AsYa TS: Picking up the Pieces

After 10 long years, she was back, back at the place where she felt loved, wanted, the affection she can't describe and most importantly it was the place where she felt the warmth of home, warmth of family she never had, a love of a mother she missed. They were truly a happy and affectionate family she had ever come across her life, they knew how to look things beyond their past unlike her, she sighed thinking about it, they can never get over the tragic where they lost their parents at the age of 5 and 3. It had been really hard for them to get over it.

"No, No, No zoya don't start weeping now, you will ruin your make-up" she mumbled to herself, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to spill and trying to block the horrible memories. She had alway tried to act strong infront of everyone but only she knows what she was going through.

She remembered how her appi and jiju had sent her over to their house to stay with them for 3 months, when they had to go to Austria for her jiju relative funeral 10 years ago and she refused to go with them. Since she had been whining about visiting India because Bhopal was their parents birthplace. After a lot of arguing, they finally decided to send her over to Dilshad Phupi place for 3 mouths with heavy hearted. And here she was once again standing in front of their house admiring it; she could never get enough of staring at it. Everything still looks the same. Simple yet beautiful, nothing had change over the past 10 years.

For some unknown reason, this place filled her heart with so much joy she felt like she will explode. In such a short period of time, she became so fond of Phupi, Najma, ayaan and of course how can she forget Asad.

She chuckle thinking about him and their daily fights. She wondered if he still looks the same and how can she forget his favorite dialogue "How dare you entered my bathroom without my permission" she mentally giggled to herself recalling the old memories.

She brought her hand up and touched her cheeks. A huge smile broke across her face as she remembered he actually pecked on her cheeks and gifted her heart shape diamond necklace when she was leaving, even though he didn't said anything but his eyes said a lot. Her cheeks heat up at the thought.

"Appi, are you planning to stand there staring at the house like a fool till tomorrow or are you going to help me drag this 100 pound luggage, I don't even know why the hell is your luggage so heavy" Hemaira, her little sister complaining voice broke her out from her trance.

Zoya whipped her head and saw Humeira struggling to drag 2 luggage at a same time. She had completely forgotten that humeira was with her this time. Humeira pull out a perfect pout on her face.

"I'm so sorry" Zoya rushed forward and grabbed one luggage from her hand apologetically. Humeira raised her eyebrows questioningly.

"Don't tell me you're dreaming about Jiju again" Humeira teased, elbowing her and waggling her eyebrows. Her teasing had become a daily routine by now ever since zoya told her about asad.

A deep shade of red crept upon her cheeks "No I wasn't, I was just admiring the house and stop calling him jiju" she snapped at her, trying to sound annoying at her teasing. But she was thinking about him but she can't tell that to her.

"Of-course you would admire it, why wouldn't you? After all *Jiju* build it right?" she asked, lingering the jiju word with a hint of smirk on her face.

"Humeira" zoya groaned annoyingly and blushed. she shouldn't have told her about the peek on her cheeks. She was glad it was dark or else humeira would have seen her flush face. "I actually regret telling you" she rolled her eyes and shook her head.

"appi" Huemira pouted like a baby.

"Do you think Asad=ayaan is home" they both said it together and looked at each other before they burst into a fit of laughter.

"I'm so tired, let's just go in" Humeira said yawningly. Zoya nodded her head; even she was tired after such a long and exhausting flight. They both made their way to the front door dragging their luggage.

"Ring the doorbell Hummi" Zoya asked her, since she happened to be closer to the doorbell.

Humeira just stare at her and shook her head. Zoya raised her eyebrow, questioningly "what's the problem hummi" she asked.

"Nothing appi! Please you do it, I don't even know anyone personally" Humeira replied, stepping back.

Zoya rolled her eyes as she rang the doorbell and gave Humeria "you don't have to know them personally to ring the doorbell, duh huh" look.

The door flung open and she heard a loud shriek, before Zoya could register anything, she was pulled in a bone crashing hugged. She couldn't even breathe "Ahh... Najma, you are crashing me" she mumbled, almost like gagging. Humeira just stood there with "what the" look on her face.

"I'm sorry" Najma whispered, pulling away from a hug. She clasped her hand together and jumped up and down like a baby. "Ammi, Jaldi aaye,dekhi kon aaya hai" Najma squeal in excitement seeing zoya after whole 10 years.

"I still can't believe you are here" she murmured gleefully and pulled her back in hug again. "You became so gorgeous Zoya, I'm jealous" Najma pouted, freeing Zoya from hug.

"Aww, look at yourself Najma, Even I can't believe you have grown up being a beautiful young girl because I can't see my cute little chubby Najma" Zoya pulled her cheeks and giggled seeing her blush. "Haye Najma kab se blush karna lege" she asked dramatically.

