Asad and Zoya....one shot......update on pg 2

I was in tenth standard when we first met. He was my class
partner and other then the fact that he was undoubtedly handsome, i knew
nothing about him. He was very quiet and i being the chirpy gal was not quite
used to being given the silent treatment. We became those awkward partners who
seldom ever spoke to each other. His focused attitude and quietness kept him a
considerable distance from anyone and except for the customary Hi' , Bye' and
Can i borrow your book, i forgot mine?', he hardly ever opened his mouth. However, i would often watch him go about his
work. He was so systematic, so precise that sometimes i would shamelessly stare
at his perfection. He wasn't the kind to fool around with and he almost never
got into trouble. Probably that is why he was in most of the teacher's good
books. From his attitude itself, i came to know that he was actually a very
simple guy. He was very focused on what he wanted from his life and he work
tirelessly to achieve it.

As time passed, i slowly began to get used to his presence. When
he was absent, i would long for his presence and when he used to speak those
few formal lines, my heart would jump at his deep and gentle voice. He always
managed to leave me slightly surprised with his carefully chosen and
intelligent words. I distinctly remember a class activity in which he was
supposed to speak on the topic My Class Partner' for class. I had turned
bright red at the mention of the topic but he did not seem in the least bit
affected. He thought for a few minutes before talking in his strong, sure
voice.

"Well, to many, she might seem irritating and to some too
chirpy, but to me she seems to be the perfect individual. She is warm and
friendly to everyone she meets but still remains secluded enough to hide her
true feelings. She tells you everything there is to know about her but still
keeps her darkest secrets to herself. She knows her goals and strives to
achieve them even though she outwardly portrays a don't care' attitude. She remains
focused in the hardest of times and draws inspiration from even the simplest of
things. She is very sure of herself and hates it when anybody criticises her
because it makes her feel insecure about her abilities. And last but not least,
she is pretty. She doesn't think so and i know it isn't false modesty but it is
still stupid because she is pretty. So all in all, she is an amazing individual
and someday, i aspire to be like her."

I did not pay attention to the applause that followed,
instead, his dimples seemed to catch my attention as the teacher nodded and
smiled.

Since that day, we became friends-the hi-bye' types. He would
often smile softly at my laziness to do work and i would laugh at his
occasional jokes which always managed to lighten my mood. When time would fly
by, i wouldn't know.

One day, he came finding me in the lunch break and telling
me it was urgent, pulled me into a secluded corner of the school.

"Here" he said and in his hand lay a simple, red, friendship
band.

"I know today isn't Friendship Day, but we do not need only
that day to start or renew a friendship, do we?" He then tied the friendship
band softly on my wrist and asked me, "Will you be my friend?"

"Of course"

After that the band never came of my wrist and it proved to
be really lucky too. I seemed to understand his unspoken words on most subjects
and he would understand what was going on in my mind by just looking at my
expressions. Be it books, talk or play, he was always with me by my side. We became
so close that when we passed tenth grade, he went to check my results and i
went to check his. We had both passed with flying colors.

I could not forget that summer vacation following our tenth
year. We would often spend hours on the beach or on Marine Drive talking about
our ambitions, our dreams and our future. He told me that no matter what happened,
if our colleges get changes or if he would move to another city, he would be with
me through thick and thin. He touched the friendship band still on my wrist
softly and whispered, "Never forget me, partner. Never do. Your one call and i
will be there for you because unlike all, i am your TRUE friend."

I smiled as a little tear drop fell from my eyes significant
of the impending separation from him. Two months later he moved away to Bhopal
to receive his further education, but he promised to call me every day and
update me on what was happening in his life. I joined a college in Mumbai to
complete my bachelor's degree. Even through the hectic college routine, i made
time to message him every day and call him. He too kept his word and would call
to talk about random things, nothing serious.

Even though we would we would talk for hours and hours on
the phone, the sheer absence of him haunted me. I missed him a lot and i would
often cry because of our separation. Desperately, i waited for his message or phone
call and longed to see him. The friendship bands on my right band reminded me
of our school and i would miss him again. A year passed, his messages and phone
calls were constant and always wrote to say he was having a good time there. He
would often send me detailed descriptions of the funny instances in his life
and often tease me about coming back to Mumbai. But when i seriously asked him
whether he was coming back or not, he said that he had no plans for coming back
to Mumbai.

