AsYa : Really? (updated part 4 page 8 - Page 4

Zoya let out a big yawn as the car cruised down the road. They had been travelling for some time now and true to her word Najma had quickly fallen asleep leaving Zoya with nothing to do. Resting her head on the headrest Zoya looked out the window at the green fields rushing past them. The sun was at its peak and cast its golden light over the sheer beauty surrounding them. The world was such a beautiful place but sometimes people fail to appreciate the natural beauty of places like these. Simple things in life never failed to astound Zoya. Having lived her whole life in New York surrounded by high rise buildings, noise and a fast paced life, the change of scenery was actually welcomed. The peace her surrounding put her at was like one she never experienced before. Everything about being outside in an open space not constricted by walls just calmed her down.

A slight cough from Asad snapped her out of her thoughts reminding her that she was not alone. Closing her eyes for a moment to center herself she turned towards Asad with a serious expression on her face.

"Mr. Khan," she said, "I'm really bored."

"I'm driving Ms. Farooqi, I don't think I can help you out with that," he said with his usual frown.

"Your hands are busy but your mouth isn't right? C'mon I have a really amazing game we can play" she said in a sing-song voice trying to entice him to agree. "And what would that be?" he said in a mock interested voice.

"I-Spy," she said in a cheerful voice. "Oh no," muttered Asad.

"Mr. Khan! Don't be a spoilsport. I'll start. I spy with my large eyes, something beginning with..." she trailed of looking around her before snapping her fingers.

"Please don't," whispered Asad with a tortured expression.

"Something beginning with the letter M."

Asad tried his best to ignore Zoya and get back to his thoughts but it seemed that she had no intention of letting go. "It's really easy Mr. Khan, how about I give you a clue?" she said in an attempt to get him to partake in the game. "Let's see, well there are currently four of them in this car, it's clear and you have to glance at them from time to time."

Asad just rolled his eyes and said, "Ms. Farooqi I really do not wish to indulge in your childish games, can you not remain quiet?"

"Oh, Mr. Khan you're just saying that because you know you're losing," she said while shaking her head, "you know for an actual spy you seem to be surprisingly lousy at this game, how on earth did they hire you?"

"First of all Ms. Farooqi , a spy is not recruited on the basis of whether or not they can play a silly game, secondly how many times do I have to tell you that I am not a spy!"

There was silence in the car for a little while before Zoya spoke up again, "Okay, what if I gave you something easier? Let's try again; I spy with my large eyes something..."

Asad let out a exasperated sigh and was about to say something to her when he felt the car shudder underneath him. "What was that?" asked Zoya.

"I don't know," he said with a confused expression on his face. He pulled off to the side of the road and got out of the car before folding up his sleeves and popping the bonnet. A cloud of smoke hit him. Coughing slightly and waving the smoke away, he leaned over the car to check what was wrong. Zoya also hopped out of the car and joined Asad.

"Need any help?"

"No, Ms. Farooqi, I can do this."

"Okay, but I'm actually really good with cars. Instead of baby-sitting to earn pocket money while growing up, I used to help out at Jeeju's friend's garage. Looking up at her while reaching for something he said, "No, thank you Ms. Farooqi, I told you I can do this."

Suddenly realizing where his hand was veering Zoya shouted out, "Watch out Mr. Khan, aapka haath."

"Ouch!" shouted Asad as he pulled his hand back and started vigorously shaking it. He had been reaching down to tighten something but his hand brushed against the battery as a result of which he burnt his hand. Zoya carefully grabbed his hand and inspected the burn before running back to the car and fetching a bottle of water. She poured it over his now slightly red hand before blowing at it gently. Asad was mesmerized by Zoya at that moment to such an extent that he did not even feel the pain. While Zoya was busy fussing over his hand he just gazed at her in wonderment. The wind blew gently and her hair flew back a bit causing her locks to fall on her face. Asad reached out with his other hand and tucked it behind her ear not even realizing that he caressed her face a bit as he took his hand back.

Zoya stiffened slightly at Asad's touch on her face as her breathing increased a bit. She only resumed breathing normally when he removed his hand. Gathering her wits she glanced up at him and asked, "Bohot dard hai?"

Suddenly snapping out of it he gently took his hand back from Zoya and looked down.

"Nahi, it's a small thing, it'll heal." Zoya looked a bit surprised by his sudden pulling away but she didn't say anything about it. Finishing up fixing the car and inspecting it for any other damaging Asad got into the car with Zoya following him. They got back in the road.

Trying to ease the awkward air around them Zoya decided to turn the radio on.

Aalam guzarne ko, mausam badalne ko

Aalam guzarne ko, mausam badalne ko

Yeh dil sambhalne ko, tere bina raazi nahi

Realising the implications of the words Zoya quickly changed the station

Ab mujhe raat din, tumhara hi khayal hai

Kya kahoo pyaar mein, deewano jaisa haal hai

Deewano jaisa haal hai, tumhara hi khayal mein

Zoya reached out and changed the station again

Dil mera pooch raha hai tujhse, Kya pyaar karoge mujhse

She changed it again

Aisa kyun hota hai baar baar, kya isse kehta hai sacha pyaar

Getting irritated with the immense amount of love songs being played on the radio, Zoya reached over to turn it off. Asad also reached out at the same time to turn the radio off. As a result their hands met just before either of them could reach the off switch. Feeling her soft hand hitting his Asad sucked in a breath and stared into Zoya's eyes. Asad was having the same effect on Zoya as she was on him and she unknowingly stared into his eyes as well. Both of them were lost in each other's gazes when Asad heard someone call his name. "Asad," there it was again, but he couldn't tear his eyes away from Zoya's.

"BHAIJAAN!! Look out!" Najma's panicked voice snapped him out of it and he looked forward just in time to see a large truck heading straight for them.