AsYa Story-UNRECOGNIZED EMOTIONS-Thread 7-Part 23(Last)-Page 106-17/6

The verbal scuffle that she had with Asad had left her disheartened at her own chain of thoughts. All her physical strength was drained and she dragged herself to climb the stairs in a slower pace than usual, as if she was counting the steps. Her face was still damp due to the tears that had now stopped flowing, as a very delicate string of her heart was tugged by the person whom she was bound with.

Letting different thoughts to preoccupy her mind, she finally reached her room and shut the door and sighed heavily. She looked at the henna in her hands that were now dried up and had started showing its deep red color. She gave her special attention to the alphabet 'A' and an instantaneous smile crept up to her face as she remembered all the care and affection that she had received from Asad the whole day. The smile vanished and her face turned gloomy again, thinking about the fight and also about her indifferent behavior. Unable to think of it anymore, she walked towards the washroom to wash the dried up henna from her hands.

Zoya stared affectionately at the color it had left. Among the floral designs, Asad's name was still very much prominent to her eyes. She wondered how Asad was able to find it out, probably when she had lifted up her hands to him, she thought.

It did not take her more than a few seconds to get her thoughts back to her lost companion, her Diary...

She got up from the bed and looked for it in the most unusual places--under the bed, behind her shelf, and even in her stationery rack and inside the wardrobe. Finally after being disappointed, she hopelessly decided to look for it in her study table drawer, where she was accustomed to keep her diary...

Surprisingly, rather shockingly, she found it there, neatly arranged in its usual slot in the drawer. She clearly remembered taking it out, then how did it come back here, she thought. She hastily took it out and embraced it, keeping it close to her heart, as if it would help her to calm her erratic heartbeats. It really did, as her diary was indeed very special to her.

The fear of turning an open book to an unwanted reader of it not only pestered her, but also frightened her up to a great extent; after all, her feelings had never been so exposed to anybody other than this inanimate object.

Zoya hopped on to her bed, still hugging the little piece of her world closely to herself. She turned over the pages quickly and was relieved to find it untampered, but what she saw next had shocked the hell out of her. She blinked a number of times to believe what she was seeing.

She straightened herself on the bed and started reading the latest written pages of her diary, not by her, but by her mother.

Dear Zoya's Diary,

First of all, tell her Sorry on behalf of me. I know that I should not be intruding into her privacy, and I didn't. But I could not stop myself from writing this, as you are just a listener and at this moment, my daughter needs someone, who would be able to tell her what she is doing is not exactly what life expects from her.

Life is not a journey to be traveled alone. We meet a lot of people on our way, some make their mark, and some just move away. But life does not stop, and we should not either.

Tell her, that she has all the right to laugh on a joke and smile in delight when her heart feels contented. She has all the right to stumble, fall and make mistakes like others. She has all the right to LIVE.

Only breathing does not mean Living!

Tell her to stop burdening herself with all the responsibilities and then lose herself somewhere in the midst of all that. Now, it's her turn to think about herself and to live her own life.

Tell her, that she had always been a responsible daughter, a faithful friend and an excellent sister all her life, but now, she is failing herself a person who has all the right to live the life that she has been blessed with. She has the right to fall in love, be in love and love the person who will love her.

Tell her, that her mother is proud of her and also her father who is looking at her always, but somewhere, they both are not happy with the way their daughter is complicating her own life.

Life is a long journey.. Tell her to embrace all good things that comes her way and discard anything and everything that makes her sad and insecure. There is no harm in depending on someone and it is absolutely perfect if that person is the one who she can love all her life.

Tell her all this, as this mother of her is sure that she would listen to you if not me.

She read and re-read what Zeenat had written to her. These were the exact feelings that she had been having for all these years. Not being able to hold herself back, she ran straight to Zeenat's room, her diary still clutched tightly in her hand. She stopped only when she reached up to the door of her room and found it open. She knocked at it twice, but did not get any reply from Zeenat as she was engrossed in her own little world admiring and smiling at something that caught her undiverted attention.

"Ammi..", she called as she gradually took steps towards her mother.

"Hmmm", Zeenat answered, not looking up at her.

"Come.. Sit...", Zeenat said while adjusting her spectacles.

"Ammi.. I.."

"Look at these Zoya.. Aren't they pretty?", Zeenat interrupted and referred 'these' to some old photographs in an album filled with lovely pictures from Zoya's childhood days.

"Ammi.. These..."

"Look at this little girl... Isn't she beautiful?", she asked her without removing her gaze from the photographs. Zoya was confused as the girl she was pointing to was Zoya herself.

"See this... ", she said again while turning another page.

"Ammi.. This is me.. What are you saying? What has happened to you?"

"No.. This isn't you.. This is my daughter Zoya...", she snapped back at her.

"She is my Zoya, who knew how to laugh and her laughter had no boundaries. Her smile used to light up our moods even if we ever had a bad day.. But now, I crave for a smile on your face Zoya..No.. this isn't you.. This can't be you...", Zeenat continued and her emotions were now coming crystal clear to Zoya.

