A Change of Heart: An AsYa SS: Ch6 Pg6: ON HIATUS - Page 3

"Ms. Farooqui, may I come in?," asked Asad.

Jahapana is here!? What is he doing here? He never comes to my room unless he's mad, she thought to herself. Then again, his stunt this morning was completely unusual as well. She relished in the memory, and smiled briefly.

Asad was watching her intently, slightly baffled by her sudden change in expression, and the dreamy look in her eyes. Could she be happy to see me? Although he was used to her constant mocking of him, he had to admit he liked seeing her like this: quiet, innocent and... perhaps a little excited?

"Ms. Farooqui? I'm sorry. If you're busy, I'll leave," he ventured carefully.

Zoya blinked and it dawned on her that she was staring at him. Fidgeting with her hair, she looked down.

"Um, no. It's ok. Come in, Mr. Khan." She watched as he took a few steps inside her room. "Can't sleep?" she asked.

"Woh, mein," he hesitated. He couldn't admit that he just wanted to see her. "...pani lene gaya tha. Aur... I, uh, saw your light on. I thought I'd ask if you had any progress with your search for you abuu."

Zoya's eyes lit up at the thought of his concern for her. And just like that, her face fell a little as she answered him.

"Nahi. Aaj mujhe laga ki mein apni manzhil ke bohut karib thi. But it turned out to be a dead end."

"Kyun? Kya mila aapko?" Seeing her disappointment was bothering him more than he'd like to admit.

The concern in his voice was once again making her stomach flutter. "Ek address mila tha. Par lagtha hai woh galat ghar ka tha. Ya phir jino ne mujhe diya tha, uno ne tikhse likha nahi." She sighed and looked down at the music box.

He took a few more steps, careful not to startle her, and sat on the edge of her bed. Asad watched her intently as she opened the music box and relished in the sweet lullaby's tune. Zoya hummed to it for a few seconds with her eyes closed. She had been so certain that address would lead her to her father. She sighed once more, and opened her eyes to find Mr. Akdu Ahemad Khan gazing at her. Her eyes grew wide for a split second, before she looked down. Embarrassed, she realized he had seen her deep in thought. Was he watching me? But why? He's always irritated with me...

Realizing he'd been staring at her, Asad too looked down, his eyes darting side to side from the embarrassment. Damn. Get a hold of yourself, Asad! Regaining his composure, he attempted to say something encouraging.

"Don't worry Ms. Farooqui. I'm sure you'll find something concrete soon. If you want, I can... woh... mein... I mean.. I could come with you, if you'd like." He looked up, searching her face for any hint of excitement at the prospect of spending time with him. Why do I long to be with her.. why does her sadness bother me so much?

Zoya just stared at Asad. This man is so hard to read. Most of the time he's telling me how to behave, and how I should be like his beloved Tanu, and other times he's like this: sweet, caring, and lov... Whoa! No. Not happening, Zoya. this is Akdu Ahemad Khan. He's emotionally challenged.

Asad cleared his throat. Zoya realized he was waiting for an answer.

"Woh.. I don't want to keep you from you work...," she said, quietly. And I'm sure he's rather spend time with Tanu.

"It's not a problem.. if you, uh, need a... friend... I can, um, make an exception. I understand how important this is for you." He didn't want to define his feelings for her. But friend seemed like a safe way to describe their relationship so far. Why am I so worried about what kind of relationship I have with this girl? Why is she so intriguing?

Zoya let his words sink in. Friends? Is that what we are? No. It's not friendship. But I guess it's close.

"Thank you, Mr. Khan. If you want to come with me, you can. After all, I've come this far thanks to you. And of course Ayaan." She smiled at him. Despite their fights and arguments, he really had been the main key to finding her abuu. Without his help, she would still be trying to piece back those ripped pieces of paper with an address on it, to no avail. Asad nodded at her in acknowledgement. he chided himself, as he remember that same paper and how delayed her search yet again because of his anger and wrongful judgement. Their eyes locked for a few moments.

Precap: A little blast from the past... =P

He was distracted by something colorful sitting next to her on the bed. So that's where it disappeared to. And there it was. The lion's mask from his childhood play.

"Yeh... aapke paas...? Kaise?" He asked, pointing to the mask.

Zoya blinked as she tried to understand what he meant. Her eyes followed his finger. When she noticed what he was pointing to she was confused.

"Yeh? Mujhe bahar garden mein mila tha. Kyun, Mr. Khan? Kya.. yeh.. aapka hai?" She couldn't fathom the idea of Jahapana owning such a colorful and whimsical item.

And just then she was rewarded with one his rare half smiles. Asad recalled the day when Najma had brought a box full of things from their childhood. How this mask was a lonely reminder of the few happy moments he had with his abuu, with his family, his unshattered family.

Zoya looked at him carefully. She studied his face. It was not often she saw him smile. But what she was enjoying more was the look in his eyes. So calm, so serene, almost as if he was at peace.

"Mr. Khan? Kaha kho gaye aap?" she asked, carefully.

Asad blinked back to reality. "Woh, actually..." He sighed. "Ji. Mere bachpan ka ek khilona tha," he said, with yet another small smile.

Zoya was once again in shock. Jahapana ke pas khilone the? And he's smiling again! "Woh, Mr. Khan, aap ki bachpan ki bare mein kuch bataiye to zara. I mean aap hamesha se to Jahapana nahi the na?" she said with her most mischievous smile.

Remembering what happened with his abuu, his smile again disappeared.

Seeing his face fall, she decided not to press the matter. "I'm sorry, Mr. Khan. Agar mujhe pata hota to mein nahi rakh thi. Lije..." Yet again Zoya could sense his walls momentarily coming down. But alas, it was but a glimpse, and just like that they were back up.

He looked at it in her hands."It's ok. Aapko kaise patha hota." But as he was about to take it, a thought crossed his mind. "Waise, aapne ye rakha kyun?" He knew she was a little childish, but he couldn't figure out why she would keep something like this with her.

She looked down at it. Why had she kept this? "Pata nahi. Hmm... Shayad, kyun ki ise dekh kar mujhe kisi ki yaad aagai." Yes. That was it. "Pehle to mein ise itna nahi dekti thi, lekin pichle kuch dino mein ise ziada dekhne lagi hoon."

Asad's heart did a summersault. Maybe it reminded her of me? "Aur, woh..., kiski yaad dila tha hai ye?" he probbed, anxiously.

"Aa..." she started, and then stopped. Zoya looked down, embarrassed. What's wrong with you, Zoya? You almost blurted out to Jahapana that you think about him! He doesn't think about you. He can't stand you. But then, why is he in my room at this hour, and he's not even grilling me...

Asad noticed her sudden hesitation. But as he heard the first syllable he felt his fists clench. He looked down, his eyes trying to focus on something to hide his anger. Does she mean... No. She couldn't. He was an animal with her. How could she be thinking about him? "Akram...," he said flatly.

Zoya's eyes grew wide as she looked at him in shock. Did this man really think she was such a mosaicist that she'd be pining for a low life like Akram?

"Allah miyah, what's wrong with you Mr. Khan? Akram? Are you crazy? Mein uske bare mein kyun sochungi?" Zoya looked down again. Suddenly all the horrible memories of that day flashed before her. She pulled her knees to her chest, putting her arms around them.

Her sudden anger startled him. "Woh, actually... Ms. Farooqui, I'm sorry." His fists relaxed, mirroring his relief. He looked up at her, but just as he was about to open his mouth again, he stopped.