AsYa FF ~ Mere Jazbaat ~ T#1 ~ Link to T#2 Page 1! - Page 25

Chapter 11: "Run, Little Boy, Run"

On the way to the airport, Zoya's phone started buzzing. Afraid she new who it might be, she silenced the call. Zoya, Phoopi ya Najma bhi ho sakti hai. I should at least check who it is. A small, but sad, smile formed on her lips as she saw the caller ID.

"Hey Rabart," Zoya greeted the caller.

"Mona, bhaijaan ke saath kuch hua kya? Aap kaise hai?" Ayaan was worried that his brother had misunderstood her intentions. He was still in awe of this girl. She was merely a guest in his home, and yet she went through all this trouble to unite the two brothers, not once, but multiple times.

Zoya's hear stopped. How does he know something happened? Meine to kuch nahi bataya... Kahin... yeh Mr. Khan se...

"Uh... N-Nahin Rabart. Kuch nahin hua. Tum aise kyun puch rahe ho?" stuttered Zoya. I can't have him being mad at his brother. Not after all that's happened.

"Mona... meine bhaijaan se baat ki. Aur unne aise lagta hai ki yeh sab tumhari wajeh se hua hai. Lekin mein jaanta hoon ki aisi koi baat nahin hai. Aap mujhe please bataiye, uno ne aapse kuch kaha?" retorted Ayaan. I have to know if something happened. Bhaijaan's anger is ruthless. I hope he didn't...

Shit, thought Zoya. Well, at least he doesn't know what he said to-. Just the thought of his cold and bitter words brought that lump back to her throat. "Nahin Rabart. Woh naraz zarur the. Lekin aisa kuch nahin hua jaise tum soch rahe ho. Tum chinta mat karo. Waise, acha hua ki tumne phone kiya. Mujhe tumse puchna tha, ki... Humeira kaisi hai?" I hope she's ok. I could never live with myself if something happened to her.

Mr. Bhatawdekhar was quietly listening to all this.

Ayaan wasn't convinced. But I guess she's doesn't want to bad mouth Bhaijaan to me. *sigh* "She's ok, Mona. Zher nikla aur ab woh araam kar rahi hai. Aap chinta mat kije. Une kuch nahin hua," he reassured her.

"Allah ka shukar hai. Ayaan, mujhe maaf kardo... meri wajeh se... tumhari sagaai..." started Zoya.

"Zoya, aap aise kyun khe rahi hai? Isme aapki kya galti hai?" Now Ayaan was sure. Bhaijaan ne zarur kuch kaha hoga.

Zoya was once again touched by his trust in her. He knew her for less time than Mr. Khan, Phoopi and Najma, and yet he seems to trust her blindly.

"Kher, ye sab choro. Mujhe tume kuch batana hai. Mein... New York ja rahi hoon..." she managed to get out.

"Kya? Yu achanak! Kyun! Aapne jhoot bola tha, na? Bhaijaan ne aapse kuch kaha tha na?" I knew it, thought Ayaan. It has to be. Why would she be leaving all of a sudden, otherwise?

"Nahin, Ayaan. Meine kaha na, aisi koi baat nahin hai. Bas, mera visa expire ho chuka hai. Aur mujhe India se thore dino ke liye bahar jaana hai. But you don't worry. Tume jab bhi kisi bi chiz ke liye madaat ki zaroorat ho, to mujhe call karna. Ok?" said reassured him once again, her last few words coming out in a whimper.

"Mona... Aapne bhaijaan se help liya hota. He could've gotten you an extension."

"He tried..." she trailed off, flashes of the last week before her eyes. His employment letter, the mishap at the office, the announcement of their engagement... and his description of their first meeting...

"And? Mona? Are you there?"

Ayaan's voice made her blink back to the reality at hand. Those were a dikhava. He doesn't want me in his life. I am nothing but a musibaat magnet. "What I mean is, even your bhaijaan's best efforts weren't enough. Inshallah I'll be back soon. I'm reaching the airport, I'll have to hang up. Tum apna khaial rakna. Aur Humeira se, meri taraf se, maafi mangna, please. Over and out, Rabart." And with that she cut the phone, knowing that she couldn't hold back her tears anymore, but that she couldn't let him notice.

Mr. Bhatawdekhar watched Zoya intently. Mujhe patata. In dono ke beech kuch to hua hai. But what could have been so bad, that she wants to leave the country? Until yesterday morning she was so adamant to stay. Hmm... I'll have to be quick. I can't waste time getting answers.

"Par Mona aap- Hello? Mona? Hello?" The line had gone dead. Something wasn't right. All Ayaan knew is that he had to find out what happened. And he was sure of one thing. His bhaijaan had something to do with it.

* * * * * * *

"Hello?"

"Salaam Walikum, Bhaijaan." Ayaan greeted Asad.

"Walikum Salaam. Ayaan mein is wakt tumse baat nahi kar sakta," explained a distracted Asad.

"Bhaijaan, mujhe aapse ek bohut zaroori baat karni hai. Zoya ke barein mein."

