~ The Sunshine of My life ~ AsYa FF||Part 14 Page 129 NOTE PG 140 - Page 52

Asad crouched near Zoya, as her shoulders shook with sobs. He felt alarmed at her reaction. The normally fire band Zoya had been reduced to tears by his anger? He couldn't understand her reaction but he felt apologetic for making her cry. He placed his hand on her shoulder and tried to stop her from sobbing.

"Miss Farooqui? Please don't cry.. dekho mai toh.."

"Is there anything left to say Mr Khan? Is there any other accusation you need to hurl at me? If not then please spare me and leave me alone."

"Miss Farooqui I was just asking you where you've been, don't you think it's justified in a way since it concerns me and my family."

"You weren't just asking Mr Khan, you were accusing me. Accusing me of spending all day roaming on the streets of Bhopal wiling away my time with someone' right? Aap aise hi kisi par koi bhi ilzaam kaise laga sakte hai? Oh wait, of course laga sakte hai, kyunki aap Asad Ahmed Khan hai. You have the qualified right to judge and accuse anyone of anything you please, no matter how disgusting the accusation is and no matter how badly it might hurt the other. "

"Look Miss Farooqui, I was angry and I don't think I was wrong in being so. It's not just today when you've walked in late. You've been out of the house for hours at stretch for days together. I never questioned you because I respected your privacy. But I thought I had done that enough when I saw my family worried out of their wits for you. I didn't think it was right on your part to keep them in the loop while you stayed out for hours without giving any explanation. I am sorry that my probing crossed a line and sounded repulsive, I didn't mean it.. but you have to understand Miss Farooqui my family comes first for me, and if its them and their health at stake I don't see anything beyond that.. " Asad explained as calmly as he could without hurting an already sobbing Zoya.

"I understand a family's value as much as you do Mr Khan. I love Phuppi and Najma too. I would never inflict any pain on them intentionally. Mere phone ki battery discharge ho gayi thi isliye mai unhe inform nahi kar payi ki mujhe late ho jayega, aur mujhe late hota bhi nahi agar aaj roads itni blocked na hoti toh, kya woh bhi meri galti hai? I've always informed Phupi where I am going and what time I'll be returning. As far as informing you goes, I didn't deem it to be important since you don't even acknowledge my presence in the house, and not that I am dying for it but if you don't care enough I don't see why I should. " Zoya replied bluntly, with anger and sarcasm dripping in every word.

"That's it Miss Farooqui this argument needs to end here..." Asad replied quietly, not wanting to respond at her comment on him not acknowledging her.

"Yeah of course, jab aapke mann kare toh aap chilayenge, jab aapka mann karega aap maafi maang lenge, jab aapka mann karega aap mujhe accuse karenge aur jab aapki marzi hogi tab baat khatam ho jayegi?" Zoya got up from the floor, wiping her tears.

"But you know what Mr Khan, kosish kijiyega, ek baar kosish zaroor kijiyega ki bolne se pehle aap soche ki aapki kahi baton se kisi ko kitni chot pahunch sakti hai." Zoya pointed out with a serious face that spelt hurt and walked away.

Asad pressed his palms across his face and sighed, confused, unaware and puzzled.

Asad lay down in bed lost in his thoughts. His thoughts kept going back to the hurt he had seen in Zoya's eyes. It bothered him, because he had seen this weird sense of emptiness in them he hadn't ever seen before. She was full of life, vibrant and jovial. He had never seen her cry or break down the way she had in front of him today. In the last few days he had grown to understand her being a girl who liked giving. She liked sharing her happiness and spreading it to everyone she knew. As distanced as they both had stayed, she had only grown as close to his family. He hadn't seen his family this happy and talkative in years. He was half scared of this change and partly calmed to see his family like that. But those hurtful broken eyes that bore into his had shook his belief about her a little and made him wonder who the REAL Zoya was.

He had to find answers.

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Next morning Asad sat on the living room couch with Aahana in his lap while he tried to type on his laptop and finish of some work. He had wanted to sleep till late since he had spent an uneasy night lost in his thoughts. But since Aahana had slept early she woke up early leaving him with no choice but to wake up and tend to the little princess who didn't want to be separated from her Bu' that morning. Even now as he tried typing on the laptop she kept leaning over from his lap and thumped her palms on the keyboard. She would hit it and laugh as the keys clicked, she enjoyed the game and continued interrupting her Abbu's work.

