The Mark of Innocence: #2 Note Page 123 - Page 73

Socho nahi aap parhai karein 🤗

I have finished the chapter if my little madam sleeps early enough then may bring forward the update 😊

Have completed it...still not a hundred percent satisfied but I suppose it will have to do...hopefully u will all like it

waiting for the truth to reveal

plzzz

I will update tmrw inshAllah

I have finished writing it if I get a chance tonight then wil do earlier

I will try to tonight if not the pakka tmrw

Salaam

I have come back not only a little early but with a double update, there was no way I could post chapter 16 and keep you guys hanging. I will be honest, I am not happy with the way these have come out and apologies if they do not meet you expectations...I tried to re write them...but they still lack in a lot of things especially the right emotions...not sure what happened there 😕

I truly hope that you do like them, I would be grateful if you would let me know what you think...a pretty please to the silent readers too, it would be great to know what you think too, even if you don't like them

I will await the verdict

Thank you to all of you for your continuous support...you truly are amazing 😊

Lots of love

Saima

The party was in full swing, the cake cutting was a treat to watch, Zoya couldn't help becoming emotional as she saw Najma with her whole family, she truly was blessed to have people around her that loved her so much. As the party moved out into the marque they realised it had been made into a mini night club. There was a DJ at the back and coloured disco lights that illuminated the dance floor and the walls around, it looked amazing. Najma was over the moon 'thank you Ammi, this is such a wonderful surprise' 'anything for my little princess...now go and enjoy' Najma dragged her friends on to the dance floor, Ayaan took Humera whilst Zoya, Priya and Asad all stood on the side cheering them on 'Zoe, come out and dance with me pleeease' Priya said 'you must be joking in a saree...I will fall flat on my face you go ahead...' Priya started pouting ok fine' she moved between her and Asad to grab hold of One of Najma's friends making her come out. Zoya and Asad laughed at them simultaneously 'you sure you don't want to show off any of your moves' she said raising her eyebrows animatedly 'after my last performance I am pretty sure I want to pass...but you should go ahead, after all you are the champion dancer' Zoya looked at him with saddened eyes as his last performance with her was so long ago, brushing her thoughts aside she smiled at him 'I would have but don't think I could do any of my funky steps in this thing...maybe another time'.

Zoya and Asad stood side by side laughing and clapping at everyone when Dilshad came to join them 'Ammi, is everything ok...is there anything else that needs doing?' Dilshad shook her head 'apart from having fun, no... Zoe beta did you have something to eat?' 'No Aunty I will wait until these lot have finished jumping up and down' Dilshad turned towards Asad 'can you ask Ramu to get bring one of the fans out, I can imagine it will start heating up in here'. Dilshad stood with Zoya whilst Asad went go get the fan with Ramu 'tell me more about yourself Zoe, where are your parents from?' Zoya's smile started to fade; she hated people asking about her parents, her family or anything to do with her past. Taking in a deep breath Zoya plastered on her smile again 'they are from Delhi' she said hoping Dilshad wouldn't ask any more questions, luckily for her she didn't as Asad came back with Ramu.

Dilshad left Asad and Zoya standing as she went to direct Ramu where to place the fan.

'Dilshad' Rashid called out 'yes, one minute...Ramu make sure you aim it towards the dance floor, I will be back in a little while' Dilshad went to speak to Rashid who was in conversation with Humera's dad and his business partner Mr Ghaffur Siddiqui. Dilshad hated talking business but as a partner she had to play every part 'Ghaffur Bhai, where is Razia, she was supposed to be her an hour ago' 'you know what madam Siddiqui is like, can never make it anywhere on time' he said making her and Rashid laugh. Dilshad let Rashid and Ghaffur continue talking as she looked around the marque making sure all was ok.

She stood a few feet behind where Asad and Zoya were standing engrossed in conversation as she smiled in awe of her son she suddenly froze over. Dilshad's stood looking stunned, she looked at the fan that was blowing strongly and then back at towards Asad and Zoya, as the air blew Zoya's hair to the side she saw it again. 'Ya Allah, can it be her...is that the same tattoo' Dilshad in her shocked state started walking towards Zoya and stood directly behind her, she waited for her hair to blow to the side again and when she did she nearly stumbled. She quickly placed her hand on Zoya's shoulder, Zoya turned around to see Dilshad looking anxious 'Aunty are you ok?' she asked with concern 'Zoe, can I talk to you for a moment?' 'Yeah sure...Leo I'll be back in a minute' Asad nodded as he watched her walk off with his mum.

Dilshad took Zoya upstairs; Zoya did wonder what was going on but continued to follow her in silence. Dilshad opened the door to Asad's room and asked her to come in. 'Aunty is everything ok, you look...' 'Zoe, I need to ask you something and I want you to answer truthfully' Zoya started to worry 'ok...I will, what did you want to ask me'. 'Zoe, your childhood, I mean as a child were you...did you live in an orphanage in Delhi?' Dilshad finally managed to ask through her stammering voice.

