Previous Chapter: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/77008520
Chapter Eighteen
"Ek Darr Basi Hain Mere Dil Main
Rooth Na Jaye Khushiyaan Humse
Pal Pal Iss Baat Ki Dua Mangte Hain
Choot Na Jaye Saath Tumhara Humse"
"Aap ko kya zaroorat thi uss gadi ke piche iss tarah jaane ki? Kuch hojata tho?" Dilshaad was scolding Rashid.
The police had just left the premises after taking Asad and Rashid's statements. Everyone was wide awake after hearing the news of the latest incident. Somebody had tried to run over Rashid and when both father and son caught the culprit, another car came along, only to shoot that driver. When Asad tried to follow that car, a second bullet ripped in to his Suv's tyre. They came home to call and report the incident to local police, only to find themselves in the doghouse with the women in their lives. Dilshaad and Zoya were furious, while Najma hadn't stopped crying. Rehaan felt he got cheated out of a good action sequence but had to content himself with trying to console Najma.
"Apko andaza bhi hain apne kitna dangerous kadam utaya hain aaj?...'Golli lag jati toh? Aapke biwi aur bache kya karenge agar aapko kuch hojata" Dilshaad paused in her tirade. Rashid was standing in front of her trying to explain but she was not in a mood to listen. Asad stood on the opposite side with bowed head. So she shifted her anger on him. "Aur tum?...'Couldn't you just call the police?...'itna bada risk lena zaroori tha?"
Asad tried to calm his mother, "Ammi...'woh license plate nahi dikha... 'so I thought something was suspicious...'so I chased after him...'"
"Mujhe kuch nahi jaana hain...'You took an unnecessary risk...'without thinking about us...'we depend on you Asad...'" Dilshaad teared up
Asad tried to console his mother but she pushed his hand aside, "Tum...' Zoya ko daat rahe the na...'ki woh reckless hain aur...'woh danger ko pehchan thi nahi hain...'Toh tum kya kar rahe ho Asad...'Tum bhi chance le rahe ho na...'"Dilshaad choked.
Zoya came forward to comfort Dilshaad, "Its ok Phoopi, see they are fine now. Aap ko apne kamre main ja kar aaram karna chahiye...'Chaliye" Zoya coaxed her and she relented. Wiping her tears she headed towards the stairs. Zoya glared at the two men before she followed Dilshaad. Asad reached out and grabbed her arm to pacify her. "Zoya...'Zoya...'Listen to me"
But she wasn't ready to listen. She pushed him aside, yanked her arm out of his grip and went up the stairs.
Asad stared up at her retreating figure. 'Great! Now he had to sit through another one of her tantrums. Give me an angry woman any day.Ya Allah! But save me from an emotional one! Because Zoya's tears always followed after her angry outburst. And he had no idea how to handle it. He never came out looking good when faced with a crying Zoya. As it is, he had just finished comforting her awhile ago. There had to be some sort of limit to this kind of behavior.' he thought getting irritated.
Najma got up from the sofa and threw herself into his arms, sobbing pathetically. Asad rolled his eyes and patted her shoulder. Rehaan found the whole scenario very funny and burst out laughing. Asad glared at him. When he showed no sigh of stopping, Asad picked a pen from the side table and threw it at him. Rehaan caught it neatly.
Rashid felt like an outsider in this household so he quietly left the house, closing the door behind him.
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Zoya was very angry. She didn't know she was capable of holding such temper.But right this minute she felt like breaking something to vent her fury, like Mr. Khan does. She had locked her self into her bedroom after putting Phoopi to bed. She didn't want to have a confrontation with him tonight. She felt emotionally drained and didn't feel like talking to anyone. She even shoved Rehaan out the door when he came to call her for dinner. She wasn't feeling hungry tonight.
"Allah Miah! What's wrong with me? He did exactly what I would have done, if I was in his shoes. I would want to know who that man was and who sent him. The driver of that car would have been a strong lead to uncover whoever was behind all this. Then why am I so angry with him?" she thought.
