Winding down with Zoya - pt23 updt pg 60 - Page 11

Part 12 -

Asad cast his frustrations aside decided to look at all that went right with life now. Got into bed with Zoya and slipped to sleep after he made a mental note of what needed to be done the following day.

Asad came down for breakfast the following morning, the rest of the family were around the table and Zoya a little pensive. Appi and Jeeju were relieved that Zoya was progressing well and said that they would like to go back the following day. Asad understood that they had to get back to their lives. As did Zoya but, she loved having them around and was pouting. Aapi got around and hugged her and told her we will be back after the baby is born that way "we will be able to spend time with the baby too" said Appi. Zoya nodded but could not stop the flood of tears. Jeeju went over and hugged her while she sobbed into his hands. Asad looked on with a smile. She so deserves all the affection he thought. Zoya straightened smiled, looked at Asad who was smiling at her warmly, she decided to belt out her jokes and everyone erupted with laughter because this time her jokes were really funny!

Asad got off the table " Allahafizz" he said and prepared to leave for the day. He went over to Zoya patted her head and asked to her look after herself. " No running up and down the stairs" he reminded reminded her. She nodded pulled him down by his neck tie and kissed his cheek. "Asad" she said murmured "don't work too long...you are going to have a really long night tonight" she winked. He bit his lower lip to keep a straight face as shook his head with a smile.

He left for work feeling absolutely on top of the world! He was re-living the morning in silence of his car. Heartbeat; he smiled thinking of what he heard last evening. It was still ringing in his ears. "How was it possible to love someone that you don't know so much?" he wondered.

Work had it usual pressures, there were delivery issues, minor issues with his staff. But thankfully the trouble with their accounts had come to a logical conclusion and their loss limited. His mind went back to the heartbeat and the image they saw yesterday and this time baby was not Asad as Zoya referred to him when he felt low. This baby brought a huge smile on his face and filled him with light! "My baby" thought Asad again unable to shake off the wonder they shared yesterday.

Asad wound up for the day and was heading home. He saw a familiar figure standing next to a broken down car punching some numbers on his phone. "Dr.Arif would you like a ride?" he asked. A relieved Dr.Arif nodded a thanks!. " Clinic" asked Asad "yes please said Dr, Arif". They chatted along the way Arif learnt that Asad was an Architect while Asad learnt that Arif had exceptional credentials as a Doctor. He wondered what he was doing in a place like Bhopal given his background and his age. "Passion" replied Dr.Arif agreed that it was a completely impulsive decision but something he never regretted till day and that he had been in Bhopal for the last 8 months loving every minute of it "even the trouble" he added. The men shook hands. Arif caught Asad looking at the nail marks and scratches on his arm "rewards" winked Arif. Asad disapproved of that again. "Can i have your number please" asked Arif. Asad belted it out not so warmly but he might be useful Asad figured and the prescription helped "thanks" waved Asad letting him off.

The night was all that Zoya had promised exciting and seductive. Asad was more than happy and he really did miss the intimacy that they shared. She smiled, cuddled,twirled , sucked and bit till he was screaming with pleasure. "Thank you Zoya" he kissed her as her rubbed her back contently. It had been awhile since they slept like they did tonight naked and tucked into each other.

Asad woke up in the morning preparing himself for a deluge of tears from Zoya. She hugged Appi and Jeeju as did Asad. They all went to the airport to see the gracious couple off. Asad had his arm around Zoya and his Ammi. Zoya was remarkably balanced. She leaned into him when she waved a final bye with a contended sigh. Asad was surprised and pleased. She was belting up next to Ammi as she winked at him when he was staring at her through the rear view mirror and asked innocently " Asad are you coming home or heading to work?" He smiled and said " Allahhafizz see you both in the evening" after he let them down at home.

He walked into his office all set for the day. His secretary told him that he already had someone waiting for him in his office. Asad nodded but wondered why his secretary sounded so reverential. He briskly walked over to his table gesturing for the lady to remain seated. " Namaste" she said while Asad returned her greeting with a smile.

She handed him a file. She told him that she had seen his work at Dr. Chaaya's clinic. She has a proposition for him. "I would like to build a school for underprivileged children" she said. She needed an Architect who would design and build the school which must cater to children with special needs and be wheel chair friendly. She had the land she needed but was worried about the letting it fall into the hands of the wrong builder who might see other commercial uses for it. She was new to Bhopal and hence she need not just his professional services but also help with permissions and grants that a project of this stature would need.

Asad noted that this was a very generous project, he promised to look into this and meet up soon with her with a timeline and commercials. Her land would be safe with Dilshaad constructions he assured her. " I'm sure of that beta" she smiled, Asad held the door open for her, escorted her out; came back wondering why she felt so familiar. So elegant yet so simple, her hand shake so dainty yet so firm. Impressive silver haired lady he thought. He got his team to work, got them to do a needs assessment. a basic sketch and left instructions to draw up a list of all the additional information they would need.

Asad came back to a still house. He wondered if Zoya was asleep. Ammi and Zoya were praying. They settled down - Asad for some reading time while Ammi and Zoya were watching some dance show on the television. He wondered what was going on between the two of them. The quietness seemed surreal. He walked upto Zoya touched her forehead " you ok?" he felt contrite for not being able to put his finger on what it was. He would wait for them to open up he decided and went back to reading. Asad missed Anwar jeeju. He missed the muted male kinship they had come to share.