SantaClaus &Tooth Fairy-FF,Chapt 16 updated,(23/7) PG 70 - Page 36

Originally posted by: kaussar

hehe... can't promise as i'm a little busy... but i will try my best to update on Sat or Sund... and.if i rush it won't come out well.. hope you understand.😃

Hi all, finally here is a chapter.. i know i have told some of you that i will update last weekend but i could not.. really sorry about it.. some unexpected work had come up and i was too busy since then.

But i had tried to write when ever i got some time, but this chapter was one of the most difficult for me to write but i tried my best... so hope you all would like it... this chapter is all about Asad, Zoya and Naina and their changing relationship which i wanted to show in gradual steps.

And this Chapter goes to all the lovely people who commented and encouraged me and those who made an attempt and hit the 'like'.. i think they know who they are even if i did name them individually.. thank you all for appreciating my efforts.

PS.. i know i have not even replied to some of you who commented and i am so sorry but i will definitely reply to all individually as i get time.

CHAPTER 14:

Late one evening, weary after a hectic day at work Asad entered his home to see that his living room looked as if a tornado had passed through it. Cushions which were usually neatly arranged on the sofa lay on the ground, thrown here and there. Pieces of colored paper cuttings, crumpled papers, pencils, pens and crepe - paper Streamers lay thrown here and there.

Asad could not believe that it was his own neatly kept home; but the site that bewildered him more than the condition of his living room was the sight of Najma running behind Zoya all over the living room, throwing Glitter on her. Asad stood rooted at the spot bewildered, wondering what was going on and then he realized that Najma and Zoya were simply playing and behaving like kids. And Zoya in her haste to escape Najma came running towards the direction where he was standing and almost collided with him before she suddenly saw him and stopped abruptly.

"Mr. Khan..." Zoya whispered breathlessly and suddenly seeing him there, her eyes almost bulged out with fear.

"Asad.." Dilshad who was coming out of the kitchen called out as if warning the other two of the presence of him.

"Bhaijaan." Najma gasped from about ten feet away, where she suddenly stopped seeing him.

Asad had at first gotten really irritated seeing Najma and Zoya running around like kids and seeing the state of the living room, but then hearing his name being said from different corners of the room with varying emotions and tones, one after the other by the three women inside the house, his irritation immediately disappeared to be replaced by amusement.

"What's going on here?" Asad cleared his throat and tried to sound stern and he looked at Zoya first who gulped and cast her eyes down. And then when he knew that Zoya was not going to answer him, he looked ahead and stared at Najma questioningly and to Asad's amusement her actions mirrored exactly to that of Zoya.

"Asad!...it's Naina's birthday tomorrow.. we almost forgot about it but luckily Najma remembered this morning...I know we don't celebrate it this way but then Zoya suggested we celebrate it nicely this time and I thought it's a good idea and I agreed... and Zoya and Najma have been trying to decorate the living room but then got into a little mischief... that's why they were running after each other... let them have fan some fun today." It was Dilshad who finally spoke and cleared Asad's confusion regarding what was happening.

And when Asad remained silent and did not say anything Najma became a bit bold and started speaking.

"And Bhaijaan...guess what!... today Naina's one tooth fell down... and she cried so much initially but Zoya calmed her saying it is a good thing and she told her about the story of a tooth fairy visiting her tonight and leaving many gifts for her... so we are wrapping and preparing those gifts as well."

Asad's gaze shifted to Zoya then and he remembered what Zoya said to him regarding Naina and once again he felt guilty knowing he was never there for any of Niana's important milestones and all these years he had never even bothered to make an initiative on his own to celebrate Naina's birthday as well. And now he felt grateful to Zoya for taking this initiative.

"Asad... come, let's have dinner. We were waiting for you to come." Seeing Asad lost in thoughts, Dilshad went near him and Asad nodded his head in answer.

And as he started walking towards the dining area, Zoya suddenly moved from the spot where she was rooted and almost ran in front of him and picked up a cushion which was thrown away and now lay on his path.

"Mr. Khan, don't worry we will clean this mess once we are done." Zoya mumbled and hugged the cushion awkwardly and stood staring down like a kid caught at doing something she shouldn't have done, and seeing that Asad smiled inwardly. Something new that Zoya had learnt about Asad recently was his meticulousness regarding cleanliness and she knew how irritating it must be to him when he saw the mess they have made and she felt happy when he didn't show any anger or irritation despite that.

