AsYa FF: Raabta Chapter 12(Updated 28/8/13) Pg. 33 - Page 17

Zoya intently waited for his answer though she was shivering with fear. What could it be? She tried to look at his face but her eyes were masked with her tears, making everything a blur.

"Because you are unworthy of me." He whispered, moving his mouth away. Zoya however froze at his cruel words. Was he that egoistic? Was he that blind? It was Zoya he didn't deserve but she still ran after him, hoping to find a soft-hearted man beneath all the facade. But she was wrong. There was nothing in his to discover or uncover. He was what he showed himself to be. He was a bloody narcissist who can't think of anyone but himself. One by one the tear drops raced down Zoya's face. She didn't know what to say.

"You-you are unworthy of me, my family, my house, my life, my everything!" he screamed, holding her wrists tighter. His voice cracked and there were tears in his eyes but Zoya knew they were there because of his anger and not because he was hurting her.

A small sob escaped Zoya's lips. She felt as if she was being held up by her hands that were pinned to her door because her lower body had already given up. She wanted to crumble down, fall to her knees and bawl. But she didn't want to look weak in front of him. Biting her lips hard, she tried to gain some control by shifting and trying to push Asad away. When all failed she faced him and said, "Leave me Mr. Khan."

Asad's arms dropped immediately. Not because Zoya asked him to do so, but because of her eyes. They looked so hurt and dark. It was as if she was talking to a stranger. He looked at them expectantly, trying to find a flicker of recognition. The glisten in her eyes whenever she looked at him. But he found nothing. There was nothing in them. He felt so lost.

Zoya gathered up the last ounce of strength in her and opened her mouth, "You really think that don't you Mr. Khan?" She stepped aside and opened the door. She carefully backed out of his room but did not leave his eyes.

"I do Ms. Farooqui." It seemed like this was becoming a stare competition. Neither was willing to give up or look away.

"Guess what Mr. Khan, I know you're lying." Asad hurt by her cold, raw voice looked away and wondered how could he ever convince her otherwise.

Zoya wondered how could she ever give this man another chance. Why was she always expecting his hate to be a lie. Maybe he did hate her. Then why did she just say that on impulse? Why did he look away?

When Asad turned to face her, he had composed himself. "Ms. Farooqui, the truth is so bitter that you better be satisfied with this lie. Sach janengi to hiss ghaar me kabhi nahi reh payengi."

"I want to know the truth Mr. Khan, at least the fact that you don't hate me will be cleared."

Asad stepped back and sneered, "Oh you are mistaken Ms. Farooqui, it makes me hate you much more!" He gritted his teeth as he recalled his conversation with Tanveer.

"You think you are so brave right Ms. Farooqui. So optimistic. Trying to bring laughter and light into other people's lives when your own is drowned in darkness and betrayal. The truth will do nothing but make it worse, trust me on that." Seeing no reaction from Zoya, Asad reached for the door knob and slammed the door.

"OWCH!" came a loud yelp from outside. Asad's heart jumped into his throat as he rushed to open the door. Had he-? The answer was in front of his eyes. Zoya was holding the side of her palm in her mouth and her face was filled with tears, old stains and new trails. Asad reached for her hands but Zoya pulled them away from him.

"Don't Mr. Khan." She said in a deep serious voice even though she was crying.

"Ms. Farooqui, don't act like a child, show it to me. It can be bad." Asad said desperately, he needed to see what he had done. He needed to heal it by his soft kisses. No matter how much he tried he always ended up hurting her.

"Please-" he croaked, his eyes filling up.

Zoya chuckled sarcastically. "It's not worse than your words Mr. Khan, don't worry. This wound will heal in a couple of days but your words they scar me forever. Stay away from me Mr. Khan I will leave this house as soon as possible. I'll tell Am-Phuphi that I don't want to get married to you. You can get married to Tanveer. But yes, you will have to tell me the truth."

Zoya slammed the door and sat by her window. If Dilshad hadn't gone to her community service office and Najma to college then she would have never done that. Only Mr. Khan was in the house and he deserved to hear that.

She flipped her palm and stared at the wound. Surprisingly it wasn't hurting much, probably because the stinging in her heart was overpowering it. She knew it was an accident but she hated him nonetheless. This was the last thing she needed from him.

"I hate him!" she said, blowing on the wound and pulling out a first aid kit box from her drawer.

Just as she was going to apply the ointment, Asad barged in through her door. His hair was disheveled and his eyes bloodshot.

