SantaClaus &Tooth Fairy-FF,Chapt 16 updated,(23/7) PG 70 - Page 5

Originally posted by: Linnet

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Originally posted by: sasir

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CHAPTER 4:

Exactly 2 months from that Christmas day was a Friday, the last working day of the week and Zoya sat at her office trying to finish off some last minute work before she called it a day.

"So Zoe, are you excited?" she jumped hearing Sara's voice from the back.

"Ya Allah Sara!... you almost gave me a heart attack". Zoya chided her friend.

"It's not my fault... You were too lost in that computer... anyway tell me about all your plans." Sara drew a nearby chair closer and sat near Zoya.

"I don't have any plans as such... I will just go home today and pack the rest of my things and move them tomorrow and shift for good."Zoya said in a bored tone.

Zoya has rented a new house close to her office and has been trying to shift there since one week. She had been living in her old house but the four bed room house with its large backyard and front garden had become too difficult for her to maintain, as the only other person who lived there with her was an old servant lady who used to come to help her mother at times while she was alive. A year ago when Zoya had shifted to the house after returning from Delhi where she did her postgratuation, she had asked the lady to shift to the house and stay there with her. Her father had wanted to hire another servant for her but Zoya refused and remained firm on her decision to mange her life on her own, regardless of how difficult it was for her. The relationship between her and Siddique was always difficult and tensed and it had not improved over time despite Siddique's on and off efforts to bridge the gap. Too much has happened for Zoya to forget and forgive Siddique so easily.

One month back, Zoya had completed her probation and she got hired permanently along with a raise in salary. Following this, the first thing that she started thinking of doing was finding a new place to live. But at the same time she did not want to leave the house where she had spent her childhood and the place which was associated with fond memories of her mother.

Zoya was wondering if she should continue living there and hire another servant as she could afford that with her new salary but then it would not solve her other problem which was transport. Her house was quite far from her office and she had to leave home at seven in the morning every day in order to catch a bus and reach office at nine and Zoya found this the most difficult aspect of her job at that company.

She was in a dilemma regarding what she should do and she had discussed it with Sara and it was Sara who finally found a solution for her. Sara had advised her to rent out her house and get another small place near the office for rent and stay there for one to two years by which time she would be able to afford to buy a car and then move back to her own home if that was what she wanted to do then.

And since then Zoya along with Sara had searched for a proper place to rent and one week back they had finally found a suitable place in a neighborhood which they felt was good and safe for Zoya to stay alone.

Initially Zoya was quite enthusiastic about the whole thing but ever since they found the place, Zoya had been feeling sad at the thought of leaving her own home and shifting to a new place and Sara has been trying to cheer her up and elevate her mood telling her to think of it as a new adventure and a new phase in life and being grown up and independent in life.

"Zoe, why have you become so boring all of a sudden? Wow... if only I am in your place, how exciting it would be!... you know... to move to a small house of my own, live alone away from parents and that overprotective big brother of mine". Sara sighed dramatically.

Zoya smiled inwardly at Sara's dramatic way of trying to cheer her.

"Sara, if you have lost your Ammi and has an Abbu who abandoned you and a sibling whom you hardly know and never experienced a proper family life, you would also feel sad to leave the only place which you could indentify as home." Zoya told Sara dejectedly.

"I am sorry Zoe... please forgive me for my bad attempt at humour... but Zoe it's very unlike you to be so sad and melancholic and I hate seeing you like this... You are always so full of life and you try to find happiness in every little thing."

"I know Dear... I try hard not to let things like this affect me but at times life just does. But don't worry, I will be alright... And on Sunday night we are going to have that house warming party that you wanted in my new home, and we are going to have fun...I promise you... so now you go home and I will also finish a few things and head home."

"Now, that's like my friend" Sara got up and hugged Zoya before she left.

Zoya watched Sara's retreating back and sighed. She knew that Sara was right and she knew that by deciding to move to a new place, she had taken the best decision for her for the time being. And she knew that it was time she bravely faced another phase of life, just like she had done all of her life. She did not know what the future holds for her, but she knew that she would always take care of herself because there is no one else who would do that for her.

******************************************

Saturday morning dawned into a bright sunny day. Zoya woke up with a yawn and smiled to herself. Just before she had slept that night she had vowed that she would try to be happy and look at the bright side of things, so with the dawn of the new day she got up determined to be happy.

