Thread#1 Asya FF: || Married to Darkness ||Link To the New Thread PG-1 - Page 60

10:00 PM

Sunday

Zoya's Diary

The last few days have been different. No nothing has changed phenomenally, but yes there have been a few things here and there.

For one, Mr. Khan has started coming to the dining table every morning. Like a routine he makes his own breakfast, reads the newspaper and heads out for office. No we do not talk. But still I haven't encountered his red eyes and dejected face for a while now. Something is keeping him pleasant.

It was only three days ago when I had decided to visit Farida Bi but it looks like, I will have to wait a little more. Things are not always sorted, are they? I called up the orphanage the other day and to my utter disappointment found out that Farida Bi had gone to Indore and only after Wednesday will I be able to meet her. I was so close to unraveling the truth... but well not so soon.

But as they say, if one thing shuts out, another good thing comes your way. And that is exactly what happened. I got a job!

Okay, not exactly yet, I still have my interview left with the editor, but Sumna is a hundred percent positive that I will get it for sure.

She has turned out to be an absolute sweetheart! I never thought that we would become such great friends eventually. Like typical teenagers, we talk for hours, she keeps me entertained with her animated stories and I have great fun in listening to her tales!

So I have this interview on Wednesday with the editor of Sunrise Daily and I am so excited! And scared too! Aren't interviews supposed to be scary? Well they are for me! And I have to figure out what would I be wearing to the interview. All I have in my wardrobe, are some faded jeans, casual T-shirts and some very glittery Salwar-suits(which I will not wear to an interview!).

This reminds me that I have to go for shopping tomorrow otherwise I will end up looking like a big fat looser on my life's very first interview!

Cheers.

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Monday Morning

9:00 AM

" Hey Sumna! Sorry if I am disturbing you, but I have something very important to ask." Zoya had called Sumna up in the morning to ask her about the shopping trip.

"Uff Ho! When will you stop with your formality?! Accha bolo kya baat hai?"

"You know I have my interview on Wednesday, right? But the thing is I have absolutely nothing to wear!"

"Zoe a large part of the girl population in this world always feel the same! Tell me, are you sure?"

"Yes I am! Plus I need a few other things...are you free today? I was wondering that we could go to the mall together...I don't know any good places here and I could definitely use some help..."

"Oh God! Zoe I am so sorry...actually both me and my husband are leaving for my Aunt's place today. It totally slipped off my mind! I am so sorry Zoya...I won't be able to accompany you"

A frown made its way to Zoya's face. What was she supposed to do now?

"No it's alright Sumna...I'll be fine, don't worry!"

"I feel so bad now...How about you take your husband along with you?! He could definitely take some time out for his darling wife, can't he?"

Darling wife! He would prefer to murder me in my sleep than go out with me!

"Ermm...Ya I guess. I'll ask him but you don't worry...enjoy your trip! Have fun!"

"Thanks Zoe, you too!" and then she hung up.

Still unsure of what to do, she kept weighing all the possibilities in her head.

Can I really ask Mr.Khan? He hasn't been his usual monster-ey' self lately... he could definitely show me around?

No Zoya are you mad?! He would never agree...But I don't want to go alone!

Anyways what is the harm in asking?

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By the time Zoya reached the dining table, Asad had already seated himself and was halfway through his usual bowl of cereal. She quickly poured out some of it for herself too and sat on the chair next to him.

As usual Asad paid no heed to Zoya's presence and continued glancing at the crisp morning newspaper in front of him.

Allah Miyan! Mr. Always-oblivious- Ahmed Khan would never agree! Why am I even asking?

"Ermm..a...Mr.Khan I have something to tell you."

Asad turned his head to face her properly and said plainly, "What is it?"

"I have applied for a job here...you know cause I get bored most of the times ...so I have this interview-'', she was immediately cut short by Asad, " If you get so bored then why don't you just leave? And anyways...you also know that your stay here isn't permanent, why waste yours and someone else's time?"

He was annoying her again. She was tired of repeating herself time and again but he wouldn't understand. "Mr. Khan I think I have already made myself clear many times before, I am going nowhere. So it will be better that you leave your expert comments to yourself and listen to me!"

Asad closed his eyes in exasperation. She was beginning to test his patience severely.

"Okay so as I was saying...I have an interview with the newspaper's editor where I had applied to, this Wednesday and I need a few things. Would you be willing to take me out today?"

There, she said it.

He met her pleading eyes and that moment he knew that he wouldn't be able to say no.

