WHAT'S IN A NAME?
"So, Phupee, Appi, you both understand?" Zoya looks anxiously between the two women.
She loves and respects them so much, these two women whom she calls 'aunt' and 'sister' but holds as 'mother' in her heart and mind. Mr. Khan is wrong to deceive them like this. Why doesn't he understand how many hearts he'll break when the truth comes out?
This engagement is just a drama for him and her but for the people who mean the most to them, Dilshad, Zeenat, Najma, all the friends and relatives who blessed them, even Ayaan, this was the truth. They all expected that, five days from today, she and Mr. Khan would marry. This lie not only had legs, it had grown tentacles so long and tenacious that they burrowed into the lives of everyone around them.
"It saddens me very much." Dilshad's voice breaks into Zoya's thoughts. "But you're right, Zoya. It would be cruel and unfeeling of us to continue these ceremonies with Tanveer in hospital."
Zeenat nodded her agreement. "As you pointed out, this terrible stone-eyed woman is only able to attack Tanveer during functions when there are so many people around us."
"Exactly." Zoya forces her voice to stay strong, not to tremble and betray how much her own words hurt her. "We have to cancel the ceremonies until after Tanveer's attacker is caught and punished."
Dilshad draws in a heavy breath. "But what if we fail to catch the culprit in the next five days? Then she'll have another opportunity to attack Tanveer at your wedding."
Everything inside Zoya freezes. This was it. This was the opening she'd waited for, the moment to do what had to be done. It was all up to her. Mr. Khan didn't seem capable of ending this ordeal. Who was she kidding? He wasn't even capable of forming a complete sentence!
"Phupee, perhaps we should consider cancelling the wedding?" The words are so painful, her throat aches just saying them. "At least until after we catch Tanveer's attacker."
"No!" Dilshad shoots up from her seat. "We are not cancelling your wedding."
The front door slams shut, diverting their attention. Asad leans against the door, watching them. His elegant blue sherwani is now wrinkled and scorched, his eyes red-rimmed and swollen and his mouth set in a grim line.
"Asad!" Dilshad goes to him. "How is Tanveer?"
"Very lucky." He glances at his mother but his gaze returns almost immediately to Zoya. "She has only minor burns. The doctor said he'll release her this afternoon if there are no complications."
"Praise God," Dilshad murmurs. "After all this talk of cancelling your wedding, at least we have some good news."
"Why would you cancel our wedding?" Asad narrows his eyes, his focus on Zoya never wavering.
He keeps himself tightly in check, not allowing his fear and despair to show. His friends had warned him. They'd told him to confess his feelings to her soon or risk losing her love. He'd even promised his mother that he'd propose to her properly before the night ended. But fate had interfered, robbing him of his moment. Had it also robbed him of his future with Zoya?
Zoya waits for his reaction but none comes. So she has to do this on her own. She takes a deep breath to prepare herself. She was a good actress, able to laugh and cry when needed, able to hide her own pain. This would be the performance of her life, an act so brilliant that even Phupee and Appi, who love her with such pure intensity, would believe it.
"Yes, Mr. Khan." She keeps her voice light and bright. "I explained to Phupee and Appi how this white-eyed woman is only able to attack Tanveer during functions when the house is open to so many. The only logical way to protect her is to limit the number of people who have access to her."
Asad's mouth hardens into a thin line but he says nothing. His deep, dark blue eyes drill into Zoya with an intensity that is almost unnerving.
Zoya moves closer to him, trying to shift so that Dilshad cannot see her expression, cannot see her trying to signal Asad to wake up and help her.
"After all, Mr. Khan," she continues when he fails to respond. "Tanveer is your best friend, your childhood friend. We couldn't possibly have the ceremonies without her. You'd be completely lost without your Tannu." She pauses to take another breath, aware that her voice had become sharp and bitter. "Therefore the only choice is to cancel the wedding until Tanveer is safe."
