Chapter 5 A Yes and A NoZoya was in her room, chowing on the pizza she had ordered an hour ago. Humeira came out from the bathroom, rolling her eyes upon seeing Zoya eating her pizza. "What, yaar?!" Zoya asked Humeira.
"So this is the food you love the most."
"Yes, Humeira! Me and pizza are back together!"
"Very funny. So you skipped paneer for this?"
"Don't get me wrong, Humeira! I like paneer! But I was really in the mood for pizza!"
Just then, Najma came in the room, saying "You two haven't slept yet?" Najma then noticed the pizzas in Zoya's hands. "Acha! Toh yeh aapki dinner!" Najma exclaimed.
"Sorry, Najma! Kya karoon?!" Zoya exclaimed.
"I'll forgive you...if you give me a slice." Najma said.
"Sure! You want some, Humeira?" Zoya asked Humeira.
"Yeah...I'll take one." Humeira replied.
Zoya shared slices of the pizza to Najma and Humeira. The three girls sat in the room, laughing as they ate their pizzas. Just then, Haider came inside the room, calling "Tevar wali!" Zoya, Najma, and Humeira looked at Haider, stunned.
"Kya hua?" Haider asked.
"Allah miya what's wrong with you?!" Zoya exclaimed. "How can you enter a ladies' room like that?!"
"Sorry, tevar wali. But I heard there was pizza," Haider said. "And I do like pizza...so..."
"Theek hai. Have a slice." Zoya said, handing a slice of pizza to Haider.
Outside of the room, Asad was eavesdropping at the door. "What is this?! A pizza party?!" Asad exclaimed. "Nonsense!" With that, Asad left to his room.
In the morning, Zoya was up and was watching Najma make breakfast along with Haider. Humeira was sitting in the kitchen as well, eating an apple. And Asad was reading the newspaper in the living room. Just then, the doorbell rang. "I'll get it!" Humeira volunteered.
Humeira went to the front door and answered it, seeing Ayaan standing there. "Hello, Humeira begum!" Ayaan greeted.
"Hi, Ayaan." Humeira said. Ayaan entered the house with Asad getting up and giving him a hug. "How's Badi ammi?" Asad asked Ayaan.
"She's doing fine, bhaijaan. She asked a lot about you." Ayaan answered.
"Ayaan...have breakfast!" Najma called out to Ayaan from the kitchen.
"Nice! What's for breakfast?" Ayaan asked as he went to the kitchen with Asad and Humeira following him.
"Pani puri...your favorite!" Haider replied.
"Ooo! Which means I came at the right time!" Ayaan exclaimed.
Najma laid out breakfast at the table while Asad, Zoya, Ayaan, Haider, and Humeira sat down, beginning to eat. Najma sat down along with them. As they were eating, Zoya paid attention to Asad, who simply took his mug of coffee, ignoring the pani puri. He looked at the mug questionably.
What's with him?! Zoya asked herself. "Najma." Asad called to Najma. "Yes, Bhaijaan." Najma replied.
"Why's there a smudge on my coffee mug?" Asad asked. Zoya shared a look of surprise to Haider, Ayaan, and Humeira. "Clean it please." Asad told Najma. Najma nodded. She got up, and took the mug from Asad, wiping the smudge with a napkin. Allah miya what's wrong with him?! Zoya thought to herself. He's being picky over a tiny smudge! Unbelievable! Najma then handed the mug to Asad. "Thank you." Asad said while Najma nodded and then sat down.
After breakfast was over, there was ring from the doorbell again. "Who could that be?" Zoya asked.
"I'll go get it." Najma said. Najm went to the front door and answered it, smiling upon who she saw. She saw a young girl with long curly black hair, wearing a blue and pink salwar kameez. "Purvi!" Najma exclaimed.
"Hi, Najma!" the girl greeted as she gave Najma a hug. Zoya, Asad, Ayaan, Haider, and Humeira gathered near the door. "I'm so glad to see you!" Najma exclaimed. "Please come in!" Purvi entered inside the house. Najma got Purvi to sit down in the living room while Humeira brought tea for her. Asad and Najma sat down with Purvi, talking to her. "So what brings you here, Purvi?" Asad asked Purvi.
