Fourteen
The holidays were finally over, Zoya hadn't see Asad since the New Year party, something that helped her sort out her muddled thoughts and feeling.
'You ready to get this over with?' Priya asked as she walked with Zoya towards the principal's office 'As ready as I will ever be'. The two of them waited in a side room for Humera and Ayaan whilst the principal called for Sofia and Tanveer to be questioned.
'Where is Leo, he said he would come too?' Zoya asked as she met Humera and Ayaan 'I am not sure; he did say he will be coming, am sure he will be here soon'. Zoya felt her stomach summersault, she didn't know why but she needed him to be here too.
Tanveer and Sofia waited outside the principal's room 'what the hell is going on, why have we been called here' Sofia asked 'not sure...' Tanveer replied looking confused. The Principal opened the door and called them in.
After a good forty minutes the Principal's PA came in to get Zoya, Ayaan and Humera. As they walked in they saw Sofia and Tanveer with red tear filled eyes, they looked at them with anger as they entered the room. 'Ayaan, Humera can you please repeat what you saw and heard the night of the performance' Ayaan and Humera repeated the conversation that they heard, all the while they were talking Sofia and Tanveer had their heads lowered in shame of being caught. Zoya was asked to tell everyone what had happened, she explained everything she could remember, from hearing nosed to seeing Sofia and Tanveer standing over her as she passed out.
'You two have brought shame not only upon yourselves but the college as well, for your own selfish gains and personal vendettas you harmed another student, do you know it could have been a lot more serious' the principal shouted 'Zoe, would you like to formally press charges, I can have the police called in?' Zoya looked at the two girls who stood there in tears 'no sir' she replied. 'Zoe, what are you doing, why not' Humera said as she pulled at her arm 'because I am better than them...if you don't need me anymore sir, I would like to go' 'Yes...but before you do I would like to say two things in your presence, firstly thank you for the way you have handled the situation Zoe, I really appreciate it, and secondly, Sofia and Tanveer please pack your things you are no longer students at this college, you have officially been excluded...permanently...I will be contacting your parents'.
Zoya walked back towards her halls with Humera and Priya, relieved that it was all over and that they had got what they deserved 'you guys head of to your lesson, I have been excused so will be ok at home' Zoya said 'you sure?' 'yes Humera, please stop worrying I am fine, I'll see you guy when you get back.
Zoya sat wondering where Asad had gotten too she thought of calling him but then didn't thinking, that it was ok, trying to convince herself that she didn't really need him, but deep down she knew for some reason she did.
The next day Zoya made her way to dance when she came face to face with Tanveer and Farhan. Tanveer stepped forward trying to lash out at Zoya when Farhan held her back 'you bitch...because of you I have been chucked out, I didn't even touch you...but now...I am going to kill you' she screamed as she tried to hit her again. Zoya who felt her heart sink in fear managed to keep herself from falling as she stood tall making out she had not been affected by her outburst. 'You got kicked out because of your own evil doing Tanveer, it had nothing to do with me' Zoya spat back.
'You're nothing but a cheap bitch who has done nothing but try and trap Leo...what he sees in your ugly face is beyond me...let me tell you one thing Miss Zoe, no matter what...you are not winning him over, I may not be here but I will make sure that I make your life miserable, you will pay for this' Tanveer said as she shook with anger.
'Really Tanveer, and exactly how will that be?' Asad's voice came from behind. Zoya looked back to see Asad and Ayaan standing a few feet away from them. 'Perfect timing Leo, just like the hero...come to stick up and protect your lady love' Farhan said making Asad fist his hands. Asad and Ayaan stepped up closer to Farhan and Tanveer; Asad looked at Tanveer with pity, thinking what she had become. 'Watch your mouth Farhan...get out of her way...' 'or else what Leo, you're going to make me?' 'If I have to yes...' 'Leo what has gotten in to you...can't you see past her faade' Tanveer said as she changed her tone of voice. Asad looked at her 'you disgust me Tanveer, to think that we were all friends, I never thought you could stoop so low'.
Tanveer was about to respond when Farhan held his hand up to stop her 'let me deal with him babe...you don't need to waste your energy' as they continued to confront each other a whole group of people had gathered. Zoya tried to get Asad to pull back but today he was not going to listen or back down.
