~The Sunshine of My Life#2 AsYa FF~||Link to third thread PG 125 - Page 33

Love? What is love? Was it attraction that had been mounting in her heart for Asad? Was it the concern and anxiety she felt for him whenever she saw him in pain and in tears? Was it admiration when she saw him go out of his way to make a child never live a life he had had to live? Or was it when her heart melted at his gentle gestures towards her and her pain, what she felt for both Asad and Aahana when she saw them together?

She didn't know what love was, she hadn't known of it until her Aapi and Jiju had adopted and made her aware that relations without blood even existed. Theirs was driven from their heart and that was her first realisation of what love felt like. She had never known what a family meant until she had walked into the Khan Villa. A home that was broken from years of hardships but had strong roots of affection, respect, concern and never ending love for each other binding it, where no one had taken less than a few days to make her feel like they were hers from forever.

She had barely even known the Khans, she had just gotten to know Asad. How did he replace everything so important in her life and become the centre of her attention and fondness so soon. She knew she felt for him, and the feelings were strong, but was it love? Was that feeling so strong and profound that it could be termed as love? How could she be in love with him? Asad already loved someone else, had a family with her. And even though she was no longer alive, she was still living within him, and was the beat to his heart that only thrived for her. How could she let herself fall in love with a man who would never love her back?

Zoya's mind grew hazy with all those thoughts and shut her eyes in exhaustion, praying to Allah to show her the right path.

Asad looked at Zoya who had slept off while he drove back to Bhopal. This trip with her had changed their equation entirely, mostly because he had realised how wrong he had been in misjudging her all along. He had always wondered who the real Zoya really was. The one who smiled and made everyone smile with her or the one whose eyes expressed the hidden sadness behind the fake smiles. Hearing her past and all that she had gone through had changed his outlook towards her and made him respect her for all that she had survived. Her pain had moved him just as Ayesha's had years ago. But Ayesha and he had grown up together and his entirely family had been with her through everything. He wondered horrifically how Zoya would have gone through so much all alone until she had been adopted. The revelation of her past had got them closer and Asad knew that Zoya needed someone by her side in her struggle to search for the answers she was here for. And he was going to give her all the help and moral support he could. After all she was a friend.

Friend! He had definitely found a friend in her. Unknowingly their conversations, their bickering and even their differences had made them see an altered view than what they had been living so far. And these little things had made them form a relation of friendship. At least he thought so, and he knew that he would do everything for her a friend would have.

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"Miss Farooqui? Wake up, we've reached." Asad said softly nudging her shoulder to wake her up.

"Huh?" Zoya said sleepily as she woke up feeling someone shaking her.

"We've reached home, let's get in then you can sleep." Asad said softly.

Zoya nodded grimly as her thoughts from earlier came rushing back to her. Zoya rang the bell while Asad unloaded their luggage. He smiled to himself, excited to meet his baby and walked towards the entrance where Najma and Dilshad were hovering around Zoya excitedly. He heard Zoya murmur something as he neared his family. And saw her walk away as soon as he reached the door.

"Ye Zoya ko kya hua?" Dilshad questioned loudly. But she got distracted as she saw Asad standing by the door. Asad hugged his Ammi and Tamatar simultaneously looking around for Aahana.

"She's asleep Asad, we took her to the park so she was tired. She'll be waking up anytime now." Dilshad answered his silent query.

"Mai Zoya ko dekh kar aati hun, she doesn't seem herself today." Najma said concerned.

"Uh nahi Najma its okay let her be, she must be very tired let her rest. Anyway mai aap sabko dinner ke liye milta hun okay?" Asad said as he dragged their luggage inside.

Najma and Dilshad shared a victorious look seeing Asad's concern for Zoya and smiling to each other walked inside.

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Asad stared at Aahana who was fast asleep, with her hands tucked under her chin snoring softly, crunching her nose cutely every few seconds. He smiled at his sunshine and got into the bed lying next to her. He got into the blanket and snuggled closer to her, nuzzling his nose with hers tenderly. She wriggled in her sleep, disturbed by the sudden touch and rubbed her nose with her fists vigorously. Asad moved apart and stared at her do so chuckling slightly. Aahana opened her eyes a tad bit peeking at Asad and shut them tightly again smiling to herself slightly. Asad laughed openly this time and cuddled her tightly, burying his face in her neck making her feel ticklish. She gurgled loudly now fully awake, wound her tiny arms around his head and licked his cheek making it wet with her drool.

"Bu" she cooed.

Asad looked up and kissed her little nose and smiled at her," Abu missed you so much Aanu."

Aahana smiled back and babbled as if she understood what he said patted his cheeks with her tiny hands.

"Aanu Abu ko marega? Huh huh?" Asad said naughtily while tickling her. Her laughter chimed through the room and spread all over the house, making Dilshad and Najma smile while they worked in the kitchen, and Zoya stop in her way to peep into Asad's room.

Her face curved upwards and eyes shined seeing the pair dwell in the happiness of a beautiful moment between them. Her heart urged her to go inside and be a part of it, but her brain halted her in time pulling her away as she walked away back to her room. Shutting her door behind her she slid into the covers and shut her eyes in despair, and just like that rivulet of tears poured down her eyes.

She had merely accomplished that she was falling in love or had already fallen in love and she already felt insecure of losing all that she thought she had gained. If she allowed herself to walk the path her heart was persuading her to. She knew it was probable she would be left scathed at the end of it. What if it all ended up being one sided and never reciprocated?

