FF - The Colour of Love - Link to #2 Page 148 - Page 47

The day had finally arrived both households were running around making sure everything was in order. Asad walked around the house although seen to be helping with the arrangements was lost in thought, he needed to speak to Zoya, needed to apologise for his outburst, but how. What was he going to say to her, and would anything he said justify his behavior.

The engagement was low key affair with just a few friends and their respective families attending. Shireen and Naani went over the last of the preparations; they wanted everything to be perfect. 'Imran, I can't believe you are missing this, how many times did I remind you? You never listen' Najma was having a strong words with her husband Imran; he was away from home a lot on business. 'I'm sorry you know I would never have missed the engagement deliberately the weather has been so bad I am hoping to board the next flight' Imran was in vain trying to pacify his agitated wife, he was stuck in Singapore, due to heavy rain flights had been delayed for up to 24 hours.

'Humera hurry up or you will end up being late for your own engagement' Razia shouted out. Humera finally came out of her room and immediately started to blush to seeing the reaction of her parents and Zoya. 'Ok stop staring lets go' Humera said to her family who were all on the verge of developing pools of tears.

'They're here' Shireen exclaimed, everyone gathered to welcome Humera and her family. Asad stood further back away from them patiently waiting to see her. One by one everyone came in 'where is she' he said to himself his eyes fixated on the door. Zoya finally entered she was holding boxed gifts that were covering her up to her eyes. Asad walked towards her to help her with the boxes conscious that she may drop them, after all balance wasn't one of Zoya's strong points. Before Asad could get to her Ram moved in to help her, as she placed the boxes down and turned she literally took his breath away. How anyone could be so beautiful, so angelic looking, she oozed purity, her innocence, her smile everything about her created madness, she made him react and feel things that were stranger than strange.

She was wearing a white and baby pink saree, her hair was let lose which hung on one side her neck adorned a simple silver chain with a single diamant. Zoya walked up to her family and as she did she stopped to see Asad looking at her...no not looking he was gawping at her. Najma took Humera and Zoya around to introduce them to a few friends, engaged in polite conversation Zoya realised that Asad was walking in her direction still staring like there was no tomorrow, he started to make her feel uneasy. He came and stood with them as they were about to move on to the next group of friend Asad called out to Zoya in a low voice. Zoya turned and looked at him blankly and after a few seconds of silence she turned around and walked of. Asad could feel himself become frustrated but he knew he had to keep himself in check, he needed to talk to her, to apologise, and he couldn't let his anger get the better of him.

It was time for the ceremony to begin Ayaan and Humera took their places on the stage that was purposely set up for them. Everyone gathered around to see the couple exchange rings, Ayaan and Humera looked at each other, they were totally in love. Everyone went up one by one to congratulate the couple Zoya looked on to her sister and Ayaan with tears of happiness streaming down. Not wanting to ruin her makeup she quickly moved towards the toilets to touch up any smudges she may have caused. Asad did not miss her moving and felt this would be his chance to get her on her own. He picked up his pace and walked behind her as Zoya opened the door to the toilet she felt a hand push her in making her jump as she turned to see who it was so she could whack them for being so rude she froze.

Asad had come in and locked the door behind him. 'Wh...what the hell do you think you are doing' she said trying to move him out the way. Asad grabbed her hand and pulled her back away from the door. I need to talk to you Zoya' he said with sincerity Zoya looked up at him she was so angry 'you want to talk to me...here in the toilet? Have you lost your bloody mind?' Zoya tried to release her hand from his grasp but the more she tried the tighter it got. 'Zoya I am not letting you go until you have heard what I have to say' Zoya yanked her hand out of his and stepped back 'what more is there left to say Asad, there is nothing left, I don't want to hear or listen to anything you have to say, ju...just get out of my way' Zoya tried to move forward but Asad had blocked her in with his hands leaning against the wall on both sides. His face was inches away from hers, his eyes started to narrow, he wanted to talk to her but she wasn't making it easy for him, he tried to keep his voice steady as he spoke. 'I am not letting you leave until I have said what I need to' his voice had started to soften she could feel his warm breath on her skin sending a tingling feeling down her spine, she continued to look into his eyes 'what' she blurted a little more aggressively then she had intended.

Asad took in a deep sigh and relaxed his hands withdrawing them to free her. 'I didn't know Zoya, if I had known I would never had said what I did, I would never behaved the way I did' Zoya looked at him trying to understand what he was saying he took in another deep breath before he continue 'Baji told me about yo..your parents...I honestly didn't know...wh...what I am trying to say is that...is that' Asad could not bring himself to say sorry he let his head fall not being able to hold her gaze. Zoya had figured out what it is he was trying to do, she was still upset with him she was still angry. 'If you have finished can I go now' Zoya said coldly Asad quickly looked up at her a little confused by her tone.

