The Mark of Innocence: #4 Chapter 35 Pg 118 - Page 30

Twenty Nine

Asad went to drop Zoya back to her halls, whereas the girls were staying on Asad and Ayaan had emptied their halls and had moved back home. With Rashid going away straight after the engagement he needed to be home and at the office to help him as much as he could.

Zoya, Humera and Priya took it upon themselves to really enjoy the last two weeks they had, with Ramadan starting it was going to prove difficult to go out all the time. Priya had decided to go back to her parents for the summer; she was leaving the day after the engagement and wasn't going to come back until September.

'When do we find out about our second year...I mean if we are still going to be here or you know if we have been offered a place outside?' Zoya looked at Humera 'I am not sure, I assume the college will let us know before September, I guess when our results are out' 'are you hoping to stay on?' Humera asked Zoya 'honestly I don't mind, but it would be good to be chosen to work as an assistant, you know to get the experience as well as study and learn at the same time...how about you?' 'I definitely want to stay on, I like the whole college environment...and plus Ayaan is staying too...you do realise that if chosen you will have to travel a lot' Zoya wasn't aware, she hadn't given the whole idea much thought 'I suppose that would be ok, it's all part of the learning process...anyway I need some food, where the hell is Priya?' She said rubbing her growling stomach.

Zoya hadn't seen Asad for a few days as he had been so caught up with the preparations for the engagement as well as helping Rashid out. Zoya had managed to pack all her belongings, although she had a few days to go before leaving she thought it would be wise to get a head start. 'Asad, where are you, I thought you were meeting me for lunch' 'damn...I am so sorry Zoya, it totally slipped my mind, where are you' Zoya huffed in annoyance 'where do you think I am...at the Pizza Caf...look its fine, I am going to head back to halls, Aunty has asked me to come over tonight to try on the engagement outfit I will see you then' 'I'm so sorry Zoya...promise to make it up to you tonight...'.

Zoya put her phone away and picked up her bag to leave as she exited the caf she came face to face with Tanveer. Zoya jumped back as she held on to her racing heart 'Ta...Tanveer, what are you doing here? She managed to get out 'why Zoe, do you own this place...you may have got me kicked out of college but this...this side walk is public property' Zoya stepped to the side to walk away from her when Tanveer grabbed her forearm and twisted it back, Zoya winced in pain as she dug her nails in 'let go of me Tanveer, what the hell are you doing?' 'what am I doing...what the hell do you think you are doing ZOYA' Zoya looked at her wide eyed 'yes Zoya Farooqui, I know who you are...the girl who wears his mark...I must say what a love story it is, separated in childhood and united in adulthood...if it wasn't for you Zoe...Zoya whatever your damn name is Leo would have been mine'

Zoya narrowed her eyes in anger she pulled her arm back with force 'well he is not...get that through your thick skull Tanveer, Leo was never yours and he never will be, what part of that are you finding hard to register. If you now know that I am Zoya, Asad's Zoya then you should also know that me and Asad are getting engaged next week...so the quicker you let go of your pathetic obsession the better it will be...now if you are done get out of my way' Zoya fumed past Tanveer leaving her even more livid.

Zoya threw her bag on her bed and burst out into tears, she hated Tanveer, hated her for bringing out the worst in her. Zoya was not an aggressive person; she never had to deal with ill treatment or such harshness before especially from someone like Tanveer. It didn't matter how much she tried to control her raging emotions nothing seemed to work, she looked down at her arm which was bruised and full of scratches that Tanveer made when she pulled her arm back.

'Zoya you in there?' Priya called out 'no I am not go away' Zoya shouted back. Priya stood there for a second trying to register what she had just heard 'did she just tell me to go away...since when...like hell' Priya opened the door and walked straight in 'what do you mean go away...where did this rude side come from?' she demanded to know. Zoya turned around with her red swollen eyes, as soon as Priya saw her she ran up to her 'Zoya are you ok, what happened...did you have a fight with Leo?'

Zoya shook her head 'no, I didn't meet him, he forgot...I was on my way back when I bumped into Tanveer...she was just being...I don't know, I shouldn't let her get to me' Priya reached down to take her hand into hers to reassure her when she saw the state of her arm 'Zoya, what the hell is this' Priya looked at Zoya and soon realised that Tanveer was responsible 'that little bitch, I am going to kill her' she screamed out in anger, Priya turned around when Zoya stopped her 'it's ok Priya...it's nothing, just a small scratch...please don't make a big deal of it' Priya looked at Zoya with even more anger 'are you for real, first she pushes you, makes your life a misery, openly threatens you and now she has done this and you don't want to make a big deal about it...what the hell is wrong with you Zoya...wait untill I tell Leo, if you won't do anything about it he will'

Zoya pulled at Priya's arm 'Priya we are getting engaged next week, he is already stressed with that and the work he is doing with his dad...please, I don't want this to dampen our happiness...with Ramadan coming up too...its ok, I am ok...I know what she has done and is doing is wrong, but what goes round comes round, she will get what she deserves...let it be' Priya took in a deep breath 'fine...but I swear if I see her I am not letting her off scott free...I am warning you now'.

