Unpredictable Lives - FF #2 Link to Thread 3 Pg 120 - Page 10

Forty One

Zoya was more than upset, she couldn't believe that Asad had gone straight to work after he had been discharged, here she was waiting for him to come home and there he was going back to work as if nothing had happened. She had managed to get hold of Ayaan and vented out her frustration on him 'Zoya, what was I supposed to do handcuff him...don't worry I won't make him stay long I will bring him home as soon as he has finished his meeting with Mr Roy'.

Zoya ran out of her room as soon as she heard the front door open Asad couldn't help smiling at her, her face was radiated a warmth that he hadn't seen before, she smiled at him through her teary eyes although she was careful not to let them spill over. Ayaan sat Asad down, whilst Zoya ran to the kitchen and got him a glass of water 'thank you' he said as he looked around 'where is Kaki?' 'she...isn't here, I told her she didn't really need to come until you came back...I hope you don't mind' she said nervously 'no...I mean its ok...but then who has been...' Zoya smiled at his unfinished question 'it's no big deal; it's not like I don't know how to keep things a little tidy...I will ask her to come in from tomorrow'.

'Bhaijaan, maybe you should go and lie down, you need to rest...and Zoya, no matter how much he protests he is not allowed to leave this apartment, Mr Roy doesn't want him anywhere near the office or carrying out his own little investigations' 'no worries, I'll make sure he doesn't go anywhere...Ayaan sit, I have cooked have something before you go' Ayaan and Asad exchanged a look and then looked at her 'what! You think I can't cook?' she said with her hands on her hips 'the last time you tried you nearly butchered your hand Zoya?' Asad said suppressing his laugh 'It was a little cut...and it can happen to anyone...you want food or not?'

Zoya set the table and called them to eat, she had made a very good looking green salad, rice and a simple lamb curry 'smells good' Ayaan said taking in the aroma 'monkey's do that' she said smirking at him 'excuse me?' 'I said monkeys do that smell their food before they eat it...so if you have stopped being your monkey self you might want to start eating' Asad started laughing, Ayaan poked his tongue out at her and took his first spoon of food. Not wanting to be told off again Ayaan waited until he swallowed his bite before he spoke 'this is so yummy...where did you learn how to cook?' 'my sister taught me...and the rest was through a little trial and a lot of error' Zoya looked towards Asad who sat there in silence eating spoon after spoon 'Mr Khan...is it ok?' Asad looked up to meet her eyes 'it's really nice' was all he said before her resumed filling his mouth.

Later that night Asad stood in his favourite spot and looked down at the city below, the events of the last few days replaying in his head, lost in his own thoughts he didn't notice Zoya standing behind him 'would you like some coffee?' no thanks, I am ok for the minute...you still awake, you should get some rest' 'I should be saying the same thing to you, you need it more than me' 'I will, you don't need to worry about me Zoya' Stepping to face him she captured his gaze that was avoiding her for so long 'worry...how can I not worry Mr Khan?' looking past her into the night sky Asad took in a breath 'because I am a big boy...I can take care of myself' as Zoya took in what he said a stinging feeling spread across her, his forever changing behaviour and mood towards her was starting to give her whiplash, trying not to give in to him right this minute she let his comments bypass 'well even big boys sometimes need looking after, so unless you want me to stand here and continue to annoy you, I suggest you move back inside and...' Asad turned to her to stop her from rambling on 'you and Ayaan are the same...no wonder...crazy people only seem to attract more craziness hence you are his sister...you can stop your with your telling off...I am going' before he walked off Zoya called after him 'Mr Khan, if me and Ayaan are crazy...and like you said that is what brought us together, what does that make you? after all I am here with you, living under the same roof...your roof?' Asad looked back over his shoulder and gave her a little smile before he walked off.

As per Ayaan's instructions Shireen came to spend the day with Asad as Zoya went to college. Asad enjoyed having Shireen around, she spoilt him and he let her, it was the one person, other than Mr Roy that Asad could never say no too, she truly was for all intents and purposes his mother.

