OS: Problem, Mr Khan? (last part pg 37) - Page 17

"Aaahhh!" Zoya screamed, as she slipped on the wet floor and landed squarely on her behind. She momentarily closed her eyes and struggled to fight of the pain that she could feel creeping up her spine and legs. She heard the sounds of hurried footsteps approaching her and knew Asad had heard her.

"Zoya!" he exclaimed, making his way into the hall "what happened? I heard you scream!" He found her sprawled on the ground, her face scrunched up in discomfort.

"Allah miyaan! What the bloody hell is wrong with the maid?!" she cried, her eyes still closed. Asad chuckled as he saw her unconsciously rubbing her hip, trying to ease the pain. "How can she just leave the floor wet, like this?"

"Language, Zoya. Here, let me help you up" he took her hand and pulled her up, only to have her fall against him. He caught her waist as she stumbled, her arm pulling on his neck and her head almost near his chest.

Zoya felt something weird. No, not emotionally weird, but there was something wrong with Mr. Khan's shirt. She'd held on to it about a million times now. It had never felt so smooth, so soft and so warm... her eyes flew open. And she found herself looking at those gorgeous six packs she'd dreamed about almost every night, from the moment she'd caught him bathing leisurely, the other day.

"Zoya? Are you allright?" Asad asked her, because she looked dazed.

"Six packs'" she murmured, ogling at his magnificent body. Then realization dawned on her. Mr. Khan was shirtless! And she was clinging on to him while not a stitch of cloth covered his upper body. Her head snapped up to look at him in horror and she found him gazing back at her with barely concealed amusement. She straightened herself and pushed him away.

"Allah miyaan, what's wrong with you, Mr. Khan? How can you roam around so shamelessly when you have a woman staying with you?"

"Well, forgive me for not waiting to put my shirt on when I heard you scream your lungs out. I should've made you wait till I was dressed and presentable, before I could come to your rescue" Asad replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Zoya rolled her eyes.

"Why aren't you wearing a shirt, anyway? You're not the sort to roam around flaunting those gorgeous abs, just because you 'feel' like it"

"I was having a bath, for crying out loud! I just got out of the washroom, like, five minutes ago! And I'm glad you find my abs 'gorgeous'"

"Only a blind man wouldn't" Zoya muttered to herself.

"Pardon?"

"Nothing. Thank you for helping me up. Now if you could just-"

"Zoya! Bhaijan! We're home!" Najma's voice interrupted them. The main door flew open to reveal Dilshaad, Najma and lots of shopping bags. They were just about to come and hug Zoya when they spotted a shirtless Asad standing next to her, looking highly embarrassed.

"Asad?" Dilshaad said, shocked to see her son like that "what- why aren't you wearing any clothes?"

"Ammi! I'm just not wearing a shirt! Please don't make it sound like something else, entirely"

"Yes, fine, but why aren't you wearing a shirt? And that too, in front of Zoya? What will she think?"

Asad rolled his eyes. Zoya was the last person who would 'think' anything, if he went shirtless. She would probably sit and stare at him all day, and burst into her crazy shayaris, every five seconds. Nevertheless, he didn't want Ammi and Najma getting any wrong ideas.

"Zoya fell down and screamed. I'd just taken a shower and was getting dressed, when I heard her. So, I rushed out to help. That's why I didn't get time to wear a shirt. Now, if you would please excuse me, I'd like to go and cover myself up before Miss Farooqui here, dies of hyperventilation". All eyes turned to Zoya, who turned crimson, as she realized she'd been staring at him open mouthed, all this while. Najma giggled as Dilshaad gave her a knowing look.

"All right, enough teasing. Asad, hurry up and get dressed, Najma, go ask the maid to prepare something to eat. I'm starving, Zoya, would you mind helping me un-pack? We bought a lot of things, this time. I'll break my back if I do it alone".

"Of course, Phupi!" Zoya said, glad to have an excuse to cover up her embarrassment "I'd love to help you!"

Two hours later, they all gathered in the dining area to have their lunch, with Asad taking a day off, which pleasantly surprised both his mother and sister. He frowned at them as they whispered and giggled together, and concentrated on eating his food. The doorbell rang, and Zoya got up to get it.

"Mona Darling!" greeted a voice and she was engulfed in a bear hug, before she could respond.

"Wha- Ayaan?! What are you doing here?" Zoya asked, shocked that he'd come here while everybody was in the house.

"Relax, Mona. I'm here with everybody's consent, except bhaijaan's. but, I'm hoping he won't mind me barging in, like this"

"Who called you here?"