Zoya moved forward to unlock the door 'I'm sorry' Zoya stopped pulling her hand away from the lock, she almost lost her balance as she shot a look back to Asad 'I'm really sorry Zoya I never meant to hurt you, if I had known about your parents I would never have said that to you' Zoya went numb she couldn't believe Asad actually apologised, her eyes started to moisten and tears threatened to escape, she held them back as much as she could. She had never seen him like this before his face was so soft, his eyes looked at her with an intensity she did not recognise, his whole body started to relax. All of a sudden she saw him hold out his hand she looked down to see his extended hand in front of her she wasn't sure what he wanted her to do.

Her heart had really started to pound and she could feel her stomach summersault not giving her brain a chance to register anything she lifted her hand and placed it in his. They both looked down to see their hands and fingers entwine and up again to meet each other's gaze. What was happening? Neither of them knew. After a few minutes which felt like forever Zoya broke the silence 'We should get back' Asad nodded and unlocked the door they both exited the toilet not realising they were still holding hands. It wasn't until Ram came up to them that Zoya quickly pulled her hand back and without giving any further eye contact she went back to be with her family.

One by one everyone started to leave it was soon going to be time for Zoya to be going too. Najma invited the Humera's family to come round for dinner the next week so they could discuss dates for the wedding. 'Najma, I won't be here, I am starting at the Academy next week and as part of our induction we are going to Simla for a week' Zoya said looking at Razia for support. 'Oh no, we will miss you' Najma said pulling Zoya into a tight hug 'when are you leaving' 'um...I start on Monday but we don't leave until Wednesday' whilst Zoya was talking to Najma about her travel plans Asad stood there as if someone had jolted the life out of him. Why was he feeling so sad its not as if he was going to see her everyday anyway so her leaving shouldn't have made a difference to him but it did.

'Ayaan your mum has given us so many things how we all going to fit into the car' Humera said looking down at the millions of bags and boxed gifts. 'It's ok Humera, Asad can take one car and Ayaan can take the other' Najma said as she looked at Asad who nodded in agreement. 'Zoya you can bring the bags and other items with Asad' Zoya shot up a glance at her mother then looked at Asad who seemed to be mirroring her expression.

Asad knew that if Zoya was leaving this was the only opportunity he would have to spend any time alone with her. Once the car was loaded Zoya sat in the passenger seat and turned away from Asad looking out the window, after their encounter in the toilet she didn't know what to say to him, he never ceased to amaze her, his forever changing demeanor was starting to give her some serious whiplash. Asad tried to break the silence but he didn't know what to say either. Asad cleared his throat and took in a deep breath 'so are you looking forward to starting your course?' Zoya tilted her head slightly yes' and then turned back again. Asad's grip tightened over the wheel clam down Asad' he said to himself trying to contain his frustration. 'Why didn't you tell me? I mean you never mentioned the Art Academy, it was the reason you resigned...you could have told me' Zoya turned around to face him properly she looked down mentally collating a response, she slowly looked back up to Asad 'I didn't feel I needed to tell you as it had nothing to do with my work life, and on top of that you never really made it easy for me to talk to you, it's not as if we had a healthy work relationship' Asad stepped on the breaks forcing the car to stop making Zoya jolt forward. Zoya gulped and looked at him in utter shock.

Asad looked straight ahead she could see his face tense up 'Ya Allah...he is going to blow' she thought to herself. 'As...Asad what happened, why did you stop?' she managed to whisper. Asad looked at her with his eyes darkening by the second, he knew there was truth in what she had said, he hadn't made her life easy and she didn't have to tell him anything about her private life but it wasn't something he wanted to hear. Asad didn't reply he carried on glaring at her making her feel uncomfortable he put the car into gear and skidded off again making Zoya jump. By the time they had reached Zoya's apartment the rest of the family had already gone in. Zoya called Humera and asked her to come down to help with the bags 'Asad, please come in' Humera said taking the bags from his hand 'No, I have to be getting back but thank you for the invitation maybe some other time'. As he was about to walk off he turned to look at Zoya who was struggling picking up some of the boxes he walked up to her and helped her balance them on her arm as soon as he did he walked off giving her no time to respond or thank him. She took a deep sigh 'I will never be able to figure that monster out'.