"Miss Farooqui!? Miss Farooqui what's wrong?" he asked her, surprised to see her scared our of her wits.
"Kuch maath poochye (dont ask me anything), just hold me," she said.
Asad did as she asked taking her into his arms as she clutched at him tightly. He ran his hand up and down her back, soothingly, in an attempt to calm her down, but she just kept shivering, terrified. Then, tucking her head in his breast, hiding her face, she timidly slid her hands along his sides.
Asad breathed in deeply at her hands making small movements against his body, his hands holding her more tightly to him. Bolder, Zoya tightened her hold on his torso, pressing herself further into him. "Do you ever feel trapped in a dream, not knowing which way is out? Or if it is a dream, at all, Mr.Khan?" her trembling voice asked him.
He blinked, her question catching him off guard, and closed his eyes tightly, as it dawned on him what was bothering her. "It's the dreams of the fire isn't it?" He asked and she looked away her chin tucking into her chest in avoidance but he lifted her chin with his forefinger and made her look at him.She turned her head away as if avoiding to answer. Asad put his hands on her cheeks and turned her face to him, "Not this time, Zoya. Let me in."
"It, it was everywhere, Mr. Khan," she sobbed, her tears falling effortlessly now. "I feel like I'm there...In the dreams, that I'm burning up and it hurts so bad and then I see this on my arm," she said pointing to her scars "And I know it's not just a dream, I lived this."
Zoya that happened years ago and I know those memories haunt you, but you have to try to replace them with happy moments. "How, Mr. Khan, how does one forget, something which one doesn't even remember..." she asked him, looking up at him, expectantly. "I know it will be hard but I'm with you and I'll help you through it," he replied taking her hands in his. "And I can never ask you to forget it, Zoya - it made you the strong woman that you are today." he smiled at her.
She felt herself smile, despite her tears, as if dawned on her that he truly did care about her more than he let on. It was in that moment, Asad decided to do something to bring a smile to her face. So immediately, Asad started thinking of ideas to cheer her up. What better way to start then getting his girl her favorite PIZZA.
"Ms. Farooqui, if I take you somewhere, will you come with me, no questions asked?"
"Mr. Khan, if you tell me to jump off a cliff with you, Ill do it happily."
He looked surprised at her words but they internally pleased him making him smile, "Okay well go change and we'll go."Stepping out the door, the two of them faced heavy rains and winds, but it didnt stop them from running to Asad's car. Asad opened the passenger door, helping Zoya in, before dashing to his side of the car, starting the engine. They were both semi- drenched inside the car but they went anyway, Asad determined to make her smile."Mr. Khan, I know you said no questions, but are you sure you want to drive in this rain?" she asked, worried. "It's not so bad," he replied just as thunder rolled and he saw Zoya jump, "It'll be worth it and you have nothing to worry about, I'm with you." Zoya replied that she knows and questioned him again as to where they are going in the heavy rains, to which he finally responded: Pizza Hut. Her eyes widened, and she smiled, squealing like a five year old child.
" YOUR TAKING ME FOR PIZZA Mr. Khan, REALLY!!!? "
He smiled at her antics, pleased with himself that he could bring out her dimpled smile.
Just as he watched her smile, his car began to shake and ultimately stopped in the middle of a desolate road. Panicking, they both looked at each other, thinking the same thing. After Asad got out in the rains and noticed the car broke down and could only be fixed by mechanic, he came back in the car to a sad Zoya and a radio that was still working and playing the song Bol Na Halke Halke. A better idea to make her smile coming to mind, he got out of the car, walked over to her side, and opening the passenger door, held out his hand for her, as he got drenched in the rain, his OCD a distant memory.
Reluctantly, Zoya took Asad's hand and they both stood out in the middle of the rain extremely close, with Bol Na halke playing softly in the background. "Well, Zoya, it seems as if your dimples do work on stones, after all." he said in a teasing voice. She blushed as she felt his hands run across her waist until finally resting on her lower back. Zoya looped her arms around his neck, feeling him pull her closer to his chest, and rested her forehead on his, sighing contentedly.
