TWENTY EIGHT
Asad tossed and turned he couldn't sleep it was past midnight and he still had not heard from Zoya nor had he been able to contact her. His anxiety was fast building into anger as he desperately tried calling her unsuccessfully.
Asad looked over to his clock it was now nearly five o'clock in the morning 'Ya Allah...Zoya what are you playing at' he seethed through his gritted teeth. Asad paced his room feeling totally lost, he went out to the pool as he felt his lungs restrict in panic. As he tried to calm his breathing and get a grip of himself he heard his phone vibrate her ran to answer it without checking to see who it was he instantly lashed out 'Miss Zoya Farooqui where the hell are you, do you know how worried I have been, how can you have been so irresponsible and what the hell is wrong with your damn phone it keeps going to voice mail you have a lot of explaining to do Zoya I am far from happy with you...Zoya are you listening to me, why aren't you saying anything...Zo' Asad was cut off by an unfamiliar voice 'hello is this Mr Asad Ahmed Khan?' Asad pulled the phone back to see who was calling the caller id was definitely Zoya's so who was this guy? 'Yes this is Asad, who the hell is this and what are you doing with Zoya's phone, where is she' Asad's voice was shaking with fear and panic.
'Mr Khan my name is Karan, I was with accompanying Khushi on our trip to Faridabad...and...and' 'And what Karan, where is she, is she ok' Asad was losing patience 'Mr Khan the coach we were travelling on was ambushed, the people took a number of prisoners an...and Zoya was one of them' Asad felt as if he had been hit speeding train, he couldn't believe what he was hearing he froze his brain was signaling for him to respond to speak but his body refused to listen his heart that was racing beyond control now felt like it had stopped beating 'Mr Khan are you there...hello' the voice on the other side brought Asad snap out of his shocked state making him choke on the lump that was caught in his throat 'I...I'm here' Asad finished listening carefully to what Karan had said and without wasting any more time he jumped in his car and drove relentlessly towards Faridabad.
Every worst case scenario flashed before his eyes, he cursed himself for not having answered her calls. Asad had left without having informed anyone he didn't want everyone to start worrying or panicking he had to deal with this himself. Asad must have broken every traffic law going he managed to reach the main highway where the coach had been ambushed it was crawling with police officers, journalist and the remaining passengers. Asad jumped out his car and marched towards the bus despite being stopped by various officers, there was no stopping him 'Karan..Karan' Asad shouted at the top of his voice before he knew it a young man still trembling from the ordeal stood before him 'I am Karan'. Asad grabbed him by his arms 'what the hell happened Karan, where is Zoya' Asad didn't realise how hard he was shaking Karan as he spoke to him. A police officer immediately ran up to him trying to get him to let go 'Sir you need to step away from him, please we need you to move back' Asad gritted his teeth letting go of Karan he turned to the officer in full rage 'I am not going anywhere until I know where Zoya is I am not moving do you understand' buy this time a few other officers had come to their seniors side. 'Mr..' the officer was cut off by Asad who aggressively finished of the sentence ..Asad Ahmed Khan' Look Mr Khan if you can just come back for a few seconds I will update you on what is happening, shouting at this poor boy will not help' Asad looked at Karan who was standing there in even more shock than before. Asad took in a deep breath 'sorry Karan I didn't mean to lash out' as Asad was about to follow the inspector he turned back remembering that Sahil mentioned two people 'Karan was...Aisha not with you?' Karan looked at Arnav fighting back the tears in his eyes yes Mr Khan they took Aisha as well as Zoya' Arnav heart took another plunge something hard hit him in the pit of his stomach.
'Inspector...' 'Vickram..Vikram Kapur' the inspector extended his hand out to shake Asad's. 'What happened, who are these people and what do they want...' Asad started bombarding Inspector Vickram with questions. 'Mr Khan all we know is that a group of local thugs stopped the coach yesterday afternoon, they randomly selected a group of 10 people and took them away, we know that they are hiding out in the woodlands downhill, we don't know how many of them there are nor if they are armed, and we are yet to determine their motives. As soon as we were informed we got here, we followed the direction in which they left that's where we found various items of personal belongings dumped. I believe that is how Karan they young boy was able to contact you, we have our team with out there looking for them now'. Arnav was seething pure venom but he knew at this moment in time there was very little he could do other than hope against all odds that his Zoya was safe and sound.
Asad walked up to Karan and placed his hands on his shoulder 'how did you know to call me?' 'I...I didn't really know who to call, me and Aisha were with Zoya most of the day and I know she had been trying to get hold of you to tell you about our sudden trip, I remember Aisha teasing her about you and talking to her about the Fashion Show next week, that's how I figured out you must be Asad Ahmed Khan, you were the last number on her redial list...and ...and' 'thanks Karan' Asad squeezed his shoulder to reassure him and tell him that it was ok.
Asad called Aman and told him of what was going on, he was adamant that no one else was to know of what was happening, although with journalists around it would only be a matter of time until this hit the news. Asad was not only well known for his success but he was very influential he got Aman to contact the national intelligence agency and set up a telephone meeting a.s.a.p., there was no way he could just sit back waiting he needed to get Zoya back right now at any cost.
As Asad waited for Aman to call back he called home to check on Naani and get an update on how Najma was doing 'Asad, you left so early, is everything ok?' 'Yes Naani, I just had a lot to do...you know with the Youth Festival around the corner...Naani is Baji ok, have you heard from her, when is she back' Naani started laughing 'slow down Asad, I think you have overdosed yourself on caffeine...to answer your questions Najma is fine, she should be home within the hour'. Asad sighed and this time being more conscious of the way he spoke he thanked Naani telling her he would call back soon.
