its been a longtime since i posted anything in this from.. i no longer feel like writing and posting any reviews or thoughts regarding eisodes, but the current track made me itch to write something and here is the result... but i have never written an OS before and hope the effort is worth reading.
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"You cannot stay in this house anymore..."
"You brought shame to our community..."
"You are a disgrace to our women..."
"You have to go from here..."
Zoya put her hands over her ears and tried to block the voices of all the ladies maligning her character with their words and trying to drag her out of SM. She knew that Raziya must have done something to escalate the situation despite her Puppi's warning yesterday and her clear cut saying that it was not Zoya who is in that picture...Zoya's mind resolved to fight these people at any cost because she knew that she cannot leave her Puppi alone in this house and go anywhere, especially when Mr.khan is not there.
But just then she heard a voice that she had never expected to hear right that moment but was still hoping to hear, silencing all other voices with his authority.
"Enough..." Asad's clear and controlled authoritative one word was enough to silence everybody. There was a sudden hush and then all the community ladies turned towards him, some with a question mark on their face wondering who this is. Others recognized him and knew that Asad is Zoya's fiance and they also knew the way he had come and taken Zoya away from this house not so long ago and they knows him as a man who would not stand any nonsense.
Raziya's face showed anger and she wondered how Asad manged to come here so suddenly to spoil her plans. She knew that he had gone to Indore and that is one of the reasons why she chose this moment to execute her plans as she knew that Asad would be a big obstacle to anything she did against Zoya.
"Stop all this nonsense right now!.."
Asad could barely control his anger and he tightened his fists. He had the sudden urge to smash the faces of all this women who were trying to malign Zoya's character but he knew that he should not raise his hand on any of these so called ladies, regardless of the situation and so he controlled himself and continued to speak.
"I don't believe that this photo because of which you all are trying to throw Zoya out of this house is actually Zoya's."
He brought his right hand out and showed a crumpled poster with the morphed image of Zoya and Zoya could imagine how he must have crushed it in anger.
Zoya cringed seeing the poster in Asad's hand and her eyes shot up to him with a pleading look which asked him not to believe in that. Asad understood her look but even before he had any assurance from her, he had known that it cannot be Zoya.
"This is not Zoya and Zoya would never do this sort of a thing behind my back." Asad said crushing the poster with his hand once again.
"How can we believe you? Look at the way she dresses even normally... that is not how girls of our society and religion dress..." one of the ladies dared to counter him.
"That is her clothes and her clothes do not make her character..."Asad lashed out in anger.
Zoya could not even define what she felt at that moment when Asad defended her saying the exact words which she had hurled at him in anger sometime ago... she felt blessed that she is loved by Asad so much.. she felt content knowing that Asad trusts her so much now... she felt lucky knowing that the one person in the world she had fallen in love with accepts her as she is... and she felt humbled realizing that her love and their love managed to change the attitude of this man so much... and above all she felt such a relief wash over her knowing that her Mr.Khan, her Asad would always be there to protect her and defend her this way.
Zoya closed her tear filled eyes and sighed in relief.
"And I know very well what Zoya's character is like... she may dress in jeans but she would never do anything which would bring disgrace to me or my family." Zoya heard Asad saying further.
"As if... I am telling you all, she is a characterless girl and even her clothes indicates that.." Raziya tried to aggravate the matter.
"Enough Raziya Bi.. enough!.. don't again say a word against Zoya or her clothes.. who are you all to judge her? I am the one who is going to marry her and I accept her as she is... if I have no probem regarding the clothes she wear, they nobody else should have any problem." Asad shouted at Raziya.
A sudden hush developed and seeing Asad's anger and outburst, nobody not even raziya dared to utter anything more.
In the sudden silence that ensued,Zoya looked at Asad and although she was standing a few feets away she could almost feel the tremor in Asad's body due to his anger.Suddenly Zoya saw Asad taking long and hurried strides towards her and she gulped not knowing what Asad will do right now.
Upon reaching her, Asad caught hold of her wrists and started dragging her inside. Zoya felt a sudden pain pain on her wrist because of Asad's hold but she knew that Asad was not in his senses right now and she refrained from saying anything and let him drag her towards the guest room.
