I cant believe I am here with another story...but I couldn't stop myself.. I had to do this...I had to write a story...inspired by a novel.This one was the first romance novel that I read..n I just loved this story...I do even till this day ...and now here I am..wanting to recreate this story and share with you...
Based on the novel Saving Grace by Julie Garwood... about the Scottish barbarian Gabriel...and his love...Johanna...I am rewriting this story for you...with Asad and Zoya...taking their place.
Set in a parallel world of today...the story and the scenes will be taken from the novel...and written in my words..So clearing it out...its not my story...and not my thoughts...I am just re writing it ...my way...Its a love story..simple and filled with love...I hope you like it...
So here you go peeps...
SAVING GRACE
Prologue
They drove in anticipation, not knowing what the future held, hanging on to the last threads of hope they had, if they wanted to keep their Zoya safe. Zeenat and Anwar ,hands held tight, made their way to one of the most lavish mansions of LA...grandly constructed on a hill top facing the Pacific ocean. It was a sight to be seen, standing majestically tall, red bricks...adorning its walls...and Huge...concrete...walls covering the premises of the mansion.
As the made it to the huge cast Iron gates, painted gold and black the intercom buzzed...asking them to identify themselves...
Anwar-My name is Anwar Sidique...and I am here to meet with Mr Asad Ahemed Khan...He is expecting me.
Ok wait a minute...came the voice from the intercom.
After about a minute the gates parted, allowing them to drive in to the lavish property of the Khan mansion.
Everything they saw was grand and breathtakingly beautiful, from elaborate landscapes to lavish surroundings...Cars of extremes...grandeur were parked through the drive way...Well-dressed staff...walked around, managing and maintaining this grand mansion.
A valet waited on them as they parked their car and got off, taking their keys and driving away with their car...
They stood in front of a grand entrance. Enchanting them to enter, inviting them in .
The maid ...nodded in acknowledgment and asked them to follow her into the seating area...
They followed, their eyes wandering off in all directions trying to take it all in...Everything around them...was spectacular, pristine and elegant.
Maid-Please have a seat here, Sir should be out in a few minutes. I will go arrange some tea and snacks for you in the meanwhile..
They sat with unease...uncomfortable and anxious, waiting to meet him and discuss with him the proposition they had.
Zeenat-Anwar I am really worried...DO you think he will accept our offer???
Anwar- Zeenat please try and relax, I have known Asad from a long time, and if everything is in its right place I don't see a reason why he wouldn't agree..
Zeenat-Are you sure he will agree?? Cos this is our last hope...
Anwar- All we can do is hope Zeenat..just hope...
Zeenat-I just pray to Allah that everything works out.
The maid returned with the food trolley, pouring them their tea and placing a wide array of snacks across the table for them to eat. But neither of them had the desire. They were constantly looking towards the staircase, waiting for him to arrive.
~~
It had been over 15 minutes of waiting, when finally they saw him. Descending down the stairs was a man of great power. Young, powerful and extremely good-looking, Mr Asad Ahmed Khan was the lord of the lords, the richest and the most powerful business Tycoon of the country. He was a force nobody wanted to reckon with and everybody looked upto. He walked with the ease of a lion, cool, cautious and confident. His eyes were alert and his stance was menacing, but he was known to be a man of principle. It was because of his shrewd and sharp intellect and fearless mindset, Asad was where he was.
He saw his guests fidgeting in their seats as they waited for him to make his way to the seating area, making him smile a little. He quiet enjoyed the fear his presence was able to bring out in people, solidifying the fact that he was a man of extreme power.
Finally reaching up to them...he shook his hand with Anwar and offered his Salaam to Zeenat...He had known the two, through his many business ventures and had come to respect them professionally over the course of years..
Asad- So what brings you here...Mr Anwar Sidiqui, he asked as he lazily sat on the plush couch, dressed in formal pants and a crisp black Polo t-shirt.
Anwar- Well actually I am here with a proposition..
Asad-Oh I see...what kind of business are we talking about here?? He asked...slightly interested in what Anwar had to say.
Anwar looked at Zeenat...getting a little uncomfortable...not knowing how to approach this situation...
Anwar-Well actually its not so much as professional as it is personal...
Asad raised his eyebrow in curiosity...Shoot he said...
Anwar-We are here with a proposal...to marry Zeenat's younger sister...
Asad-HOW DARE YOU...he bellowed standing up from the couch...his voice echoing through the vast spaces of the mansion...his voice taking Zeenat and Anwar aback...in reaction...
Anwar-Asad Atleast listen to me..first, let me explain and you'll understand...
Asad-Anwar you know very clearly...that I am not interested in any personal proposals then why are you here??
Anwar-Asad please first listen to me...and then decide...please have a seat and hear me out...he requested him...standing up himself and prompting Asad to sit..
Zeenat sensing the change in atmosphere decided to take things in her own hand.
Zeenat-If you don't mind me Mr Khan than can I please tell you about this situation???
Asad looked at her and nodded sensing the sincerity in her tone...
Asad-I am only letting you say what you are about to say, because of the time when you saved my life from the traps of that bloody scoundrel..when he tried to kill me by hiring goons to crash into my car...Only for that..he emphasized...
They both nodded in unison as Anwar gestured Zeenat to start.
Zeenat-Mr Khan...My father recently passed away.He was murdered by his own business partner. And do you know who is business partner was???
Asad nodded in negative...
Zeenat-It was the very same man that tried to kill you, your arch Rival Rashid Khan's son...Farhaan Khan...He and his father waited for 27 long years to plan the biggest betrayal. Right after Rashid Khans death Farhaan Khan stayed with my father and continued to be the rightful partner of the company. He even tried to marry my sister, but she refused. So not finding any way to take over the entire business and taking advantage of my father's ailment, Farhaan Rashid Khan implemented the most...heinous crimes he had planned along with his father...10 years ago. He poisoned by father...that left him paralyzed. He didn't die...he lived, frustrating Farhaan...to the point that he murdered my father in his sleep..