"See I know that you hate me. And trust me, the feeling is mutual but this time I genuinely need some help. I don't know any good places here and honestly I don't feel like going alone either. I have this thing with new places, I tend to get lost easily (she made that up!) and something tells me that if I do then you will come to find me. And that will cost you some great trouble...so If you want to avoid that then please just for this once, help me out!" she said out in one breath.

Zoya was waiting for a ray of hope to shine and internally praying to God for a yes.

After a long pause Asad got up and decided to reply, "Be ready around six, I will take you to some mall here."

"You will? Oh my god!" she almost squealed.

On an impulse she tugged at his arm and muttered a soft Thank you'. He looked at her hand holding his and Zoya immediately withdrew mentally kicking herself for swaying away.

My Oh My! What made Mr. Monster agree? I am sure that it was the I-will-get-lost-part'! Aah Zoya! You are a G E N I U S!

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It was six and Asad had reached home, exactly how he had promised Zoya. He freshened up and then walked towards the hall to see if Zoya was ready.

At the same time Zoya was coming out of her room, mindlessly fixing her earring and adjusting her clothes. She had chosen to wear her favorite Seven for all mankind jeans and a blood red top, Zeenat bought for her Birthday last year. As she was walking fast, she never realized when she bumped into Asad. She quickly managed to regain her balance, " I am so sorry...I wasn't looking...", she said in a whisper. Her big brown eyes peeped into his and something caught his attention. Zoya looked different. The worry lines on her face had faded and she was, well, looking happy. He couldn't figure out the reason though. Nonetheless he ignored her apology and walked out of the main door, signaling her to follow.

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Like a perfect gentleman Asad opened the car door for her, not that he purposely intended to, it was a habit. But this was enough to leave Zoya a tad bit impressed. After both of them were inside the car, they set off for wherever Asad had decided to take her.

A moment later Zoya's phone rang, breaking the silence that had set in. She picked it up and it was Sumna. "Hi Zoe! You know I was feeling so bad to turn you down like that so I thought I should check up...what did you decide then?"

"Don't worry Sumna, I am on my way...I am going with my husband." Zoya regretted the moment she let that out. My husband? Had she forgotten that Asad was in the car with her?

"Oooh Cool! Have fun! I feel so much better now!" said a cheerful Sumna as she hung up.

Zoya felt her cheeks go red with embarrassment. What would Mr.Khan be thinking?

"Ermm...that was err..My friend Sumna...I just met her here...she doesn't know...you know..." Zoya sheepishly blurted out.

Asad was a little surprised. Of course he knew that to the world they were husband and wife. Then why did he have that weird feeling when Zoya referred him as her husband?

"Did I ask for any explanations?", he said, his rude form taking over.

Arghh! Can this man stop with such blunt replies?????

"Oh! So you thought I was explaining to you? No, Mr. Khan as usual, I was speaking to the walls!"

"There are no walls here" He himself didn't know why did he even bother to reply.

Really now?

"Okay then I was talking to the car ceiling, car walls, whatever you call it!" Zoya was beyond miffed. The audacity of this man!

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By the time it was 6:30, they had already reached the mall. Zoya was pleasantly surprised. Asad had brought her to what looked like a really plush shopping arena. Everything was well lit, gorgeously decorated and huge!

"So where do you want to go first?" Asad asked Zoya who was busy admiring the place.

"Oh yes!", she pulled herself back from her endless thoughts,

" Ermm...First I would like to go to the electronics store"

He led her to a huge gadgets and gizmos store that was spread across half of the entire first floor of the mall.

As they entered a shop assistant approached them, "Hello sir! Hello Ma'am!" He greeted the couple warmly. "What would you like to see?"

"I am looking for a MacBook", Zoya replied. She had left her laptop back home and if she was going to write for a publication, she would definitely need one.

The assistant led them to the Apple counter and Zoya decided upon the model. After that,they headed towards the billing area.

"How would you like to pay sir?" the assistant asked Asad, to which Zoya replied, "I will be paying...here take my card..."

Asad however was not in favor of this and said, "You don't have to...Let me pay"

The assistant politely left the scene and let the confused couple make the decision.

"Mr.Khan you don't have too...I have my card along and anyways why would you pay for my stuff?"

"Because you have come with me", Zoya was about to counter question him but he had already handed over his Credit card at the reception.