She plopped herself on the bed. Then she remembered the shooting that took place and got tensed all over again. "He could have been shot tonight. He had the nerve to say I take risk...'toh yeh kya tha?" she muttered angrily.
She switched off her bedroom lights and tried to sleep. But she couldn't sleep. The fact that Mr.Khan almost got killed kept her awake, making her toss and turn on her bed. 'Allah Miah! He is fine now...'absolutely fine. Nothing happened to him...'Waise bhi why do I care?...he doesn't belong to me...'I have no right to worry about him like that...'He is Aaliya's headache. Her fiance... 'not mine." She repeated it in her head until she thought she believed it. Then she closed her eyes to finally get some sleep when she heard some noise outside her window. She sat up in a hurry. 'Allah Miah! Ghar main chor guss raha hain.' She panicked. She got up from her bed and grabbed a flower vase from the dresser.
A shadow appeared at the window and then she heard someone curse. She couldn't hear the voice properly. She rushed to hide among the heavy curtains near the window so she could attack the intruder with her weapon. 'Allah Miah! I wish Jahapanah had listened to me and switched on my alarm system. Nobody would have dared to enter the house.' She thought.
Someone's jeans clad leg appeared through the opening and the person climbed halfway into the room. Then placed something on the table near the window. Probably tools to rob the place, she mused. She became alert, ready to strike. A man climbed in and was about to turn towards her bed when she tried to smack him on the head. But something might have given her away because he turned at the last minute and blocked her attack with one hand. He then covered her mouth with the other hand and pushed her against the wall behind her. The vase fell from her hand and smashed on the floor.
She tried to squirm away but the man held her in one place. She tried to scream but his hand drowned her voice.Then..
"Shh...'Zoya it's me...'stop screaming." Asad Ahmed Khan's voice whispered in her ears. She looked up just as he pressed her even more against the wall. His face became visible in the moonlight. She looked into those gorgeous brown eyes. As he stared back into hers. (Mitwa Ishq pe zor nahi)
As always her heart beat faster and she found it difficult to breathe. He removed his hand from her mouth and it felt its way down to her waist.His let go of her other hand and then used his free hand to hold and caress her face.
Her arms lifted on their own accord and found purchase on his shoulder. She could no longer remember where she was or how long they stood there lost in each others eyes.
Then he slowly closed the distance between them by coming closer still. She closed her eyes and turned her face towards him. Just as he leaned forward towards...'A knock sounded on the door.
"Zoya...'Zoya are you Ok?" Phoopi's voice came through the door.
Zoya snapped to reality. She tried to push Asad aside in panic. But he didn't budge. She tried again, motioning him to move. He smiled slowly then pulled back. She was breathing very heavily. "Zoya!...tum thik ho...'Kuch toh bolo.." Phoopi's voice raised.
Zoya wringed her hand "Jee phoopi...'am perfectly fine." She stammered her answer as she tried to hide Asad under her bed. But he refused to comply.
"Yeh awaz kaisi thi?" Phoopi enquired.
Zoya tried to push him out the window but again he stood his ground. "Awaz?...Kaisi awaz, Phoopi? I didn't hear anything?" she lied.
"Tum ek minute darwaza kholo...'" Phoopi demanded.
Zoya panicked and started hyperventilating. "Jee...'one minute Phoopi."Asad quietly walked towards the bathroom and shut the door. Zoya took a deep breathe to calm down then walked quickly towards the door to open it. On the way she switched on the side lamp.
Dilshaad came inside and looked around "Are you ok?" She asked feeling concerned.
"Yeah...'Yeah am perfectly fine Phoopi." Zoya replied quickly.
Dilshaad saw the shattered pieces of vase on the floor by the window. She looked at Zoya with questions in her eyes.
Zoya hurried to explain, "Jee...'woh kya hain nah, Phoopi...'Main andhere maine paani ka jug dhoond rahi thi na...'toh mera haath lag kar woh gir kar toot gaya...'Main subah replace kar dungi."
