CHAPTER TWENTY ONE :
'Sam !' Zoya shouted. She was really happy to see her. Sameerah came forward and hugged her. Zoya was really missing her badly. Zoya said Salam to Hashim aswell then she sat on the sofa with Sameerah.
'So how was your dinner ?' Sameerah asked her.
'It was good.' Zoya said with a smile.
'When did you start wearing Indian dresses ?' Sameerah asked her.
'Why ? Is it not looking good on me ?' Zoya asked her sadly. Am I looking bad ? Did Asad just say that I am looking good to make me feel happy ? Sameerah never gives me a wrong opinion. She was going through different thoughts.
'You look better in jeans and skirts.' Sameerah said lovingly.
'But I like her in this dress. She is looking beautiful.' She heard her father saying. She looked at her father, he was serious. Aisha started serving tea to everyone.
'Ami, let me serve everyone.' Sameerah said to her. Zoya was surprised that why was she calling her ami ? Maybe Abu told her to say that.
'So when have you decied to get married ?' Sam asked her.
'Soon, very soon. You all have to come.' Zoya smiled at her.
'I am always asking Sameerah to go to London to meet you but she is always saying no to me, you should make sure she is coming on your wedding atleast.' Hashim said to her with a smile. She looked at him and then Sam. She knew very well that Hashim was lieing. Why would Sam say no to meet her own sister ?
'She will definately come.' Zoya said with a smile.
'Go and pack your bags, you are coming with me to my home.' Sameerah said to her.
'She is not coming with you. We have to go shopping tomorrow for her wedding.' Ghafoor said in serious tone. Why was he talking to Sam like that ? Is there something wrong between them ? And who decied that they are going for shopping ?
'Ok she can complete her shopping first but Zoya you have to come to our home when you are done with shopping.' Hashim said to her politely.
'I think we should go now.' Sameerah said. Zoya looked at Sameerah she was upset at something. She wanted to talk to Sameerah and tell her that she wanted to come but Sam didn't stop and walked out.
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She was in her room now. She was still confused at her father's behavior. Why was he talking to Sam like that ? He could have told her politely about me staying here.
She called Asad's number but it was switched off. She was getting worried about him too.
'Are you sleeping ?' Her father knocked at the door and entered.
'No, I was just going to sleep.' Zoya said.
'I want to talk to you.' He came near her and sat on the bed beside her.
'I know you have many complaints from me. Even I am guilty that I didn't pay attention to both of you after divorce and you have suffered alot because of that and Sameerah. . . . . .' He stopped for a second and continued 'Whatever happened in the past we should forget it. I am sorry if I have hurt you. I am really happy that you are getting married to Asad.' His eyes were wet now. She couldn't stop herself. She hugged him.
'Abu please, you don't need to say sorry.' Zoya said while crying. She was happy that her father loved her.
'No, I have to say sorry beta. Parents should pay attention on thier children but I didn't and that affected you both, specially Sameerah. You were with me atleast but she lived with your mother and that is why she is like this.' He said. She wanted to say that she is fine. Nothing is wrong with her. You shouldn't have got her married to Hashim or else everything was good.
'What did Sam do ?' Zoya asked him finally. She wanted to clear Sameerah's image infront of him. He smiled at her.
'You are innocent but world is not as innocent as you are Zoya. You are 26 now, I want you to understand everything by your own. Don't judge everyone on Sameerah's opinion. I won't say she is wrong but you should take your own decisions.' He tried to make her understand without saying anything wrong about Sameerah.
'I will.' She didn't get what he meant to say but she wanted to make him happy.
'Can I say something ?' He asked her again.
'Yes ?' She said.
'Don't stay at Sameerah's place. I want you to stay here.' He said.
'But why ?' She was confused.
'I want you to stay close with me. I won't be able to see you away from me again.' He said.
'Ok.' She thought atleast she should agree for the time being.
'You should sleep now.' He kissed her on her forehead.
'I love you, Abbu.' She said and wiped her tears.
'I love you too beta.' He hugged her again.
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He was sitting in his study and was busy thinking. He just met his son few hours ago. That son, from which he took away his family, love, care, support, confidence and moreover respect. Yes, a father did that to his own son.
Fathers are not supposed to do that. What kind of father he was ? He destroyed his life then why should he call him Abbu. He is the one who told him not to call that.
