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Zoya's face reflected her shock. After sometime, reality dawned but she could not tear her eyes of those beautiful face and eyes that were boring into her with concern and confusion. Her eyes were searching his face for something. She could not fathom the fact that Asad was actually there on the train, in Delhi, in front of her, and holding her. From astonishment, the eyes now reflected pain and angst. Even without her realizing her eyes filled up and the tears started flowing down her fair flawless cheeks. Her mind told her to stop reacting the way she was, but her body had stopped responding to her mind. She wanted the time set back to the day of her wedding when she and Asad were so looking forward to becoming man and wife. Her eyes were frantically searching his face. She felt that even Asad's eyes had some pain and they were searching her face. He slowly lifted his right hand, hesitantly brought his fingers close to her face in an attempt to wipe her tears. His eyes kept darting to the purplish bruise on her right forehead which she didn't realize much yet. She pulled her face back instantaneously. His fingers curled into fist, and his lips pressed into a straight line. He lowered his hand but his eyes did not leave her face one second. Both of them were looking at each other and it looked like eternity. Someone tapped her shoulder and was asking them if they even knew what was happening around them on the train.
Zoya pulled herself out of Asad's arms. She composed herself and looked here and there and found her hangbag and ipad around near. She picked them up and looked around to see what was happenning. Allah Miyah! She learnt that the train due to some technical fault stopped mid-way on the raised train track. She could see the high raised buildings on either sides of the train. Beneath the track there were vehicles zooming. Zoya felt that everything around her now is spinning. She wiped her eyes and looked at Asad who still was looking at her face and there was also a trace of guilt and at the same time relief on his face. The marriage drama came back racing in her mind. How can she even get excited about seeing him? Did she forget the way he insulted her and her people? Didn't he almost ruin her life? He might have thought that he had reasons for that but he also must have known her better to have behaved the way he did. Chuck it, Zoya. Who do you think you are dealing with? MR. Asad Khan. You can't expect anything more out of him. Bitterness and betrayal brought the lump up the throat again. She swallowed hard and started to move towards the door of the train to see what's happening. She could feel Asad trying to wade his way through behind her. She with great effort tried to ignore him. Why isn't he saying anything? He is just staring at me. How did he get here and for what? Did he know that I am here. She kept that information away from everyone, not that she knew many in India. She even made it appear like she was going back to NY for good and last she knew was that everyone believed that she returned to NY. So Asad could not have come to Delhi looking for her. He must have come on business and co-incidentally met her. Whatever the cause, how does it matter?
Zoya waited with bated breath near the door, waiting for it to open. She completely avoided looking in the direction where Asad was. She didn't want any conversation or confrontation. No reasons, explanations, regrets or anything else. She cannot forget the woman in her being insulted, and the person who did that was none other than the man she loved, that too on her wedding day. Her cheeks turned red with anger and eyes filled up again. What is wrong with me? How can I cry at the drop of a hat. She cursed herself for being so weak. She turned to another side so that Asad does not witness her tears.
In her swift move, she brushed against the young man next her. The train was quite packed and no place to move. The young man turned his head to see who pushed him hard. The questionable look in eyes turned in one of interest. She said sorry to him and tried to wipe her face discretely. The yound man was amused and he said mockingly, "Ma'am, they are working on the automatic door. It's jammed, but don't worry. You are not in great danger."
She snapped at him, "oh! really? Thank you for your information," and looked away. The young lad now got really intrigued looking at the beautiful young gal with tears and started to study her. Zoya did not like that place at all. Any other time she would have given him a good treatment. Today she was exhausted with frailed emotions and did not want to go through another drama. She tried to ignore his looks. She tried to inch away from the young man as much as possible but the guy slowly moved and he again was close to her. Yaa Allah! What problem is this now? Why did God make my day so eventful today? Why can't this damn door open up? Suddenly she felt someone pullin her gently to a side and coming in between the young boy and her. She did not have to think as she can never mistake the owner of those hands.
"Why do you trouble yourself traveling by trains like these?" he hissed through clenched teeth.
The question reeled her off balance completely. She turned her head swiftly to give him tart reply. She was about to spit those angry words but stopped mid-way as she caught the young man looking at both of them keenly now. She glared at Asad and turned back without saying a word. There was sudden gush of fresh air. Allah Miyan! The door has opened now and the train was moving slowly too so the passengers could alight safely at the next nearest station. Zoya held on to her breath and waited for those few minutes which looked like eternity. She wanted to jump out of the train and disappear into the crowd, far, far away from Asad. Thankfully the station coming up is hers. The moment the train stopped she swiftly moved towards the door pushing the people in the front. She stepped out of the train and walked fast without looking back.
"Ms. Farooqui, wait." she could hear Asad.
She blindly walked forward. She could hear him call her out and even feel that he was right behind her. He swallowed up the distance quicker to even with her.