"Aanu NO!" Asad exclaimed raising his volume a little to stop her between her antics. She looked up at him and scowled cutely, not bothering herself with his fake pretence of anger went back to her game. Asad rolled his eyes, probably at himself for being such a sap when it came to Aahana.

When he saw that her morning game could cost his keyboard its life, he intruded. Pulling her hands away he lifted her from his lap and made her face himself. Aahana began to howl and throw a tantrum wanting to get back to play with the laptop.

"No Aanu, Abbu's laptop will get spoilt, that's not what we want do we?" He explained as if Aahana would understand why they wouldn't want that to happen, it was just a toy after all, but oh these grown up's.

She stared at him for the few seconds as he spoke but as soon as he tried to shut the laptop and keep her away she began howling.

"Okay okay, let's forget daddy's toy, let's play with yours, they're way better than Abbu's aren't they? They have to be, they're Aanu's." Asad enticed her, tempting her with her toys that lay on the quilt spread out in the living room. He sat down with her on the floor in between all of them, as she successfully got distracted in playing with them. After a few minutes when she was engrossed in playing, Asad thought of getting back to work, and moved to stand up. But as soon as she sensed her Abbu getting away, she began whining again. She smartly clambered on his lap as he sat down again.

"Okay ssh Abbu's here, he's not going anywhere okay?" Aahana instantly quietened again and resumed playing with her toys as she sat on his lap. Asad chuckled at the naughty bundle and weaved his arms around her tummy and kissed her head lovingly.

"You don't eat that Aahana, get it out of your mouth, come on good girl.." Asad heard Zoya call out to his daughter. He kept his phone aside that he had been using to sort some of his work and looked up to see Zoya squatting next to Aahana and pulling out a plastic biscuit she had been trying to bite on. Asad's attention shifted to Aahana as he realised what she had been doing. "No baby no eating that.." come on give it to me..

"I think she is hungry Mr Khan.." Zoya said softly not looking up from Aahana, while she wiped her face clean from all the drool that was dribbling down her chin.

Asad nodded and tried getting up to fetch her breakfast. But Aahana began crying once again.

"Aahana, you're behaving stubborn today, good babies don't do that. Let Abbu get your food?"

But she nodded negatively and scooted closer to him. He smiled and cuddled her closer. He didn't understand her vague behaviour today but relented anyway.

Zoya judged his difficulty and offered to help,"Mr Khan you sit with Aahana I'll get her breakfast."

Asad nodded thankfully and was going to voice it, but Zoya got up moving towards the kitchen not sparing him another glance.

"Woh she'll have.."Asad begun to inform her about Aahana's breakfast.

"I know.. she prefers mashed bananas in the mornings. I'll prepare it don't worry."

Asad was pleasantly surprised to know Zoya was so aware of Aahana's needs. He remembered how she had been the one to save her from almost gulping down a plastic toy too. He reminded himself to give away those and buy Aahana more children friendly toys. Asad watched as Zoya walked up to him and handed him Aahana's food. He saw her swollen eyes even as she tried hiding them and felt concerned.

"Uh Miss Farooqui." Asad called out to Zoya as she turned to leave.

"Ji?" she looked back uncertainly.

"Aap Aahana ko khila dengi, I need to get ready for office." He requested.

Zoya was taken by surprise that Asad had actually asked her for helping him with Aahana. She would have probably refused him anything else, but this was about Aahana, and she could never refuse spending time with her. She nodded in agreement as her face lit up with excitement, which Asad noticed and smiled slightly.

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"Arey waah aaj toh meri princess itne pyar se naashta kar rahi hai, aur karegi kyun nahi, Zoya jo khila rahi hai haina? Sab naatak toh sirf dadi ke liye hote hai kyun?" Dilshad teased Aahana as she came in the living room to see Zoya feeding her breakfast while they carried out a conversation in their own unique language. Zoya smiled at Dilshad as she fed the last morsel to Aahana and kissed her sticky cheeks as the mush stuck to her own lips. She giggled and Aahana chuckled along with her, making sweet melody echo in the house, a sound that had rarely ever been heard there.

Zoya handed Aahana to Dilshad and sat down besides her on the sofa not meeting her eyes. "Kya hua Zoya?" Dilshad said sensing something different in her.

Zoya instantly took Dilshad in a hug and held her tightly, the tears that she had blocked resurfacing again.

"I am sorry Phuppi, mai aapko pareshaan nahi karna chahti thi par meri naadani ki wajah se itni takleef de di aapko." Zoys spoke through her tears, her voice hoarse.