She freshened up a bit, made herself a coffee and started packing the left over things that she wanted to take to her new home. During the week she had already shifted some of the things, so by mid day she was already to say her good bye to her own home and move to her new home.

After paying the driver of the vehicle who helped her in carrying all the boxes inside the house, Zoya stood in the small front garden of the house which was going to be her home at least for the next one year or so. She stared at the house and appreciated its beauty. It was a small two bedroom house with a living room and adjoining kitchen. The house belonged to a couple, Mr. and Mrs. Mehra who now lives in a bigger two storey house on the left side, which they had built some years back. She had met the couple in their early fifties, when she had come to sign the rent agreement, and found them to be nice and warm. They had told her a little about how attached they are still to this small house as it was the place where they had spent the early years of their married life and where their children spent their childhood.

They had recently renovated the house, and the small white washed house with a small front balcony overlooking the front garden looked like an 18^th century cottage just out of one of Zoya's favourite romance novel and that was what basically made Zoya decide to take this house. She sighed contentedly and went to open the door of her lovely new home.

By the time Zoya finished unpacking some of the things, it was already five o'clock and she decided to stop for the day. She was tired and badly in need of a bath and retire for the day, but she suddenly realized that she had nothing to eat at night. So she decided to venture out and explore the neighborhood and buy few necessities for the night.

Zoya stood outside her home, not knowing which way to proceed. It was a residential area of the town which was newly developed but the charm of the area lies in the fact that the developers have not destroyed the old places and houses around and built a completely new colony, but developed the place around the preexisting structures and houses in a way that even the ultra new modern houses co existed harmoniously with the old ones and the whole area looked and felt like it belonged to an era of its own and had a kind of charm that Zoya had never experienced anywhere else.

As Zoya walked, she gazed to her right and saw that the house adjacent to her home on right side was another modern home. It had a high wall surrounding it with an iron gate. From the gate was a drive way , on either side of which was a beautiful landscaped area with carpet grass, variety of flowering trees and potted plants. But what really stood out to Zoya when she gazed through the bars of the gate was the unique design of the house, which was unlike any other she had seen.

As she walked ahead Zoya wondered who the obviously very well off neighbors of hers could be. Just ahead of another two houses, the road forked and not really knowing which way to proceed, Zoya turned right and started walking ahead. And to her delight, about a kilometer ahead she saw what looked like a mini market area. When she came near, she saw that it was indeed a Mini market with variety of shops. Zoya headed towards a vegetable shop because she was too tired to make anything other a salad for the night even though salad is one of her least favourite food items.

She had just paid for the items that she took and turned around to leave with her grocery bag, when she bumped into a lady who had entered the shop in a hurry. Her grocery bag fell and some of the items scattered around.

"I am so sorry Beta." The lady apologized and proceeded to pick Zoya's items.

And it was when she got up that Zoya realized that she knew the lady. At first she could not recall where she had met her but then she remembered that it was the lady she met at the children's park with the small girl, Sunaina.

"Oh Hi Aunty ...it's nice meeting you again. And it's Ok no need to apologize.. it happens." Zoya blabbered taking the items from the lady's hand.

"I am sorry but did you say nice to meet you again? Did we meet before? I am so forgetful at times." the lady said confused.

Zoya got confused herself and wondered why the lady did not remember her. May be she really was forgetful as she said, but then suddenly it struck her why the lady has not recognized her.

"Allah miya.. how silly of me.. . Yea Aunty we had met earlier. But you would not recognize me as I was dressed as Santa Claus that time."

"Santa Claus..." the lady frowned and then it hit her.

"Oh you are that sweet girl who gave that brooch to my Naina aren't you?''

Zoya nodded head.

"I am so gald I met you again Beti... Naina wears that brooch so often, and every time she does I remember you and I keep wondering whether we would ever meet you again."

"Oh that's nice... I am glad Naina likes it so much.. how is she?" Zoya inquired.

She's good but..." the lady was about to say something but faltered and Zoya saw a momentary look of sadness on her face which she masked quickly.

"Never mind... Tell me what you are doing here at this area. I have never seen you around before" the lady proceeded to take some vegetables while still talking to Zoya, so Zoya followed her around the shop.

"Actually Aunty.. I just moved here today.. I have rented a place nearby." Zoya answered.

"Really.. that's nice... I also live nearby...so Naina would be able to meet you again."