Asad was right. Whatever he did was right. Rashid deserves all this after what he did to him. Everyone thought that Rashid invited them to show his respect but deep down only he knew that he called Asad to meet him. To say sorry to him for whatever he did.
Yes, he knows everything what Sameerah did to Asad not at the time she did but after many years. He was wrong in judging Asad without asking him once.
He always thought that whatever he did with Asad was right. Asad deserves that but he was shocked one day when he saw Sameerah with another man walking inside a hotel happily. He thought maybe she married that man after Ayaan but his heart was saying something is wrong.
He couldn't sleep at all that night. First time, he was thinking where would Asad be ? He hired a detective in the morning and gave him Sameerah's pictures, told him about the hotel he saw her and asked him to give every single detail about her personal life. He reported him after four days.
'Full name is Sameerah Farooqui, born in Italy but father is from India. Parents are divorced. There is a long list of her affairs. Starting with her step father, she was caught by her mother one night, the man got arrested when Sameerah told the officers that he was forcing her. After that, she studied in Columbia University but then suddenly she transferred and continued her studies in Milan. Right now she is seeing Zain ul Abideen from Zain Constructions.' He stopped and looked at Rashid's shocked face and said 'There are other necessary details too in the file Sir.' He gave Rashid a file.
'Thank You.' Rashid said in a low voice. He was still shocked whatever he said.
'Abbu, ghaleez mein nahi yeh ladki hai. Mujhe kehte hue bhi sharam arahi hai. . . . . . . Isne khud mujhe. . . . She tried to seduce me. She is an adultress.'
'Wait !' Rashid said to him when he was walking out of the room.
'Abbu last night. . . . I want to come home. Please take me from here. . . '
Rashid came out of his thoughts and gave him Asad's picture.
'His name is Asad Ahmed Khan. He is my son. I want to know everything about his last five to six years. We are not in contact. I don't have any other detail but he called me five years back on 7th or 8th January. Take out the details of that number and let me know everything what happened that day till now.' Rashid said while hiding his tears.
'Ok Sir, I will try to find out everything.'
'But you have to keep everything confidencial.' Rashid said.
'Yes, that's already mentioned in our agreement.' He said.
Rashid was very worried about him now, he wanted to meet Asad as soon as possible. He was sure now that Asad was right and Sameerah was wrong. He wanted to apologize but had no idea where he was right now. Detective reported him after 10 days now. Rashid could feel something was wrong.
'Sir, Starting from the day he called you. It was a Doctor's number.' He said hesitantly. He didn't know how to tell him.
'What ? Did he get into an accident ? Is he fine now ?' Rashid knew he was talking about years back but he could feel something fishy in his tone.
'No sir, not accident. According to hospital's records, he was a victim of 'Gang rape'. He was in the hospital for a week. He was very badly injured. Doctors were not sure he will survive but he did.' He stopped and looked at Rashid. Tears were falling down his eyes, and he fell on his chair.
'Sir, are you fine ?' He asked Rashid.
'Yes go on.' Rashid said after a while.
'His name is mentioned in Memphis Law School as one of there best student till now. He started his studies after one year of that incident. College records show that he came with Mr Bill who is a bar owner for admission but his father's name is written as Rashid Ahmed Khan.' Rashid was still in shock but he felt proud of his son.
'Sir, the bar owner told me that Asad was a different boy, he worked there for two years. He never smiled on any joke, he never watched any movie, he wasn't having any friend. Like other boys working in the bar, he never drank any kind of alcohol. He just did his job honestly.' Rashid was still crying but listening to him.
'Right now he is in Doha,Qatar. He is working in J.S International as their legal advisor and one of there best lawyers. There are some other details in the file too about what kind of jobs he did before getting his degree and his contact number.' He looked at Rashid, he was quiet.
'Sir, you need water ?' He asked him.
'No, you can leave. I will talk to you later.' Rashid said and he kept the file on the table and left.
Rashid wanted to apologize Asad after getting information of Sameerah but after what he heard about Asad, he was not in the state to face him.
Rashid always thought he should go to him and talk to him but he never had the courage to do that. He couldn't tell all this to even Dilshad, he thought he won't be able to face her too after that.
