Once and for all - A short FF. Chapter 6 UPDATED. - Page 2

Once and for all - Chapter 2

Asad went to the breakfast table in the morning and found his Ammi and Najma eating in silence. He didn't feel hungry. He hadn't slept all night and had a buzzing headache. He poured himself a cup of black coffee and sat on the table. As soon as he did, both Dilshad and Najma got up and marched away.

"I have really messed up this time. I have to find Zoya and bring her back soon."

He saw Tannu making her way down the stairs and quickly bolted out of the kitchen towards the front door.

"Jammy'," Tannu started to say.

"Not now Tannu'.I have an important meeting to go to in the office." Asad said. "Did I just lie to Tannu? Why did I do that?" Asad thought before leaving the house and driving away.

Zoya was still in bed. It took her a while to fall asleep the night before. Every time she closed her eyes Mr. Khan's handsome face appeared and she broke down into tears again and again. How can she let someone hurt her so much? When has she fallen in love with this man so deeply that each and every one of his harsh words felt like a dagger to her heart? Zoya wished she never came to India looking for her father. It was a tragic end to find her father' demise and now this!

How did she fall in love with Akdu Ahmed Khan? When did she fall in love with this emotionally challenged man? She realized there was no exact time and date she could pinpoint. It was gradual. She gave up his heart to him slowly but steadily. After months of quiet anticipation she felt Mr. Khan finally opening up to her. Yes, the wedding drama started as a charade but then it bloomed into something beautiful. Mr. Khan could see that Phuppi was doing much better now; still he no longer egged her to accompany him and reveal their plan of "fake" marriage to Phuppi.

She started to dream of becoming Mrs. Asad Ahmed Khan ' Mrs. Zoya Asad Ahmed Khan. The name had a certain ring to it.

"Ring! Oh my God'the ring!" Zoya looked at her left hand. Yup, just as she feared'the beautiful diamond studded engagement ring was still snugly sitting on her ring finger. In her huff to leave the house last night she forgot to take off her ring'correction "the" ring...it was no longer her ring. The ring has become a part of her body and soul since the day Mr. Khan put it on her finger in the Airport. The formal engagement in front of Phuppi, Najma and "Tannu" was nice but Zoya just couldn't get over the situation under which Mr. Khan showed up at the airport and stopped her departure by putting the ring on her finger. It was done in front of hundreds of people and yet it was more intimate than the second one. She could feel a strange emotion emitting from Mr. Khan that seemed almost'genuine?!?

"Yeah, right'Mr. Khan and emotion!" Zoya sniggered.

But two very important things popped up in Zoya's mind while thinking of the Airport. One, She has to buy a ticket back to NY and second she has to return the ring before she leaves. She also suddenly remembered something Mr. Bhatawadekar mentioned in the Airport. He mentioned a girl, who kept on calling him and telling him about Zoya and Asad's plan about the fake engagement.

Zoya had no doubt that the girl in question was none other than Tanveer. "Sigh, if only Mr. Khan realized that."

Zoya turned on her IPad and tried to buy a ticket online. For some reason or the other her credit card information was not registering. The website for the airline kept on giving an error message. "Stupid net'you betray me just when I need you the most." She called the airline hotline but received a message that there will be 45 minute waiting time. She hung up and started calling nearby Travel Agencies. Finally one of them could get her a ticket to the flight she needed. She promised to pick up the ticket herself. Problem one: Solved.

Zoya decided she will go to return the ring during the day when Mr. Khan will be at work. She will not call ahead or anything. Just show up at the door, give the ring to Phuppi and leave. "Sounds like a plan. Lets just hope I don't have to face Tannu." Problem two: Planned

Problem three: Exposing Tanveer. Status: Planning. "Wait'when did she start thinking about exposing Tanveer."

"Zoya Farooqui. Stop'just stop. Mr. Khan will not believe you even if your ghost brings him a video of Tanveer killing you. His 'sweet, innocent' Tannu cannot harm a fly. Tannu Tannu Tannu," Zoya was talking to herself now. "But I cannot leave India in peace knowing that Phuppi too might start thinking that I was falsely accusing Tannu. No, I can't let that happen. Phuppi always believed me. I have to prove to her that Tanveer has been lying to everyone. Phuppi will definitely believe me. I have to do it for her."

Zoya made up her mind. Now that Mr. Khan is not there to distract her she can focus only on Tannu and gather as much information as she can before she leaves. She can do it in 2 days. Can't she?