They all sat for dinner in silence but Zoya and Najma could not keep silent for long and excitedly they both started discussing what was to be done and how they would surprise Naina. Dilshad joined them at intervals. Asad just sat and listened to them. Although the excitement at the table was one level high tonight due to Naina's birthday, it wasn't something really new and Asad had now become used to Zoya and Najma's chatter during dinner.

It had been more than a month since the incident which forced Asad to say some unpleasant things to his Ammi and Zoya and then made peace with himself by apologizing to his Ammi and Zoya and told Zoya that she could come and visit them anytime she wanted. And since then Zoya had been staying more frequently for dinner. Asad and Zoya had still felt a little awkward around each other in the initial few times, but gradually Zoya started to be her normal self even when Asad was around, and that meant continuous chatter even on the dining table. Asad used to get disturbed by it initially as he wasn't used to so much noise and blabber especially when he was having dinner after a tiring day at work. But gradually he had gotten used to Zoya's chatter; however he still marveled at the way even his sister Najma could talk nonstop. He never knew or never even imagined before that she could also be such a chatter box. But these days he did not mind it a bit. It was like Zoya had brought out the real Najma and whenever they both start talking Najma became really alive. And in the middle of it, his Ammi looked so content and happy and he could also see that Naina adored Zoya and would never leave an opportunity to hang around her.

And seeing his family so happy around Zoya, even he felt happy and although he hardly participated in their conversations, these days even he had started looking forward to the days when Zoya would stay for dinner, and he liked to sit and listen to their silly arguments and nonstop chatter.

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Asad's thoughts then went to a few days back. He had come from office early one Saturday thinking of taking Najma and Naina for shopping because Najma had been complaining that most of Naina's dresses have become old. Dilshad was out of town for the weekend, visiting an old khaala of hers who was sick.

Asad entered the house and called out to Najma but there was no response, and he went to najma's room and checked but there was no one there. Next he checked Naina's room but again there was no one. He started feeling a little apprehensive wondering where they could have gone. Najma never went anywhere without telling him unless it was with Dilshad. And then it struck him suddenly that they could have gone to visit Zoya since it was a Saturday and she would be at home. But he knew that he wouldn't get any peace of mind unless he went there and confirmed it.

On the way out, at the gate Asad asked the guard whether Najma and Naina had gone out or not and the guard replied that they had and that Najma Madam had actually told him to tell Asad if he came home early that she had gone to Zoya madam's house, but he had forgotten to tell Asad when he returned from office.

Asad sighed in relief and turned to go back to his house, but then surprisingly he still felt like going to Zoya's place and with an excuse forming in his mind of telling Najma that they can go for shopping if she still wanted it, he walked out towards Zoya's gate.

And as he entered through Zoya's gate, the scene that he saw from a little distance away made him stop in total wonder. It was as if, as it happens in Alice in Wonderland, he was suddenly transported to a Fairy Tale land. Zoya's small white washed house with its small front porch and front garden with various kinds of flowering trees as such looked like something out of a fairy tale, but today a corner of her garden had been converted to something literally out of a Fairy Tale. Two tables had been kept in the garden a little away from each other and it was covered with a white cloth with small pink flowers on it. And the chairs surroundings the tables were also covered with white clothes and tied at the back with pink ribbons. The tall bougainvillea and the hibiscus trees had its natural blooms but it looked like that wasn't enough and the lower bare branches of all the surroundings trees were decorated with more fresh flowers picked from other plants and tied together to the branches with pink and white ribbons.

Zoya, Najma and another young woman whom Asad didn't know sat around one table, while Naina with three more kids, two girls and one boy sat on the other table. Another two children were running around the garden a little distance away. And it looked like there was a theme for the day because all the children including the adults except the one lone boy there were dressed in pink and white.

It was Najma who was sitting facing the gate, who saw Asad first and she got up immediately and walked towards him.

"Bhaijaan... what happened? How come you are here?" Najma exclaimed. By that time Zoya had also gotten up and walked to where he was standing.

"Umm.. Tamatar I came home thinking of taking you and Naina for shopping and you weren't home and I... I thought maybe you had come here..." Asad replied awkwardly.

"Oh Bhaijaan... I told the guard to tell you..."

"Umm ... actually he did... but only while I was coming here... and... and I thought I will anyway come and ask you if you still wanted to go."

"I am sorry Bhaijaan... actually since its Saturday and we all are free, Zoya planned this Tea Party... if you had said earlier that you would be coming to take us for shopping, we wouldn't have planned this" Najma said sadly.

