ASYA/Kabhi SS: Four Seasons (ch.9, pg.41) note pg.48 - Page 13

Hey all. This one is late in coming and haven't been able to reply to comments. My apologies, being caught up in University and life. But to make up for it, I made it nice and long. I hope you all enjoy this chapter; Asad and Zoya's relationship takes a new step. I personally liked this one so do let me know what you all think too.

And yes, this one is for Rakhika , this girl never forgets to leave a sweet comment that makes me smile, and congrats, you are now a dazzaler..also for sweetnandu because my story brightened her bad day and her comment made my day

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WINTER

Winter passes and one remembers one's perseverance." - Yoko Ono

Chapter 5

He swiped his key card and guided her into his dorm gently with a tug of her arm. He flicked lights on and started up the fireplace hoping the place would warm up quickly for Zoya. He glanced back to see Zoya still standing by the door, as if contemplating her steps.

Asad had decided to bring her back to his apartment to get her warmed up and hopefully get some food into her system. But now, he wondered if he should have taken Zoya to her home. She still looked heartbroken, pale. So unsure.

"I thought you could use some food and a change of clothes. I can take you to your own house. I mean --- "

"That's fine, Asad." She finally stepped forward.

"Be right back." He went into his wardrobe, pulling out his NYU gear and a towel

He went back into the sitting room and handed her the clothes. "Take a hot shower. You will feel better. I will make some quick soup in the meantime."

Before Zoya could have a chance to respond, her cellphone rang out shrilly. Once she pulled it out of her pocket, she winced. "Oh Allah Miya, please save me."

Asad raised his eyebrows to ask her but Zoya had picked up the call placing the device well away from her ear.

"Zoya Farooqui ! where in the god damn hell are you ? Please be alive !" , Stacie yelled so loud that even Asad heard her a few feet away. At least, Zoya knew her best friend well and was prepared. "I am having been looking for you everywhere. I called like a million times. I come back to the apartment with groceries and guess what, there is no Zoya Farooqui here and I literally have a heart attack !"

Stacie was still ranting when Asad took the cellphone from Zoya's hand. He too placed the phone away from his ear deciding to put it on speaker. "Stacie, let me explain." Stacie seemed oblivious to Asad's voice. "Miss. McAdams, will you please shut up ?", he spoke sternly as if speaking to a bratty five-year old. Well, maybe there wasn't much of a difference.

"Asad ? is that you ?"

"Yes Stacie, this is Asad. I am with Zoya right now. Don't worry about her. We just came back to my apartment."

"What ? Where did you meet here ? Where did she go ? Is she okay, Asad?" Stacie McAdams may seem like a slightly crazy person but she has a good heart. Asad was glad Zoya had support in the name of her best friend.

"Look, Zoya was at the square and now we are at my apartment and I promise you, I will take care of her."

" Pinky promise ?"

Asad had to chuckle, he was really starting to like this spitfire. " Yes Miss.McAdams, I pinky promise." , he reached out to hook his pinky with Zoya's.

He handed the phone back to Zoya after turning off speaker phone.

"Are you sure you are okay, honey ?" Stacie asked Zoya again.

"Yes", she glanced at Asad giving her a slight smile, "Yeah, I think I am going to be okay now."

Zoya and Stacie said their goodbyes and Asad nudged her down the hall. "Take a nice and long shower, Zoya." It was when he was about to step away, he realized they still had their pinkies hooked. But it wasn't awkward, they hadn't ever had to deal with awkward with each other, even as strangers.

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

Zoya came out after a long, hot shower and a long crying jag to go along with it. The crying had helped, the tears were drained out for the time being. Now, she wouldn't break out in tears in front of Asad, not that he wouldn't comfort like he always did. It was the pain she saw in his eyes over her tears. Deep down, it made her guilty, she never wanted to cause him pain.

She was literally floating in Asad's clothes which were far too oversized for her but she had managed. She came back into his living room while she rubbed her hair with a towel. Asad glanced up from the table he was setting in his small sized kitchen.

"Okay ?" , he asked when he saw her, taking note of her cried-out eyes.

"Okay."

He walked over to take her hand guiding her to the table. Taking the towel from her, he sat her down gently by the shoulders. Zoya glanced around his miniature kitchen and it was literally spotless and so unlike a male.

Zoya uncovered a bowl to see a healthy helping of milestone soup. Too healthy for Zoya Farooqui. But she smiled at him, dipping her spoon.

When Asad was satisfied that she was drinking her soup, he walked behind her, gently massaging her hair with the towel, just like her Appi use to. Zoya wanted to cry, she really did but she didn't, instead she pretended to drink her soup.

"You know Zoya, if you stop pretending to drink my not so tasteful soup, I have a surprise for you."