Dilshaad smiled, "No need for that. Tum ja kar so jao...'yeh subah clean kar dena...'ok"
Zoya nodded, "O.k...'Phoopi."
She waited for Phoopi to leave and shut the door quickly. She stood there staring at the bathroom door. Her anger with Asad returned.
She shook her head and went to clean up the pieces of the vase.
Asad came out of the bathroom. He walked over to the bed and sat down, waiting for her to acknowledge him. She didn't. She continued with the cleaning ignoring him. Once she dumped all the pieces in the dust bin she walked over to her side of the bed and switched off the bedside lamp and went to sleep.
Asad sat in the dark glaring at her. She was so stubborn. He got up and switched the lamp on.
"Mujhe aapse baat karni hain" he commanded.
Zoya got up and switched off the lamp, again. "Mujhe koi baat nahi karni aapse...'Aap yaha se chale jaiye." She went back to sleep.
He switched on the lamp again. She switched it off.
Asad's patience ran out. He switched on the light, one last time. When Zoya moved to switch it off, he grabbed her hand and he pulled her towards him. Once again she was in his arms.
Asad glared at her "Maine kaha na...'mujhe aapse baat karni hain." Then he let her go.
She got irritated, "Kya baat karna hain aapko?...'Usually toh aap mujhse baat karte hi nahi...' Bas order dene main believe karte hain aap...'Aur waise bhi...'aap mujhse kyun koi baat share kar rahe?...Hum aapke hain kaun?" Zoya taunted.
"Ms. Farooqi...'aap agar dialogue marna bandh karengi toh batau, ki main kyun aaya tha"
She folded her arms in front and tapped her feet in an impatient stand, " Bataiye..Kyun aaye the?"
Asad got flustered, " Woh...'actually...'uhm...'mujhe yeh kehna tha...' ki aaj jo bhi hua...'woh karna jaroori tha...'Woh car kissine jaan bhuj kar Rashid Ahmed khan ko marne bheja tha...'Uski license plate nahi thi...'ki main police main report kar pao...'Isliye ...'uhm...'maine usse follow kiya...'almost pakad bhi liya tha...'par '...kissine golli mar di usse" he explained. "Aur woh goli mere aas pass bhi nahi aayi...Iam absolutely fine" He clarified.
Zoya stared at him for a moment, " Aap mujhe explaination kyun de rahe hain.?" Zoya snapped at him
Asad tried to explain, " Woh mujhe laga ki aap naraz hongi...'"
Zoya interrupted, "Main kyun aap se naraz hongi? Main sirf iss ghar ki guest hoon remember, Mr. Khan. Aap ko kya farak padta hain ki mujhe kaise feel hota hain? Aap ko toh yeh dhyaan main rakna chahiye ki apki Ammi aur Najma ko kaise feel hua hoga yeh sun kar ki aap pe kissi ne golli chalayi." She ranted in her anger.
Asad tried once again,"No...'yehi toh keh raha hu..Mujh par golli nahi.."
"Mujhe kuch nahi sun nah...'Aap ki family aap par depend karti hai...'isliye yeh behtar hoga ki aap aage se aisa stunt nah pull kare...'ok...'Now please go from here. It's late...'aur mujhe bahut neendh aa rahi hai." She went to open the door.
Asad stood his ground "Ms Farooqi...'Zoya...'I didn't mean to scare you or my family'...Iam perfectly fine now'...nothing happened to me...'See...'I am ok...' And I will try not to take such risk again." He said softly.
Zoya's eyes teared up.
Asad walked up to her and hugged her tightly. He ran his fingers through her hair while she cried on his shoulder. Her fear for his safety had shaken her to the core, overwhelming her. That fear transformed into tears and flowed from her eyes. When she was done crying, she slowly backed away from him. He smiled at her.
Then he walked out the door. He stopped at the door way and said, " You haven't eaten anything tonight. I brought you some coffee and sandwiches. Eat and get some sleep."
