Prologue (Zoya's P.O.V)
I sat up screaming for my Ammi to realize that I was in a room but not my old one in New York. Or even at Val's place. At times like this I wish for Val to come and hold me like he always did.
He was warm with a gentle touch and his words were soft spoken as Shakespeare would put it. Every time, I went to sleep in New York, he lay down beside me, resting my head on his shoulder, and whisper Shakespeare softly into my ear luring me to sleep.
And when I woke up, he would be sitting at the window's rail and waiting for me with a Starbucks coffee cup. He knew me so well that I was his muse, his reason to live and I was me. He loved the scent of my hair which to him, smelt like cherry blossoms in Paris and he absolutely loved my humor.
My sister Ariel called Val and me, Romeo and Juliet then sometimes Edward and Bella since to her and probably to everyone else also, we were star-crossed lovers.
It was deadly forbidden love yet out of that why did I feel so content and happy? The answer is that we were passionate about each other in all sense. He saved me years ago and I saved him many times except that very one.
But he was dead and that was two years ago...
"Zoya!" I heard Phuphi yell as she and her two kids ran in, Asad and Najma.
Dilshad Ahmed Khan, my jeeju's second aunt, she was in a sense a distant relative of him. When I met her that very first time, I felt like it was my mother's touch.
Najma Ahmed Khan became my fifth best friend but my first foreign friend. She was like a little sister to me so cute and sweet. I called her Tomato because of her overblushing nature.
Then last but not least Mr. Asad Ahmed Khan or Akdu Ahmed Khan as I would call him due to his Hitler Brother rules and work-aholic nature. I've never met anyone so judgmental and OCD my entire life it was a miracle. He literally topped Ryan over neatness and akdu-ness.
But his body though! Was something else... he had six packs and a very muscular shoulders as we can tell with him, wearing tight three piece suits for work and all the time.
Yet there was that sweet edge to him, which was that he very much loved his mom and sister while tried to remain civil with me. Still, there was that sadness resting there in his heart that stole his smile and happiness.
And I vowed to help him get that back after I feel better about Val.
This is what I cannot figure about myself I love this amazing guy who saved me numerous times and he is very passionate that we have a forbidden love thing going on yet I cannot stop to think about this guy that hates my nature of messy and modernity. And another thing is that he nearly ran me over twice with his SUV and knocked my ice cream cone too at the mall.
Maybe Akdu Ahmed Khan needs a friend and I need a shoulder to cry on since Val's death.
Maybe we can work out like yin and yang or bread and butter.
"Zoya." I heard Phuphi ask before she tapped me on my shoulder.
"Beta, Is something wrong? Najma get some water please." She asked caressing my hair.
Najma sat on the other side of me while Asad just stood there in the middle of the room.
"It's nothing Phuphi. Sorry, I disturbed you. You can go and sleep now. I'm fine." I replied as she signaled Asad and Najma to go.
I lay back down as Phuphi went to put the glass away but she froze before she was leaving.
"Zoya, did something happen to your arm?" she asked looking at the place between my shoulder and elbow where my scars were hid by my sleeves but it must've rode up while I was tossing and turning.
"An accident a long time ago but it was the past. Now, I only care about the present." I smiled as she nodded and kissed my forehead before leaving.
I sat up as I grabbed my hand wallet from the bedside and pulled out four pictures.
The first one was my Ammi, biological. But sadly, I don't remember anything about her.
Second one was Zeenat Appi, my biological sister, she died by a murder. She was a biochemist at twenty-two. But that death held a significant path in my life: it led to my protector.
The third one was my older half-cousin and adopted brother US Marine Lance Corporal Jesse Nathaniel Kingston, killed in Afghanistan when he was twenty-one. But his legacy lives on as Ariel joined and became a marine. She was a Corporal and in few months, retired as she is pregnant and married to Ryan.
The Last one is Val...And All I can say is Why? Why, did he have to die? For a superhuman that is kinda disappointing. But I love him forever.
These four deaths of my loved ones changed my life from Ammi dying; I got my masi (Ammi's half-sister) Dr. Priya Kingston and a loving Uncle Rev. Nikhil Kingston as parents who gave me a decent upbringing and strengthened my Christian faith but I respected all religions especially Islam.
I got decent homes in Napa and Scio. Great friends and awesome job so I was content with my life but four factors of it are missing.
Especially Val and his loving protection...
After all, he may be a beast but he's my hero and I love him forever and always...
AN: The prologue is the only one that will be in Zoya's POV. Whereas the rest of the story will be in third person. I hope you guys like it.
Edited by StephyM - 11 years ago
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