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

The rain had started its downpour once again and Asad noticed how Zoya ended up resting her head on his shoulders. Her hands were still under his. He did not understand why he still held on to her when he knew that he had let her go ages ago. He let everyone go, anyone who tried to make a place in his heart, but Zoya was a different case. Asad never found it difficult to push anyone aside but with her it felt like a part of him was being ripped off. Asad slowly inclined his head and rested it on Zoya's, inhaling her scent mixed with the dampness of the rain. He took a sharp breath and moved to his previous position but noticed how Zoya's head limply fell on his lap.

"Yah Allah, this girl can sleep anywhere" muttered Asad, slowy cradling her head in his hands.

Asad kneeled down and put his hands under Zoya's back, trying to get a proper grip of her. Instead he managed to slide his hands under her kurta. Asad gasped and jerked his hand back, checking to see if Zoya had awakened. This time he made sure he made no contact with her bare skin and so he fixed her kurta and carried her swiftly keeping a strong hold.

The rain was pounding on the door and windows but other than that the whole area was eerily quiet. Asad calmed his pounding heart and placed Zoya on their makeshift bed. Her dupatta was tangled around her body and it was obvious it was making her uncomfortable so Asad slowy reached for the bothersome cloth and gently pulled it away. He blushed as he saw Zoya's form sleeping in front of him not knowing that there was a man who was ogling her away. He shut his eyes tightly and covered Zoya's torso and upper body, knowing that if they were openly presented to him all night, he might lose his mind. Asad shifted Zoya's body a little to make space for him to sit. The wind continued gushing in and he didn't miss how Zoya shivered each time the wind hit them.

"How cold does this girl feel?" he wondered shaking his head and quietly lying beside her, hoping her body heat idea worked again this time. Last time it had done much more than that so Asad made sure there was no physical contact. He knew just the presence of her was more than enough for him and he needed nothing more, but Zoya on the other hand shivered again profusely causing Asad to groan and move a couple of inches closer. He shut his eyes with a smile on his face and after so many years he fell asleep without a thought lingering in his head.

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As much rain had poured in the previous night, equal amount of sun entered the room and directly shone on Asad's eyes. He yawned and stretched his arms but he couldn't move his left one. When he turned to look at his arm, Asad cursed in shock. Zoya was sleeping on the crook of his shoulder and had tightly wrapped her arm around his waist. Her other was above her head with her fingers knitted in Asad's hair. Asad closed his eyes and relished the moment, jokingly asking himself why they always ended up in positions like this. He decided to get down feet first but even there Zoya had pinned him down. Asad groaned inwardly and slowly removed Zoya's arm from his torso, feeling each and every inch of her as he did so. He reached for her hands in his hair and wrapped his fingers around hers and slowly pulled it down. This annoyed Zoya further, so she grumbled and slid closer.

Asad could not take the closeness anymore so he abruptly got up, forgetting his first plan of sneakily getting out of bed. Zoya purred in frustration as she twisted and turned, stretching her arms in the process. She blinked furiously when the light hit her face and she looked absolutely blank for a moment. When she recalled where she was and with whom, she abruptly sat up and looked around for her dupatta, finding it in a bundle near her legs. She swiftly untangled it and wrapped it around her neck, automatically brushing her hair down and checking her breath. She was thankful that Asad had her back to her and she had the time to atleast make herself presentable.

"Good Morning Mr. Khan! Can you believe it rained here yesterday? It's so bright and sunny! Hai, I never thought I would be so happy to wake up to that star that bores a hole in my eyes every day and be so excited about it!" said Zoya joyfully as she looked around for her slippers and phone.

"Ammi must be so tensed! This bloody connection! I bet she did not sleep the whole night!" Asad said his forehead creasing with concern and tension once again. He was back to being his Mr. Asad Ahmed Khan who has nothing to do in life than be angry, upset or tensed.

Zoya turned to him and said, "You don't need to worry, I called Phoopi already."

"What?!" screamed Asad, looking straight into her eyes with utter disbelief.

"I said I called Phoopi last night, you don't need to worry!" Zoya repeated, slightly afraid of the look in Asad's eyes as they changed from shock to anger. She stepped a back as she felt Asad advancing towards her. She finally hit the wall with a thump and readied herself for his blow, turning her face away slightly.