As Asad looked through Zoya's last messages in his phone he heard loud noises and commotion coming from the opposite side of the road. He ran up to find out what was going on he finally managed to grab the attention of Inspector Vickram 'Inspector what's all the rush what's going on?' Asads voice was on edge 'we have just heard news that our SWAT team had just located their hideout it will only be a matter of time before we get them. Me and a few of my men are going down there now...' Asad didn't let the Inspector finish I'm coming with you' Asad saw how the Inspector reacted to what he had just said and before he could say anything 'I am coming whether you like it or not Inspector' as soon as Asad had finished talking his phone rang it was a call from the intelligence agency he moved back talking the officer on the other side. After a good five minute Asad walked back up to the Inspector and handed him the phone. As the Inspector spoke his eyes widened to say he was staggered by who he was talking to and what he was listening to would be an understatement. Inspector Vickram disconnected the call and walked up to Asad returning his phone 'you have a lot of good friends in high places Mr Khan, looks like you will be coming with us' Asad responded with a nod, Inspector Vickram ordered another officer to give Asad a bullet proof vest before they set off. As they made their way Inspector Vickram turned to Asad 'I hope the person you are going down for is worth risking your life for' 'you have no idea inspector, she is my life, and without her I may as well be dead'. Asad meant every word, he could not contemplate life without Zoya, she meant everything to him, he had decided that the first thing that he would do once he gets hold of her was ensure that she never left his side again and the only way he could do that if she became Zoya Asad Ahmed Khan.
They had been walking for good part of an hour now; Aad knew they were getting close as she had seen a number of comrades dressed in black carrying riffles. Asad was not the most practicing Muslim, he looked up in vain pleading to his lord, asking him begging him to let Zoya be safe. It was another ten minutes before Inspector Vickram brought everyone to a halt. In the distance they could see a worn down building which was guarded by two men outside. Inspector Vickram approached the officer who was leading the rescue mission as he was talking to him to get an update Asad stood here glaring at the house his anxiety, anger and frustration was reaching dangerous levels.
'Mr Khan we are moving in, I need you to stay here as the level of danger is still unknown and we do not want any unnecessary casualties' Asad gave the man a deadly look 'there is no way I am staying here, I need to be there I need to know she is ok' 'Mr Khan if you do not stay as you have been told to, I will have my men put you under arrest' the Inspector bit back. Asad clenched his fist it took everything in his body to hold himself back from punching the Inspector senseless. Asad had little choice but to stand back feeling totally helpless.
Everything seemed to happen in a matter of minutes in a blink of an eye. All Asad could hear was shouting and guns being shot he quickly got up and started to run only to be held back by two officers Asad tried his level best to free himself but it was useless. The noise of the gun shots and the screams echoed in his ears he was losing all control of his movements he started to gasp for air 'please ...please let her be ok' he pleaded with a single tear streaming down his face. Asad had never felt so weak before he wasn't coping as everything around him came to a sudden stop being engulfed by a deadly silent his eyes manically searched for some movement but there was nothing. His heart pounded as he heard cackles of the radio the officer standing next to him was holding the officer shouted out to others around him who quickly made their way forward.
It was the longest five minutes of Asad's life he finally saw people being brought out, not giving a damn anymore he quickly ran towards them searching for Zoya. His stomach was churning his whole body was creating havoc he reached the building where he saw that one by one the captives were being brought out in states of shear fright. Asad ran up to Inspector Vickram 'where is she where is Zoya' he screamed 'Mr Khan...please stand back' he said irritated as he held on to a young girl trying to get her to out. As Asad started to blur as he searched for Zoya, it was just then he saw an officer carry out a girl he recognized the top it was Zoya.
Asad ran up to him and grabbed Zoya off of him. He looked down at her in utter shock, her face was dirty stained with dried up tears and her forehead bleeding. He lay her down holding her head up resting it on his knew 'Zoya...Zoya...wake up...please Zoya can you hear me' he continued to shake her and tap her face trying to get her to respond. Asad felt like he was dying a thousand deaths as he held on to Zoya, he saw a number of ambulances approach and various medical team disperse. He lifted Zoya into his arms and ran towards the first medic he could see. Asad stood back looking down at Zoya as the medic attended to her. They quickly moved her into one of the ambulances ready to take her back to the hospital, Asad insisted on going with her and was not going to take no for an answer.
On the way to the hospital Asad pulled out his phone to update Aman. He asked him to have his car picked up and to let his family know that he was caught up in meetings so will make contact later. Asad tried to compose his erratic breathing and illogical thoughts he needed to concentrate on Zoya who was being poked and prodded by the paramedic. As they reached the hospital various doctors and nurses came and rushed Zoya into a room closing the door leaving a traumatised Asad standing.
'Aman, is everything ok' Asad asked as he answered his phone 'yes, I just wanted to let you know that your car has been picked up and I spoke to Naani, she said Najma was home and is fine, she has been resting...um also the whole incident hit the one o'clock news...Asad maybe you should let everyone know what's going on' Asad took in a deep sigh 'I will Aman, I just need to make sure Zoya is ok, actually do me a favour let Sara and Sahil know but tell them not to mention anything to anyone yet, also make sure that Aisha and Karan are ok, I was so caught up with getting Zoya I totally forgot about Aisha' Asad mentally cursed himself 'don't worry Asad I'll sort it'.
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