A/N: Tissue Alert for sensitive readers.
Chapter 8
"Hmm...Toh ek aadmi ke ghar, dil, wallet, zindagi har ek cheez par nikaah ke baad unki biwi ka haq hota hai. Iska matlab Mr. Khan ki har ek cheez par mera yani ki unki ek lauti biwi ka haq hai. Toh ye haq toh jatana hi hoga shayad tab wo samjhe ki..." Zoya was in her room and was thinking of a way she would ask Mr. Khan for his salary. She could not come up with any idea. Asad returned home late in the evening almost past dinner time. Zoya was sitting in the living area waiting for him. He was quickly moving towards his room and did not see Zoya there. She was more angered as he did not notice her. How could he not notice his ek lauti biwi who was waiting for him? She had to get his attention and some answers. "Aaiye, welcome home Mr. Khan, toh aakhir mein aapko yaad ghar ki yaad aa hi gayi." "Umm, Miss... Mrs... Zo... umm... wo... actually..." "Bas sari zindagi yehi karte rahiyega." Zoya stomped towards her room and shut the door with a loud bang. Asad stood there confsed with Zoya's behavior. He came and knocked on her door. "Umm, Miss... Mrs... Zo... umm... aap theek toh hai na? Darwaza kholiye please." Asad knocked three times and then Zoya opened the door. "Toh kya explanation hai aapka inti der se ghar aane ka? Aapko ye baat yaad nahi aayi ki aapka ek ghar hai, uss ghar mein aapki ek biwi hai jo aapka bhooki pyaasi intezaar kar rahi hogi." "Jee?" "Jee." "Aapne ab tak dinner nahi kiya? Par kyun? Dekhiye mera ghar lautne ka koi fix time nahi hota. Aapko mera intezaar karne ki koi zaroorat nahi thi. Aur waise bhi humaare contract mein aisa kuch nahi hai ki aapko mera intezaar karna chahiye." "Mr. Khan har cheez zaroorat ki wajah se nahi ke jaati. Par ye baat aap nahi samjhenge."
Zoya was hurt as Asad always reminded her that they had signed a contract. She did not let it show. "What? Aapko lagta hai ki main aapka intezaar kar rahi thi? JEE NAHI. Wo bas mujhe bhook nahi thi iss liye nahi khaya." "Toh aap aise mere saath typical wife ki tarah kyun baat kar rahi thi?" "Wo... actually... uff aapki aadat meujhe bhi lag gayi. Wo maine ek serial mein dekha tha bas aapki taang kheench rahi thi." "Oh! I see. Maine socha aap mera intezaar kar rahi thi. It is good ki aap mera intezaar nahi kar rahi thi. Main fresh ho jaata hoon phir dinner karte hain. Ab toh bhook hai na?" Asad went to his room to freshen up. Standing under the shower Asad's eyes welled up. He was fully aware of the changes in Zoya, her behavior and feelings towards him but chose not to acknowledge them. He would always be by her side and look after her but he could never be with her.
Zoya too had tears in her eyes as she was hurt by Asad's behavior and him always bringing up the contract. On his way down to the dining table Asad knocked on Zoya's door. She opened the door and just stared at him. "Chalen dinner ke liye." "Mujhe bhook nahi hai. Aap dinner kar lijiye." "Jee." Asad left and Zoya stood there with her mouth formed in a perfect o. "Allah Miya! What's wrong with him? Chale gaye dinner ke liye ek aur baar poochna chahiye tha na. Mujhe kitni bhook lagi hai. OK unhe meri parva nahi hai toh mujhe bhi nahi hai. Nahi khana mujhe." She waited him to look back and put forth his hand to take her down but it did not happen. She went back to her room. Asad was at the dining table. He knew that Zoya was hungry but was reacting to his actions. He smiled.