Zoya looked at her wide eyed 'h...how did you know?' 'It's not Zoe is it, your name is Zoya, Zoya Farooqui, is that correct?' Zoya felt tears sting her eyes, she let out a gasp as her heart started to thud 'no...no one knows me as Zoya...how do you know about me...who are you?' Dilshad smiled as her tears ran down her face she took Zoya by the shoulders and led her to the mirror, Dilshad pulled back Zoya's hair and lowered her blouse 'this mark is how I know you Zoya, this is what joined you and Asad, this mark that brought two innocent souls together, and united them by nothing other than pure love, this mark you so innocently allowed Asad to mark on you is how I know who you are'.

Zoya turned to Dilshad with tears streaming down her face, her breathing had become jagged 'you...you know Asad...you know where my Asad is...please Aunty...where is he? I have spent the last ten year of my life...' Zoya started crying out loud as she couldn't come to finish her sentence. Dilshad quickly put her arms around her 'shhh...you search, your wait and your pain, it's all over Zoya' Dilshad took Zoya by the hand and led her to face the opposite side of the room 'there...there is your Asad, Zoya...someone you have been with from the very beginning, Leo is Asad' Zoya looked at Dilshad with her mouth and eyes wide open 'L...Leo is Asad?' 'yes like you became Zoe from Zoya, Asad became Leo so you even when you felt a pull towards each other you could never believe or come to know that it was truly the person you had been yearning for. Asad, has this very same mark Zoya'

Zoya held on to her stomach as she cried, there were tears of happiness and relief 'my son never gave up Zoya, after we came to Mumbai he became depressed and after seeing him like that we took him back to Delhi to meet you but you had already gone, Asad was totally broken but he had faith that one day he would meet you one day he will find you, that Allah will bring you together and look He did...'

'I need to speak to him...I need to...Aunty please' Dilshad cupped Zoya's face and wiped her tears 'Zoya he is all yours, he always has been, today will mark the happiest days in my son's life...you wait here I will go and get him, this is something you need to do away from everyone...I can't even begin to imagine what Najma will do, she was young but has never forgotten you Zoya'. There was no measuring Dilshad's happiness, after all these years she too felt like she was complete as now her Asad, her son would be.

Dilshad ran downstairs; she went up to Asad and called out for him. As Asad came in he saw his mother's face, her eyes were red and swollen 'Ammi, what happened, are you ok...' he started questioning her becoming worried 'I am more than fine Asad, come with me I need you to meet someone' Dilshad took Asad by the hand and led him upstairs, he looked at his mother confused but followed her all the same.

Dilshad opened the door and where he came face to face with Zoya. Asad saw Zoya's tear stained face and then looked to Dilshad 'Ammi, what is going on, who did you want me to meet?' 'The person that is standing right in front of you' Asad didn't understand anything 'Ammi I already know Zoe' Dilshad shook her head 'no this is not Zoe...' Dilshad walked towards Zoya she took her by the hand and brought her closer to Asad. Zoya looked at him she could just about keep her tears and emotions in control her breathing started to become jagged as she looked deeper into his eyes.

'Ammi what is going on?' 'Zoe...I would like you to meet my son Asad, Asad Ahmed Khan, who was nicknamed Leo...and Asad this is Zoya, Zoya Farooqui...your Zoya, who you and the world knows as Zoe' Asad's eyes widened in disbelief, he looked at Zoya who smiled at him through her tears 'Zo...Zoya' he whispered as he tried to swallow the lump in his throat 'you are Zoya...I...I don't...I mean how...' Asad couldn't think straight. Dilshad knew that they needed to do this on their own without any interruptions or someone in between, even if it was his mother. Dilshad put her hand on his shoulder Asad, you will find the answers to all your questions, this really is Zoya...as hard as it is to believe it really is her...you remember when you told me about Zoe and how you kept feeling compelled to be with her, well now you know why...beta, I am going back down stairs...I guess you two have a lot of catching up to do, she cupped Zoya's face and kissed her forehead 'take all the time you need'.

As soon as Dilshad walked out and closed the door Asad looked back at Zoya still too shocked to move or say anything 'al...all this time...we were...' Zoya saw him continue to hesitate in his shocked state without thinking she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him holding him as tightly as she could. 'Where did you go...you just left and didn't even look back...I waited Asad, I waited for you but you didn't come...' Zoya started crying uncontrollably, Asad who had been standing still felt her whole body shake against him; he quickly raised his hands and held her back. Today he understood why it was that he was so drawn to her, why he couldn't fight those feelings.

'Zoya...it's you it really is you?' Zoya pulled back and looked at him she took another step back and lifted her hair to the side and slowly turned around. As soon as Asad saw the tattoo the tears that were brimming in his eyes started to run down his face, he stepped forward and gently brushed his fingertips over her tattoo. His touch sent a tingling sensation down her spine making her whole body come up in goose bumps. Keeping his hand over her shoulder he turned her around and crashed her against him, they didn't know how long they had been standing there crying to their hearts content.

