"Aaah!!!!" Came a voice from the room of Zoya Farooqi, startling the four people peacefully dining at the table, namely, Asad Ahmed Khan, his ammi, sister and his childhood best friend, Tanveer. As if in reflex, Asad flew out of his chair and raced to Zoya's room. His ammi and Najma not too far behind. Tanveer gave one of her trademark evil smiles, thinking maybe something happened to Zoya and followed them into her room.
"Zoya!" Asad cried, flinging her door open. "let her be alright" he prayed, though he didn't say that out loud. But what met his eyes was NOT what he expected. Expectation: Zoya would be lying on the floor half dead having slipped on the junk lying in her room while dancing, unaware of her surroundings or some thing equally silly... anything was possible when it was Zoya. Reality: Zoya was jumping on the bed looking immensely happy, which was a bummer to a certain Tanveer, but was a beautiful sight for ammi, Najma and especially Asad. But that didn't make Asad any less angry! That girl had shouted and had them all worried and was now jumping on the bed like she hadn't a care in the world!
"Zo-- miss farooqi" Asad called out, pulling her out of her trance. She turned and jumped on Asad, tackling him in a hug. "Yaay!" she screamed. To say that Asad was baffled would be the understatement of the year. He staggered, nevertheless, he held her. And it felt good. Her petite frame easily fit into his arms. Her head rested on his chest, allowing him to take in the scent of her shampoo. Lemony. He tightened his grip around her. He could stay like that forever. A meteor could have wiped out the earth and he wouldn't have moved.
A cough brought him out of his paradise. They immediately pulled apart and looked away from each other. Dilshaad looked at them both and smiled, shaking her head. Then she looked at Najma and winked. Najma giggled. Tanveer looked at Zoya with pure loathing. This girl was ruining all chances she had with Asad. She had to be done away with.
"Zoya, beta what happened? we heard you shout and were instantly worried. Is everything OK?" asked Dilshaad "Huh?" Zoya spoke...still in a trance. That hug...she hadn't meant to hug him...as soon as she'd done it, she wanted to break away...but something stopped her. Something she couldn't describe. That hug...it had just felt right. Like his arms were the only place she was meant to be. In those arms, she felt protected. Like nothing could harm her. Cause he would never let it.
"Zoya, are you sure you're OK?" came phoophis voice, breaking her train of thoughts "uhh...umm...Yes!! yes phoopi! I am absolutely fine!!! seriously!! no need to be worried!!" she said. "But then why did you shout?" Najma asked her. "Shout? when did i--Oh yeah!! I almost forgot...guess what?? Farhans coming to town?" she said enthusiastically. " You make it sound like he's Santa Claus. Like 'Santa Claus is coming to town'...Najma sang. Zoya laughed. "Well...he is a lil fat...but not Santa level fat" she said. Najma and phoopi laughed, Tanveer did too. Asad didn't find anything funny. "Who's he? Farhan, I mean?" phoopi asked. " Oh! he's my childhood best friend phoopi. Im closer to him than anyone else. He's always been there for me when I needed him. He's always protected me. When he found out that I was coming to India, he was so angry! but then I told him my reasons and he agreed. He is really busy with work na...so he's not had time to visit me. But now he's finally coming!!!! I am so so so so happy!!!"Zoya clapped her hands like a lil girl."
Asad didn't know why, but he felt a surge of...something... who the hell was Farhan? and why was Zoya singing praises about that guy? He himself had saved her plenty of times. She hadn't done that for him!! Not that he cared. "oh! so cute!!!! were you guys, like...you know... together??" "Najma" said Asad in a stern voice and immediately Najma turned silent. "Its OK Mr Khan. I have no problem with telling her. You're all like my family anyway...!" She said to Asad, then she turned to Najma and said " And as for your question Tamatar, me and Farhan were together for quite a while...Why, he was my date to the Prom!" Asads breath stuck in his throat at this. " The prom?'' he thought. " That party where all the kids get completely wasted without parental supervision? And after that they...Wait...after prom stuff...WHAT??? She...that guy...after prom.." " NO!" he shouted, and realised, too late, that he had said that out loud and startled everyone around him. "Is everything OK Asad?" his ammi asked. " Yeah Ammi. Sure. everything is fine" Asad replied. Then glanced sideways at Zoya who was looking at him with a quizzical look. Their eyes locked a second too long and both of them looked away. "Allah miya! Whats wrong with me? Why am I not able to look away when Mr Khan looks into my eyes? What is this force that pulls me towards him?" she thought.
"OMG!" Najma exclaimed. " Temme more, Temme more!" she said excitedly. " There's not much." Zoya replied " The relationship didn't work out too well, so we decided to just stay friends! And that was an amazing idea!We are so close now! I'm so glad he's coming!!! God! I haven't seen him in so long!" "Arre beta, rest aside, where is this friend of yours staying?" Dilshaad asked. "Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that Phoopi...he actually doesn't have a place to stay...so I wanted to know if..." "Yes" came the prompt reply from Dilshaad. "Umm...but I didn't even complete my question yet...!" Zoya said. "You wanted to ask if Farhan could stay here, right? So I said yes!" Dilshaad replied. Zoya looked at phoopi, awestruck. "How do u always know what I am thinking? " she said "its like to you, my mind is like an open book!" Dilshaad laughed, said "A mother always knows her child's mind. And you are no less than a daughter to me, beta!" Zoya teared up and hugged her Phoopi. She was glad that she had someone who understood her completely.
"Now, now" said Dilshaad "stop with the waterworks and tell me when is your friend coming so I can make arrangements for his stay..." "He could stay in my room with me phoopi!" Zoya replied. "No way!" came the counter reply from Asad. She was high if she thought he'd let that guy stay in the same from as her. in fact, he'd personally make sure that this Farhan character's room was as far away from Zoya's room as possible.
"And why not?" Zoya questioned. "Umm...Actually...its..." Asad stammered. "Are, Zoya, Asad wants to say that there are a lot of guest rooms available in this house. So what's the need of both of you squeezing in one room? Right, Asad?" Dilshaad said. Asad looked at her gratefully. Dilshaad smiled. She very well knew why Asad had a problem with Farhan in such close proximity with Zoya. Her son was in love. And she would do anything to make sure his love succeeded!
Asad made his way back to his room. "Who is this Farhan guy? Why does Zoyas 'saviour-like' description of him not sit well with me? Why do I care if she has done all the after-prom stuff with him? Why does the idea of him staying in her room make me feel like someone has dropped burning hot coal into me?? Why do I like the feel of her body againstmine? Why can't I see any guy within 10 feet of her?" The questions going in his mind. "Am I...J- j- jealous?!?!" He thought.
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So...bad? Supa bad? Horrific? All criticism and opinions are welcome. Comments to me, are like chocolates. I love em'!!!
-Sharyn