Please see below for chapter 34. Hope you like it.
Thirty Four
After what Ayaan had said Asad couldn't bring himself to stand in front of Zoya without his head arguing with itself. He made sure that he came home past her sleeping time just so he could avoid her, as he walked past her room he felt a pull towards it, as if something possessed him to open the door. So he did, he slowly opened the door to find her sleeping peacefully, she looked beautiful as ever, so innocent. Not really knowing what he was doing Asad took in a deep breath before he went back to his room. He couldn't remember how long he stood under the shower; he hated not being able to think coherently, it was like nothing made sense to him anymore. The one thing he had managed to convince himself of was that Ayaan was wrong, the only relationship between the two of them was friendship, and not a very good one either, he helped someone who needed help, he felt compassion towards a girl who had gone through a lot in life and that was it there was nothing more to it.
Asad was unusually quiet during their drive to the NIA, Zoya wanted to say something but the way Asad looked and was behaving she knew it would be better to say nothing. Zoya waited for Asad to lock the car so they could walk in together 'Zoya...you go ahead I have a few phone calls I need to make' Zoya looked at him; she knew there was something wrong but wasn't sure what 'ok' she simply said before she waked off. Asad waited until she was out of sight before he started to walk towards the main entrance as he came through the main doors he stood still he saw Haroon with his arms around Zoya. Zoya evidently looked uncomfortable 'Haroon...will you get off of me...' Zoya said trying to get Haroon to move away from her 'Zoya...come on me and you...we are a team...and you get to go out with me too...' Zoya looked at him and gave up, there was no hope for his childish immature behaviour 'I'll go out with you if you get your blasted arms off me...NOW' Haroon started laughing and removed his arms immediately 'whatever you say sweet heart' Zoya cut eyes at him and walked off. A wave of anger washed over Asad as she stood there watching them, his eyes were glued on Haroon's hand that was sitting across Zoya's shoulder, the very same one that kept caressing her upper arm then her back. Clenching his fist and closing his eyes in irritation Asad took in a few deep breaths before he managed to walk past him without knocking him off his feet.
Asad slammed the door of his office and let out a growl making Ayaan jump 'Bhaijaan...are you ok...what happened?' he asked as he quickly moved around the table towards him 'nothing...just that Haroon Darr...he pisses me off' 'ignore him...you know he acts like a clown'. Asad sat on his chair 'there hasn't been any information coming in, things seem to be a little too quiet for my liking...I think whatever is going down will be big, we still haven't managed to locate the stash that was moved out of Moti Mahal, the information given to us was wrong...I think we need to start setting out again, I want you to put together a list of places that we want under surveillance. I know Arvind Shinde and Dev Raaj are up to something...'
Zoya was debriefed by Arjun before she left to go out with Haroon, she was excited as it was going to be her first official field trip but at the same time was dreading it because Haroon's over friendly and irritating behaviour. Zoya stood outside the lift with Haroon constantly rolling eyes at his big grin 'seriously Haroon, how did you land a job as and NIA officer...' 'Quite easily...with my wit and charm...' 'Please...what charm?' 'Your problem is that you can't handle me' he said leaning into her, Zoya pushed him back 'I can handle you perfectly officer Darr...you have only seen the tolerant side of me until now...so let's just keep it that way shall we' Zoya said giving him a fake smile then stepping into the lift.
Zoya sat in Haroon's car and he soon drove off leaving the voice that was shouting out after them behind. Ayaan ran after Asad to the car park 'Bhaijaan...what is going on...who you screaming out after' Asad swore under his breath 'that moron has taken Zoya out, I have just found out that he is going to Moti Mahal, the people involved there know of Zoya, I need to stop them' Ayaan froze 'shit...why did Zoya agree to go? Is she stupid?' 'Ayaan, she doesn't know, Zoya wouldn't put herself at risk like that'.
Asad kept dialling Zoya's number whilst Ayaan tried calling Haroon 'what the hell is wrong with their phones?' Asad said as he banged his fist on the steering wheel. Zoya realised she was outside Moti Mahal 'what are we doing here?' she asked 'we have come to meet a few people, nothing dramatic' Zoya gulped 'is it safe, I mean without anyone else here...I thought this was one Victor's main holding grounds...and beside...I can't go inside there, it is not safe for me' Haroon raised his eyebrow at Zoya 'and since when has a little danger scared any journalist off, I thought this is what you guys lived for. Besides I am here so no need to be afraid, we are not going deep into the colony just by the first few shops' Zoya didn't appreciate his comment about her being scared, she wasn't, but why take unnecessary risks knowing all too well that she was a face known to Victor's men, whether it was Arvind Shinde or Dev Raaj.
