Unpredictable Lives: Link to T2 Page 152 - Page 32

Eighteen

Zoya lay across her bed, where she had been hit and cut herself had now turned a horrible blue, the bruising was quite bad. As she continued to cry out her phone rang, after so many rings Zoya switched her mobile off she was in no mood to talk to anyone.

Back at the Festival, her friends started to become worried as they had not seen her nor was she answering her phone. Where could she be, she wouldn't just leave without telling us?' Najma said don't worry she is a big girl, I am sure she is ok...' No Rehan, I know something is wrong I can feel it...and we can't all go out without her, we have to find her'. When it came to Zoya, Najma was always right in following her gut feeling, she had never been wrong before and she knew she wasn't now. Maybe she went back to college or home...hang on was she not going to see Humera off, maybe she has just got caught up with her' Rhea said hmmm maybe...but if she doesn't show by the time we finish here, I want a search party out' Najma said thinking it was quite plausible that Zoya just headed of somewhere with Humera.

By the time Asad had finished with Raghu, he wasn't going to be seeing daylight for a few days; he was remanded into custody, well whatever was left of his limp body. Asad lifted his head to rest on the back of his chair, Zoya's face kept haunting him Asad' a voice came from the door Asad looked up to see Mr Roy Yes Sir' he said standing up I heard about what happened, the good thing is that you got one of Dev Raaj's guys...but seriously did you need to that to him?...Anyway...I need you back with Ayaan and the team, the day is coming to a close, the youngsters will be dispersing soon...so go' yes Sir...on my way now'.

Asad met with Ayaan and continued to carry out their work Ayaan, I thought I said I wanted the back entrance covered, why is there no one there?' Ayaan was in the process of formulating a response when their path was cut off by Dev. Seeing Dev Raaj and his pathetic little gang Asad stood tall 'you have one of my men...why?' Asad looked at him with fierceness choosing not to respond Asad tried to bypass him only for Dev to hold out his hand 'I asked you a question' Asad took off his glasses and looked directly at him 'and I chose not to respond...now unless you want to join him I suggest you get the hell out of my way' standing up to one another with equal vigour neither were prepared to back down, Asad was waiting for him to make one wrong move and then he would be his, but Dev Raaj knew better, laughing in Asad's face he stepped back and walked off. 'I can't wait for the day I get my hands on that piece of scum...' 'Don't let him get to you...we have Raghu, hopefully we can get something out of him' 'fat chance, he'll be bailed out before we know it, but at least he won't be forgetting my lesson in a hurry...how is Humi, she ok?' 'yeah, I left her with Ammi, she is worried for Zoya, she hasn't been able to get hold of her, I have been looking around here too I have not seen her' 'you go ahead, make sure everything is wrapped up properly and follow any leads through, I'll see you back at base'.

On his way back to the car Asad pulled out his phone to call Zoya but it was unreachable, throwing his phone across the passenger seat Asad sped off towards Zoya's halls, he didn't know if she would be there, but there was certainly something that made him turn and drive there. Asad entered the building, he saw a small reception desk and approached the man behind it excuse me, could you tell me what room Miss Zoya Farooqui is in?' the man looked at Asad 'sorry you are...?' 'a friend...I have...um come to visit' Asad said the first thing that came to his head, the irony of it was that he was far from anything that even came close to being a friend. 'She is in room 404, if you take the lift on the right hand side it will take you straight up, turn left when you come out, and it's the room on the end' 'thank you'.

Asad stood outside her room, every time he raised his hand to knock it fell flat by his side again, he couldn't remember ever being so indecisive 'what crap Asad, just knock on the door man' he said to himself, taking a deep breath in and prepared for absolutely nothing Asad knocked on her door. 'Come on...you have to be in here...answer' he kept mumbling to himself after another minute of waiting Asad knocked again but this time with a lot more force, so much that the door opened.

Slowly pushing the door open Asad poked his head in and what he saw totally blew him away. Zoya was wearing a light green and black shalwar kameez, she adorned a head scarf and stood peacefully on her prayer mat. He had never seen someone look so angelic, this girl in all her attire looked breath taking and what made him melt was seeing her pray. He wasn't sure what to do, should he wait or leave, he continued to look at her in awe but it was short lived when his eyes fell on the side of her face. He closed his eyes and clenched his jaw, there was probably never a time Asad had ever felt so bad, he made the decision to let her be, as he turned he started to close the door behind him her voice stopped him what are you doing here' a soft whisper came, Asad turned around to see her still sitting on her prayer mat as he stepped further in Zoya stood up.

'Can I come in?' If you hadn't noticed Mr Khan you already are in...what is it that you want? Did you forget to hurl some more insults at me...have you come to finish off what you had started?' Zoya's eyes filled with tears as she spoke, she tried hard not to let her voice break but she couldn't help it. The way she looked at him the way she spoke, every word that escaped her lips sliced another piece of him, he could just about hold her gaze 'are you just going to stand there or actually say something?' 'Zoya...I just came to ...umm...how you feeling?' Asad mentally kicked himself the minute those words came out 'absolutely fantastic, I don't know Mr Khan how is someone supposed to feel after they were physically assaulted, and then mistreated by an officer who should have been there to help...you know what I give up with you, I don't know why we keep bumping into each other but we do, as much as I try and avoid any kind of interaction with you I just happen to end up standing in front of you, I know you don't like me, and its fine that's your personal choice, but what you don't have a right to do is judge me, hurl accusations and hurt me for no good reason...I know what you think of me Mr Khan...but you are wrong...now if you don't mind I would like to be left alone'.

Asad stood there totally speechless, he came here wanting to know if she was ok, wanting to somehow let her know that he felt bad for what had happened and as much as he hated to admit it he was wrong. But what Zoya had just said threw him in all the confusion of trying to take in what she had said all that came out was 'you really think I hate you?' Zoya placed her folded prayer mat on the bed 'Mr Khan if the way you treat me is the way you treat people you like I would really like to see how you treat the people you hate...if there is nothing else please leave'. Zoya turned her back to Asad, she didn't want him to see her cry again but he already knew, her little sniffles were indication enough. Asad turned and stepped out the door but before he closed it he managed to say something he had never said to anyone before 'Zoya, for what it's worth...I'm...I'm sorry'.

As soon as everyone came to know of what happened they bombarded Zoya's room Najma and Rhea were nearly in tears Zoya, have you spoken to Zeenat?' Zoya looked at Najma are you crazy, if she ever found out what happened she would have be on the next plane to New York...I am not telling her anything...and that mean you not saying anything either. I'm sorry guys, I won't be able to attend the Festival tomorrow' she said looking glum, she didn't want everyone to see her face in such a state 'Zoya, its fine, why you apologising, but please don't switch your phone off, we nearly had a mass panic attack between us' Rehan said 'I won't promise' 'well what will you do...stay cooped up in here? That's no fun' Najma said feeling bad for her best friend 'It will give me time to do some more research for my dissertation, I am due to start working at the NIA from next week...' Zoya's mind trailed off as she spoke being at the NIA would mean she would surely be bumping into Asad, the thought of him made her heart flutter, in pain.