She had to smile, she stilled his hands on her hair and turned around, "What surprise ?"

"First finish your soup."

"But Asad--" She said with a slight pout. She did realize that she sounded like a child but it helped. It helped forgetting, even if for a few stolen moments.

"I promise I will give your surprise, Zoya. After your finish the soup."

"Pinky promise ?"

Asad chuckled, "Yes, beautiful" And made the promise, pinky and all.

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

Asad had Zoya wait in the adjoining sitting room while he grabbed her surprise. It was small room with two sofas and television set. Zoya noted once again as she flicked on the tv how neat Asad was, it wasn't even a speck of dusk anywhere. Deciding on a cartoon channel, she was glad to find her favourite Tom and Jerry running. Sigh, Tom and Jerry never you down.

Asad came in holding something behind his back and Zoya stood up with a grin.

"So where is my surprise ? Where is it ?"

Asad grinned and presented a box of dominios pizza. Zoya squealed in sheer joy as she grabbed the box, diving straight for a slice.

Halfway through her blissful slice of heaven, she looked up to see Asad holding out a napkin. Gently, by the arm he sat her down on the sofa before wiping her mouth. Then, he sat and watched her devour her pizza.

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

After Zoya had a fill of her favourite fix, she leaned back with a satisfied sigh. There use to be a time she was able to have much more than two slices, but in much too long, appetite like sleep didn't come so often.

"I hope you saved room for dessert.", Asad said with a teasing grin as he came in with a slice with a blueberry cheesecake.

"How did you know my favourite foods ?", she asked whilst taking a bite. She was full, she really was but she didn't want to hurt Asad's feelings after all the effort he put.

Asad smiled, using the napkin to wipe the corners of her mouth again. "McAdams is becoming my partner in crime." He chuckled. "I called her while you were having a shower and asked her what you loved eating, she said, and I quote, She is Zoya Farooqui and she is a New Yorker'. Like I was suppose to know what that meant. But she very politely explained that you love junk food, Pizza and Diet coke being your favourites."

Zoya smiled, Asad was such a softie, going out of his way to make her happy.

" I saved her number in my phone, I hope that's okay." Zoya nodded. "And Blueberry cheesecake was just a lucky coincidence. My boss, Allen has a sweet tooth, he tends to bring in desserts for his employees. I am not that big on sweets though. We had a lunch office party and leftovers are always spilt up."

"Oh I remember you made those gorgeous villa drawings. How did you client like them ?"

"He liked them, but most importantly, his wife loved them."

"Asad"

"Yes", he said when she didn't continue.

"Can we go to the graveyard ? I want you to meet my Appi. I always told her about you. I don't know how much she was able about understand but if we can..."

He reached for her hand, skimming his thumb in a soothing motion. "We can, of course we can. But how about we visit today morning ? I promise to take you tomorrow. It's really late today and you have been in the cold far too long already. I don't want you to feel ill."

"Okay, I guess I should get going then." She said rising.

"No, no. Stay. , he pulled her down again. "It's really late, Zoe. Stay the night, you can sleep in the bedroom and I will take the couch. And we will visit Appi first thing in the morning, I promise. No wait, I will make it even better. I pinky promise." And they hooked pinkies.

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

Asad washed up the dishes and cleaned up the mess while Zoya dozed off, still in her sitting position. They had been talking and she had been trying so hard to hide her sleepiness from him. So he had simply leaned back on the sofa, getting her comfortable in the crook of his arm. A minute later, she was knocked out nestled against his shoulder.

She hadn't moved when Asad detangled himself from her, that's how drained out she was. The heavy bags under her eyes were a telling tale of how much rest she was actually getting. Asad came over leaning in to brush her bangs off her cheeks. There was a certain peace on her face while she slept. Maybe her sorrow didn't chase her in her dreams. Maybe her dreams were a happier place. Rather than picking her up and risk waking her, Asad chose to lay her down on the sofa. The sofa was comfortable enough, he himself had dozed off on many late studying nights here. Covering her with a thick blanket, he brushed her forehead with his lips.

Sweet dreams, my stranger."

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

Asad woke up a few hours later just as the new day was making it's way over the horizon. He sat up in bed and watched the sun slowly brighten up New York with it luminosity. Catching a sunrise in peace was a rare occurrence for him, being so busy with his life. But such a beauty it was.

Asad decided to check on Zoya, hoping she would still be sleeping but she was standing against the window, witnessing the same sunrise. She was lost in thought, lost in her own world as she leaned her head on the glass window.

"Zoya." He called out. She hadn't been aware of his presence but she turned around to face him. He saw the wet imprints of where earlier tears had been. What wouldn't he give to see Zoya not engulfed in tears ?

