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Chapter 14
"Now, lets go plan this party!" Anjali said leading them all downstairs.
"Okay then." Anjali began as all the 'kids', Badi Bi and Nani seated themselves in the living room. "So for Dilshad Khala's and Uncle's 25th anniversary, I was thinking the kids could do performances!"
Najma and Nikhat squealed as Asad and Arnav groaned.
"Not going to happen Di." Asad and Arnav said together.
"Be quiet." Anjali said looking at them.
"Anyways, I was thinking we could do a total of three performances. Nikhat, Najma and Ayaan are going to do one, they've already been practicing. For the second one I was thinking we could do couples on a romantic song." Anjali said dreamily.
"Can I have two partners?" Ayaan said winking at Khushi and Zoya causing them to giggle.
"Achaa? Phir mai Humeira begum ko mana kar deti hoon..." Anjali teased as Ayaan shot up in his chair. [Really? Then I'll just tell Humeira that she is not needed...]
"Humeira?"
"Ji, Nikhat and Najma invited her too, she is going to be staying with us for the week." Anjali said. Of course she didn't mention that the idea had been all hers, she knew there was something going on between Ayaan and Humeira, it had been going on for years.
"Aacha..." Ayaan said sitting down pretending to not care as Anjali giggled.
"Anyways...Arnav and Asad, you can't get away without performing this time...so don't even think about it. Plus you get to dance with your girlfriends..." Anjali smiled as Asad and Arnav reluctantly agreed seeing the smiles on Khushi's and Zoya's faces.
X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X
The week passed planning the party, from decorations to food to the performances. Asad and Arnav wouldn't admit it to anyone but the dance practices were a lot of fun. Hours of dancing around, closely, to their girls. The stolen kisses, the caresses, the endless conversations and the smiles.
Anjali being the hopeless romantic she was chose a mix of romantic songs for them to dance to. So far they included Teri Meri, Bol Na Halke Halke, Ab Na Jaa, Ishq Hua and Tum Hi Ho.
While the two couples were dancing around happily, a third one wasn't. They didn't get agree on anything, and she refused to say more than she needed to which annoyed the hell out of him.
Admist all this, Asad and Arnav decided to make a trip into the city to sort out how Zoya and Khushi would give their statement against Ghafoor Siddiqui, who was now under house arrest as the charges on him piled. The agency was working closely with the CIA on this one, to make sure they had a solid case against him and they believed that Zoya's testimony was what they needed. She was an eye witness to the happenings at his house and a victim of his attacks.
"Zoya." Asad said knocking on the door as Zoya looked up from the couch. Zoya smiled as he walked into the room and sat beside her, automatically pulling her into his lap, so her back was against the sofa ledge and he could see her face while they conversed.
"What happened?" Zoya said noticing his signature worried look adorning his face. A little crease between his eyebrows and a locked jaw.
"I am going to have to go into the city. We're going to see if there is a way for you to not make an appearance in court and give your testament anonymously." Asad said causing Zoya to freeze. In her week here she had forgotten all about the reason she was here in the first place. She felt as if she was here, as part of the family, not hiding from people after her life.
"Oh..." Zoya said the thought of leaving this place hurting.
"Arnav and I are both leaving, Akash is here if you need anything. Okay?" Asad said as Zoya just nodded. Asad was surprised at her lack of response and he felt her body tense against his. "What's wrong?"
"I forgot that I am going to have to leave this soon..." Zoya smiled sadly.
"Leave?" Asad asked confused.
"I am going to have to go back...home after this right? Back to New York." Zoya sighed as Asad tensed.
"Oh." Asad said finally realizing that this was supposed to be just a mission, and he was suppose to get her back to New York as soon as possible under the command of his boss, and her jiju, Anwar. The thought made his heart clench painfully. Asad pulled Zoya to him, her face resting in the crook of his neck.
"Asad?" Zoya whispered.
"Hmmm."
"Is it weird that I don't want to go home?" She whispered but got no reply from the conflicted man. He wasn't sure what to think about all this. He knew in his heart that she would have to leave eventually. And he also knew the agency was strictly against keeping in contact with past 'assignments' for security purposes. So he wouldn't even be able to see her after the...his heart clenched just at the thought.
He got up abruptly. "Uh...I'll be going now. We'll be back by the evening." He said to her walking out of the room leaving a confused Zoya behind.
A similar conversation took place in the other room between the other couple. The only difference was that Arnav Singh Raizada had made a decision that Asad hadn't yet. This would be Arnav's last mission, he knew that it was the only way. He couldn't live without his Khushi, so as much as he loved his job he'd let it go, for her.
The two girls sat around bored on the terrace after the boys left as the thoughts of their impending departure from India lingered in their minds. They should want to go back home, back to their families and normal life but they didn't want to. And that thought bothered them, especially Khushi.
It was only a few minutes later that a frustrated Ayaan came out to the terrace, oblivious to them sitting on the swing as he went to stand on the edge of the terrace overlooking the backyard.