Asad opens his mouth but still doesn't speak. His eyes lose their intensity as his focus turns inward. He remembers his mother's humiliation at Razia and Shireen's hands, of Rashid standing by, helpless and useless as usual. His mother's voice had broken when she'd vowed to have him married in ten days.
His mother's honor.
He recalls Zeenat's tearful eyes when she demanded to know if his engagement to Zoya was the truth or a lie. Those same eyes had softened with relief when he assured her he intended to marry Zoya.
His future sister-in-law's respect.
Then he replays the most precious memory of all, of Zoya barging into his room to confront him for confirming their marriage to her Appi. She had called herself Mrs. Zoya Asad Ahmed Khan.
His heart's desire.
"Mr. Khan!"
Zoya's sharp voice brings him out of his thoughts. He focuses on her again.
"No." His voice is quiet but determined. "We are not cancelling our wedding or any of the ceremonies."
He watches the array of emotions flit across Zoya's beautiful, expressive face: disbelief, amazement, shock, delight, hope and confusion. Her lush mouth pulls down at the corners, then up, finally down again as she tries to process her own feelings.
Some of the tension eases out of him. She doesn't want to cancel their wedding, either. She was only trying to make things easier for him because he hadn't admitted his feelings to her. Everything Zoya did, she did for him. His heart swells with love and relief. He rushes in to reassure her further.
"Tannu will be fine." His voice rough with the emotions he's trying to suppress. "She'll be crushed if we cancel due to her. I'll hire extra protection if needed."
Zoya's mouth drops open. She stares at him for a few seconds then shuts her mouth with an audible clicking of her teeth. She turns and marches into her room without a word. Zeenat gets up to go after her. Dilshad stops her.
"She needs to be alone," Dilshad says. "This is a very stressful time for us all."
Zeenat looks from Dilshad to Asad. His face is set, expressionless, but his gaze is locked on Zoya's closed door. Dilshad guides Zeenat upstairs. Asad goes into his room and shuts the door. He crosses his arms and starts to count backwards from ten.
Zoya throws open his door before he's even gotten to number five.
"What was that?" she demands. "Mr. Khan, I had almost succeeded in cancelling our wedding without making your Ammi and my Appi angry. Then you had to ruin it all for your beloved best friend, Tannu!"
"Woh, actually, Ms. Far---Zoya, I mean'" He stutters and stumbles as he always does when faced with this fierce, warrior version of his Zoya.
"No! No 'woh', Mr. Khan." She holds her hand up to stop him when he tries to come closer to her. "What's the matter with you? It's not an insult to Tanveer to say she needs to be protected. I had gotten us out of this marriage without hurting anyone and even keeping their goodwill. But, no! You hear even one word that could be against your precious Tannu and your brain shuts off."
He loves this side of Zoya, so jealous and territorial that she becomes a little irrational. But there's no reason for her to be. No one, not Tannu, not anyone can make him feel alive and aware the way Zoya can. Before Zoya, no one ever came close to touching his heart, let alone taking it and making it her own.
He steps closer until her outstretched hand touches his chest. "There's no need for you to be jealous of Tannu, Zoya. We're just friends."
A smile tugs at the corners of his mouth, enraging her even more. She snatches her hand away.
"This is not about my jealousy," she snarls. "It's about your stupidity. Don't you understand how many people are going to be hurt by our lies, Mr. Khan? If you don't get your brain in gear and stop this, then in less than five days, you're going to be Mr. Zoya Farooqui!"
Asad's mouth drops open and his eyes lose focus. Mr. Zoya Farooqui. What would life be like when he became Zoya's husband? Would he be the same man or would love -- his love, her love -- change him? Asad imagines his future as Mr. Zoya Farooqui.
Asad is standing at the kitchen counter, wearing slacks and a black pullover shirt with a frilly white apron tied around his waist. Zoya sits at his usual seat at the table, sipping coffee and reading the newspaper. She puts down her cup and Asad hurries to refill it, carefully adding milk and sugar, then taking a sip from the spoon to make sure it's perfect.