He walked up to her, drawing her in his arms. Her head found the familiar nook of his neck as she breathed in his scent, giving her what he gave best, his silent reassurance and comfort. Together, they faced the new day watching the sun come up.

"Asad, we never needed words but today, I need words. I need to talk." She glanced up from her position on his shoulder, he smiled, wiping her tears. Zoya was ready to share her sorrow, she needed more than a shoulder today. She needed a listening ear so Asad would give her that, and anything else she could ever want.

So we will talk. After I make coffee."

With coffee ready, Asad and Zoya sat side by side. Asad was waiting patiently for Zoya to begin. Zoya reached for her milky, and sugary coffee Asad made to perfection sipping, needing the few moments to ready herself.

"For as long I have known, my parents have been my Appi and Jijju. My Ammi passed away when I was very young, maybe around three and I never knew my Abbu. I think he left my Ammi before I was even born, I don't know really know. Appi and Jijju never told me about it. Appi's family knew my Ammi and Appi and Jijju adopted me when they heard of my Ammi's death."

Zoya fingered the rim of her ceramic coffee cup, " My life really did seem perfect and it was. Then, my Jijju passed away more than a year ago in a car accident. It was so sudden. One day he was leaving for work and he didn't return."

Zoya's voice wavered as a wave of tears washed over. Asad reached for her hand letting her have her time. "Our world just fell apart, then Appi was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer. The hardest to catch and the quickest to kill. Appi was actually being tested while Jijju was still alive but we got results after his death. I still think it was the sorrow of losing her husband that killed Appi, not the cancer. We fought the cancer, did all the treatments. But my loving Appi disappeared along with my Jijju. When she passed away two weeks ago, that day at the library, it was the hospital. Appi left me that same day a few hours later. But, I am at peace in a way, she is finally free of her suffering and she is with Jijju now."

But the time Zoya had finished talking, she was engulfed in Asad's strong embrace; her fast, hot tears soaking into his shirt.

"My Appi was never sick a day in her life, always ate healthy and exercised, kept up with daily doctor appointments I really ask Allah Miya why he took her away from me. She was all I had felt after Jijju died. Asad, Allah Miya orphaned again, left me all alone in this world. Why ?"

He pulled back to cradle her face. "You aren't alone. Allah never abandons his people. And you have Stacie and me, you have me." He wiped her tears knowing more would follow, he would wipe those away too.

"I hate feeling weak." Her voice a quivering whisper.

"Don't. Don't call yourself weak. Tears aren't a weakness, they are a expression. They express your sorrow. And you are strong, you still get up everyday and face life, that's take courage. No one blames you for the way you grieve. We are all humans but we all grieve differently. You have every right to feel sad, to cry, it's how you cope."

Asad and Zoya sat together for a long time, Zoya was able to grieve her Appi and Jiju's death with Asad. Her stranger never let her down. When Asad was sure Zoya's crying had subsided for the time being, he drew back brushing her wet cheeks dry.

"How do you listen so well for a guy?" Zoya asked with a chuckle, lightening the atmosphere.

"I am the only man in my house outnumbered by my Ammi and sister", he chuckled, remembering the moments he would sit next to his Ammi and Tamatar and simply listen and nod. "Listening was the safest option for me."

"And your Abbu ?", she asked and a heavy cloud came over Asad's eyes. A look she had never seen on Asad. "You don't have to talk about if you don't want to, I shouldn't have asked."

Asad smiled sadly, and the cloud lifted. "It's okay. We are choosing to talk today and it's my turn now. My father had trouble being faithful to my mother. He left us for another woman years ago, I spent my teen years being angry, being resentful towards a man who couldn't be faithful to my mother, who couldn't be a father to his children. But I realized much later that my resentment made no difference to him, he wasn't even a part of our lives anymore. But my Ammi, a woman I love so deeply, it gave her nothing but sorrow see her son this way. She felt as if she lost me too. The day I realized that, that's the day I returned to my mother as a son, that day I decided I would give my family what that man couldn't. I was going to give them everything I ever can. Everything within my power to make my Ammi and Tamatar happy, and I am going to love them, if nothing more, I am going to love them the way they deserve to be loved. Everyone deserves love in life, everybody needs love."

Their hands found each other and entwined, "You are right, everybody needs love."

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Okay here it is, over to you all. I ended it nicely with no cliffhanger or such because it might be a while before I get the next instalment out. Finals are approaching so that calls for Asad like nerd sessions..lol. Thank you for reading.

Let moi know what you think of this chapter. And yes, please add ReyaPM' for PMs...please don't add my maankigeet4ever' ID..thank u

Much love,

Reya <3

next ch: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/qubool-hai/3856817/asya-kabhi-ss-four-seasons-ch-9-pg-41-note-pg-48?pn=25