Farhan looked at Zoya's hand on Asad's forearm 'Aaah so much love and concern...really' he mocked Zoya pulled her hand back and looked at Asad pleading with him to walk away, she then looked at Ayaan who just shook his head as if to say no not today.
'Look everyone...have you ever come across two people so in love...I mean what's wrong Leo, can you not fight your corner without your bit on the side pulling you away every time...what happened to the no nonsense Leo who was ready to fight anyone at any time...you think you are so pure man and you Miss Zoe think you are untouchable...tut tut tut, such double standards, you spend day and night together and pretend to be just friends' As Farhan continued with his nonsense Zoya felt tears escape and Asad was ready to throw his first punch 'you shut that filthy mouth of yours right now Farhan' Ayaan said as he stepped in between him and Asad. As Ayaan neared Farhan he pushed Ayaan back with such force that he collided with Zoya making them both fall.
And that was all it took before Asad leashed himself onto him, it took a good group of people and a few teachers who came running out to pull Asad off of Farhan, who by the end of it had a bleeding nose and bruised check. Asad looked towards Zoya who was being held by Ayaan, the pain filled tears he saw run down her face felt like they were slowly slicing his heart.
Asad and Farhan along with Tanveer, Zoya and Ayaan were taken to the principal's office who was raging mad. He first shouted at Tanveer for being on the premises when she had been excluded, he got the college security to escort her off the college grounds making it clear that if she was ever to return she would be arrested for trespassing.
The principal found out what had happened and was not pleased in the slightest; he had never come across a situation so immature and demeaning. Farhan being the son of one of the governors naturally influenced his decision when it came to disciplining him. Farhan was suspended for two weeks, whilst Asad was let off for acting in self-defence.
As they left the office Zoya called out to Asad but he didn't stop, he just carried on walking leaving her with a new wave of fresh tears. 'He is just angry Zoe, he has a lot of unpleasant history with Farhan, let him cool off'.
The whole week went by with very little interaction between the friends as they were still coming to terms with what was going on. Zoya who was fully healed looked forward to her dance class, she had missed it so much, as it was always the one thing she indulged in, the one thing that she was able to completely lose herself in and forget everything around her.
Zoya went in and got ready, she spoke to Mr Gill, who she reassured that she was fit and well enough to continue. Zoya waited and waited for her dance partner to turn up but there was no sign of him. 'Zoe, pair up with Ravi' Mr Gill said 'sir...I was waiting for Leo' 'oh don't you know, Leo changed to drama, he is no longer doing dance' Zoya looked at him wide eyes, she felt her insides erupt with an emotions she couldn't quite recognise, but whatever it was it wasn't pleasant. 'How can he just drop out...he didn't evern tell me' she whispered to herself as she felt a dull pain hit her hard in the pit of her stomach. With moisten eyes she picked up her bag and walked out of the dance studio and raced towards the main building, where she knew he would be.
Zoya opened the door to see Asad sitting with Humera and Priya; she threw her bag down and walked up to him. Asad saw her come towards him and knew she was going to blow, he stood up as she approached him 'and when were you going to tell me...I had to find out from Mr Gill Leo, I thought we were partners, friends...why didn't you tell me' she said as she tried to control her shaking voice 'Zoe, you knew it was only for one semester, I don't like dance, it is not something I wanted to do' Zoya looked at him in disbelief 'you don't like...Leo, why couldn't you just come and tell me...and what was that you said at the New Years party...you know what forget it...it doesn't matter' Zoya turned around just in time before her tears escaped and walked off leaving Asad feeling gutted.
'Bhai, I told you...you should have told her yourself, after everything you two have been through...you are still friends...stop letting everything affect that at least' Humera walked out after Zoya leaving Asad feeling a lot worse than he already did.
Humera tried to console a very upset Zoya, whilst Ayaan and Priya spoke to Asad. Because they were so confused about everything none of them were able to say anything that made sense. They both were attracted to one another, they both felt a connection something that forced them to come together no matter what and at the same time they fought hard against anything that consciously or subconsciously came to them as they would rather give up living than to give up on their childhood love their promise to the person that they marked as theirs.
Days turned into weeks and weeks into months and still the tension between them remained. How they were going to overcome this was something that no one knew.
Cricket