After the billing was done they were out of the store and Zoya couldn't help herself from saying, "Mr.Khan I will pay you back after the shopping is done...I don't want any obligations..." Asad ignored her and said, " Where next?"

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They had come to Zara where Zoya had gone to the section where professional suites and office clothes were on display. While she was picking things for herself Asad was observing her from afar. He noticed how she talked to herself while choosing between clothes and rolled her eyes as soon as she saw the price tags.

He didn't remember the last time when he was at a mall. And even though he wouldn't admit to himself, it was a pleasant change from the monotony of his dark routine life.

After a whole hour of trying, rejecting and finally deciding on what to purchase Zoya had come out to the billing counter. And as if it was the most normal thing, Asad took her shopping bag and proceeded to pay. She noticed how they were looking like a typical husband-wife out for a shopping trip. But only she knew how atypical the actual scenario was.

On a bright side she was happy of the things she had bought. She had absolutely fallen for the tweed skirt she had found and had decided to wear that on the interview day. She was almost done with the shopping except she had to go to the shoe store. She remembered how excited her girl gang used to be when they would go for shoe shopping back in New York. She missed them. But for now she could only reminisce the good old memories and as Muski would say, Shoe-shopping is therapeutic! She decided to focus on the retail-therapy aspect rather than slipping into a flood of thoughts.

Asad and Zoya had split the number of bags and she almost felt guilty for pushing him into this.

"Mr. Khan I really appreciate what you are doing for me today and I am sorry if all of this is bothering you. I promise that I wouldn't irritate you like this ever again" she said sweetly, her eyes again displaying emotions that unknowingly stir his soul. "No, It's all right" Hearing this from him made her feel much better. She passed him a broad smile and it won't be wrong to say that Asad stood there arrested under the spell of her gleaming eyes. He quickly brushed off the unwanted feelings that were creeping into him and turned away from her.

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"Ma'am this one is from our new collection", the shop assistant at Aldo showed her the heart stopping six-inch black-pointy heels. Needless to say, Zoya immediately fell in love! Shoes were her weakness and the one in front of her was exactly the kind that fed her soul.

Asad on the other hand was taken aback by the size of the heel and couldn't figure out how any one could walk wearing them.

Zoya sat on the bench and put on the beauties on her feet. But as soon as she stood up, she somehow lost balance and fell backwards, her back facing Asad's front. Asad grabbed her waist from behind and helped her stand straight. "If you can't walk in them, why would you buy them?" She ignored his snide comment and turned to face him properly. As she adjusted the shoe again, her feet slipped and she landed in Asad's arms, this time hugging him from the front to prevent herself from falling.

Allah Miyan! I have always walked in heels in my life! What's up with me now?!

She adjusted her clothes, embarrassed of what had played out in front of the whole goddamn shop and sat down to remove the shoes from her feet. "Here take them for billing." she asked the assistant politely. Both him and Asad were shocked at her decision but they chose not argue with the lady.

Don't worry Zoya! It was only a one-time thing; you can't just have forgotten to walk in them, can you? She reasoned with herself.

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The shopping was done but it had left Zoya extremely hungry. She desperately tried to look for an eating joint and within a second she spotted Pizza Hut at the corner of the floor.

Oh My God! It's been ages since I had Pizza! But will Mr.Khan...?

"Mr.Khan...ermmm...I am really hungry...can we go an eat something at Pizza Hut? Vaise bhi gharpe khana nhi hai and I am feeling very hungry! Please?"

He nodded in a yes and an excited Zoya walked to the restaurant.

She took a seat and noticed that Asad was still standing.

"The seat doesn't have thorns Mr. Khan, you can sit down!" She laughed softly and Asad glared at her in return. He took a seat opposite her and noticed how the place was full of families who have come over for dinner. Something pinched him in his heart when he saw the environment fill up with chattering noises and mindless laughs.

"May I take your order, please?" a polite waiter approached their table.

"Oh Yes! One medium size Exotica for me... and you Mr.Khan?"

"Nothing"

"What? See you won't be able to eat tonight after reaching home. Please Mr. Khan let me order?"

He was going to refuse for the second time but Zoya had already went ahead and ordered Pasta for him. She somehow figured out that he wouldn't like Pizza.

After twenty minutes the food had arrived and Zoya instantly dug in. She saw that Asad still wasn't eating and was seriously annoyed at his childish behavior. Why does he always have to say no?

Shifting the plate a little towards him she said sweetly, "Please eat, otherwise I will feel really bad Mr. Khan. Can't you for today forget that we can't stand each other? Please...what is food to do with all of this?"