"Appi" Humeira whispered, and tugged on Zoya hand to remind her she was still there, she have been watching them awkwardly, and with a little annoyed expression on her face seeing her own sister giving more attention to the girl in front of them then her. "yes-yes I'm jealous, after all she is MY sister, so I should be getting her attention" she mentally said it to herself.

"Oh! Najma this is my sister Humeira! Remember I showed you her picture" she asked introducing Humeira to Najma. "And Hummi! This is Asad and Ayaaan sister, Najma" she said stretching the name Ayaan' like she did earlier.

"Of course I do" Najma said gleefully and pulled Humeira in hug, Humeira rolled her eyes side by side weirdly but quickly put up a smile when she let go of her. "Hi" Humeria muttered nervously.

"Zoyaaa" she heard her phupi scream, and saw her running downstairs. Zoya step inside and hugged her "I missed you so much phupi" she mumbled, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. "I missed you too" Dilshad whispered, soothing her hair.

She pulled away from from zoya and looked at humeira."You must be Humeira" dilshad asked cupping her face; Humeira nodded and felt soo touched. Zoya had told her a lot about Dilshad.

"Tum log toh kal subha aana wala tha na, phir achanak?" Dilshad asked looking at the clock on the wall.

"Yes, our flight landed early, so we thought we should just come here instead of staying at the hotel." she lied, well it wasn't a lie but it wasn't a truth either. More than anything she wanted to see him, wanted to see how he looks after whole 10 years, she couldn't even wait till next morning. Humeira grinned catching a lie of her sister.

She glanced all over the house trying to catch a glimpse of the person she desperately wanted to see but he was nowhere to be seen. Maybe he is still not home she thought but a blush heated up on her cheeks.

"You must be tired and hungry, why don't you both get changed and come down for dinner, Najma will show you your room" Dilshad smiled at them as she asked Najma to led them to their room.

Zoya nodded, begging her cheeks not to flush at least not in front of them. She quickly tugged on Humeira hand and drag her, Humeria stumble at the sudden pull but just followed her awkwardly as both of them followed Najma who was ranting about something they didn't get.

"This is your room" Najme smiled at the broadly and showed them inside. "Please freshen up and come down for dinner" Najma beam at them and put their luggage aside.

"Thank you so much Najma, we'll be down stairs" Zoya said hugging her. Najma nodded and left both of them to freshen up.

Once they both freshen up and changed onto their pajamas, they went to the dining table, where dilshad and najma where setting the table. Dilshad smiled up to them "why don't you take a seat, I'll serve you" she said motioning them to take a seat at the left side of the table. They both nodded and took a seat.

Zoya glance over at the clock and saw it was already 8:25, but where the hell is he? Does he always come home late?" she mumbled to herself, watching at the door from corner of eyes.

"Beta, do you need anything else" dilshad asked seeing her so lost on her thoughts.

"Huh" Zoya blinked and looked at dishad, who was staring at her, "I'm sorry, can you repeat that again" she asked, feeling like an idiot having to miss whatever she asked.

"Do you need anything else" she repeated again more clearly with a smile on her face.

"No" she shook her head in denial.

"Asad dekho kon aaya hai." Dilshad shriek. seeing her son making his way to dining table.

Zoya face broke into a huge smile deepening her dimples on her both cheeks, she twiddled her finger under the table, her face flush, and there was a sparkle on her eyes. Her heart thump against her chest as She turned her head. She found herself staring at the most Handsome man she had ever seen. He was in his 3 piece suit, black and white, the color was only making him look sinfully hot. He eyes gleaming with energy, his black hair pushed to the side from his forehead; he could be no less than a model. She looked at him from head to toe, she can imagine his prefect toned body underneath his clothes. He had changed so much. Her cheeks burn as if like they were in fire with the blush that crept on her cheeks.

Her huge smile vanished when he just nodded his head and took a seat with a newspaper without saying a word to her or giving her a glance. There was no sign of happiness in his eyes seeing her even after so long, "isn't he happy seeing me here after so long" she thought as she stare at the newspaper.

Humeira quickly squeeze Zoya hand firmly under the table seeing her faded smile. She haven't expect him to be that rude. Zoya did told her he isn't friendly with everyone but Huemira hated the way he acted. Zoya turned to Humeira and gave her 'I'm ok' look even though she wasn't. She was hurt with his behavior.

Zoya quirked a fake smile when Dilshad and Najma look at her apologetically.

"Asad! This is Humeira, Zoya's sister" Dilshad looked at her son and introduce him to Humeira.

Asad peek from his newspaper and smiled at her but immediately buried himself on the newspaper without giving a glance at Zoya.

