The new day came with new promises. Usually quiet Khan Mansion shred that image and broke into laughter as the chirpy Zoya brightened the environment. That was the first time it witnessed the women of the house being soo happy. Rashid and Gafoor being away from home only added to their happiness as it is the only time the women can come out of the conservative environment.
As Asad descended down the stairs, the scene he witnessed filled his heart with warmth. His Ammi and Little sister were laughing freely to some jokes cracked my Zoya, the new addition to his life. It's after a long time he is seeing them that happy. He thanked the stars for turning his decision to be true.
He cleared his throat as to gain some attention from the three lovely ladies in front him and his wish was granted. Najma went to fetch breakfast for her brother as Asad settled himself in the dining table. He took the newspaper and started reading it. It was then he heard Zoya's voice again.
Zoya: "Phoopi, why are you not sitting here? Come sit na'"
Asad looked at Ammi who was looking at Zoya nervously.
Dilshad: "Nahi Beta. I will have food later'"
Zoya: "Why later? Why not now?"
And Asad knew his Ammi's answer. She won't sit in the dining table as it was the tradition of that house. The house which gave no importance to his mother, the house which gave only pain and betrayal to her, to them' he closed his eyes to contain himself as he felt anger surging through his veins remembering the painful memories. He heard Zoya persuading his Ammi again who was protesting weakly. As he opened his mouth to stop Zoya, he heard another voice. It was Ayaan's.
"Oh' Not again" thought a grim Asad.
Ayaan: "It's because she have no right to sit there."
Zoya turned and looked at the curly headed guy who rudely interrupted her chat with Phoopi.
Zoya: "Excuse me'"
Ayaan's mouth was wide open as Zoya turned to face him. His eyes started travelling all over her body as Zoya flinched under his gaze. Never she have felt soo uncomfortable infront of a guy like she had felt in front of him.
Ayaan: "Bhai, Who is this hot chick?"
And that one question brought a myriad of emotions inside Asad. He fisted his hand as if to control his anger. Anger, jealousy and possessiveness, everything was reflecting in his eyes. He roared at Ayaan.
"AYAAN'. Behave yourself'"
Ayaan: "What the'? Don't shout at me ok' You are no one to shout at me'"
His words pierced Asad's heart like an arrow. Is that the same Ayaan who couldn't live without him even for a second, thought a hurt Asad.
Zoya looked at the two men standing in front of her engaged in verbal spat. She decided to butt in.
Zoya: "Excuse me... How dare you shout at him like that?"
Both Asad and Ayaan looked at Zoya, disbelief written all over their face.
Ayaan: "Are you talking to me?"
"Allah Miya What wrong with you? I am looking at you so it obviously means that I am talking to you" said an angry Zoya.
Ayaan: "Who are you anyways?"
Zoya: "I am Zoya. Asad's fianc"
She told that with pride to which Asad couldn't help but to smile a little. Ayaan was shocked beyond imagination.
Ayaan: "Wha' what? You' fianc' his???
Zoya: "Haan' Tho?"
After a moment's shock, Ayaan was back to his normal flirty self'
Ayaan: "So sautela bhai gets a girl huh? Interesting'. But I wonder Zoya, what you see in him' I think a girl like you would be better off with a guy like me"
And that was the limit for Zoya... she so hated this curly headed guy.
Zoya: "Nah' you are wrong' you may dream for a girl like me, but you will never get it. And Asad, well, every girl will die to get a man like him in their life. He is humble, sincere and honest. And most importantly unlike you, he values relationships. That's why he didn't puncture your nose till now for bad mouthing his Ammi and flirting with his fianc. You see, you are his sautela bhai and he still cares for you' now, will you please excuse me, I have a lover to attend to'"
With that she turned around but decided otherwise and again faced Ayaan to give him a final dose.
"And about Phoopi's right over this house' Only she has the right to sit here because she is the WIFE of Rashid Ahmed Khan. Not just wife, but LEGALLY WEDDED WIFE' Get that clear into your mind before speaking ill of her again. May be others will forgive you, but Zoya Farooqui will not forgive you'"
With that she walked off towards Asad leaving a shocked Ayaan behind.
The smirk in Asad's face immediately brought up a smile in her face as she realized that he liked whatever she told to Ayaan. She made a metal note to herself to always make him smile.
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As the days passed, Zoya became an important part of Dilshad, Najma and Asad's life. She lit up their otherwise dark world. Asad often wondered how she knew soo much about them' how she is able to understand his Ammi and Tamatar'. How she able to break through the wall he have created around his heart' And most importantly, how she is able to make HIS heart dance according to HER tune'
It was Eid' Khan mansion was fully decorated to celebrate the Holy function of Eid. As usual Asad have bought gift for his Ammi and sister. The only difference was that, he bought gift for someone else too' He slowly walked towards her room only to find it's empty. A frown appeared in his face thinking about her whereabouts. Soon it was replaced by relief as he heard water running down in her bathroom. Slowly he kept the gift in her bed and walked out of the room.