Zoya and Khushi gave each other confused looks and then Zoya mouthed the word "Humeira?" to which Khushi nodded as they pinned the cause of Ayaan's worry.
"Ayaan Miyah..." Khushi said as she stood on one side of Ayaan and Zoya on the other.
"Yeh ho kya raha hai?" Zoya asked.
"Ji?" Ayaan asked confused.
"You and Humeira." Khushi clarified.
"N-nothing. Why would something be going on there? Kuch bhi toh nahi." Ayaan said nervously.
"Acha? Shut up, don't think we didn't notice your longing stares and her ignoring you." Zoya said.
"You like her don't you?" Khushi smirked.
"N-nahi." Ayaan covered.
"Stop lying. What's the story? There is no one better to talk to a girl about than with two girls..." Zoya smiled.
"Men don't talk about their feelings." Ayaan said.
"That a load of crap and you know it." Khushi said hitting him. "Unless you want to talk to Asad and Arnav, you better spill."
Ayaan tensed thinking of how awkward it would be to discuss this with his brothers.
"It's a long story..." He finally said.
"We have time." Zoya urged.
"Humeira has been friends with Nikhat and Najma for ages and she's always been a good friend to me. Bhaijaan is a few years older than us and usually hung out with Arnav and Akash, so the four of us just clicked. We literally grew up together. About two years ago, when I was sixteen, I found out that she had a crush on me, and I started acting weird towards her. I was...I was an idiot, the thought of her liking me scared me, being tied down to one girl wasn't what I wanted...And Humeira wasn't the type of girl I envisioned myself with. She's so conservative and nave, and I didn't like girls like that...or at least I thought."
"Aw, the poor girl." Zoya said hitting Ayaan's arm. "Thought as in, you don't think that anymore?"
"I guess? But she doesn't even speak to me anymore, not unless she absolutely has to and I miss it...I never knew how much my life seemed to revolve around our interactions. We always used to joke around and I used to flirt with her for fun, but that all stopped. And I guess not talking to her made me realize that I like her too, that I've always had a thing for her. I wrote it off to just caring for her at first, since she was my friend after all but in the past two years I've realized that I don't see her as you see friends. And I told her but she said I didn't have to pretend to like her and that she wasn't going to be 'one of those girls' and walked away. I don't even know if she still likes me."
"What did she mean by one of those girls?" Zoya asked.
"The girls he flirts with..." Khushi realized.
"You idiot!" Zoya said slapping his head. "She still likes you. She shouldn't but she does. It is the flirting she has problems with."
"Why would she have a problem with me flirting with her?" Ayaan asked confused.
"Allah Miyah! What's wrong with you?" Zoya said.
"Ayaan, she doesn't have a problem with you flirting with her but other girls. I am supposing she has seen you chase random skirts over the years?" Khushi asked as Ayaan nodded.
"AHA!" Zoya screamed. "That is your problem."
"Are you two always this confusing or is today a special day?" Ayaan asked.
"You idiot. She still likes you. But you are Casanova 2.0 and she's scared that you are just chasing her for the fun of it, like you do with other girls, and you'll probably leave once you're done with her. IT'S SO OBVIOUS." Zoya said.
"Oh, but I actually like..." Ayaan whispered.
"She doesn't know that. And she has no reason to believe it either with your record it seems. She is right in her place, she is guarding her heart so it doesn't get broken again. And if you actually do like her you're going to have to prove it to her." Khushi said.
"But...how?"
"Talk to her. Tell her what you feel. She'll listen, of course she won't believe you off the bat, you are going to have to win her trust. It may take a long time but I think you are willing to put that time in, convince her that you like her. That you care for her, genuinely." Zoya explained.
"Exactly. Tell her what you told us and stop flirting with everything that has boobs and stay committed to her." Khushi said.
"And she'll come around?" Ayaan asked.
"Definitely." Zoya and Khushi smiled.
"Don't be an asshole though." Zoya said.
"Way to ruin the moment Zoya." Ayaan laughed. "But thanks." He smiled at both of them. "You two are pretty cool. I am glad Bhai 1 and 2 brought you home."
"No problem! Now go find her." Khushi said pushing him towards the door.
"I knew there was something going on there." Zoya laughed.
"Yeah, you and the whole house." Khushi teased.
"Shut uppp!" Zoya laughed pushing her.
"Why aren't they back yet?" Khushi pouted.
"They just left." Zoya pointed out.
"So? It doesn't make a difference." Khushi said.
"I know. I miss Asad..." Zoya pouted. "I'll just go google him and stare at the pictures."
"What the hell? He's on google?"
"Yeah, some business gala thing, he is wearing a black tux. So sexy." Zoya said dreamily.
"Wow Zoya." Khushi laughed at the dreamy look on her face. "Isn't it weird to be googling your own boyfriend?"
"Like you haven't googled Arnav!" Zoya quipped.
"I actually haven't..." Khushi admitted.
"What?! Let's go do it nw!" Zoya said dragging her to the room and picking up her iPad.