Asad took Zoya by her hand and made her sit down on the bed next to him, he entwined his fingers with hers and held her hand securely in hers 'I always believed that I would find you one day, that Allah will bring you back to me...but like this...all these months we have been together Zoya and neither one of us were able to recognise the other' 'I think in our hearts we did Asad, all those times when you felt a pull towards me and I towards you was our hearts telling us, trying to get us to see but we didn't listen...life changed so much that you became Leo and I became Zoe...but I am only Zoe to the world Asad, to you I am Zoya' Asad put his arm around her shoulder and held her close to him.

After a couple of hours the party going on downstairs started to die down, with friends leaving one by one. 'Ammi where is Bhaijaan, I haven't seen him for ages' 'that's true...and where the hell did Zoe get too...she has been missing too' Ayaan said looking around.

'We are here' came a voice from the top of the stairs. Asad and Zoya descended and came to join everyone in the main hall. 'Bhaijaan, where did you get to?' Asad hugged his little sister and then took her to stand in front of Zoya. 'Najma, you asked me if you knew Zoe from before...you said you felt like you knew here...who did you think she was?' Najma looked at Asad 'why Bhaijaan, what happened...you know what I am like I always try and find Api in everyone...please' she said becoming emotional. Najma was about to turn away when Zoya called out to her Tamatar...' Najma turned around wide eyes and lips parted as she tried to breathe 'Ap...Api Zoya' she whispered clutching on to the sides of her dress. Zoya nodded as fresh tears found their way out, Zoya held her hands out to her, Najma looked at Asad who nodded 'you don't have to try and find her Tamatar, she is right here' Najma stepped up to Zoya and hugged her letting out muffled screams.

Dilshad and Rashid stood smiling at their children who they had seen miss this one person so much to finally be reunited with her. On the other side Ayaan, Humera and Priya stood in utter shock 'Zoe is Zoya?' Humera said not believing what she was seeing; Ayaan and Humera walked up to them 'Leo...Zoe is your Zoya?' Asad nodded 'Ya Allah...' Ayaan hugged his brother as hard as he could, as he had also been witness to his search and plight 'thank you Allah, thank you so much...where there is a will there is always a way...how can anyone not believe in true love now...you had here there right in front of you all this time and none of us knew...' Asad tightened his hold on Ayaan, Humera hugged Zoya too 'next time you introduce yourself...you do as Zoya not Zoe...' she said making everyone laugh.

Zoya went to hug Dilshad and then took blessings from Rashid, who openly welcomed her to be a part of his family. As everyone sat down, Zoya told them what she had been doing all these years, the tears of joy that everyone had soon turned into tears that felt the pain, the suffering and struggle that Zoya had to face over the years. Asad could feel his whole body freeze over, he tightened his fists as he felt responsible and guilty for the problems Zoya had to face on her own.

Zoya didn't miss the expression in Asad's face, she stood up in front of everyone and walked to stand before him 'this right now Asad has made up for absolutely everything, so there is no need to feel or think what you are right now...what you do need to start doing is making up for lost time' Zoya cupped his face 'Mr Asad Ahmed Khan...your time starts now' Asad held her hands in his, he looked over to his parents who smiled at him as if they were agreeing to what he was silently asking them, Asad looked back to meet Zoya's gaze and then wrapped his arm around her and hugged her in front of the whole family earning some very loud whistles and cheers.

'Zoe...let me see it?' Humera said in excitement 'see what?' 'You know what...your tattoo, the same one that Bhai has' Zoya looked up at Asad who smiled at her 'you too Leo...we want to see yours too' Ayaan added in. Ayaan grabbed Asad and made him sit with Zoya 'you seriously want me to strip my top off' Asad said raising his eyebrow 'just a little...come on Leo, we need to see this' Asad undid his top and lowered his shirt to come off his shoulder and at the same time Zoya pushed her hair back and moved the rim of her blouse back.

Najma, Humera, Ayaan and Priya stood there not only dumbfounded but in total awe of what they saw 'if Bhaihjaan hadn't taken Api that day...how would they have ever recognised each other today. Bhaijaan you truly did believe that this would keep you united and it did, it is a great symbol of love, it marked the day that brought tragedy but also a day that brought us together, three innocent souls that found each other, and in that time you two became one and even at that tender age you thought ahead and here you are together again because of this, this mark of such innocence'.

Asad hugged his sister 'it a miracle the minute she turns fourteen she becomes an intelligent young woman' Najma hit Asad across the chest as she cried against his hold. 'Zoe, Humera, we should get back, it's getting late' Priya said looking at the time. Asad really didn't want Zoya to go there was still so much to talk about to know to say 'Api please stay...please after all these years we finally found each other, won't you stay...Ammi, please tell Api to stay' Najma pleaded. 'Zoya, beta it would be great if you could, its Sunday tomorrow, you can go back with Asad tomorrow evening' Zoya smiled, she looked at Najma 'of course I will...anything for my little Tamatar' Najma squealed in happiness 'Ayaan, you go and drop Priya and Humera off please'.

Thank u so much Fatima, I really appreciate ur feedback, am quite nervous about these chapters

Hope all is well with you