I fell in love with Bheegi's AsYa OS so have given her credit in the OS. The rest is my creation.
Week after their nikah: In the bedroom
Asad returned from work. He walked into his bedroom and was surprised to his wife in a saree (credit: Bheegi). She had surprised him as per his wish and looked gorgeous in a light green and maroon saree with a backless blouse. She smiled as he stepped into his room. Her dimples gave him so much joy. He walked and hugged her from behind. Zoya rested her head on his chest and said:
Z-A: Mr. Khan, you have completed all my wishes that I had written at the age of 16 and I have completed yours (credit: Bheegi) but I had wished for something in the recent past? When will you fulfil that?
Asad stunned: Zoya, hmmm, what wish is that?
Z-A: Mr. Khan, do you not remember? In reality, the wish is a gift. Since you did not find your name in my mehendi, you owe me a gift. It is time to gift me the wish.
Naughty Asad: Why do I need to find my name in your hands, when it is stamped in your heart? More important, now that I have made you mine my name is all over you Zoya.
Zoya blushing: Mr. Khan, this is different.
A-Z: I cannot remember the gift? What is it again? Please remind me.
Z miffed: Mr. Khan, Not fair. Either you fulfil my wish or do not talk to me.
Zoya walked out and Asad smiled. He loved his angry wife. Of course he remembered the gift. He had begun making plans but he wanted to tease Zoya a bit more.
Two days later:
Zoya was surprised to see her husband home so early. Phupi and Najma were visiting friends. Zoya ran to her husband and hugged him.
Z-A: Mr. Khan, what are you doing home so early? Phupi and Najma are not in and I was heading out for a run. Is everything okay? Are you unwell?
A-Z: Zoya, I did not feel like working. My mind was not focused so returned home. Hmmm, ammi and Najma are not home. Now I feel like working out.
Z-A: Mr, Khan, why not run with me? It will be a good work out too.
A with an evil smile: Zoya, I had different work out in mind. You will also have a good work out.
Before Zoya could push him away: Asad lifted Zoya in his arms and went into their room for a work out.
An Hour later:
Zoya was exhausted after their work out. Asad took her in his arms and said:
A-Z: You will have to be rewarded for being a good wife. Zoya, close your eyes.
Zoya closed her eyes and Asad placed something on her tummy. She opened to find a large envelope. She opened to find her passport. She looked up to Asad with questions in her eyes. Asad asked her to open her passport and when she did: VOILA, SHE FOUND THE PARISENNE VISA STAMPED. Her husband was taking her to Paris. She hugged him so tight that Asad felt breathless yet he never so alive. He and his wife were off to Paris.
Week later: In Paris
Zoya had been yapping away in the flight. Her excitement was contagious. Asad smiled at his wife's effervescence. As the flight landed at Jean Gaulle airport Zoya began jumping with joy. Before de planing, she caught Asad's hand and thanked him. Never before had she felt so special and she was with someone who was hers. Asad requested to de plane else the passengers behind would kick him.
Asad had booked them in the Ritz Carlton. Zoya was surprise that Mr. Akudu could pull off romance with such elan. Asad and Zoya checked into the honeymoon suite. Zoya was dancing away. Suddenly, Asad pulled her into his arms and kissed her nose. His next line gave Zoya a heart attack.
A-Z: Ms. Farroukhi, there are no restrictions on clothes, food or drink. Paris is known for its wine and we should taste. Hence, this is a bar yet no bar holiday. You are free to roam the Parisians streets in skirts, shorts et all.
Z-A: Mr. Khan, are you serious? Please hold me else I might faint. Are you okay? Are you unwell? Has your brains frozen? Why did you not inform before? I would not have brought Indian clothes. Mr. Khan, this is unfair. Well, then I will have to shop in Paris.
Asad smiled at his wife. The door knocked and Zoya ran to open it. It was the room boy with champagne. Since they were in the honeymoon suite, it was champagne on the house. Zoya was thrilled.
In the evening:
Asad had booked a romantic candle light dinner. He had left early as he wanted to surprise Zoya. As he was waiting for Zoya, he felt her eyes on him. As he turned, he found the entire restaurant staring at Zoya. She was looking gorgeous in a black saree with a silver border and silver backless blouse. The only jewellery on her was the wedding ring. Asad gaped at her. He was happy that she was his but also felt jealous as Zoya had an audience. For once, he wished that she had worn jeans and shirt. Zoya looked amazing in Indian clothes.