It was a long and tiring day for Zoya. Eventhough it was a day for celebration, she didn't felt like being happy as she missed her family soo much. She always missed her family in these special occasions which reminds her of the fact that what she had lost' but, she put up a happy face in front of her Phoopi and Tamatar. When she couldn't take it anymore, she had excused herself from them and retrieved to her room. She entered the bathroom and let the tears flow which she was holding back till that time.
She came out of the bathroom feeling a bit relieved and ok. It was then that her eyes fell on the beautifully wrapped gift in her bed. Confused, she started walking towards the gift. There was a note attached to it.
"Zoya,
I don't know whether you will like it or not. It's a small gift to you for Eid. I always gift Ammi and Tamatar as they are the most special ones in my world. And this time' I felt I have to give you something' Please Accept it.
Asad"
Tears rolled down her cheek as she read that note again and again. Oh no'. don't think that she was crying because she is sad, infact it was the tears of happiness' She felt that a small part of her heart started filling with hope again'
"Asad's gift' that too for me??? Does it mean that'does he consider me also as a special one? Does he really?"
She slowly unwrapped the gift and a gasp escaped her lips as she saw the gift. Inside the box, there lied a beautiful red lehenga' once again, her eyes filled with happy tears. She took the lehenga close to her heart and hugged it with all her might as she felt she is hugging Asad himself'
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Asad was impatient' He soo wanted to see Zoya in that red lehenga. he just wanted to know how she looks in his choice' He just wanted to admire her beauty' he just wanted to cup her face' he just wanted to run his fingers through her arm'
"Shut up Asad' What the hell are you thinking? She is not your fiance for real' you are just helping her'Get that straight into your head"
His mind chided him for all those forbidden thoughts.
The sound of anklets disturbed him from his monologue. He turned towards the direction of the sound and was dumbstruck with the sight that greeted him. There she stood, clad in the red lehenga, in his choice, looks beautiful than ever'
Asad found himself taking steps towards her. His mind told him to stop, but the naughty heart was not ready to listen. He soo wanted to touch her.
"Don't even think about it Asad' She is off-limit. OFF-LIMIT"
Warned his mind.
"Just look at her Asad. She is soo beautiful"
Encouraged his heart.
"Are you out of your goddamn freaking mind?"
Roared his mind.
"She is an angel Asad' just take a step'and let your insecurities wash away'"
Pushed his heart.
"Don't tell me that I haven't warned you about the consequences"
Told an enraged mind.
"Don't listen to your mind' Just listen to me once Asad' just once"
Begged the hopeful heart.
And with that his heart pushed his mind to the backseat and steered his emotions. Within a second he found himself standing next to Zoya, soo close'
Zoya felt tingling sensation in her body as Asad stared at her. She could see a myriad of emotions in his eyes. His face reflected his inner conflict. It was gone instantly and a relief washed over his face. The next moment she found him standing really close to her. She stood there blushing a deep shade of crimson. In that instant she knew, Asad has effect on her like nobody does.
Asad's heart did summersault as he saw her blushing which matched to the colour of lehenga. Forgetting about all his insecurities, he closed the distnac between them as his arm sneaked around her petite waist, pulling her up close. Zoya gasped with the sudden electricity his one touch brought. He slowly fingered down her cheeks as she blushed deeper and her eyes drooped. He couldn't help but to smirk at that. With his one finger he slowly raised her chin and made her look at him. With passion burning in his yes, he whispered into her ear,
"You look beautiful Zoya'"
Her eyes brimmed with tears and a tear escaped her eyes. Letting go of her waist, he cupped her face with both his hands and slowly kissed away the tear. She closed her eyes as his lips touched her skin. She opened her eyes again only to see a pair of hazel eyes looking at her with desire so strange. His gaze shifted to her rosy lips. He couldn't control himself as he leaned into kiss her. She closed her eyes in response. Their lips were only few centimeters apart when his rational mind again kicked in. His heart sighed as he stopped what he was doing. He couldn't believe that he let his heart control himself. He looked at her whose eyes was still closed and was waiting for his lips. His heart wrenched looking at her.
"Don't you feel sad ruining this special moment?"
Shouted a hurtful heart to mind.
"No. I am protecting him, unlike you"
Back answered a furious mind.
"No you are not' you are keeping him away from his happiness'"
Told his heart as a matter of fact.
"I don't care what you think. It's the best thing to do"
Explained a frustrated mind.
"I won't let you ruin his life like this'"
Protested his heart.