And slowly, they swayed softly dancing to the song full of past memories.
"Can we stay like, Mr. Khan - here, like this, just us?" she wondered. He didnt say anything, but responded by softly placing a kiss on her neck. Zoya gasped at the sensation of Mr. Khan's lips on her skin as he kissed the trail of raindrops across her shoulder making her shiver with something other than the cold. She tried to shy away from him, but his strong grip around her didnt let her, and she melted drawing close to him once again. He continued to kiss her, his lips traveling from her shoulder, to her neck, and finally reaching her lips, he paused.
Breaking apart from the soft kiss in the rain, Zoya question, "Mr Khan hum..?, but Asad put his hand over her mouth to stop her from going further. "Abb kyun rukh gaye, Mr. Khan?" Zoya asked when he didn't move for some moments. He again said nothing, and instead, looked her in the eye, before closing the distance between their lips, causing Zoya to gasp before melting into his lips. His lips met hers fiercely and their hands clutched at each other as they both gave into a passion that had slowly been built up between them. Zoya fisted her fingers into his hair, pressing his lips onto hers with a longing she never knew she could feel, feeling his arms around her waist pull her closer to him, if that was even possible.
"Jannat" Asad whispered as they broke apart softly. Their emotions started to get the best of them, so they broke away for brief moment to find shelter.
She blushed, as she followed him to a small abandoned cottage where they'd wait until the storm passed, or the mechanic came to fix the car.
There were no lights or signs it was lived in so they entered and Zoya suddenly with deja vu realized she'd be spending a night with Mr. Khan in an abandoned place yet again and she blushed to her roots. "Something interesting, Ms. Farooqui?" Asad asked, smirking as he noticed her blush deeper. "Wouldn't you like to know, Mr. Khan?" Zoya teased him and Asad gulped, remembering her apparent lack of shame.
Do you remember something Mr Khan? she asked him blushingly. Asad tried to deflect by pulling his phone out and fiddling with the keypad. "Woh, actually, mein, mein mechanic ko phone kar le tha hoon," he tried, hoping she'd agree to change the topic. "Not so fast, Jahanpanah!" she grabbed his wrist. "You're trying to change the topic...typical Mr. Asad Ahmed Khan, why are you so emotionally challenged?" she asked and his eyes widened.
Why did he think he could get away with it, he wondered, sighing. He moved to face her again and said, "You turn me into someone else, Zoya and I don't know what I am doing anymore when I am with you."
Zoya felt her heart jump and her breathing became uneven, "I feel the exact same way Mr. Khan." she whispered and felt a weight lift at saying it out loud. "No worries, just imagine you are some romantic hero right now, moment is right, feeling is right.. what are you waiting for?" She said naughtily. She felt her knees weaken, and blushed a deeper shade of crimson, as the thought of the effect this man presence had on her wildly beating heart.
"Mr. Khan." she started and he pressed a finger to her lips, "Don't speak." He started to remove her earings and as he did.. slowly placing kisses in their spots. Zoya could feel her heart beating wildly in her chest at the feel of this man's lips, his touch on her skin.
"Mr. Khan, wait." she looked him in the eyes for a long moment, with love blazing and determination, "Qubool hai." and then she dived forward to kiss him with all the passion that she had in her.
He couldn't help but smile against her lips, and matching her passion, he once again wrapped his arms around her dainty waist, fusing their bodies into one. After that they needed no words as their lips did the talking for them saying everything that they hadn't previously been able to express. He picked her up and carried her over to nearest bedroom he saw, with eagerness in his heart and mind.
Zoya could see the emotion in his eyes as he lay her down gently on the bed and she knew without a doubt that she was in love with Mr. Asad Ahmed Khan. "You're beautiful," he breathed, before laying on top of her, and claiming her lips, the passion in him taking over once again. Their hands explored each other for the very first time as they let their primal desires take over, and there was no confusion, no guilt and only love.
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