"It's Ok Tamatar. We can go tomorrow also... you all enjoy this tea... tea party." Asad said the last part in a manner which indicated that he was at a loss still as to what a Tea Party was and what they were doing there and after saying it he turned to go back.

"Mr. Khan..." Asad heard Zoya's voice and turned back to face them once again.

"Why don't you also join us?... it's a children's Tea Party and I am sure that Naina would love it if you also joined us."Zoya said softly and looked at him intently.

"Yes Bhaijaan.. please...please... come.. it would be really nice if you joined us." Hearing what Zoya said, Najma also started pleading with him and she held his hand and started pulling him towards the tables. Asad could not refuse them then and went ahead with Najma and Zoya pulled out a chair in front of the table in which they were sitting and indicated him to sit.

"This is Sara, my colleague and best friend... And Sara this is Mr. Khan, Najma's brother and Naina's Abbu." As Asad was sitting down, Zoya introduced Asad and Sara who was the unknown woman sitting there. Sara and Asad smiled at each other. Zoya had often talked to Sara regarding her wonderful Phuppi and her family and during the conversations, she had often mentioned Najma and Mr. Khan's name as well but this was the first time Sara met Mr. Khan and Najma as well. She had immediately hit it off with Najma as soon as they met and they had been chatting continuously, but she could immediately feel that Asad was different from Najma and very reserved. And another strange thing was she felt as if she had seen him somewhere and she wondered what he did and whether he was someone publically known like an actor or not, because he certainly looked that handsome.

Zoya pulled out another chair and sat on the other side of the table. She turned back and called out to Naina who was sitting on the other table and animatedly listening to something Sara's nephew and Roshni who was the granddaughter of Zoya's landlord were discussing.

"Naina... Sweety come here. Look who is here."

Naina turned around and saw Asad and immediately bowed her head shyly but she got down from her chair and walked up to their table.

"Your Abbu is here to join your Tea Party... wouldn't you serve him tea." Zoya held one of Naina's hands, pulled her a little towards herself, bent her head near Naina's and asked her softly. Naina started biting her nail and looked at Asad from the corner of her eyes and smiled shyly. She was happy seeing her Abbu there but since he never participated in any of her activities in this way she naturally felt very shy and awkward around him.

"Go Sweety.. bring some tea for your Abbu... he is waiting for it." Zoya encouraged Naina and Naina walked back to another small table which was kept at a side.

It was then that Asad noticed that there were several things on each table, muffins, small cup cakes decorated with small flowers, cookies and doughnuts.

Asad glanced at Naina and saw that on the table where she was standing there were small Tea Cups which looked so pretty that even Asad could easily recognize that they were made for kids to play. He saw Naina carefully pouring out tea to one of those cup from a small pitcher.

Gripping the cup and saucer tightly with her two little hands Naina then walked back to Asad and offered it to him shyly. Asad took it from her and smiled at her.

"Thanks." He cleared his throat and whispered. After Asad took the cup, Naina still stood beside him, but her head bowed again, toying with the grass with her toes.

It was quite obvious that she really felt very awkward around Asad but still wanted to be with him and was feeling very happy that he was there. Asad understood what Naina was feeling and he felt bad for the girl who was standing beside him craving for his attention yet too shy to reach out to him because he had never allowed her that liberty.

Asad then once again remembered what Zoya said to him regarding Naina on the night he apologized to her and he felt that perhaps it was time he made things right for Naina. But he himself was feeling awkward to reach out to her, as in the past four years he had not really been close to her in the way a father should have been and he did not know what he should do and how to behave with her especially in a situation like that. Asad sighed inwardly and then determined to do something to amend things, he reached out his hand and held one of Naina's hands and brought her close to him. He then drew back his chair a little away from the table, lifted Naina up and made her sit on his lap sideways. Asad could hardly remember a time when he had made Naina to even sit on his lap this way and he felt guilty once again. He lifted up his head and glanced at Zoya to see that she was looking at him and he gave her a small uncertain smile. Zoya smiled back at him and the look she gave him was full of encouragement and he then knew that he did the right thing by making Naina sit on his lap.

He marveled at the feeling of holding her and touching her once again and his thoughts then went to the time when Naina was a small infant and how he had adored her and cherished her and how he never let go of an opportunity to hold her and cuddle her and then how everything had changed.

Zoya who was pretending to be listening to what Najma and Sara were talking, watched the changing expressions on Asad's face from the corner of her eyes and she understood what he was feeling.