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Asad walked into the living area as Aahana toddled ahead of him on her walker. She loved riding in that walker with wheels as it assisted her to do something she consistently tried doing, standing on her feet. She giggled as she raced her father who was pretending to beat her and go ahead jogging slowly behind her.

Dilshad and Najma looked up and smiled at the duo. Dilshad's eyes softened seeing her son smiling happily and she sighed wishing he would always remain this happy.

"Aao Asad dinners ready." Dilshad called out.

Asad smiled at Najma and Dilshad as they all took their seat while Aahana swooped around the table enjoying herself.

"Miss Farooqui kahan hai, has she already had her dinner?" Asad inquired.

"She's asleep Asad, she seemed tired. I'll keep her dinner in the oven, she'll eat it if she wakes up hungry." Dilshad replied.

Asad nodded and continued eating even though half his mind was concentrated on Zoya and the sudden change in her behaviour.

"Baby just sit here in the cot, I'll be back in a minute." Asad cajoled Aahana as he lowered her in the cradle even though she was twisting her legs in retaliation wanting to be picked up again.

She howled when he put her down and flared her hands demanding to be picked up again.

Asad rolled his eyes chiding her,"Abbu's spoilt you too much; throwing too many tantrums aren't you?" Asad said scowling at her while she chuckled at her father's mock anger knowing too well that she had him wrapped around her little finger.

Asad knocked at Zoya's door a few times but on getting no response opened it to check on her. She was lying on the bed snuggled beneath her covers deep in slumber.

Asad walked towards her with a babbling Aahana in his arms who hollered on seeing Zoya as they neared her.

"Sshh no baby, no making sound, Zoya's sleeping.." Asad explained.

Asad wished to wake her up and ask her to have her dinner, wished to enquire what was wrong but had no heart to wake her peaceful self. He turned around about to leave when his eyes fell on a few papers and pictures strewed on her side table.

He gently placed Aahana down on the bed next to Zoya and picked up the pictures examining them closely. Majority of the pictures were half destroyed and blurred after ages of wearing. He didn't take a few minutes to recognise that they were pictures of the Raisen fort and the areas surrounding it. He unfolded a huge sheet of paper which resembled a map and had the entire Raisen fort area marked on it. He assumed these were her father's belongings and wondered what he had in relation with that area. He would have to tell Zoya he had figured where to start their search and he would take her down by himself, after all who knew that area better than him.

He turned to Aahana and found her snuggled close to Zoya who had her arms around the baby as they both slept peacefully. Asad smiled at Zoya who looked more at peace than she had all day and chose not to disturb her or Aahana. He tucked both of them in gently and left the room keeping the door slightly ajar lest Aahana woke up and asked for him.

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Zoya woke up feeling rapid movement next to her; she opened her eyes to see Aahana lying beside her. She was wide awake and in mood for fun, she would hide her face in the covers for a few seconds before a hand pulled it away and squeaked a soft boo' to her. She looked up to see Asad perched on a chair next to the bed bending towards Aahana. She smiled at them dreamily enjoying witnessing the moment of bliss.

"Good Morning Miss Farooqui." Asad greeted her with a slight smile.

Zoya nodded still dazed and wished him back." Aap aur Aahana yahaan?"

"She said she wanted to sleep with Zoya, so I left her here since I can't refuse anything to her." Asad joked.

"Mr Khan.." Zoya said flatly.

"I came here to check on you and laid her down but before I could leave she slept off in your arms, I didn't want to disturb either of you so.." Asad explained smiling at the both.

Zoya smiled as Aahana tried to clamber on her lap and held her securely when she saw her wobble a little. She laughed a little when Aahana pulled at her hair and bit her nose.

"Miss Farooqui I happened to go through all these pictures last night and I've figured where it is and where we can start the search for your Abbu. I have an important meeting today but I'll be free by 2 so I'll give you a ring and you can come over. We'll leave from there, is that okay?" Asad asked.

Zoya stared at him in surprise touched by his enthusiasm in helping her in her search. But holding his hand in support would mean spending more time with him which would eventually lead to attachment.

"Thanks for everything Mr Khan, but I'd like to do this myself, aap ko takleef uthane ki zaroorat nahi hai." Zoya said politely, but unable to say it looking into his eyes.

"Miss Farooqui mujhe koi takleef nahi hai. I would love to help you, and I know this place by its every inch. And let me tell you this place isn't safe enough for you to approach all alone, we'll go together."

"Mr Khan please, mai bachi nahi hun I can manage and I will. Aur agar mujhe zaroorat hogi toh I'll come to you for help but you don't need to do this." Zoya said resolutely.

"Miss Farooqui what's suddenly taken over you? Have I said or done something wrong? I already promised to help you and I really want to." Asad questioned her, confused at her sudden cold behaviour.

"Mr Khan.." she started off again but was sternly interrupted by Asad again.

"You're coming to my office at 2 unless you have something more important to do.." Asad said before walking away with Aahana.

Zoya shut her eyes and sighed, feeling guilty for being so difficult and cold to Asad even though he was going out of his way to help her getting closer to her ambition.

She looked at the papers lying on the table and picked them up. She noticed that Asad had marked the important areas on the map and written the address there clearly as the map had been unreadable before. She smiled noticing how perfect he was in anything he determined to do. But her smile faded as soon as it appeared.

"I am sorry Mr Khan par mai aapke saath nahi ja sakti, mujhe ye akele hi karna hoga. I would die for you to come with me, but I don't want to make it a habit, I am sorry, I am so sorry.

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Precap : Asad has to choose between a call from the hospital and an urgency to be with Zoya? What does he choose and what does it lead to?

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