Zoya always did what she could for Asad, as he would walk around the apartment, sit on his laptop or simply sip his coffee out on the balcony her love for him continued to grow, so much that she was finding hard to keep to herself, she would do things that Asad would irritate him but she couldn't help it 'Zoya, I am not an invalid, I am ok...can you please just back off' he said in an anger laced voices, Zoya stepped back, hurt by the tone of his voice. As she continued to step back she turned around and walked to her room leaving Asad closing his eyes regretting his behaviour.

Zoya came out and walked towards the door 'Zoya...where are you going?' he called out after her, not turning around to face him 'Ayaan is here to pick me up, I am going into the office' with that she opened the door and walked out. Asad spent a long time feeling stupid for his overreaction, he knew she was only helping him, but her constant close proximity to him was making him go crazy, he couldn't understand what he was feeling and that voice he heard, he couldn't have imagined it, the voice that said she loved him. Whatever it was he felt, even if it was considered as love it was something that he needed to keep at bay, there was no way he could let Zoya come any closer, or could he?

Zoya started to keep a healthy distance between them, once Asad returned to work she took it upon herself to tell him that she wanted to leave, to return back to halls, to finish the rest of her time here concentrating on her work. Asad walked in to meet with Arjun, he saw Zoya sitting her desk with Haroon leaning against her table, both of them were laughing about something, as much as he tried to ignore them, his eyes kept travelling back to her firstly to take in her simple beauty, she had her tied back, he had never seen her with hair like that, he admired every part of her face and her slim neck, her fair complexion and clear skin started causing havoc within, but that was soon replaced with annoyance seeing her with Haroon. Zoya saw him come in but chose not to pay him any attention, as much as she loved him she didn't appreciate his coldness towards her, they had come a long way in their relationship so there was no need for him to continue to side line her and her feelings, she knew he wasn't stupid, she was more than sure that he knew how she felt but deliberately played dumb, and if he did then so could she.

Asad slammed his folder onto his desk before he sat down 'I take it the meeting with Arjun didn't go too well' Ayaan said walking to him, looking more than frustrated Asad raked his hands through his hair 'no, the meeting went fine...it's that...' Asad stopped before he said anymore 'I am ok, just tired I suppose'. Ayaan raised his eyebrow 'tired...and you...I highly doubt it...why don't you just admit it that it bothers you, to see her with anyone else' Asad looked up to Ayaan 'what the hell are you talking about now?' He said opening the file he just threw so carelessly.

'Bhaijaan, look at me...please don't play the ignorant game with me. I am talking about Zoya and you know that. You are an intelligent man and I know you know exactly how she feels about you...and if you don't let me tell you in plain simple words Zoya loves you Bhaijaan...isn't it time you stopped pretending that you don't care and face up to the fact that you also feel something for her too'. Asad looked at Ayaan with his mouth open ready to put him in his place but he couldn't 'please Bhaijaan, before it's too late...Zoya has two months left here, do you really want her to leave not ever knowing that the man she fell in love with also loved her too'.

Asad stood there gob smacked; it started to dawn on him that Zoya was going to be leaving, going back to America, leaving him and probably never to see him again. Asad held his face in the palm of his hands trying to calm down his ever accelerating heart. A knock at the door brought Asad back from his painful thoughts 'come in' as he looked up he saw Zoya standing in front of him. Slowly standing up he walked around his desk 'Mr Khan...can I have a quick word?' 'yeah...sure...do you want to sit' Zoya shook her head 'no I am fine standing, I won't take too long...Mr Khan I just wanted to say thank you for everything you have done for me, I know I have said this before but I suppose my appreciation is such that it will never be said enough. Mr Khan I am going back to my halls of residence, I need to get back to my studies...I don't have long left, and I know you think it is not safe, but it is only a matter of a couple of months and the I'll be gone, away from you and everything that had happened here. I packed my bags last night, and I will be asking Ayaan to take me back tomorrow morning' Zoya saw Asad's body tensed up but before she could let him say anything in response she walked out leaving him not only in a muddle of emotions but also fuming.