Two years after that he called Asad and told him about Dilshad. Asad came to India but Rashid didn't meet him. He wasn't having courage to see him.
Rashid was happy to know that Asad was getting married, he deserves love too but he couldn't control his emotions anymore and invited him for dinner. He wanted to see him happy. Rashid was happy to meet Zoya but after meeting Asad, guilt was killing him.
This was not his Asad anymore. He was someone else who didn't care about his father anymore. Who was not in need of his support. Rashid wanted to hug him but he knew Asad won't like that.
'I wish I get the courage to say sorry to him. I know he will forgive me.' Rashid prayed to God.
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It was 6 o' clock in the morning. He was still sitting on the lake side, he couldn't go to his hotel room last night. He was sure that tonight he will see his nightmare again so there was no use to sleep. He finally switched on his phone.
Life was never so easy for him. He always did what he never imagined in his life but he did because he has never controlled his life. He met his father and brother yesterday just because of his mother.
He never thought he would meet them again after what they did to him but he met them. Life is never what you expect it to be. Life is a big surprise.
He switched on his phone 10 minutes ago and now it was ringing. He looked at it and smiled. It was Zoya's call.
Sometimes life doesn't give you what you want, not because you don't deserve it but because you deserve better. He was thinking positive now after Zoya's call.
'Hello.' Asad picked up the call.
'Asad where are you ? Why was your phone switched off ?' Zoya asked him as soon as he picked up.
'Why ? What happened ?' Asad asked her back to avoid her questions.
'I was calling you all night, your phone was switched off. I was getting worried, even you were not in your hotel room.' Zoya said.
'Why were you calling me Zoya ?' He asked her.
'Why are you asking me stupid questions ? You were upset after meeting your family, I wanted to talk to you.' She said.
'Do you love me Zoya ?' He knew she loves him but wanted to hear again.
'Yes.' She said while walking out of her room.
'How much ?' His voice was shaky but he was trying to cover it.
'You can't even imagine that, Asad.' She said and covered her phone and said to Aisha 'Aunty I will be back soon.' and came out of the house.
'Still tell me how much ?' He asked her.
'Umm . . . . .I can do anything for you.' She said and waved her hand to driver. He sat in the car.
'Can you stop painting for me ?' He asked her in serious tone.
'Yes.' She said while sitting in the car.
'Can you stop going to Rome for me ?' He asked.
'Yes.' She said.
'Can you come to the lake side now ?' He asked.
'Yes. I am on my way.' She said and told the driver to go to the lake side.
'But how did you know that ?' He asked.
'I didn't know that I was just going to ask you where you are ? so that I can come there.' She said and he finally smiled.
She was really with him in half an hour. He was happy to see her. He wanted someone to be with him right now.
'So why did you call me here ?' Zoya asked him after a while.
'I don't know, I was feeling alone. I wanted to see you to make sure you are mine.' Asad said.
'You are not alone, I am with you.' She said.
'Yes you are but I am having bad feelings. I want to marry you as soon as possible.' He said.
'Nothing is going to be wrong now Asad. Just believe in yourself. We will get married as soon as we go from India.' She said with a smile on her face.
'I love you.' He said while looking at her.
'I love you too.' She said.
'Lets have breakfast together.' He said to her.
'Ok lets go.' She said.
After two hours of roaming here and there, they finally had there breakfast. They were done with breakfast, Asad was feeling better now.
'Now we are going for shopping.' Zoya said excitedly.
'No I think you should go home and sleep.' He tried to avoid shopping. Her shopping was always too much time consuming.
'No, If I said we are going for shopping that means we are.' She knew why he was avoiding shopping.
'Ok.' He knew there was no use to argue.
'You are going to be dominating wife.' Asad said after a while.
'Well, you deserve that.' She said angrily.
'And why is that so ?' He asked her.
'Because I am the only one in the world who can handle your moods.' She said proudly.
'That's because I let you do that. If I want I can avoid you.' Asad said proudly.
'Ya don't remind me about avoiding Mr Khan. You tried to do that before many times. Remember ?' She asked him mischievously.
'Yes and I was successful in that.' He said and she looked at him reminding him how he came to Florence for her exhibition.
'Well almost.' Asad said and looked away and she started laughing.
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Edited by Bubble007 - 11 years ago
Udne Ki Aasha
