Chapter 15: Reboot
Asad watched Zoya leave. He let her goā¦ she needed the space.
Much as he would have liked to hold her close, inhale the essence of her, mold his body against her soft curves, he knew Ayaan's betrayal was going on her mind. After all, the jerk had been her childhood friend, before becoming her fianc.
Zoya trudged up to her bedroom ā she'd lost track of the tears streaming down her cheeks. There was an infinite pain in her heart, like someone had cruelly ripped part of it away. Somewhere in her heart, when she had heard about Ayaan's repentance, she thought he might have changed.
Thinking back through all the years she'd known him, their friendship and love had seemed a shallow faade, his way to securing his future, using her. She was just a pawn in his game plan.
She hugged the throw pillow by her side, and closed her eyes, as if it would blot out all the memories. Weirdly, it felt better. Suddenly, her other senses were heightened.
She could smell the faint trace of Asad's cologne on the throw pillow. Her mind wandered to the last time he was in her room, and her lips widened in a smile as her heart beat quickened. They'd finally opened up about their feelings for each other.
She sighedā¦ why was she sitting here and moaning the loss of a shallow friendship that was based on lies when the man she probably loved, the man who'd defended her today was probably waiting for her downstairs.
She straightened up and hugged the pillow closer as if it were Asad, and smiled to herself, again. She wiped the tears away with the back of her palm and walked towards the bathroom to freshen up.
***
"Ammi, Ayaan had to leave," Asad explained to his mother patiently.
Dilshad was rather distraught over Ayaan's sudden disappearance. He seemed like such a charming guy, and she had thought Ayaan and Zoya would settle matters like adults.
"But why, beta?" she persisted. "He was fine with staying here. What happened? Where's Zoyaā¦ is she with him?"
Asad just glared at his mother and was about to speak up when he heard footfalls in the background and Zoya's voice. She seemed to be chatting with Najma, like the afternoon had been nothing but a bad dream.
He restrained himself and then spoke calmly. "Zoya's here ā and can we please change the topic? I'm hungryā¦ what's for dinner?"
Dilshad was initially confused about the sudden change in his reaction. But she knew better than to question Asad. Sure, her son had a mercurial temper but he usually polite and today, he seemed a bit edgy.
As Najma and Zoya approached the dining area, Dilshad called out to the girls, asking them to set the table and help her reheat the food.
"Let me help youā¦ Ammi," Asad offered.
"Huh?!" the three women reacted in unison.
"What? I can't help around here?" Asad queried, an eyebrow raised.
"No bhai jaanā¦ sure you can," Najma was the first to respond, and handed him the cutlery she'd piled on the plates that Zoya was holding. "You can help Zoya set the table while I help Ammi with the food."
As Zoya laid the plates carefully, she watched him from the corner of her eye, going about his task with precision, adjusting the fork and spoon as if his life depended on their alignment.
She giggled.
He looked at her, and grinned. "What's funny?" he whispered.
"Youā¦ Asad Ahmed Obsessive, Compulsive, Khan!" she whispered, a naughty smile lighting up her eyes.
He was tempted to wipe it off by kissing her right then, but he knew they were being watched. So he leant in pretending to straighten the plate she'd just set and replied, "Obsessed, yesā¦ about you. Compelledā¦ yes, not to kiss you right nowā¦ but tonight, ladyā¦ who's going to save you from me?"
That did the trick, wiped that smile right off her face. He was sorry to see it go for a minute, but the deep-red blush on her face was a sight he wished he'd captured on camera, for posterity.
She moved away, silently went about laying the rest of the plates, not daring to look at him. He was worried about herā¦ he knew her tendency to brush painful things under the carpet. He so wanted to ask her how she was feeling, but now wasn't the time.
He guessed she'd talk when she was ready, but was it his job to reach out? He felt like such an idiot in these situations.
Dilshad and Najma joined them at the table. Asad watched them exchange glances, signaling to each other. Ammi had probably told Najma something was amiss. He just hoped Najma didn't ask about Ayaan. He didn't want anything or anyone to ruin Zoya's mood.
"So I was thinkingā¦" began Najma, as she passed around the rotis.
"That's good, you should do that more often," Asad interjected, trying to lighten up the mood. Dilshad smiled as Najma made a face at him and then proceeded to complete her sentence, "What about a movie tomorrow night?"
"Sounds great! But which one?" Zoya replied, excited. She loved filmsā¦ and it would be a welcome change.
"You get to choose," said Dilshad, looking at Asad for confirmation. He nodded in agreement and smiled at her.
"Najma should chooseā¦. She's the youngest and the one who came up with the idea," Zoya offered. "I'm fine with anything, I love watching movies."
Najma rattled off the names of films that were showing at the multiplex close by and after much deliberation, they settled on a romantic comedy that all the ladies were keen to watch.
Dilshad and Najma were rather surprised Asad hadn't even once protested but were too wise to comment. As they got up to clear the table, they noticed Zoya and Asad starting intently at each other, lost in thought. They walked away discreetly.
Zoya was the first to realize they were alone at the table. She blushed crimson and got up with her plate and reached out for Asad's. He closed his hand over her's and squeezed it gently. She looked up into his eyes.
"Zoā¦ I'm not good at these thingsā¦ expressing myself. You ok? If you need meā¦ you know I'm here, right?" he spoke haltingly, but his eyes were shining with sincerity.
She wanted to hug him but she could hear Najma and Phuphi in the kitchen. She nodded and smiled. "I know Asad. That's why I'm here and not up in my room moping about a phony friendship."
He smiled, and lifted the glasses from the table. "Heyā¦ let me help youā¦"
"Sure," she replied and as she walked ahead, plates in hand. Then she turned back and replied, "...you already did."
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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