"I have big news! I'm getting married!" Purvi answered,
"Really?!" Najma exclaimed. "That's great!"
"Congratualtions." Asad said to Purvi.
"Thank you, Asad." Purvi thanked.
"So who's your fiance?" Najma asked.
"His name is Arjun. Arjun Kirloskar."
"Really?! He's my friend from college." Asad said.
"Really?! That's great!" Purvi exclaimed.
"How come Arjun hasn't said anything?" Asad asked.
"It only became official yesterday. He's only calling his friends today in the evening. So I'm sure he'll call you. But I wanted to invite you guys for the wedding. So please do come." Purvi said.
"You mean...we can come?" Zoya asked Purvi.
"Of course! The more company, the better!" Purvi said.
Purvi took out a wedding card from her bag and handed it to Najma. "Sangeet is here in Bhopal. That's in three days." Purvi said.
"Itne jaldi?!" Najma asked.
"Yes. Arjun has to go to America for a business deal soon. So we thought we could get married in the next seven days and then we'll go to America for his deal and our honeymoon." Purvi explained.
"I see. Well...we'll definitely come." Asad smiled.
"Thank you! I'll be glad to see you all." Purvi smiled.
After Purvi left, Najma began searching for outfits to wear for the wedding along with help from Humeira. Haider and Ayaan were going through sherwani suits in Haider's room. Asad was sitting in the living room, talking to Arjun on the phone. As he was talking, Zoya was watching him from the kitchen. Okay, Zoya...just go straight to him and ask, Zoya thought to herself. As khadoos as he is...he can't escape the persuasive side of Zoya!
When Asad finished his call, Zoya went to the living room. She stood in front of Asad, composing herself. Asad looked up at Zoya and said, "Yes?"
"I have something to ask you."
"What is it?"
"Well...its really important!"
"You have something important to tell me?!"
"Yes!"
Zoya got on her knees in front of Asad, as he sat on the couch, confused. "Actually...I've been meaning to say this ever since you saved me from Akram!" Zoya exclaimed. Asad sat still, feeling nervous. Don't tell me she's going to say what I think she is going to say..., Asad thought to himself. And why would she? Did she drink something that's making her act like this? What do I do then when she asks me? She's already on her knees!
"Mr. Khan...what I want to say is..." Zoya began. Asad gulped as he got even more nervous. She's going to say it! This is so wrong! Asad thought to himself.
"Will you let me join the S.R.O. ?!" Zoya finally asked.
"No, I can't marry you...wait...what?!" Asad said, confused.
"I want to join the S.R.O.! Where did the idea of marriage come from?!" Zoya asked, appalled.
Asad stood up from the couch while Zoya got up. "You want to join the S.R.O. ?" Asad asked Zoya.
"Yes!"
"Why?!"
"Because...I love action! You know something...its always been my dream to become an action heroine! And now I can!"
"What nonsense?! This is no Bollywood action thriller you're starring in!"
"But Mr. Khan...I've imagined the whole thing! Bas imagine karo mere saath! You...Mr. Khan, top secret agent who always gets the job done! But his job is never complete without his hot and happening assistant, Zoya Farooqi! Together, hands on guns, and dressed in hot black outfits, we take on every enemy who gets in our way! Just imagine!"
Asad began to envision Zoya's explanation of partnership with him. "You're imagining it, right?!" Zoya exclaimed. "Think of it like this...James Bond and Cat Woman!"
"James Bond and Cat Woman?"
"Wow! You really need to get a dose of entertainment! So what do you think?!"
"You know what I really think?!"
"What?!"
"I have an answer...its no!"
"What?! Why?!"
"Ms. Farooqi, this job is a serious one which I do alongside Ayaan and Haider. Its not some foolish James Bond styled action film where you act like you know what you're capable of."
"Are you actually saying no to me?!"
"Yes...I am. Excuse me now."
Asad left the living room, heading upstairs. Zoya turned around, shocked and infuriated. "You'll regret this offer, Mr. Khan!" Zoya shouted at Asad as he went upstairs. Asad rolled his eyes, heading to his room. I was right about him...khadoos! Zoya thought to herself.
Edited by meryl97 - 11 years ago
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