"Wah! Saleem chacha aaj toh maza aa gaya itna tasty khana hai. Accha hai aapki memsaab ko bhook nahi hai ye sab mian hi kha loonga." Zoya in her room could hear all the sounds Asad was making. She was very upset as till now Asad had been nothing but caring for her and now he did not care! How could he eat without her? She came out of her room and down the stairs complaining. "Mujhe yakeen nahi hota Mr. Khan ki aap itne heartless ho sakte hain? Mere bina aap khana kaise kha sakte hain? Main aapka intezaar kar rahi thi aur aap maze se dinner enjoy kar rahe hain. Ek baar mujhe bulaane bhi nahi aa... Aapki plate ekdum khaali hai. Aapne ab tak dinner shuru nahi kiya? Kyun?" "Ab akele khaane ki aadat nahi rahi..." Haye... kitne cute hain ye. Koi inse naraaz bhi nahi ho sakta. Mann kar raha hai inka poora face par geeli geeli kissi dekar poster bana doon. Kitne cute hain na ye! Mere cutie mere sweety! Par ye toh aage badhte hi nahi. Kitna difficult hai mere liye inse itne paas rehkar door rehna. Haye na jaane kab wo din aayega jab ye dooriyaan nazdeekiyaan ban jaayengi.'
Zoya stood there shamlessly ogling at Asad and he was feeling very shy. He cleared his throat to get her out from wherever she was God knows doing what to him and him only of course! "Dinner kar le?" "Nahi jaaiye main nahi karti." "Kyun?" "Kyun? Ye aap pooch rahe hain! Kabse na jaane aisi acting kar rahe hain ki kya aur kitna khaya wo bhi maze lekar. Mujhe kitni bhook lagi hai pata bhi hai aapko!" "Kyun taang kheechna sirf aapko aa sakta hai mujhe nahi?" "Haw!" "Maine Saleem chacha ko ghar bhej diya hai bahut late ho gaya hai na, main khana garam karke lata hoon." "Main bhi aati hoon." Asad was heating the food and he let Zoya help all the while treating her like a child who should not be there in the kitchen. "Ok so sara khana garam ho gaya hai, main serve kar deta hoon." "Main ek shart par khana khaoongi." "Shart? Kaisi shart?" "Yehi ki aap mujhe apne haaton se khana khilayenge." "Jee?" "Jee." "Par main kaise..." "Kyun kitchen mein toh mujhe chhoti bacchi ke jaise treat kar rahe the, ya mat karo wo mat karo, ise haath mat lagao, iss se door raho...Toh bas main toh chhoti bacchi hoon na toh khilaana padega mujhe. Aap ko nahi pata chhote bacche haath se nahi khaate unhe koi khilaata hai." "Jee."
Asad fed Zoya and he too ate his dinner. Zoya was very happy but also sad because Asad was doing all of it on her insistence and not because he wanted to. Zoya wanted to ask Asad for his salary but she did not want to make him feel incomfortable and spoil what they had in this moment. After dinner Asad and Zoya watched some TV. Zoya once again fell asleep with her head resting on Asad's shoulder. This time Asad did not just sit there and let her sleep. He slowly got up and lifted her in his arms. She snuggled to him. He took her up the stairs and to her room. He gently laid her on the bed. When he was leaving he felt a tug on his arms. Zoya was holding his hand. He gently freed his hand from hers and covered her with the blanket. "Good night", He wished Zoya when he reached the door. Zoya realized that Asad knew she was awake all this time. "Good night." Zoya said in a meek voice and then covered her face with the blanket. Asad smiled and went to his room.
The next morning Asad was shocked to see Zoya was at the breakfast table waiting for him. "Good morning." Zoya wished Asad in a chirpy voice. "Good morning. Aap itni jaldi uth gayi? Kuch khaas ya koi problem toh nahi hai?" "Nahi sab theek hai." While having breakfast Zoya was talking about many things which made Asad suspicious of her. "Kuch kehna hai aapko?" "Jee, wo mujhe paise chahiye." "Toh aapke account se withdraw karwa lijiye." "Nahi mujhe abbu ke paise nahi chahiye." "Aapke abbu ke paise ab aapke hi hain." "Wo nahi aap samjhe nahi." "Toh samjhaiye." Zoya slowly began, "Wo mujhe aapke paise chahiye." "Jee?" "Jee. Dekhiye ab main aapki legal biwi hoon... Iss se pehle ki aap mujhe contract ki yaad dilaye main aapko bata doon ki main aapki legal biwi hoon contract se bhi aur humne nikaah bhi padha hai. Toh aapko mera kharch uthana chahiye na! Mujhe paise chahiye honge toh apne shauhar se hi loongi. Ab se aapko apna poora salary package mujhe dena hoga." "Jee... wo main apna poora package... wo meri salary direct account mein deposit hoti hai." "Toh theek hai account se withdraw kar loongi main ya toh abse pehle paise ghar laaiyega mujhe dijiyega aur phir account mein depost karwa dijiyega." Asad did not say anything, he just left saying he was getting late for the office.
