Part 3
5.30 pm that evening Zeenat was helping Zoya dress up. Zeenat was to leave couple hours later for the Walima, so she had plenty of time to help and lecture Zoya.
"Zoya, tum bhi na! Bahar jaane ki kya zaroorat thi? Ab tum late ho jaogi aur Asad bechare ko wait karna parega!"
"Aapi, wo bechara nahi hai! Actually aapi maine unhe apne scars ke bhaare mein nahi bataiya hai abhi tak, aur unho ne mujhe short-sleeve wala blouse diya hai sari ke saath. Toh main kya karti? Aur phir mera pass toh har problem ka solution hai' toh phir maine tailor se detachable sleeves banwaya hai."
"Zoya, par tumhe usko batana hoga. Aur Mashallah woh tumhe itna pasand karta hai ki use tumse koi bhi shikayaad nahi hogi"
"Allah Miyaan, what's wrong with you aapi? Mere paas time nahi hai aur aap in baaton ko leke baithi hain. Help me get ready fast!"
"Ok ok, wear these earrings, while I make your hair!"
"Ok, please put my hair up in a French bun."
"Aapi, aapi, what's the time?"
"Ya Allah, it's 6.15 already. You are so late!"
Zoya was ready but she was rushing around to get the finishing touch right, and in the same rushed manner she headed towards the door.
"Zoya, aaram se!"
Zeenat's POV:
What am I going to do with this girl? Whatever it is' God, please don't give her any more sorrows. And if you do, I pray that may Asad be her strength through it all. May he be by her through thick and thin, like I know she will. I'm so glad they are taking time to spend with each other, at least the foundation that is shaky now will go on to be stronger.
Zoya, as usual in her clumsy ways' and this time rushed ways as well ended up tripping on her sari and landed on Asad's chest!
"What's wrong with you Ms. Farooqui?"
"Well if you give me a sari to wear, this is expected!"
"And you're late"
"I blame the sari"
"And what have you done to it" pointing at the sleeves
"Oh come on Mr. Khan, I just added some personal touch to it."
"Funny, Ms. Farooqui"
"You didn't laugh Mr. Khan"
"Asad, Zoya' you guys are fighting again? Aren't you getting late?" Dilshaad interrupted.
"Chalein Ms. Farooqui?"
"Yes, Mr. Khan"
Asad's POV:
What's wrong with this girl? Actually what's wrong with me? I was supposed to be mad at her for being late! And there she stumbles and falls upon my chest' and I forget. She is so pretty, her hair done up reveals her back entirely and yet it doesn't look skimpy. And although she looks amazing, she didn't wear the short-sleeved blouse. I wonder what went wrong this time! How can someone be so clumsy yet so graceful?
Zoya's POV:
I just love how he's always there to catch me when I fall! And this time it was bonus, he didn't go into his akdu mode. I think love has mellowed him, hahaha. May be he'll become Salim 6packs from Jahapanna 6 packs. Whatever it is, I love him either ways.
A smile had formed on Asad's lips and Zoya had taken notice.
"Mr. Khan, aap toh bahaut kush lag rahe hain!"
"Haan, woh actually' main' kuch soch raha tha"
"Mere bhaare mein Mr. Khan?"
"haan... I mean no'" he blushed with embarrassment of being caught
She chuckled "Aap toh aise sharma rahe hain jaise aap dulhan hai"
"Ms. Farooqui' Main drive kar raha hoon, aap mujhe disturb kar rahi hain"
"Main sahi kehti thi, ek statue bhi aapse zyaada romantic hai! Aap toh propose karne ke baad bhi aise hi hain"
"Aap kehna kya chahti hain? Actually, again main itna unromantic hoon, toh phir date cancel karren?"
"Allah Miyaan, what's wrong with you Mr.Khan!"
Asad smiled.
---x---
Finally they had arrived at their destination. He had booked a private dinner area, like a lounge, in a restaurant on the 7th floor of the building. This area was fully covered, with one of the walls being glass. The view from this glass was of the riverside, and the stars. Within this space, they had a candle-lit dinner table for 2, a mini dance floor ' where they would slow dance later and a sofa' so that they can watch the sunset before dinner and the stars after dinner.
"How do you like it Ms. Farooqui?"
"It's amazing! Now I'm glad I'm not with a statue" and she hugged him. He was taken off-guard, but once he realized what was happening...he hugged her tight. His actions definitely spoke louder than his words.
"I wanted to come here early so that we could see the sunset. Normally, we only spend time in the nights with the stars... but today isn't just any other day. Come here..." he called her towards the sofa. They sat comfortably, beside each other and their legs were resting on the leg rest, and despite that it was awkward. Was he supposed to have his arm around her? Was she supposed to lean on his chest? All these things had happened very unconsciously before, but today it had to be done deliberately until they overcame their shyness. There was still half an hour for the sun to set, and according to his plan' this was perfect timing.
"Ms. Farooqui, Do you know why I got you here?"
"Yes Mr. Khan, for a date! Did you forget already?"
"No, I didn't forget! But do you remember what you said last night?"
Zoya's POV:
What did I say? Unromantic... yes, but it's got to be more than that. Better proposal? - yes, that's it.
"Ummm...Hmmm... Yes, I do remember."
Asad got up and switched on instrumental slow dance music, while Zoya looked at what he was up to and how he didn't bother keeping up with the conversation. He walked up to her and held his hand out asking her for a dance. She gladly obliged.
He twirled her inwards, with her back facing his chest and there they were swaying to the music. His head had bowed down to her ears, and it seemed as though he was blowing soft breaths in her ears but he actually whispered "Zoya, I love you" and she turned around looking him in the eye, seeing the love he held for her. She responded "I love you too, Asad" and then he twirled her again' he remembered how she had got him to say that he felt lucky to have been engaged to her. When she twirled in again, it was as though they were breathing each other. He couldn't get enough of her scent and she couldn't get enough of his. This time he whispered "I feel like I'm the luckiest man on earth because you are going to be my wife".
She was overwhelmed with joy, so much joy that her eyes welled up. Asad would've been worried had it not been for her smile which was wider than it had ever been. He kissed her tears that just fell. And she hugged him.
It was time for sunset, they both walked towards the sofa. Hand-in-hand, and when they sat... without trying, his hands were over her shoulders and her head was on his chest. They were casually talking while watching the sunset. And then Zoya had something to say'
"Mr. Khan"
"Zoya, I think we should start using first names now."
"Asad, I have something very important to tell you"
"Yes, tell me."
"I actually got sleeves stitched on this blouse ... "
"Zoya, it's okay, if you're not comfortable with short sleeves, that's alright' it's no pressure, although I was a bit disappointed"
"Asad just listen to me" this was something she picked up from dilshaad, and she was glad that finally she could get Asad to listen to her.
"There is a reason why I don't wear short sleeves" she detached the sleeves to show him her scars' and he was shocked at what he saw.
Edited by ws12 - 12 years ago
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