Zoya then saw that unconsciously Asad had pulled Naina even closer to his body and was patting her head with the other hand and the site warmed Zoya's heart, but then Zoya realized that Naina who was not used to such affection from Asad was feeling too shy and was sitting on his lap stiffly.

"Mr. khan.. please have some tea... do you know that it was Naina who made this tea? Isn't she great?" Zoya tried to diffuse the tension and relax Naina and she reached out across the table and patted Naina's head lovingly.

Asad understood her intention and why she had suddenly told him to drink tea, and he reached out and took a sip from the cup Naina brought for him.

"The tea is really nice." Asad said softly and looked at Naina with a smile and hearing her Abbu's appreciation, Naina smiled back at him shyly and hid her face in his chest.

Asad then looked at Zoya over Naina's head and Zoya once again smiled back at him encouragingly.

When the evening came to an end Asad helped Zoya in moving back the chairs and tables inside. Sara and her nephew and niece had already left and it was the other two grandchildren of Zoya's landlord who remained. Zoya wanted to take them to their home so she also started walking towards the gate with Asad , Najma and Naina. And at the gate Zoya stopped and looked at Asad.

"Mr. Khan it was really nice that you came today and it was even better that you stayed...thanks." Zoya whispered.

"Ms. Farouqui... actually...actually I think it's me who should thank you... thanks for inviting me and...and..." His voice faltered and he had difficulty in voicing what he wanted to say. His gaze shifted to Naina who was walking ahead with Najma and Zoya understood that he had wanted to thank her for helping him spend time with Naina today.

"It's Ok Mr.Khan ... you need not thank me for that." Zoya whispered and looked at the receding back of Naina lovingly.

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"Bhaijaan... where are you lost to?... can I take away your plate?" Asad heard Najma's voice and came out of his thoughts to see that his Ammi, Zoya and Najma had gotten up from the dining table after finishing their dinner and Zoya and Najma were helping his Ammi in clearing the dishes.

After dinner Asad went to his room to change and freshen up. When he came out after a while, what surrounded him was just quietness. The living room lights were also off but moonlight cast by a full moon and filtered through the thin half open curtains hanging from the French windows which opened to his side garden gave enough light, and Asad could see that his living room had been once again transformed into a place with some semblance of neatness and order. The cushions were once again neatly kept on the sofas and the rolls of paper streamers and paper cuttings were gathered and kept at a corner and all the balloons in another corner.

Asad had not expected Zoya and Najma to finish their work so soon, so he was surprised that they had. He picked a book from a shelf on one side and thinking of reading it for a while, he walked up to the switches. He was just about to put on the lights when he caught something from the corner of his eyes. He turned abruptly and the sight that was in front of him got him arrested at the spot.

Zoya was sitting on the floor leaning against the back of the sofa which was nearest to the windows, her legs stretched out in front, her hands resting on her lap and her eyes closed peacefully. That night, she was wearing a white salwar suit with a lace and net dupatta and her hair still had Glitter particles stuck to it, which Najma had thrown at her earlier and they shimmered in the moonlight. Her face had a natural glow which was enhanced by the moonlight. And sitting there in her white dress, bathed in the moonlight, she looked so ethereal that Asad felt that she could be easily mistaken as a Fairy who had descended to his garden and entered his living his room.

Asad did not know how long he stood there, mesmerized by the sight in front of him, and then never leaving his gaze from her face; and as if in a dream, he walked even closer to her. And at that moment he felt that he could stand that way his whole life, staring at the beautiful girl in front of him. And he had the sudden urge to kneel beside her and touch her glowing cheeks and pick out the Glitter particles one by one from her beautiful raven hair which he was sure would feel soft as silk. But luckily before he could do any such foolish thing, Zoya felt the presence of someone who had encroached upon her private space and disturbed her peace and she slowly opened her eyes and looked up to meet another pair of eyes which were looking at her with something akin to pure wonder, adoration and enchantment. And then Zoya herself felt as if she was in a dream and was gazing into the enchanted eyes of the Prince Charming about whom she used to dream when she was younger and she got lost in the depths of those eyes.

However, Zoya soon became aware of the reality and she hastily got up and averted her eyes.

"I am sorry. I was waiting for Najma to come down and then I saw the moon through the window... and... and I felt like enjoying the moonlight and the soft night breezes for a while... so I switched off the lights and sat here... and I almost slept off... so silly of me..." Zoya blabbered becoming conscious of herself.