Zoya walked up to him with a smile that crushed his heart. He had fallen in love hard. He pulled up a chair and she sat down. As he sat opposite, Zoya placed her hand on his and squeezed it. When Asad was to place the order, Zoya inquired if there was pizza. Asad was speechless as only Zoya could think of pizza in a fancy French restaurant.
A-Z: Ms. Farroukhi, we are in France and NOT Italy. Italy is known for its pizzas and gelatos. Please, Ms Farroukhi, no pizza here.
Z-A: Mr. Khan, please do not challenge me. You know I cannot resist challenges. If I get a pizza in this restaurant, you have to promise me that our next trip will be to Italy where I can gorge on pizzas and gelatos. Is that a deal?
Asad was confident that he would win and sealed the deal. As he was sipping on wine, Zoya was chattering away with the chef. The chef was viciously shaking his head and Asad knew that Zoya had lost.
15 minutes later as Asad was biting into his au gratin, the pizza arrived. He was appalled. Zoya smiled at him before she bit into her pizza. Her conversation with the chef would be a secret forever.
Post dinner, Asad had another surprise up his sleeve. He blindfolded Zoya and drove her. As Zoya stepped out of the car, she could feel fresh air and grass. Asad removed the blindfold and turned her around. For once chatterbox Zoya was speechless as she stood in front of the EIFFEL TOWER in all its night glory. She had tears in her eyes. For long, she had imagined this scene and now Asad had fulfilled it. She stared at the Tower and then at her husband. She hugged him. Zoya had never felt so loved and owned before.
5 days later:
Asad and Zoya had spent their time visiting museums, monuments and quaint stores, eating at cafes, drinking au caf (coffee) and the (tea) and shopping. Asad and Zoya cut a deal. For every museum she would visit with him, he would buy her pastry at the caf. If the husband loved art, the wife loved food.
During the shopping sprees, Asad realized that Zoya had not shopped for herself. She was buying stuff for Ammi, Asad and Najma more so Najma. It touched him to see that she had also shopped for Ayaan and Nikat. Zoya had also bought gifts for Rasid and Shireen but did not mention it to Asad. In her daily conversation with Phupi, she had shared her plan and Dilshad agreed.
As Zoya was purchasing stuff from Najma's long list, he excused himself. He planned to shop for his wife. As he was walking down the rue (street), he found a quaint store. He stepped in and there was this old man selling antique stuff. As he was browsing, the old man enquired the purpose. Asad mentioned that he wanted buy something for his wife. The old man pulled Asad's hand and brought him to a special corner. Placed on the glass shelf and in a pretty box, Asad had found the perfect gift for his imperfect wife.
Asad returned to Zoya with a shopping bag. Zoya had a questioned look on her face. Asad shrugged and Zoya continued. This was their last day in Paris so Zoya had to finish.
Late evening:
Zoya had planned a surprise for Asad. She had reserved the roof top for two (her charm had worked magic amongst the hotel staff). As Asad entered the suite, he could not find Zoya.
He found a card that said "I am waiting for you in the clouds". Before Asad could figure it, there was a knock. Asad opened the door and the room boy presented him with a bouquet. The card said "My love is like a bouquet of flowers, red for love and passion, green for jealous, blue for respect and yellow for friendship". Asad had tears in his eyes. He had never felt so loved. Placed under the lamp was a card "Just look up and you will find me". Asad realized and headed for the roof top. As he entered, the roof top was decorated in clouds and from the clouds Zoya stepped out in a red strapless gown. Asad was mesmerized with his wife. Asad sat on the chair and pulled Zoya to his lap.
Z-A: Mr. Khan, thank you for coming into my life. We had our ups and downs wherein we have not trusted each other. Asad, I love you and will be with you forever. Our marriage will not falter like our parents did. On this night, I make a promise to you that I am yours forever. I will love and trust you with passion. Asad, you own me and my heart.
Asad had tears. No one had loved him like this. He took his hand in hers and promised her the same. On a beautiful, cloudy night in Paris, Asad and Zoya entered a new phase in their marriage.
At the airport:
Zoya had slept like a baby on Asad's shoulders. As Asad looked at her, he saw his gift around her neck. He had bought her a quaint double heart shaped locket in gold. In the right, Zoya had placed his picture and in the left, she had placed the picture of Phupi and Najma. Asad was shocked at his wife. Unlike other wives, she had his ammi and sister's picture in the locket. She had accepted not just him but also his mother and sister.
Asad Ahmed Khan had fallen in love with Zoya Farroukhi all over again. He was making plans for their next trip to Italy.
** Hope you enjoyed it. and perhaps I might write an OS on Italy also:))
Kumkum Bhagya
Anupamaa
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