"Mr. Khan bina kuch kahe kyun chale gaye? Wo toh humesha perfect answer dete hain toh aaj kya hua? Kahin kuch gadbad toh nahi? Mr. Khan ko koi problem toh nahi. Wo mujhe nahi batayenge but main toh unki biwi hoon mujhe toh pata hona chahiye. Mr. Khan ne mujhe har problem se nikala hai if he is in some problem I should do the same for him." Zoya was worried for Asad and his finances. She wanted to know about his troubles but had no idea how to. She went to Asad's room to try and look for some information. She checked every where at last she remembered how Asad kept her bank cheque book and pass books etc in her study table. She went to his study table and removed his pass book for the current period. She checked the entries and saw that the salary was depostited in Asad's account every month. His expenditures were paying bills and some other little amount withdrawn. There was no trouble with his finances then why would he not tell her that he would giver her, his full salary. She was about to keep it back when she saw that every month Asad made depostis of Rupees 10,000 each in 3 different accounts. She did not recognize the names but they had the same middle and the last name. ___ Ahmed Khan.
"Ye log kaun hain? Mr. Khan jaise hi middle aur last name, kahin koi relative toh nahi? Nahi Mr. Khan ka toh koi nahi hai. Allah Miya! What's wrong me? Mr. Khan 5 saal pehle shadi shuda the. Mujhe details nahi pata par kahin ye unke bacche toh nahi? Mr. Khan itna bada sach mujhse kaise chhupa sakte hain? Mujhe batana unka farz hai aur mera haq hai jaanne ka. Kyun mujuhse itna bada sach chhupaya unhone? Kyun? Kya wo mujhe iss kaabil nahi smajhte?" Zoya was deeply hurt by the truth' she saw and understood from the Asad's bank pass book. She decided to confront Asad when he returned.
Asad returned early in the evening so that Zoya would not have to stay up for him and neither would she have to wait for him at dinner. From now on he would so all the extra work when he returned home. "Good evening." "Good evening." Zoya gave a cold reply. She had never been cold towards him. In fact Asad thought that Zoya would be very happy to see him return home early. "Koi problem?" "Nahi, toh kya socha aapne apne salary package ko mujhe dene ke liye." "Wo... actually..." "Wo... actually... yehi na ki aap har mahine total 30,000 Ruppees teen accounts mein deposit karte hain." Zoya showed Asad his pass book. Asad was a very private person and did not like Zoya going through his stuff. "Ye kahaan se mili aapko? Kyun khola aapne ise?" "Kyun aisa nahi karna chahiye tha? Maine socha ki aap mujhse kuch chhupa rahe hain kyunki koi problem hai aapko, main aapke problem ko door karna chahti thi par mujhe kya pata ki aap mujhe itna bada sach chhupa rahe hain. How could you?" "Aap nahi jaanti aap kya keh rahi hain please stop before..."
"Before what? Mera saara sach accha ya bura aapke saamne hai aur aapne itna bada sach mujhse chhupaya? Aap iss duniya mein akele nahi hain. Ye teen log hain aapke apne. Inka last name aur middle name aapse match karta hai, kaun hain ye bataiye mujhe. Aapke bacche hain? Agar hai toh mujhse milwaya kyun nahi? Kya hai jo aapne mujhse chhupaya hai?" "Zoya!!!" Asad roared. Zoya had never seen him lose his cool in the four years that she had known him. He had never shouted at her and she thought he never would. Asad grabbed her by her upper arms, "Ye kabhi mat bhooliyega ki humne contract marriage ki hai. Uss contract mein ye kahin nahi hai ki mujhe aapke sawaalon ka jawaab dena hoga. Mera aaj aur aane wala kal aapka hai par mera past sirf mera hai. Meri khushiyaan aapki hain par mera dard sirf mera hai." "Mr. Khan you are hurting me." Asad loosened his grip on her. "Aap mujhse ye keh paayengi aur main aapka har dard door kar doonga jaise abhi kiya par na toh main kabhi aapse apna dard share karoonga na hi aapko kuch bhi jaanne ki zaroorat hai. Aap meri biwi hain aur aapke haq hain mujhpar, mere aaj, aane wale kal, meri khushiyon par, mera guzra hua kal sirf mera hai mera dard sirf mera hai."