Once inside the room, he banged the door close and let go of Zoya's hand. His whole body was still shaking and he started pacing across the room. Its luck that there was not much furniture and nothing else in that guest room that he could throw away easily, otherwise Zoya knew that he would have thrown away everything that came in the way of his angry stride.
Zoya just stood near the door without saying or doing anything as she knew that Asad needs some time to calm down.
After few minutes he suddenly stopped infront of Zoya. "Go and pack your things.. we are leaving this house right now."
Zoya just stared at him as if not comprehending what he was saying.
"Zoya!.. don't you hear what I am saying?... I said, go... and pack your things."
Zoya gulped hearing his harsh words said with emphasis on each word and she knew that she had to tread with him very carefully at this moment.
He was now standing in front her with his hands in his pockets in a stance which said don't you dare disregard my words right now. Zoya took hesitant small steps towards him, all the while keeping eye contact with him asking him with her eyes to calm down. When she reached him, she held both of his arms with her hands.
"Mr.khan please... please listen to me Ok... we can't leave this house right now. Puppi needs us and we should be here Mr.khan." Zoya gently slid her hands down his forearm, clutched his wrists and brought out his clenched fist out of his pocket and gently caressed his knuckles. He loosened his fingers a little and Zoya took the opportunity to open his closed fingers and intertwined her fingers with his. She then squeezed his hands in reassurance.
"Please!.."
Zoya looked into his eyes with the most pleading look that she could manage at that moment but she knew that Asad was not going to relent so easily.
And just as she thought, Asad shrugged his hands out of her grasp and caught hold of her arms fiercely.
"Zoya...How could you still decide to stay here after all this and after all the humiliation you suffered today" he said harshly.
"Mr.khan, let go of my arms... you are hurting me now...and if you want to go from here and not face all these things, then you can go... but I am not going anywhere leaving Puppi.." Zoya said a bit loudly while trying to remove his hands from her arm. Zoya was not really angry but she knew that she has to put her foot down and say what she wanted firmly or else Asad will not listen to anything right now.
Asad let go of her arms and raked his hands through his hair and sighed in frustration.
"Zoya.. how can you be this stubborn? Why can't you listen to me and do what I say even once?" he finally said a bit calmly.
"I am stubborn Mr. khan? Look who is talking... you are the most stubborn person I have ever encountered." Zoya answered him back angrily and stared at him in defiance.
Suddenly, just as it came, Asad's anger disappeared and he looked at Zoya's angry face with a small smile tugging the corners of his mouth.
"Yes Zoya!.. you are the stubborn one between us and I have to always bow down infront of your stubbornness... don't you remember how you managed to bring me to this house few days back... yea I agree Ammi's phone call made the decision for me but a lot of it is because of your stubbornness."
"I am not being stubborn Mr.khan... I understood what Puppi felt even then and I understand even now that we cannot leave Puppi alone here and go away... if you think that is me been stubborn, then be it." Zoya folded her arms across her chest and looked at him in defiance.
Asad stared at her eyes in silence for a few seconds and then moved near her and held her shoulders gently.
"I know that you always mean well Zoya... and I have never told you this before but I really appreciate the way you love my Ammi and take care of her... and when I say that you are being stubborn, I don't mean it in any bad way... and I am happy that your stubbornness has prevented me from taking a decision which I would have regretted later..."
Asad took a deep breath and continued again. " And Zoya, today I wanted to tell you something else as well... you are actually so much like my Ammi Zoya... She is also as stubborn as you when it comes to what she believes is right.. and she is the most courageous woman I have ever come across and she faces any adversity with pride and determination... I have seen this since childhood and admire her for this and Zoya I have come to realize that you have the same attributes and that is the reason why you stand with my mother in what she believes in... and iam really happy about this Zoya and appreciate what you try to do, but when I see you or Ammi being humiliated by these people this way, I don't know what happens to me Zoya... I can't face it routinely and I can never forget and forgive my father for what he made my Ammi go through all these years."
Tears were flowing down Zoya's face by the time Asad finished talking but Zoya did not even realize that...even Asad had tears in his eyes and Zoya cupped his face in her hands and wiped away his tears not bothering about her own.
She then brought her hands down and encircled them around his waist.
"Mr.khan... you don't know what it means to me to hear you say those... and to know that you have come to appreciate me so much... to think that there was a time when you could not find anything good in me or what I do... And now you are appreciating me like you appreciate your Ammi..."
