.
..And I'm back! I know I'm late, er, very late actually.
Okay, so without much ado..
(drum rolls please)
Here's part 2! ~
Hey, that rhymes!
PART - 2
As soon as the door opened, Zoya frantically rushed inside and saw a surprisingly tidy and untouched room.
She headed towards the bathroom as her heartbeat accelerated. As soon as she opened the door, a loud gasp escaped her mouth.
There lay Asad, lifeless, drenched in a pool of blood.
"Help! Manager!" Zoya checked Asad's pulse and heaved a sigh of relief. Though slow, he had pulse.
She ran out screaming for help, with blood smeared all over her hands.
The Manager along with some hotel staff reached the scene. While the staff supported a shocked Zoya, the Manager called the ambulance.
"You do understand that attempting suicide should technically be reported, right Ma'am?" The Manager asked Zoya to which she nodded.
"But please Sir, I...I cannot deal with it right now. A..Asad is so critical..and.. please Sir."
"Okay Ma'am, but this news cannot go outside these 4 walls. Nothing happened. I cannot risk my Hotel's reputation."
"Yes, Sir. Thank you..so much." Saying so, Zoya hurriedly left the hotel drove towards the City Hospital.
"Excuse me, Ma'am? The patient's conscious now." The nurse shook Zoya a little, who was fast asleep in the waiting area.
"Thank you" Zoya smiled as she followed the nurse to Asad's room.
Opening the door, she headed towards the bed where he lay, now alive.
She settled beside the bed, only to find him staring into space.
Did he even acknowledge her presence?
"Why did you save me? You shouldn't have Zoya."
Zoya.
It sounded beautiful when he said it, despite his voice being full of pain.
"But I did. Tragic, isn't it? Now you'll have to live!" Zoya sarcastically replied.
She knew she wasn't supposed to talk like that to someone who just gained consciousness, but he was testing her patience. She was an excellent anger manager, but this man just left her fuming.
Is that the way you talk to someone who just saved your friiggin' life!
Not gauging any response from him, she continued in a higher tone.
"Hey! I'm talking to you! Look at me while I speak!" Saying so, she cupped his face with her palm and turned it towards her.
He looked at her with satisfaction written all over his face.
That's what Asad wanted. To rile her up so that she leaves him alone.
Why did she care, anyway. She should be enjoying her time, not wasting it on him.
Zoya understood his intentions. So it was his plan!
No. She won't back out so soon. To help him was her decision, and she won't let anyone change it. Not even The Man himself.
They both looked at each other with determination in their eyes.
He won't stop pushing, and she won't budge.
Their brief eyelock was interrupted by the swinging of the door.
"Hello Ma'am. Miss Zoya Farooqui?" The doctor entered the room as he glanced at his clipboard
and then at Zoya.
She nodded.
The doctor walked towards the bed and checked Asad's vitals.
"Mr. Asad Ahmed Khan. How are you feeling?" He enquired.
"Fine." Asad said with a grim face, earning an angry glare from Zoya.
A single word reply, again.
And that's your Doctor. Smile, balloon head!
"His vitals are normal. But he's weak. We're lucky he didn't lose a lot of blood" the Doctor looked at Asad with his eyebrows raised.
"There's not much to worry, though. He'll be discharged by this afternoon. Here's the prescription. Make sure he takes his meds regularly, without fail."
"And also, you'll have to keep up with some routine check-ups this month. So, I'll see you next Sunday?" The Doctor said as he handed the piece of paper to Zoya and turned around to leave.
"You. Stay." Zoya warned Asad. She made sure that all the sharp and even blunt things were out of his reach.
"What if I want to use the loo?"
"Call the nurse."
"Drink water?"
"Remain thirsty."
"You better not move. Do I make myself clear?"
"Hm"
Urgh! Monosyllables!
Zoya quickly went to the pharmaceutical store with his prescription. She came back only to find Asad asleep. She sighed and settled beside him, again, with a magazine in her hand.
She dozed off within no time, leaning on the bed with her head on her arm and the magazine on her lap.
"Asad?" Zoya called out, still half asleep. She glanced at her watch, it was 3:30 pm already.
"Allah Miyah! We so should get going". She lifted up her head and found Asad staring at her.
Wait, what? He was awake? Then why didn't he wake her up?
Asad had never been asleep. He watched Zoya enter the room and pretended to be. He had decided to sneak out as soon she slept, but he couldn't.
And when she dozed off beside him, he couldn't help but admire her beauty.
Boy, she was pretty!
He was so enchanted that he decided to stay and admire her, and probably go after a while.
What harm could it do? It's not like that she'll find out about him checking her out!
"What? Is there drool on my face?!" Zoya exclaimed as she saw Asad staring at her.
Asad shook his head and turned it away, suppressing a smile.
"Come on, get up. We have to leave." Zoya said as she got up and started heading towards the washroom.
"We? We are not going anywhere. You are." Asad said.
He had already wasted his time admiring her! Idiot! But he won't, now.
She had to leave, alone.
"Allah Miyah Asad! Enough. This is my last request to you. If you don't oblige, the consequences will be regretful." Zoya gave her last warning and marched towards the washroom.
"I'm not leaving" He said when she came out.
"Okay, then I'm dragging you with me." Zoya replied. Oh, you don't mess with Zoya Farooqui!
After a lot of one sided arguments, Asad gave up.
Zoya helped him get up from the bed.
"I can do it myself. Go away."
This man was impossible.
"Fine. As you say." Zoya shrugged and left him on his own. If he wanted things to be his way, let them be.
They walked out from the room and then the hospital, as they completed the Hospital formalities.
"Don't be so stubborn. Let me help you!" Zoya said as she saw him struggling to get in her car.