"Why, Najma did! And so did Dilshaad Ammi!" he replied, flashing her a winning smile, and made his way to the table. "What's for lunch, sis?" he asked Najma as he sat down next to her. Zoya closed the door and returned to her seat, stealing a glance at Asad. He looked confused as well as a little angry.

"So, is your fight over?" Ayaan asked Zoya a few minutes later.

"Yeah, for now" she replied.

"So you guys made up, huh? Awesome!"

"No, we didn't 'make up'. We just talked and sorted things out"

"Why the quotes, Mona Darling? Are you suggesting what I think you're suggesting?"

"What the f-?! No!" Zoya cried, catching herself just in time, as Asad looked at her formidably. Ayaan just laughed.

"What fight, Ayaan bhai?" Najma asked, clueless about the ongoing topic.

"Nothing, tamatar. Just eat your food. Ayaan, you too" Asad told them sternly.

"So, did u guys kiss?" Ayaan asked them. Asad and Zoya choked on their food simultaneously.

"WHAT?!" Zoya exclaimed after gulping down two glasses of water. "No, you idiot! We most certainly did not kiss!" She looked at Asad for help, who was now looking anywhere, but at her. Dilshad, by now, had caught up to what was going on, and decided to join in.

"Asad, Zoya. What is going on? Did you two something that you weren't supposed to, yesterday?"

"What?" Asad finally replied "No, Ammi! You know I'd never do such a thing!"

"Then what is Ayaan talking about?"

"I'll tell you, Phupi! It was all Mr. Khan's fault! I was freely chilling out with Ayaan, yesterday, when Mr. Khan dropped out of the sky unexpectedly. He then got jealous on seeing us together so he threw Ayaan out and-"

"Excuse me!"Asad cut in "I most certainly did not get jealous on seeing you two cartoons together! I was just surprised to find him here, that's all!"

"Oh, really? Why did you throw him out, then?"

"I never threw him out! He was asked to come home by his sisters!"

"Don't lie, Mr. Khan! You asked him to get out at least two times before he actually went. Accept it, you were jealous!"

"I was not!"

"Yes, you were! You wanted to spend time with me, that's why you came home early. You couldn't bear to see the fact that I was already having a good time with someone else, so you lost your temper!"

"Fine, I was jealous! Happy?"

"Extremely! You're so emotionally challenged, Mr. Khan! You take an eternity to say things which normally take ten seconds!"

"Oh, yesterday's emotions weren't good enough for you, Miss Farooqui?"

"Oh, so you're back to that name, huh? A nice change, for someone who had been insisting on getting on a first name basis, yesterday!"

"You know what, I really don't care. Think whatever you want to, hang out with whoever suits you. I. Don't. Care."

"You don't care? Then why were you jealous?"

"I was jealous because I love you, dammit! Is that so hard for you to understand?"

The room fell silent. Zoya's eyes widened at what she'd just heard. Was she dreaming? She had to be dreaming! There was no way Asad Ahmed Khan had told her that he loved her. Zoya mentally pinched herself, while her heart fluttered and danced a jig in her chest.

Asad's eyes bore into her, a mixture of anger, frustration and determination etched on his face. The girl drove him crazy. It was high time he cleared the confusion once and for all. Yes, he loved her and no, he wasn't afraid to accept it. He had his own share of fears and insecurities about falling in love, but he could do nothing to change the situation. It was done. He was in love and now he had to deal with it.

The clatter of Najma's fork on her plate broke them out of their trance. They stepped away from each other, surprised to find themselves so close, with Asad holding Zoya by both her arms. He must have caught hold of her and pulled her to him in the heat of their argument. He gently let her go and cleared his throat.

"I- er' I think I need to go to the office today. I just remembered something. There was this incomplete project- I'll see you guys later" with that, Asad hurried out, leaving Dilshad, Najma and a very red Zoya in the dining room.

"I think I'll just take a nap Phuphi. I'm really tired and I had a bad fall today. I'll... I should just lie down for a while. Umm... bye!" she managed to get out, and fled the scene. Ayaan, Najma and Dilshad grinned at each other. Now they just needed to get part two of their plan in action. 'Mission Zoya's confession'.

So? How was it? hope you liked it... i get really nervous every time i post a new chapter.. pata nahi pasand aaega ya nahi... 😕 and yup, you guessed it right... there's going to be another part... you guys told me to write. therefore, i SHALL WRITE!!! 😆😆 but the next part is going to be the PAKKA WAALA last part!!!!! and THANK YOU SOOO MUCH FOR SUCH A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL response!!!!!!!! 🤗🤗 you guys are the best and i LOVE you!!!!!!

P.S- for those who are just catching up, I do individual pms... so please comment on the post to receive one! 😊

Love,

Peppy ❤️