"What's wrong with you? Are you that stupid? If your phone was working why did you not tell me so? And you didn't even bother telling me that you told Ammi already? Ms. Farooqui how much more careless and childish can you be? We could have called for help with that phone!" Asad screamed shaking her by her shoulders.

Zoya bit her lip and forced herself to not cry. She did not want to look weak in front of this man. Never! Zoya shrugged Asad's hands off and pushed him away with all her strength. Asad who was caught off, stumbled back a couple of steps and his eyes shone with rage.

"Do you ever hear a person out Mr. Khan?" Zoya screamed as loud as she could. She kept telling herself she had enough of him but kept forgiving him and all she got in return was hurt.

"You couldn't just ask why I didn't tell you about the phone! You have to hurt me physically to make your point?" Zoya asked, her eyes glinting with tears and Asad's grew softer and looked down.

She bravely stepped a little closer and made him look at her.

"When you had that coat fiasco last night, I called Ammi to let her know that we were stuck and it was raining cats and dogs. I told her not to worry and that we had found shelter but before I could tell her where we were and she should send a car, the call got disconnected! My battery had died. I was coming to tell you about the call but you looked to peaceful and I was lost in the sight" shouted Zoya but her voice barely was an audibly whisper when she spoke the last line.

Asad turned his face away and massaged his temples. This infuriated Zoya even more. That's all she gets for getting all that out. No apology, no sorry. What was this man made of she wondered. Zoya sniffled a little and stomped out of the cottage, inhaling the dense smell the rain had left behind. She lifted her salwar and ran across the wet ground to the main road, occasionally jumping and tiptoeing, trying to avoid all the mud puddles. She finally reached the car and took a small glance toward the hut, where she saw Asad taking his time and walking across the same path she had followed. She turned her head away and leaned on the bonnet, waiting for any car to pass by.

She saw Asad walking towards her and Zoya could not control the pounding in her heart or the heat in her face. Bowing her head down, she looked at her slippers like they were the most interesting thing in the world. She felt Asad move closer and she held her breath, but then after a second he was gone. She looked up and saw no one. She heard Asad fumbling with the engine and she put a hand across her heart. How could her own organs betray her like this? This was the same man who never thought right of her and her body would not stop getting affected by his slightest mention. A loud horn brought her out of her thoughts and she smiled as she saw a truck coming her way. She flailed her arms in the air slightly jumping and trying to make the vehicle stop. The truck came to a haltering stop and the driver put his head out the window and whistled to get her attention.

"Kahaan jana hain madam?" he asked, raking his eyes along her body with a dirty smirk on his lips.

Zoya fiddled with the dupatta on her neck and before she could reply, she heard a click and saw as Asad emerged from the car. He grabbed Zoya's hand and pushed her behind him, turning to give the drunkard all his attention.

"Aap jaiye, hume lift nahi chaiye." Said Asad with a tight voice.

The driver chuckled and said, " Maine tumse toh nahi poocha. Aab hato. Main madam se baat kar raha tha! Lift unhe dena hai, tujhe nahi!"

Asad gripped Zoya's hand tighter and pulled her into him, making her touch all of him.

"Leave now! Yeh meri patni hai. Tum apni gandi nazre kisi aur ke upaar rakho. Yahaan ek nazar ootha kar dekha toh tumhare ahkheein nilkal doong ga." Replied Asad with such fervor that Zoya trembled behind his back. The driver decided this was too much drama for him so he threw a flying kiss in Asad's direction and drove off.

Asad let go of Zoya's hand and turned his stern face towards her. "Sit in the car Ms. Farooqui"
Zoya gazed in his eyes trying to read it but failed miserably. He simply went blank at moments and this was one of them. She silently obeyed his command and went to sit in the car. Asad let out a huge sigh and his fingers once again found his forehead, kneading them to ease.

"When is this day going to end?" he asked Allah softly.

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Didn't proofread, so forgive my mistakes. Oh and am I being greedy by asking you all to like and comment more? But it makes me so happy to read them. Thank you for all your support!

<3 Ruchika

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