"I will keep him away from all these feelings even if it means his life is ruined. Try your level best to break him free'"
Challenged an overconfident mind.
"Well' Challenge Accepted"
Said a determined heart.
As if to prove its point, the heart took control over Asad once more and he dropped a kiss in her forehead and whispered in her ear,
"Eid Mubaarak Zoya'"
With that he walked away leaving a flushed Zoya behind.
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"Allah Miyaan what was that? What had transpired between me and Asad? We were almost' to kiss' KISS??? Am I falling for ' NOOO'. No way'Aargh' He will make me crazy one day'"
Rambled a confused Zoya while going towards her room. She heard some noicces from Najma as she was passing by. She slowly entered the room to check what was happening. The scene in front of her wrenched her heart. Najma was sitting in a corner of the room hugging her knees and crying badly. Zoya quickly closed the door behind her and ran towards Najma. She gathered Najma in her arms. A severely distraught Najma looked at Zoya and buried herself deeper in her chest and started sobbing uncontrollably. Zoya patted her head whispering words of comfort. After a few moments when Najma's sobs subdued, Zoya parted herself from Najma.
"Tamatar, what happened? Why are you crying like this?"
Najma hesitated for a moment, but Zoya's eyes gave her assurance.
"Zoya, I don't know what happened to him' He is gone' I don't know where to look for him'"
Zoya was confused will be an understatement, she was shocked.
Zoya: "Tamatar, whom you are talking about?"
Najma: "I' I don't know how to tell you this' you know Zoya, when my Abbu did the second marriage, I was only 2 years old'My Ammi loved him a lot and he cheated on her' He married another woman just for the sake of money, thus leaving my Ammi heartbroken' I grow up seeing my Ammi and Bhaijaan in pain always' Everyone's Abbu showers their kids with love and gift, but my Abbu showered us with Betrayal and Pain. His one decision changed our life'. We became strangers in our own house' We were treated badly by Abbu's second wife Shireen and Mumani Raziya' Even though Ammi and Bhaijaan tried hard to protect me from their wrath, I often find myself became target for their curse words, not to forget Ayaan Bhaiyya and his sisters'"
Stopped Najma as she felt choking due to the crying. Zoya immediately rubbed her back to calm her. Feeling a bit relieved, Najma continued;
"My experience in life taught me not to believe in love' What if love brake me apart like it did to my mother' and I vowed never to fall in love' I kept the vow until... Until I met him'"
Zoya: "Whom Najma?"
Najma (Sighed): "HIM' Neither I know his name nor his background' I met him for the first time when I was walking to college' One day I was crossing the road and I was about to be hit by a car when out of nowhere he came and saved me' I didn't felt anything that time. Slowly I started noticing that every day he used to be present in the same place' he used to wait until I crossed the road and then he disappears' It became a habit for both of us' Slowly slowly I began developing feelings for him' I felt that the hope for true love is still alive and I made a mistake of letting my heart control me' I saw love and care for me in his eyes' Well, I at least thought so' I guess I was wrong Zoya' There is nothing called Love in this world' He left me like Abbu left us' without telling anything he too went away' Now a days I never see him' I longed to see his face, to see him smile' I even tried to purposefully create an accident so that he comes and save me' But he never came Zoya'He never loved me' Those emotions I have seen in his eyes were not true'There is nothing in this world called true love' There is only betrayal and pain'"
Zoya couldn't stop herself from tearing seeing the condition her Tamatar is into' How much more this kid will suffer, though a worried Zoya. She hated her Allah Miyaan for putting Najma in that condition. She had to do something, she cannot allow Najma to think too low of love. A determined Zoya made Najma face her.
"Tamatar' I won't blame you for thinking that love is another word for betrayal'Everyone says love hurts, but that isn't true. Loneliness hurts... Rejection hurts' Losing someone hurts... Envy hurts... Everyone gets these things confused with love, but in reality love is the only thing in this world that covers up all pain and makes someone feel wonderful again' Love is the only thing in this world that does not hurt'
Its soo easy to give up your faith on love and life, but it's very difficult to keep up the faith and behold it close to your heart protecting it from all adversities' In love everyone deserves a chance'
As someone said;
Lovebrings joy, it brings peace. It brings sadness and grief. It brings hope, it brings pain, it drives people insane. It brings smiles, it brings tears, it helps overcome fears. It's part of you, part of me, part of us, cause love is key'"
Zoya looked at her Tamatar who was looking at her intensely' With that one look Zoya knew, Her Tamatar has started considering her heart over mind' She hugged the girl in her arms promising that she will be always there for her' As Zoya replayed her own words, she couldn't help but to remember the scene transpired between her and Asad. She wondered,
"Is Love is the Key between us?"
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