Zoya just stood there looking at the new side of her Mr. Khan. He was in immense pain but not ready to share it or was he not ready to share it especially with her. Asad left her and was going towards his room. "Aaj aapne mujhse mere guzre kal ke baare mein poocha hai, make sure ki aisi gustakhi dobara kabhi na ho warna kahin aisa na ho ki mujhse koi gustakhi ho jaaye..." With this warning her left Zoya alone and went to his room and shut the door not only of the room but also to his inner turmoil. Zoya was staring at the door Asad closed on her. She was very hurt and angry. "Abbu dekha na aapne mujse kaise baat ki. Mujhe kabhi nanu ne ya aapne nahi daanta lekin ye mujhe daant ke chalie gaye. Mujhe apna dard nahi batayenge. Kya sirf wo meri dard door kar sakte hain main unka dard nahi door kar sakti? Main unki biwi hoon mujhe poora haq hai yeah I know aise nahi poochna chahiye tha but main kya karoon main aisi hi hoon. Main bhi sab jaan kar rahoongi. Mujhe pata hai unhone Saira ko sab bataya hoga toh mujhe kyun nahi?" Zoya went to her room. She was very angry with Asad for scolding her and also jealous of Saira as she might have known of Asad's past and the pain in it.
After having a relaxing bath she came to the balcony of her room to relax and think of a better way to get to know about Asad's past and those 3 people in whose account Asad deposited the cash. She was still angry with Asad. As she turned to go inside to her room she saw Asad sitting in the balcony of his room. She had never seen Asad like that. He was sitting on the floor, his legs folded and crossed at his chest and he was staring at the stars in the sky. He had tears in his eyes, it was not the man Asad but the child inside him that Zoya was seeing. All her anger vanished and she ran to his room. She went in and saw him speaking to a special star in the sky. "Ammi jab aapke jaane ka waqt aaya toh aapne kaha tha ki mera khayaal rakhne ke liye koi farishta ayega. Ammi wo farishta meri zindagi mein aaya, mere abbujaani. Aap jaanti hain na unhe ab wo aapke paas hi hain. Abbujaani jab main chota tha tab ek din maine aapse poocha tha ki ammi ki tarah aap bhi mujhe chhodkar chale gaye toh... Tab aapne mujhe kaha tha ki pariyon ke desh se ek pari aayegi aur wo humesha mere saath rahegi. Mere saath koi nahi hai abbujaani, ammi main akela hoon. Sab mujhe chhodkar chale jaate hain..."
Zoya's eyes welled up seeing Asad like that. He had been a rock for her but now he was crumbling. She went to Asad and placed her hand on his shoulder. Asad looked up with teary eyes and saw someone in white. The face was not clear to him but he saw an angelic smile. Zoya knelt next to him and hugged him. "Main hoon na aapke saath, promise main aapko chhokar kabhi nahi jaaoongi kahin nahi jaaoongi." Asad pressed his head hard on her chest and cried like a small child grabbing on to her like his life depended on it. After sometime Zoya wiped his tears and took him to bed. She made him lie on the bed and sat next to him. Asad was facing away from her. She ran her fingers though his hair calming him down. "Kya baat hai jo aapko itna dard de rahi hai? Main aapki biwi hoon na Asad? Mujhe bhi share nahi karenge? Ok koi baat nahi raat bahut ho chuki hai ab aap so jaaiye. Main hoon yahaan." She continued to caress Asad face and hair. When she thought Asad would not open up to her Asad spoke, "Main jab teen saal ka tha tab ammi ne meri chhoti behen ko janam diya. Najma, meri tamatar. Wo na jab born hui toh ek dum red red thi bahut cute thi meri tamatar." "Hmm I believe you hogi cute, aapki behen thi, aap itne cute hain toh wo bhi toh cute hi hogi na... Thi... Matlab?"