Asad huffed and let her. She touched his arm with one hand and enclosed the other one with his.
Both felt the butterflies, but did not acknowledge it. At least, he didn't.
As they reached her apartment, she helped him get in the lift, and surprisingly, he didn't complain.
*****
"So, what would you like to eat?" Zoya said, as her voice echoed from the kitchen.
She got no reply, of course. How could she even expect?
She walked over to the living room and found him sitting in the same position she left him in.
Sigh.
"What..." "Why are you doing this?" He asked.
"Doing what? You need to take your meds and I won't let you take them with an empty stomach."
"No! That's not what I asked! You know very well what I want to know and you better tell me!" He spoke with clenched fists, anger audible in his tone.
"I..woh..I..", she stammered,
"You're with them, aren't you?" He asked, hurt for no apparent reason.
"Them? Who are they? No, mister. I'm not with them. And I don't even know what you're talking, anyway. Anyway, You'll have the soup no matter how bad it tastes. Got it?" Zoya went back to the kitchen. It was obvious that she was curious about Them, and largely about how They and Asad were related.
She brought the sizzling Sweet and Sour Soup and gave it to him.
He seemed visibly relaxed, probably after knowing that she was not with Them.
"Its tasty. Did you make it?" He complimented has he obediently sipped his Soup.
"Well, yes! It magically didn't make itself!" She tried to hide her pleasure with sarcasm.
But, alas! He was better than that.
Asad finished his task and took his medicines. He then looked at Zoya and smiled.
Did he just smile? At ME?!
She returned the look with bewildered eyes.
His smile grew wider as her big, beautiful eyes searched the reason behind his cryptic behavior. He then stood up.
Zoya was on cloud 9!
For 8 seconds, to be more precise.
So what! She was, wasn't she? That's what matters!
Yeah right.
Her confusion turned into a frown as he stood up.
"Where are you heading to?"
"Out"
"You aren't going anywhere. Waise, if you really want to go somewhere..turn to your left and walk straight. And close your eyes!"
"What! I'm not playing your stupid games!"
"Do as I say, NOW!"
"Fine. You don't need to shout!"
Oh, he's scared of me! Good going Zoya!
As he walked as directed by Zoya, he heard the door bolt,
What the heck was going on?!
He opened his eyes and found himself trapped.
"What's going on?!" He shouted from the other end, annoyed.
"You need to rest. And I knew you wouldn't have paid heed to me. So this is what you get." She replied in a nonchalant manner.
"And yes, the windows aren't big enough for you to escape, there's an intercom if you need anything, the water jar is on the left side of the bed.. handle it with care.. and yes! I'm watching you."
"She's insane." Asad mumbled.
"Hey! I heard that!" Came a reply.
Of course she did.
*****
Zoya opened the door as she heard the doorbell buzz.
"Khaala!!!!!!" Arif pounced on her as she stumbled backwards.
Zainab and Zeenat stood back, controlling their erupting laughter. Arif was crazy about his Khaala!
"Zyada hasne ki baat nahi hai!" Zoya said as she gathered Arif in her arms, irritated at her mother and sister's expressions.
"Come on in." She motioned them to come inside but they refused.
"Next time Zoya. We need to shop, and you know how helpful that little monster is." said Zeenat.
"I'll be staying with you khaala! Forever and ever and ever!" Arif screeched as he wrapped his tiny arms around her neck.
"Bas. Khaala ke saamne to Ammi gayab hi ho jaati hai!" Zeenat said as she and Zainab shook their heads with amusement. How adorable can he be?
"Is someone else here Zoya?" Zainab said as she briefly looked at the empty soup bowl and glasses of water kept on the table.
"Nahi toh! My friend came over. I'm yet to clear that up. You must be getting late. Go on, I'll take care of him." Zoya tried to shoo them away.
Yes, she lied. What else could've she said? That she's taking care of a strange man who is very vulnerable? Not at all!
"T.V.!!!!" Arif jumped from Zoya's arms as she closed the door. He dashed towards the couch and picked up the remote.
He switched it on, pressing the buttons of his memorized channel numbers. He then pressed the Volume Button till it reached 98%.
He loved watching cartoons with his khaala.
They would always eat Popcorns and Maggi Noodles, his favorite.
"It's POPEYE! Khaala jaldi!" He patted the empty space beside him, gesturing his khaala to sit.
He kept on patting with his eyes glued to the screen, till Zoya accompanied him.
"Uff, Arif! Turn down the volume monster!" Zoya tried to take the remote control from him. After a dozen failed attempts, she turned it down herself by getting up from the couch and using the operator buttons on the T.V., something she hated doing.
An hour or so passed.
Arif refused to sleep and was glued to the T.V. all along. Beside him, Zoya dozed in and out of sleep.
His meditation was broken by some banging sounds coming from the next room.
"Damn! I almost forgot!" Zoya got up and rushed to unbolt the door.
Asad peeked from behind. He looked a lot better.
At least someone had a good sleep.
He came out, rubbing his eyes.
"What's all the noise about?" He said as he stepped out.
Arif's head turned dramatically as he recognised the gruff sound.
"IT'S HIM!" He shouted with his eyes as wide as saucers.
"HE'S THE BAD MAN!"
*****
A/N - My apologies aren't acceptable, are they?
I had tests, tests, tests and tests.
I finally managed to update it today.
Thank you so so much for your patience. :)
Tomatoes, Chappals.. everything is invited!
I've turned this TS into an FS!
I thought the story would be too scrambled in a Three Shot.
I know I'm shameless, but do leave your feedback and scoldings! 😳
Thanks for reading! \(^O^)>
P.S. Please Buddy me for PMs!
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