Summary: Zoya's kindness gets her into trouble (again!) and she needs Asad's help to get out of it.
CHAPTER 1
"Phupee, Phupee, I have wonderful news!" Zoya is so excited she has to use the door frame to stop her rush into Dilshad's room.
Dilshad puts down her magazine and smiles. "Really? What is it?"
Zoya hands several computer print-outs to her. "I've found a professor at the IT College in Agpur who might be able to help me with my research."
Dilshad studies the top paper. "Professor Shazia Khan. This says she's a professor of history. Have you called her?"
Some of Zoya's excitement fades. "I've called her office twice but no one answers." She smiles again. "That's fine. I'll go to the college tomorrow and wait for her there."
Dilshad frowns. "Agpur is more than fifty kilometers from here."
Zoya shuffles the papers and brings up the bus schedule. "There is an 8:00am bus and a noon bus that goes to Agpur. I can take the morning bus then take the 3:00 return bus back to Bhopal."
Dilshad traces the bus schedule with her finger. "It will take more than two hours to get to Agpur with all the stops. It's a very long trip for you to take alone."
"Phupee, I'll be just fine. The bus stop is right in front of the college entrance." Zoya laughs. "Even I can't miss it."
"I'm not worried about you missing your stop." Dilshad puts down the papers. "Buses are dusty and dirty. You're not used to the germs in those public places. And not everyone you'll meet is nice."
Zoya smiles gently. "Phupee, I'm from New York. Our subway system has germs from every country in the world. I rode it every day for school. I know how to take care of myself in a crowd."
"Zoya, you're my responsibility." Dilshad takes her hand. "I understand how important your research is to you but I don't want anything to happen to you."
Zoya looks down at their joined hands. She puts her free hand on her forearm, over the burn scars hidden under her long sleeve. Her energy dims and she takes a deep breath.
"I have to go, Phupee. I need this information." She shakes her head. "I have to go, I just have to."
Dilshad wavers. Seeing this, Zoya looks hopeful.
"I'll be super-careful," she promises. "I use antiseptic wipes on the bus seat, wash my hands as soon as I get to the college and I won't eat or drink anything that isn't prepared or opened in front of me."
Dilshad still looks uncertain.
"I'll have my cell phone with me every second," Zoya coaxes. "And I'll be back long before dark. Please, Phupee?"
Dilshad sighs. "Do you promise to call me when you get off the bus and when you get back on for the ride home?"
"Yes." Zoya nods so vigorously that her hair falls into her face.
"If I agree, I'll call you several times, too," Dilshad says.
"That's fine."
"You'll call me immediately if there are any problems?"
"Immediately," Zoya agrees.
"You'll stay on the college campus and not go off anywhere else?"
Zoya holds up her hand. "Only the college campus."
"You have the most current bus schedule?"
"Phupee, I printed it off the internet just now and called the station to double-check."
Dilshad sighs again. "Very well. I don't like it but I agree as long as you're home before dark."
Zoya bounces off the bed. "I promise. Don't worry, Phupee. I'm from New York. Trust me, I know how to take care of myself."
Dilshad looks unconvinced. Zoya gives her a bright smile and twirls around to leave the room. She almost runs into Asad, who is standing in the doorway.
"Good evening, Mr. Khan."
Zoya gives him a bright smile but he doesn't return it. Her smile wavers but she continues out of the room without comment.
"Asad, that was rude," Dilshad chides.
Asad doesn't move, deep in thought.
"Asad!"
He jerks as if coming out of a trance. "Hmm?"
"I said it was very rude of you to ignore Zoya like that."
"Zoya? Where?" He looks around the room as though expecting her to magically appear.
Dilshad shakes her head. "Asad, is something bothering you?"
He comes into the room. "No. Why do you ask that?"
"Intuition?" Dilshad suggests. Then she gives him a knowing look. "Plus, you've been standing in my doorway, lost in your own thoughts, for the last few minutes."
He hesitates. "Now that you mention it, there is a small matter on my mind."
"Why don't you tell me about it?" She pats the bed at her side.
He crosses to her. "I'm having trouble with a supplier. His quality of his product has become very poor. He used to give me very good product but lately'"
"So why don't you change suppliers? You don't want to work with him if you're not happy with the quality of his product."
He nods. "Yes, I could but I have a long history with Mr. Gill. He took a chance on me years back when I didn't have a business reputation. He was the only one. We've had such a good relationship before."
Dilshad thinks for a moment. "If his product has been good until now, maybe there is a problem with his plant that he's not aware of. Do you know if anyone else has complained about his products?"
Asad shakes his head. "I haven't asked if others are having the same issue. I don't want to compromise my reputation by letting it get around that we have inferior product, even if it is unintentional. My good reputation is an important asset to my business."
Dilshad touches her son's cheek. "You're a very good judge of character, Asad. If you feel this Mr. Gill is an honorable man, then you owe him a chance to prove himself. Meet with him, discuss this face to face. Give him the same chance he gave you years ago."
Asad puts his hand over hers and presses it to his cheek. "Ammi, how is it that you always know what to do? Did you get a business degree when I wasn't looking?"
She laughs. "I don't need a degree in business. I've studied in the school of life. Kindness and understanding are always the best path, in all matters."
Chapter 2: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/77183165
Thank you everyone for waiting patiently (or impatiently for those who stalk me on PM!) for my next story. And thank you for your wonderful feedback, private messages, buddy requests and for clicking the LIKE button. Your constant encouragement is what keeps me writing! I'm sorry I cannot send private messages to anyone who is not on my buddy list. It's just too time-consuming. Please know that I'll post every Friday morning and Sunday evening, New York time.
I've started posting WEB OF LIES. Here is the link:
https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/84389009
Celebrity Fan Clubs
Anupamaa
