Uh hello guys. My first story on the site,I dont know if I should continue.
Feedback will be highly appreciated. Do give it a shot please. :)
"Damn! Why won't this computer turn on?"
Zoya jabbed the power key hard in frustration. Suddenly she caught sight of glinting diamonds on her ring finger and stopped. The panic she had pushed into the back of her mind came flooding back.
She was engaged.
To Ayaan.
Oh god. No,no,no. She took a deep breath. Allah Miyan! What's wrong with you Zoya? You should be bubbling with excitement'you're getting married.
Then why was it that she didn't feel any overwhelming excitement? In fact somewhere, she felt a sense of dread and sadness because somewhere, she knew she'd never be able to love him. Somewhere, she knew she had said yes for her Appi, who longed to see her settled. Ayaan was a a great friend'but nothing more. And what about Asad? Whoa Zoya! Asad? Where did that come from? You're going mad. Just stop thinking OK?
She decided to go and get a glass of water to clear her head.
As Asad saw her walk towards the kitchen, he caught his breath. She was looking beautiful, she always did. But there was a look of worry on her face, she looked unsettled. As he looked down, he saw her nervously twisting the ring on her finger. Right'.the ring. Was she having second thoughts? Asad didn't know why, but at the thought of that he felt a strange sense of hope, of happiness.
Stop right there Asad Ahmed Khan! Zoya means nothing to you. It's just concern that you're feeling, and its normal. Besides she's getting married to Ayaan. Your little brother is getting married.
But as much as he tried, he couldn't summon any excitement.
"Looking for something Ms Farooqui?" Zoya was startled by Asad's deep voice.
"Yes Mr Khan, just my bottle of tablets."
"Why? Is everything okay? Are you feeling fine? Do you need a doctor? What's wrong?"
"Oh God, Mr Khan! I'm fine! It's my daily vitamin tablets I'm looking for."
"Oh okay, let me find it for you."
Few seconds later, Zoya saw Mr Khan pull out the bottle she was looking for. "Here you go Ms. Fa-"
Wondering why he stopped mid-sentence, Zoya followed his gaze. She found him looking at her uneasily twisting her ring on her finger. She didn't even know she was doing it.
"Look Zo- Ms Farooqui, are you a hundred per cent sure about yo-"
Suddenly there was a clanging noise. Zoya gasped. The ring had just fallen and gone rolling down the floor, but the ring was nowhere in sight.
Oh crap.
She had just lost a diamond ring.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Zoya sat on her bed, thinking about everything that had happened. She had found the ring, or more like Asad had found the ring. He promised he'd find it and return it to her. And so he had done. While returning from the washroom, she had found the ring with a note saying it was below the sink. There it lay, on the table. She couldn't bring herself to wear it yet. Zoya swore she saw guilt flicker on Asad's face. Did he think he was responsible for the ring getting lost? She recalled the events that took place in the kitchen and smiled at his concern for her. He looked so cute when he was worried. And was he going to ask her if she was happy with the engagement? I mean he would want her to be happy right? She was his younger brother's to-be wife after all.
Ugh, to-be wife. That sounded so intimidating. Her life was so messed up, she almost laughed. She thought about the purpose she had come to India with, and how now, she was engaged to someone she didn't love and was falling for someone who was not betrothed. Wait? Wth? Falling for someone? NOWAY!! Arghhh! And what about her abbu? He was nowhere to be found. She had tried every possible lead, followed every possible clue to the end with no success.
At that moment, something snapped in Zoya. Everything she had been holding back burst. Her mother's death, her frustration at not finding her abbu, everything. This engagement was the breaking point.
Zoya flung open the doors and ran, ran as fast as her legs would carry her. She ran down the stairs, ran out the living room, out of the door, into the garden until she bumped into something warm and hard. She looked up to see none other than Asad. He looked shocked, as he held her silently. She sobbed into his chest, letting it all out. She had to let it all out.
"Do you feel like talking now?" he asked gently, a few minutes later.
Zoya was always apprehensive about talking about her past with anyone. She didn't know if it was just her present state of mind, but something made her feel like it was okay to tell Asad. Asad was different. He would know.
"It's everything Asad, everything from ammi's death, to abbu, to this stupid engagement," she met his questioning eyes and continued, "My ammi burnt to death in front of me. And I could only stand there helpless. And after that my abbu was nowhere to be found. He just left me and went Asad, left me and went away. My appi and jiju took care of me like their own, after that. I came to India, to Bhopal, to find out what happened to abbu. If he is even alive anymore?"
She paused to let the tears flow and saw the pain in his eyes. He looked like he wanted to say something, but was waiting for her to continue. She went on, "But I don't have much to go on. No proper photo, family history, address. I tried whatever but it's all failing. And my visa's also expiring. And then Ayaan's proposal came along. Appi and jiju were so happy that I got a proposal from an Indian guy I'm already friends with. And they are the best people I've ever known. I just can't break their hearts by saying no to this. I feel like such a useless fool."
All this let out a fresh round of tears.
"Zoya, never ever call yourself a useless fool," Asad growled. "You are the bravest person I've ever known and if you've stood you're ground through all this, you can face this one too. You'll find your abbu and find out what happened to your ammi. I know you will. And your Appi and Jiju would never want you to get into a marriage you don't want to okay?"
He cupped her face and wiped the tears as Zoya drew strength from his touch.
"We'll work this out, yeah? Everything will be okay. And always remember, whether anyone is there or not, I will always be there for you."
Zoya felt a strange sense of calm with his words, a feeling of safety in his arms. And something she had never felt before. Something indescribable.
She felt her heartbeat quicken as his lips brushed her forehead, and hugged him tighter. There they stood finding peace and calm in each other's arms, never wanting to let go.
Mr Khan and Ms Farooqui
Jahanpanha six-packs and Miss New York
Asad and Zoya
"Bhaijaan? Zoya? What's going on?"
There it is. Please give your feedback. :D
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