Unpredictable Lives - FF #2 Link to Thread 3 Pg 120 - Page 17

Forty Two

Asad didn't manage to get much done, Zoya's one sided conversation kept replaying before him, she was actually going to leave, and he was going to let her, but how could he, she couldn't just leave like that could she? Asad growled under his breath he picked up his keys and left to go home 'Hello, Ayaan...I have left the office, I am headed home, can you make sure you drop Zoya off' 'Bhaijaan, she already left...I thought you were taking her back' Asad closed his eyes, not responding to him he cut the call 'Zoya Farooqui, what the hell are you playing at?' Asad stepped on the gas and drove back to his apartment hoping that she would have been sensible enough to go straight home.

Asad walked in and called out for Zoya as he slammed the door behind him. Zoya came running out of her room on hearing his raised voice. Seeing her standing there filled him with relief but he was too angry to acknowledge that part. 'What the hell do you think you are playing at Zoya, you know full well that you are not supposed to leave the office alone, why did you not call for me or Ayaan if you wanted to come home so badly' Zoya carried on looking at him mystified at his outburst, not wanting to get into an argument she turned around to walk of 'I haven't done talking, don't turn away from me'. Zoya stopped and closed her eyes asking Allah to give her strength, turning around to face him she stepped closer 'I don't want an argument Mr Khan, and I can't talk to you when you are talking to me in such a manner...I came back to get my things ready...you and Ayaan were both busy so I didn't want to disturb you...there does that answer your question, can I go now?' she said in a sarcastic but anger filled tone, something that didn't wash down well with Asad.

Asad narrowed his eyes, he could feel himself boil over, for every step he took forward Zoya took one back until she could go no further, trapping her between his hands against the wall Asad leaned in 'for as long as you are under this roof you are my responsibility Zoya Farooqui, it is not so damn hard to follow simple instructions...do you even know what I went through the minute I found out you had left, have you forgotten what is out there' Zoya who was finding it hard to breath with his face so close swallowed hard before she spoke 'well as of tomorrow I will no longer be your responsibility Mr Khan, I never asked to be in the first place...and I haven't forgotten what is out there, because India isn't the only country where women, men and children alike have to face such dangers...I can look after myself...you don't need to worry so much' Asad snapped he banged his fist against the wall before he took her by the shoulders 'what is the matter with you, for someone who goes around claiming to know everything you are an immature imbecile...' Zoya winced under his hold, but Asad didn't let go 'let go of me you are hurting me' 'you don't know the meaning of pain Zoya, if you did you would understand' Zoya looked into his darkened eyes, she raised her hands and with all she had pushed him away from herself 'understand what?' she screamed 'I am not the one who is stupid or immature, it's you' Zoya started to cry as she continued to yell at him

'I have never claimed to be anyone or anything Mr Khan, I just came here to complete my god forsaken degree, because I wanted to be someone, achieve something for myself. If I am here it's because you wanted me to be...I didn't ask to be here, I didn't ask to be caught up in the middle of your dug war, all I wanted to do was work hard to bring the truth out, to help and protect...but all you see is a childish trouble magnet...just because you don't feel anything doesn't mean we are all like you Mr Khan, I am human and I have feelings, feelings that you go out your way to hurt time and time again...even when you know the person you are hurting lov...what is the point, nothing I say or do will make the slightest difference, you say you can see everything, you know everything but you couldn't be more wrong, did you never hear the saying that the eyes are useless when the brain is blind, that is exactly what is wrong with you. You can see but are blinded by your oversized ego, your stubbornness and your failure to see things for what they really are, learn how to take things at face value for once, not everyone has an ulterior motive, sometimes people are just being themselves but that is something you will never understand' Zoya wiped her tears and ran back into her room locking the door behind her.

If Asad had ever been put in his place it was now, there was no describing how he felt, in all the pain filled scream that Zoya let out in one breath all he managed to register was her unfinished sentence. If he was unsure of it before now, he was more than a hundred per cent certain that the girl that just walked away from him loved him. He stood rooted not knowing what to do, it was probably the first time in his life where his mind was battling his heart, the only thing left to be seen was who was going to win.

Asad waited for Zoya to come out, but there was no sign of her. He stepped outside onto the balcony and took in as much air as he could. It wasn't long after he heard the clicking of her door, he turned around to see her walk towards the front door, Asad stepped inside to follow her but then stopped as he saw Ayaan and Humera come in. Humera hugged Zoya and then went to meet Asad, whilst Zoya stood next to Ayaan.

'What are you two doing here?' he asked Humera looked at Zoya and the back at Asad 'Zoya asked us to come and pick her up...she wanted to go back today'. Asad felt his whole body freeze, he fisted his hand, but this time instead of looking at her to show how upset or angry he was he just lowered his head and stepped to the side. Zoya went back to her room to bring out her suitcase is that all?' Ayaan asked not really knowing what else to say, Zoya nodded 'yes...that's all' 'Bhaijaan...I'll see you back at base...after I have dropped Zoya' Asad didn't respond he just turned his body around to face the other way. Humera and Ayaan gave Zoya a reassuring smile; Zoya let them walk to the door 'you guys go ahead, I'll meet you downstairs, I just need two minutes'.

As Ayaan and Humera walked out Zoya turned towards Asad, both of the stood in front of each other not being able to meet the other's gaze 'I...I have left your key on the bedside cabinet...despite everything that has happened and had been said...I just want to say thank you...bye Mr Khan'. Zoya left without waiting for Asad to say anything; even if she had waited it may have been for some time. Asad's thoughts were muddled; he couldn't think straight all he saw was Zoya leaving, her retreating back, leaving him standing all alone, Asad felt as if the four walls around him were caving in, and suffocating him. As Zoya reached the door he tried to call out to her but words failed him, it didn't matter how much he tried he couldn't bring himself to speak. Zoya held the door and for one last time turned to see him. Asad still stood where she had left him, he looked back at her with the same tears she had in her eyes.

Humera held onto Zoya's hand the whole way back to her halls 'don't worry Zoya, everything will be ok...you know what Bhaijaan is like...he is not the easiest of people to figure out, he will see sense and realise what he is losing' Zoya wiped her tears and shook her head letting out a pain filled laugh 'life is so ironic, it takes pain, hurt and sadness to really know and appreciate what true happiness is and it takes the absence of the one person you love more than life itself to realise their worth, their importance and continuous presence in your life...it's true what they say, you really don't know what you have until you lose it...but the sad thing is that Mr Khan no matter what will never be able to see it or understand it'.