"It's Ok.. I don't mind you switching off the lights." Asad whispered shakily.

Zoya quickly walked to the place near the wall where Asad was initially standing and switched on the lights. The bright light that illuminated the room diffused the moonlight and destroyed the dream like ambience and aura that surrounded them seconds ago and both Asad and Zoya felt as if they had really woken up from a dream, which they strangely felt like revisiting and reliving once again.

Zoya then walked up to the coffee table on which she had kept her work earlier and sat down on the floor near the table and began to stick the letters that she had cut out earlier on a long piece of cloth.

Once Zoya walked away, Asad raked his fingers through his hair, closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. He could not figure out what had happened to him moments back and he still felt shaken thinking that if Zoya had not opened her eyes, drawn to her he would have knelt beside her and perhaps did something like touching her face and hair, for which he would not be able to give an explanation later on.

Asad walked up to the Sofa nearest to him and sat on it hesitatingly and tried to read his book but he could not concentrate on what he was reading and he kept on stealing glances at Zoya, who was doing her work as if in full concentration. But little did Asad know that Zoya herself was shaken. She could not believe that she had imagined Asad as her Prince Charming a while ago and had been lost in his eyes as if that was where she wanted to look for the rest of her life.

After a while Asad managed to calm himself, but he could still not help in thinking about the woman sitting in front of him. She was such a contrasting character and he wondered who the real Zoya Farouqui was. He had most of the time seen her full of life, laughing and chatting away; but he had also come to know how sensitive she was to others feelings and how kind hearted she was. After she came to know Naina, she had easily figured out Naina's feelings and these days she had even started figuring out his own feelings. He remembered how well she had understood what he was going through on the day of the Tea Party even though he had not said a word to her about it, and how she had silently encouraged him to be close to Naina and helped Naina and him to bond with each other.

And tonight, he had just seen another side of her. If he had not seen it with his own eyes he would never have imagined her to be the type of woman who would sit at a far away corner of a room with its light off and cherish the moonlight and the nature. And he observed her now working diligently with so much enthusiasm just to bring a smile on the face of a little girl who happens to be his own daughter, at least to the outside world.

"Umm.. Ms. Farouqui... what are you doing?" after a while, Asad asked Zoya hesitatingly.

"This?... Mr. Khan this is a banner of Happy Birthday. We are going to hang it across that wall over there." Zoya gestured with her hands and explained to him enthusiastically and Asad could not help in smiling.

"May I help?... I mean it's already really late and perhaps you could finish it faster if I also do something?"

"Sure Mr.Khan... it would be nice if you would help." Zoya had never imagined him to offer his help that way and she was pleasantly surprised.

Asad then came and sat cross legged on the floor on the opposite side of the coffee table.

"Tell me what I should do... but I warn you I have no idea of all these things." Asad smiled a little.

"I know Mr. Khan... you would only know about sand, cement, concrete and bricks etc right?" Zoya teased him and Asad smiled sheepishly. In the past one month Zoya had become comfortable around Asad to the extent that she did not hesitate to tease him whenever she got a chance to do so and he did not mind it.

Zoya then told him to put glue on the letters that they have cut out and give it to her so that she can paste them on the cloth. Asad saw that all the letters have been already cut from thick coloured papers and each letter had been further decorated by sticking Glitter particles over it, and Asad then understood for what purpose they had actually been using all that Glitter.

After Zoya explained to Asad what he should do, they started working together in silent harmony, and it was like this that Najma found them a while later when she came down, and she stood staring at them from the base of the stairs. She had never imagined her Bhaijaan sitting on the floor and doing something like this and that too with another woman; and the picture it made was so perfect that she felt her eyes moisten. She had been quite young when Tanveer and her Bhaijaan separated and she had not dared to ask her Ammi or her Bhaijaan about what exactly had happened between them, but she had seen the devastation and had guessed what might have happened. And about one and half years back after an incident with Naina, she had finally mustered the courage to question her Ammi regarding it and Dilshad had told her everything, and she had started hating Tanveer with a vengeance that she never knew she was capable of.

And since that day, like her Ammi, she had been praying silently for a miracle to happen and to bring happiness to her Bhaijaan's life and this was the kind of scene she had envisioned for him, but with a wife who loved him unconditionally and would be there beside him at each step he take, and she could not help in sending another silent prayer to Allah to help that happening, and suddenly she could also not help in wishing that it would be Zoya who would one day again sit beside him just like this but as his wife.

