FF: Asad-Zoya : Serendipity chap3:pg7 - Page 4

Mumbai, 3 years back

She was soaking wet! Who expected it to rain in the evening & that too in May when the morning had been so bright & sunny! But then she was new to this city. She smiled at the thought. Mumbai ' yes she was finally here! The city of dreams! She had left her home, Delhi & had been here for almost a week now. And tomorrow she would be starting with her new job. She had heard many things about the city. They said the city never slept, it was constantly on the run, and it was always abuzz with energy. What she had seen in a week she had liked! She liked the energy; she even liked travelling by the local trains! She smiled at the thought for probably she was the only one who would ever love travelling by the local trains! She needed to stop doing this'these conversations she had in her mind with herself. But then she loved to chatter & in this city there was no one with whom she could talk. So she talked to herself!

She found that a huge building was being constructed on the other side of the road. She smiled at her luck. If she crossed through this buildings premise she would reach her destination faster & dryer! She quickly crossed the road, ducked under the chains that were put up around the building & ran inside so she could escape the heavy rains which were lashing out at her. When she was half way through she heard footsteps behind her. She felt her stomach clench in dread. Was she stupid? She noticed for the first time, that the building was deserted. The footsteps were getting closer. She panicked and increased her speed. Her foot slipped on some wet cement which she had failed to notice & she landed face first on the ground'right at somebody's feet. She glanced up & saw two pairs of eyes looking at her with curious expressions in them. Both were men who appeared to be in their early thirties. They were dressed in formals. One of them bent down & helped her get up.

'Are you all right? Sam why don't you fetch a doctor?'

'No. I am fine really! Not at all hurt'.just embarrassed!

She started to move away from the man who was still holding her by her arms but yelped in pain. Her ankle had twisted when she had fallen down. The guy holding her arm said, "Why don't you come with me inside. I am sure there will be a first aid box somewhere in the office?"

The guy named Sam didn't appear too pleased & said, "Trespassing is prohibited you know?!"

Zoya looked down at her feet & started to mumble a reply when the other guy pushed her in the offices direction. Sam left to wherever they were earlier headed when she had literally fallen at this guy's feet! They entered the lift. This was the first time she saw her companion fully. Outside it had been dark & hence she hadn't been able to understand just how handsome this guy was. Was she crazy? She was alone with a stranger in a lift, in a strange city & she was thinking about how good he looked? It wasn't as if Mumbai was the safest place on earth. But then he didn't look the criminal sorts! She studied his profile carefully. Thick, black hair cut superbly framed a very handsome face. She noticed the elevator lights reflected in his ebony eyes . He had a straight nose & below it'those lips! They were pink & to die for. To her horror she realized those were twitching into a lazy smile. Caught staring she quickly looked away & then again looked at him.

'Umm'I was just wondering who you are? Should I be accepting help from a stranger? That's all I was thinking about. Nothing else!'

'Yeah, right!' He smiled. And boy that smile of his! She felt her heartbeats fasten! The lift opened & he helped her out. She limped towards the cabin he took her too. It appeared like the only room which was fully complete & ready for use in the entire building. He seated her on the black sofa. She glanced around the room. Whoever had decorated this place had class & good taste for sure! She found the place professional yet comforting. He got out the first aid kit & crouched at her feet. He lifted her foot & placed it on his lap. To her horror she found her ankle had a rather ugly bruise which was bleeding. He cleaned the wound, applied some medicine & bandaged it quickly. Looking up at her with inquiring eyes he said,

'I am Asad Khan. And you are?'

'I am Zoya Farooqi!'

She made the mistake of looking into his eyes then & she felt lost. She realized all of a sudden that she must look horrible to him. She was wet & had just fallen into wet cement. She had seen her stockings had torn at her ankles. She asked to go to the washroom so she could clean herself up.

Once inside the washroom she was horrified at her own reflection. Her hair had escaped from the neat pony she had tied in the morning & were stuck at her neck. Her face had traces of cement on it. Her white blouse had turned an ugly shade of grey due to her fall & her black A ' line skirt too was muddied up. In plain words, she looked horrible. She quickly tidied herself up as best as she could & reapplied some lipstick & eye liner. Satisfied with her efforts she slowly stepped out into the office. Ricky was busy talking with the man named Sam & both of them hadn't noticed her coming out of the washroom.

S: People here have no sense of not trespassing. Had she been careful'

A: Relax Sam! She is just a kid. We too did these things when we were kids! Just out of school probably.

Zoya bit her lip & tried not to smile. Out of school, was she? Mr. Asad Khan was in for the shock of his life! She cleared her throat

Asad turned around. The little girl who had disappeared into the washroom a few minutes back had come out of it looking like the sexiest thing he had ever seen. Sam looked at him & then at her. He knew that look in Ricky's eyes. Shaking his head he murmured. 'close your mouth little brother!' & left the office. Asad did as Sam instructed & found Zoya was rather enjoying his shock.

Z: So'not really a school kid then, huh?

She smiled & he was floored! He grinned back

A: No definitely not a kid

A silence had fallen in the room. It was one of those comfortable silences between people & Zoya hated to break it, but she needed to leave. It was almost 7 & she was late.

Z: Guess I will leave now. Thank you for your help

A: My pleasure Zoya! Allow me to call you a taxi.

She was slightly disappointed that he hadn't offered to drop her home. The taxi came & he seated her in it. The taxi drove off. She turned back in her seat & found him still standing there. She peeped out of the window & saw him give her a wicked smile. She flushed & withdrew her head in. Would she ever meet him again? She glanced back once more & found that he was gone. She felt a horrible emptiness in the pit of her stomach.

Zoya woke up with a start. She had to stop the taxi, she had to get out & run to him & hug him & ask him never ever to leave her. She realized she was covered in sweat'and she was neither in Mumbai nor in some taxi. She was in Chicago in her own flat, asleep in her own bed. But the empty feeling in the pit of her stomach was as real today as it was 3 years back when she had met Mr. Asad Khan! And now with hindsight, how she wished her prayers had gone unanswered & she had never had the misfortune of meeting Asad again! She moved about restlessly in her room. It was 2 o'clock in the night. It would be a long, long time before she could sleep again!