"Your Abbu and I have lived a life of absolute happiness because we had you with us.. But what are you doing to yourself now Zoya?? Stop doing this.. Just let it go... Let go your insecurities..."

Zoya sat beside her mother, without uttering a single word. What was she supposed to tell her? That her daughter had yet again shut the door, which Asad had tried to break through? How was she supposed to tell her that she did not let happiness embrace her when it was just a step away from her?

"Try it once Zoya.. please for my sake.. give me back my daughter... You have done enough.. Atif and I are fine now... We have overcome that, because you were with us.. Now, don't let some fear overcome you..."

Zoya's hands and feet remained stupefied as Zeenat pulled her into a tight hug and she cried till the time she was not able to cry anymore.

"Promise me, you will accept whatever comes your way and you will Live!!", Zeenat asked her when her tears subsided. Zoya nodded her head a little and hugged her mother tight and allowed herself to fall asleep on her lap.

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The next morning marked as the new beginning in her life. She woke up with a resolve that she would let Asad speak and she will also be courageous enough to listen to him. If he would say that he did not love her then that would not mean that she would stop loving him too. She would not let her fear lessen the love that she had for him.

She took out a beautiful red sari and draped it on herself and got ready for the wedding. She kept her make-up minimal as that enhanced her beauty even more. She wore her diamond earrings and a bracelet to complete her look for the wedding. She was supposed to be from the bride's side, and Asad would be from the groom's, yet they had decided to reach the venue together. Asad had messaged her the time, and she was all ready and set and was waiting for him to pick her up.

Zoya rushed down the stairs as she saw her phone buzzing. She knew that Asad was there. She smiled at her mother and Atif who seemed to have read her every move and every gesture that she showed towards Asad, and finally left the house for a grand day that was awaiting her.

The car ride was a quieter one. After Zoya's outburst from last night, Asad was afraid to start any conversation. On the other hand, Zoya openly admired Asad who was dressed up in a white and gold sherwani.. He was indeed a unique creation of God...she thought and blushed. Asad, who was also stealing glances at her from the corner of his eyes, saw her smile. He thought of questioning her, but later dropped the idea.

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As Aafreen and Farhaan were seated on the opposite sides with a veil as a partition between them, Asad and Zoya also took their respective sides. They waited for the rituals to start and the vows to be exchanged between the Bride and the Groom.

Soon Farhaan and Aafreen were declared as Husband and Wife when the words 'Qubool Hai' echoed in the room.

Guests got busy congratulating the newly married couple as they were now seated side by side. Amongst all the laughter and fun, Asad noticed that Zoya was missing from Aafreen's side. She was seen nowhere in the hall too.

He suddenly remembered where she had gone the last day and within no time, he made his way towards the staircase that would lead him to the terrace.

There She was!! Standing in one corner of the empty terrace, she leaned a little on the railing and stared at the distant stars. Winds kissed her sari's open end and it danced and fluttered to its tunes. Her straightened hair that was left open was also not making any attempt to stay in place.

Asad went and stood by her side and hesitantly placed his hand over hers. It pleased him when Zoya neither moved back nor pushed him away.

"What are you doing here?", Asad asked her but he knew very well that he would not get any reply to it.

"It's so calm and serene out here...", she said after some time. Asad noticed that her eyes were now closed and she was letting the cool breeze absorb her completely.

"Asad..."

"Hmmm..."

"Stay here.. Please...Hold me...", she said and Asad noticed her pleading eyes.

He immediately took her in a side hug and held one hand of her with his. Zoya leaned her head on his shoulder automatically and they stood there like that, for how long they did not know..

"Zoya... "

"Hmmm.."

"I want this... I want to stand like this, with you in my arms, under the sky, staring at nothing, being close to you, every day and every night for the rest of my life...", Asad confessed.

Zoya was left baffled at his all of a sudden wish. Her face showed several expressions.. At first shocked, then surprised and then finally her lips curved upwards for a smile. She had never thought that just letting fear out of her way would make it all so easy. She smiled and cried at the same time.

"Hey.. Hey... You don't have to cry for this.. Trust me..It's all going to depend on you.. It's true that I have come all the way from New York to here, only for you, and only for this moment.. But I did not want to make you cry.. I have realized what I want.. I have realized that commitment is not that difficult a thing.. It just needs some determination.. We just need to be confident about it... And I am confident now.. About my feelings and about everything that I want from us...", Asad said it all in one go, by cupping her face in his palms.

"Asad,...Asad... Listen to me..." Zoya tried to interrupt him.

"You had asked me to be sure and come back only when I know what I want...I know what I want now..I have never been so sure about anything in my life as much I am sure about this! My parents might have been unsuccessful in their relationship somewhere, but their love wasn't a failure ever. And even if they had failed, it doesn't mean that we will too.. We have learned from our mistakes in these years..."

"Asad.. Listen..." Zoya tried again...

"It's fine if you have lost hope in me in, and it is something that I can't blame you for.. I had been at fault.. I was so stupid to write all that to you.. but... but now it will be about your wish...our wish...It's..."