Asad decided not to argue further and took a spoonful in his mouth. Zoya smiled, that arresting smile, and he knew that he wasn't himself today. Why was he agreeing to everything Zoya was saying? Did he want to make it up to her after all that he had done? Or was there something else that was making him surrender to her desires?

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They were heading back to the parking area when Zoya saw something that took her heart away. It was a beautiful salwaar-kameez put on display and she knew that she had to buy it. On a normal day she would crib even at the mention of wearing something so Indian but this particular one was breathtakingly beautiful.

"Err...Mr. Khan...you would think that I am being selfish but can you spare another fifteen minutes?...I just feel that I need something from this shop"

"Its already getting very late...It would be better if we go" He saw her face fall and immediately changed his sentence, " Okay...ermm...we can go if you really want to but this is the last time.."

"I promise!" she said with a smile.

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They had entered the store and it was in one word gorgeous. From only the look of it one could sense that it was expensive and extremely classy.

When they had come in, there was no other customer inside and it was pretty much secluded except of the few shop assistants present. The store had minimal lighting and one could sense the romantic feel it harbored.

"Ma'am would you like me to show something to you?"

"Ah yes" Zoya pointed to the dress on the shop window and said, "That one. I would like to try that"

The assistant returned in a short while and handed Zoya the gorgeous piece of clothing. It was a light pink sleeveless Anarkali with intricate gold Zardozi sequins in the border and around the neck.

"It will look beautiful on you ma'am. And let me tell you, this piece is one of the most beautiful pieces we have this season"

Zoya smiled and went inside the changing room.

She changed into the suit and glanced at her reflection in the mirror. She was not wrong in deciding to buy this dress, as she was looking beautiful. The dress had a dangerously deep back and a dori, which she couldn't tie up properly. She was only opening the door to call the assistant to help her when the door slammed back at her hand with force."Aaah!" she shrieked and the assistant came rushing to her. Zoya's loud shriek reverberated across the whole store. Asad immediately shot up, confused and scared as to what had happened to Zoya.

He was going to ask the assistants when one of them came to him and said in a hyper voice, "Sir! Sir! Your wife has hit her hand very badly...go to her sir..."

Asad ran to the changing room where Zoya was, crying holding her right wrist with her left hand.

"W..what happened?" he asked worriedly and walked close to her.

"My hand came in between the door...and it's paining a lot.," she said as tears continue to flow from her eyes all the more scaring Asad.

"Show me" He took her wrist in her hand and slowly massaged it. "I think you will have to put something on it...it's becoming blue...let's go" Zoya noticed how Asad's eyes softened with concern.

She stopped him midway, "wait"

"What?"

She turned to face her back to him, "I can't go like this...the dori...", she said uncomfortably.

Asad went near her and even though he knew that it was not the most comfortable situation for either of them, he had to help her. He brushed her long hair aside, took the dori threads in his hand and tied them in a knot. Zoya could feel ripples on her skin as his fingers touched her bare back. This wasn't supposed to happen.

Zoya turned to face him and thanked him. He lifted her dupatta off the rail and made it rest on her shoulder. The moment his eyes took the whole of her at a glance, he knew that he hadn't ever seen someone as beautiful as the woman standing in front of him. In plain simple words she looked breathtaking. Yes, she took Asad's breath away and that wasn't supposed to happen.

Since Zoya couldn't change into her old clothes she asked the shop owner to bill the dress while she was wearing it and the sweet lady was more than willing. She also gave Zoya an ointment to apply and after everything was done, they left for the parking area.

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It had been fifteen minutes since Asad had been trying to start the car but he just couldn't. By now it was clear that the car had broken down.

To say that he was irritated would be an understatement of epic proportions. His anger was escalating with every passing second. It was already 10:30 in the night and both he and Zoya were still at the mall's ground floor area.

He angrily phoned the driver. "Mahesh get the car to B.G. Road right now! My car has broken down!"

"Sir, B.G. Road? Sir wahan tho bahut bada jam laga hua hai. Shayad kafi bada haadsa ho gaya hai highway par...naa tho koi wahan jaa sakta hai na abhi aa sakta hai...maaf kijiye ga Sir lekin mera wahan pahunchna abhi naa mumkin hai"

Asad clenched his fist in irritation. He knew that if there was a jam on the highway, it would be impossible to leave the area tonight.

"Mr.Khan Kya hua?"