Zoya followed Haroon into Moti Mahal too conscious of her surroundings. Haroon led her to a small eatery, the man who looked like he needed a good back approached Haroon 'Chai sahib' (tea, sir) Haroon nodded 'you think this place is hygienic enough to eat out of' Zoya said as she scrunched her nose 'babe...who is eating or drinking' Zoya looked at him 'don't call me babe...he just asked you if you wanted tea' 'yes he did, but it's not tea that he will be giving, he is one of our informants' 'ohh' Zoya remembered back to the man in the big shawl that gave Asad information too and wondered if it was the same person, how many informants could there possibly be. Zoya sat on a separate table from Haroon, just to avoid his stupid comments, as she looked around her eyes came into contact with another pair that were looking at her intently.
Zoya stood up she recognised the man as Tony, and she knew he had recognised her. Tony pulled out his phone and started calling someone. Zoya couldn't bring herself to move as she kept her gaze fixated 'Haroon...we need to go...no' Haroon looked at her as if she was mad 'Sweet heart, what's the rush, I need to get my tea' Zoya turned her head a little 'Haroon, stop your stupidness, we need to go ...that man, he recognises me' Haroon stood up and looked but couldn't see anyone 'Zoya, there is no one there' Zoya turned around to see Tony gone 'I promise you there was someone there...' 'Chill, wait here I will be back in a second, let me find out what is taking this man so long' Zoya started to panic, her eyes travelled from left to right 'I wish the idiot had told me that he was coming here...come on hurry up' she said to herself waiting impatiently for Haroon to return.
Zoya saw Tony come back with two other men, as she saw them approach her she started to hyperventilate 'Ya Allah, this is not good...Haroon' she shouted out but there was no response. As their pace towards her increased so did her heart beat, not wanting to wait to find out what they were going to do Zoya started to walk off in any direction she could that led her away from them.
Haroon came out to find Zoya gone 'now where the hell did she go? He questioned himself as he raked his hands through his hair. 'Zoya' he called out taking out his phone he called her 'shit, no reception' Haroon started to walk around he questioned a few people on the way but no one knew what he was talking about.
Asad and Ayaan jumped out of the car and ran into the colony, 'we should split up' Ayaan suggested Asad nodded and went into the opposite direction of Ayaan. Ayaan ran towards the small market place and Asad towards the smaller alley ways, both of them hoping that Zoya was ok. Ayaan soon bumped into Haroon 'what are you doing here?' Haroon asked 'Haroon, where is Zoya, why did you bring her here?' Haroon looked at him 'because she wanted to come out with me' feeling himself becoming frustrated Ayaan just shook his head 'ok fine, where is she?' he said looking behind him Haroon looked at him and then away. Ayaan grabbed hold of his arm 'I asked you a question dammit' 'I...I don't actually know, I told her to wait for me and when I came out she had gone...I mean how hard is it to follow simple instructions' Ayaan felt anger spread right across him 'you moron, you left her here by herself, do you not know she is not supposed to be anywhere near this place' looking around panicked Ayaan left Haroon standing there feeing rather foolish.
On the other side Asad ran through a few open plan houses, he asked a few kids playing if they had seen a girl, who wasn't from here. 'Maine dekha' (I saw) a voice came from behind, Asad turned around to see a half dressed little boy holding a battered football 'Kya dekha, kahan hai' (what did you see, where is she) he said as he took long strides towards him. The little boy pointed wahan' (there) Asad followed his finger to see him pointing towards a group of small huts; Asad tapped the boy on the head 'shukriya' (thank you).