"Arey kya keh rahi ho Zoya, tumne mujhe koi takleef nahi di beta."

"Jhoot mat boliye phupi, kal raat aapke sar mai dard tha, phir bhi na aapne theek se khaana khaaya na dawai li.. sirf meri wajah se!"

"Arey Zoya agar Najma aur Asad do minute bhi late ho jaate hai toh mai pareshaan ho jaati hun, tum bhi toh meri bachi ho, tumhe der hogi toh I'll worry as well, isme tumhari koi galti nahi hai."

"Galti hai Phupi, I should have made sure I reach on time.. ek mehman hun aur phir bhi maine .."

"ZOYA! Ye sab kya bakwaas kar rahi ho, tum sirf mehmaan nahi ho, tum iss ghar ki member ho beta. Have I ever treated you otherwise? Toh aisi baatein kyun kar rahi ho?" Dilshad asked hurtfully, but as realisation dawned on her she thought of the probable reasons Zoya might be saying all this.

"Theek hai then let me make breakfast for you today Phupi." "Arey Zoya.."

"Please Phupi this is the only way I'll feel better." Zoya requested almost pouting at her, making Dilshad smile.

Asad walked in the hall room a while later to witness an extremely endearing sight. Zoya was standing besides Dilshad on the dinner table and feeding her the breakfast, while Aahana was strapped in her high chair and sucking on her pacifier.

"Haan haan saari pampering toh bas Ammi ki hi hoti hai, Bhaijaan bhi poora din bas Ammi Ammi karte rehte hai, Najma toh sirf kaam karane ke liye hoti hai na. Aanu ko bhi sirf Najma khaala tab chahiye hoti hai hai jab Bhaijaan na ho." Najma sat down huffing and sulking with a long face making Dilshad and Zoya laugh at her childishness.

Zoya made a morsel for her and fed her lovingly too and hugged her sideways kissing her on the cheeks.

Asad smiled seeing his family so happy.. wanting to cherish the moment for as long as he could. But as soon as Zoya saw Asad standing by the entrance of the room she stood up.

"Uh Phupi ab mai nikalti hun, and I promise aaj shyaam hone se pehle mai waapis aa jaungi."

"Zoya beta you don't worry, I am confident ki tum apna khayal rakh sakhti ho, just keep me informed." Zoya smiled and kissing her three favourite people walked out of the house.

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"Miss Farooqui!" She heard Asad's voice booming from behind her. Zoya halted in her steps shutting her eyes in fatigue, unprepared for another conversation with Asad.

"Ji?" She replied indifferently. "Allow me to drop you Miss Farooqui?"

"Excuse me?"

"I mean aap jaha bhi ja rahi hai mai aapko chod deta hun." Asad spoke softly in an extremely convincing tone.

"Kyun nazar rakhna chahte hai mujh par? Ki mai kaha jaati hun, kisse milti hun?" Zoya answered sarcastically in a challenging tone.

Asad shut his eyes in annoyance, almost wanting to reply in his usual mannerism but he bit back his anger, realising he was somewhere responsible for her irate behaviour.

"Miss Farooqui mai jaanta hun ki jis area mai aap jaana chahti hai waha ke baare mai aapko zyaada kuch nahi pata. And believe me agar aap waha jaane ke liye conveyance dhundne niklengi toh aadha din aise hi guzar jayega."

Zoya looked back in confusion wondering how he found out where she was heading to. As if reading her doubts from her eyes he replied," Ye paper aapke bag se gir gaya tha I just picked it up from the living room." He handed out the chit of paper on which Zoya had jotted down the few places she had decided to visit that day.

Zoya snatched the paper out of his hand and was going to argue back when she saw Dilshad standing at the door of the house looking at the both of them. She didn't want Dilshad to witness another one of their fights, and without another retort she nodded at Asad and got into his car.

After Asad had driven the car few miles away from the house Zoya requested him to stop the car,"Mujhe kisi bus stop pe chod dijiye. Ghar par mai keh nahi saki but I already know my way. I've found the bus that reaches the area I need to visit. And please mujhe aur kuch samjhane ki kosish mat kariye. I am just a guest, and I don't want to be trouble to anyone of you anymore."

Asad sighed at her words but he knew that no retort would make sense after what he had told her a day back. He nodded in agreement and drove to the bus depot.

When she was about to get down he tried convincing her one last time,"Dekhiye Miss Farooqui, jaha aap ja rahi hai woh Bhopal ki sabse kachi sadak hai, it's not so well developed, waha conveyance bahut inconsistent hai. Abhi waha aap pahunch jayengi but waapis aane ke time you might face a lot of problem." Asad pointed out hoping his logic and sincerity would melt her.