"ASAD!!!!", Zoya yelled his name when her continuous attempts to stop his blabbering was going in vain.

"Listen to me for once.. Please...", she said to him, placing her hands over his which still cupped her face.

"I know.. I understand all that...We had decided that we would not blame each other for anything.. All that happened had both of our consent. So, how can only you be at fault? I had my fears too.. I could have lead the way when you were not sure.. But I did not do that. I just let it be... I should not have done that!"

"And now.. I will not let this go.. Let you go.. Never!! I will keep you glued to me.. Forever!", Asad said and pulled her in a bone crushing hug.

His left hand rested on her waist, whereas his right hand found its way towards her bare back. His touch on her skin made shivers run down her spine and she wrapped her arms around him as a reflex.

"I missed this so much.. Being this close to you...", Asad murmured against the crook of her neck as he tightened his hold around her.

"Me too...", she whispered in his ears.

"I thought I had lost you..When you had sent me that mail..", Zoya said, trying to control her sobs.

"Sshh... How could you ever lose a person who had already lost his heart to you?", he whispered back and kissed her neck.

"I am sooo sorry Zoya...", he said while his hand caressed her bare back causing her to shiver in his touch.

"For what?", she asked her, confusedly and tried to move back and have a look at his face. But he only brought her closer to him, if that even possible.

"For losing so many years of our lives...", he replied sadly..

Zoya laughed at his thoughts. This time, she applied a little force to separate herself from Asad and look at him, yet not disetangling their arms around each other.

"You can always make it up Mr. Khan.", she winked at him mischievously.

"And how is that so?", he asked her amusedly.

"Just say what I have been dying to hear and what you have been waiting to tell!", she said, looking into his eyes.

Understanding the meaning of her words, Asad smiled a little and brought his face closer to hers.

"I, Asad Ahmed Khan, in my full senses, confess that I am truly, deeply, madly, and irrevocably in love with Zoya Farooqui... and would always love her and only her till the day I die."

"This sounded more like a business deal", Zoya said as she giggled.

"So, how else do you want this?", he asked her, getting irritated at her taunt.

Zoya's hands that were around his waist till now, climbed up and she encircled them around his neck.

"Like you have never said before...", she said in his ear in the softest tone possible and let her lips brush past his jaw line.

Asad did not need any further encouragement from her. This little move from her side had given him all the right to break through the barriers that they had till now had between them.

Asad moved his face closer to hers and Zoya mirrored his actions, but stopped halfway. Asad noticed the red hue on her face and understood that it was because of shyness. Wasting no further time, he placed his lips on hers. It was not a kiss yet, it was just the feeling of being bound together, for lifetime. Feeling of each other being so close, gave them an assurance that this was not an illusion or any dream. It was the truth, their truth..

Asad took her lower lip in between his and she did the same with his upper lip. In no time, two souls, who had been long suffering from the pain of separation, felt each other connected in an intimate way. It was their first kiss ever. It was soft and demanding at the same time. If Asad poured out his feelings in that kiss, then Zoya was also not staying behind. Asad promised her commitment and Zoya assured him that she would never let any insecurity take over her. Finally, it was only love that was shared in that kiss, undying, everlasting love.

They pulled apart reluctantly when there was need of oxygen. Not leaving their bodies lose contact, they touched their foreheads and stood there still.

"I love you Zoya.. And my words won't be enough for me to tell you how much I do...", he said, as his hands grabbed her waist even more tightly.

"You don't have to tell me how much.. We will find that out... We have our whole lives for that.", Zoya answered while a soft moan escaped her lips as Asad was now nibbling at her earlobes.

"I promise to make up for all the lost time.", Asad assured her yet again.

"I know.. I trust you.. You know why? Because I love you.. And my words won't be enough to explain you how much I do.. ", Zoya said while brushing her nose with his.

"Don't worry.. We will find it out..together...", Asad repeated her words, whereas, Zoya repeated his actions. She smacked her lips on his and this time, the kiss had nothing gentle in it. It was passionate, demanding and intense...

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Suddenly it all seemed perfect.. Being in the close embrace of the man who loves her, made her feel perfect. They sat there on the floor of the terrace for hours, not bothering what their friends would feel, or what if they were caught by someone. They just knew that the moment demanded their togetherness, and that was all they had to have for now. Zoya's back was rested on his chest, while he leaned his back at the railing. His hands wrapped her possessively and his thumbs drew patterns over her stomach. They kissed each other occasionally, sometimes just a peck and at times raw emotions evoked that were buried deep inside them. They basked in each other's love and realized that, though love needed no words, but little gestures of love could just make the feeling perfect.

A/N: This was the 2nd last chapter.. The next one will be the last and it will suffice the need of an epilogue... 😛

This update is dedicated to all my lovely readers who waited for this confession and of course the kiss...😉

Please leave behind your likes and comments.. It really motivates me a lot.. I can really expect it when the story has almost reached its end..Isn't it? 😉😳

Next update after 130+ likes 😃

Thank You in advance...😛

Lots of Love❤️

Ankita🤗

P.S-- Aish (treasure11), hope I did not disappoint you... 😉😳

R