"How was your breakfast, darling?" he asks in a loving voice.
"It was fine, thank you." Zoya responds, sipping the fresh coffee, her focus on the morning news.
"Is today a busy day for you, dearest?" he asks.
Zoya puts the paper aside and gets up from the table. She is wearing a dark business suit and high heels.
"No, not too busy." She twists her hair into a bun. "Why do you ask?"
Asad smiles at her adoringly. "I thought I'd make something special tonight to celebrate our one-month anniversary."
"Oh, I see." Zoya smiles back but her expression is more amused than adoring. "In that case, I'll try to be home early."
Asad's face lights up. "That will be wonderful, my love."
He picks up her briefcase and walks her to the front door. "Ammi and Tamatar are going to a play this evening so we'll have the whole house to ourselves." He looks at her from under his lashes. "I'll plan something very special."
"You are so sweet." Zoya pats his cheek. "I'll be home as soon as I can."
Asad closes his eyes and puckers his lips for a kiss. Zoya's cell phone rings. She answers the call and walks out. Asad is left there, mouth puckered. Finally he opens his eyes and looks around. His face falls and his eyes fill with tears.
"Darling, wait!" He rushes after her. "You didn't kiss me good-bye!"
"Mr. Khan! Are you listening to me?" Zoya demands.
Asad blinks as her shriek brings him out of his daydream.
"Zoya, please listen to me," he pleads, his eyes still soft and unfocused. "I tried to talk to you last night, to explain but---"
"But you had to take care of Tannu," she interrupts him. "Yes, I know. And I know what you wanted to say."
"You do?" He blinks. "Okay, but I should still say it."
She ducks her head. "Then say it, Mr. Khan."
"Woh, I...you," he stutters. "We're so different, Zoya. You're not the person I pictured as my wife. I...I mean the jeans, the attitude, the pizza. They're all foreign to me. I wanted to marry someone quiet, proper and respectful. Not you. I mean, not someone like you. But you I like and...and..." he trails off and rubs his forehead in frustration.
Zoya shakes her head. Did he say that he liked her? Did he want to marry her or was he still as confused and hopeless as always? What does he want from her? She waits but he doesn't say anymore. Tears fill and fall out of her eyes. She brushes them away angrily.
"That's it. That's it!" She pokes her finger into his chest. "I'm not helping you anymore, Mr. Khan."
"No, Zoya, don't say that!" His eyes flare in alarm. "Don't call off our wedding."
She shakes her head. "Oh, no. I'm not going to call it off."
He shuts his eyes as the relief courses through him. She's too upset to see it.
"It's not going to be that easy for you." Her face is red with her fury and distress. "I'm not going to tell them. I won't be the one to back out of this. I'll dress up and attend every ceremony. I'll smile and be happy and look forward to our wedding day. Then if you finally get up the courage to call this off, I'll be just as shocked and angry with you as everyone else."
He shakes his head, clearly confused.
"I'd gotten us out of this, Mr. Khan. Then you ruined it. Now it's all up to you!" She pokes him again. "This wedding will not stop unless you stop it. Either man up and say you don't want this or we get married. You have five days to decide."
She waits for him to respond but Asad is speechless. His mouth moves but he's unable to form coherent words. Finally he nods his head. Zoya shakes her head in disgust and stomps out, slamming the door behind her.
Asad stares at the closed door for a moment, still lost in his shock. Then the corners of his mouth pull back into a tight, controlled smile. He falls onto his couch and thinks for a moment.
Author's Note: I came up with his plot bunny while writing my new QH adventure. This little rabbit wouldn't get off my head until I wrote it down! What do you think of it? As always, all mistakes are mine and made accidentally. This story is not intended to hurt anyone's feelings, culture or beliefs. Many thanks go to the lovely amri123 for the super-fast beta.
Arjun
Cricket