"I'll see you in the evening Mr Khan." Zoya replied uncompromisingly as she walked out of the door and shut it behind her. "Thank you, mujhe drop karne ke liye."

"Miss Farooqui..meri baat toh suniye.." Asad called out even as Zoya walked away unbending on her decision.

"Fine whatever, unki yahi zid hai toh yahi sahi."Asad muttered angrily before he drove away.

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It was 6 in the evening and Zoya was still looking for transport to get back home. She had called Dilshad to inform her she would reach on time as promised. But looking at the scarcity of cars passing and the empty streets made her doubt she would be able to reach before sunset. She slowly walked towards the bus stop she had got down in the morning and stood there patiently awaiting a bus. The roads were empty and hardly a few people passed by. It was dusk and the sun was setting, lights fading and the road had no street lights either. A normally brave Zoya had started to feel wary of her surroundings. She couldn't even ask for a lift, how could she trust anyone in this unknown city?

"Mr Khan theek hi keh rahe the, ye jagah waqai sunsaan hai. Yaha toh door door tak na koi transport ka thikana hai na insaano ka. Phupi ko phone karungi toh woh pareshan ho jayengi aur Mr Khan ko phone karungi toh unki already hawa mai udti hui ego ko aur bade pankh lag jayenge." She muttered to herself twitching her face.

"Yaha khade rehne se koi phayda nahi, ab zid ki hai toh I'll have to pay for it as well. " Zoya began walking away from the bus stop giving up hope for a bus to arrive. It was dark now and there were hardly any street lights, Zoya walked with her mobile on lighting the road in front of her just so much that she could walk a step without having to fall down.

She felt something flutter across her feet and she yelled,"AHH!" her breath stuck in her throat, only scary thoughts coming in her mind. She thought it could be a snake and the colour faded from her face. She pointed her mobile around where she stood but found nothing. She breathed a sigh of relief but the fright had numbed her, suddenly making her realise the magnanimity of trouble she was in.

"Allah Miyaan I was such a fool. Mr Khan ke gusse ko seriously le liya maine, subah se unhe itna attitude dikha rahi hun, mil gaya sabak mujhe. Very good Zoya you deserve it!" She scolded herself.

She walked a few steps ahead when she felt a car following her. Her face lit up with relief as she thought of stopping it for help. But worry took over as she realised that she couldn't trust any stranger by asking for lift, and increased her pace almost running on the road. The car kept following her, honking at her and blinking its lights to stop her. The car sped and stopped her in her way blinding her with the sudden lights flashing at her.

"Allah Miyaan save me please!" Zoya prayed with her eyes shut.

"Miss Farooqui!" She heard a familiar voice call out to her and she opened her eyes to see Asad standing in front of her.

"Mr Khan?" Zoya whispered feebly, yet panting out of fear.

"Miss Farooqui, Are you okay?" Asad gently held her shoulder when he realised she was almost trembling.

He gently lead her towards his car and made her get in, while he got in next to her.

"Mr Khan? Aap yaha kya kar rahe hai?" Zoya found her voice and questioned wondering how Asad had come there at this hour and found her as well.

"Aur aapko kaise pata chala ki mai yaha hun."

"Well jo waise toh bahut uncommon hai lekin usse common sense kehte hai, ussi ki wajah se yaha hun." Asad replied sarcastically making Zoya scowl even though in her heart she was extremely relieved he was there.

"Mr Khan aapko aise mauke par bhi taunt karna yaad rehta hai na." Zoya retaliated her tone rising to the usual again.

Asad winced at that pretending it had hurt his ear, "Haan jaise aapko aise mauke par bhi bolna yaad rehta hai, thodi der chup nahi reh sakti."

"Allah Miyaan.." Zoya started but was cut off by Asad as he offered her a bottle of water.

"Here have some water!" Zoya was taken aback at the genuine concern in his voice and couldn't argue as usual. She took the bottle and took huge gulps of water in one go thirstily, and ended up choking on it, as the water sprayed out a little from her mouth.

"Miss Farooqui at least drink water in a speed lesser than at the pace you talk. " Asad pointed out smirking as he passed a tissue to her.

She scowled at how he was having fun at her expense but was as confused at his gentle behaviour all of a sudden. Did Asad have an angelic twin too?

"Here have this, I am sure aapne subah se kuch khaaya bhi nahi hoga." Asad offered her a packet of biscuit further raising her queries.