The lady had paid for her items by then so Zoya walked outside with her.

"My house is this way and quite close by... which way is yours?" the lady asked Zoya.

"Mine is also this way."

"OK then let's walk together." The lady told Zoya.

They walked ahead and Zoya asked the lady various questions regarding the neighborhood and the places they came across. And Zoya felt really happy that she had met this lady again and she asked her if she could call her Aunty.

"Zoya we have reached my home." Zoya came out of her thoughts to see that the lady had stopped in front of the modern house that she had admired earlier.

"You mean this is your house Aunty?.. wow.. that's so nice because, then I am your neighbor and this is my small home." Zoya pointed towards her house.

"I am so happy to know that Zoya... You should come and visit us often then... in fact why don't you come for dinner tonight? You must not have cooked anything as you have just shifted today."

"You are so sweet Aunty... but not tonight." Zoya was too tired and not in the mood to visit another house and meet some unknown people regardless of how at ease she felt with the lady.

"Alright.. I understand.. see you some other time then..." The lady patted her cheeks lovingly.

Zoya bid goodbye to the lady and turned towards her own home, happy that she had already made a friend in this neighborhood that too someone she liked from the first meeting itself, someone so kind and motherly.

The next day morning dawned into another bright and sunny day. Zoya woke up and got disoriented for a while seeing an unfamiliar room and then realized that she was sleeping in her new bedroom of her new home.

She spent the day unpacking all her belongings, arranging them and putting the things where it should be. By the time she made some semblance of her new home, she was again too tired and felt like ordering her favourite pizza and a diet coke and retire to her bed but then she remembered that Sara would be coming over for dinner which she had promised to cook for Sara as housewarming treat.

And it was then she realized that she still did not have enough groceries and food items to prepare anything let alone a proper dinner. She quickly freshened up and went to the market to buy the things she would need. On her way back, she glanced at her neighbour's house and wondered if her Aunty was at home and what could she be doing at this time. Thinking of her made her realize that she had not even remembered to ask her name previously and she had been addressing her as Aunty without even asking her name.

After coming from the market Zoya rested for some time before she started preparing dinner. She was not the world's best cook but, living alone most of her post teen age years she had learnt to cook. And she was proud of the fact that there were some dishes which she could prepare really well, and she was going to impress Sara with one such dish; the classic Butter chicken.

She assembled all the items that she would need and she was about to marinate the chicken when she realized that she did not have any salt and that she had completely forgotten to buy it.

Zoya groaned in dismay. It was already 6.30 pm and she did not have the heart to go to the market once again to buy salt. She thought of calling up Sara and asking her to bring salt but then she knew that if she waited for Sara to bring salt and then prepare dinner it would be too late by the time they could have their dinner.

She wondered what she should do and then a thought occurred to her.

"What if I go and ask Aunty for some salt... surely she would not mind it and wouldn't think of me as being shameless ... and what are neighbors for if not to help each other in these kinds of dire emergencies?" Zoya paced across her living room and talked to herself.

After few seconds she stopped her mutterings and her pacing and took a deep breath and decided to visit her neighbor.

She reached the gate of the house and saw that it was locked. She was about to turn back and go thinking that perhaps it was a sign that this wasn't such a good idea; when through the gate she saw a guard standing a few feet away besides what looked like a small shelter for guards.

She called out to him and asked if he could open the gate.

"You are here to visit Madam right?" the guard had actually seen Zoya and his Madam talking near the gate the previous day and had recognized her.

Zoya just nodded at the guard and avoided answering him, and when he opened the door she gave him a broad smile and proceeded towards the house.

Upon reaching the house she wondered again if she was too bold to come here asking for salt this way, just two days after moving here.

She pressed the door bell and waited nervously for someone to open the door. Few minutes passed and no one came to the door and she had just turned to go back when she heard the sound of the door been opened.

She turned quickly with a big smile on her face and almost bumped in to a man who had come out of the door.

"Do you always walk around looking towards the ground?" she heard the man's deep voice.

"Allah Miya what's wrong with you? Normally people answer their door bell by standing inside their door... how will I know that you would be standing right behind my back when I turn?" Zoya retorted and lifted her head to stare defiantly at the man who was staring back at her with an irritated look.