"I know Zoya... I failed to understand you before... and the strangest thing is that, if I ever got married to someone, I have always desired that person to be just like my Ammi... but earlier I failed to see that you are just like her... but now I understand you and I appreciate you...please remember that always even at times when my anger gets the better of me... And I am sorry for all the times I shouted at you in anger..."
"And I am sorry for the times I shout at you as well..." Zoya was too emotional to say anything more and she hugged Asad tightly...
"I love you so much Mr.khan..." Zoya whispered after some time.
" I love you too Zoya... very much..." Asad caressed her back gently.
They did not know how long they have stayed that way embracing each other. After sometime Zoya lifted her head from his chest and looked at Asad and seeing the mischievous glint in her eyes Asad groaned thinking what she could now be up to .
"Mr.khan... after all your confession,I have now come to realize something really big."
"Oh really! Would you care to tell me what it is?" Asad asked raising one eye brow.
Zoya tugged at his collars and brought his face close to hers mischievously and replied.
"That is, I can always be stubborn with you even when you are angry knowing that you will ultimately bow down to me and grant me my wishes."
"Oh don't be so smug Miss Farooqui... If you are wrong at anytime, then I will never bow down to your wishes."Asad replied seriously and a frown appeared on his forehead.
"Mr. Khan, don't become so serious now... I was just joking Ok and just like you understand me now, I understand you too... I know that you are a man of principles." Zoya caressed the frown on his forehead with her thumbs and smiled at him.
Asad smiled back at her in gratitude...And at that instant they both realized how lucky they are to have found each other. Their life is not perfect... They have so many problems and so many obstacles to cross... but among all these, the one thing that stands strong right now is their love for each other. They stood in each others arms, and their eyes said and acknowledged the remaining unsaid words.
"Zoya.. I do not know what would become of me if you are not there in my life anymore...don't ever leave me.." Asad suddenly whispered raggedly and hugged her tight.
Zoya was surprised by this sudden burst of emotion, but she understood the reason because she herself was feeling similar emotions right then.And with tears in her eyes, she hugged him back.
"I will always be here Mr.Khan.." Zoya replied and caressed his back soothingly.
Few minutes passed and Asad's breathing slowed down and Zoya knew that he has calmed down completely since seeing her poster and the evnets that followed... but still they continued to stay in each others arms, savoring the moment and each other,and unconsciously their hands caressed and soothed each other.. After sometime Zoya became aware of their proximity and lifted her head and looked at Asad shyly...But at that same moment she felt so cherished by Asad's love that she continued to stare into his eyes lovingly.
Asad has never seen Zoya looking this soft and she has never looked at him so lovingly.And seeing the look on her face, Asad reached out and caressed her cheeks softly. His thumbs then gently pressed the spot where her dimples form when she smiles and then he let his thumbs trace down to the corner of her mouth. The moment his thumb grazed her lips, Zoya took a deep breath and closed her eyes, not realizing that she was holding her breath since he touched her face.
At that moment Asad knew what his heart desired to do more than anything else in this world right then.
"Zoya..." Asad whispered questioningly and at the same time traced her lower lips softly.
"Asad..." Zoya whispered back raggedly and opened her eyes. Asad's breath hitched hearing her whisper his name for the first time, and in her eyes, Asad saw the answer that he wanted... and still looking into here eyes,he lowered his head and gently touched his lips with hers... unconsciously,Zoya's eyes closed at that moment and she draped her arms around his neck, and caressed his nape. Asad's touch was tentative at first, but feeling Zoya's response he deepened the kiss and pulled her even closer to him.
It was their first ever kiss and they realized that they have never been even this much intimate with each other till now. The sensations were so new to them and they marveled at the feelings... there was a look of wonder on their faces when they finally broke apart and looked at each other and this time it was Asad who looked at Zoya shyly.
They may not have had any physical intimacy in their love so far, but their love has crossed so many milestones and is stronger than any relationship based on actual intimacy. Their love goes beyond any physical attraction...Its a love which is so pure and it's the kind of love which very few people are blessed with... and they silently prayed for it to grow even stronger in the days to come.😊
Tum Se Tum Tak
Cricket
