Chapter Two
Dil ke dard ko dil torne wale kya jana,
Pyar ki rasmo ke yeh zamane wale kya jane,
Hoti hai kitni taklif kabar ke niche,
Yeh upar se phool charane wale kya jane'
Who was she kidding? She was still very much in love with her Jahapanah. But she knew she had to be strong. She could never let him know how she felt about him. Not now, not ever. He was an engaged man now. And she was still Zoya. A very much flawed Zoya who had stood by bravely watching him put an engagement ring on the finger of another woman. Allah Mia! Even her thoughts were depressing her these days. Her only satisfaction was that she was making some progress in her investigation. The khandar walla building belonged to Riyaz Construction Company. A company that was dissolved 18 years ago. The names of the principals are still unknown as no legitimate papers could be found that named the owners. All she could find out was that the building that burned down was involved in an insurance scam. But the details of the case were missing from the police records. Someone had managed to hush up the whole affair and had managed to dust the ashes under the rug so no one could be held accountable. And because of them she had lost every one. Her parents. She was standing at the door way of their house planning her next move when a husky voice interrupted'
"Are you going to stand here the whole day or are you going to come in?
Zoya snapped out of her bubble "Well'uh'Well actually I am on my way out. So'uh'So ' I am leaving. Bye." Zoya walked out of the house in a hurry. Avoiding Asad as much as possible was her only defense against her pain. The less time she spent with him the lesser it would hurt. Out of sight, out of mind as they say was a good strategy. But obviously luck was not on her side these days as'
" Zoya wait. I am on my way out too. May be I can drop you to your destination." Asad had followed her outside.
Zoya stopped abruptly and turned around astonished. What is this? Asad Ahmed Khan offering me'Zoya Farooqi a lift' Well hell no'I cant be around him.
"uhm' No thanks M.r. Khan. I can find my own way. Beside I am not going the way you are going anyway. Humare raaste alag alag hain"
"May be. Where are you going? Mera matalb hain which way are you going?"
"I am going towards the lakeroad. Which is in the opposite direction to your office. So don't bother. I can go on my own." She explained in a hurry.
"Well actually, I am going towards lake road too. Ami needs some things from the market. So get in I will drop you." He replied and walked around his car to open the door for her.
Left with no other choice but to get in she stomped her way around the car and got in.
"Put your seat belts on" he instructed as he pulled the car out from the drive way.
Zoya forced herself to look out the window. These days she couldn't bear being in his presence without feeling like an emotional wreck. Allah Mia! What is wrong with me? I am stronger than this. I am no purni film ki actress who pines away for her lover. Zoya Farooqi does not pine. She thought. It's time to face the situation like a rational person. He doesn't love me while I might have some slight feelings for him' Ok hell I am in love with him. But I will deal with it' I will show'
"Are you ok?" once again Asad interrupted her
"uhm Sorry?"
Asad hesitated "Well it looked like you were talking to yourself"
"Oh..yeah?" She laughed nervously "Well you know what they say I am having an interesting conversation with an interesting person"
Asad looked blankly at her.
"Me." Zoya pointed at herself unnecessarily.
"uh huh'" he looked unconvinced.
Awkward silence again. Zoya bit her lips and forced herself to look out the window. She sighed. It was so hard to carry on a simple conversation with him without wanting to fall at his feet and proclaim her love for him.
"What are you going to do at the lake road?" Asad asked after few minutes.
Zoya snapped her head back in his direction. This was the first time Jahapanah had taken any interest in her affairs. She knew she couldn't tell him her real reason but was thrilled that he cared enough to ask. Allah Mia! What's wrong with you Zoya? It could just be polite interest from his part. Now for god sake answer the man he is waiting.
" Er'Woh I needed to find the owners of that burned building. So I am going to the community Centre to look for some records."
"Huh'yeh wohi building hain naha jiski tasveer tumhne dikahi thi?
"Yes."
"Is building mein itna interest kyu hain? I mean it's not even a good property for investment purposes either. Besides it is kind of tied up in court because of a scam case" Asad informed
"I know. Woh..uh ..woh main ek project kar rahi hu. That's why I am gathering information."
"Project?" Asad sounded skeptical.
"Yeah. Jiju ke liye'Thodi top secret so I can't talk about it much"
"hmm'" Asad started tapping his fingers on the steering wheel.
I have to get out of here, Zoya thought desperately. Luckily they were turning towards lake road already. Now she can get the hell away from him.
"Bas yaha rokh dijiyega." Zoya snapped the order. She was already out of her seat belts way before he could stop the car. She literally jumped out of the car without even letting him park.
"Thanks Mr. Khan. Now I will go on my own. Bye" she rushed with her speech and then turned around and walked away.
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Asad sat in his car staring at Zoya's retreating back. That girl was a constant puzzle to him. One minute she is demanding and bratty and then next minute she is sweet and adorable. She is constantly getting in to trouble and messing up. Before she wouldn't stop talking and now these days he couldn't get her to say a sentence. She had been unusually quiet in these past weeks. Even Ami and Najma noticed her behavior. They were getting worried about her. Earlier she used to follow him around trying to annoy him. But lately he was hard put to find her in the same room with him for more than few minutes. She was forever sneaking out to that old building and coming home at odd hours. Spending very little time with Ami and Najma. So she was avoiding everyone not just him he thought feeling a little relieved.
Not that it mattered to him he said shaking himself out of that train of thought. But still he had gotten used to her chattering away in his presence. And he had already reached a point where he would come home to zoya and her messes and not blink an eye. And just when he got used to her interfering ways she went and changed on him again. She became quiet. These days it was hard for him to tell if Zoya was home.There were no bad shayaris at the breakfast table. No loud laughter from the living room. It almost felt his life had gotten back to normalcy- before zoya normalcy ie. And he wasn't happy.
God! He was losing his mind. He didn't know why Zoya ki khamoshi bothered him. But it did.
Hope the girl was not getting herself in to trouble. He thought. He parked his car and went about his shopping.
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Zoya was frustrated. The community centre lead was complete dead end. Not a single document existed which held any reference to the Riyaz Construction. It was almost as if the company vanished in to thin air.
"Allah Mia! What's wrong with you? Give me a break. Please help me find my Abu fast. I can't leave India without finding him. And I can't stay in that house with Mr. Khan. It's too difficult. If this search takes too long then I will have to move out. And I don't know how I will explain this to Poophi and Najma. Though Mr.Khan would be happy to see me go. Great! now i have to add house hunting in my to do list "
She stopped by the samosa stalls to buy lunch. "Bhaiya ek plate samosa dena." She placed the order and started shuffling through her backpack for cash.
Suddenly a pair of hands grabbed her from behind. One hand went around her waist and the other covered her mouth so she couldn't scream.
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