Zoya frown "who the hell read newspaper at dinner? Why the hell is he acting so weird? Is he trying to avoid me? Did I do something wrong? Is it because I haven't talk to him? Is he mad at me" she mumbled on her mind as she played with her food.

She kept watching him from the corner of her eyes, hoping she'll catch him looking at her but all in vain, he was so busy reading the freaking newspaper. she will be happy even if he gave her a glare or yell at her, for the first time in her life, she was jealous of that Newspaper he was holding, why can't that be her' she sighed sadly. "Obviously because that newspaper is more interesting then you" her mind chided.

She glance around the table and saw a water pitcher close by Asad, she grin as a idea just pop on her head. "this will be perfect to make him talk" she thought to herself as she stare at the jug nearby Asad. "Umm, can you please pass me the water jug'" she asked, pointing her finger at the water jug.

But wait "what the hell" she mumbled, he completely ignored her plead and sat there motionless and like a deaf who haven't even heard her asking for something. She gritted her teeth in frustration and her hand automatically turned into tight fist. She could feel her temper rising. She wanted to lash out on him for ignoring her for no reason but she can't do that since everyone is present at the table so she quietly waited.

"I'll get it for you Zoya." Najme spoke from the far end after sensing the tense on the table. Zoya just nodded annoying. Najma walked around and pass her the Pitcher and went back to her seat. Zoya felt so awkward, first of all he wasn't talking to her and on top of that the silence at the table was killing her. Humeira silently observe the family. She didn't wanted to be the one to broke the silence so she waited for someone to speak. they were always loud when they eat.

"Ahem! So Najma what are you doing? I mean what are you majoring in?" zoya asked looking at najma and finally breaking the silence. Humeira let out a sigh of relief she have been holding and mentally thanked her sister for saving her from the awful silence.

"I'm doing cardiology, I want to become cardiologist" she replied beaming at her. Humeira whipped her head "Really? Me too" Humeira smiled at her, finally finding something in common to talk about.

Zoya glanced at everyone and saw them busy chatting, even Dilshad was too busy listening to two girl chitchat. Zoya took the opportunity and knock down the glass of water on the table in purpose, knowing that asad wouldn't be able to resist himself from giving her a lecture on how messy and clumsy she is.

"I'm sorry" she mumbled, trying to pretend that she knocked it down accidentally but much to her shock he just put away the newspaper, pulling out a few tissues and wipe off the table without a word. She gasped, for the first time he didn't blast on her for being clumsy. If it was 10 year back then they would have been on each other throat by now. What went so wrong between them over a year she thought as she start at him cleaning the mess she created. Dilshad and najma were equally shocked at his reaction. They had expect his lecture but if never came and last, Humeira was watching everyone in confusion, the way they were gaping at him confused her. Loud ringing brought everyone back.

Humeira looked down at her phone which was in the table "Appi! Jiju is calling" humeira said putting her hand over zoya shoulder, zoya nodded. "excuse me" Humeira said getting up and making her way to their so-called-room.

Zoya turned around and saw asad making his way to his room as well. "What is wrong with him? What did I do? Why is he acting so weird?" she felt her vision blurred.

"Phupi! I'm full, I'll just rest a bit I'm tired" she whispered and walked up to the sink without waiting for her response. She quickly wiped away the fat drop of tear that escaped her eyes with back of her palm and washed the plate.

She dried the plate and turn around to put it in a cabinet but bumped into something or someone "I'm sorry' she mumbled.

She looked up at the girl who was dressed up in beautiful red and black anarkali salwar suit with her head covered with a duppata. A part of her felt weird seeing her dressed up like that but she had to admit it she look beautiful.

"koi baat nahi" she smiled at her.

"Jee, app kon?" Zoya asked, scrunching her eyebrows, she had never seen or heard about this girl, so who can it be she thought.

"Zoya yeh Tanveer hai, asad ki bachpan ki dost, Aur Tanveer! yeh Zoya hai, yeh be asad ki bachpan ki dost hai" Dilshad introduce both to each other.

"bachpan ki dost thi" Zoya mentally corrected her.

"So we both are guest" Zoya laughed, trying to avoid the dull ache on her chest.

"Nahi, Zoya, Yeh guest thi, ab nahi hai" dilshad interjected.

"Matlab" she asked with her brows knots together as she avert her gaze from tanveer to dilshad, quite not understanding 'ab nahi hai' part.

"Yeh Asad ki fiance hai" Dilshad announced, shocking zoya.

Plate that she was holding slipped from her hand and crashed into million pieces, just like that her world came crashing down, dream of 10 years shattered into pieces. She felt a stab on her heart; if they could see her heart then she was sure they will see it bleeding.😭

P.S. I don't even know what inspired me to write this but it just did.😆 Should i turn this into TS or just leave it as OS?😆😆