"Look, Ms. Farooqui. I want to talk to you," he said with some kind of urgency in the voice.
"But I don't want to talk you, Mr. Khan," she sneered. All emotions for him now turned into total fury. She didn't want to give in to her emotions this time and let others play with it.
"Now, if you don't want me to insult you in public, I would appreciate that we behaved like we don't know each other and part ways. I don't want to do something that will leave me looking cheap in my own eyes," she could hear her voice trembling with anger. No Zoya, you will not cry in front of him. Not now. She told herself.
She didn't realize that her body was shaking and her turned red with emotions. Asad had a stricken look on his face. She could see that he was as usual having trouble thinking about what he should do next. Neither could he confront nor retreat. He stood fixed. Wasn't that always his problem. Things weren't improving for Zoya.
She turned around abruptly and started walking.
"Ms. Farooqui, you are hurt. You need to see a doctor now. Listen to me, we need to talk..." she could hear Asad reiterate helplessly.
She stopped and turned towards him decisively. "I know to take care of myself, Mr. Khan. I don't need anyone's concern, especially yours. I have survived successfully for six months now and am sure will do better without your intervention, is that clear?" She could hear herself so bitter. Didn't sound like her at all, but she knew she needed to vent. To get over once and for all. Her eyes were betraying her by flooding again looking at her beloved standing defeated in front of her. No, this time she ought to be firm. She gave him one straight look to stamp her stance and turned around and walked into the crowd, leaving her wounded Asad behind.
**********
The warmth of the coffee cup and aroma did less to stir her spirits. Seated in the balcony of her apartment, she looked lost. She came back home with mixed emotions. Mechanically went through a quick shower, changed, dashed a mail to all concerned to state that she had to postpone her meeting due to some personal emergency, made a cup of coffee and pourted into a black cup (in an effort to virtually have Asad close to her). She still cannot believe that she actually met Asad, and Asad did not follow her or try to stop her forcefully and talk to her, take her to the hospital, ask her how she had been all the while, and what she was doing etc. Though she blasted him, after coming a little away from the station, she did turn to look for him. Her eyes scanned the whole place around her. He was not visible. Did he really go away just like that leaving her to go her way? She couldn't take that at all. Disappointment seaped into her mind and body making her weak. Her tears which never stopped from the time she entered her home have made her eyelids heavy. She felt very sad that she was torturing her body like this. With that thought she got up and washed her face and forcefully blanked her mind out and got onto her bed to sleep. Sleep evaded her but she didn't give up. She kept concentrating to sleep. She did not know when Asad crept into her mind to hold her, carress her, stroke her hair, and kiss her forehead to sleep. Felt like heaven! "Good night, Asad" she wished into the empty bedroom.
********
The link to the first part of the OS, if you are interested.
http://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3590236
Thank you for liking the first part. Please leave your comments and criticisms. This is my first attempt at anything like this and am sure I have lots to do to improvise. Help me get better at it :-)
Zoya pulled herself out of Asad's arms. She composed herself and looked here and there and found her hangbag and ipad around near. She picked them up and looked around to see what was happenning. Allah Miyah! She learnt that the train due to some technical fault stopped mid-way on the raised train track. She could see the high raised buildings on either sides of the train. Beneath the track there were vehicles zooming. Zoya felt that everything around her now is spinning. She wiped her eyes and looked at Asad who still was looking at her face and there was also a trace of guilt and at the same time relief on his face. The marriage drama came back racing in her mind. How can she even get excited about seeing him? Did she forget the way he insulted her and her people? Didn't he almost ruin her life? He might have thought that he had reasons for that but he also must have known her better to have behaved the way he did. Chuck it, Zoya. Who do you think you are dealing with? MR. Asad Khan. You can't expect anything more out of him. Bitterness and betrayal brought the lump up the throat again. She swallowed hard and started to move towards the door of the train to see what's happening. She could feel Asad trying to wade his way through behind her. She with great effort tried to ignore him. Why isn't he saying anything? He is just staring at me. How did he get here and for what? Did he know that I am here. She kept that information away from everyone, not that she knew many in India. She even made it appear like she was going back to NY for good and last she knew was that everyone believed that she returned to NY. So Asad could not have come to Delhi looking for her. He must have come on business and co-incidentally met her. Whatever the cause, how does it matter?
Zoya waited with bated breath near the door, waiting for it to open. She completely avoided looking in the direction where Asad was. She didn't want any conversation or confrontation. No reasons, explanations, regrets or anything else. She cannot forget the woman in her being insulted, and the person who did that was none other than the man she loved, that too on her wedding day. Her cheeks turned red with anger and eyes filled up again. What is wrong with me? How can I cry at the drop of a hat. She cursed herself for being so weak. She turned to another side so that Asad does not witness her tears.
