Winding down with Zoya - pt23 updt pg 60 - Page 12

Chapter 13

Zoya bolted out of bed and grabbed her sickness bag. She groaned in frustration. It was back again this morning and she was just getting used to days without it. Asad was up that instant and both laughed. when they saw each other naked as a baby. Asad helped Zoya pull on her tee while he grabbed a towel for himself. "Oh Zoya! not a good start humm he said sympathetically" when she came back to the room all cleaned up. Asad felt a strange sense of " been there done that" now that he had gone trough the same experience. He was on the couch with a lemonade and burnt toast for Zoya and pulled her to his lap. She sat there still letting him work on her back. She rested on his shoulder while sipping her lemonade. Her cheer was back as was Asad's relief. " I think it is a one off thing...ab nahi hoga dobara..." she hoped. " hummm hummm ...nahi hoga" agreed Asad. " i wish I didn't have to get off your lap" moped Zoya. Asad quickly glanced at his watch and said " I am actually going for a site visit. It's about and hour's ride up and back. If you are up to it come with me. I only have to get some pictures won't take long . It's a nice place that I'm heading to. I can hold your hand most of the time and kiss you whenever you want" he winked. " Really..aap ke saath aa sakthi hoon? Great!!" she said. " 10 minutes and I will be there..." said Zoya.

Dilshaad agreed a change of scene would do Zoya good. Asad packed some stuff for the road and set out for the day with Zoya who looked dainty in her crushed white skirt and mint green top. She was getting wider on her hips he noticed with quiet glee. They left and Dilshaad decided to catch up with her friends.

Asad and Zoya very happily chatting all the way up. They both wanted to do this more often, he must grab anytime he could with Zoya he decided. They were close to the lower lake and Zoya sat drinking in the serenity of the place from her perch - the bonnet of their SuV that Asad had set her on; while he got his pictures and notes done. She wanted to be there a little longer...Asad excused himself to answer a call from work ...there were a couple of meetings that were re-scheduled that meant he could go home with Zoya and work from there.

They decided to take a break at a near by food stall and they ran into Dr. Arif. " Hello Brightspot" he hi5ed Zoya. Asad was appalled at the easy familiarity...what more could he expect from a tattooed doctor! He chose to nod. Arif had a day off after 3 weeks of work so he headed for the outdoors. He loved the lake and since it was a pleasant day he decided to rent a paddle boat and go around the lake. " Awww" said Zoya and looked fleetingly at Asad. She wasn't sure what he had in store for the day. "Care to join me" he asked the couple. The look in Zoya's eyes told Asad how much she would love it, he set his dislike for Arif aside and thought there couldn't be a safer way to take her out for a ride than with Arif around he realized grudgingly. Princess Zoya stayed sandwiched between the 2 men who pedaled carefully into the lake. The watchful Asad observing Zoya to make sure she was ok...she was absolutely delighted, he did not want to interrupt her. Arif gestured a thumbs up and the next 45 minutes was sheer joy for Asad as he watched the childlike thrill on Zoya's face. They got off with Arif declaring the ride closed. He wanted Zoya to have a light meal before they made it back to Bhopal.

Zoya asked Arif to join them on the way back, Asad raised his eyebrows to say please do, and together they left. There was easy camaraderie between " Arif for you Zo" and Zo! Even Asad did not call her that. The only one other person in the world calls me that - Najma she said to Arif. In the next quarter hour they had exchanged life stories. He studied in Delhi, won a scholarship and did prenatal and neonatal surgery in Germany. Asad knew most of this, this time Arif recited it to Zoya who - wowed- him almost all the time. He chose to be a gynaec because he " loved working with women". Zoya laughed easily at that while Asad was happy that his wife was next to him strapped in her seat and hi5's would be difficult.

A moment of peace ensued as Zoya dropped off to sleep. Arif moved forward from his seat, held her head carefully as he straightened the seat so that Zoya could stretch more. She rewarded this with a smile in her sleep. Asad caught her moan and nodded a thanks to Arif. Her top had hitched up and a part of her scar from the stab visible. Asad stretched out to pull her top down. Arif looked away and then asked Asad " how did she get that?" Asad almost choked and he turned to Zoya. " She's out like a light! I would not have brought it up otherwise" he snapped. " If you know you must share it with her doctor " he said. It was painful for Asad to recount it. Zoya's step mother hated her. Her mother had left her with a large estate. Zoya had signed that off to her step mother as she wished. "She was rewarded with a stab because she wanted her father's affection" he snarled. Arif put his hand on Asad's shoulder from behind " but she has you now and be with her always." Asad found himself smiling through his teary eyes as he saw the tattooed arm on his shoulder.

Zoya burst through the door and hugged Phoopi. She went on to recount the day. Asad shut himself in his room to work through the rest of the afternoon. His favourite women were chatting - as always - he noted. Dilshaad was talking of how Rashid always had a upset stomach after her morning sickness was settled and both "embryo Asad and embryo Najma". They laughed at the men in their lives and their " nakhre" at a little discomfort. "Imagine we live through this for 9 months".

Asad wished he had his abbu with him to tease them back! But that was not to be! He joined them smiling down at his dear Zoya! Dilshaad smiled at Asad and told him how proud she was of him and the way he loved and looked after Zoya. He sat at her feet, she ruffled his hair while Zoya pulled his hand up and kissed his palm. He had to be happy with what he had - selfless love from 2 genuine human beings. One was a genteel soul, the other a lively, guileless,sincere, and a naughty girl who was at this moment kissing him in all innocence.