Zoya applied some soothing gel onto her arm; even though it was so hot she put on a long sleeved top to cover the scratches before she went to Asad's house. Dilshad was so excited to see Zoya, she couldn't wait for her to try on her outfit, as soon as Zoya walked in Dilshad and Najma dragged her upstairs. Zoya saw her lilac and silver lehnga, she was speechless, she really had never seen anything so beautiful 'do you like is Api?' Najma asked in excitement 'like it...Tamatar I love it, it's absolutely beautiful...I seriously have no words' 'Zoya, Asad chose this, it was what the liked and wanted for you, he was a little nervous thinking if you would like it or not, he will be so happy to know you loved it as much as he did' Zoya's happiness knew no bounds, she seriously couldn't find words to express what she was thinking or feeling.

'Zoya try it on' Dilshad said as she passed her the blouse, Zoya went into the bathroom and tried it on and as soon as she came out Dilshad and Najma looked at her totally awestruck, there really was no matching her beauty, everything looked perfect. Dilshad hugged Zoya as she held back her tears of happiness 'MashAllah Zoya, I can't tell you how stunning you look' Dilshad picked up the dupatta and placed it over her head, and soon as she did they heard the door open. As they all looked round to see who it was they saw Asad standing by the door looking at Zoya in total amazement.

Zoya quickly turned around as she blushed to no end 'Aunty, I'll just go and change' she said as she hurried towards the bathroom 'Zoya wait' Asad called out. Zoya stopped in her tracks but couldn't bring herself to turn around. Dilshad looked at Najma 'Najma lets give them a minute' she said as she smiled at Asad and left the room with Najma in tow.

Zoya could feel him inch closer to her and as he did she grabbed hold of her racing heart. Asad placed his hand over her shoulder making her hold the gulp of air she had just taken in 'Zoya...look at me' he said in a low whisper. Zoya turned around slowly and lowered her eyed still feeling extremely shy. Asad placed his finger below her chin and made her look up 'it's as if Allah sent down one of his angels just for me' Zoya hid her face in his chest 'you look beautiful Zoya, I can't believe this is happening, is this really real?' Zoya who had lost her voice pulled back and smiled at him, she was about to walk off when he grabbed her arm 'ouch' Zoya screamed out 'I am so sorry Zoya, did I hurt you?' he said as she stepped up closer to her concerned.

Zoya flinched her arm back mentally kicking herself for screaming out 'no...I mean...I'll just go and get changed' she said trying to cover up her slip 'Zoya wait' Asad called out, he picked up her arm and pulled back the dupatta that covered it to reveal her bruise and scratches 'Z...Zoya what happened?' Zoya pulled her hand back 'nothing, I just grazed it...you know me can't seem to walk in a straight line' Asad raised his eyebrow 'let's try that again...Zoya what happened?' he said in a more serious tone of voice.

'Let me get changed and I promise I will tell you' Zoya came back out of the bathroom to find Asad sitting on the bed, she went and stood by him. 'After I spoke to you earlier I bumped into Tanveer, and she...well you wasn't very happy, especially now that she knows that I am Zoya and not just Zoe, she became a little aggressive' Asad stood up, his jaw clenched as he fisted his hands, Zoya saw his eyes rage with anger 'she did this to you...and where did she find out about who you really are?' 'I don't know, the girl is totally obsessed with you Asad, I won't lie, she scares me but I gave her back as good as she gave' 'this has gone too far'. Asad started walking off! Zoya ran after him and blocked him from exiting the door 'you are not going to do anything Asad, we are getting engaged next week and then its Ramadan, please...not now, she is not worth it' 'Zoya what the hell is wrong with you, first she attacks you and now this and you still want me to leave it alone, I may have backed off last time but not this time Zoya, how dare she come near you, how dare she touch you'.

Zoya started panicking seeing him in such a raging state, she cupped his face in the hope that she could calm him down 'look, I promise you can go and confront her...but not now, please don't ruin this moment...I never want any negativity to cloud over us especially when we are together'.

Asad let out a deep sigh 'fine...just for now' Zoya smiled at him and then leant up to kiss him. Asad needed more than just a peck to really calm him, so making most of her move he held on to her closer and deepened the kiss, Zoya leant against the door and let him take full charge.