In her swift move, she brushed against the young man next her. The train was quite packed and no place to move. The young man turned his head to see who pushed him hard. The questionable look in eyes turned in one of interest. She said sorry to him and tried to wipe her face discretely. The yound man was amused and he said mockingly, "Ma'am, they are working on the automatic door. It's jammed, but don't worry. You are not in great danger."
She snapped at him, "oh! really? Thank you for your information," and looked away. The young lad now got really intrigued looking at the beautiful young gal with tears and started to study her. Zoya did not like that place at all. Any other time she would have given him a good treatment. Today she was exhausted with frailed emotions and did not want to go through another drama. She tried to ignore his looks. She tried to inch away from the young man as much as possible but the guy slowly moved and he again was close to her. Yaa Allah! What problem is this now? Why did God make my day so eventful today? Why can't this damn door open up? Suddenly she felt someone pullin her gently to a side and coming in between the young boy and her. She did not have to think as she can never mistake the owner of those hands.
"Why do you trouble yourself traveling by trains like these?" he hissed through clenched teeth.
The question reeled her off balance completely. She turned her head swiftly to give him tart reply. She was about to spit those angry words but stopped mid-way as she caught the young man looking at both of them keenly now. She glared at Asad and turned back without saying a word. There was sudden gush of fresh air. Allah Miyan! The door has opened now and the train was moving slowly too so the passengers could alight safely at the next nearest station. Zoya held on to her breath and waited for those few minutes which looked like eternity. She wanted to jump out of the train and disappear into the crowd, far, far away from Asad. Thankfully the station coming up is hers. The moment the train stopped she swiftly moved towards the door pushing the people in the front. She stepped out of the train and walked fast without looking back.
"Ms. Farooqui, wait." she could hear Asad.
She blindly walked forward. She could hear him call her out and even feel that he was right behind her. He swallowed up the distance quicker to even with her.
"Look, Ms. Farooqui. I want to talk to you," he said with some kind of urgency in the voice.
"But I don't want to talk you, Mr. Khan," she sneered. All emotions for him now turned into total fury. She didn't want to give in to her emotions this time and let others play with it.
"Now, if you don't want me to insult you in public, I would appreciate that we behaved like we don't know each other and part ways. I don't want to do something that will leave me looking cheap in my own eyes," she could hear her voice trembling with anger. No Zoya, you will not cry in front of him. Not now. She told herself.
She didn't realize that her body was shaking and her turned red with emotions. Asad had a stricken look on his face. She could see that he was as usual having trouble thinking about what he should do next. Neither could he confront nor retreat. He stood fixed. Wasn't that always his problem. Things weren't improving for Zoya.
She turned around abruptly and started walking.
"Ms. Farooqui, you are hurt. You need to see a doctor now. Listen to me, we need to talk..." she could hear Asad reiterate helplessly.
She stopped and turned towards him decisively. "I know to take care of myself, Mr. Khan. I don't need anyone's concern, especially yours. I have survived successfully for six months now and am sure will do better without your intervention, is that clear?" She could hear herself so bitter. Didn't sound like her at all, but she knew she needed to vent. To get over once and for all. Her eyes were betraying her by flooding again looking at her beloved standing defeated in front of her. No, this time she ought to be firm. She gave him one straight look to stamp her stance and turned around and walked into the crowd, leaving her wounded Asad behind.
**********
The warmth of the coffee cup and aroma did less to stir her spirits. Seated in the balcony of her apartment, she looked lost. She came back home with mixed emotions. Mechanically went through a quick shower, changed, dashed a mail to all concerned to state that she had to postpone her meeting due to some personal emergency, made a cup of coffee and pourted into a black cup (in an effort to virtually have Asad close to her). She still cannot believe that she actually met Asad, and Asad did not follow her or try to stop her forcefully and talk to her, take her to the hospital, ask her how she had been all the while, and what she was doing etc. Though she blasted him, after coming a little away from the station, she did turn to look for him. Her eyes scanned the whole place around her. He was not visible. Did he really go away just like that leaving her to go her way? She couldn't take that at all. Disappointment seaped into her mind and body making her weak. Her tears which never stopped from the time she entered her home have made her eyelids heavy. She felt very sad that she was torturing her body like this. With that thought she got up and washed her face and forcefully blanked her mind out and got onto her bed to sleep. Sleep evaded her but she didn't give up. She kept concentrating to sleep. She did not know when Asad crept into her mind to hold her, carress her, stroke her hair, and kiss her forehead to sleep. Felt like heaven! "Good night, Asad" she wished into the empty bedroom.
********
The link to the first part of the OS, if you are interested.
http://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3590236
Thank you for liking the first part. Please leave your comments and criticisms. This is my first attempt at anything like this and am sure I have lots to do to improvise. Help me get better at it :-)
Anupamaa
Cricket