Asad listened to it all intently...
Asad-Continue...he gestured...as he sat on the couch..legs crossed, hands by his mouth as he thought.
Zeenat-We managed to find some proof against him and were able to get him arrested in New York.But his networking is spread around everywhere and we fear that he will be out soon...
Asad-And what does that have to do with me marrying your sister...
Zeenat-It has everything with you marrying my sister...If there's one person in this country that Mr Farhaan Khan is afraid of going against, then that is you.Farhaan has always wanted to marry my sister from the time he was growing up, but Zoya being her stubborn and proud self,never gave him the time of the day. SO he waited...he waited for the right opportunity...and he asked for her hand when my father started to lose his senses due to him being drugged but still Zoya refused..So he started to stalk her, scare her, threaten her...breaking her piece by piece...He would use everything he knew about her, her weaknesses, against her and soon Zoya started to get scared.He would find ways to send goons to harass her, and tease her and left no stones unturned in breaking her down...Soon after my father was found dead in his bed and that took a toll on Zoya. She remembered what Farhaan had told her, that he would get her no matter what that he would find her from the corners of hell and make her life a living hell, cos she refused to marry him... All this broke her completely the day my father died. She just lost her spark in all this...
ASad-So??? He seemed almost bored hearing this long sob story...but complied to listen till the end...
Zeenat-MR Khan...Zoya is the sole heiress of Farooqi industries...its net worth around 1.5 Billion dollars and we Know that Farhaan will be back soon and he will leave no stone unturned to get what he has been wanting to ever since he was born. He wants to take over this company and the only person standing in his way right now is Zoya...
Asad- I get that...but what does that have to do with marrying off your sister to me..???
Zeenat-It has everything to do with u....she said agitated at his disinterest...
Asad-Care to explain...
Anwar-I'll explain...he took over sensing Zeenat's distress...Farhaan Khan has a lot of connections and he will get out soon enough and that you already know.He is not afraid of anyone, except...
Asad-Me....he filled in his line...as everything started to fall into place...
Anwar-Yes you...he wont even dare to touch you...or anything that belongs to you...
Asad-And so you want to marry of your sister to me...so that she can be protected...Ha...what do you think of me...her personal bodyguard??? He guffawed...finding it all too ridiculous...
Anwar-Something like that..but here's where the proposition comes into play...
Asad-Go ahead...
Anwar- The day you marry Zoya...all the property will be transferred in your name...and you will own 100% of Farooqi industries...
Asad-So u are technically selling me your sister...Huh...interesting...
Anwar-More like a keepsake...a barter...you keep her safe and protected...and you get the company...
Asad-And does she know about it?? that you are selling her off to a complete stranger???
Zeenat-Please don't say selling off, we are not...cos we know you will take care of her and protect her...we just want the best for Zoya..
Asad-And you think I am the best for Zoya???
Anwar-Yes we do...Cos I know..that you are a genuine person within and a man of his words and once you make a promise you'll see through it...
Asad-You didn't answer my question...does she know about this???
Anwar- Yes she does...
Asad-And she is Ok with it???
Anwar- Well she would like to meet you first...and then she will decide...
Asad- And what makes you think she gets a say in this??
Anwar-Well Zoya is very stubborn and...has a mind of her own...and this was the only way she would even listen to us..
Asad-You are not painting a very pretty picture of her in my mind...I don't like girls that talk back and are stubborn and don't listen...What makes you think she'll be happy with me...
Anawar and Zeenat looked at each other...and shared a small smile...Asad's last sentence eased their hearts...it said he was ready to consider.
Zeenat-I know she will be...you have a pure heart...
Asad-Hmmm..well I wont say that I will be happy with her...but if and only if...I do accept this proposition ..then you can be rest assured that your sister will be in a safe place...As far as she doesn't interfere in my work...She can do whatever she wants...I wont bother her. I only plan to consider this proposal on the bassis of staying out of each other's way.She won't stop me from doing what I want to do..and I will make sure she is well taken care of.I have no expectations from her whatsoever...
Anawar and Zeenat nodded...things were starting to work out..and at this point all that mattered was Zoya's safety...the rest would work itself out..
Asad-Also does she know about Ali...??
Anawar-Yes I have mentioned it to her...that Ali might be your son...and she had no issues with that...
Asad-Well just make it clear with her..that..no matter what the truth might be, if Ali is my son or not...I consider him as my son.He is what matters to me..so she needs to be ok with that..
Zeenat-She already accepts him...but I will let her know...
Asad-Well then..that's settled ...I will marry her...
Anawar-Don't you want to know anything about her before agreeing to it???
Asad-As I said...its just business...n I don't involve matters of the heart with work...what she is and how she is doesn't matter to me...
Zeenat-Uh..eh...and what about her wanting to meet you before she gives her decision???
Asad-Well she can come by my work place tomorrow...but no matter what she thinks of me..she is marrying me...and that's final... And with that he stood up, dismissing the conversation...
Asad-Mary..please usher them to their car..on the way out...See you soon...Mr Anwar Sidiqi....he said...nodding in Zeenat's direction and walking away into the many paths of the mansion.
So ya...its hard to convert a story set in the 1200's in the Scottish highlands,into a modern-day tale...but I tried..n I hope you liked it...do tell me if you've ever read this book..n if u have did u like it?? n for those who haven't. Well then..ur in for a lovely ..love ride...with all the love and passion required...so keep reading..n don't forget to like and leave ur precious comments...
INDEX
CH1-PG26
Arjun
Cricket
14