to him about her childhood and about her "parents", Ghafoor felt somewhat at ease knowing that there was someone who cared for his little Zoya and wanted her safe.

They had come back from meeting Zoya's father with smiles on their faces and seeing that, the entire Khan family had let out a sigh of relief. Dilshad, in particular, had been frantically worrying over the meeting and was bothered about what the meeting might cause. She did not want Zoya to be hurt anymore - her tainted childhood was worse than what anyone should have to deal with.

It appeared that all of them could take deep breaths.

But for how long?

***

"Ms. Zoya! Come on! We need to feed the duckies before they all go away!" Aadil pulled at Zoya and tugged her along with him.

Zoya and Aadil had come to the park. Ever since the two of them had spent that one evening, Aadil had been begging her to take him to the park - jus the two of them. No one else was allowed to intrude on their special time. And of course, Zoya could not help but oblige.

"Slow down, Tarzan! The ducks are not going anywhere. We have plenty of time to fill their tummies."

They neared the little pond and Zoya took out the bread crumbs that they had brought along. Aadil took the packet from Zoya and shoved his hand inside and got a handful out.

"Okay, now, Aadil. Remember not to throw a lot of crumbs at the Same time, okay? And also make sure you give all them some of it. We don't want them to fight over food now, do we?"

Aadil shook his head and said, "I want to feed them! What if someone else gets first!"And then he turned to feed the birds who were now gathering near the edge.

Zoya sat back on a nearby bench and saw Aadil have his fun. His squeals and giggles made Zoya laugh along with him. He was jumping and running along the pond - he was happy. And that made Zoya even happier. Aadil really was a little bundle of happiness.

When he was done, he came running back over to where Zoya was sitting on the bench and climbed on the bench with her.

"All done?" she asked him as he snuggled closer to her.

"Mmm hmm. They were so hungry! They ate it all. See!" he waved the now empty bread packet at her.

"I can see that. I also saw how you gave everyone equally. All the ducks got food and I am sure they love you now! Good job, Aadil!" she praised him.

Aadil grinned at her, giving her a toothless smile. He had lost two of his front teeth yesterday and had taken huge pride that he was a big boy now.

"Ms. Zoya?"

"Hmmm?"

"Do you like my Abbu?"

Zoya sat up straight at his question. Asad and Zoya had been wondering what and how much Aadil thought about them. He was an inquisitive child and they had been anticipating his questions. But she had not imagined answering them without Asad by her side.

"What do you mean, baby? You Abbu is great!" she decided to evade the question until they got home.

Aadil, however had different plans.

"I know that! I am not a baby, Ms. Zoya! Do you like my Abbu. Like how they show in movies. Like Tarzan and Jane." he got straight to the point.

"Uh, um"" before Zoya could say anything, Aadil continued.

"'Coz if you do! Then you can be my Ammi, Ms. Zoya! I want Ammi. Can you please be my Ammi?" his innocent eyes broke Zoya's heart.

Zoya cleared her throat and said, "W-who told you that, huh?"

"Jiah. She is in my class. She said that when boy and girl go to eat alone and when they kiss, they get married. Her Ammi did. She told me." he told her and nodded.

So he HAD seen them kiss that night, thought Zoya.

Taking a deep breath, Zoya replied, "Aadil. I think your Abbu should be with us when we talk about this, right? This is about him as well. Lets' go home and we will talk, okay?"

He nodded at her and hopped off the bench. Taking Zoya's hand, he happily chatted away, "Jiah said that her mommy and new daddy gave her a little sister. Can you and Abbu do that? I want a little brother though. I don't want a sister! Girls are silly and have cooties. But not Jiah. She is not silly, she is nice."

Oh boy.

***

Asad was in his room when the door bell rang. He could hear Najma go to the door and answer it and then a muffled conversation. He assumed that it was Zoya and Aadil had returned from their trip to the park.

However, Najma entered his room a few seconds later with a confused expression on her face.

"Bhaijaan? There is someone at the door. I have never seen him before but he says he wants to meet you and that you know him." she told him.

Asad furrowed his brows but followed his sister out of his room. Just as he had stepped out of his room, his eyes fell on his visitor. Without any rational thought or preamble, Asad rushed towards the man he had thought he would never see again in his life, and took hold of his collar.

"HOW DARE YOU STEP INSIDE MY HOUSE? GET OUT! RIGHT NOW!" Asad roared.