"Wo... when she was one year old toh wo bemaar thi, mere abbu kisi kaam ke nahi the, din bhar sharaab aur ayaashi mein mashgul rehte the. Ammi kaam karti thi par unke paas itne paise nahi the ki wo Najma ka ilaaj kara sake. Najma humein chhodkar chali gayi..." "Mr. Khan..." "Najma ki be wqat ki hui maut ko ammi bardaasht nahi kar paayi... dheere dheere wo bhi beemar rehne lagi aur jab main 5 saal ka tha unka bhi inteqaal ho gaya... Main bilkul akela ho gaya tha... par mere abbu ko koi fark nahi pada. Ammi ke jaane ke teen mahine baad unhone doosra nikaah kar liya. Mujhe laga mujhe meri ammi wapas mil gayi..." Asad was crying and Zoya could not see him like that. "Mr. Khan it is ok agar aapko dard ho raha hai toh mujhe kuch bhi batane ki zaroorat nahi hai..." "Meri jo nayi ammi thi na... nahi wo meri nayi ammi nahi thi wo toh sirf mere abbu ki biwi thi... wo meri ammi kabhi nahi ban payi... main unke room ke bahar parde ke peeche se unhe dekhta ki shayad ab unhe mere hone ka ehsaas ho aur wo mujhe gale se lagakar meri ammi ki tarah mujhe pyar kare par main sautela tha aur aisa kabhi nahi hua..."
Zoya wiped Asad's tears and offered him a glaas of water asking him to take a break but he did not want to stop. It was as if the gates had opened and the flood of his pain was gushing out of him. "Jab main akela tha tab mujhe unse pyar nahi mila phir ek saal baad unka beta Ayaan uska janam hua khud ka beta ho th sautele ko kaun dekhta hai. Mere abbu bhi meri taraf dekhte nahi the... agle do saalon mein unhe do betiyaan hui Nikhat aur Nuzzhat. Tab tak main 8 saal ka ho chukka tha... Abbu kuch kaam nahi karte the... Apne bacchon ki parvarish acche se ho iss liye mere abbu ki doosri biwi Shireen ne meri school ki padhai band karwa di... par mujhe padhna tha... Main kuch nahi kar paya chhota tha na... Ek din abbu kisi ko le aaye aur mujhe unse saath bhejna chahte the... Wo aadmi accha nahi tha maine suna abbu ne mujhe use bech diya aur wo mujhse ghar ka kaam karwayega... Wo mujhe agli subah lene aane wala tha... main raat ko hi ghar se bhaag gaya... Do dino tak bhuka pyasa main sadakon ki khaak chanta raha... ek din bhook se behosh hokar ek car ke saamne aane hi wala tha ki kisi ne mujhe beech sadak se kheechkar apne gale se laga liya... Jaise ammi ne kaha tha meri zindagi mein wo farishta baknar aaye..."
"Kaun the wo Asad?" "Abbujaani, mere abbujaani... aapke abbu... Wo bhi tanha the aur main bhi... humaare saath ne ek doosre ki tanhayi ko door kar diya. Aapko yaad hai jab hum pehli baar mile the aur aapne mujhse poocha tha ki mere abbu kaise hain..." "Aur aapne kaha tha ki wo world ke best abbu hain..." "Kyunki jabse main 8 saal ki umra ka tha tabse wo mere liye abbu ban gaye the... Unhone mujhe ghar diya, khana, kapde, education, protection, pyar wo sab diya jo ek baap apne bacche ko deta hai aur dena chahiye... Zindagi mein pehli baar mujhe ye pata chala ki jab aabu ho toh kaisa lagta hai... Main sirf unka right hand man ya unka the go to man nahi par unka beta tha... Ye room guest room nahi Zoya ye mera room tha... Isi bed par na jaane kitni raatein unhone jag kar mere liye lori gayi... jab main bure kwaab se darr kar jag jaata toh mujhe thapki dekar sulaya hai... uss study table par mujhe padhate the... Kyun aisa hota hai ki jo mere kareeb aata hai main unhe kho deta hoon?..." This one question of Asad answered many of Zoya's. Asad was scared to come close to her to love her beause he had lost all of them whom he had loved, his ammi, his abbujaani and also Saira... "Ammi aur abbujaani kehte the ki Allah Miya jo karte hain wo humaare acche ke liye karte hain ismein kya accha hua mera?" He thought he was cursed but that was not true he was blessed with Zoya and she with him.