"What? Can you stop staring at me like that Miss Farooqui, I am not some alien. Take this, so that I can drive." Asad threw the biscuit packet at Zoya for her to catch as he drove away towards home.

Zoya gobbled down the biscuits as she was hungry, while Asad squirmed seeing all the mess she was making in his car, with all the crumbs falling on the seat.

"Mr Khan aapne bataya nahi aapko kaise pata chala mai yaha hun.?"

"Well mujhe pata tha ki aapko aate waqt dikhat hogi and you'll definitely be waiting at the bus stop since that's where the bus would have dropped you in the morning.. And I also hadn't expected you to call me even if you were to stay here all night, so I thought I might as well just do the honours of coming and escorting you back home."

Zoya stared at him after his explanation, trying to figure if she should scowl at his sarcasm or be thankful for his gesture. She chose to be silent, not wanting to make him feel like she couldn't have managed without him.

"Uh Thanks I guess, par mai manage kar leti, you don't have to take the effort." Zoya said carefully, making sure her voice didn't give away that she wasn't too sure if she would have managed.

"I am sure aap manage kar leti, I wasn't too sure about how the snakes, reptiles and animals in the dark would cope with you around. So I didn't really come for you Miss Farooqui, I took the effort for those poor souls."

"Allah Miyaan! how rude Mr Khan!" Zoya replied shrilly. She knew it, Asad could never be an angel. But she was still thankful even if she hadn't made it obvious and was also pretty surprised at the revelation that Asad had a funny bone in him. His quirky retorts had actually shut her up quite a few times today.

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The next day Zoya set out to another part of Bhopal. She had been tracing parts of the city that the old papers she had from her father's documents hinted at. She had remained unsuccessful in finding any clue that led to him. She walked out of the old office she had gone into to enquire about her Abbu. Looking at the time she decided she had to end her search for the day and head home. She stopped in her way only to see Mr Khan's car parked at the exit and him leaning against it.

"Mr Khan aap yaha? What are you doing here?" Zoya was surprised to find him there and even more surprised since she guessed he had to come to pick her up.

"Get in the car Miss Farooqui," Asad ignored her question, too awkward to reply.

She nodded and got into the seat next to his. As he drove away Zoya smiled to herself at the Akdu. She had somehow realised that after their fight that night he had mellowed down. Even though he cautiously maintained a distance from her, he wasn't unnecessarily rude to her. He had accepted her presence in the family and had also been helpful for more than a few instances. Her anger and hurt at his words had melted even though she hadn't voiced it nor had he directly apologised, which she knew he wouldn't even. But she definitely wondered what she had said that bought the change.

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In a similar fashion Asad came to escort her from wherever she had ventured out on that particular day. Their drive back home had become one of the most favourite parts of Zoya's day. Initially they would drive back in awkward silence, but a few days later Zoya couldn't control her urge to babble away and they began conversing even though Asad was more a listener and kept to monosyllabic replies, which was still quite a development for him, Zoya thought!

Asad hadn't even realised that he had started to wait for that time of the day when he would pick Zoya up and they would drive back home. He wasn't much of speaker and not someone who enjoyed loud chatter. But Zoya's nonsensical babble had stopped annoying him like it would and unknowingly he had begun to look forward to the time he spent with her.

One morning he had come out of his shower and was going to wake Aahana up when he found a sticky note on her baby pillow. It read an address of an old fort in Bhopal a few miles away from his office. Asad smiled realising Zoya had herself left the address she was going to visit today.

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Asad looked at his watch driving to the old fort. He grimaced as he realised he was a little late hoping Zoya hadn't left. They had to get back home on time as Najma and Dilshad were to attend a Walima and Aahana couldn't be taken along, since it was going to be extremely late by the time they returned.

He reached the area but didn't find Zoya standing there. He got down the car and looked around the vicinity. Had she gone home? But if she had, she should have informed him. She had herself called him there. Incredibly foolish' he muttered, partly angry and partly disappointed that they wouldn't be driving back together.

He thought of calling her once before he left. The bell rang a few times but Zoya didn't respond. Asad was about to cut the call in annoyance when Zoya replied.

"Miss Farooqui?"

Asad held the phone closer when he heard muffled sounds from the other end but no response from Zoya.

"Hello? Miss Farooqui are you there?"

Asad frowned when he got no response, assuming the call had been picked by mistake he proceeded to cut the call when he heard a scream on the other end.

"Mr Khan Help!"

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