"I need to tell you something."

Zoya concentrated on her dressing and then replied, "Is there anything left to tell?" She did not bother facing him.

"Yes there is. The truth." Asad said, emphasizing his point.

"Oh really the truth. Mr. Khan aap ko yaad nahi hoga. You already told me the truth. You hate me. I hate you. There's nothing more."

"No Zoya, you don't remember, I told you there is something worse than that." He walked to Zoya and kneeled beside her.

"Here me out, please."

"No!" yelled Zoya. She stood up and backed away. "No, I don't want to hear anything." She placed her hands on her ears and screamed, "I don't care Mr. Khan. I don't want to hurt anymore! You hate me! That's it!"

She did not understand why she was acting so paranoid, but Zoya knew that what Asad was going to throw at her was going to break her more. She didn't want to know.

Asad got up clumsily and walked towards her. He was about to open his mouth but Zoya shoved him away which made Asad fall back on his back on her bed.

Asad groaned and tried to get up.

"Ms. Farooqui, it's about your Abbu."

Zoya's ears perked up immediately. Her Abbu? Asad knew about her Abbu. Yah Allah, aap ka bohut bohut shukria. Zoya ran and sat by Asad. She grabbed his arm and asked, "You found out about my Abbu? You know where he is?" Zoya could not contain her joy. All her life she had waited for this moment. She wound her arms around him and pulled him into a tight hug, leaving her tears of joy to do the talk.

Asad's body trembled as he nodded. "I found out a couple of days ago."

The sparkling smile slowly faded as Zoya grasped onto what Asad had just said. She removed her head from his shoulders and looked up. Those cursed tears were back on her face. Zoya who was shaking with anger, grabbed Asad's collar and demanded, "You knew about my father and you didn't tell me? What were you thinking Mr. Khan? How could you do this to me-?" Zoya let her head fall as she cried her heart out. Her hands were still gripping Asad's collar but neither cared.

After a few sobs and hiccups, Zoya left Asad's collar and spoke up. "Who is he Mr. Khan?"

Zoya was still half sprawled in Asad's lap but she made no attempt to move. She didn't want to.

Asad reached for her hand and laced their fingers together, smiling a little when he saw her ring. But he knew he had to tell her everything even though it would take her away from him. She deserved to know and Asad had been wrong in hiding it from her.

"Ms. Farooqui your Abbu is an enemy. No matter what you do or what you say, I cannot accept you. I don't know how to tell you this but once everyone knows the truth you can't stay-"

"Wait."

"Huh?" Asad looked at her.

"Please don't tell me that I'm Rashid Ahmed Khan's daughter." Zoya whispered with her eyes shut. Her insides squelched with disgust. Asad was her bhaijaan. Yah Allah, how can you do this?

Allah's reply was a whole hearted laugh. Zoya opened her eyes and saw Asad laughing uncontrollably. The corners of his eyes were tearing up and Zoya couldn't have been more confused.

"No-no-hahaha-n-no, you're-hahah-not Rashid-K-Khan's daughter!" Asad exclaimed between his laughs.

Zoya's pounding heart calmed down but it took on the same pace when Asad said, "But he's related to him."

"What do you mean?"

"You are Ghaffur's daughter, Zoya." He had finally said it. It felt like he had removed the heaviest burden from his heart. But why was Zoya still here? Wasn't she supposed to leave as soon as the truth was out? Wasn't he imagining himself screaming and them fighting? Then why was everything so placid. Why was she still in his arms?

"Ghaffur?" Zoya repeated. The name sounded familiar but Zoya couldn't put a face to it.

"Humeira's Abbu." Asad mumbled and removed his hand from hers. Zoya's face went pale when she realized that she had met her father numerous times. She had even talked to him! Fate, how can you play such games? She had looked for her father everywhere but turns out he had been there in front of her eyes since so long.

"I-I have so many questions. I-I don't k-know what to say. I have to go." Zoya mumbled as she scooted away from Asad. She had to meet her Abbu. She had to get all her answers.

Zoya got up and rushed out the door leaving a broken Asad behind. Asad held his tears because he knew that their story ended right here. They would never be this close again.

"Shukria Allah, Zoya ko meri zindaagi me laane ke liye. Mujhe pata tha ki woh kuch hi dino ki mehmaan hain. Kyunki aap ko mujhse kushiyaan cheen lene ki aadat joh hai. Shaiyad me ishi layak hoon."

**********************************************************************************************************