Asya ff In The Shadows Chapter 25a page 94 3/11

Chapter 2

She cleared her eyes immediately, rubbing the tears from the back of her hand.

"Miss Farooqi?" she hears him calling.

"Yes Mr. Khan?" she said with a shaky voice turning towards him. He looks at her intently where she isn't making any eye contact with him.

"Is something bothering you?" Asad asks concernedly

She looks up at him, there eye meet for a while but then she looks away remembering the last time she had opened up to him and told him the reason for her stay in Bhopal how he had just left her midway, broken and crying. But then he is the one because of whom she was going to meet her abbu soon. If Asad had not taken her to that old building that day.

Then she remembers how he had blamed her for everything the very other day and left her alone. The very day Tanveer had entered her life. Nothing has been any good since. You can't just call it mere bad luck.

'No not this time. I won't let you break me this time. I am not that mirror you can break again and again. Each time into a million more pieces. I know I forgive soon but there is a limit to everything why should I open up to you every time, when you can't console, when you can't understand.'

Asad is deeply studying her facial expressions as they switch from grief to anger and then back, trying to figure out whats going on in her mind. He could guess that he wouldn't be trusted this time. That he had hurt a lot.

"I don't know. Maybe my dilemma." Zoya says in frustration and leaves.

He felt like somebody just shot an arrow in his heart. Grief is visible on his face. Pressing his temples he sighs.

'Why can't I have any control on my feelings towards her? No matter how much I deny she does affect me a lot. Its not only your dilemma Zoya, its mine too, one side of me wants to forget everything and accept you while the other half wants to run away.'

Asad paces towards his room, frustrated and then slams it shut.

While Zoya on her way back to her room, sees her i-pad on the center table in the lounch. She grabs it and makes her way back to her room. While turning towards the lobby that leads to her room her right ankle twists, she loses her balance and lands on the floor awkwardly. She places her hand on her mouth to control her scream. Obviously, she din't want to wake everyone up at this time of the night. A strong pang rises in her foot. She holds it tightly with one hand to minimize the pain. A while passes. She tries getting up with the support of the wall when she realizes that she hears someone talking. It's a woman's voice. She is standing besides Tanveer's room.

"Razia…. Why are you calling at this time?" a sleepy Tanu asks probably to someone on the phine.

A pause………

Something clicks in Zoya's mind and she immediately launches the video option in her i-pad and tries to fix the camera on Tanu, herself hiding behind the curtain so that Tanveer is unable to see her.

"You don't need to worry, no one in the house has any idea that I changed the recording in the doll, not even Asad. He is still mad at Rashid for everything. By the way you have been quite successful in creating distances between the two. And now after watching today's news, Asad thinks that it is Ayan who has leaked this news to the media. He thinks he lost his brother too. Poor he." She smiles with an evil grin.

She hears from the other side for a while before starting again…..

"I know that I'll get my share of the game but not as you said. Its way too less a reward for my hard work. After all who would want to take in her very dear childhood friend? But money is a appalling necessity. And so I want it doubled or else you know……. I still have the recording on a memory card. Asad, my beloved childhood friend, he trusts me blindly, I can make up any story and it won't take him a second to believe."

She threatens. Another pause…….

"Don't worry darling, as soon as I get the money, the card and all other proof is all yours.But mind you I am not leaving anywhere so soon, there is still some work to be done here." She cuts off the call and smirks to herself.

Shock is visible on Zoya's face. She forgets the immense pain in her ankle. Before she can think of anything else she sees Tanu coming towards the door. Zoya immediately makes for an escape , limping because of the pain. She locks the door behind her, panting.

'So this is what she is here for…. How can she betay her childhood friend for some mere pieces of paper. She has no right to destroy others' peace of mind for her own benefit. Asad will be so depressed when he finds out. His trust would be shattered' he trusts her blindly. How could she deceive him like that? Whom is she working for? Wjo was this Razia? Was just money the sole reason for this cheapness? Can money buy someone's faith so easily? Is it soo cheap? Was this betrayal so easy for her?'

Zoya's head was spinning with a dozen questions.

' I need to tell all this to Mr. khan right away. He needs to know.But would he believe me? No, he certainly wouldn't, not under these circumstances. I need to gather up more evidence. But eventually he needs to know. He would have to believe me only then can he see the true colours of his best childhood friend.

Zoya fights back the tears in her eyes and limps to the bed her ankle in awful twinge.

The next morning Zoya wakes up early.

'Today is a big day. All my problems might just be sought or they might just start. It all depends on my luck. Ya Allah Please be with me. This sould all end up good.'

As they say….The only thing predictable about life is its unpredictability. Zoya, unaware of what lies for her in her future, plans her day with a heavy heart and sour eyes.