"Aapko dikhta nahin hai ki kya hua? Car kharab ho gayi hai or highway pe jam laga hua hai! Aapki wajah se hum iss mushkil mein fas gaye hain!"

Zoya couldn't believe his words. "Meri wajah se? Kya maine apki car kharab ki hai? Ya maine Highway pe jam lagwaya hai, bataiye?"

"Lekin aapki wajah se mujhe yahan aana pada!"

"Aur aap kya koi bacche hain jise mein yahan kheech kar le ayi? Aap apni marzi se mujhe help karne ayein hain...aur waise bhi hum chah karbhi Highway ke jam ko predict tho nahin kar sakthe the naa? Ab behter ho gaki hum sonche ki aagay kya karna hai!" Tears made their way back to her eyes. As it is her hand was paining from before and here he was shouting at her for no reason. He is just so unpredictable!

"I think we will have to stay at The Royale Hotel for tonight. It's just behind this mall. We have no other way"

Stay in a hotel? With him? What?

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Both Zoya and Asad entered the room that they had booked for the night. It had modest decorations, nothing very fancy. It was divided into two units, one where the bed was and the other small living area.

"You sleep on the bed and I will sleep on the couch outside", said Asad and Zoya agreed.

By this time the pain in the hand had gone away and since she had left her jeans and top in the car, she went to sleep wearing the dress only.

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Sometime around midnight Zoya woke up to go to the washroom. Entering the bathroom, she switched on the lights and suddenly shrieked seeing someone near the washbasin. "AAA!!!!"

It was Asad who was standing there that had scared her to no end. "Why are you shouting?" But she couldn't hear that and she continued shouting, her eyes closed. She started stepping back, Asad moved towards her, and her back accidently hit the shower nob and within no time they were drenched from head to toe.

The icy cold water brought her out of confusion and she was relieved to see that it was Asad who was standing in front of her. "What are you doing here?" she asked frantically.

"I just came here to wash my face and then you started shouting for no reason and look what you have done! We both are wet!" Asad shouted at her in reply.

"You came here to wash your face? With the lights shut?"

"I was done and was coming out so I switched the light from inside"

"Who does that?"

"I do"

"Well I am not surprised! You are the perfect example of a WEIRDO!!" Zoya was half asleep and was in no control of what she was blurting out. Asad dismissed her comments and walked out of the washroom. Zoya followed him and both of them reached for the cupboard. Asad grabbed a towel and went back to his living room. Zoya's dress was completely soaked in water, so she decided to wear the bathroom robe that was hung in the closet, for the night. She went back to the washroom and changed into the short robe.

Allah Miyan! Please don't let Mr.Khan see me in this! Please please!

She came inside the room, switched on the dim night-light, not even realizing when Asad had entered. As she turned back suddenly she collided into something as hard as rock. It took her no time to realize that it was well, in fact, Asad's bare chest. She had officially lost count of the number of ultra-embarrassing situations she had faced during the day. This one added to them graciously!

She looked up to his eyes, which were surprisingly resting on hers, and she found it difficult to even move. His gaze was almost hypnotizing. Her eyes wandered to his toned abs and muscular arms. And Boy! She was in all sense, gawking.

After the moment' reached its closure she moved back only to slip again, thanks to the puddle of water that had formed on the floor. She reached out to his arm, pulling him over her body as both of them landed on the bed. Her breath hitched, she couldn't make sense out of anything. Asad himself was battling the alien emotions that have managed to creep inside him, however resilient he had been. He found himself unable to extract his eyes from her beauty. Her wet hair brushed against his cheek and he could feel his heartbeat go erratic. Why is this happening? He thought.

The moment realization dawned upon her she pushed him away softly and both of them stood up unable to place things together.

"a..a..I left my watch in the washroom" and saying that he quickly went to fetch it.

She was now alone in the room. Sleep refused to come back to her as the events of the day played in her mind. She couldn't forget the way he looked at her. She couldn't forget that she had been so close to him. She couldn't forget the concern she had seen in his eyes when she was crying in pain. She couldn't forget how here heart stopped, having him so close.

She couldn't forget him.

Allah Miyan? Why do I feel that we have a chance?

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Okay I know that this was very different from what I write usually but I was in no mood for writing a sappy update😆 and plus some people wanted to see some 'Asya moments' so yeah...Tell me if you hate it!😳😃 But don't forget to leave your views!

And yeah this one was super long! So I hope you guys liked it!😉

Loads of love❤️