"Bhaijan!" Najma screamed at her brother's outburst.

The man stumbled from the force of the unexpected shove but maintained his place, "Asad, listen to me, I only want to talk. No need to get worked up, okay?"

"YOU LISTEN TO ME, IMRAN QUERESHI! I WILL NOT HAVE YOUR PRESENCE INSIDE MY HOUSE. GET OUT NOW." He could hear Najma's gasp of surprise and he could tell that she had made the connection.

Imran shrugged off Asad's hands with a hard shove and looked at him with cold eyes, "You are making this harder than it has to be. Don't get me angry, Asad Khan. You don't want to get into a mess with me, now do you?" he mocked Asad.

"What. Do. You. Want." Asad let out of his clenched teeth.

"I want to meet my son." Imran said causally, as if he had not just uttered the words that were plaguing Asad's worst nightmares.

"LIKE HELL YOU ARE! Who do you think you are, huh? Get lost!" Asad could hardly contain his anger. He was bursting with fire.

Imran cocked his eyebrow at Asad, "I am fairly certain I am his father. You remember biology, Asad? You on the other hand..." he paused dramatically, "You are nothing, Asad. No one to my son."

Before Asad could bellow out a response, loud and excited voices preceded their equally bubbly personalities.

"WE ARE HOME!" Zoya and Aadil screamed in unison and then laughed as they entered the Khan Villa. Aadil skipped over the threshold while Zoya stood frozen on her spot. Looking at the man inside the house and by taking a single glance of Asad, she could sense that something was very wrong. Her sudden stop made Aadil stumble back over to her as she was holding his hand.

"Ow! Ms. Zoya! Why did you stop?" he questioned Zoya.

Instead of answering him, Zoya's eyes shifted over to the strange man in the house. Instinctively, her hands reached to pull Aadil close to her and she picked him up and rushed over to where Asad was standing. Sensing something awry, Aadil stayed silent and did not complain about being held. Asad shifted closer to them and stood somewhat in front of the two of them.

Imran looked from Zoya, to the child in her arms and then to Asad's protective stance. His eyes narrowed as he figured out the situation in front of him.

"Who is that man, Abbu?" Aadil prodded as he tapped Asad on his shoulder. Aadil cringed as he looked at the strange man. He did not like him. He looked like the bad guys in the TV.

The moment he heard the word Abbu', Imran's mind cleared and he beat Asad to answering the boy's question.

"You are calling that the wrong person. I am your Abbu. Come and say hi your father." Imran smiled an icy smile.

Zoya's eyes widened while Aadil clung to her tightly. He shook his head and burrowed further into Zoya and clasped his hands and legs around her. His death-grip was almost painful but Zoya did not complain, only held him closer.

Imran saw the scene with great interest. As he saw the girl soothe the boy, Imran could hardly control his laughter.

"Wah! Asad Ahmed Khan! Wah! You see, I was surprised to see a female with my son. I have done my homework and I am well aware that you are not married or engaged or even in a relationship. But this is incredible! I have to give it to you. You do have incredible taste in women. That Tanveer was a great lay. I am sure she let you have a piece as well. And now her? You are sticking it to the nanny? She looks fantastic, "he sneered at him and looked over to Zoya and slurred, "Tell me, sugar? How much does he pay you? I bet you are tigh"oomph!"

Asad's hand had made contact with his face, effectively cutting off his venom. Imran staggered and clutched his bloody nose. His eyes shone with vice and it matched the unadulterated rage in Asad's eyes.

Asad snagged him off the floor and brought his face close to his own, "One more word out of your mouth, and I will turn you into a mess of limbs. Another word and your face will be hard to recognize even by your own mother." he whispered the words in a voice so calm and collected that it sent shivers down Imran's back. Asad pushed him off and dragged him to the door.

Imran spit off the blood pooled in his face and looked at Asad with fury, "You just made the biggest mistake of your life, Asad Khan. You have no idea what I can do. I have the resources to destroy you. And I promise you that I will do just that. I am talking your to court. Watch out for a court order. I will have the custody of my son and you and your little wh**e can do nothing about it."

When the walls came tumbling down
When the walls came tumbling down
Everybody ran as they screamed at the sound

- When the walls came tumbling down by Def Leppard

A/N:

And there it is!

Let me know how it was!

Cheers,

Simi