"I do not know what people do normally... but this is my house and you are here at my doorstep, so would you care enough to tell me what you want?" Zoya heard the man's sarcastic voice and suddenly realized that she had been staring at his face. She was never a person to stare at a man, that too so unabashedly no matter how handsome the man was, so she became unnerved momentarily and wondered why she did it now.

"I.. umm.. what do I want?" suddenly, Zoya was at a loss as what to answer him.

"Yes... what do you want... who are you and why are you here?" the man folded his arms across his chest and looked at her coldly.

"I'm here...umm... Salt!... I'm here to get some salt... You see I'm your new neighbor and I don't have any salt..." Zoya's voice faltered seeing the look of disbelief which appeared on the man's face.

"Excuse me!.. you mean to say that you have just moved here and you don't have salt and you came charging to your neighbour's house asking for salt before you could even get acquainted with them.. how manner less are some people?.." the man retorted.

"Hey yourself.. I am not manner less OK... for your kind information I know someone in this house, someone who is very nice and kindhearted...and...and not arrogant like you.. and it's because of her I decided to come here." Zoya stared back at him defiantly.

"Then pray tell me who you know in this house and who are you looking for?"

"Phoopi.. I'm looking for my my Phoopi.."

"You are looking for your Phoopi? And who is she? I don't think you are related to us in anyway so how can your Phoopi live here?" the man mocked her.

"Well, she lives here and I call her Phoopi.." Zoya answered

"Well, in that case you should know your Phoopi's name as well...so what's her name?" the man shot at her with a guarded expression, and to her dismay Zoya remembered once again that she had forgotten to ask her Aunty's name even when they had met a second time yesterday. Zoya sighed dejectedly wondering how she was now going to convince this arrogant man in front of her that she wasn't a thief or even a manner less neighbor, but in fact knew someone who lives in this house and had even invited her for dinner.

"Asad Beta... whom are you talking to?" Zoya heard the voice of a lady through the half open door and recognized it as that of her Aunty.

"Aunty.." Zoya sighed in relief and called out to her a bit loudly.

The man winced hearing her loud voice, but before he could voice his irritation at Zoya, her Aunty came out through the door.

"Oh Zoya Beti... it's you..". Zoya almost ran past the man towards her Phoopi.

"Ammi... do you know this girl?" the man turned towards the lady and enquired in a polite but still irritated voice.

"Yes Beta.. I know her... this is Zoya, and she is our neighbor and she is also the girl about whom I told you some time back... remember, the girl who gave Naina that lovely brooch?" the lady looked at Zoya lovingly and Zoya started at the man with an I told you so look.

"Alright.." the man nodded curtly at her and went inside.

"Is he your son Aunty?... he's so rude... I'm sorry I shouldn't have said that..." Zoya bit her lips realizing that she should not have said that to her as she was after all his mother. But to her relief her Aunty just smiled.

"Don't worry Zoya... I know that my son can be a bit rude, especially towards strangers whom he cannot trust... please don't mind him and please come inside." The lady held Zoya's hand and walked inside the house.

And when they entered, the man was standing few feet away talking on his phone, and seeing them enter the house his gaze shifted towards them and to Zoya's dismay he still had that cold look in his otherwise beautiful eyes. And seeing his look, Zoya stopped going further and sensing Zoya's hesitation, her Aunty went up to her son.

"Asad, since Zoya is now our neighbor and I have even invited her for dinner sometime, I guess it's best you two get introduced formally... So Asad, this is Zoya... but I'm sorry I don't think I asked about your last name Dear."

"It's Zoya Sid... Farouqui.. Zoya Farouqui, Aunty" Although Zoya's last name on her birth certificate and formal documents states Siddique, in a fit anger, she had once told her father that she did not even want to use his name. And since then, whenever she got introduced to some people, she would use Farouqui as her sir name and many people had come to know her as Zoya Farouqui and she liked using her maternal grandfather's name.

"Thank you Zoya... And this is Asad... Asad Ahmed khan, my son."

Asad Ahmed Khan, Zoya felt that she had heard that name somewhere before but she could not remember where. She smiled at him and said Hi politely but as an acknowledgment, he just nodded his head and walked away towards a room at the end of their huge living room, and Zoya stared at his back wondering what kind of a man he was. She had met men who were arrogant and some even behaved so indifferently but till now she had never met a man whose eyes were as cold as Mr. Asad Ahmed Khan's.

Originally posted by: --SH7_Sunny--

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