Taking small silent steps, Najma walked up to them and sat beside Asad and leaned her head on his shoulder and hugged him from the side.

"Bhaijaan... I'm so happy to see you helping Zoya.. so sweet of you to do it."

"You had disappeared leaving your friend to struggle alone... so what could I do, other than take your place and help her?... anyway, what were you doing all this time?" Asad teased her.

"Ohho Bhaijaan!... I was feeling so sweaty and sticky all over and I couldn't delay my shower."

"Oh I should have guessed... your shower always takes two hours." Asad said playfully and Najma hit him on his shoulder in mock anger and then hugged him lovingly once again.

Zoya smiled at their banter and she felt happy seeing them so close and relaxed with each other, and Zoya observed that unlike Naina, Najma did not hesitate to show her affection towards her brother and he in turn allowed Najma to do it. Zoya knew that Asad loved Najma a lot and Najma had often told her how he had taken care of her when she was young and how he had always being there for her, not only as a perfect brother to her but also as the father figure that she never had. And now seeing them this way, Zoya realized that Asad really had a softer side to him and she suddenly had hope that things would improve for Naina as well.

They finished the banner after a while and Asad brought a ladder and helped them in hanging it. Afterwards Zoya started decorating the surrounding walls with coloured Streamers, ribbons and flowers. Asad once again helped her in hanging them at places where she could not reach. The next task was attaching and hanging the balloons.

After another hour of work they finally finished everything and the three of them stood staring at the beautifully decorated living room with a satisfied smile and then involuntarily Asad's gaze shifted to Zoya and when she looked back at him he smiled a little and thanked her silently with his eyes, and Zoya smiled back at him.

The next morning when Naina woke up the first thing that she saw was the pile of presents on one corner of her room and she ran to it happily. Dilshad entered her room at that moment and Naina smiled at her broadly clutching one of the presents.

"See beta.. just like your Zoe promised you, the Tooth Fairy had left presents for you at night... and this evening you will get more presents as it's your Birthday." Dilshad hugged her and kissed her forehead and smoothed her hair lovingly and thanked Allah for sending Zoya to their life as it was because of her that Naina was so happy today and the little girl so deserved it.

And the afternoon's Party was another success and the smile never disappeared from Naina's face that day. Zoya had taken a half day leave and had come from office early and she and Najma baked muffins and cookies. They had earlier ordered some more things including a two tire beautiful cake in the form of a Fairy.

Asad also came home early, and when he entered his house he was greeted by the nice aroma of baking and seeing the festive activities, a smile formed on his lips immediately and he felt a kind of contentment that he had not felt in ages.

And at around 5pm, the guests started arriving. Zoya had initially thought of inviting all Naina's classmates but that meant each child would be accompanied by a parent and thinking of how much Asad guards his privacy she discussed it with Dilshad and Dilshad agreed that it wasn't a good idea to invite too many people who were not too familiar to them and did not know about their life. Zoya understood Dilshad's reservation as she very well knew how people could talk and gossip even in this modern day so she and Dilshad decided not to invite anyone who would become curious about Naina's mother and about Asad's marriage and ask questions.

Dilshad invited few children of some of her distant relatives who used to visit them at times and was in contact with them. Zoya invited Sara and her niece and nephew and the two grandchildren of her landlord once again.

Zoya and Najma made sure that all the children enjoyed the party thoroughly and Asad took pictures.

And when the time for cake cutting came everyone sang "Happy Birthday" and Naina cut the cake. Zoya asked whom she wanted to feed the cake first, and she shyly looked at Asad who was standing some distance away with his camera and Asad walked up to her and bent down so that Naina could feed him the piece of cake. He took a bit and fed her the rest of the piece and then realized that this was the first time he had done this with Naina. Tears welled in his eyes and he suddenly felt like escaping from there and retreat to his own world. And averting his eyes he walked backwards till he was on the back of everyone gathered around Naina and then he turned back and walked towards his room. No one noticed him going away except Zoya who without realizing it herself had become so attuned to him and his actions. And she had clearly seen the tears in his eyes as well and she stood staring at his back till he disappeared into his room.

Luckily the cake cutting was at the end of the party and all the guests left soon after. Zoya and Najma then cleared everything and made the living room tidy, and Asad did not come out even once all that time. Zoya felt like going and seeing how he was but she knew that he had retreated to his own world and would not welcome anyone at that moment and she sighed sadly. But she understood him well and knew that it was best to leave him alone for the time being.