Listening to that, a deep hole formed in my heart. I cried a
lot that day, unknown to a reason that was long living in my heart. The reason
was love. I was slowly, but surely falling in love with him. This crying, this
desperation, this longing were all because i loved him and loved him with all
my heart. I was both happy and sad at this realization, sad because of the fact
that i did not know how he felt about me. I still had to wait another year for
him. So, i decided to wait and not tell him anything.

Another year passed. I never once mentioned my feelings in
any of my messages or calls. The separation had made me realize my feelings for
him and by admitting it, I did not want to lose his friendship. I could not
even begin to imagine what would happen if i lost him forever. No, i could not
do that. However, i still wanted to see him. My heart longed to see him. So i
begged him to come to Mumbai for his summer vacations. After much persuasion,
he finally agreed.

Two more month passed and then the week before he was
supposed to come, he stopped calling. No messages, no updates, he sent nothing.
It was like i had suddenly lost everything. Frantic to hear from him, i sent at
least 30 to 40 messages in the hope of receiving some reply, but to no avail. I
grew doubtful of his returning. Would he ever come back or had i lost him
forever? A week passed and then another. He never came and neither did he reply
to my mails or messages. I cried and cried as i longed for his presence. I wished
he would come with all my heart but nothing happened. I grew more and more
depressed because i was convinced that i had lost him forever.

But one day, while coming out of the college building, i saw
him leaning casually on the college gates smirking at me with those naughty
eyes and a teasing smile.

As soon as i saw him, a mixture of joy and anger erupted in
me. But more than that, I took in the sheer presence of him. Gone was the
boyish look on his face during tenth grade. He had now developed a handsome set
of features. Dreamy eyes, a rugged nose and a wide well set mouth that was now
set in a mocking smiled, marked his face. He also had a well built body which
came through even with the smart shirt he wore.

I felt like throwing myself in his arms and without thinking
i ran towards him and hit him with full force not caring what the world thought
about us at that very moment. Traitorous tears spilled out of my eyes as i remembered
the numerous times i had cried for the warmth of his hugs and the reassurance
of his words. I could feel his arms slowly hugging my slim waist as he pulled
me closer deepening the hug. We stayed like that for some time. Both of us were
reluctant to let go of each other after the long separation. But finally i
pulled back and looked into his concerned features.

"I am sorry, i-" I started feeling embarrassed about the
fact that i had hugged him in front of the whole college campus.

"why did you stop?"

"What?" i looked at him bewildered.

" I loved it, but then you pulled back, i mean we both were
lost in the hug and then..."

" Look, i love you but i really don't understand you at all.
Here i should be the one that is desperate but instead you are. What is it with
the role reversal?"

"You love me?" He asked, softness coming into his voice.

"D-did i just say t-that?" I stammered, well aware that i
had just made a fool of myself.

"Um...Yeah.."

"Shit..shit...triple shit...allah miya what is wrong with
me? I shouldn't have said that and i shouldn't even have hugged you like that.
Really-"

"Hey" he caught my shoulders, "Relax, I love you too. There
is no need to be sorry about anything, especially when you are looking so
beautiful right now." He winked.

"Shut up" i said inwardly feeling lightheaded at his
compliment, "You might me lying just to tease me again. How do i know how you
really feel?"

He pulled me closer, love oozing from those brown orbs that
were now centimetres from mine.

"Do you really think so?"

It was hard lying to those sincere and love-filled eyes that
bore into mine. I smiled and timidly shook my head. My face felt hot under his
soft caress. We both could hear each other's heartbeat beating rapidly against
our chests. Our beats were synchronized, never missing a beat. I smiled at the
sound and looked up at his face.

"i Love you a lot." I said bluntly without blinking. He smiled
and leaned in closer, angling his face in such a way that i knew what was going
to follow. My heartbeat accelerated to its maximum as i jumped headfirst into
the new found happiness in my life.

Ihope you guys liked it...actually it is my first time writing something like this so criticism is very welcome!!😊

Originally posted by: Oldestfan

His speech about his partner captured all that is outstanding about zoya. Loved the hell out of tjis story! Please wrtite more!

Originally posted by: Jassieg

Such an amazing os. I loved it..though I want to know the reason for him not calling or replying. Plz write more..