Zoya... Did he know where she was!? "Tum jaante ho woh kahan hai?" he probed frantically. Of course she would call her Rabart. No. Rabart. Not hers, he mentally corrected himself.

"Aap nahin jaante? Woh New York ja rahi hai. She said her visa was expiring. But bhaijaan did something happen? Why is she leaving all of a sudden? Aise kaise achanak unka visa expire hua. Aap-" But Asad cut him off.

"Ayaan kya uno ne kaha ki woh konsi airline le rahi thi? Ya unki flight konsi hai?"

"Nahin bhaijaan uno ne mujhse zyada baat nahin ki. Aur mere baat ke beech phone bi katdya." Now Ayaan was sure something was wrong. Agar woh unko bata ke gayi hoti, to Bhaijaan aise paaglon ki tara une dhund te nahin hote.

Shit. Zoya, tum nahin jaa sakthi. Mujhse itni bari galati dobara kaise hogi? Asad mentally cursed himself for all the times he'd misjudged her. All the times she'd been misunderstood by him. All the times she'd forgiven him, even for his most unforgivable actions. All he knew in that moment, was that he needed to stop her, to apologize to her and promise her that he would never doubt her. Ever again.

"Ayaan mujhe phone rakhna parega. Khuda Hafiz."

"Par Bhaijaan, meri ba-" But once again, he was cut off. Bimari hai inn dono ko phone kaat ne ki, Ayaan huffed. Allah kare, sab theek ho jai, he prayed.

* * * * * * *

The pale police car pulled up at Bhopal airport with a sudden halt. Zoya's eyes flew open, as she realized she'd dozed off. Exhausted from her continuous waterworks in the last 24 hours, she was grateful for even those 10 minutes of shut eye. But as it dawned on her where it was she was waking up, again her heart sank. No turning back now, she thought sadly.

"Chaliye, Ms. Zoya." Mr. Bhatawdekhar guided her to the entrance, handing her the reigns to her suitcase, and her fate. Zoya walked along with Mr. Kaide + Kanoon into the check-in section of the terminal.

Mr. Khan...

* * * * * * *

Asad's 4x4 speedily made it's way through the airport entrance. He overpaid the parking attendant, to park right in front of the entrance. Ya Allah, please mujhe meri Zoya ko rokhne do! Wait a minute... meri? Haan... said his heart, Zoya meri hai. Sirf meri. And his mind, for a change, was taking a backseat, and letting his heart take over.

He ran through the doors, stopped just inside, looked left and right and ran further inside, checking every counter he passed. His heart was in his mouth. He was sweating profusely, both from exertion and the fear that he might be too late. And that Zoya, his Zoya, might be taken away from him. Forever.

"ZOOOYAAA!!!!!!"

* * * * * * *

Zoya stopped mid step. Why do I... I feel like he's nearby. STOP IT, Zoya. So what if you feel that? It's your imagination. And even if he is here, why do you care?

"Ms. Zoya? Chale?" Mr. Bhatawdekhar could sense her uneasiness even more now. They had checked in and were making their way through the baggage drop off area, when he heard a deep, and hauntingly broken, cry.

Zoya... Someone is calling her?

Again Zoya stopped. Mr. Khan? Is bar to meine unki awaas bhi suni. Yeh mujhe kya ho raha hai? Ab jagte we bhi kuaab dekh ne lagi hoon?

"ZOYAAA!!!" This time the cry was even clearer. Almost as if... as if it was following her.

* * * * * * *

Asad ran up to one of the counters. "Excuse me! Kya aapne ek ladki ko dhekha hai? Woh jeans pen rahi thi. Aur unke lambhe kale baal hai. Woh New York jaa rahi hai." The last words stung his heart.

"Um... Come to think of it, yes sir, I did. She went that way," said the attendant, pointing towards the baggage drop off. "But sir you need a tick-"

Asad didn't hear the last part of her instructions. He dashed past the counter and towards the baggage drop off. He ran as if he was being chased by a wild bear. And he was. The idea of a life without Zoya, without her bright, dimpled smile and her silly shayaris was chasing him, trying to grip him into accepting that she was gone. But he wouldn't give up that easily. Not yet. Not when he could feel her. She was close, and he knew it.

Just as he reached the taped off conveyor belt, he stopped. His breathing, which was ragged from running, stopped, as he inhaled sharply. He blinked hard, afraid his eyes were betraying him. Once. Twice. And finally started breathing again. It wasn't a mirage.

There she was, right in front of him.

I know, I know, cliffy KYUN!? But trust me.. another twist is coming your way :) just wait for it.. this was more of a filler, but to set you guys up for the next part, which will be just as long :) And here is where we will see a conversation between both Asya and Asad and Dilshad :D

Alsooo please please please comment. I love that I have so many views, but I would love to hear from more of you about what you think. Especially if you have certain things you want to see in the story, please do share them :) Like I said before, if they fit in with what I'm trying to do, I will surely incorporate them <3