Asad approached the huts with caution, he stood still as he tried to see if he could hear anything, but here was nothing. Asad moved along to the next hut when suddenly the door barged open making him jump back and crouch to the floor. 'Keep her in here until I tell you otherwise, Dev will be happy to get his hands on her' Asad's eyes narrowed, as much as he wanted to knock them out he held on to himself waiting until the coast was clear before he entered the room. Once the two men had moved away Asad opened the door and snuck in. Inside he saw Zoya lying on her side, her hands tied behind her back and her mouth taped. The minute she saw him her eyes widened. Asad ran to her he sat her up and untied her hands and then pulled back the tape, Zoya let out a deep breath and closed her eyes letting the tears slide down her face that were brimming in her eyes. Asad cupped her face 'Zoya, are you ok...did they hurt you' Asad eyes searched hers as he continued to hold on to her firmly, Zoya shook her head 'no...' helping her stand up Asad took hold of her hand 'come on lets go'. As Asad was about to pull her away she stopped him 'Mr Khan...look over there' Asad looked to what Zoya was pointing at. There were two big cardboard boxes 'Mr Khan, Tony, Shinde's man...I heard him say that the last of the Sandal Wood was in there and that Dev Raaj was coming to pick up the goods later tonight' Asad let go of Zoya's hand as he went to open the boxes, inside he found a large number of Russian Dolls, as he opened them small sachets of the drug s fell out.
Asad needed to think fast, he couldn't leave the drugs here, and there was no way that he could take them with him. Asad called Ayaan 'where are you...no, I have Zoya with me. I need you to come and take her there is something I need to do' Zoya looked at him as he spoke, his voice laced with anger 'Mr Khan...' Asad turned to her and took her by the arms 'I need you to go with Ayaan, I want you to go straight home, and don't move until I get there...understood' Zoya nodded her head as she tried hard not to reflect the pain she felt under his hold. Asad let go as soon as he realised he was holding her a little too tightly.
Ayaan and Haroon managed to get to Asad, without being noticed, or so they thought. Arvind Shinde had the one too many men scattered round the whole colony, nothing ever escaped him. Asad saw Haroon and gave him a deathly glare 'Ayaan, take her home and make sure you see her all the way up...and you Mr Darr, you have a hell of a lot of explaining to do' Ayaan took a shaking Zoya into his hold, Zoya looked at Asad with tear filled eyes Asad knew exactly why she hesitated and what she was thinking 'go, I'll be ok' he said to her.
Ayaan led Zoya out of Moti Mahal and drove her home, whilst Asad went back in to the hut. He pulled the boxed in the middle of the room, he searched the room for anything he could use as an accelerant to set light to the drugs, luckily he found an old lamp, which he opened and emptied the over the boxes. He picked up the matches and struck them to light before he threw them onto the boxes; as soon as he did flames started flaring filling the small room with smoke instantly. Asad ran out of the hut, being content with what he had done as he ran out he came face to face with Shinde and three of his men, including Tony. Arvind Shinde looked like he was on the verge of exploding, he looked past Asad, at the smoke and flames that came from burning his lethal goods 'you really don't know what you have gotten yourself into Officer Khan, not only did you dare come into my home uninvited, you set my hut alight' Asad smirked 'Shinde, wanting to catch you with this is something I had been waiting for a long time now, not only did you make the mistake of taking the girl and holding her captive but you also work as Victor's pimp...and now you are mine' Arvind Shinde screamed 'kill the bast**d' he ordered his men.
Asad ran as he pulled out his gun, he turned around and fired a shot managing to hit one of the men in the shoulder. Arvind, Tony and another one of their men continued to chase after Asad 'I want that bast**d dead...get him' Arvind shouted. Asad managed to run through a small alley, which had a wall erected in the middle, Asad bounced one foot off the side wall and jumped up on the wall, he turned around and fired two more shots managing to hit the other man. Arvind Shinde and Tony came to a halt they both looked at Asad fuming with anger, whilst Asad stood there smirking at them, he held out his gun and pointed it towards them. Arvind pulled Tony and made him stand in front of him, Tony looked back towards his boss, the anger that he wore a minute ago was replaced by confusion and fear 'deal with him' he whispered in his ear and ran back out of the alley leaving Tony to face Asad and his shiny toy. Asad didn't need to think twice before he pulled the trigger, he jumped off the wall and came and stood over Tony who was wincing in pain from the bullet he had just taken 'you are scum...but loyal, not everyone would stand to take a bullet and face death for their lame boss' Asad pointed his gun over Tony 'nooo...please' Tony managed to shout out 'ooops too late' Asad said as he finished what he had started. Tucking his gun back into the rim of his jeans Asad walked out of Moti Mahal as if nothing had ever happened.