Zoya fell more in love with Asad after knowing of his bitter past. She looked at Asad who was now lying with his head on her lap. Inhone kabhi bachpan dekha nahi aur ek main hoon jiska bachapna jaata nahi.' "Ayaan, Nikhat aur Nuzzhat se mile hain aap kabhi ghar chhodne ke baad... Kya unhe aapke baare mein pata hai? Milna chahenge aap unse?" "Nahi main unse door rehkar hi apna farz poora karna chahta hoon. Jaanta hoon ki ab sab bade ho gaye hai apna khayal rakh sake hain par phir bhi main apni taraf se unke liye kuch karna chahta hoon. Main nahi chahta ki jaisa Najma ke saath hua waisa kabhi unke saath kuch ho... Na main unhe jaanta hoon aur na unhe meri yaad hogi... Main bas apna farz nibhana chahta hoon aur kuch nahi... Issi liye unke account mein har mahine dus hazaar rupiye deposit karta hoon aur Najma ke naam se children's hospital mein donation karta hoon..." Asad gradually fell asleep in her lap. She kept on caressing his face and hair. From time to time she wiped the tiny tear droplets forming on the corner of his eyes. After sometime she decided to go to her room. Asad was already tensed with so much revelation, she did not want him to wakeup and see her there and feel awkward or angry. She was again thinking as a wife but this time not about her rights but her duties towards her husband.
She gently lifted his head from her lap and placed it on the pillow. She was getting of the bed but felt a pull on her duappta. Asad was sleeping holding her dupatta. She did not have in her heart to free herself from him when he needed her the most. She lied down next to him. What ever he would say to her in the morning she would take it but for now there was no way she would leave him alone.
The next morning when Asad opened his eyes he felt like a mountain had been lifted off of his chest. He felt something softer than his pillow under his head and it was moving. Could it be?... He lifted his head to see that he had slept resting on Zoya's chest. He made no sudden moves as she was sleeping peacefully. He made sure that his weight was not on her. As the sunlight fell on Zoya's face Asad saw her in a new light. He remembered the way she took care of him when he was in pain reliving the painful past. She in his eyes was no longer the annoying teen he had first met, she was now his wife. She was not the girl he had taken care of silently for so many years but she was now the woman who took care of him. Something inside him was changing for Zoya. A smile silently came to his lips when she scrunched her nose. She was looking ethereal as a lock of hair fell on her forehead. Asad gently tucked the lock of hair behind her ear.
He was admiring her because she was asleep. Had she been awake well that would be a different story. He was looking at her when Zoya stirred in her sleep. Asad sat up on the bed as Zoya was coming out of her sleep. "Good morning." She wished him with a smile. "Good morning. Aap yahaan kyun so gayi? Aapko mere liye aisa karne ki koi zaroorat nahi..." "Kya aap mere uss din sofe par baithe rahe wo kisi zaroorat se kiya tha aapne? Nahi na... Toh jo aap kare wo aapka farz tha aur mera koi farz nahi? Sahi kaha aapne mujhe aisa karne ki zaroorat nahi thi wo meri chahat thi. Mr. Khan kal aapne na sirf mujhe apna dard bayaan kiya par use phir se jiya. Aapka wo dard wo yaadein aapko dobara uss dardnak bachpan mein le gaya tha... Main aapko chhodkar kaise chali jaati? Kya aap ja paate mujhe chhodkar?" "Wo..." "Mr. Khan humaare beech contract hai ya asli nikaah ye toh main khud bhi nahi jaanti par ek baat hai jo main jaanti hoon. Mr. Khan iss duniya mein mera aapke siva aur aapka mere siva aur koi nahi hai. Aap mere liye sab kuch hain aur main aapke liye. Humein humaari zindagi, zindagi ke dard aur khushiyaan aapas mein hi baatni hain."
Asad did not say anything but he agreed to what Zoya said. "Mr. Khan aap theek toh hai na? Wo kal raat ko sab yaad karke... I am sorry meri zid ki wajah se aapko wo sab yaad karna pada..." "Nahi sorry mat kahiye shayad mere andar ka gubaar bahar aana zaroori tha. Jo hota hai acche ke liye hi hota hai." Asad smiled but Zoya did not understand and she did not know something inside Asad had changed for her. "Aapko aur rest karna ho toh aap kar lijiye wo aaj Friday hai mujhe ibadat ke liye jaana hai aur main wahi se office chala jaaoonga." Asad got ready to go to the Dargah to pray. "Agli baar se main bhi aapke saath chaloongi toh chalega?" "Daudega." Asad said goodbye and left. Zoya needed rest as she was mentally drained just by hearing about the painful past Asad had.