"Arnav Singh Raizada or Arnav Malik?" She asked.
"Raizada." Khushi answered.
"Holy moly! There is a bazillion pictures of him!" Zoya gasped sitting beside Khushi on the couch and holding her iPad in between them. "Damn, he gets around." Zoya whispered looking through the pictures, most of them showed him with a different girl.
"They are all so gorgeous!" Khushi said pouting as she scrolled through the pictures suddenly jealous of every girl she saw him with.
"Maybe we should..." Zoya said trying to close the tab only to have her iPad snatched by Khushi. Zoya bit her lip nervously, she knew Khushi was going to over-react to this and then start making jalebis.
"There is one recent news article!" She said clicking on the link and freezing at reading the headline.
Arnav Singh Raizada spotted in Delhi with his long time girlfriend Lavanya Kashyap.
Delhi Playboy and Co-CEO of the AR Group of Companies had been missing from the Delhi scene for quite some time now after rumours of his high profile break-up with Lavanya Kashyap, the heir of Kashyap Industries. But we think the rumours are just that, rumours! The couple was seen embracing, as pictured above, just this morning outside a caf in Delhi. Onlookers claim that the two looked very happy together. It would seem that one of Delhi's most eligible bachelors is off the list ladies! Inside sources tell us that Aarti Raizada is very happy with this alliance as is Mr. Kashyap. Do we hear wedding bells in the near future?
Khushi's eyes grew wide as she stared at the picture and re-read the article.
"I am sure it isn't true..." Zoya said to her. "You know how the tabloids are, they always post false stuff. Take me for example, I've been engaged to guys I don't even know..."
Khushi didn't hear a word Zoya said as she googled 'Arnav Singh Raizada and Lavanya Kashyap'. She started opening every article, scrolling through the various images and videos.
"Khushi...stop! You are just worrying yourself for no reason. I am sure..." Zoya tried again.
"Zoya, can you please leave me alone for a while? Please?" Khushi asked.
"But Khushi..."
"Please." Khushi said looking up at her. Zoya nodded and left the room.
Zoya trekked downstairs to see Dilshad , Badi Bi, Anjali, Najma, Nikhat and Humeira in the living room watching TV.
"Is that your wedding video?" She asked seeing a young Dilshad on the screen dressed to the nines.
She nodded smiling.
"Mashallah, Ammi you look absolutely gorgeous!" Zoya fawned sitting next to Najma on the couch.
She watched intently noticing the eerie similarities between the young Rashid and Asad. The ceremony was beautiful, green and white drapes all around with a green sparkly dupatta behind which Ammi sat beside an older woman who looked a lot like her, her mother.
She found herself watching in awe as Dilshad and Rashid both said "Qubool Hai", tying themselves together till the end of time. As the couple appeared on the screen with smiles on their faces she got lost in her thoughts.
In her thoughts, she could see a wedding in a different place but with the handful of the same people. And she could see it all, the blue and white drapery, her walking out in a beautiful lengha and Asad in a sherwani looking absolutely wonderful.
The words "Qubool Hai" would leave their mouths as they vowed to be there for each other for the rest of their lives. The two words, which were probably uttered a million times by other people would sound so perfect, so natural and so special because they were coming out of their mouths. A promise to each other.
And this marked the moment when Zoya realized that this was what she wanted more than anything. She wanted her dream to be true, not today, not tomorrow but sometime in the future she wanted to be Mrs. Asad Ahmed Khan and not a girl pretending to be his fiance. She wanted to be his, forever.
Her mind immediately went back to the first time she'd seen him, followed by when he'd rescued her and then many memories passed before her eyes. Every kiss. Every whisper. Every touch. Every smile. Every laugh. Every conversation. Everything.
And that is when Zoya Farooqui realized that she was in love with Asad Ahmed Khan. And the realization scared the living day lights out of her.
She was in love with the man who she was pretending to be engaged to for a few weeks until she was safe and back home. And she had no clue if he could come to love her. If he wanted her to stay, if he imagined what she had just imagined.
And that's when her mind started playing on her insecurities. Why would he even want to spend his whole life with her? She was nothing special, he could do so much better. She had to go back soon anyways, and he knew it. She remembered Arnav stressing out about how they wouldn't be able to keep in touch with them after the mission because it was against the rules.
Asad didn't say anything about breaking those rules, about her staying. He loved his job, that much was clear to Zoya as she thought back to their conversation. He had said that it was better to protect people and save them before they ended up in hospitals. That he took this job because it was the only one where he could truly save lives.
He wouldn't leave it for her. And even if he did what would happen when he realized that he could do better? What would happen to her if he got up and left her? Could she allow that? Give him her heart and wait for it to be broken? Would she be enough for him, enough for him to want to be with her forever?
As those realizations and questions, however true or false, sunk in tears filled her eyes and she got up and ran out of the room.
And everyone was oblivious to her plight as they watched the movie, everyone but Dilshad.
Chapter 15: Page 80
Edited by astonm - 12 years ago
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