Zoya turned to look at the window and saw a mug of coffee and a plate of sandwiches kept on the table. "Thank you, Mr Khan." She whispered
"Call me Asad. And I prefer that you eat those at the dinning room. But for now let it be...'Just try not to make too much mess ok...'bread crumbs..." Asad went on.
Zoya cut him short, "Asad, please'... Good night." Saying she shut the door on his face.
Asad stared at the door for few minutes and then smiled and walked away.
*******************************
Ayaan was pacing at the corridor waiting for his Abu to come home. Asad bhaijaan had already informed him about the near car accident and the gun shot. He was getting very worried. On one side Dadi was becoming more and more hysterical about Razia trapping his father and on the other side someone was attacking his Asad bhaijjaan and family. He was absolutely certain just like his grandmother that Razia did have a hand in all this. Was tonight's incident also orchestrated by her? He wondered. Razia was unusually preoccupied during dinner. She kept staring at the phone as if she was expecting someones call and when her cellphone rang, she hurried to pick it up and then locked herself in the bedroom for the rest of the night. She was up to something. He'd better go and speak to Asad bhai as soon as possible. Something needed to be done and soon.
He saw his father walking in. "Abu!...Aap thik toh hain?" He asked hurrying towards him. Rashid hugged his son.
"I am alright."
"Do they know who sent that car?" Ayaan enquired
Rashid sighed, "No...'there was no license plate on the car. But the police are trying to trace the identity of the driver."
Ayaan got frustrated, "I know all this is connected somehow with Razia. But we have no proof against her. I wish we could find something on her...'"
Rashid looked thoughtful. "You know'...Dilshaad has a guest living with her in that house...'A girl'..."
"I know...'Bhaijaan has mentioned her...'several times actually." Ayaan smirked at that.
"Yeah...'well she is brilliant...'she had some ideas about trying to find proofs against the Siddiqui's ...'But for that she wanted to come and stay here for awhile under the guise of a family friend...'"
"That's great! Abu. Toh problem kya hain...'agar woh help kar sakti hain..toh we should invite her to come and stay here...'" Ayaan said getting excited
Rashid hesitated, "Problem?...Problem Asad hain...'woh nahi chahta ki woh ladki iss ghar main kadam rakhe...'Infact they fought about it tonight and he was very adamant that she shouldn't stay here as it's too risky...'And I hate to admit it...'.but he is right...'These Siddiqui's are dangerous. If they find out about her...'they will hurt her."
Ayaan thought for a minute, "Idea! Bhaijaan doesn't want her to come and stay here,right?... 'There is still another way for her to come here...'Nikhat has been saying that she wants to learn computer softwares, for awhile now...'Can't she come here in the guise of a teacher?... 'That way she can come here during the day and look for clues and no one would suspect anything'...At night'...she can go home."
Rashid liked that, "That is a good idea!...uhm but I think you better suggest it to Asad...'he would reject it if it came from me'..."
"Don't worry Abu'...I was anyway going to meet Bhaijaan tomorrow'...I will tell him" Ayaan said rubbing both his hands together. 'And that will give me an excuse to meet Asad bhaijaan's little lady too.' He thought.
*****************************************
Bhaijaan called Siddiqui to complain about Razia, "You better learn to keep your wife on close leash. Today, her arrogance almost exposed us. It's because of her that we are in this mess in the first place. You should consider getting her checked at some psychiatric institution." Bhaijaan bit off angrily.
Siddique apologized for Razia and then asked about someone.
"No...'he hasn't called yet. This is good news for us. If he hears about this situation here then...'all hell will break loose...'He will not spare any of us...'not even Razia...'you better know that, Siddique," Bhaijaan replied anxiously.
Siddiqui suggested that they better make some plans to control the situation with Asad Ahmed Khan.
"Don't worry I will take care of everything." Bhaijaan assured. "I have a plan and it all begins with that girl...'
________________________________________
Next Chapter :
https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/78108746
Edited by snehatalk - 12 years ago
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