Asad was calm sicne he had woken up but slowly a storm began to build up inside him and he wanted answers which he did not have. He reached at Allah's doorstep with questions. After offering his prayers he sat there listening to the soulful songs been sung by the Sufi singers. "Kyun? Kyun? Kyun kiya maine aisa? Kaise kar diya? Kaise unse ye sab keh baitha main? Jo baatein bachpan mein abbujaani ke kai baar poochne par meri zubaan par nahi aayi, jo sawaal Saira ki khamosh aankhen mujhse karti thi unka jawaab kabhi nahi diya. Kyun maine jo baatein kabhi kisi se nahi ki wo maine Zoya se kar di? Mera dard sirf mera tha toh kyun wo unka bhi ho gaya? Meri zindagi ke jis andhere pehloo ko kabhi kisi ne nahi jaana kisi ne nahi dekha kyun uspar Zoya ki roshni padi? Kaise aur kab Zoya mere dil ke taale ki chaabi ban gayi? Kyun main khud ko rok nahi paya mera dard unke saath share karne se?..."
"Mohabbat ho gayi hai aapko uss se. Chahne lage hain use aap Asad. Zoya aapki zindagi ban chuki hai. Na chahte hue bhi aaj aapne Zoya ko uska haq de diya hai. Asad hum apni khushiyaan gairon ke saath bhi baant dete hain par apne ghum sirf uss se jo hummara apna ho. Nahi Asad iska ye matlab ye nahi hai ki aapke abbujaani aur main aapke apne nahi the bas hum toh ek zariya the jiss se aap uss khaas insaan se mile jiske liye aap aur jo aapke liye bani hai. Wo Zoya hai Asad. Wo aapki chahat, aapki mohabbat, aapki zaroorat, aapki ibaadat... ban gayi hai. Zoya aapki zindagi ban gayi hai... You not only love her you have fallen in love with her."
"Nahi Saira aisa nahi ho sakta. Main iss raaste par dobara nahi chal sakta. Phir se kisi ko apni zindagi mein shaamil karke use kho nahi sakta. I am cursed... jo mujhe pyar karta hai... jo mere kareeb aata hai wo mujhse chhin jaata hai... Main Zoya ko paakar unhe khona nahi chahta..."
"Asad ye aapka darr hai aur kuch nahi. Asad Parvardigaar ne hum sab ke liye kisi na kisi ko banaya hai. Aapki aur Zoya ki raahon ko milna tha so mil gayi. Aap jaante hain Asad cursed kaun hota hai? Wo jiske saamne koi mohabbat se baahein failakar khada ho aur wo uss mohabbat ki taraf pani peeth kar de... Asad zindagi har kisi ko doosra mauka nahi deti aapko mila hai mat thukraiye use. Accept kar lijiye aapke liye Zoya ki mohabbat ko aur uske liye aapki mohabbat ko."
"Aur phir kya hoga? Jo maine tumhaare saath kiya agar wahi main..." "Nahi Asad Zoya meri tarah kamzor nahi hai. Wo apne liye aapse ladegi. Wo aapke liye aapse ladegi. Wo aap dono ke liye iss duniya se yahaan tak ki Khuda se bhi lad jaayegi... Paa lijiye Zoya ko aur kho dijiye khudko usmein. Apni zindagi ko, khushiyon ko ek aur mauka dijiye Asad. Jo na insaafi mere saath ki wo Zoya ke saath mat kijiye..."
Asad opened his eyes. He had got all the answers to his questions. He had fallen in love with Zoya. Zoya was his life. She was his everything. He walked out of the mosque, a man in love, a husband who wanted to cherish his wife, love her and live life to the fullest with her. He had realized his love for her but how would he confess it... One thing he was sure of, he would not let History repeat itself. He would not make the same mistake with Zoya which he made with Saira. He would never let Zoya go, he would never lose her.
A/N: Hey guys am back with Chapter 8. Ok apne joote apne pairon mein rakhna and tomatoes and eggs refrigerator mein.
For all the readers who hit like and comment 🤗.
For all those readers who hit like but do not comment, 'De de comment de comment de de humein comment de ' AB fan; 'NICE' bhi chalega.
All those who read but are KHAMOSH; Let me introduce myself to you. I am Chahat not Shotgun Sinha. Main kab bola KHAMOSH ki you guys are khamosh after reading. Ache readers ki tarah like and comments do nahi toh mera 🥺.
Waiting impatiently for like and comments. PMs in the morning.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
CID
46